Fuel consumption evaluation system

• US 7,454,962 B2
• Filed: 07/15/2005
• Issued: 11/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: UD Trucks Corporation (Isuzu Motors Limited)
• Original Assignee: Nissan Diesel Motor Co., Ltd. (Isuzu Motors Limited)
• Inventors: Nakamura, Akira, Miyake, Hiroshi, Yamashita, Masaru, Nishiyama, Yoshitaka
• Primary Examiner(s): MCCALL, ERIC SCOTT
• Application Number:
  US11/659,809
• Publication Number:
  US 20070256481A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,229 Days
• Field of Search: 731/143.8, 731/144.2, 731/145.2, 731/145.3, 731/145.4
• US Class Current: 73/114.52
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/174 Economic driving
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/174 Economic driving
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/28 characterised by the type of the output information, e.g. video entertainment or vehicle dynamics information; characterised by the purpose of the output information, e.g. for attracting the attention of the driver
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 9/02 wherein the other variable is the speed of a vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/84 Data processing systems or methods, management, administration

Abstract

The present invention is intended to provide a fuel consumption evaluation system which obtains quantitative data to determine whether actual driving has consumed fuel more efficiently or less efficiently than average driving and gives the driver and/or manager concrete advice for fuel-efficient driving based on the obtained data, and also provide a fuel consumption evaluation system which decides, based on obtained fuel efficiency data, whether driving is more fuel-efficient than average driving and sets a target and gives the driver and/or manager concrete advice for fuel-efficient driving based on the obtained data in consideration of change in vehicle total mass without any influence of slopes and traffic flows and particularly encourages and instructs, in real time, the driver to do fuel-efficient driving. The system comprises: engine speed measuring means (2) which measures engine speed of a truck (1); accelerator opening degree measuring means (3) which measures an accelerator opening degree (α); vehicle velocity measuring means (4) which measures vehicle velocity (V); fuel flow rate measuring means (5) which measures a fuel flow rate (Fw); and control means (10) which evaluates fuel consumption of the truck from measured engine speed (N), accelerator opening degree (α), vehicle velocity (V) and fuel flow rate (Fw).

Claims

1. A fuel consumption evaluation system comprising:

engine speed measuring means which measures engine speed of a truck;

accelerator opening degree measuring means which measures an accelerator opening degree;

vehicle velocity measuring means which measures vehicle velocity;

fuel flow rate measuring means which measures a fuel flow rate; and

control means which evaluates fuel consumption of the truck from measured engine speed,

accelerator opening degree, vehicle velocity and fuel flow rate, characterized in that the control means;

has storage means,

divides a run from start to stop into a plurality of phases,

sets fuel consumption-related parameters for each of the plural phases,

determines fuel consumption for each of the plural phases based on correlation between the parameters and fuel consumption, and

makes an evaluation based on the determined fuel consumption.

2. The fuel consumption evaluation system according to claim 1, wherein the plural phases include:

a phase in which the accelerator opening degree is increased from a relatively low velocity and vehicle velocity or average moving vehicle velocity increases;

a phase in which the accelerator opening degree is decreased;

a phase in which the accelerator opening degree is relatively small and engine speed is relatively low; and

a steady running phase which is different from the above three phases.

3. The fuel consumption evaluation system according to claim 2, wherein:

for the phase in which the accelerator opening degree is increased from a relatively low velocity and vehicle velocity or average moving vehicle velocity increases, the parameters are engine speed in gear shift and accelerator opening degree;

for the phase in which the accelerator opening degree is decreased, the parameter is the ratio of distance traveled with the accelerator and brake off to the sum of distance traveled with the accelerator and brake off and distance traveled with the brake on;

for the phase in which the accelerator opening degree is relatively small and engine speed is relatively low, the parameter is vehicle velocity; and

for the steady running phase which is different from the above three phases, the parameter is engine speed.

4. The fuel consumption evaluation system according to claim 1, wherein the steady running phase is divided into a high speed running phase in which a given distance or more is traveled at a vehicle velocity above a prescribed velocity and other phases and the parameters for the high speed running phase are engine speed, vehicle velocity, and equivalent to fuel consumed by acceleration before or after braking.

5. The fuel consumption evaluation system according to claim 1, wherein the plural phases are classified into a phase in which distance from start to stop is shorter than a predetermined distance and other phases and in the phase in which distance from start to stop is shorter than a predetermined distance, the parameter is squared vehicle velocity divided by distance traveled.

6. The fuel consumption evaluation system according to claim 1, wherein correlation between the parameters and fuel consumption is statistically calculated from data stored in the storage means for the phase in which the accelerator opening degree is increased from a relatively low velocity and vehicle velocity or average moving vehicle velocity increases, the phase in which the accelerator opening degree is relatively small and engine speed is relatively low, and the steady running phase.

7. The fuel consumption evaluation system according to claim 1, wherein, for the phase in which the accelerator opening degree is decreased, fuel consumption is determined according to distance traveled in the phase, distance traveled with the accelerator and brake off, and fuel efficiency.

8. The fuel consumption evaluation system according to claim 1, wherein the control means compares determined fuel consumption against average obtained from data stored in the storage means.

9. The fuel consumption evaluation system according to claim 1, wherein the control means compares determined fuel consumption against target.

10. The fuel consumption evaluation system according to claim 1, wherein data for a running condition in which determined fuel consumption may be inaccurate is ignored.

11. The fuel consumption evaluation system according claim 1, wherein output means are provided and determined fuel consumption and evaluation based on comparison against average or target are outputted.

12. A fuel consumption evaluation system comprising:

engine speed measuring means which measures engine speed of a vehicle;

accelerator opening degree measuring means which measures an accelerator opening degree;

vehicle velocity measuring means which measures vehicle velocity;

fuel flow rate measuring means which measures a fuel flow rate;

engine load measuring means which measures engine load; and

control means which calculates fuel consumption of the vehicle and vehicle mass from measured engine speed, accelerator opening degree, vehicle velocity, fuel flow rate and engine load, characterized in that the control means;

has storage means,

divides a run from start to stop into a plurality of phases,

sets fuel consumption-related parameters for each of the plural phases,

calculates fuel consumption rate for actual driving against average driving and fuel consumption rate for target driving against average driving based on correlation between the parameters and fuel consumption rate against average driving, and

makes an evaluation based on the calculated fuel consumption rates.

13. The fuel consumption evaluation system according to claim 12, wherein the plural phases include:

a phase in which the accelerator opening degree is increased from a relatively low velocity

and vehicle velocity or average moving vehicle velocity increases;

a phase in which the accelerator opening degree is decreased;

a phase in which the accelerator opening degree is relatively small and engine speed is relatively low; and

a steady running phase which is different from the above three phases.

14. The fuel consumption evaluation system according to claim 13, wherein:

for the phase in which the accelerator opening degree is increased from a relatively low velocity and vehicle velocity or average moving vehicle velocity increases, the parameters are engine speed in gear shift and accelerator opening degree;

for the phase in which the accelerator opening degree is decreased, the parameter is the ratio of distance traveled with the accelerator and brake off to the sum of distance traveled with the accelerator and brake off and distance traveled with the brake on;

for the phase in which the accelerator opening degree is relatively small and engine speed is relatively low, the parameter is vehicle velocity; and

for the steady running phase which is different from the above three phases, the parameter is engine speed.

15. The fuel consumption evaluation system according to claim 12, wherein the steady running phase is divided into a high speed running phase in which a given distance or more is traveled at a vehicle velocity above a prescribed velocity and other phases for the purpose of data collection.

16. The fuel consumption evaluation system according to claim 12, wherein in calculating fuel consumption for actual driving, data from the fuel flow rate measuring means is integrated for each of the plural phases and all the integrated values for the phases from start to stop are totaled.

17. The fuel consumption evaluation system according to claim 12, wherein for all the parameters, actual vehicle total mass is calculated for measured vehicle velocity and the vehicle'"'"'s specification and an evaluation of fuel consumption is made in consideration of the vehicle total mass.

18. The fuel consumption evaluation system according to claim 12, wherein output means are provided and fuel consumption rate for actual driving against average driving and fuel consumption rate for target driving against average driving are calculated and an evaluation based on the calculated fuel consumption rates is outputted.

19. A fuel consumption evaluation system comprising:

engine speed measuring means which measures engine speed of a vehicle;

accelerator opening degree measuring means which measures an accelerator opening degree;

vehicle velocity measuring means which measures vehicle velocity;

fuel flow rate measuring means which measures a fuel flow rate;

engine load measuring means which measures engine load; and

storage means which stores data on measured engine speed, accelerator opening degree, vehicle velocity, fuel flow rate and engine load;

control means which calculates fuel consumption of the vehicle and vehicle mass from the various data; and

display means which is installed in the vehicle, characterized in that the control means;

divides a run from start to stop into a plurality of phases,

sets fuel consumption-related parameters for each of the plural phases,

calculates fuel consumption rate for actual driving against average driving and fuel consumption rate for target driving against average driving based on correlation between the parameters and fuel consumption rates against average driving,

makes an evaluation based on the calculated fuel consumption rates, and

displays the evaluation result on the display means.

20. The fuel consumption evaluation system according to claim 19, wherein the plural phases include:

a phase in which the accelerator opening degree is increased from a relatively low velocity and vehicle velocity or average moving vehicle velocity increases;

a phase in which the accelerator opening degree is decreased;

a phase in which the, accelerator opening degree is relatively small and engine speed is relatively low; and

a steady running phase which is different from the above three phases.

21. The fuel consumption evaluation system according to claim 20, wherein:

for the phase in which the accelerator opening degree is increased from a relatively low velocity and vehicle velocity or average moving vehicle velocity increases, the parameters are engine speed in gear shift and accelerator opening degree;

for the phase in which the accelerator opening degree is decreased, the parameter is the ratio of distance traveled with the accelerator and brake off to the sum of distance traveled with the accelerator and brake off and distance traveled with the brake on;

for the phase in which the accelerator opening degree is relatively small and engine speed is relatively low, the parameter is vehicle velocity; and

for the steady running phase which is different from the above three phases, the parameter is engine speed.

22. The fuel consumption evaluation system according to claim 19, wherein the steady running phase is divided into a high speed running phase in which a given distance or more is traveled at a vehicle velocity above a prescribed velocity and other phases for the purpose of data collection.

23. The fuel consumption evaluation system according to claim 19, wherein in calculating fuel consumption for actual driving, data from the fuel flow rate measuring means is integrated for each of the plural phases and all the integrated values for the phases from start to stop are totaled.

24. The fuel consumption evaluation system according to claim 19, wherein for all the parameters, actual vehicle total mass is calculated for measured vehicle velocity and the vehicle'"'"'s specification and an evaluation of fuel consumption is made in consideration of the vehicle total mass.

25. The fuel consumption evaluation system according to claim 19, wherein output means are provided and fuel consumption rate for actual driving against average driving and fuel consumption rate for target driving against average driving are calculated and an evaluation based on the calculated fuel consumption rates is outputted.