VEHICLE CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTION SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20150057912A1
• Filed: 08/26/2013
• Published: 02/26/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Ortmann, Walt Joseph, Wright, Robert
• Application Number:
  US14/010,121
• Publication Number:
  US 20150057912A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/112
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 28/10 responsive to conditions relating to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 17/04 rendering engines inoperative or idling, e.g. caused by abnormal conditions dependent on lubricating conditions F01M1/22; dependent on cooling F01P5/14
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2041/228 Warning displays
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 29/02 peculiar to engines driving vehicles; peculiar to engines driving variable pitch propellers
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/02 Circuit arrangements for generating control signals
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/021 Introducing corrections for particular conditions exterior to the engine conjoint control of vehicle sub-units for propelling the vehicle B60W30/18
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/042 for stopping the engine
• 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

Abstract

A vehicle carbon monoxide detection system for a vehicle includes a vehicle internal combustion engine; a controller interfacing with the vehicle internal combustion engine; a carbon monoxide sensor interfacing with the controller, the carbon monoxide sensor adapted to detect a level of carbon monoxide. The controller is adapted to prevent and terminate operation of the vehicle internal combustion engine if the level of carbon monoxide detected by the carbon monoxide sensor exceeds a threshold carbon monoxide level. A vehicle and a vehicle carbon monoxide detection method are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A vehicle carbon monoxide detection system for a vehicle, comprising:

a vehicle internal combustion engine;

a controller interfacing with the vehicle internal combustion engine;

a carbon monoxide sensor interfacing with the controller, the carbon monoxide sensor adapted to detect a level of carbon monoxide; and

the controller adapted to prevent and terminate operation of the vehicle internal combustion engine if the level of carbon monoxide detected by the carbon monoxide sensor exceeds a threshold carbon monoxide level.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising at least one alarm interfacing with the controller.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the at least one alarm comprises at least one audible alarm.

4. The system of claim 2 wherein the at least one alarm comprises at least one visual alarm.

5. The system of claim 2 wherein the controller comprises a vehicle system controller.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the vehicle internal combustion engine comprises a hybrid electric vehicle internal combustion engine.

7. A vehicle, comprising:

a vehicle chassis;

a vehicle internal combustion engine carried by the vehicle chassis;

an electric motor drivingly engaged by the vehicle internal combustion engine;

at least one wheeled drive axle drivingly engaged by the vehicle internal combustion engine;

a vehicle carbon monoxide detection system including;

a vehicle internal combustion engine;

a controller interfacing with the vehicle internal combustion engine;

a carbon monoxide sensor interfacing with the controller, the carbon monoxide sensor adapted to detect a level of carbon monoxide; and

the controller adapted to prevent and terminate operation of the vehicle internal combustion engine if the level of carbon monoxide detected by the carbon monoxide sensor exceeds a threshold carbon monoxide level.

8. The vehicle of claim 7 further comprising at least one alarm interfacing with the controller.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the at least one alarm comprises at least one audible alarm.

10. The system of claim 8 wherein the at least one alarm comprises at least one visual alarm.

11. The system of claim 8 wherein the controller comprises a vehicle stability control system.

12. The system of claim 8 wherein the vehicle internal combustion engine comprises a hybrid electric vehicle internal combustion engine.

13. The system of claim 7 wherein the at least one wheeled drive axle comprises a first wheeled drive axle drivingly engaged by the vehicle internal combustion engine, and further comprising a second wheeled drive axle and wherein the electric motor drivingly engages the second wheeled drive axle.

14. A vehicle carbon monoxide detection method, comprising:

generating electrical power from an electric motor by operating a vehicle internal combustion engine drivingly engaging the electric motor;

monitoring ambient levels of carbon monoxide around a vehicle;

comparing a detected level of carbon monoxide to a threshold carbon monoxide level; and

neutralizing operation of the vehicle internal combustion engine if the detected level of carbon monoxide exceeds the threshold carbon monoxide level.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising activating at least one alarm if the detected level of carbon monoxide exceeds the threshold carbon monoxide level.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein activating at least one alarm comprises activating at least one audible alarm.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein activating at least one alarm comprises activating at least one visual alarm.

18. The method of claim 14 wherein neutralizing operation of a vehicle internal combustion engine comprises preventing operation of the vehicle internal combustion engine.

19. The method of claim 14 wherein neutralizing operation of a vehicle internal combustion engine comprises terminating operation of the vehicle internal combustion engine.

20. The method of claim 14 wherein generating electrical power from an electric motor comprises generating electrical power from an electric motor onboard a hybrid electric vehicle.