Engine-off refueling detection method

• US 9,341,147 B2
• Filed: 03/07/2013
• Issued: 05/17/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Jentz, Robert Roy, Peters, Mark W., Clemens, Dave, Dudar, Aed M.
• Primary Examiner(s): DALLO, JOSEPH J
• Application Number:
  US13/788,624
• Publication Number:
  US 20140257668A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,167 Days
• Field of Search: 123516-520, 73/40, 731/143.8, 731/143.9, 731/147.7
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/0032 Controlling the purging of the canister as a function of the engine operating conditions
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 25/0809 Judging failure of purge control system
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 25/0818 having means for pressurising the evaporative emission space
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 25/0827 by monitoring engine running conditions

Abstract

A method for an engine fuel system comprises, during an engine-off condition, indicating a refueling event based on a rate of change in fuel tank pressure, and aborting a diagnostic leak detection test based on the refueling event indication. Indicating a refueling event further comprises indicating a refueling event based on the rate of change in fuel tank pressure being greater than a first threshold when the canister vent valve is open, and greater than a second threshold when the canister vent valve is closed, the first threshold being less than the second threshold.

Claims

1. A method for an engine fuel system, comprising:

during an engine-off condition,

indicating a refueling event based on a rate of change in fuel tank pressure being greater than a first threshold when a canister vent valve is open, and greater than a second threshold when the canister vent valve is closed, the first threshold being less than the second threshold; and

aborting a diagnostic leak detection test based on the refueling event indication.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising closing the canister vent valve in response to the rate of change in fuel tank pressure being greater than the first threshold when the canister vent valve is open.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the rate of change in fuel tank pressure is measured by a fuel tank pressure sensor.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising opening the canister vent valve in response to the rate of change in fuel tank pressure being higher than the second threshold.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising completing the diagnostic leak detection test in response to the rate of change in fuel tank pressure being less than the first threshold when the canister vent valve is open.

6. The method of claim 2, further comprising performing a fuel tank pressure sensor noise test in response to the rate of change in fuel tank pressure being less than the second threshold when the canister vent valve is closed.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising completing the diagnostic leak detection test in response to a fuel tank pressure sensor noise being less than a noise threshold.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising aborting the diagnostic leak detection test in response to the fuel tank pressure sensor noise being greater than the noise threshold.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the rate of change in fuel tank pressure is measured over a threshold time, and wherein aborting the diagnostic leak detection test includes opening a canister purge valve and/or opening the canister vent valve.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein aborting the diagnostic leak detection test further comprises setting a diagnostic leak detection test abortion flag and repeating the diagnostic leak detection test.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein indicating the refueling event is further based on a fuel tank pressure being greater than a third threshold when the canister vent valve is open, and greater than a fourth threshold when the canister vent valve is closed, the third threshold being less than the fourth threshold.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the third threshold is 0.5 inches of water.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the fourth threshold is 4 inches of water.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the refueling event indication is provided to a vehicle operator and/or an adaptive fuel strategy during a next engine-on condition.

15. A method for a vehicle having a fuel tank pressure sensor, a fuel vapor canister, and a canister vent valve, comprising:

during an engine-off vapor leak test,

measuring a fuel tank pressure with the fuel tank pressure sensor;

in response to a rate of change in fuel tank pressure being greater than a second threshold when the canister vent valve is closed, aborting the engine-off vapor leak test;

determining if the rate of change in fuel tank pressure is greater than a first threshold when the canister vent valve is open, the first threshold being less than the second threshold; and

in response to the rate of change in fuel tank pressure being greater than the first threshold, closing the canister vent valve.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising opening the canister vent valve in response to the rate of change in fuel tank pressure being greater than the second threshold when the canister vent valve is closed.

17. A method of providing a refueling indication in a vehicle, comprising:

during a first condition when an engine is off and while a diagnostic leak detection test is being carried out,

measuring a fuel tank pressure;

in response to a rate of change in fuel tank pressure being greater than a first threshold, closing a canister vent valve; and

in response to the rate of change in fuel tank pressure being greater than a second threshold, opening the canister vent valve, setting a refueling event flag on, and

aborting the diagnostic leak detection test.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising storing the refueling event flag and providing the stored refueling event flag to a vehicle operator and/or adaptive fuel strategy during a next engine-on condition following the first condition.