Fuel cap detection system

• US 10,173,520 B1
• Filed: 09/29/2017
• Issued: 01/08/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nissan North America Incorporated (Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Guo, Yichao, Kowalkowski, Janean
• Primary Examiner(s): Feild, Joseph H
• Assistant Examiner(s): Point, Rufus C
• Application Number:
  US15/720,748
• Time in Patent Office: 466 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/035 characterised by venting means
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/03504 adapted to avoid loss of fuel or fuel vapour, e.g. with vapour recovery systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/04 Tank inlets B60K15/077 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/0406 Filler caps for fuel tanks
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/03561 Venting means working at specific times
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/0493 Means for checking absence or presence of closure cap
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 25/0809 Judging failure of purge control system
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 25/0836 Arrangement of valves controlling the admission of fuel vapour to an engine, e.g. valve being disposed between fuel tank or absorption canister and intake manifold

Abstract

A fuel cap detection system includes a charcoal canister, a notification system, and an electronic controller. The charcoal canister is connected to a fuel tank of a vehicle, the charcoal canister includes a vent valve. The notification system is configured to notify a user when a fuel cap is incorrectly positioned. The electronic controller is configured to perform a leak detection test on the fuel tank by activating the vent valve in the charcoal canister to determine whether the fuel cap is positioned incorrectly, and determine an intent of the user to reposition the fuel cap while the notification system notifies the user that the fuel cap is incorrectly positioned.

Claims

1. A fuel cap detection system, comprising:

a charcoal canister connected to a fuel tank of a vehicle, the charcoal canister including a vent valve;

a notification system configured to notify a user when a fuel cap is incorrectly positioned; and

an electronic controller configured to perform a leak detection test on the fuel tank by activating the vent valve in the charcoal canister to determine whether the fuel cap is positioned incorrectly, and determine an intent of the user to reposition the fuel cap while the notification system notifies the user that the fuel cap is incorrectly positioned, the intent of the user to reposition the fuel cap based on at least one of a change in vehicle velocity, placing the vehicle in park and opening a door of the vehicle.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein

the electronic controller is configured to determine the intent of the user to reposition the fuel cap based on a velocity of the vehicle.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein

the electronic controller is configured to determine the intent of the user to reposition the fuel cap based on a transmission status of the vehicle.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein

the electronic controller is configured to determine the intent of the user to reposition the fuel cap based on a status change in a door of the vehicle.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein

the electronic controller is configured to perform the leak detection test on the fuel tank subsequent to a determination that the user intends to reposition the fuel cap.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein

the notification system is configured to provide at least one of a visual notification, an auditory notification and haptic feedback.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein

the electronic controller is configured to perform the leak detection test on the fuel tank by closing the vent valve in the charcoal canister and determining the pressure in the fuel tank.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein

the electronic controller is configured to cause the notification system to deactivate based on the intent of the user.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein

the electronic controller is configured to determine whether a refueling event has occurred.

16. The system according to claim 1, wherein

the notification system is configured to provide at least one of a visual notification, an auditory notification and haptic feedback.

17. The system according to claim 1, wherein

the electronic controller is configured to determine whether a refueling event has occurred.

10. A fuel cap detection system, comprising:

a charcoal canister connected to a fuel system of a vehicle, the charcoal canister including a vent valve;

a notification system configured to notify a user when a fuel cap of the vehicle is incorrectly positioned; and

an electronic controller configured to perform a leak detection test on the fuel tank by activating the vent valve in the charcoal canister to determine whether the fuel system has a leak, and when pressure in the fuel tank is less than a threshold pressure at less than a predetermined amount of time determine that the leak is caused by a first opening having a diameter no greater than a predetermined diameter, and when the pressure in the fuel tank is greater than the threshold pressure at greater than the predetermined amount of time determine the leak is caused by a second opening having a diameter greater than the predetermined diameter, cause the notification system to notify the user that the fuel cap is incorrectly positioned when the leak is caused by the second opening, and determine an intent of the user to reposition the fuel cap while the notification system notifies the user that the fuel cap is incorrectly positioned, the intent of the user to reposition the fuel cap based on at least one of a change in vehicle velocity, placing the vehicle in park and opening a door of the vehicle.

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein

the electronic controller is configured to determine an intent of the user to reposition the fuel cap while the notification system notifies the user that the fuel cap is incorrectly positioned.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein

the electronic controller is configured to determine the intent of the user to reposition the fuel cap based on the velocity of the vehicle.

13. The system according to claim 12, wherein

the electronic controller is configured to determine the intent of the user to reposition the fuel cap based on at least one of a transmission status of the vehicle and a status change in a door of the vehicle.

14. The system according to claim 13, wherein

the electronic controller is configured to perform the leak detection test on the fuel tank subsequent to the determination that the user intends to reposition the fuel cap.

15. The system according to claim 14, wherein

the electronic controller is configured to cause the notification system to deactivate based on the intent of the user.