Method for simulating the gauging of a liquid tank

• US 8,175,856 B2
• Filed: 06/24/2009
• Issued: 05/08/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Inergy Automotive Systems Research (Societe Anonyme) (Solvac SA)
• Original Assignee: Inergy Automotive Systems Research (Societe Anonyme) (Solvac SA)
• Inventors: Reuther, Paul Daniel, Volto, Eric, Rohaut, Antoine, Francini, Francçois
• Primary Examiner(s): FREJD, RUSSELL WARREN
• Application Number:
  US12/490,497
• Publication Number:
  US 20100070061A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,049 Days
• Field of Search: 703/1, 703/2, 703/9, 700/98, 702/55, 732/90.R
• US Class Current: 703/2
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/32 using rotatable arms or other pivotable transmission elements
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/804 containing circuits handling parameters other than liquid level
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 25/20 of apparatus for measuring liquid level

Abstract

A method for generating a gauging curve for a hollow body containing a liquid. The curve including a set of measurement points for a liquid level inside the hollow body, and the curve approaching an optimum gauging curve. The method includes, for several different partial filling volumes of the hollow body, calculating an average center of mass of a corresponding free liquid surface for various inclinations of the hollow body, in terms of both amplitude and direction. The method further includes generating a gauging curve that passes substantially through each of the average centers of mass.

Claims

1. A method for generating a gauging curve for a hollow body configured to contain a liquid, said curve including a set of measurement points for a liquid level inside the hollow body, said curve approaching an optimum gauging curve, said method comprising:

for several different partial filling volumes of said hollow body, calculating an average center of mass of a corresponding free liquid surface for various inclinations of the hollow body, in terms of both amplitude and direction; and

generating a gauging curve that passes substantially through each of said average centers of mass, in which

the hollow body is a fuel tank comprising a fuel extraction pump comprising an extraction point and in which the gauging curve includes a starting point close to or coincident with this extraction point.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising smoothing the gauging curve over an initial section comprising the starting point and a point of the average centers of mass that is closest thereto.

3. The method according to claim 1, in which the hollow body comprises a gauge that is in the form of a float arm pivotably attached to a pump/gauge module about an axis that passes through said module, said method further comprising approximating a real gauging curve by at least one arc centered on this axis.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

selecting a gauge with given location, shape and orientation;

calculating a calibration curve for a coupling of the gauge and the hollow body;

simulating a deformation of the hollow body on a virtual model thereof for at least one ageing period;

calculating a gauging error associated with this ageing period; and

verifying that said calculated gauging error does not exceed a predetermined maximum gauging error.

5. A method of manufacturing a liquid tank comprising a gauge, in particular a liquid fuel tank for a vehicle, based on a virtual model of the tank, wherein parameters for a location, shape and orientation of the gauge are determined by the method according to claim 1.

6. The method according to claim 5, using a software for which input data include a tank geometry and a gauge geometry and location.

7. A nontransitory electronic medium incorporating the software to execute the method according to claim 6.

8. A data processing device executing the software to execute the method according to claim 6.

9. A method for generating a gauging curve for a hollow body configured to contain a liquid, said curve including a set of measurement points for a liquid level inside the hollow body, said curve approaching an optimum gauging curve, said method comprising:

for several different partial filling volumes of said hollow body, calculating an average center of mass of a corresponding free liquid surface for various inclinations of the hollow body, in terms of both amplitude and direction;

generating a gauging curve that passes substantially through each of said average centers of mass;

selecting a gauge with given location, shape and orientation;

calculating a calibration curve for a coupling of the gauge and the hollow body;

simulating a deformation of the hollow body on a virtual model thereof for at least one ageing period;

calculating a gauging error associated with this ageing period; and

verifying that said calculated gauging error does not exceed a predetermined maximum gauging error.