Methods and systems for aging a fuel tank in a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for a plug-in hybrid vehicle, comprising:
- during a plurality of plug-in events to recharge a battery of the vehicle, isolate contents within a plastic fuel tank from both an internal combustion engine of the vehicle and from atmosphere; and
operating a fuel pump coupled to the plastic fuel tank during each of the plurality of the plug-in events until the plastic fuel tank becomes aged to a predetermined degree by fuel vapors generated therein, where aging the plastic fuel tank to the predetermined degree is expanding the plastic fuel tank to a dimensional equilibrium.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and systems are provided for aging a new plastic fuel tank in a vehicle. In one example, during a plug-in event to recharge a battery of the vehicle, the fuel tank is isolated and the fuel pump is actuated to agitate fuel within the tank and increase fuel vapors until the plastic fuel tank becomes aged to a predetermined degree by fuel vapors generated therein. In this manner, the fuel tank is aged more rapidly, resulting in more accurate fuel level readings and less noise and vibration.
-
Citations
9 Claims
-
1. A method for a plug-in hybrid vehicle, comprising:
-
during a plurality of plug-in events to recharge a battery of the vehicle, isolate contents within a plastic fuel tank from both an internal combustion engine of the vehicle and from atmosphere; and operating a fuel pump coupled to the plastic fuel tank during each of the plurality of the plug-in events until the plastic fuel tank becomes aged to a predetermined degree by fuel vapors generated therein, where aging the plastic fuel tank to the predetermined degree is expanding the plastic fuel tank to a dimensional equilibrium. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
Specification