Method for operating a fuel tank system for an automobile and corresponding fuel tank system

• US 9,919,594 B2
• Filed: 11/02/2015
• Issued: 03/20/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Audi AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: Audi AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Inventors: Bauer, Florian
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Jelani A
• Application Number:
  US14/930,109
• Publication Number:
  US 20160121713A1
• Time in Patent Office: 869 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/03 Fuel tanks chassis frame comprising fluid storage compartment B62D21/16 ; Details of the fuel feeding system related to the fuel tank F02M37/0076
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/03111 Swirl pots
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/0321 characterised by special sensors, the mounting thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/03217 Fuel level sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/2045 for optimising the use of energy
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/00 Control systems specially adapted for hybrid vehicles hybrid vehicle design, B60K6/00; electric vehicles B60L
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18 Propelling the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2400/90 Driver alarms
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 39/00 Vehicle bodies not otherwise provided for , e.g. safety vehicles safety equipment B60R21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/0007 for discrete indicating and measuring G01F23/02 - G01F23/28 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/80 Arrangements for signal processing
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0088 characterized by the autonomous decision making process, e.g. artificial intelligence, predefined behaviours using knowledge based models G06N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/902 Prime movers comprising electrical and internal combustion motors

Abstract

In a method for operating a fuel tank system for a motor vehicle, with the fuel tank system having a fuel tank and an accumulation tank to which a suction side of a fuel pump is connected, at least one sensor determines a geodetic orientation of the fuel tank when a fill level of the fuel tank is below a predetermined minimum fill level. A fueling parameter is read out from a characteristic curve field based on the geodetic orientation, and the fueling parameter is displayed by a signaling device.

Claims

1. A method for operating a fuel tank system for a motor vehicle, wherein the fuel tank system comprises a fuel tank with an accumulation tank to which a suction side of a fuel pump is connected, the method comprising:

determining with at least one sensor a geodetic orientation of the fuel tank when a fill level of the fuel tank is below a fill level of at most 2%;

reading out a fueling parameter from a characteristic curve field based on the geodetic orientation;

displaying the fueling parameter by way of a signaling device;

storing in the characteristic curve field respective fueling parameters for a plurality of geodetic orientations of the fuel tank, with a respective fueling parameter indicating whether for a corresponding geodetic orientation at least a minimum proportion of a predetermined quantity of fuel introduced through a filler neck flows into the accumulation tank;

reading from the characteristic curve field a fueling orientation that is closest to the geodetic orientation of the fuel tank, for which the fueling parameter indicates that a proportion flowing into the accumulation tank is greater than or equal to the minimum proportion; and

in order to move the motor vehicle into the fueling orientation, allowing an electric machine of a drive device of the motor vehicle to operate even for a fill level that is less than the predetermined minimum fill level.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the geodetic orientation includes a roll angle or a pitch angle, or both.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the signaling device generates an optical signal or an acoustic signal, or both.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein filling of the fuel tank is not permitted, when the fueling parameter indicates that a proportion of the predetermined quantity of fuel is less than the minimum proportion.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising locking a cover of the filler neck of the fuel tank to prevent filling of the fuel tank.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising in order to move the motor vehicle into the fueling orientation, operating a drive unit of the drive device with an operating fuel that is different from the fuel.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising in order to move the motor vehicle into the fueling orientation, performing an autonomous driving operation.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising in order to move the motor vehicle into the fueling orientation, adjusting a chassis of the motor vehicle.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the fuel tank is constructed without an inlet conduit disposed between a filler neck and the accumulation tank.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor is a chassis sensor disposed on a chassis of the motor vehicle.

11. A fuel tank system for a motor vehicle, comprising a fuel tank having an accumulation tank to which a suction side of a fuel pump is connected, said fuel tank system being configured to:

determine with at least one sensor a geodetic orientation of the fuel tank when a fill level of the fuel tank is below a fill level of at most 2%,

read out a fueling parameter from a characteristic curve field based on the geodetic orientation,

display the fueling parameter by way of a signaling device,

store in the characteristic curve field respective fueling parameters for a plurality of geodetic orientations of the fuel tank, with a respective fueling parameter indicating whether for a corresponding geodetic orientation at least a minimum proportion of a predetermined quantity of fuel introduced through a filler neck flows into the accumulation tank,

read from the characteristic curve field a fueling orientation that is closest to the geodetic orientation of the fuel tank, for which the fueling parameter indicates that a proportion flowing into the accumulation tank is greater than or equal to the minimum proportion, and

in order to move the motor vehicle into the fueling orientation, allow an electric machine of a drive device of the motor vehicle to operate even for a fill level that is less than the predetermined minimum fill level.