MOTOR VEHICLE WITH A COMBUSTION ENGINE COMPRISING AN AUTOMATIC STRAINER CLEANING SYSTEM AND ASSOCIATED METHOD

Abstract

The invention relates to a motor vehicle with a thermal engine comprising a fuel circuit, said fuel circuit comprising a fuel tank, a fuel pump and a fuel filter, said fuel pump having a suction opening, said fuel pump comprising a motor and a strainer, said strainer covering said suction opening, characterized in that said strainer comprises a sweeping device (3), said sweeping device (3) comprising a support (4) having an axis and at least one blade (5) capable of sweeping the debris and impurities present on said strainer, at least one propeller (6) and a rotation speed sensor (7). The invention also relates to a method for maintaining the strainer. Figure 2

Description

Title of the invention: MOTOR VEHICLE WITH A COMBUSTION ENGINE COMPRISING AN AUTOMATIC STRAINER CLEANING SYSTEM AND ASSOCIATED METHOD

[0001] The invention relates to the field of thermal motor vehicles, and more particularly to the fuel circuits of these vehicles.

[0002] Known from the prior art is a patent application KR101245884 describing a fuel filter intended for a thermal type motor vehicle. The fuel filter comprises a housing in which a filter paper is arranged. The fuel filter is distinguished from the prior art by the presence of a tar trap located under the filter paper, in the lower part of said housing. Between the filter paper and the tar trap, a strainer is present. When the vehicle's engine is activated, the fuel enters the fuel filter and passes through the filter paper. The clean fuel and the debris are then separated by the filter paper. The clean fuel then leaves said housing to reach the vehicle's engine. The debris having a density greater than that of air, it then falls towards the lower part of the housing. The debris then passes through the strainer to reach the tar trap where it will be stored.This improves the fuel filter's lifespan. However, there are still some drawbacks. Initially, manual cleaning is required to empty the tar filter regularly. Furthermore, if manual cleaning is not performed early enough, debris will no longer be able to enter the tar trap and will accumulate on the surface of the tar filter.

[0003] The objective of the present invention is to remedy these drawbacks by proposing a system for automatically cleaning debris filtered by the fuel pump.

[0004] To achieve this objective, the invention proposes a motor vehicle with a thermal engine comprising a fuel circuit, said fuel circuit comprising a fuel tank, a fuel pump and a fuel filter, said fuel pump having a suction opening, said fuel pump comprising a motor and a strainer, said strainer covering said suction opening, characterized in that said strainer comprises a sweeping device, said sweeping device comprising a support and at least one blade configured to sweep away debris and impurities present on said strainer, at least one propeller and a rotation speed sensor.

[0005] Thanks to the invention, the strainer is regularly cleaned of debris and impurities retained during filtering. The automatic cleaning of the strainer makes it possible to maintain an efficient flow of fuel passing through the fuel pump before reaching the engine. Total or partial obstruction of the strainer is then avoided, which reduces the risk of engine malfunction due to reduced, or stopped, fuel flow.

[0006] Advantageously, said scanning device has a rotation speed of between 5 revolutions per minute and 50 revolutions per minute.

[0007] Advantageously, said at least one blade comprises a first plastic part and a second rubber part, said second part being in contact with the strainer.

[0008] This makes it possible to avoid deformation of the sweeping device as well as deterioration of the strainer despite repetitive friction.

[0009] Preferably, said strainer comprises metal.

[0010] This reduces the risk of strainer deformation. Indeed, strainer deformation could lead to a risk of impurities passing into the vehicle's engine. In addition, the economic cost of the metal is advantageous.

[0011] Advantageously, said strainer comprises stainless steel.

[0012] Stainless steel is also corrosion resistant. The life of the strainer is therefore extended.

[0013] Advantageously, said strainer comprises plastic.

[0014] Plastic is a material that does not corrode. Thus, fuel has less harmful effects on plastic.

[0015] Advantageously, said strainer comprises polyvinyl chloride or polyethylene terephthalate.

[0016] Advantageously, said support has a longitudinal axis, said strainer forming a plane, said axis having an angle of between 85° and 95° relative to said plane of said strainer.

[0017] Thus, the blades are fully in contact with the strainer allowing more efficient cleaning.

[0018] Preferably, the scanning device comprises two blades.

[0019] Thus, the strainer is cleared more quickly of debris and impurities retained during fuel filtering. This then increases the efficiency of cleaning said strainer.

[0020] The invention also relates to a method for maintaining a strainer of a fuel pump for a motor vehicle with a thermal engine, said vehicle comprising a dashboard, said method comprising the following steps: - a step of actuating the thermal engine of said vehicle causing the actuation of the motor of said fuel pump allowing the rotation of the scanning device; - a step of measuring the rotation speed by the rotation speed sensor; - a warning step by sending a notification on said dashboard when the measured rotation speed is lower than a previously defined threshold value.

[0021] Preferably, said threshold value is less than 5 revolutions per minute.

[0022] A rotation speed value lower than 5 revolutions per minute does not allow the effective cleaning of the strainer. Thus, a warning to the driver when the rotation speed value is less than 5 revolutions per minute indicates the need to check the strainer.

[0023] The invention will be further detailed by the description of non-limiting embodiments, and on the basis of the appended figures illustrating variants of the invention, in which: - [Fig.l] schematically illustrates a perspective view of a fuel pump according to the invention; - [Fig.2] schematically illustrates a perspective view of a device of scanning according to one embodiment of the invention; - [Fig.3] schematically illustrates a detailed perspective view of three blades on a support of a scanning device according to one embodiment of the invention; - [Fig.4] schematically illustrates, in the form of a flowchart, a process maintenance of a fuel pump strainer.

[0024] [Fig.l] schematically illustrates a fuel pump 1 intended for a motor vehicle with a thermal engine. The invention therefore applies to a thermal motor vehicle but also to a hybrid motor vehicle comprising a thermal engine. The motor vehicle comprises a fuel circuit whose role is to hold, filter and guide the fuel to the thermal engine so that it is consumed. The consumption of fuel by the thermal engine allows the actuation of said thermal engine and the movement of said vehicle. The fuel circuit comprises a fuel tank, a fuel pump 1, a fuel filter and a fuel injector. The fuel is commonly distributed at a service station. The user injects the fuel into the fuel tank.The fuel tank is a container made of a sealed material, such as steel, aluminum or plastic for example, for the purpose of storing fuel. The fuel tank can be located at various locations in the vehicle, for example under the floor or under a seat. The fuel pump 1, otherwise called a booster pump, can be positioned within the fuel tank or upstream of the fuel tank, at least one pipe connecting said fuel tank and said fuel pump 1. The fuel pump 1 is powered by an electrical system. When the heat engine is in operation, a . The fuel pump motor 1 is also in working order to transfer fuel to said heat engine. The fuel pump 1 has a suction opening through which, under the action of a force created by the electrical system, the fuel is sucked out of the fuel pump 1, more precisely towards said heat engine. To prevent debris and impurities present in the fuel from entering said heat engine, the suction opening has a strainer 2. The strainer 2 is a screen, otherwise known as a filter grid, retaining debris and impurities by means of a mesh structure. The strainer 2 comprises metal or plastic. In one embodiment, the metal is stainless steel. In another embodiment, the plastic is polyvinyl chloride or polyethylene terephthalate.When said strainer 2 is made of plastic, the strainer 2 is preferably made of polyvinyl chloride or ethylene terephthalate. The force exerted by the suction of the fuel pump 1 causes debris and impurities to attach to the strainer 2, which can clog it. In this way, the fuel flow sent to the combustion engine is reduced. A reduction in the fuel flow reaching the combustion engine can cause various problems. Initially, it may be more difficult to start the vehicle. The combustion engine may also suddenly shut down while the vehicle is in use if an insufficient amount of fuel is supplied to the combustion engine, which represents a great danger to the driver of the vehicle as well as to other road users. A loss of power of said combustion engine may also be noticed by the driver.Finally, a lack of fuel can cause significant heating of the heat engine or a lack of lubrication of the latter. The heat engine then risks being damaged. In the case of total obstruction of the strainer 2 by debris and impurities, the fuel can no longer circulate to the heat engine, the vehicle then becomes unusable. In addition, if the debris remains long enough on the strainer 2, it could end up penetrating inside the fuel pump 1 because of the suction force and reach the heat engine. In [Fig.l], a sweeping device, object of the present invention, is illustrated in broken lines in order to clarify its position within the fuel pump 1. The sweeping device has a longitudinal axis A. The strainer 2 forms a plane. In [Fig.l], the strainer 2 is shown in circular shape but this example is not limiting.In an alternative, the strainer 2 comprises the scanning device at an angle between 85° and 95° relative to said plane of said strainer 2.

[0025] [Fig.2] illustrates said scanning device 3. The scanning device 3 comprises a support 4, at least one blade 5, at least one propeller 6 and a rotation speed sensor 7. In [Fig.2], the scanning device is shown with three blades 5 and a propeller 6. This example is not limiting. The support 4 allows the coordination of all the other elements making up the sweeping device 3. The objective of said sweeping device 3 is to clean the strainer 2 of debris and impurities collected at the time of filtering the fuel so that said strainer 2 is not obstructed. In this way, the service life of the strainer 2 is improved. The propeller 6 and the rotation speed sensor 7 are integrated inside the fuel pump, as previously shown in [Fig.l]. The support 4 is also partly integrated into the fuel pump. The blades are located outside the fuel pump, in contact with the strainer 2. The sweeping device 3 operates passively: no additional electrical energy is required.Indeed, when the engine is operated, a quantity of fuel is sent from the fuel tank to the fuel pump 1 by suction. As a result, the suction force causes the sweeping device 3 to move. Consequently, the rotational movement is transmitted via the support 4 to the three blades 5. The blades 5 then travel through the strainer 2. This allows the removal of debris and impurities by friction on said strainer 2.

[0026] [Fig. 3] shows a detailed perspective view of the three blades 5 and the support 4 according to one embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, each blade 5 has a first part 5a and a second part 5b. The first part 5a is made of plastic: thus, the blade 5 does not deform despite repeated friction on said strainer. The first part 5a is not in contact with the strainer. The second part 5b is made of rubber. The second part 5b is in contact with the strainer. Rubber is a flexible material with high mechanical resistance to friction. In this way, the strainer is not altered by the repeated friction of the second part 5b when the scanning device is rotating.

[0027] The flowchart in [Fig.4] illustrates the different steps of a method for maintaining the strainer of the fuel pump for a thermal motor vehicle. The vehicle has a dashboard. The dashboard is a screen allowing the communication of information relating to the vehicle to its user. For example, the gauge indicating the level of fuel remaining in the tank is present on said dashboard. During an actuation step E1, the thermal engine is put into operation. The motor of said fuel pump is then actuated in turn. The fuel pump then creates a suction force which forces the fuel to pass through the strainer so that said fuel is filtered before its consumption by the thermal engine of said vehicle. The passage of the fuel causes the propeller to rotate. The rotational movement is then transmitted to the entire scanning device.In a measurement step E2, the rotation speed is measured by the rotation speed sensor. In a warning step E3, a noti . information is sent to the dashboard of said vehicle when the measured rotation speed is lower than a previously defined threshold value. Preferably, said threshold value is lower than 5 revolutions per minute. Indeed, below 5 revolutions per minute, the rotation of the at least one blade on the strainer is not sufficient to clean it of all the debris and impurities which then accumulate.

Claims

Claims

1. A motor vehicle with a thermal engine comprising a fuel circuit, said fuel circuit comprising a fuel tank, a fuel pump (1) and a fuel filter, said fuel pump (1) having a suction opening, said fuel pump (1) comprising a motor and a strainer (2), said strainer (2) covering said suction opening, characterized in that said strainer (2) comprises a sweeping device (3), said sweeping device (3) comprising a support (4) and at least one blade (5) configured to sweep away debris and impurities present on said strainer (2), at least one propeller (6) and a rotation speed sensor (7).

2. Vehicle according to claim 1 characterized in that said scanning device (3) has a rotation speed of between 5 revolutions per minute and 50 revolutions per minute.

3. Vehicle according to claim 1 or 2 characterized in that said at least one blade (5) comprises a first part (5a) made of plastic and a second part (5b) made of rubber, said second part (5b) being in contact with the strainer (2).

4. Vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 3 characterized in that said strainer (2) comprises metal.

5. Vehicle according to claim 4 characterized in that said strainer (2) comprises stainless steel.

6. Vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 3 characterized in that said strainer (2) comprises plastic.

7. Vehicle according to claim 6 characterized in that said strainer (2) comprises polyvinyl chloride or polyethylene terephthalate.

8. Vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that said support (4) has a longitudinal axis (A), said strainer (2) forming a plane, said axis (A) having an angle of between 85° and 95° relative to said plane of said strainer (2).

9. Method for maintaining a strainer (2) of a fuel pump (1) for a motor vehicle with a thermal engine, said vehicle comprising a dashboard, according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that said method comprises the following steps: - a step of actuating (El) the thermal engine of said vehicle causing the actuation of the motor of said fuel pump (1) allowing rotation of the scanning device (3); - a step of measuring (E2) the rotation speed by the rotation speed sensor (7); - a warning step (E3) by sending a notification on said dashboard when the measured rotation speed is lower than a previously defined threshold value.

10. Maintenance method according to claim 9 characterized said threshold value is less than 5 revolutions per minute.

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