Device for storage of an operating fluid for a motor vehicle, method for mounting the device, method for monitoring the device and motor vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9335199-B2
Application number	US-201213652930-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 16, 2012
Priority date	Apr 16, 2010
Publication date	May 10, 2016
Grant date	May 10, 2016

Abstract

A device for storing or supplying an operating fluid includes a tank with an interior space and a protrusion which protrudes into the interior space and has a circumferential surface. At least one electrode for determining a filling level is disposed radially, running around the circumferential surface. Methods for mounting such a device and for monitoring a reserve filling level as well as a motor vehicle are also provided.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A device for storage of an operating fluid, the device comprising:
a tank having an interior space;
a protrusion protruding into said interior space and having a circumferential surface, said tank having a bottom in which said protrusion is disposed;
at least one electrode running radially at least partly around said circumferential surface and configured for determining a filling level of the operating fluid in said tank;
said at least one electrode being mounted releasably on said circumferential surface at a height measured from said bottom of said tank; and
said height defining a reserve volume of said tank; and
a delivery unit disposed in said protrusion, said delivery unit having a pump and being configured to deliver the operating fluid out of said tank.

2. The device according to claim 1 , wherein said at least one electrode includes a clamp with which said at least one electrode is clamped to said circumferential surface.

3. The device according to claim 1 , wherein said at least one electrode is divided circumferentially into several contacting segments being contacted separately from each other by the operating fluid.

4. A method for mounting a device according to claim 1 , the method comprising the following steps:
a) providing a tank with an interior space, a bottom and an opening in the bottom;
b) providing a container having a circumferential surface;
c) mounting at least one electrode running radially around the circumferential surface of the container; and
d) inserting the container in the opening to form a protrusion into the interior space of the tank with the container.

5. A device for storage of an operating fluid, the device comprising:
a tank having an interior space;
a protrusion protruding into said interior space and having a circumferential surface;
at least one electrode running radially at least partly around said circumferential surface and configured for determining a filling level of the operating fluid in said tank;
an insulating material disposed between said circumferential surface and said at least one electrode; and
a delivery unit disposed in said protrusion, said delivery unit having a pump and being configured to deliver the operating fluid out of said tank.

6. The device according to claim 1 , wherein said protrusion extends at least 5 cm into said interior space.

7. The device according to claim 1 , wherein said delivery unit has at least one of a delivery line for the operating fluid, a valve, a filter, or a sensor.

8. A motor vehicle, comprising:
an internal combustion engine;
an exhaust system configured to clean exhaust gases from said internal combustion engine, said exhaust system including at least one injector configured to supply an operating fluid;
a device according to claim 1 connected to said injector; and
a controller configured to control said device and said injector.

9. The device according to claim 5 , wherein said tank has a bottom and a sidewall, said protrusion is formed in said bottom or said sidewall.

10. A device for storage of an operating fluid, the device comprising:
a tank having an interior space;
a protrusion protruding into said interior space and having a circumferential surface;
at least one electrode running radially at least partly around said circumferential surface and configured for determining a filling level of the operating fluid in said tank;
at least one flexible line extending away from said circumferential surface of said protrusion and contacting said at least one electrode; and
a delivery unit disposed in said protrusion, said delivery unit having a pump and being configured to deliver the operating fluid out of said tank.

11. A device for storage of an operating fluid, the device comprising:
a tank having an interior space;
a protrusion protruding into said interior space and having a circumferential surface;
at least one electrode running radially at least partly around said circumferential surface and configured for determining a filling level of the operating fluid in said tank;
at least one line contacting said at least one electrode and leading electrically isolated inwardly into said protrusion; and
a delivery unit disposed in said protrusion, said delivery unit having a pump and being configured to deliver the operating fluid out of said tank.

12. A method for monitoring a reserve filling level of an operating fluid in a device, the method comprising the following steps:
providing a device for storage of an operating fluid, the device including:
a tank having an interior space;
a protrusion protruding into the interior space and having a circumferential surface;
two electrodes running radially at least partly around the circumferential surface and configured for determining a filling level of the operating fluid in the tank;
an insulating material disposed between the circumferential surface and the two electrodes; and
a delivery unit disposed in the protrusion, the delivery unit having a pump and being configured to deliver the operating fluid out of the tank;
x) applying an electrical voltage between the two electrodes;
y) testing an electrical resistance between the two electrodes; and
z) evaluating the electrical resistance.

Assignees

• Emitec Emissionstechnologie

Inventors

• Hodgson Jan
• Schepers Sven

Classifications

• G01F23/242 Primary

  Mounting arrangements for electrodes · CPC title

• Y10T29/49826

  Assembling or joining · CPC title

• G01F23/268

  mounting arrangements of probes · CPC title

• G01F23/265

  for discrete levels · CPC title