# US 2014/0360260 A1 · Fuel level inference from canister temperatures

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- Number: US 2014/0360260 A1
- Document ID: US20140360260A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 13/910,793
- Filed: 2013-06-05
- Published: 2014-12-11
- Earliest claimed: 2013-06-05
- Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
- Applicants: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
- Inventors: Aed M. Dudar; Mark Daniel Bunge; Dennis Seung-Man Yang
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140360260A1

## CPC

- G01F 23/22: by measuring physical variables, other than linear dimensions, pressure or weight, dependent on the level to be measured, e.g. by difference of heat transfer of steam or water (involving the use of floats G01F23/30)
- B60K 15/03177: {made of non-metallic material, e.g. plastics, or of a combination of non-metallic and metallic material (B60K15/03006 takes precedence)}
- B60K 15/03504: {adapted to avoid loss of fuel or fuel vapour, e.g. with vapour recovery systems}
- 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
- B60W 10/00: Conjoint control of vehicle sub-units of different type or different function (for propulsion of purely electrically-propelled vehicles with power supplied within the vehicle B60L50/00 - B60L58/00)
- F02D 1/00: Controlling fuel-injection pumps, e.g. of high pressure injection type (F02D3/00 takes precedence)
- F02M 25/08: adding fuel vapours drawn from engine fuel reservoir {(electrical control of purge system F02D41/003)}
- F02M 25/0854: {Details of the absorption canister}
- F02M 25/0872: {Details of the fuel vapour pipes or conduits}
- F17C 11/00: Use of gas-solvents or gas-sorbents in vessels {(absorbing compositions for acetylene C10L3/04; absorbing compositions for hydrogen C01B3/0005)}
- G01F 1/68: by using thermal effects
- G01F 22/00: Methods or apparatus for measuring volume of fluids or fluent solid material, not otherwise provided for
- B60K 2015/03203: {during refuelling}
- B60K 2015/0321: {characterised by special sensors, the mounting thereof}
- B60K 2015/03217: {Fuel level sensors}
- B60K 2015/03514: {with vapor recovery means}
- B60W 2530/209: Fuel quantity remaining in tank
- G01F 23/32: using rotatable arms or other pivotable transmission elements
- G07C 5/00: Registering or indicating the working of vehicles
- G01F: MEASURING VOLUME, VOLUME FLOW, MASS FLOW OR LIQUID LEVEL; METERING BY VOLUME
- B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES
- B60W: CONJOINT CONTROL OF VEHICLE SUB-UNITS OF DIFFERENT TYPE OR DIFFERENT FUNCTION; CONTROL SYSTEMS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR HYBRID VEHICLES; ROAD VEHICLE DRIVE CONTROL SYSTEMS FOR PURPOSES NOT RELATED TO THE CONTROL OF A PARTICULAR SUB-UNIT
- F02D: CONTROLLING COMBUSTION ENGINES (vehicle fittings, acting on a single sub-unit only, for automatically controlling vehicle speed B60K31/00; conjoint control of vehicle sub-units of different type or different function, road vehicle drive control systems for purposes other than the control of a single sub-unit B60W)
- F02M: SUPPLYING COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL WITH COMBUSTIBLE MIXTURES OR CONSTITUENTS THEREOF
- F17C: VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES (storing fluids in natural or artificial cavities or chambers in the earth B65G5/00; construction or assembling of bulk storage containers employing civil-engineering techniques E04H7/00; variable-capacity gas-holders F17B; liquefaction or refrigeration machines, plants, or systems F25)
- G07C: TIME OR ATTENDANCE REGISTERS; REGISTERING OR INDICATING THE WORKING OF MACHINES; GENERATING RANDOM NUMBERS; VOTING OR LOTTERY APPARATUS; ARRANGEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS FOR CHECKING NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE

## Abstract

Methods and systems for inferring a fuel level in a fuel tank based on temperature changes in a carbon canister are disclosed. In one example approach a method comprises, indicating a fuel level in a fuel tank based on a temperature change of adsorbent in a carbon canister during refueling.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for an engine with an evaporative emission control system, comprising:
indicating a fuel level in a fuel tank based on a temperature change of adsorbent in a carbon canister during refueling.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising indicating an instantaneous fuel level based on a difference between the fuel level and an amount of fuel delivered to fuel injectors.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising, in response to the indicated fuel level being substantially equal to a maximum fuel level of the fuel tank, indicating a fuel level relative to the maximum fuel level based on a subsequent temperature change of adsorbent in the carbon canister during a subsequent refueling.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein indicating a fuel level in the fuel tank based on a temperature change of adsorbent in the carbon canister during refueling is performed during engine-off conditions in response to a degraded fuel level sensor.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the temperature change is based on a cool down duration based on a single temperature sensor coupled to the canister.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, wherein the cool down duration is a time duration from an initial temperature decrease in the canister during refueling until an inflection point where the temperature in the canister switches from decreasing to increasing.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the temperature change is based on a plurality of temperature sensors coupled to the carbon canister at various depths.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7, wherein the temperature change is a temperature change during a duration from an initial rise in temperature at a first temperature sensor in the canister to an inflection point in temperature at a second temperature sensor in the canister downstream of the first temperature sensor.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein the second temperature sensor is a most downstream temperature sensor in the canister to respond by more than a predetermined amount.

### Claim 10

A method for an engine with an evaporative emission control system, comprising:
indicating an amount of fuel added to a fuel tank during a refueling event based on a time duration of a temperature change of adsorbent in a carbon canister during the refueling event.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, further comprising, in response to the indicated amount of fuel added to the fuel tank during the refueling event being substantially equal to a maximum fuel level of the fuel tank, indicating a fuel level in the fuel tank based on a difference between the amount of fuel added to the fuel tank and an amount of fuel delivered to fuel injectors.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein the time duration of the temperature change is from an initial temperature increase in the canister until an inflection point in temperature in the canister.

### Claim 13 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein the time duration is a cool down duration based on a single temperature sensor coupled to the canister.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, wherein the cool down duration is a time duration from an initial temperature decrease in the canister during refueling until an inflection point where the temperature in the canister switches from decreasing to increasing.

### Claim 15 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein the temperature change is based on a plurality of temperature sensors coupled to the carbon canister at various depths.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, wherein the time duration is from an initial rise in temperature at a first temperature sensor in the canister to an inflection point in temperature at a second temperature sensor in the canister downstream of the first temperature sensor.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The method of claim 16, wherein the second temperature sensor is a most downstream temperature sensor in the canister to respond by more than a predetermined amount.

### Claim 18

A method for an engine with an evaporative emission control system, comprising:
indicating an amount of fuel added to the fuel tank during the refueling based on a time duration of a temperature change during refueling from an initial temperature change in a carbon canister until an inflection point in temperature in the canister; and
indicating an instantaneous fuel level based on a difference between the amount of fuel added to the fuel tank and an amount of fuel delivered to fuel injectors.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The method of claim 18, wherein the temperature change is measured via a single temperature sensor coupled to the canister and wherein the time duration is from an initial temperature decrease in the canister during refueling until an inflection point where the temperature in the canister switches from decreasing to increasing.

### Claim 20 (depends on 18)

The method of claim 18, wherein the temperature change is based on a plurality of temperature sensors coupled to the carbon canister at various depths and wherein the time duration is from an initial rise in temperature at a first temperature sensor in the canister to an inflection point in temperature at a second temperature sensor in the canister downstream of the first temperature sensor, wherein the second temperature sensor is a most downstream temperature sensor in the canister to respond by more than a predetermined amount.