SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CLOSING A TANK VALVE

• US 20130255636A1
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Published: 10/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Pursifull, Ross Dykstra
• Granted Patent: US 9,422,900 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 123/446
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 19/0613 Switch-over from one fuel to another F02D19/081 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 19/0623 Failure diagnosis or prevention; Safety measures; Testing
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 19/0626 Measuring or estimating parameters related to the fuel supply system
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 19/0628 Determining the fuel pressure, temperature or flow, the fuel tank fill level or a valve position
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2041/225 Leakage detection
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/0602 Fuel pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/0027 the fuel being gaseous non-electrical control F02D19/02
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/221 relating to the failure of actuators or electrically driven elements
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 21/0242 Shut-off valves; Check valves; Safety valves; Pressure relief valves
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 47/00 Fuel-injection apparatus operated cyclically with fuel-injection valves actuated by fluid pressure fuel- injectors actuated by the pressure in engine working cylinders F02M49/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/30 Use of alternative fuels, e.g. biofuels
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 Engine management systems

Abstract

A method for closing a storage tank valve in response to leaks in a fuel line or fuel rail and emptying the tank of a vehicle when no leaks are detected is described. The method includes comparing a tank pressure to a fuel line or fuel rail pressure in order to detect leaks therein and further includes using a dedicated tank pressure sensor to measure the gaseous pressure of the storage tank, and thereby the amount of fuel remaining. In response to leaks in the fuel system, a controller may close an electronic solenoid valve, which reinforces a mechanical excess flow valve, to block the flow of fuel and prevent fuel loss from the gaseous storage tank.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

comparing a tank pressure to one or more of;

a fuel rail pressure and a fuel line pressure, and

closing a tank valve in response to one or more of;

a fuel line pressure lower than a lower threshold and a tank pressure higher than an upper threshold; and

a difference between the fuel rail pressure and regulated pressure above a second threshold.

2. The method of claim 1, where a high-pressure sensor is placed near a storage tank to measure the tank pressure.

3. The method of claim 2, where the high-pressure sensor is attached to the storage tank.

4. The method of claim 1, where a gaseous fuel pressure is measured within a passage between a storage tank and an engine.

5. The method of claim 4, where a gaseous fuel pressure is measured within a fuel rail.

6. The method of claim 4, where a gaseous fuel pressure is measured within a fuel line.

7. The method of claim 4, where a pressure regulator in the passage between the storage tank and engine separates the passage into a high pressure region and a low pressure region.

8. The method of claim 1, where a low pressure in at least one of the fuel rail and fuel line and a high pressure in the storage tank indicates a leak.

9. The method of claim 8, where a tank valve is closed in response to a leak in at least one of:

the fuel rail and fuel line.

10. The method of claim 9, where the tank valve includes an electronic solenoid valve and a mechanical excess flow valve that close in response to a leak detected.

11. The method of claim 10, where the mechanical excess flow valve is self-actuating and closes in response to a leak to at least partially restrict a flow of gas from the storage tank.

12. The method of claim 10, where the electronic solenoid valve closes in response to a leak to completely restrict the flow of gas from the storage tank.

13. A method, comprising:

emptying a fuel tank by solely supplying a gaseous fuel to an engine when a gaseous fuel tank pressure is high, and supplying the gaseous fuel and a liquid fuel when the gaseous fuel tank pressure is low; and

overriding the emptying by closing a gaseous fuel tank valve in response to a low pressure downstream of the gaseous fuel tank valve and a high tank pressure.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising deactivating a fuel injector that is supplied with the gaseous fuel when engine intake manifold pressure is greater than ambient pressure, the overriding further including switching a fuel source.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising deactivating the fuel injector that is supplied with the gaseous fuel when a pressure of the gaseous fuel is substantially at ambient pressure.

16. The method of claim 15, where the fuel injector that is supplied with gaseous fuel injects the gaseous fuel into an intake manifold.

17. A method for emptying a tank, comprising:

supplying a gaseous fuel to an engine via a tank;

operating the engine with the gaseous fuel and a first valve timing at a first condition when a pressure of the gaseous fuel is greater than a first threshold;

operating the engine with the gaseous fuel and a second valve timing at the first condition when the pressure of the gaseous fuel is less than the first threshold; and

overriding the supplying based on an overly high gaseous fuel tank pressure and insufficient gaseous rail pressure.

18. The method of claim 17, where the first condition is an engine speed and load, and wherein the overriding includes closing a gaseous fuel tank valve, the overly high gaseous fuel tank pressure based on a gaseous fuel tank pressure sensor.

19. The method of claim 17, where an intake valve of the engine opens later relative to a crankshaft position when the pressure of the gaseous fuel is less than the first threshold as compared to when the intake valve opens when the pressure of the gaseous fuel is greater than the first threshold.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising injecting the gaseous fuel to a cylinder of the engine during an intake stroke of the cylinder when the pressure of the gaseous fuel is less than the first threshold.