Refuelling system and method

• US 7,634,347 B2
• Filed: 10/27/2005
• Issued: 12/15/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Plastic Omnium Advanced Innovation and Research
• Original Assignee: Inergy Automotive Systems Research (Societe Anonyme) (Solvac SA)
• Inventors: Hill, David, Mehta, Saurin
• Primary Examiner(s): Vo; Hieu T
• Application Number:
  US11/718,140
• Publication Number:
  US 20090150041A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,510 Days
• Field of Search: 701/102, 701/123, 701/101, 123/520, 123/519, 123/198.D, 123/516
• US Class Current: 701/102
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/00 Arrangement in connection with fuel supply of combustion engines or other fuel consuming energy converters, e.g. fuel cells; Mounting or construction of fuel tanks tanks in general B65D, F17C; supplying combustion engines with combustible mixtures or constituents F02M
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/0319 with electronic systems, e.g. for controlling fuelling or venting
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/03557 comprising elements of the venting device integrated in the fuel tank, e.g. vapor recovery means
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/03561 Venting means working at specific times
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/03576 Venting during filling the reservoir
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 2025/0863 with means dealing with condensed fuel or water, e.g. having a liquid trap
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 25/0836 Arrangement of valves controlling the admission of fuel vapour to an engine, e.g. valve being disposed between fuel tank or absorption canister and intake manifold
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 25/0854 Details of the absorption canister
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 25/0872 Details of the fuel vapour pipes or conduits
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 25/089 Layout of the fuel vapour installation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7297 With second diverse control

Abstract

A refuelling system for a vehicle having a combustion engine. The refuelling system includes: a fuel tank; a canister configured to adsorb fuel vapor generated inside the fuel tank; a canister drain cut valve coupled to the canister and configured to discharge air; an ignition sensor configured to detect whether the ignition of the combustion engine is switched on or off; and a refuelling controller configured to open the canister drain cut valve when the ignition sensor detects that the ignition of the combustion engine is switched off. A method for refuelling a motor vehicle can use the refuelling system.

Claims

1. A refuelling system for a vehicle having a combustion engine, the refuelling system comprising:

a fuel tank;

a canister configured to adsorb fuel vapor generated inside the fuel tank;

a canister drain cut valve coupled to the canister and configured to discharge air;

an ignition sensor configured to detect whether an ignition of the combustion engine is switched on or off; and

a refuelling controller configured to open the canister drain cut valve when the ignition sensor detects that the ignition of the combustion engine is switched off.

2. The refuelling system according to claim 1, wherein the fuel tank comprises a filler door with a filler door sensor configured to detect whether the filler door is open or closed.

3. The refuelling system according to claim 2, wherein the refuelling controller is configured to close the canister drain cut valve after a prescribed period of time has elapsed, during which:

the ignition sensor continuously detects that the ignition is switched off, and

the filler door sensor continuously detects that the filler door is closed.

4. The refuelling system according to claim 1, further comprising a fuel level detecting device configured to detect the fuel level inside the fuel tank.

5. The refuelling system according to claim 4, wherein the fuel level detecting device includes a contact-less level sensor.

6. The refuelling system according to claim 4, wherein the refuelling controller is configured to close the canister drain cut valve when the fuel level detected by the fuel level detecting device reaches a prescribed height.

7. A method for refuelling a motor vehicle using a refuelling system according to claim 1, the method comprising:

detecting whether the ignition of the combustion engine is switched on or off using the ignition sensor; and

opening the canister drain cut valve through the refuelling controller when the ignition of the combustion engine is switched off.

8. The method according to claim 7, the method further comprising detecting whether the filler door of the fuel tank is open or closed.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the controller closes the canister drain cut valve when the filler door is and remains closed for at least a period of time.

10. The method according to claim 8, the method further comprising:

if the filler door is open, detecting the fuel level inside the fuel tank; and

closing the canister drain cut valve when the fuel level reaches a prescribed height.