METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING SAFETY OF A BI-FUEL VEHICLE

• US 20150159570A1
• Filed: 05/08/2014
• Published: 06/11/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group), Kia Motors Corporation (Kia Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group), Kia Motors Corporation (Kia Corp.)
• Inventors: Seo, Yoo-Jin
• Granted Patent: US 9,422,876 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 19/022 to adjust the fuel pressure, temperature or composition
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 19/027 Determining the fuel pressure, temperature or volume flow, the fuel tank fill level or a valve position
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 19/0615 being initiated by automatic means, e.g. based on engine or vehicle operating conditions
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 19/0623 Failure diagnosis or prevention; Safety measures; Testing
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 19/0647 the gaseous fuel being liquefied petroleum gas [LPG], liquefied natural gas [LNG], compressed natural gas [CNG] or dimethyl ether [DME]
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/602 Pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/0025 Controlling engines characterised by use of non-liquid fuels, pluralities of fuels, or non-fuel substances added to the combustible mixtures
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/0027 the fuel being gaseous non-electrical control F02D19/02
• 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 41/0225 in relation with the gear ratio or shift lever position
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 21/0293 Safety devices; Fail-safe measures
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 21/06 Apparatus for de-liquefying, e.g. by heating
• 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 and system for controlling safety of a bi-fuel vehicle may safely control the bi-fuel vehicle when it is in an accident. The method may include detecting a pressure of a vaporizer configured to decompress and vaporize liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) that is one fuel of the bi-fuel vehicle, determining whether the detected pressure of the vaporizer is equal to or higher than a predetermined high pressure, determining whether the detected pressure of the vaporizer is equal to or lower than a predetermined low pressure, determining whether an airbag has been inflated, and switching to a gasoline mode configured to use gasoline if at least one of the detected pressure is equal to or higher than the predetermined high pressure, the detected pressure of the vaporizer is equal to or lower than the predetermined low pressure, and/or the airbag has been inflated is determined to be true.

Claims

1. A method of controlling safety of a bi-fuel vehicle, comprising:

detecting a pressure of a vaporizer configured to decompress and vaporize liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) that is one fuel of the bi-fuel vehicle;

determining whether the detected pressure of the vaporizer is equal to or higher than a predetermined high pressure;

determining whether the detected pressure of the vaporizer is equal to or lower than a predetermined low pressure;

determining whether an airbag has been inflated; and

switching to a gasoline mode configured to use gasoline if at least one of the detected pressure is equal to or higher than the predetermined high pressure, the detected pressure of the vaporizer is equal to or lower than the predetermined low pressure, or the airbag has been inflated is determined to be true.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

closing a shut-off valve configured to supply the LPG when the bi-vehicle is switched to the gasoline mode.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining whether the airbag has been inflated is performed based on a signal received through a controller area network (CAN) communication.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

detecting whether an operation of an accelerator pedal occurs after the airbag has been inflated;

switching to the gasoline mode when the operation of the accelerator pedal occurs; and

stopping an engine when the operation of the accelerator pedal does not occur.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

dividing the predetermined high pressure into a first high pressure and a second high pressure;

promptly switching to the gasoline mode when the detected pressure of the vaporizer is equal to or higher than the first high pressure;

switching to the gasoline mode when the detected pressure of the vaporizer is equal to or higher than the second high pressure and the operation of the accelerator pedal occurs; and

stopping the engine when the detected pressure of the vaporizer is equal to or higher than the second high pressure and the operation of the accelerator pedal does not occur.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the LPG is injected in an engine by a liquefied petroleum gas injection (LPGi) method or a liquefied petroleum injection (LPI) method.

7. A system for controlling safety of a bi-fuel vehicle, comprising:

a vaporizer configured to vaporize LPG in a gas state;

a pressure sensor configured to detect pressure of the vaporizer;

an airbag module configured to inflate an airbag when a predetermined impact is imparted to the bi-fuel vehicle, and to generate and transmit an airbag inflation signal when the airbag is inflated;

an acceleration position sensor (APS) configured to detect a position of an accelerator pedal; and

a controller configured to select a fuel mode and to control an operation of an engine based on a signal of the pressure sensor, the airbag inflation signal, and a signal of the APS,

wherein the controller is operated by a program, and the program includes a series of commands for executing a method of controlling safety of a bi-fuel vehicle, the method comprising;

detecting the pressure of the vaporizer configured to decompress and vaporize the liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) that is one fuel of the bi-fuel vehicle;

determining whether the detected pressure of the vaporizer is equal to or higher than a predetermined high pressure;

determining whether the detected pressure of the vaporizer is equal to or lower than a predetermined low pressure;

determining whether the airbag has been inflated; and

switching to a gasoline mode configured to use gasoline if at least one of the detected pressure is equal to or higher than the predetermined high pressure, the detected pressure of the vaporizer is equal to or lower than the predetermined low pressure, or the airbag has been inflated is determined to be true.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the airbag inflation signal is transmitted to the controller through a CAN communication.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the LPG is injected in the engine by a liquefied petroleum gas injection (LPGi) method or a liquefied petroleum injection (LPI) method.