Vehicle having a gasoline internal combustion engine and inspected for type of fuel used, and associated inspection method

Abstract

The invention relates to a vehicle (V) comprising: an internal combustion engine (MT) supplied by at least one injector (IN) with gasoline-type fuel from a container (RC) in order to provide a torque for moving the vehicle, and a monitoring computer (CS) which checks the supply and operation of the internal combustion engine (MT) and, in the case of detection of the filling of the container (RC) and then the re-starting of the internal combustion engine (MT), detects when the internal combustion engine will consume a fuel quantity equal to a predefined value and then, once this detection has been carried out, analyses the operation of the internal combustion engine (MT) over a selected period of time and, in the case of detection of a malfunction of the internal combustion engine (MT), triggers the storage of data characterizing the suspicion that the container (RC) has been filled with a fuel of a different type than gasoline.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention claims the priority of French application N°2005525 filed on May 25, 2020, the content (text, drawings and claims) of which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] The invention relates to a vehicle comprising an internal combustion engine consuming gasoline-type fuel from a container to provide a torque for moving the vehicle. Background Art

[0003] Many vehicles comprise a powertrain (or GMP) comprising at least one internal combustion engine supplied with gasoline-type fuel from a container in order to provide a torque for moving the vehicle. Sometimes, when a person performs a (partial or complete) filling of the container, the person makes a mistake in the type of fuel (diesel is used instead of gasoline) without noticing it. In this case, when the internal combustion engine is put back into operation, it is supplied with the wrong type of fuel or mixture (the type of mixture is not the type for which the internal combustion engine is set) and thus malfunctions more or less quickly. The malfunction alerts the driver, but the time at which the driver decides to stop the operation of the internal combustion engine may be more or less long, so that the damage to the internal combustion engine caused thereby may be more or less significant.

[0004] Currently, there is no technology that can quickly detect the suspicion that the container has been filled with a fuel of a different type than gasoline (not the type for which the internal combustion engine is set up). There is only sometimes (not always) a difference in size between the pouring nozzles of gasoline and diesel supply guns (in fact, the pouring nozzle of a gasoline supply gun is not as wide as the pouring nozzle of a diesel supply gun). However, despite this difference, filling errors still occur.

[0005] When such an error occurs, and when the user of the vehicle has performed a complete drain of the fuel and then put gasoline into the container, when the vehicle is taken to the after-sales service for a problem with the internal combustion engine, it is very difficult to detect this error that is indeed hidden in the after-sales service. When the vehicle is under warranty, and when the hidden error is not detected in the after-sales service, the repair costs are completely borne by the vehicle manufacturer, although this type of error is usually not covered by the warranty.

[0006] The object of the present invention is therefore, inter alia, to improve the situation. Summary of the invention

[0007] To this end, the invention provides in particular a vehicle comprising an internal combustion engine supplied by at least one injector with gasoline-type fuel from a container in order to provide a torque for moving the vehicle, and a monitoring computer which checks Supply and operation of the internal combustion engine.

[0008] The vehicle is characterized in that the monitoring computer of the vehicle is configured to perform the following operations: upon detection of the filling of the container, after the internal combustion engine is put back into operation, detect when the internal combustion engine will consume a fuel quantity equal to a predefined value, and then, once the detection has been carried out, analyze the operation of the internal combustion engine over a selected period of time and, upon detection of a malfunction of the internal combustion engine, trigger the storage of data indicating a suspicion that the container has been filled with a fuel of a different type than gasoline.

[0009] Due to the invention, stored suspect data are thus obtained which can subsequently be retrieved in after-sales service (for example due to operating problems of the internal combustion engine) to serve as factual elements for establishing an after-sales service diagnosis in order to offer the customer an optimal troubleshooting solution.

[0010] The vehicle according to the invention may include other features which may be adopted individually or in combination, in particular:

[0011] - the selected analysis duration may be between 100 seconds and 300 seconds;

[0012] - the vehicle may comprise a sensor which detects each introduction of a fuel supply gun into the supply duct of the container and which generates a dedicated message each time the sensor performs such a detection;

[0013] - In a variant, the vehicle's monitoring computer can be configured to perform the following operations: compare a first fuel quantity and a second fuel quantity present in the container just before the filling is detected and just after the internal combustion engine is put into operation again, respectively, and detect the filling of the container when the second quantity is greater than the first quantity;

[0014] - in the presence of at least two injectors supplying at least two cylinders respectively, the monitoring computer of the vehicle may be configured to perform the following operations: in the event of a malfunction being detected in each of the cylinders, determining that a malfunction exists;

[0015] - the monitoring computer of the vehicle may be configured to perform the following operations: summing each fuel quantity injected by each injector and, when the sum becomes greater than or equal to the predefined value, detecting that the internal combustion engine has consumed the predefined value;

[0016] - the monitoring computer of the vehicle may be configured to perform the following operations: in the event of a malfunction of the internal combustion engine being detected, a message is generated for informing the occupants of the vehicle of the suspicion that the container has been filled with a fuel of a different type than gasoline, and then triggering the display of the message on at least one screen present in the vehicle and / or the playback of the message by at least one loudspeaker present in the vehicle;

[0017] - The vehicle may be of motorized type.

[0018] The invention also provides a checking method which is intended, on the one hand, to be implemented in a vehicle comprising an internal combustion engine supplied by at least one injector with gasoline-type fuel from a container in order to provide a torque for moving the vehicle.

[0019] The inspection method is characterized in that it comprises steps, among which: detecting the filling of the container and then, after the internal combustion engine is put back into operation, detecting when the internal combustion engine will consume a fuel quantity equal to a predefined value and then, once the detection has been carried out, analyzing the operation of the internal combustion engine over a selected period of time and, in the event of a malfunction of the internal combustion engine, storing data which indicate a suspicion that the container has been filled with a fuel of a different type than gasoline.

[0020] The present invention also provides a computer program product comprising a set of instructions capable of implementing a checking method of the type described above when executed by a processing unit to check in a vehicle whether the type of fuel supplied to the internal combustion engine is gasoline, the vehicle comprising an internal combustion engine supplied with gasoline-type fuel from a container by at least one injector to provide a torque for moving the vehicle. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] Other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the present invention and the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0022] Figure 1 Schematically and functionally shows a top view of an embodiment of a vehicle according to the invention,

[0023] Figure 2 An embodiment of a monitoring computer is schematically and functionally shown, and

[0024] Figure 3 An example of an algorithm implementing the inspection method according to the invention is schematically shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0025] The object of the present invention is in particular to provide a vehicle V, which includes a powertrain (or GMP), which includes at least one internal combustion engine MT, which is supplied with gasoline type fuel by at least one injector IN, and in which vehicle it is possible to check whether the type of fuel supplied to the internal combustion engine MT is gasoline.

[0026] In the following, as a non-limiting example, it is considered that the vehicle V is of the motor vehicle type. The vehicle is, for example, a car, such as Figure 1 As shown above. However, the invention is not limited to this type of vehicle. The invention relates in fact to any type of vehicle comprising a powertrain (or GMP) with at least one gasoline internal combustion engine. Thus, the invention also relates to all types of land vehicles (utility vehicles, caravans, minibuses, coaches, trucks, motorcycles, road maintenance machines, construction site machines, agricultural machines, leisure machines (snowmobiles, karts)), tracked machines), watercraft and aircraft.

[0027] exist Figure 1 Schematically shown above is a vehicle V according to the invention, comprising a GMP with a gasoline internal combustion engine MT and a monitoring computer CS which is able to check (or monitor) the supply and operation of at least the internal combustion engine MT.

[0028] The internal combustion engine MT is supplied with gasoline type fuel from a tank RC by at least one injector IN in order to provide a torque for moving the vehicle V under the command of a monitoring computer CS. This supply of each injector IN is here implemented via a first pump P1 which sucks the fuel into the tank RC, supplying a first pipe C1 with low-pressure fuel, a high-pressure second pump P2 coupled to the first pipe C1 and supplying a second pipe C2 with high-pressure fuel, a high-pressure ramp (or rail) RH coupled to the second pipe C2 and supplying each injector IN with high-pressure fuel. The operation of the first pump P1 and the second pump P2 and of each injector IN is checked (or monitored) by the monitoring computer CS.

[0029] The monitoring computer CS is also configured to intervene whenever the filling of the container RC is detected. In this case, the monitoring computer CS is configured to perform the following operations: after the internal combustion engine MT has been put back into operation, detect when the internal combustion engine MT will consume a quantity of fuel qct equal to a predefined value vp. Then, once this detection has been carried out (and therefore when qct≥vp), the monitoring computer CS is configured to perform the following operations: analyze the operation of the internal combustion engine MT during a selected duration dc and, in the event of a malfunction of the internal combustion engine MT, trigger the storage of data characterizing the suspicion that the container RC has been filled with a fuel of a different type than gasoline.

[0030] The predefined value vp is, for example, the sum of the fuel quantities contained in the first pump P1 , the first conduit C1 , the second pump P2 , the second conduit C2 , the high-pressure ramp (or rail) RH and each injector IN, respectively.

[0031] Note that the amount of fuel considered here can be volume or mass.

[0032] It is understood that, from the moment when the consumed fuel quantity qct becomes equal to the predefined value vp, it is certain that the fuel supplied to each injector IN originates from the reservoir RC and therefore at least partly from the filling that has just been detected. It is therefore decided to monitor the operation of the internal combustion engine MT during a selected duration dc starting from the moment when the condition qct≥vp becomes satisfied, since the fuel injected from this moment onwards risks causing a malfunction of the internal combustion engine MT. If a malfunction of the internal combustion engine MT is detected during said selected (analyzed) duration while the operation of said internal combustion engine was normal before the last fuel filling, the new fuel placed in the reservoir RC is most likely not gasoline.

[0033] Here "malfunction" is usually referred to as the failure of the internal combustion engine MT to start (or "misfire" in English). This phenomenon corresponds to poor combustion, which causes the pressure in the cylinder to be lower than in normal combustion and leads to the indicated insufficient engine torque. Usually, the detection relies on a real-time analysis of the engine speed and the torque reasonably produced by the internal combustion engine MT. By applying the basic principles of dynamics, any inconsistency can be detected, which in turn can determine whether the operation of the internal combustion engine MT is normal or abnormal. Of course, this type of inconsistency detection is not restrictive, and other types of inconsistency detection exist (and are well known to those skilled in the art).

[0034] The stored suspect data are, for example, in the form of specific codes which can then be retrieved in the after-sales service when the vehicle V is taken to the after-sales service, for example, because of a problem with the operation of its internal combustion engine MT. This enables the automobile manufacturer to have important factual information for analysis. This information can in fact be used in the after-sales service to establish a diagnosis and offer the customer the best possible troubleshooting solution.

[0035] For example, the selected (analyzed) duration may be between 100 seconds and 300 seconds. Thus, the selected (analyzed) duration may be equal to 200 seconds, for example.

[0036] Filling detection can be performed in at least two ways.

[0037] In a first way, the vehicle V may include a sensor that detects each introduction of a fuel supply gun (nozzle) into the supply duct of the tank RC of the vehicle and generates a dedicated message each time the sensor performs such a detection. It is understood that in this case the dedicated message (indicating the introduction) is transmitted at least to the monitoring computer CS, so that, as soon as the internal combustion engine (MT) is put back into operation, the monitoring computer (CS) starts monitoring the amount of fuel qct consumed by the internal combustion engine MT.

[0038] In a second way, the monitoring computer CS itself performs the detection. More precisely, in this case, the monitoring computer CS is configured to perform the following operations: a first fuel quantity q1 present in the container RC just before the detection of the filling is compared with a second fuel quantity q2 present in the container RC just after the internal combustion engine MT is put into operation again, and the filling of the container RC is detected when the second quantity q2 is greater than the first quantity q1 (i.e. q2>q1).

[0039] Note that in the presence of at least two injectors IN supplying at least two cylinders respectively, the monitoring computer CS can be configured to perform the following operations: in the event of a malfunction being detected in each of these cylinders, it is determined that there is a malfunction. Once the selected period dc has elapsed, if at least one cylinder is operating normally, the monitoring computer CS considers that there is no overall malfunction of the internal combustion engine MT and therefore does not trigger the storage of suspect data.

[0040] It is also noted that the monitoring computer CS can be configured to perform the following operations: sum each fuel quantity qc injected by each injector IN, and when the sum qct becomes greater than or equal to the predefined value vp (i.e. qct = ∑(qc) ≥ vp), it is detected that the internal combustion engine MT has consumed the predefined value vp of fuel.

[0041] It is also noted that the monitoring computer CS can be configured to store suspect data (e.g. specific codes) in a (optionally dedicated) memory included in itself, or to trigger storage in a memory used to store a number of vital information of the vehicle V. In this latter case, the memory can be, for example, part of what a person skilled in the art sometimes calls an intelligent service box (or BSI-monitoring device). The transmission of the message containing the malfunction code by the monitoring computer CS to the memory is thus implemented via a communication network installed in the vehicle V and optionally multiplexed.

[0042] It is also noted that the monitoring computer CS can be configured to perform the following operations: in the event of a malfunction of the internal combustion engine MT being detected, a dedicated message is generated, the dedicated message being intended to inform the passengers of the vehicle V of the suspicion of having used a fuel filling container RC of a different type than gasoline. In this case, the monitoring computer CS then triggers the display of the dedicated message on at least one screen present in the vehicle V and / or the playback of the dedicated message by at least one loudspeaker present in the vehicle V. The display of the dedicated message can be implemented, for example, on the screen of the central instrument cluster or dashboard, or on the screen of a communication device temporarily installed in the vehicle V, which can communicate with at least one computer of the vehicle (V) and accompanies the passengers, such as a smart mobile phone (or "smartphone") or an electronic communication tablet. The audio playback of the dedicated message can be implemented, for example, by at least one loudspeaker permanently equipped in the vehicle V, or by a loudspeaker equipped on a communication device temporarily installed in the vehicle V.

[0043] In order to ensure its own functionality (and therefore its own operation), the monitoring computer CS comprises at least one processor PR, for example a digital signal processor (or DSP (“Digital Signal Processor”)) and at least one memory MD. The processor PR may comprise an integrated (or printed) circuit or a plurality of integrated (or printed) circuits connected by a wired or wireless connection. An “integrated (or printed) circuit” is understood to be any type of device capable of performing at least one electrical or electronic operation. The memory MD is randomly accessible in order to store instructions for the implementation by the processor PR of at least one part of the inspection method described further below. The monitoring computer CS may therefore be implemented in the form of a combination of electrical or electronic circuits or components (or “hardware”) and software modules (or “software”).

[0044] Also note that Figure 2As shown non - restrictively above, the monitoring computer CS may also include a mass memory MM (as a supplement to its own random - access memory MD and processor PR), which is especially used to store the fuel quantity qc continuously consumed (or injected), information characterizing the operation of the internal combustion engine MT, and intermediate data involved in all calculations and processing. Additionally, the monitoring computer CS may also include an input interface IE, which is used to receive at least the fuel quantity qc and information characterizing the operation of the internal combustion engine MT, so as to use these data in the calculation or processing after shaping and / or demodulating and / or amplifying them in a manner known per se by means of a digital signal processor PR'. Furthermore, the monitoring computer CS may also include an output interface IS, which is especially used to transmit its own messages or commands (which are at least used to store the suspected data and optional dedicated messages).

[0045] The present invention can also be in the form of an inspection method implemented in a vehicle V. This inspection method can be at least partially implemented by the monitoring computer CS described above.

[0046] This inspection method includes steps 10 - 70, where it starts with detecting the filling of the container RC. Then, after the internal combustion engine MT is restarted, steps 10 - 70 continue to detect when the internal combustion engine (MT) will consume a fuel quantity equal to a predefined value vp. Then, once this detection is carried out, steps 10 - 70 continue to analyze the operation of the internal combustion engine MT during a selected duration dc. Then, in the case of detecting a malfunction of the internal combustion engine MT, steps 10 - 70 continue to store data that characterizes the suspicion of using a fuel of a type different from gasoline to fill the container RC.

[0047] In Figure 3 An example of an algorithm for implementing the inspection method according to the present invention is schematically shown above.

[0048] This algorithm includes sub - step 10, where the filling of the container RC is detected.

[0049] Then, in sub - step 20, after the internal combustion engine MT is restarted, the fuel quantity qct consumed by the internal combustion engine MT from the start of this restart is calculated, and in sub - step 30, this fuel quantity qct is compared with the predefined value vp.

[0050] When the consumed fuel quantity qct is less than the predefined value vp (qct < vp), return to execute sub - step 20 to update the consumed fuel quantity qct.

[0051] When the consumed fuel quantity qct becomes greater than or equal to the predefined value vp (qct ≥ vp), in sub - step 40, the operation of the internal combustion engine MT during the selected duration dc is analyzed.

[0052] In the event that no malfunction of the internal combustion engine MT is detected during the selected duration dc, the algorithm (and therefore the checking method) is interrupted in a substep 50 .

[0053] Conversely, in the event that a malfunction of the internal combustion engine MT is detected during this selected duration dc, data are stored in a sub-step 60 which characterize the suspicion that the container RC has been filled with a fuel different from gasoline.

[0054] In a substep 70 , the passengers of the vehicle V are then warned of the suspicion, optionally by means of a special message.

[0055] It is also noted that the present invention also provides a computer program product (or computer program) comprising a set of instructions capable of implementing the checking method described above when executed by a processing component of the electronic circuit (or hardware) type (e.g. a processor PR) to check whether the type of fuel supplied to the internal combustion engine MT of the vehicle V is gasoline after filling of the container RC of the vehicle.

[0056] It is also noted that one or more sub-steps of the steps of the inspection method can be performed by different components. Thus, the inspection method can be implemented by multiple digital signal processors, random access memories, large-capacity memories, input interfaces, and output interfaces.

Claims

1. A vehicle (V), comprising: an internal combustion engine (MT) supplied by at least one injector (IN) with gasoline-type fuel from a reservoir (RC) to provide a torque for moving the vehicle; and a monitoring computer (CS) which checks the supply and operation of the internal combustion engine (MT), characterized in that the monitoring computer (CS) is configured to perform the following operations: when the filling of the container (RC) is detected, after the internal combustion engine (MT) is put back into operation, detect when the internal combustion engine (MT) will consume a fuel amount equal to a predefined value, then, once the detection has been carried out, analyze the operation of the internal combustion engine (MT) over a selected period of time, and, when a malfunction of the internal combustion engine (MT) is detected, trigger the storage of data indicating a suspicion that the container (RC) has been filled with a fuel different from gasoline.

2. The vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that The selected duration is between 100 seconds and 300 seconds.

3. The vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The vehicle comprises a sensor which detects each introduction of a fuel supply gun into a supply duct of the container (RC) and which generates a dedicated message each time the sensor performs such a detection.

4. The vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The monitoring computer (CS) is configured to perform the following operations: compare a first fuel quantity and a second fuel quantity present in the container (RC) just before the filling is detected and just after the internal combustion engine (MT) is put into operation again, respectively, and detect the filling of the container (RC) when the second fuel quantity is greater than the first fuel quantity.

5. The vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: When there are at least two injectors (IN) supplying at least two cylinders respectively, the monitoring computer (CS) is configured to perform the following operations: when a malfunction in each of the cylinders is detected, it is determined that there is a malfunction.

6. The vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The monitoring computer (CS) is configured to perform the following operations: summing each fuel amount injected by each injector (IN), and, when the sum becomes greater than or equal to the predefined value, detecting that the internal combustion engine (MT) consumes the predefined value.

7. The vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The monitoring computer (CS) is configured to perform the following operations: when a malfunction of the internal combustion engine (MT) is detected, a message is generated, the message being used to notify the passengers of the vehicle (V) of the suspicion that a fuel different type from gasoline has been used to fill the container (RC), and then triggering the display of the message on at least one screen present in the vehicle (V) and / or the broadcasting of the message by at least one loudspeaker present in the vehicle (V).

8. The vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The vehicle is of a motor vehicle type.

9. A method for checking a vehicle (V) comprising an internal combustion engine (MT) supplied by at least one injector (IN) with gasoline type fuel from a container (RC) to provide a torque for moving the vehicle, characterized in that The inspection method comprises steps (10-70), wherein: the filling of the container (RC) is detected, and then, after the internal combustion engine (MT) is put back into operation, when the internal combustion engine (MT) will consume a fuel quantity equal to a predefined value, and then, once the detection has been carried out, the operation of the internal combustion engine (MT) over a selected period of time is analyzed, and, when a malfunction of the internal combustion engine (MT) is detected, data are stored, which data indicate a suspicion that the container (RC) has been filled with a fuel of a different type than gasoline.

10. A computer program product comprising a set of instructions capable of implementing, when executed by a processing unit, a checking method according to claim 9 to check in a vehicle (V) whether the type of fuel supplied to the internal combustion engine (MT) is gasoline, the vehicle comprising an internal combustion engine (MT) supplied with gasoline type fuel from a container (RC) by at least one injector (IN) to provide a torque for moving the vehicle.

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