Systems and methods for an externally accessible refueling request switch

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9457651-B2
Application number	US-201514721655-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 26, 2015
Priority date	Apr 29, 2014
Publication date	Oct 4, 2016
Grant date	Oct 4, 2016

Abstract

Systems are provided for a fuel system comprising an external refueling request switch accessible at or near a refueling door, thus enabling methods that may include initiating depressurization of a fuel tank responsive to an operator engaging the refueling request switch. The status of depressurization may be communicated to the operator via on one or more LED displays located either inside the refueling assembly or located at the refueling door. In this way, refueling requests may be initiated by a refueling operator, and by relaying the status of depressurization to the operator, any confusion on the part of the operator may be avoided.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method for a vehicle, comprising:
responsive to receiving a refueling request via a refuel request button located at a refueling door,
adjust a potentiometer of a refueling door switch coupled to the refuel request button, the refueling door having an LED display on an exterior of the refueling door;
depressurize a fuel tank while restricting access to a fuel fill line responsive to receiving the refueling requests;
indicate a status of depressurization on the LED display; and
unlock the refueling door responsive to a fuel tank pressure decreasing below a threshold.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein adjusting the potentiometer further includes moving a wiper of the potentiometer to a first position to indicate a full voltage differential while depressurizing the fuel tank.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising upon completion of refueling, adjusting the potentiometer by moving the wiper to a second position to indicate a half voltage differential to restrict access to the fuel fill line and maintain the refueling door in a locked state.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein allowing access to the fuel fill line includes moving the wiper to a third position to indicate a zero voltage differential to unlock the refueling door.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving an indication that a refueling event has ended;
sealing the fuel tank; and
locking the refueling door to restrict access to the fuel fill line.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein receiving the indication that the refueling event has ended comprises detecting the refueling door in a closed state.

7. A fuel system for a vehicle, comprising:
a fuel tank;
a refueling inlet configured to receive a fuel dispensing nozzle;
a fuel fill line coupled between the refueling inlet and the fuel tank;
a refueling door located in a body panel of the vehicle having one or more LED displays and a refueling button, wherein the refueling button is coupled to a potentiometer and wherein the refueling button is configured to:
displace inwards responsive to the refueling door being displaced inwards;
displace outwards responsive to the refueling door being displaced outwards; and
return to a neutral position responsive to the refueling door being closed:

wherein the potentiometer is configured to:
indicate a full voltage differential responsive to inward displacement of the refueling button;
indicate a half voltage differential responsive to neutral displacement of the refueling button; and
indicate a zero voltage differential responsive to outward displacement of the refueling button;

a refueling lock configured to restrict access to the refueling inlet; and
a controller configured with instructions stored in non-transitory memory, that when executed, cause the controller to:
responsive to the refueling door being displaced inwards, initiate a fuel tank depressurization sequence while maintaining the refueling lock locked; and then
allow access to the refueling inlet responsive to the fuel tank depressurizing below a pressure threshold.

8. The system of claim 7 , the controller further configured with instructions stored in non-transitory memory, that when executed, cause the controller to:
responsive to the refueling door being displaced outwards, maintain the fuel tank depressurized and the refueling lock unlocked; and then
responsive to the refueling door being closed, seal the fuel tank and lock the refueling lock.

9. The system of claim 7 , where the inward displacement of the refueling button initiates a positive displacement of the potentiometer, the outward displacement of the refueling button initiates a negative displacement of the potentiometer, and the return to the neutral position of the refueling button initiates a neutral displacement of the potentiometer.

10. The system of claim 7 , wherein the controller is further configured with instructions stored in non-transitory memory, that when executed, cause the controller to:
seal the fuel tank and lock the refueling lock responsive to the return to the neutral position of the refueling button.

11. The system of claim 7 , further comprising:
an emergency release cable coupled to a fuel tank isolation valve and the refueling lock; and
wherein the controller is further configured with instructions stored in non-transitory memory, that when executed, cause the controller to:
indicate to pull the emergency release cable responsive to the fuel tank not depressurizing below the pressure threshold.

12. The system of claim 7 , further comprising:
the controller further configured with instructions stored in non-transitory memory, that when executed, cause the controller to:
dynamically illuminate the one or more LED displays concurrent with the fuel tank depressurization sequence.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the controller is further configured with instructions stored in non-transitory memory, that when executed, cause the controller to:
dynamically illuminate the one or more LED displays responsive to changes in a fuel tank fuel level.

14. A method for a vehicle, comprising:
receiving an indication of a voltage differential from a potentiometer indicating a refueling request, the refueling request comprising an operator inwardly pressing a refueling door configured to engage the potentiometer, the refueling door including an LED display located on an exterior;
depressurizing a fuel tank while maintaining the refueling door locked;
unlocking the refueling door when a fuel tank pressure is below a pressure threshold;
receiving an indication of a voltage differential from the potentiometer indicating the refueling door is open;
receiving an indication of a voltage differential from the potentiometer indicating the refueling door is closed; and
sealing the fuel tank and locking the refueling door responsive to the indication of the voltage differential from the potentiometer indicating the refueling door is closed.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein:
the voltage differential from the potentiometer indicating the refueling request is a 5 volt differential;
the voltage differential from the potentiometer indicating the refueling door is closed is a 2.5 volt differential; and
the voltage differential from the potentiometer indicating the refueling door is open is a 0 volt differential.

16. The method of claim 14 , further comprising illuminating the LED display to convey to the operator a fuel tank status during refueling.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the fuel tank status includes a fuel tank pressure and the LED display is configured to dynamically illuminate concurrent with a fuel tank depressurization sequence.

18. The method of claim 16 , wherein the fuel tank status includes a fuel tank fill level and the LED display is configured to dynamically illuminate responsive to changes in the fuel tank fill level.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Lindlbauer Michael Paul
• Bolger Bryan Michael
• Meissner Herbert Thomas
• Schesnuk Roman
• Dudar Aed M
• Yang Dennis Seung-Man
• Pearce Russell Randall

Classifications

• F17D5/02

  Preventing, monitoring, or locating loss · CPC title

• B60K15/05 Primary

  Inlet covers · CPC title

• Y10T137/7069

  With lock or seal · CPC title

• B60K2015/0561

  Locking means for the inlet cover · CPC title

• Y10T137/0396

  Involving pressure control · CPC title