FUELING SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20100180983A1
• Filed: 01/16/2009
• Published: 07/22/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ford Motor Company
• Original Assignee: Ford Motor Company
• Inventors: Hashim, Hasdi R., Siddiqui, Shahid Ahmed
• Application Number:
  US12/355,447
• Publication Number:
  US 20100180983A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 141/98
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/03 Fuel tanks chassis frame comprising fluid storage compartment B62D21/16 ; Details of the fuel feeding system related to the fuel tank F02M37/0076
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/04 Tank inlets B60K15/077 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/03197 Systems for exchanging data
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/03217 Fuel level sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/03223 comprising at least two level fuel sensors

Abstract

A fuel storage system includes a fuel tank, a fueling receptacle in fluid communication with the tank, and a coil adjacent the fueling receptacle. The system also includes a controller configured to determine information about a state of fuel in the tank, and to cause a modulated current to be driven into the coil to generate an electromagnetic field. The modulated current represents the information about the state of fuel in the tank.

Claims

1. A fuel storage system comprising:

a fuel tank;

a fueling receptacle in fluid communication with the tank;

a coil adjacent the fueling receptacle; and

a controller configured to determine information about a state of fuel in the tank and to cause a modulated current to be driven into the coil to generate an electromagnetic field, the modulated current representing the information about the state of fuel in the tank.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the fueling receptacle concentrates the electromagnetic field.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the state comprises a pressure in the tank.

4. The system of claim 3 further comprising a pressure sensor configured to sense the pressure in the tank.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the state comprises a temperature in the tank.

6. The system of claim 5 further comprising a temperature sensor configured to sense the temperature in the tank.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the electromagnetic field is capable of inducing a current flow in another coil.

19. The system of claim 1 wherein the coil surrounds the fueling receptacle.

8. An automotive fuel storage system comprising:

a tank;

a fueling port in fluid communication with the tank;

a coil wrapped around the fueling port;

a sensor configured to sense a condition of fuel in the tank; and

a controller configured to drive a modulated current into the coil based on the condition of the fuel to generate an electromagnetic field.

9. The system of claim 9 wherein the fueling port concentrates the electromagnetic field.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the condition comprises a pressure of the fuel in the tank.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein the condition comprises a temperature of the fuel in the tank.

12. The system of claim 9 wherein the sensor comprises a pressure sensor.

13. The system of claim 9 wherein the sensor comprises a temperature sensor.

14. The system of claim 9 wherein the electromagnetic field is capable of inducing a current flow in another coil.

15. A method for refueling an automotive vehicle comprising:

while receiving fuel into a fueling receptacle in fluid communication with a tank, (i) determining information about a state of fuel in the tank and (ii) driving a modulated current into a coil surrounding the fueling receptacle based on the information to generate an electromagnetic field.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein determining information about a state of fuel in a tank includes sensing the state of fuel in the tank.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the state comprise a temperature.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein the state comprises a pressure.