Methods and systems for aging a fuel tank in a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle

• US 10,272,771 B2
• Filed: 06/10/2016
• Issued: 04/30/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Dudar, Aed M., Yang, Dennis Seung-Man, Pearce, Russell Randall, Castleberry, Larry
• Primary Examiner(s): McPherson, James M
• Application Number:
  US15/178,797
• Publication Number:
  US 20170355260A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,054 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 71/00 After-treatment of articles without altering their shape; Apparatus therefor B29C44/56, B29C73/00 take precedence; surface shaping B29C59/00 ; for joined or sealed parts B29C66/03; after-treatment specially adapted for vulcanising tyres B29D30/0633
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/7172 Fuel tanks, jerry cans
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/03177 made of non-metallic material, e.g. plastics, or of a combination of non-metallic and metallic material B60K15/03006 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/03519 Valve arrangements in the vent line
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/073 Tank construction specially adapted to the vehicle B60K15/077 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/0319 with electronic systems, e.g. for controlling fuelling or venting
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/0321 characterised by special sensors, the mounting thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/03217 Fuel level sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/03493 made of plastics
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/03514 with vapor recovery means
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/03538 the venting tube being connected with the filler tube
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/03552 the venting means are integrated into the fuel filler pipe
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/40 characterised by the assembly or relative disposition of components
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/14 Conductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/00 Control systems specially adapted for hybrid vehicles hybrid vehicle design, B60K6/00; electric vehicles B60L
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2530/00 Input parameters relating to vehicle conditions or values, not covered by groups B60W2510/00 or B60W2520/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/90 Vehicles comprising electric prime movers
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/92 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2400/10 Energy storage devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2400/302 Temperature sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2400/306 : Pressure sensors
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/021 : Introducing corrections for particular conditions exterior to the engine conjoint control of vehicle sub-units for propelling the vehicle B60W30/18
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/042 : for stopping the engine
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/2406 : using essentially read only memories
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/26 : using computer, e.g. microprocessor
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/3082 : Control of electrical fuel pumps
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 : Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 : Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 : Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 : Plug-in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/904 : Component specially adapted for hev
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/951 : Assembly or relative location of components

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.

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.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the plastic fuel tank aging is directly related to a temperature of fuel in the plastic fuel tank.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the plastic fuel tank aging is directly related to an operating time of the fuel pump during the plurality of plug-in events.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the contents include fuel, and wherein the plastic fuel tank aging is directly related to a fuel volatility scalar of the fuel in the plastic fuel tank.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the plastic fuel tank aging is related to a fuel pressure in the plastic fuel tank during the plurality of plug-in events.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising shutting off the fuel pump during the plurality of plug-in events when a fuel pressure in the plastic fuel tank reaches a preset pressure.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of plug-in event comprise recharging the battery which supplies electrical power to an electric motor which propels the vehicle under certain operating conditions.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the aging is related to a chemical reaction between the plastic fuel tank and the fuel vapors.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the aging reduces flexibility of the plastic fuel tank.