Back to results
US 9,340,106 B2Granted
Systems and methods for an externally accessible refueling request switch
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsAed M. Dudar, Dennis Seung-Man Yang, Russell Randall Pearce
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for a vehicle, comprising: depressurizing a fuel tank while restricting access to a fuel fill line responsive to receiving a refueling request from a refueling request module located external to a vehicle cabin; and allowing access to the fuel fill line responsive to the fuel tank pressure decreasing below a threshold. In this way, all of the steps of a refueling procedure can be carried out entirely outside of a vehicle.
Claims19
A method for a vehicle, comprising:
- depressurizing a fuel tank while maintaining a lock coupled to a refueling door in a locked state responsive to receiving a refueling request from a refueling request module located external to a vehicle cabin;
- unlocking the refueling door lock responsive to the fuel tank pressure decreasing below a threshold pressure;
- and
- indicating to pull an emergency release cable responsive to the fuel tank not depressurizing below the threshold pressure, wherein the emergency release cable is coupled to a fuel tank isolation valve and the refueling door lock.
1 more element
A fuel system for a vehicle, comprising:
- a fuel tank;
- a refueling inlet configured to receive a fuel dispensing nozzle;
- a fuel fill line coupled between the refueling inlet and the fuel tank;
- a refueling door located in a body panel of the vehicle and configured to restrict access to the refueling inlet;
- a refueling lock coupled to the refueling door;
- a controller configured with instructions stored in non-transitory memory, that when executed, cause the controller to:
- responsive to the refueling door being displaced inwards, initiate a fuel tank depressurization sequence while maintaining the refueling door locked;
- and then
- allow access to the fuel fill line responsive to the fuel tank depressurizing below a pressure threshold;
- and
- an emergency release cable coupled to a fuel tank isolation valve and the refueling lock;
- wherein the controller is further configured with instructions stored in non-transitory memory, that when executed, cause the controller to:
- indicate to pull the emergency release cable responsive to the fuel tank not depressurizing below the pressure threshold.
10 more elements
A method for a vehicle, comprising:
- receiving a voltage signal from a potentiometer indicating a refueling request, the refueling request comprising an operator inwardly pressing a refueling door configured to engage the potentiometer;
- depressurizing a fuel tank while maintaining the refueling door locked;
- unlocking the refueling door when a fuel tank pressure is below a pressure threshold;
- receiving a voltage signal from the potentiometer indicating the refueling door is open;
- receiving a voltage signal from the potentiometer indicating the refueling door is closed;
- and
- sealing the fuel tank and locking the refueling door responsive to receiving the voltage signal from the potentiometer indicating the refueling door is closed.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.