Patent Publication Number: US-2007106438-A1

Title: Vehicle, fuel supplier, fuel supply system and related method for controlling fuel supply

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      The present invention relates to a vehicle provided with a fuel tank, a fuel supplier for supplying fuel to the fuel tank of the vehicle, a fuel supply system including the vehicle and the fuel supplier and a related method, where those described above are for stopping fuel supply.  
      2. Description of the Related Art  
      Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No 2004-59018 (=JP2004059018) discloses a fuel supply system for supplying fuel from a fuel supply port to a fuel tank of a vehicle at a fuel supply station and the like. When a fuel level goes beyond an automatic stop sensor which is disposed at a head end of a fuel supply gun, an automatic stop function of a fuel supplier stops fuel delivery to the fuel supply gun.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      It is an object of the present invention to provide a vehicle, a fuel supplier, a fuel supply system and a related method, where those provided above are for surely stopping fuel supply.  
      According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vehicle having a fuel tank, comprising: 1) an allowable fuel supply quantity sensor configured to sense an allowable fuel supply quantity to the fuel tank in an operation supplying a fuel to the fuel tank, and 2) a vehicular transmitter configured to transmit the following information to an outer part of the vehicle: the information on the allowable fuel supply quantity sensed by the allowable fuel supply quantity sensor.  
      According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a fuel supplier for supplying a fuel to a vehicle, comprising: 1) a receiver configured to receive information on an allowable fuel supply quantity to the vehicle, the information being transmitted from the vehicle in a fuel supplying operation, and 2) a fuel stopper configured to stop the fuel supplying operation based on the information.  
      According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a fuel supply system, comprising: I) a vehicle having a fuel tank, including: 1) an allowable fuel supply quantity sensor configured to sense an allowable fuel supply quantity to the fuel tank in an operation supplying a fuel to the fuel tank, and 2) a vehicular transmitter configured to transmit the following information to an outer part of the vehicle: the information on the allowable fuel supply quantity sensed by the allowable fuel supply quantity sensor; and II) a fuel supplier which is the outer part of the vehicle, the fuel supplier being configured to supply the fuel to the vehicle and including: 1) a receiver configured to receive the information on the allowable fuel supply quantity to the vehicle, the information being transmitted from the vehicle in the fuel supplying operation, and 2) a fuel stopper configured to stop the fuel supplying operation based on the information when the fuel supply quantity supplied to the vehicle reaches the allowable fuel supply quantity.  
      According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for stopping fuel supply, comprising: 1) supplying a fuel from a fuel supplier to a vehicle having a fuel tank; 2) sensing an allowable fuel supply quantity to the fuel tank of the vehicle in the operation supplying the fuel to the fuel tank; 3) transmitting the following information from the vehicle to the fuel supplier: the information on the allowable fuel supply quantity sensed by the sensing operation; 4) receiving the information on the allowable fuel supply quantity to the vehicle, the information being transmitted from the vehicle to the fuel supplier in the fuel supplying operation; and 5) stopping the fuel supplying operation based on the information when the fuel supply quantity supplied to the vehicle reaches the allowable fuel supply quantity.  
      According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a fuel supply system, comprising: I) transporting means having a fuel tanking means, including: 1) allowable fuel supply quantity sensing means for sensing an allowable fuel supply quantity to the fuel tanking means in an operation supplying a fuel to the fuel tanking means, and 2) vehicular transmitting means for transmitting the following information to an outer part of the transporting means: the information on the allowable fuel supply quantity sensed by the allowable fuel supply quantity sensing means; and II) fuel supplying means which is the outer part of the transporting means, the fuel supplying means being for supplying the fuel to the transporting means and including: 1) receiving means for receiving the information on the allowable fuel supply quantity to the transporting means, the information being transmitted from the transporting means in the fuel supplying operation, and 2) fuel stopping means for stopping the fuel supplying operation based on the information when the fuel supply quantity supplied to the transporting means reaches the allowable fuel supply quantity.  
      The other object(s) and feature(s) of the present invention will become understood from the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  shows a structure of a fuel supply system (including a vehicle and a fuel supplier), according to an embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of a first example for mounting an antenna to the vehicle, under the present invention.  
       FIG. 3  shows a flow chart of fuel supply control on the vehicle side.  
       FIG. 4  shows a flow chart of fuel supply control on the fuel supplier side.  
       FIG. 5  shows a perspective view of a second example for mounting the antenna to the vehicle, under the present invention.  
       FIG. 6  shows a perspective view of a third example for mounting the antenna to the vehicle, under the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
      In the following, various embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.  
      For ease of understanding, the following description will contain various directional terms, such as left, right, upper, lower, forward, rearward and the like. However, such terms are to be understood with respect to only a drawing or drawings on which the corresponding part of element is illustrated.  
      Referring to the drawings, detailed description is to be made hereinafter, about i) a vehicle provided with a fuel tank, ii) a fuel supplier for supplying fuel to the fuel tank of the vehicle, and iii) a fuel supply system including the vehicle and the fuel supplier, according to an embodiment of the present invention. Herein, the term “fuel supply” signifies supplying or filling of fuel. In addition, the term “fuel” is herein defined as a liquid fuel, examples thereof including a gasoline supplied to a gasoline engine vehicle, a light oil supplied to a diesel engine vehicle, and the like.  
      &lt;Structure&gt; 
       FIG. 1  shows a structure of a fuel supply system  100  including a vehicle  1  and a fuel supplier  16 , according to the embodiment of the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the vehicle  1  is provided with a fuel tank  2 . The fuel tank  2  connects to a fuel supply port  4  via a filler tube  3 . The fuel supply port  4  is positioned on a side face of a body of the vehicle  1 , and is ordinarily closed with a fuel cap (not shown in  FIG. 1 ). Moreover, a fuel lid  5  (refer to  FIG. 2 ) which is a part of a face united with the side face of the vehicle  1 &#39;s body is closed on the fuel supply port  4 . Operating a lever (not shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 ) in the room of the vehicle  1  can open the fuel lid  5  according to the embodiment. In the vicinity of the fuel supply port  4 , there is mounted an opening-closing sensor  6  for sensing an opening-closing state of the fuel lid  5 .  
      In the fuel tank  2 , there is disposed a pump unit  7  for delivering fuel to an engine  23 . The pump unit  7  has a pump  8  for pumping up the fuel to the inner part. In addition, the pump unit  7  is provided with a remaining quantity sensor (fuel quantity sensor)  9  for sensing remaining quantity in the fuel tank  2 . Referring to a float  24 , the remaining quantity sensor  9  according to the embodiment senses position of fuel level. The fuel pumped up by the pump  8  is delivered to the engine  23  via a filter  25 . The fuel tank  2  also has a canister  10  and the like for collecting volatile fuel in the fuel tank  2 .  
      The remaining quantity sensor  9  connects to an electronically controlled control unit (ECU)  11 , with the sensed remaining quantity to be operated (calculated) by the ECU  11 . From the fuel tank  2 &#39;s capacity (known) and the sensed remaining quantity (by the remaining quantity sensor  9 ), the ECU  11  calculates to what extent the fuel is fillable in the fuel tank  2 , in other words, an allowable fuel supply quantity. Herein, the remaining quantity sensor  9  and the ECU  11  each function as an allowable fuel supply quantity sensor. An end fuel level T S0  in  FIG. 1  denotes a state where the fuel tank  2  is full. In addition, a warning fuel level T S1  in  FIG. 1  denotes a state where the fuel tank  2  is slightly lower in fuel quantity than the full state, in other words, warning the full state.  
      Moreover, a transmitting-receiving unit  12  connects to the ECU  11  and has an antenna  13  for transmitting a signal to an outer part and receiving a signal from the outer part. To the outer part (herein, especially an after-described fuel supplier  16 ) via the transmitting-receiving unit  12  and the antenna  13 , the ECU  11  transmits: i) the allowable fuel supply quantity after the operation (calculation), ii) an end signal S 0  generated when the fuel quantity in the fuel tank  2  is at the end fuel level T S0 , and iii) a warning signal S 1  generated when the fuel quantity in the fuel tank  2  is at the warning fuel level T S1 , and iv) fuel type (gasoline, light oil, high octane gasoline, regular gasoline, or the like) of the vehicle  1 . Herein, the ECU  11 , the transmitting-receiving unit  12  and the antenna  13  each function as a vehicular transmitter. In addition, the remaining quantity sensor  9  sensing that the fuel quantity in the fuel tank  2  is at the end fuel level T S0  is equivalent to sensing a fuel quantity suppliable to the fuel tank  2 , thus making each of the remaining quantity sensor  9  and the ECU  11  an allowable fuel supply quantity sensor.  
      In addition, the ECU  11 , the transmitting-receiving unit  12  and the antenna  13  sense that the fuel supply is stopped when receiving a stop signal S 2  from the after-described fuel supplier  16 . In other words, the ECU  11 , the transmitting-receiving unit  12  and the antenna  13  each also function as a fuel stop sensor. In addition, a speaker (notifier)  14  also connects to the ECU  11 . The speaker  14  is mounted to give sound or voice information to a vehicular driver supplying the fuel. Moreover, the ECU  11  is interconnected with a door lock unit  15 . The door lock unit  15  controls locking or unlocking of the vehicle  1 . From the door lock unit  15  to the ECU  11 , a signal signifying locking or unlocking state of a door  1 B is transmitted.  
      Then, the fuel supplier  16  is to be explained. The fuel supplier  16  is disposed at a fuel supply station (not shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 ). Ordinarily, one fuel supply station has a plurality of fuel suppliers  16 . Herein, one of the fuel suppliers  16  is show in  FIG. 1 . The fuel supplier  16  has a fuel supply gun  17  to be inserted into the fuel supply port  4  of the vehicle  1 . A hose  26  connects fuel supply gun  17  to a body of the fuel supplier  16 . A pump unit  18  in the fuel supplier  16  delivers the fuel to the fuel supply gun  17 . The pump unit  18  incorporates therein: i) a pump  18 A, ii) a valve  18 B for starting or stopping the fuel delivery, iii) a flowmeter  18 C for sensing a fuel delivery quantity (fuel supply quantity per unit period: fuel supply rate), and iv) a control part  18 D for controlling the fuel supply quantity per unit period, and the like. The fuel supply quantity per unit period may be controlled referring to valve  18 B&#39;s opening or the pump  18 A&#39;s drive quantity. The pump unit  18  and the ECU  19  each function as a fuel stopper and a fuel flow rate controller.  
      The pump unit  18  pumps up the fuel from an underground tank  27  embedded under the fuel supply station. The pump unit  18  connecting to the ECU  19  for controlling the fuel delivery of the fuel supplier  16  is controlled by the ECU  19 . A transmitting-receiving unit  20  on the fuel supplier  16  side connects to the ECU  19 , and has an antenna  21  for transmitting a signal to the vehicle  1  and receiving a signal from the vehicle  1 . Via the transmitting-receiving unit  20  and the antenna  21 , the ECU  19  receives the signal from the vehicle  1  and transmits to the vehicle  1  the stop signal S 2 . Herein, the ECU  19 , the transmitting-receiving unit  20  and the antenna  21  each function as a transmitter or a receiver of the fuel supplier  16 . In addition, a sensing switch  22  for sensing whether or not the fuel supply gun  17  is stored in the fuel supplier  16  connects to the ECU  19 .  
       FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of a first example for mounting the antenna  13  to the vehicle  1 , according to the embodiment of the present invention. For transmitting and receiving the signals in combination with the fuel supplier  16 , the antenna  13  is preferably positioned in the vicinity of the fuel supplier  16 . In view of the above operation, the antenna  13  is preferably positioned in the vicinity of the fuel supply port  4  (the fuel lid  5 ). In  FIG. 2 , the antenna  13  is embedded (sealed or printed) at a lower part on the fuel supply port  4  side of a rear glass  1 A of the vehicle  1 . Positioning the antenna  13  on the outwardly exposed rear glass  1 A is preferable, causing no blockage of receiving of the signal. In addition, occasionally, a defogger wiring (not shown in  FIG. 2 ) is printed on the rear glass  1 A or an FM antenna (not shown in  FIG. 2 ) is embedded in the rear glass  1 A. In other words, printing the antenna  13  in combination with the defogger wiring or the FM antenna can decrease cost than printing the antenna  13  by another preparation step.  
      &lt;Flow Chart&gt; 
      Then, based flow charts in  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 , an explanation is made on fuel supply control by the fuel supply system  100  including the vehicle  1  and the fuel supplier  16 .  FIG. 3  shows a flow chart of fuel supply control on the vehicle  1  side.  FIG. 4  shows a flow chart of fuel supply control on fuel supplier  16  side.  
      Herein, for supplying the fuel to the vehicle  1 , there is provided the following first method:  
      &lt;First Method&gt; 
      1) calculating in advance the allowable fuel supply quantity on the vehicle  1  side based on the fuel tank  2 &#39;s capacity (known) and the sensed remaining quantity (by the remaining quantity sensor  9 ), as described above,  
      2) transmitting the allowable fuel supply quantity from the vehicle  1  to the fuel supplier  16 ,  
      3) implementing the fuel supply at the fuel supplier  16  according to the allowable fuel supply quantity,  
      4) decreasing fuel supply quantity with the fuel supply quantity approaching the allowable fuel supply quantity, and  
      5) stopping the fuel supply with the fuel supply quantity reaching the allowable fuel supply quantity.  
      Moreover, there is provided the following second method:  
      &lt;Second Method&gt; 
      1) continuing the fuel supply by sensing, with the remaining quantity sensor  9 , the fuel quantity remaining in the fuel tank  2  in the fuel supplying operation,  
      2) decreasing the fuel supply quantity at a time point when the fuel supplier  16  receives the warning signal S 1  which is transmitted from the vehicle  1  at the warning fuel level T S1 , and  
      3) stopping the fuel supply at a time point when the fuel supplier  16  receives the end signal S 0  which is transmitted from the vehicle  1  at the end fuel level T S0 .  
      Controlling operations for the fuel supply hereinafter shown in  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4  are based on the second method, however, may be based on the first method.  
      In addition, the second method can be so made as to stop the fuel supply at the end fuel level T S0 , followed by slightly and gradually adding the fuel supply by a user (vehicular driver) observing inside the fuel supply port  4 .  
      At first, explained based on the flow chart in  FIG. 3  is about controlling the fuel supply-stop on the vehicle  1  side.  
      (Step S 300 )  
      First, the routine monitors whether or not an ignition (not shown) is turned off. 
          When Yes at step S 300 , the routine proceeds to step S 305 .     When No at step S 300 , the routine returns to START. 
 
 (Step S 305 ) 
       

      Based on a signal from the door lock unit  15 , the ECU  11  determines whether or not the door  1 B is locked. 
          When Yes at step S 305 , the routine determines that the turned off ignition is not for fuel supply, thus ending control.     When No at step S 305 , the routine proceeds to step S 310 . 
 
 (Step S 310 ) 
       

      Based on a signal from the opening-closing sensor  6 , the ECU  11  determines whether or not the fuel lid  5  (the fuel supply port  4 ) is opened. 
          When Yes at step S 310 , the routine proceeds to step S 315 .     When No at step S 310 , the routine cannot determine whether or not the turned off ignition is for fuel supply, therefore returns to step S 300 , followed by repeated operations up to step S 310 . 
            If the door  1 B is locked in this period (Yes at step S 305 ), the routine ends the control. 
 
 (Step S 315 ) 
   
               

      The routine determines that the fuel is supplied to the fuel tank  2 , thus sensing the remaining quantity in the fuel tank  2 . Specifically, the remaining quantity sensor  9  senses fuel quantity (fuel level) Tu in the fuel tank  2 . Then, the routine proceeds to step S 320 .  
      (Step S 320 )  
      Then, the routine determines whether or not the sensed fuel level Tu is over the warning fuel level T S1 . 
          When No at step S 320 , the routine returns to step S 315 , then continues sensing the fuel level Tu.     When Yes at step S 320  in the future such that the fuel level Tu is over the warning fuel level T S1 , the routine proceeds to step S 325 . 
 
 (Step S 325 ) 
       

      The routine transmits the warning signal S 1  to the fuel supplier  16 .  
      After receiving the warning signal S 1 , the fuel supplier  16  decreases fuel supply quantity. Then, the routine proceeds to step S 330 .  
      (Step S 330 )  
      The routine determines whether or not the sensed fuel level Tu is at the end fuel level T S0  or over. 
          When No at step S 330 , the routine returns to step S 315 , then continues sensing the fuel level Tu.     When Yes at step  330  in the future such that the fuel level Tu is at the end fuel level T S0  or over, the routine proceeds to step S 335 . 
 
 (Step S 335 ) 
       

      The routine transmits the end signal S 0  to the fuel supplier  16 . After receiving the end signal S 0 , the fuel supplier  16  stops the fuel supply, then transmitting the stop signal S 2  to the vehicle  1 . Then, the routine proceeds to step S 340 .  
      (Step S 340 )  
      The routine determines whether or not the vehicle  1  receives the stop signal S 2 . 
          When No at step S 340 , the routine returns to step S 335 .     When Yes at step S 340 , the routine proceeds to step S 345 . 
 
 (Step S 345 ) 
       

      The speaker  14  notifies the vehicular occupant (fuel supplying person) by sound or voice that the fuel supply is ended.  
      Then, explained based on the flow chart in  FIG. 4  is about controlling the fuel supply-stop on the fuel supplier  16  side.  
      (Step S 400 )  
      First, the routine monitors whether or not the fuel supply gun  17  is dismounted from the fuel supplier  16 &#39;s body. The sensing switch  22  senses the monitoring. 
          When Yes at step S 400 , the routine proceeds to step S 405 .     When No at step S 400 , the routine returns to START. 
 
 (Step S 405 ) 
       

      The routine determines fuel type to be supplied to the vehicle  1 . Herein, the vehicle  1  has transmitted to the fuel supplier  16  a signal on the fuel type. Then, the routine proceeds to step S 410 .  
      (Step S 410 )  
      The routine determines whether or not the sensed fuel type of the vehicle  1  is consistent with the fuel type to be supplied by the fuel supply gun  17  of the fuel supplier  16 . 
          When Yes at step S 410 , the routine proceeds to step S 420 .     When No at step S 410 , the routine proceeds to step S 415 . 
 
 (Step S 415 ) 
       

      The valve  18 B of the pump unit  18  is not opened, therefore not implementing the fuel supply, ending controlling of the flow chart in  FIG. 4 .  
      (Step S 420 )  
      The valve  18 B of the pump unit  18  is opened, thus starting the fuel supply. Then, the routine proceeds to step S 425 .  
      (Step S 425 )  
      The routine monitors whether or not the fuel supplier  16  receives the warning signal S 1  transmitted from the vehicle  1 . 
          When Yes at step S 425 , the routine proceeds to step S 430 . 
 
 (Step S 430 ) 
       

      The pump unit  18  decreases the fuel flow rate (fuel supply quantity per unit period). Then, the routine proceeds to step S 435 .  
      (Step S 435 )  
      The routine monitors whether or not the fuel supplier  16  receives the end signal S 0  transmitted from the vehicle  1 . 
          When Yes at step S 435 , the routine proceeds to step S 440 .     When No at step S 435 , the routine returns to step S 425 . 
 
 (Step S 440 ) 
       

      The pump unit  18  stops the fuel supply. Then, the routine proceeds to step S 445 .  
      (Step S 445 )  
      The transmitting-receiving unit  20  transmits the stop signal S 2  to the vehicle  1 . With the above operations, the fuel supplier  16  supplies the fuel to the vehicle  1 .  
      From the remaining quantity in the fuel tank  2  and the fuel tank  2 &#39;s capacity, the allowable fuel supply quantity is calculated. Based on the allowable fuel supply quantity, the fuel supply is implemented and thereafter can be surely ended with a proper fuel supply quantity. In addition, the vehicle  1  transmitting the warning signal S 1  at the time point when the fuel supply quantity approaches the allowable fuel supply quantity can be a warning for stopping the fuel supply at a proper timing, thus surely ending the fuel supply with a proper fuel supply quantity. Moreover, the vehicle  1  transmitting the end signal S 0  at the time point when the fuel supply quantity reaches the allowable fuel supply quantity can surely stop the fuel supply with a proper fuel supply quantity. Moreover, the vehicle  1  noting the vehicular occupant (fuel supplying person) that the fuel supply is stopped can rapidly end the fuel supplying operation. For clear notification, the sound or voice is preferable.  
      The fuel supplier  16  stopping the fuel supply at the time point when the fuel supply quantity reaches the allowable fuel supply quantity received from the vehicle  1  can surely end the fuel supply with a proper fuel supply quantity. Moreover, the fuel supplier  16  decreasing the fuel supply quantity per unit period when receiving the warning signal S 1  (which is transmitted from the vehicle  1  at a time point when the fuel supply quantity approaches the allowable fuel supply quantity) can be prepared for the fuel supply stop, and can surely end the fuel supply with a proper fuel supply quantity when stopping the fuel supply. Moreover, the fuel supplier  16  stopping the fuel supply when receiving the end signal S 0  (which is transmitted from the vehicle  1  at a time point when the fuel supply quantity reaches the allowable fuel supply quantity) can surely stop the fuel supply at a proper timing. In addition, the fuel supplier  16  transmitting the stop signal S 2  when stopping the fuel supply can easily notify the fuel supply stop.  
       FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6  show, respectively, a second example and a third example for mounting the antenna  13  to the vehicle  1 .  FIG. 5  shows the antenna unit  130  disposed in the vehicle  1 . In this case, for the preferred disposition in the vicinity of the fuel supply port  4  (the fuel lid  5 ), the antenna  13  is disposed on a rear tray on the fuel supply port  4  side.  FIG. 6  shows the antenna unit  13  integrated with another transmitting-receiving unit. Herein, an antenna function on the fuel supply is incorporated in an ETC unit  131 . The ETC unit  131  is ordinarily disposed in the vicinity of the windshield  1 C. In view of transmitting-receiving with the fuel supplier  16 , however, the ETC unit  131  in  FIG. 6  is disposed in the vicinity of the windshield  1 C on the fuel supply port  4  (the fuel lid  5 ) side.  
      Although the present invention has been described above by reference to a certain embodiment, the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above. Modifications and variations of the embodiment described above will occur to those skilled in the art, in light of the teachings.  
      Specifically, according to the embodiment, the speaker  14  notifying the vehicular driver of the fuel supply end is disposed on the vehicle  1  side, but may be disposed on the fuel supplier  16  side.  
      In addition, according to the embodiment, the vehicle  1 &#39;s fuel type is transmitted to received as a signal, but may be character, mark, pattern (bar code) or the like which is disposed in the vicinity of the fuel supply port  4  and is readable by the fuel supply gun  17  inserted into the fuel supply port  4 .  
      Moreover, according to the embodiment, the transmitting-receiving unit  20  and the ECU  19  each are provided for each of the plurality of fuel suppliers  16 . However, implementing the transmitting-receiving or the signal processing concentratedly in the entire fuel supply station is allowed, with the result therefrom interchanged with the fuel suppliers  16 . In this case, the fuel supplier  16  still has the transmitter and the receiver. In this case, however, for clarifying a pair of the vehicle  1  and the fuel supplier  16  (i.e., which vehicle  1  corresponding to which fuel supplier  16 ?), the vehicle  1  and the fuel supplier  16  are preferred to be individually telecommunicated at a short distance, leading to a better control.  
      This application is based on a prior Japanese Patent Application No P2005-326137 (filed on Nov. 10, 2005 in Japan). The entire contents of the Japanese Patent Application No P2005-326137 from which priority is claimed are incorporated herein by reference, in order to take some protection against translation errors or omitted portions.  
      The scope of the present invention is defined with reference to the following claims.