# US 2014/0190246 A1 · Method for diagnosing component failure in a saddle-type fuel tank assembly

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- Number: US 2014/0190246 A1
- Document ID: US20140190246A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 13/733,981
- Filed: 2013-01-04
- Published: 2014-07-10
- Earliest claimed: 2013-01-04
- Assignees: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
- Applicants: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
- Inventors: YICHAO GUO; KENNETH SIMPSON; JAMES W. JEFFERS
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140190246A1

## CPC

- G01F 22/00: Methods or apparatus for measuring volume of fluids or fluent solid material, not otherwise provided for
- G01F 23/363: {using electromechanically actuated indicating means}
- G01F 25/0084: {for measuring volume}
- G01F 25/20: of apparatus for measuring liquid level
- G01F: MEASURING VOLUME, VOLUME FLOW, MASS FLOW OR LIQUID LEVEL; METERING BY VOLUME

## Abstract

A method for diagnosing a component failure in a saddle-type fuel tank assembly is provided. The method includes a) updating a maximum amount to a subsequent amount of fuel if the subsequent amount of fuel is greater than the maximum amount, b) updating a minimum amount to the subsequent amount of fuel if the subsequent amount of fuel is less than the minimum amount, c) determining a fuel consumption amount, and d) determining that one or more of a first fuel level sender and a second fuel level sender have failed if the difference between the maximum amount and minimum amount is less than a first threshold, and the fuel consumption amount is greater than a second threshold.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for diagnosing a component failure in a saddle-type fuel tank assembly, said assembly comprising a fuel tank that defines a first chamber and a second chamber, a first fuel level sender configured to provide a first signal indicative of a first fuel level in the first chamber, and a second fuel level sender configured to provide a second signal indicative of a second fuel level in the second chamber, said method comprising:
determining an initial amount of fuel in the fuel tank;
storing the initial amount of fuel as a maximum amount and a minimum amount;
determining a subsequent amount of fuel in the fuel tank after determining the initial amount of fuel;
updating the maximum amount to the subsequent amount of fuel if the subsequent amount of fuel is greater than the maximum amount;
updating the minimum amount to the subsequent amount of fuel if the subsequent amount of fuel is less than the minimum amount;
determining a fuel consumption amount; and
determining that one or more of the first fuel level sender and the second fuel level sender have failed if the difference between the maximum amount and minimum amount is less than a first threshold, and the fuel consumption amount is greater than a second threshold.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises determining that the first fuel level sender and the second fuel level sender have not failed if the difference between the maximum amount and the minimum amount is greater than the first threshold.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the first threshold is distinct from the second threshold.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the initial amount of fuel and the subsequent amount of fuel are determined based on the first signal and the second signal.

### Claim 5

A method for diagnosing a component failure in a saddle-type fuel tank assembly, said assembly comprising a fuel tank that defines a first chamber and a second chamber, a first fuel level sender configured to provide a first signal indicative of a first fuel level in the first chamber, a second fuel level sender configured to provide a second signal indicative of a second fuel level in the second chamber, and a transfer pump configured to transfer fuel from the second chamber to the first chamber, said method comprising:
incrementing a fail accumulator value and a sample accumulator value if the second signal is not within a threshold range defined by the first signal;
incrementing the sample accumulator value, if the second signal is within the threshold range;
determining that a component has failed if the fail accumulator value is greater than a first threshold; and
determining that the component has not failed if the sample accumulator value is greater than a second threshold.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, wherein the component comprises the transfer pump.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, wherein the component comprises the first fuel level sender or the second fuel level sender.

### Claim 8 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, wherein the first threshold is distinct from the second threshold.

### Claim 9 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, wherein the fuel tank further comprises a connecting chamber that allows fuel to flow freely between the first chamber and the second chamber when the first fuel level or the second fuel level is greater than a connecting chamber bottom level determined by the connecting chamber, and prevents fuel to flow freely between the first chamber and the second chamber when the first fuel level and the second fuel level are less than the connecting chamber bottom level, wherein the threshold range is determined based on an expectation that the second fuel level is substantially equal to the first fuel level when the first fuel level is greater than the connecting chamber bottom level.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein the threshold range is further determined based on the expectation that the second fuel level is less than or substantially equal to the first fuel level when the first fuel level is less than the connecting chamber bottom level.