Fuel cutoff switch system

• US 6,536,401 B2
• Filed: 05/02/2001
• Issued: 03/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc. (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens VDO Automotive Corporation (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: McConnell, Douglas A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kamen, Noah P.
• Application Number:
  US09/847,242
• Publication Number:
  US 20020017268A1
• Time in Patent Office: 692 Days
• Field of Search: 180/282, 123/198.D, 123/198.DB, 701/45
• US Class Current: 123/198.00D
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 28/14 responsive to accident or emergency, e.g. deceleration, tilt of vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/105 Longitudinal acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/125 Lateral acceleration

Abstract

The method of controlling fuel supply comprises the steps of detecting a value related to velocity of a vehicle along a first path and detecting a value related to velocity along a second path transverse to the first path. The detected values are then combined and compared to a threshold. The fuel supply is then controlled based on the comparison of the combined values with the threshold. Using this method, a fuel safety system comprises a fuel system of a vehicle, a fuel cutoff switch controlling the transmission of fuel through the fuel system, a sensor detecting a value related to velocity of the vehicle along the first path, and a sensor detecting a value related to velocity of the vehicle along a second path transverse to the first path. A control unit combines the detected values and activates the fuel cutoff switch based on the comparison.

Claims

1. A method of controlling fuel supply;

detecting a value related to velocity of a vehicle along a first path relating to forward travel of a vehicle;

detecting a value related to velocity of a vehicle along a second path generally transverse to the first path;

combining the detected values;

comparing the combined detected values to a first threshold;

comparing at least one of the detected values with a second threshold; and

controlling fuel supply based on the comparison.

2. The method of claim 1 including the step of determining the direction of velocity along the first path.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein fuel supply is controlled based on the comparison with at least one of the detected values with the second threshold.

4. The method of claim 1 including the step of comparing at least one of the detected values with a third threshold.

5. The method of claim herein fuel supply is controlled based on the comparison of at least one of the detected values with the third threshold.

6. A method of controlling fuel supply;

detecting a value related to velocity of a vehicle along a first path relating to forward travel of a vehicle;

detecting a value related to velocity of a vehicle along a second path generally transverse to the first path;

combining the detected values;

modifying the detected values by a dampening value;

comparing the combined detected values to a first threshold;

comparing at least one of the detected values with a second threshold; and

controlling fuel supply based on the comparison.

7. The method of claim 6 including the step of determining the direction of velocity along the first path.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein fuel supply is controlled based on the comparison with at least one of the detected values with the second threshold.

9. The method of claim 6 including the step of comparing at least one of the detected values with a third threshold.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein fuel supply is controlled based on the comparison of at least one of the detected values with the third threshold.