METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR SELECTIVELY FUELLING A VEHICLE

• US 20100230001A1
• Filed: 03/12/2009
• Published: 09/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Elwart, Shane
• Granted Patent: US 8,627,858 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 141/35
• 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 15/073 Tank construction specially adapted to the vehicle B60K15/077 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/03118 Multiple tanks, i.e. two or more separate tanks supplementary tanks inside the fuel tank B60K2015/03105
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/03131 Systems for filling dual tanks
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/03157 for supply different types of fuel to the motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/0319 with electronic systems, e.g. for controlling fuelling or venting for LPG tanks B60K2015/03013
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7758 Pilot or servo controlled

Abstract

Methods and systems for selectively fuelling a vehicle are provided. One example method of fuelling a vehicle may include receiving a fuel in a fuel reservoir in the vehicle, and directing the fuel to one of a plurality of storage tanks based on a fuel type. In one example, the directing of fuel may include adjusting one or more fuelling valves positioned between the fuel reservoir and the plurality of storage tanks to vary a direction of fuel flow to the plurality of storage tanks.

Claims

1. A method for selectively fuelling a vehicle, comprising:

receiving a fuel in a fuel reservoir in the vehicle; and

directing the fuel to one of a plurality of storage tanks based on a fuel type.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein directing the fuel includes adjusting one or more fuelling valves positioned between the fuel reservoir and the plurality of storage tanks to vary a direction of fuel flow to the plurality of storage tanks.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein directing the fuel includes opening a first fuelling valve, positioned between the fuel reservoir and a first storage tank, while keeping a second fuelling valve, positioned between the fuel reservoir and a second storage tank, closed when a first fuel type is received at the fuel reservoir, and opening the second fuelling valve while keeping the first fuelling valve closed when a second fuel type is received at the fuel reservoir.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the fuel type is detected by a chemical fuel type sensor coupled to the fuel reservoir, the fuel type sensor being configured to send a fuel type signal to an electronic controller.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein a fuel type signal is received at an electronic controller from a fuel type transmitter, the fuel type transmitter being exterior to the vehicle.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein a fuel type signal is generated by a switching of a mechanical switch, the mechanical switch being configured to be selectively switched by an insertion of a fuel filling nozzle, and the mechanical switch being further configured to send a fuel type signal to an electronic controller.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein the electronic controller is configured to wirelessly receive the fuel type signal.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein directing the fuel to one of a plurality of storage tanks is further based on a level of fuel in at least one storage tank.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the fuel is directed to a second storage tank when the level of fuel in a first storage tank is above a first full tank threshold, and wherein the fuel is directed to the first storage tank when the level of fuel in the second storage tank is above a second full tank threshold, and wherein the fuel is directed via a drain tube coupling the fuel reservoir to the first storage tank and the second storage tank.

10. The method of claim 3, wherein a first fuel type is delivered to the first storage tank and a second fuel type, having a higher knock suppression than a first fuel type, is delivered to the second storage tank, wherein the second storage tank is smaller than the first storage tank.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the second fuel type includes a higher alcohol content than the first fuel type.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising selectively delivering fuel, from one or more of the first storage tank and the second storage tank to the engine, based on engine operating conditions, wherein selectively delivering fuel includes one or more of directly injecting fuel to at least one cylinder of the engine from the second storage tank, and port injecting fuel to at least one cylinder of the engine from the first storage tank.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising adjusting an amount of fuel delivered from the first storage tank to the engine and the amount of fuel delivered from the second storage tank to the engine, responsive to an intake air boost level.

14. A vehicle including a fuel system, the fuel system comprising:

a fuel reservoir;

one or more fuelling valves positioned downstream the fuel reservoir;

a plurality of storage tanks configured to selectively receive fuel based on one or more positions of one or more fuelling valves; and

an electronic controller configured to receive a fuel type signal and further configured to adjust positioning of the fuelling valves to control fuel flow from the fuel reservoir into the one or more storage tanks based on a fuel type and a fuel level in one or more storage tanks.

15. The fuel system of claim 14, further comprising a fuel type sensor coupled to the fuel reservoir, wherein the fuel type sensor is configured to send a fuel type signal to the electronic controller.

16. The fuel system of claim 15, wherein the electronic controller is configured to open a first fuelling valve, positioned between the fuel reservoir and a first storage tank, while keeping a second fuelling valve, positioned between the fuel reservoir and a second storage tank, closed when a first fuel type is detected at the fuel reservoir, and to open the second fuelling valve while keeping the first fuelling valve closed when a second fuel type is detected at the fuel reservoir.

17. The fuel system of claim 16, wherein the second fuel type includes a fuel with a higher knock suppression than a first fuel type, and wherein the first fuel type is directed to the first storage tank and the second fuel type is directed to the second storage tank, the second storage tank being smaller than the first storage tank.

18. The fuel system of claim 14, wherein the electronic controller is configured to receive the fuel type signal from a fuel type transmitter coupled exterior to the vehicle.

19. The fuel system of claim 16, wherein the electronic controller is further configured to selectively deliver fuel to the engine, from one or more of the first storage tank and the second storage tank, based on engine operating conditions.

20. A vehicle including a fuel system, the fuel system comprising:

a fuel reservoir configured to receive a flow of a fuel;

a first storage tank in fluid connection with the fuel reservoir;

a first fuelling valve disposed fluidically between the fuel reservoir and the first storage tank;

a second storage tank in fluid connection with the fuel reservoir;

a second fuelling valve disposed fluidically between the fuel detection reservoir and the second storage tank;

a fuel type sensor configured to detect a fuel type in the fuel detection reservoir; and

an electronic controller configured to;

open the first fuelling valve while keeping the second fuelling valve closed when a first fuel type is detected at the fuel reservoir, and to open the second fuelling valve while keeping the first fuelling valve closed when a second fuel type is detected at the fuel reservoir;

wherein the second fuel type includes a fuel with a higher alcohol content than the first fuel type; and

wherein the second fuel type is delivered to the second storage tank, the second storage tank being smaller than the first storage tank.