Algorithm for activation of directed relief system from vehicle accelerometers during crash

• US 7,677,049 B2
• Filed: 02/28/2007
• Issued: 03/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mahle International GmbH (MAHLE-STIFTUNG GmbH)
• Original Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (Aptiv PLC)
• Inventors: Zima, Mark James, Kadle, Prasad Shripad
• Primary Examiner(s): Jules; Frantz F
• Assistant Examiner(s): Comings; Daniel C
• Application Number:
  US11/712,320
• Publication Number:
  US 20080202134A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,112 Days
• Field of Search: 621/25, 621/27, 621/29, 621/49, 621/74, 622/39, 73/110.1, 73/110.4, 73/120.1, 73/120.4, 73/120.7, 731/170.1, 731/180.1, 180/271, 180/274, 180/282
• US Class Current: 62/149
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00978 Control systems or circuits characterised by failure of detection or safety means; Diagnostic methods
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/84 Data processing systems or methods, management, administration

Abstract

A method of venting a refrigerant from an air conditioning system of a vehicle during a crash to mitigate leakage of the refrigerant into a cabin of the vehicle by crashing a test vehicle under a first set of predetermined conditions a number of crash events and measuring deceleration and determining the existence of leakage. The number of crash events in which leakage existed is divided by the number of crash events to establish a probability of leakage ratio. The test vehicle is crashed under a second set of predetermined conditions to determine a second probability of leakage ratio. A probability of leakage relationship is established correlating the probability of leakage ratios and the predetermined conditions. A deceleration relationship is established correlating the deceleration measurements and the predetermined conditions. A deceleration of the vehicle is sensed to determine a probability of leakage from the probability of leakage relationship and the refrigerant is vented in response to the probability of leakage exceeding a predetermined threshold.

Claims

1. A method of venting a refrigerant from an air conditioning system of a vehicle during a crash to mitigate leakage into a cabin of the vehicle, said method comprising the steps of;

crashing a test vehicle having an air conditioning test system under a first set of predetermined conditions a number of first crash events,

determining the existence of leakage of a test refrigerant from the air conditioning test system each of the number of first crash events,

dividing the number of first crash events in which leakage of the test refrigerant under the first set of predetermined conditions existed by the number of first crash events to establish a first probability of leakage ratio,

crashing the test vehicle under a second set of predetermined conditions a number of second crash events,

determining the existence of leakage of the test refrigerant from the air conditioning test system each of the number of second crash events,

dividing the number of second crash events in which leakage of the test refrigerant under the second set of predetermined conditions existed by the number of second crash events to establish a second probability of leakage ratio,

correlating the predetermined conditions and the probability of leakage ratios to establish a probability of leakage relationship,

sensing a condition of the vehicle to determine a probability of leakage ratio from the probability of leakage relationship, and

venting the refrigerant from the air conditioning system in response to the probability of leakage ratio exceeding a predetermined threshold.

2. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said correlating the predetermined conditions and the probability of leakage ratios to establish a probability of leakage relationship step is further defined as;

establishing a graph with the predetermined conditions on an x-axis and the probability of leakage ratios on a y-axis,

placing the probability of leakage ratios on the graph, and

establishing the probability of leakage relationship of the probability of leakage ratios.

3. A method as set forth in claim 2 wherein the probability of leakage relationship is further defined as being a polynomial regression of the probability of leakage ratios.

4. A method as set forth in claim 3 wherein the probability of leakage relationship is further defined as

y=6 E⁻

07x³−

0.0002x²+0.0209x+0.2266

wherein y is the probability of leakage ratio and x is the predetermined conditions.

5. A method as set forth in claim 3 wherein the probability of leakage relationship is further defined as

y=3 E⁻

07x³−

0.0001x²+0.0149x+0.3742

wherein y is the probability of leakage ratio and x is the predetermined conditions.

6. A method as set forth in claim 1 including the steps of measuring a deceleration of the test vehicle each of the number of first crash events to establish a number of first deceleration measurements and measuring the deceleration of the test vehicle each of the number of second crash events to establish a number of second deceleration measurements.

7. A method as set forth in claim 6 including the step of correlating the deceleration measurements of the test vehicle and the predetermined conditions to establish a deceleration relationship to the probability of leakage ratios.

8. A method as set forth in claim 7 wherein said correlating the deceleration measurements step is further defined as;

establishing a trigger graph with the deceleration measurements of the test vehicle on a trigger x-axis and the predetermined conditions on a trigger y-axis,

placing the deceleration measurements on the trigger graph, and

establishing the deceleration relationship of the deceleration measurements.

9. A method as set forth in claim 8 wherein the deceleration relationship to the probability of leakage ratios is further defined as being a polynomial regression of the deceleration measurements.

10. A method as set forth in claim 7 wherein said correlating the deceleration measurements step is further defined as establishing a table to correlate the deceleration measurements and the predetermined conditions to establish the deceleration relationship to the probability of leakage ratios.

11. A method as set forth in claim 7 wherein said correlating the predetermined conditions and the probability of leakage ratios to establish a probability of leakage relationship step is further defined as;

establishing a graph with the predetermined conditions on an x-axis and the probability of leakage ratios on a y-axis,

placing the probability of leakage ratios on the graph, and

establishing the probability of leakage relationship of the probability of leakage ratios.

12. A method as set forth in claim 11 wherein the probability of leakage relationship is further defined as being a polynomial regression of the probability of leakage ratios.

13. A method as set forth in claim 12 wherein the probability of leakage relationship is further defined as

y=6 E⁻

07x³−

0.0002x²+0.0209x+0.2266

wherein y is the probability of leakage ratio and x is the deceleration relationship correlating the deceleration of the vehicle and the predetermined conditions.

14. A method as set forth in claim 12 wherein the probability of leakage relationship is further defined as

y=3 E⁻

07x³−

0.001x²+0.0149x+0.3742

wherein y is the probability of leakage ratio and x is the deceleration relationship correlating the deceleration of the vehicle and the predetermined conditions.

15. A method as set forth in claim 11 wherein said sensing a condition of the vehicle step is further defined as sensing deceleration of the vehicle to determine a probability of leakage ratio from the deceleration relationship.

16. A method of venting a refrigerant from an air conditioning system of a vehicle during a crash to mitigate leakage into a cabin of the vehicle, said method comprising the steps of;

crashing a test vehicle having an air conditioning test system under a first set of predetermined conditions a number of first crash events,

measuring a deceleration of the test vehicle each of the number of first crash events to establish a number of first deceleration measurements,

determining the existence of leakage of a test refrigerant from the air conditioning test system each of the number of first crash events,

dividing the number of first crash events in which leakage of the test refrigerant under the first set of predetermined conditions existed by the number of first crash events to establish a first probability of leakage ratio,

crashing the test vehicle under a second set of predetermined conditions a number of second crash events,

measuring the deceleration of the test vehicle each of the number of second crash events to establish a number of second deceleration measurements,

determining the existence of leakage of the test refrigerant from the air conditioning test system each of the number of second crash events,

dividing the number of second crash events in which leakage of the test refrigerant under the second set of predetermined conditions existed by the number of second crash events to establish a second probability of leakage ratio,

establishing a graph with the predetermined conditions on an x-axis and the probability of leakage ratios on a y-axis,

placing the probability of leakage ratios on the graph,

establishing a probability of leakage relationship being a polynomial regression of the probability of leakage ratios,

correlating the deceleration measurements of the test vehicle and the predetermined conditions to establish a deceleration relationship to the probability of leakage ratios,

sensing deceleration of the vehicle to determine the probability of leakage ratio from the deceleration relationship, and

venting the refrigerant from the air conditioning system in response to the probability of leakage ratio exceeding a predetermined threshold.

17. A method as set forth in claim 16 wherein the probability of leakage relationship is further defined as

y=6 E⁻

07x³−

0.0002x²+0.0209x+0.2266

wherein y is the probability of leakage ratio and x is the deceleration relationship correlating the deceleration of the vehicle and the predetermined conditions.

18. A method as set forth in claim 16 wherein the probability of leakage relationship is further defined as

y=3 E⁻

07x³−

0.000x²+0.0149x+0.3742

wherein y is the probability of leakage ratio and x is the deceleration relationship correlating the deceleration of the vehicle and the predetermined conditions.

19. A method as set forth in claim 16 wherein said correlating the deceleration of the test vehicle and the predetermined conditions to establish a deceleration relationship to the probability of leakage ratios step is further defined as;

establishing a trigger graph with the deceleration measurements of the test vehicle on a trigger x-axis and the predetermined conditions on a trigger y-axis,

placing the deceleration measurements on the trigger graph, and

establishing the deceleration relationship to the probability of leakage ratios wherein the deceleration relationship is a polynomial regression of the deceleration measurements.

20. A method as set forth in claim 16 wherein said correlating the deceleration of the vehicle and the predetermined conditions to establish a deceleration relationship to the probability of leakage ratios step is further defined as establishing a table to correlate the deceleration measurements and the predetermined conditions to establish the deceleration relationship to the probability of leakage ratios.