Vehicle fuel management system

• US 20060225709A1
• Filed: 06/05/2006
• Published: 10/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Uusi LLC (Nartron Corporation)
• Original Assignee: John E. Mitchell, John Washeleski, Randall L. Perrin
• Inventors: Washeleski, John, Perrin, Randall L., Mitchell, John E.
• Granted Patent: US 7,377,253 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 123/478
• 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 15/03519 Valve arrangements in the vent line
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/0319 with electronic systems, e.g. for controlling fuelling or venting
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/03557 comprising elements of the venting device integrated in the fuel tank, e.g. vapor recovery means
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/003 Adding fuel vapours, e.g. drawn from engine fuel reservoir
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/0032 Controlling the purging of the canister as a function of the engine operating conditions
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/0045 Estimating, calculating or determining the purging rate, amount, flow or concentration
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/266 the computer being backed-up or assisted by another circuit, e.g. analogue
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/3082 Control of electrical fuel pumps
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/3809 Common rail control systems common rail apparatus F02M55/025, F02M63/0225
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 25/08 adding fuel vapours drawn from engine fuel reservoir electrical control of purge system F02D41/003
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 25/089 Layout of the fuel vapour installation
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 37/0082 Devices inside the fuel tank other than fuel pumps or filters electrical pumps submerged in fuel tanks F02M37/10, jet pumps F02M37/025
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 37/106 the pump being installed in a sub-tank

Abstract

An integrated fuel management system and method for controlling the fuel storage and delivery in a vehicle. The fuel management system includes a fuel storage tank for storing fuel in a vehicle, a vapor collection canister located within the fuel storage tank, a vent actuator coupled to the vapor collection canister for venting gas from the canister during a vent operation, and a purge actuator is coupled to the vapor collection canister for purging fuel vapor from the vapor collection canister during a purge operation. A variable speed fuel pump is disposed within the fuel storage tank for delivering fuel to a fuel delivery line for an engine. The fuel management system has a controller provided in a module disposed in communication with the fuel for controlling the amount of fuel pumped with the variable speed fuel pump to deliver fuel to the fuel delivery line and further controlling the purge and vent actuators.

Claims

1. A fuel management system for managing fuel storage and delivery in a vehicle, said fuel management system comprising:

a fuel storage tank for storing fuel in a vehicle;

a vapor collection canister coupled to the fuel storage tank for collecting evaporated fuel vapor;

a purge actuator coupled to the vapor collection canister for purging fuel vapor from the vapor collection canister during a purge operation;

a vent actuator coupled to the fuel storage tank for venting gas from the fuel storage tank during a vent operation;

a fuel pump disposed within the fuel storage tank for delivering fuel to a fuel delivery line for an engine; and

a controller provided in a module disposed in fluid communication with the fuel, said controller controlling the fuel pump to deliver fuel to the fuel delivery line, said controller further controlling the purge and vent actuators to perform the purge and vent operations.

2. The fuel management system as defined in claim 1, wherein the fuel pump comprises a variable speed fuel pump.

3. The fuel management system as defined in claim 1 further comprising an electrically operated valve disposed in a fuel fill opening in communication with the fuel storage tank, wherein the valve is controlled by the controller.

4. The fuel management system as defined in claim 3 further comprising a fill neck sensor for sensing the presence of a fuel fill dispenser in the fuel fill tube, wherein the electrically operated valve is controlled to open and allow fuel fill into the fuel storage tank based on an output from the fill neck sensor.

5. The fuel management system as defined in claim 1, wherein the controller controls a fuel fill operation by controlling the vent actuator.

6. The fuel management system as defined in claim 1, wherein the controller determines the amount of gas vented from the fuel storage tank during a vent gas operation.

7. The fuel management system as defined in claim 1, wherein the controller is provided in a module disposed in fluid communication with the fuel.

8. The fuel management system as defined in claim 7, wherein the module is located within the fuel storage tank.

11. The fuel management system as defined in claim 8, wherein the controller is provided in a module disposed in fluid communication with the fuel.

12. The fuel management system as defined in claim 11, wherein the module is located within the fuel storage tank.

9. A fuel management system for managing fuel storage and delivery in a vehicle, said fuel management system comprising:

a fuel storage tank for storing fuel in a vehicle;

fuel injectors for injecting fuel into an engine;

an engine control module for controlling operation of the engine including controlling the fuel injectors to inject fuel into the engine;

a fuel delivery line supplying fuel to the fuel injectors;

a fuel pump disposed within the fuel storage tank for delivering fuel to the fuel delivery line; and

a local controller located in close proximity to the fuel storage tank, said local controller controlling the fuel pump to deliver fuel to the fuel delivery line.

10. The fuel management system as defined in claim 9, wherein the fuel pump comprises a variable speed fuel pump.

13. The fuel management system as defined in claim 9, further comprising an electrically operated valve disposed in a fuel fill opening in communication with the fuel storage tank, wherein the valve is controlled by the local controller.

14. The fuel management system as defined in claim 9, wherein the local controller controls a fuel fill operation by controlling a vent actuator coupled to the fuel storage tank for venting gas from the fuel storage tank.

15. The fuel management system as defined in claim 9, wherein the local controller determines an amount of gas to be vented from the fuel storage tank during a venting operation.

16. A fuel delivery system for delivering fuel from a storage tank to a fuel delivery line for an engine in a vehicle, said fuel delivery system comprising:

a variable speed fuel pump for pumping fuel from a storage tank to a fuel delivery line, said fuel pump comprising a variable speed electric motor operable at multiple speeds;

a sensor for monitoring a load demand characteristic of the vehicle; and

a controller for controlling the speed of the electric motor as a function of the monitored load demand characteristic, said controller commanding a first motor speed during a sensed high load demand characteristic and further commanding a second lower motor speed during a sensed low load demand characteristic, wherein the controller is provided in a module disposed in fluid communication with the fuel.

17. The fuel delivery system as defined in claim 16, wherein the fuel delivery system further comprises a fuel return line coupled between the fuel delivery line and the fuel storage tank, wherein pumped fuel circulates through the return line to the fuel storage tank, and wherein said controller controls the pump to achieve a desired fuel flow rate in the return line.

18. The fuel delivery system as defined in claim 17, wherein the sensor comprises a flow sensor for sensing flow of fuel within the return line, and said controller controls the pump as a function of the sensed fuel flow.

19. The fuel delivery system as defined in claim 18, wherein the flow sensor comprises a moveable valve assembly disposed within a passage, wherein the flow sensor senses flow as a function of movement of the valve assembly.

20. The fuel delivery system as defined in claim 19, wherein the flow sensor comprises a Hall-effect sensor further comprising a spring for biasing the valve assembly.

21. The fuel delivery system as defined in claim 18, wherein the flow sensor is in heat transfer relationship with the fuel so as to cool electronics associated with the flow sensor.

22. The fuel delivery system as defined in claim 16 further comprising a regulator coupled between the fuel pump and the fuel delivery line, wherein the regulator regulates the amount of fuel pressure at the fuel delivery line and returns fuel to the fuel storage tank.

23. The fuel delivery system as defined in claim 16, wherein the module is located in the fuel storage tank.

24. The fuel delivery system as defined in claim 16, wherein the module comprises a fluid flow passage, wherein pumped fluid flows through the fluid flow passage to cool the module.

25. The fuel delivery system as defined in claim 16, wherein the sensor comprises a pressure sensor for sensing pressure of fuel supplied to the fuel rail.

26. A fuel delivery system for delivering fuel from a storage tank to a fuel delivery line for an engine in a vehicle, said fuel delivery system comprising:

a variable speed fuel pump for pumping fuel from a storage tank to a fuel delivery line, said fuel pump comprising a variable speed electric motor operable at variable speeds;

a return line in fluid communication with the fluid delivery line;

a flow sensor for sensing flow rate of fuel through the return line; and

a controller controlling the speed of the electric motor as a function of the sensed flow rate.

27. The fuel delivery system as defined in claim 26, wherein the controller controls the variable speed pump to achieve a desired fuel flow rate in the return line.

28. The fuel delivery system as defined in claim 26, wherein the flow sensor comprises a moveable valve assembly disposed within a passage, wherein the flow sensor senses flow as a function of movement of the valve assembly.

29. The fuel delivery system as defined in claim 28, wherein the flow sensor comprises a Hall-effect sensor further comprising a spring for biasing the valve assembly.

30. The fuel delivery system as defined in claim 26, wherein the flow sensor is in heat transfer relationship with the fuel so as to cool electronics associated with the flow sensor.

31. The fuel delivery system as defined in claim 26 further comprising a regulator coupled between the fuel pump and the fuel delivery line, wherein the regulator regulates the amount of fuel pressure at the fuel delivery line and returns fuel to the fuel storage tank.

32. The fuel delivery system as defined in claim 26, wherein the controller is disposed in a module located in fluid communication with the fuel.

33. The fuel delivery system as defined in claim 32, wherein the module is located in the fuel storage tank.

34. The fuel delivery system as defined in claim 32, wherein the module comprises a fluid flow passage, wherein pumped fluid flows through the fluid flow passage to cool the module.

35. The fuel delivery system as defined in claim 26 further comprising a non-contacting fuel level sensor located within the fuel storage tank and communicating with the controller.

36. The fuel delivery system as defined in claim 26 further comprising a fuel composition sensor located within the fuel storage tank and communicating with the controller.

37. A fuel delivery system for storing and delivering fuel from a storage tank to a fuel rail of an engine in a vehicle, said fuel delivery system comprising:

a fuel storage tank for storing fuel in a vehicle;

a fuel delivery line providing a fuel delivery passage to a fuel rail;

a variable speed fuel pump located within the fuel storage tank for pumping fuel from within the fuel storage tank to a fuel delivery line, said fuel pump comprising a variable speed electric motor operable at multiple speeds;

a return line in fluid communication with the fuel delivery line;

a flow sensor for sensing fuel flow through the return line and generating a flow signal; and

a controller located within the fuel storage tank for controlling the fuel pump electric motor, said controller commanding the fuel pump motor to one of a plurality of speeds as a function of the sensed fuel flow in the return line so as to maintain a predetermined fuel flow rate in the return line.

38. The fuel delivery system as defined in claim 37, wherein the flow sensor is in heat transfer relationship with the fuel so as to cool electronics associated with the flow sensor.

39. The fuel delivery system as defined in claim 37, wherein the flow sensor comprises a Hall-effect sensor having a valve assembly and a spring for biasing the valve assembly, wherein the flow sensor senses flow as a function of movement of the valve assembly.

40. The fuel delivery system as defined in claim 37, wherein the controller is disposed in a module located in fluid communication with the fuel.

41. A vapor fuel management system for managing fuel vapor in a fuel storage tank of a vehicle, said fuel management system comprising:

a vapor collection canister located within the fuel storage tank for collecting evaporated fuel vapor;

a vent actuator coupled to the fuel storage tank for venting gas from the fuel storage tank during a vent operation;

a purge actuator coupled to the vapor collection canister for purging fuel vapor from the vapor collection canister during a purge operation; and

a controller for controlling the vent actuator and purge actuator, said controller further controlling the vent actuator during a fuel fill operation to control the dispensing of fuel into the fuel storage tank.

42. The vapor fuel management system as defined in claim 41, wherein the controller comprises a local controller separate from the engine controller.

43. A method of venting gas from within a fuel storage tank of a vehicle, said method comprising the steps of:

sensing an internal pressure within the fuel storage tank; and

controlling a vent actuator as a function of the sensed internal pressure.

44. The method as defined in claim 43, wherein the step of controlling the vent actuator comprises processing the sensed internal pressure with a local controller located separate from the engine controller, wherein the local controller generates a signal to control the vent actuator.

45. A method of venting a fuel storage tank in a vehicle, said method comprising the steps of:

sensing a pressure within the fuel storage tank; and

controlling a vent actuator as a function of the sensed pressure.

46. A method of controlling a fuel fill passage in a vehicle, said method comprising the steps of:

sensing a condition indicative of a vehicle collision; and

closing a valve disposed within the fuel fill passage in response to detecting the vehicle collision condition so as to prevent the flow of fuel through the fuel fill passage.