METHOD AND DEVICE FOR PREVENTING A SURGING OF FLUIDS IN A TANK OF A TANK TRUCK

• US 20110307151A1
• Filed: 11/10/2008
• Published: 12/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Volvo Lastvagnar AB (Volvo AB)
• Original Assignee: Volvo Lastvagnar AB (Volvo AB)
• Inventors: Eriksson, Anders, Bjernetun, Johan
• Granted Patent: US 9,174,624 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/54
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 3/2235 Anti-slosh arrangements for tank containers B65D90/52
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/02 including control of driveline clutches
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/06 including control of combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/11 Stepped gearings
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2530/10 Weight
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2530/209 Fuel quantity remaining in tank
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18027 Drive off, accelerating from standstill

Abstract

A method and device for preventing a surging of fluids in a tank of a tank truck, during transportation, the tank truck having a drive train including an internal combustion engine, a clutch device and an automatic or automated transmission device, and the drive train is controlled by an electronic control unit (ECU), which prepared to receive input data from an arrangement for detecting a tank drive mode and sensors for sensing, a load status of the tank truck. The method includes detecting a tank drive mode, calculating a launch gear, and limiting the clutch device torque gradient.

Claims

1. A method for preventing a surging of fluids in a tank of a tank truck, during transportation, the tank truck having a drive train comprising an internal combustion engine, a clutch device and an automatic or automated manual transmission, and the drive train is controlled by an electronic control unit, which is prepared to receive input data from detecting means for detecting a tank drive mode and sensing means for sensing a load status of the tank truck, the method comprising the steps of:

detecting a tank drive mode

calculating a launch gear, and

limiting the clutch device torque gradient.

2. A method as described in claim 1, and after the step of detecting a tank drive mode and prior to calculating a launch gear further comprising the step of:

sensing a load status of the tank truck

3. A method as described in claim 2, further comprising the steps of:

limiting the engine torque gradient, and/or

reducing the gear change velocity in an acceleration, and/or

disabling a kick down (KD) function.

4. A method as described in claim 1, wherein the tank drive mode is detected by a manual device, operated by a driver and/or by sensor means in or in connection with the tank.

5. A method as described in claim 1, wherein the electronic control unit receives load data from the sensing means, and the calculation of the launch gear is dependent of the received load data, which includes the fill level of the tank and/or the density of the fluid and/or the viscosity of the fluid and/or the mass of the tank truck.

6. A method as described in claim 1, wherein comprising

detecting the data for mass calculation of the tank truck throughout an extended period of time during launch of the tank truck, and—

considering the inertial reaction of the fluid in the mass calculation.

7. A method as described in claim 1, wherein comprising

limiting the brake gradient of auxiliary braking systems of the tank truck, and/or

reducing the gear change velocity of the tank truck during an retardation and/or—

avoiding high engine rotational speeds and or

disabling a brake mode.

8. A method as described in claim 1, wherein comprising

detecting low frequency longitudinal oscillations, in the drive train, derived from the fluid in the tank, and

calculating the timing and intensity of the next change in engine torque, with the requirement, that the next change in torque will counteract with the low frequency longitudinal oscillations in the drive line.

9. A method as described in claim 1, wherein comprising

storing of detected and calculated data, in a storage means, and

accessing via the electronic control unit the data in the storage means instead of detecting and/or calculating new data when the tank circumstances is unchanged, and

replacing of existing data in the storage means, when new data has been detected, and

recalculate “

tank drive mode”

data when detected data has changed.

10. A method as described in claim 1 wherein comprising

detecting an inlet to or an outlet from the tank, and/or

detecting a filled up volume in or drained off volume from the tank.

11. A device for monitoring a tank truck, said the tank truck comprising a tank for transportation of fluids and an electronic control unit, arranged for monitoring the processes of the tank truck and the electronic control unit is prepared to receive input data from detecting means for detecting a tank drive mode and sensing means for sensing a load status of the tank truck wherein the detecting means for a tank drive mode comprises;

sensors in the tank and/or a command unit, at which a driver can activate the tank driving mode, and/or an ECU arranged to activate the tank driving mode upon detection of a predetermined vehicle behaviour.

12. A device as described in claim 11, wherein the sensing means comprises sensors in the tank, tank inlet and/or tank outlet, and instead of the sensors or in combination with the sensors an input unit, in which input unit an operator can specify the content of the tank.

13. A device as described in claim 11, wherein the electronic control unit is connected to a storage means, in which load data and calculated data can be stored.

14. A device as described in claim 11, wherein

means for detecting an inlet in the tank is arranged at the tank inlet, and/or

means for detecting an outlet in the tank is arranged at the tank outlet, and/or

means for detecting an inlet volume in the tank is arranged at the tank inlet, and/or

means for detecting an outlet volume from the tank is arranged at the tank outlet.

15. A tank truck comprising a device according to claim 11.