Fuel or Additive Pump Controller

• US 20090063027A1
• Filed: 08/23/2006
• Published: 03/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Inergy Automotive Systems Research (Societe Anonyme) (Solvac SA)
• Original Assignee: Inergy Automotive Systems Research (Societe Anonyme) (Solvac SA)
• Inventors: McCleary, Scott, McCleary, Ryan, Hill, David, Behar, Ron, Grant, Eric, Mehta, Saurin
• Application Number:
  US12/064,351
• Publication Number:
  US 20090063027A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/112
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 28/14 responsive to accident or emergency, e.g. deceleration, tilt of vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/0616 Position of fuel or air injector
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/22 Safety or indicating devices for abnormal conditions in air/fuel ratio feedback systems F02D41/1495, in electric control linkage F02D11/107, in purge control systems F02M25/0809
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/3082 Control of electrical fuel pumps
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 63/0205 for cutting-out pumps or injectors in case of abnormal operation of the engine or the injection apparatus, e.g. over-speed, break-down of fuel pumps or injectors safety devices acting on engine fuel system on lubricant pressure failure F01M1/24; for cutting-out pumps for stopping the engine

Abstract

Fuel or additive pump controller is integrated to a fuel system control unit (FSCU), and communicates with an engine control unit (ECU) and/or crash sensors through communication means. The controller comprises means for generating a pump control signal. Said means use data on crash occurrence from the ECU or from said crash sensors for turning off the pump or limiting the pump speed in case of crash.

Claims

1. A fuel or additive pump controller integrated to a fuel or additive system control unit (FSCU) (5), and communicating with an engine control unit (ECU) (1) and/or crash sensors (2)(3) through communication means (4);

said controller comprising means (6) for generating a pump control signal;

said means (6) using data on crash occurrence from the ECU (1) or from said crash sensors (2)(3) for turning off the pump or limiting the pump speed in case of crash.

2. The C controller according to claim 1, wherein said means (6) use variable speed control to calculate pump speed in case of normal function.

3. The controller according to claim 1, wherein the ECU (1) uses data on crash occurrence from crash sensors (2)(3).

4. The controller according to claim 3, wherein at least one sensor is an airbag crash sensor.

5. The controller according to claim 1, comprising power driver means responsive to said pump control signal for generating a power electrical signal to the pump.

6. The controller according to claim 5, wherein said power electrical signal is varied utilizing a pulse-width modulation (PWM) variable duty cycle signal.

7. The controller according to claim 1, wherein the FSCU comprises other controlling functionalities beside that of controlling the pump.

8. The controller according to claim 7, wherein said controlling functionalities comprise on-board diagnostics (OBD) and venting.

9. The controller according to claim 7, wherein the purging of a fuel or additive vapour canister is under the control of the FSCU.

10. The controller according to claim 1, wherein the FSCU also comprises components for providing indication of a refueling event of a fuel tank, to control vapour venting of a fuel system, to control an additive dosing system or to control a capless fill head.

11. The controller according to claim 1, wherein the controller communicates with the ECU via a CAN bus.