EP2523829A1 - Method and system for external indication of regeneration of a particulate filter in vehicle exhaust system. - Google Patents

Method and system for external indication of regeneration of a particulate filter in vehicle exhaust system.

Info

Publication number
EP2523829A1
EP2523829A1 EP11733146A EP11733146A EP2523829A1 EP 2523829 A1 EP2523829 A1 EP 2523829A1 EP 11733146 A EP11733146 A EP 11733146A EP 11733146 A EP11733146 A EP 11733146A EP 2523829 A1 EP2523829 A1 EP 2523829A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
regeneration
signal
particle filter
vehicle
unit
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP11733146A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP2523829A4 (en
Inventor
Mikael Adenmark
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Scania CV AB
Original Assignee
Scania CV AB
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Scania CV AB filed Critical Scania CV AB
Publication of EP2523829A1 publication Critical patent/EP2523829A1/en
Publication of EP2523829A4 publication Critical patent/EP2523829A4/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60Q—ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60Q9/00—Arrangement or adaptation of signal devices not provided for in one of main groups B60Q1/00 - B60Q7/00, e.g. haptic signalling
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F01—MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; ENGINE PLANTS IN GENERAL; STEAM ENGINES
    • F01N—GAS-FLOW SILENCERS OR EXHAUST APPARATUS FOR MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; GAS-FLOW SILENCERS OR EXHAUST APPARATUS FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES
    • F01N11/00—Monitoring or diagnostic devices for exhaust-gas treatment apparatus
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F01—MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; ENGINE PLANTS IN GENERAL; STEAM ENGINES
    • F01N—GAS-FLOW SILENCERS OR EXHAUST APPARATUS FOR MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; GAS-FLOW SILENCERS OR EXHAUST APPARATUS FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES
    • F01N3/00—Exhaust or silencing apparatus having means for purifying, rendering innocuous, or otherwise treating exhaust
    • F01N3/02—Exhaust or silencing apparatus having means for purifying, rendering innocuous, or otherwise treating exhaust for cooling, or for removing solid constituents of, exhaust
    • F01N3/021—Exhaust or silencing apparatus having means for purifying, rendering innocuous, or otherwise treating exhaust for cooling, or for removing solid constituents of, exhaust by means of filters
    • F01N3/023—Exhaust or silencing apparatus having means for purifying, rendering innocuous, or otherwise treating exhaust for cooling, or for removing solid constituents of, exhaust by means of filters using means for regenerating the filters, e.g. by burning trapped particles
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F01—MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; ENGINE PLANTS IN GENERAL; STEAM ENGINES
    • F01N—GAS-FLOW SILENCERS OR EXHAUST APPARATUS FOR MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; GAS-FLOW SILENCERS OR EXHAUST APPARATUS FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES
    • F01N3/00—Exhaust or silencing apparatus having means for purifying, rendering innocuous, or otherwise treating exhaust
    • F01N3/02—Exhaust or silencing apparatus having means for purifying, rendering innocuous, or otherwise treating exhaust for cooling, or for removing solid constituents of, exhaust
    • F01N3/021—Exhaust or silencing apparatus having means for purifying, rendering innocuous, or otherwise treating exhaust for cooling, or for removing solid constituents of, exhaust by means of filters
    • F01N3/023—Exhaust or silencing apparatus having means for purifying, rendering innocuous, or otherwise treating exhaust for cooling, or for removing solid constituents of, exhaust by means of filters using means for regenerating the filters, e.g. by burning trapped particles
    • F01N3/0238—Exhaust or silencing apparatus having means for purifying, rendering innocuous, or otherwise treating exhaust for cooling, or for removing solid constituents of, exhaust by means of filters using means for regenerating the filters, e.g. by burning trapped particles for regenerating during engine standstill
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F01—MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; ENGINE PLANTS IN GENERAL; STEAM ENGINES
    • F01N—GAS-FLOW SILENCERS OR EXHAUST APPARATUS FOR MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; GAS-FLOW SILENCERS OR EXHAUST APPARATUS FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES
    • F01N9/00—Electrical control of exhaust gas treating apparatus
    • F01N9/002—Electrical control of exhaust gas treating apparatus of filter regeneration
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60Q—ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60Q2300/00—Indexing codes for automatically adjustable headlamps or automatically dimmable headlamps
    • B60Q2300/10—Indexing codes relating to particular vehicle conditions
    • B60Q2300/14—Other vehicle conditions
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F01—MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; ENGINE PLANTS IN GENERAL; STEAM ENGINES
    • F01N—GAS-FLOW SILENCERS OR EXHAUST APPARATUS FOR MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; GAS-FLOW SILENCERS OR EXHAUST APPARATUS FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES
    • F01N2550/00—Monitoring or diagnosing the deterioration of exhaust systems
    • F01N2550/04—Filtering activity of particulate filters
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02T—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION
    • Y02T10/00—Road transport of goods or passengers
    • Y02T10/10—Internal combustion engine [ICE] based vehicles
    • Y02T10/40—Engine management systems

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a method for indicating regeneration of particle filters in a vehicle, and to a system adapted to indicating this, according to the preambles of the independent claims.
  • the exhaust gases from combustion engines usually contain harmful particles such as hydrocarbons, sulphur and ash which need to be filtered out.
  • a conventional way of removing these particles is to use a particle filter which intercepts them.
  • the filter gradually becomes full and then needs regeneration, i.e. cleaning, which may be achieved in various different ways.
  • One regeneration method known as the CRT (continuous regeneration trap) method, uses a catalyst to convert nitrogen oxide in the exhaust gases to nitrogen dioxide. Nitrogen dioxide oxidises soot at lower temperatures than oxygen, with no need of extra heating of the particle filter.
  • a particle filter which does not need to be supplied with extra heat in order to deal with the accumulated particles is referred to as a passive filter.
  • An example of such a particle filter is described in patent application US 2009/0087365.
  • an active particle filter is likely to be required to increase the oxidation of particles.
  • An active particle filter needs outside activation to heat it so that the particles in it oxidise, which can be done by heating the filter to a high temperature at which the particles in the filter oxidise to carbon dioxide and water.
  • the vehicle may for example be run according to a certain operating cycle which increases the temperature of the particle filter when it has a certain load of particles.
  • various chemicals may be added to the vehicle's fuel to reduce the oxidation temperature for the particles.
  • the particle filter In many cases it will be possible for the particle filter to be regenerated automatically while the vehicle is in motion. Automatic regeneration depends on high exhaust temperature being achieved, e.g. by high engine speed. At heavy load and when the vehicle is run for a long time, the engine becomes warm and regeneration can take place while the vehicle is in motion.
  • the vehicle may then require manual regeneration, which involves being stationary with the engine idling for about 30 minutes. During the regeneration process, the exhaust temperature rises considerably to oxidise the particles.
  • the particle filter may be provided with sensors to monitor, using a computer unit, the pressure and/or temperature in the particle filter. On the basis of pre-programmed threshold values, the computer unit can then decide when regeneration needs to be done and initiate a regeneration cycle. The fact that regeneration is taking place may be conveyed to the driver in the vehicle by, for example, an indication on the dashboard.
  • regeneration is to take place at a depot when the vehicle is stationary, it may be difficult for service staff outside the vehicle to know whether regeneration is taking place. This becomes particularly difficult at major depots with a large number of vehicles where many vehicles per day may need to be regenerated manually. Climbing into and out of vehicles to check their regeneration status takes time, thereby lengthening service time. It may for example happen that an urban bus is only stationary for two hours per day, with little scope for service time. As the vehicle will be running during regeneration, it may happen that it runs idling with no regeneration taking place because service staff have not yet realised that the regeneration has been completed, with consequent waste of fuel.
  • the object of the invention is therefore to make regeneration easier for service staff and reduce fuel consumption at the time of regeneration.
  • a method for indicating regeneration of a particle filter in a vehicle comprises: A) generating at least one activation signal AS for activating regeneration of said particle filter;
  • the object is achieved according to another aspect by a system for indicating regeneration of a particle filter in a vehicle.
  • the system comprises: an activation unit adapted to generating at least one activation signal AS for activating regeneration of said particle filter; a control unit for the particle filter, which is adapted to receiving said activation signal AS, to activating regeneration of said particle filter and to generating at least one regeneration signal RS which indicates that said regeneration is taking place; a first signal unit adapted to receiving said regeneration signal RS and generating, for as long as regeneration continues, a first signalling signal SSI which is adapted to being detected from outside the vehicle.
  • the invention makes it possible to know from outside the vehicle that regeneration is taking place and hence inter alia to obtain an indication about high exhaust temperatures. Staff conducting manual regeneration therefore do not need to climb into the vehicle to see whether regeneration has been completed or is continuing. This may be particularly useful in saving irritation and time at, for example, major bus depots.
  • Staff may also obtain clearance when regeneration has been completed to enable them to switch off the vehicle's engine. This means that staff who supervise regeneration need not actively monitor each vehicle but may be informed, e.g. by an acoustic signal, that regeneration has been completed and that its engine can therefore be switched off.
  • the invention thus makes it easier for service staff to watch over the regeneration status of vehicles and thereby save service time.
  • the invention comprises also a communication facility for indicating when regeneration should be done, without the driver's attention having to be drawn.
  • Figure 1 is a block diagram of a system according to the invention.
  • Figure 2 is a flowchart illustrating a method according to the invention.
  • FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a further method according to the invention. Detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention
  • FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a system according to the invention for indicating regeneration of a particle filter in a vehicle.
  • the system comprises an activation unit adapted to generating at least one activation signal AS for activating regeneration of said particle filter.
  • This activation signal is sent to a control unit in the vehicle for the particle filter.
  • the control unit is adapted to receiving this activation signal AS, to activating regeneration of the particle filter and to generating at least one regeneration signal S which indicates that said regeneration is taking place.
  • the control unit may activate the particle filter by, for example, sending an activation signal to the particle filter during a certain time.
  • the control unit may also be adapted to monitoring the status of the particle filter in order to decide when its regeneration has been completed, and to then ending the regeneration.
  • the system comprises also a first signal unit adapted to receiving said regeneration signal RS and to generating, for as long as regeneration continues, a first signalling signal SSI which is adapted to being detected from outside the vehicle.
  • a first signalling signal SSI which is adapted to being detected from outside the vehicle.
  • the activation unit may for example be a circuit-breaker which, when placed in an "on" position, generates an activation signal AS.
  • the activation unit may be situated on the instrument panel or in the instrument cluster or elsewhere in the vehicle, e.g. in the engine space.
  • the activation unit may be incorporated in the instrument cluster as a virtual function or button through a user interface.
  • there may also be further units, e.g. one or more control units, between the activation unit and the control unit for the particle filter.
  • a single control unit may then be adapted to controlling the activation unit and its function(s).
  • control unit which controls the particle filter is an ECU (electronic control unit) comprising a microprocessor which can process signals from sensors in real time.
  • the control unit can then monitor the particle filter by having sensors on exhaust pipes and/or the particle filter to detect, for example, pressure and/or temperature, process the resulting signals and decide when the regeneration of the particle filter has been completed.
  • the control unit then also comprises software with instructions which control the process, which software is saved in a memory in the control unit.
  • the system is preferably adapted to conveying said at least one activation signal AS and/or regeneration signal RS via CAN (controller area network), which is a serial bus system specially developed for use in vehicles.
  • CAN controller area network
  • the CAN data bus provides facilities for digital data exchange between sensors, regulating components, actuators, control units etc. and provides assurance that several control units can have access to the signals from a given sensor in order to use them for control of components connected to them.
  • said first signal unit is adapted to emitting signalling signals SSI continuously when the regeneration signal or signals RS indicate that regeneration is taking place.
  • the signalling signals may for example be light signals. Service staff and other persons in the vicinity of the vehicle may thus be made aware that regeneration is taking place.
  • the vehicle delivers exhaust gases at high temperature and the exhaust pipe itself is also at high temperature, which makes it necessary to avoid being in the vicinity of the exhaust pipe in order to avoid burn injuries etc.
  • the first signal unit comprises warning flashers which preferably emit signalling signals SSI continuously in the form of warning flashing signals when regeneration is taking place.
  • the first signal unit is the vehicle's ECU for external lighting, and regeneration signals are sent in the form of a warning flasher command, according to J 1939 CAN message standard, for as long as the regeneration continues.
  • the first signal unit may instead comprise headlamps, brake lights and/or other vehicle lamps.
  • the system comprises a second signal unit in the vehicle which is adapted to receiving said regeneration signal RS and to emitting at least one second signalling signal SS2 if the regeneration signal RS indicates that the regeneration has been completed.
  • An indication that the regeneration has been completed may take the form of the regeneration signal ceasing to be generated by the control unit, or of a special regeneration signal which so indicates being generated by the control unit.
  • the second signal unit comprises acoustic signalling, preferably in the form of one or more horn blasts.
  • the second signal unit comprises light signalling in the form of, for example, rapid short warning flasher signals indicating that regeneration has been completed, which signals are distinct in being more frequent than those emitted by the first signal unit to indicate that regeneration is taking place.
  • the vehicle's regeneration status is also possible for the vehicle's regeneration status to be monitored at a distance by transmission of signals, e.g. signalling signals and/or regeneration signals, between the system and an external computer unit.
  • the signal units and/or the control unit are adapted to generating signals on the CAN bus which can be conveyed to the computer unit. These signals may be conveyed wirelessly or by physical cables. Wireless transmission of the signals preferably involves using an external interface in the vehicle, a communicator, adapted to reading in the signals on the CAN bus and passing them on in the form of messages to the computer unit. Signals carried by cables may be read directly from the CAN bus.
  • the computer unit is itself adapted to receiving these signals or messages and presenting them on, for example, a display.
  • the vehicle's regeneration status can then be monitored by looking at the computer unit's display.
  • the computer unit may be a mobile unit, e.g. mobile telephone or handheld terminal. Service staff can thus be at a distance from, and out of sight and earshot of, the vehicle in which regeneration is taking place, which makes it easy to supervise a large number of vehicles irrespective of their location.
  • Figure 2 is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of the method according to the invention for indicating regeneration of a particle filter in a vehicle, which method comprises: A) generating at least one activation signal AS for activating regeneration of said particle filter; B) receiving said activation signal in a control unit for the particle filter and activating regeneration of said particle filter; C) generating at least one regeneration signal RS which indicates that said regeneration is taking place; D) receiving said regeneration signal in a first signal unit in the vehicle; and E) generating from said first signal unit, for as long as regeneration continues, at least one first signalling signal SSI which is adapted to being detected from outside the vehicle.
  • This method enables service staff to supervise regeneration of particle filters without having to climb into vehicles.
  • the method comprises said at least one activation signal AS and/or regeneration signal RS being conveyed via CAN.
  • the activation signal AS may for example be generated by pressing an activation button situated in the engine space, on the instrument panel or in the instrument cluster of the vehicle.
  • the activation unit may be incorporated in the instrument cluster as a virtual function or button through a user interface. If regeneration is activated from outside the vehicle, it is particularly important for service staff and others to be made aware that it has been initiated and is taking place, since it is usually not possible to see or hear this from outside the vehicle.
  • the signalling detectable from outside the vehicle may be supplemented by display inside the vehicle, preferably on the instrument panel or in the instrument cluster.
  • the method comprises generating signalling signals SSI continuously from said first signal unit for as long as the regeneration signal or signals indicate that regeneration is taking place.
  • the first signal unit preferably comprises warning flashers, in which case the signalling signals SSI are continuous warning flasher signals.
  • Figure 3 illustrates the method according to the invention in another embodiment which comprises two further steps in addition to steps A) to E) described above.
  • the method comprises a step Dl) of receiving at least one regeneration signal RS in a second signal unit in the vehicle, and a step El) whereby, if this regeneration signal RS indicates that the regeneration has been completed, at least one second signalling signal SS2 is emitted by the second signal unit.
  • This method makes it possible to indicate in a manner perceptible from outside the vehicle that the regeneration has been completed.
  • the second signal unit provides acoustic signalling, preferably in the form of one or more horn blasts.
  • the second signal unit provides light signalling, e.g. in the form of rapid short warning flasher signals, to indicate that the regeneration has been completed.
  • the driver is informed via the instrument panel in the vehicle that regeneration is needed in a near future. This enables the driver to decide whether it is possible for him/her to employ a driving mode which is necessary for regeneration to take place automatically while the vehicle is in motion, or to incorporate in his/her advance planning a halt to enable regeneration to be done manually.
  • the bus depot may nevertheless depend on being informed with a view to ensuring that the vehicle will not be stationary on the following day through needing regeneration.
  • an sms, email or some other form of message is sent to, for example, the bus depot.
  • the depot can then schedule a manual regeneration, e.g. when the vehicle is stationary at the depot between runs.
  • this control unit comprises a post-treatment module for the particle filter which is adapted to monitoring the filter and detecting when its regeneration becomes necessary.
  • the control unit or the post-treatment module will convey this information on the CAN bus in the vehicle.
  • the control unit and/or the post-treatment module are therefore adapted to generating information in the form of one or more signals to the CAN bus which indicate that the particle filter needs regenerating.
  • an sms, email or some other form of message may be sent to a central point, e.g. the bus depot.
  • a communicator which handles the vehicle's external interface is adapted to reading in the information conveyed on the CAN bus and passing it on in the form of a message to the bus depot.
  • the depot may receive the message on a suitable device, e.g. mobile telephone, computer unit etc.
  • the message facility described affords several advantages. For example, service responsibilities may be placed more on service staff instead of on the driver. This is particularly useful in the case of urban buses and major customers.
  • the vehicle depot receives advance information about which vehicle or vehicles need manual regeneration of the particle filter, to enable the depot to optimise its internal logistics.
  • the depot may for example instruct drivers of vehicles which need regenerating to drive at the end of the shift to a particular marshalling point for vehicles which need regenerating, so that the depot can avoid spending time on locating the vehicles and possibly having to move them.
  • the depot will thus know beforehand exactly which vehicles are to be regenerated instead of having to check each vehicle individually.
  • the message facility may be implemented in all kinds of vehicle fleets which use particle filters which need regenerating, e.g.
  • the invention relates also to a computer programme product which comprises computer programme instructions to enable a computer system to effect steps according to the methods described above when the computer programme instructions are run on said computer system.
  • the invention comprises also a computer programme product in which the computer programme instructions are stored on a medium which is readable by a computer system.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Human Computer Interaction (AREA)
  • Processes For Solid Components From Exhaust (AREA)

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for indicating regeneration of a particle filter in a vehicle, which method comprises: A) generating at least one activation signal (AS) for activating regeneration of said particle filter; B) receiving said activation signal in a control unit for the particle filter and activating regeneration of said particle filter; C) generating at least one regeneration signal (RS) which indicates that said regeneration is taking place; D) receiving said regeneration signal in a first signal unit in the vehicle; and E) generating from said first signal unit, for as long as regeneration continues, at least one first signalling signal (SSI) which is adapted to being detected from outside the vehicle. The invention relates also to a system for indicating regeneration of a particle filter.

Description

Method and system for external indication of regeneration of a particulate filter in vehicle exhaust system
Field of the invention
The present invention relates to a method for indicating regeneration of particle filters in a vehicle, and to a system adapted to indicating this, according to the preambles of the independent claims.
Background to the invention
The exhaust gases from combustion engines usually contain harmful particles such as hydrocarbons, sulphur and ash which need to be filtered out. A conventional way of removing these particles is to use a particle filter which intercepts them. The filter gradually becomes full and then needs regeneration, i.e. cleaning, which may be achieved in various different ways. One regeneration method, known as the CRT (continuous regeneration trap) method, uses a catalyst to convert nitrogen oxide in the exhaust gases to nitrogen dioxide. Nitrogen dioxide oxidises soot at lower temperatures than oxygen, with no need of extra heating of the particle filter. A particle filter which does not need to be supplied with extra heat in order to deal with the accumulated particles is referred to as a passive filter. An example of such a particle filter is described in patent application US 2009/0087365.
To meet coming environmental law requirements in standard EU-6, an active particle filter is likely to be required to increase the oxidation of particles. An active particle filter needs outside activation to heat it so that the particles in it oxidise, which can be done by heating the filter to a high temperature at which the particles in the filter oxidise to carbon dioxide and water. The vehicle may for example be run according to a certain operating cycle which increases the temperature of the particle filter when it has a certain load of particles. According to another method, various chemicals may be added to the vehicle's fuel to reduce the oxidation temperature for the particles. In many cases it will be possible for the particle filter to be regenerated automatically while the vehicle is in motion. Automatic regeneration depends on high exhaust temperature being achieved, e.g. by high engine speed. At heavy load and when the vehicle is run for a long time, the engine becomes warm and regeneration can take place while the vehicle is in motion.
In cases where there are many starts and stops of the vehicle, its engine does not warm up, so appropriate operating cycles for regeneration will rarely occur. The vehicle may then require manual regeneration, which involves being stationary with the engine idling for about 30 minutes. During the regeneration process, the exhaust temperature rises considerably to oxidise the particles. To know when regeneration needs to be done, the particle filter may be provided with sensors to monitor, using a computer unit, the pressure and/or temperature in the particle filter. On the basis of pre-programmed threshold values, the computer unit can then decide when regeneration needs to be done and initiate a regeneration cycle. The fact that regeneration is taking place may be conveyed to the driver in the vehicle by, for example, an indication on the dashboard. If for example regeneration is to take place at a depot when the vehicle is stationary, it may be difficult for service staff outside the vehicle to know whether regeneration is taking place. This becomes particularly difficult at major depots with a large number of vehicles where many vehicles per day may need to be regenerated manually. Climbing into and out of vehicles to check their regeneration status takes time, thereby lengthening service time. It may for example happen that an urban bus is only stationary for two hours per day, with little scope for service time. As the vehicle will be running during regeneration, it may happen that it runs idling with no regeneration taking place because service staff have not yet realised that the regeneration has been completed, with consequent waste of fuel.
The object of the invention is therefore to make regeneration easier for service staff and reduce fuel consumption at the time of regeneration.
Summary of the invention
The object described above is achieved according to one aspect by a method for indicating regeneration of a particle filter in a vehicle, which method comprises: A) generating at least one activation signal AS for activating regeneration of said particle filter;
B) receiving said activation signal in a control unit for the particle filter and activating regeneration of said particle filter;
C) generating at least one regeneration signal RS which indicates that said regeneration is taking place;
D) receiving said regeneration signal in a first signal unit in the vehicle; and
E) generating, from said first signal unit for as long as regeneration continues, at least one first signalling signal SSI which is adapted to being detected from outside the vehicle.
The object is achieved according to another aspect by a system for indicating regeneration of a particle filter in a vehicle. The system comprises: an activation unit adapted to generating at least one activation signal AS for activating regeneration of said particle filter; a control unit for the particle filter, which is adapted to receiving said activation signal AS, to activating regeneration of said particle filter and to generating at least one regeneration signal RS which indicates that said regeneration is taking place; a first signal unit adapted to receiving said regeneration signal RS and generating, for as long as regeneration continues, a first signalling signal SSI which is adapted to being detected from outside the vehicle.
The invention makes it possible to know from outside the vehicle that regeneration is taking place and hence inter alia to obtain an indication about high exhaust temperatures. Staff conducting manual regeneration therefore do not need to climb into the vehicle to see whether regeneration has been completed or is continuing. This may be particularly useful in saving irritation and time at, for example, major bus depots.
Staff may also obtain clearance when regeneration has been completed to enable them to switch off the vehicle's engine. This means that staff who supervise regeneration need not actively monitor each vehicle but may be informed, e.g. by an acoustic signal, that regeneration has been completed and that its engine can therefore be switched off. The invention thus makes it easier for service staff to watch over the regeneration status of vehicles and thereby save service time.
The invention comprises also a communication facility for indicating when regeneration should be done, without the driver's attention having to be drawn.
Preferred embodiments are described in the dependent claims and the detailed description.
Brief description of the attached drawings
The invention is described below with reference to the attached drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a block diagram of a system according to the invention.
Figure 2 is a flowchart illustrating a method according to the invention.
Figure 3 is a flowchart illustrating a further method according to the invention. Detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention
Figure 1 is a block diagram of a system according to the invention for indicating regeneration of a particle filter in a vehicle. The system comprises an activation unit adapted to generating at least one activation signal AS for activating regeneration of said particle filter. This activation signal is sent to a control unit in the vehicle for the particle filter. The control unit is adapted to receiving this activation signal AS, to activating regeneration of the particle filter and to generating at least one regeneration signal S which indicates that said regeneration is taking place. The control unit may activate the particle filter by, for example, sending an activation signal to the particle filter during a certain time. The control unit may also be adapted to monitoring the status of the particle filter in order to decide when its regeneration has been completed, and to then ending the regeneration. The system comprises also a first signal unit adapted to receiving said regeneration signal RS and to generating, for as long as regeneration continues, a first signalling signal SSI which is adapted to being detected from outside the vehicle. The result is a system which makes it possible to indicate outside the vehicle that regeneration is taking place, thereby simplifying the supervisory process for service staff and reducing both fuel costs and emissions arising from the vehicle's engine idling for unnecessarily long times. The fact that the first signalling signal SSI is adapted to being detected from outside the vehicle means that it can be monitored at a distance from the vehicle.
The activation unit may for example be a circuit-breaker which, when placed in an "on" position, generates an activation signal AS. The activation unit may be situated on the instrument panel or in the instrument cluster or elsewhere in the vehicle, e.g. in the engine space. According to an embodiment, the activation unit may be incorporated in the instrument cluster as a virtual function or button through a user interface. According to an embodiment, there may also be further units, e.g. one or more control units, between the activation unit and the control unit for the particle filter. A single control unit may then be adapted to controlling the activation unit and its function(s).
According to an embodiment, the control unit which controls the particle filter is an ECU (electronic control unit) comprising a microprocessor which can process signals from sensors in real time. The control unit can then monitor the particle filter by having sensors on exhaust pipes and/or the particle filter to detect, for example, pressure and/or temperature, process the resulting signals and decide when the regeneration of the particle filter has been completed. The control unit then also comprises software with instructions which control the process, which software is saved in a memory in the control unit.
The system is preferably adapted to conveying said at least one activation signal AS and/or regeneration signal RS via CAN (controller area network), which is a serial bus system specially developed for use in vehicles. The CAN data bus provides facilities for digital data exchange between sensors, regulating components, actuators, control units etc. and provides assurance that several control units can have access to the signals from a given sensor in order to use them for control of components connected to them.
According to an embodiment, said first signal unit is adapted to emitting signalling signals SSI continuously when the regeneration signal or signals RS indicate that regeneration is taking place. The signalling signals may for example be light signals. Service staff and other persons in the vicinity of the vehicle may thus be made aware that regeneration is taking place. During regeneration, the vehicle delivers exhaust gases at high temperature and the exhaust pipe itself is also at high temperature, which makes it necessary to avoid being in the vicinity of the exhaust pipe in order to avoid burn injuries etc.
According to an embodiment, the first signal unit comprises warning flashers which preferably emit signalling signals SSI continuously in the form of warning flashing signals when regeneration is taking place. According to an embodiment, the first signal unit is the vehicle's ECU for external lighting, and regeneration signals are sent in the form of a warning flasher command, according to J 1939 CAN message standard, for as long as the regeneration continues.
The first signal unit may instead comprise headlamps, brake lights and/or other vehicle lamps.
According to another embodiment, the system comprises a second signal unit in the vehicle which is adapted to receiving said regeneration signal RS and to emitting at least one second signalling signal SS2 if the regeneration signal RS indicates that the regeneration has been completed. An indication that the regeneration has been completed may take the form of the regeneration signal ceasing to be generated by the control unit, or of a special regeneration signal which so indicates being generated by the control unit.
According to an embodiment, the second signal unit comprises acoustic signalling, preferably in the form of one or more horn blasts. In another embodiment, the second signal unit comprises light signalling in the form of, for example, rapid short warning flasher signals indicating that regeneration has been completed, which signals are distinct in being more frequent than those emitted by the first signal unit to indicate that regeneration is taking place.
It is also possible for the vehicle's regeneration status to be monitored at a distance by transmission of signals, e.g. signalling signals and/or regeneration signals, between the system and an external computer unit. According to this embodiment, the signal units and/or the control unit are adapted to generating signals on the CAN bus which can be conveyed to the computer unit. These signals may be conveyed wirelessly or by physical cables. Wireless transmission of the signals preferably involves using an external interface in the vehicle, a communicator, adapted to reading in the signals on the CAN bus and passing them on in the form of messages to the computer unit. Signals carried by cables may be read directly from the CAN bus. The computer unit is itself adapted to receiving these signals or messages and presenting them on, for example, a display. The vehicle's regeneration status can then be monitored by looking at the computer unit's display. According to another embodiment, the computer unit may be a mobile unit, e.g. mobile telephone or handheld terminal. Service staff can thus be at a distance from, and out of sight and earshot of, the vehicle in which regeneration is taking place, which makes it easy to supervise a large number of vehicles irrespective of their location.
Figure 2 is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of the method according to the invention for indicating regeneration of a particle filter in a vehicle, which method comprises: A) generating at least one activation signal AS for activating regeneration of said particle filter; B) receiving said activation signal in a control unit for the particle filter and activating regeneration of said particle filter; C) generating at least one regeneration signal RS which indicates that said regeneration is taking place; D) receiving said regeneration signal in a first signal unit in the vehicle; and E) generating from said first signal unit, for as long as regeneration continues, at least one first signalling signal SSI which is adapted to being detected from outside the vehicle. This method enables service staff to supervise regeneration of particle filters without having to climb into vehicles. According to an embodiment, the method comprises said at least one activation signal AS and/or regeneration signal RS being conveyed via CAN.
The activation signal AS may for example be generated by pressing an activation button situated in the engine space, on the instrument panel or in the instrument cluster of the vehicle. According to an embodiment, the activation unit may be incorporated in the instrument cluster as a virtual function or button through a user interface. If regeneration is activated from outside the vehicle, it is particularly important for service staff and others to be made aware that it has been initiated and is taking place, since it is usually not possible to see or hear this from outside the vehicle. The signalling detectable from outside the vehicle may be supplemented by display inside the vehicle, preferably on the instrument panel or in the instrument cluster. According to an embodiment, the method comprises generating signalling signals SSI continuously from said first signal unit for as long as the regeneration signal or signals indicate that regeneration is taking place. The first signal unit preferably comprises warning flashers, in which case the signalling signals SSI are continuous warning flasher signals.
Figure 3 illustrates the method according to the invention in another embodiment which comprises two further steps in addition to steps A) to E) described above. The method comprises a step Dl) of receiving at least one regeneration signal RS in a second signal unit in the vehicle, and a step El) whereby, if this regeneration signal RS indicates that the regeneration has been completed, at least one second signalling signal SS2 is emitted by the second signal unit. This method makes it possible to indicate in a manner perceptible from outside the vehicle that the regeneration has been completed. According to an embodiment, the second signal unit provides acoustic signalling, preferably in the form of one or more horn blasts. According to another embodiment, the second signal unit provides light signalling, e.g. in the form of rapid short warning flasher signals, to indicate that the regeneration has been completed.
According to an embodiment, the driver is informed via the instrument panel in the vehicle that regeneration is needed in a near future. This enables the driver to decide whether it is possible for him/her to employ a driving mode which is necessary for regeneration to take place automatically while the vehicle is in motion, or to incorporate in his/her advance planning a halt to enable regeneration to be done manually.
Drivers of, for example, urban buses ought not to have their attention drawn to non-critical vehicle information. In such cases, the bus depot may nevertheless depend on being informed with a view to ensuring that the vehicle will not be stationary on the following day through needing regeneration. According to an embodiment, instead of the instrument panel display of early information or warning about need for regeneration, an sms, email or some other form of message is sent to, for example, the bus depot. The depot can then schedule a manual regeneration, e.g. when the vehicle is stationary at the depot between runs.
Knowing when regeneration of the particle filter is needed involves the soot content or the pressure in the particle filter being monitored by its control unit. According to an embodiment, this control unit comprises a post-treatment module for the particle filter which is adapted to monitoring the filter and detecting when its regeneration becomes necessary. Thus when the content of soot particles or the pressure exceeds a certain level, the control unit or the post-treatment module will convey this information on the CAN bus in the vehicle. The control unit and/or the post-treatment module are therefore adapted to generating information in the form of one or more signals to the CAN bus which indicate that the particle filter needs regenerating. Instead of, or at the same time as, this information being displayed to the driver, an sms, email or some other form of message may be sent to a central point, e.g. the bus depot. A communicator which handles the vehicle's external interface is adapted to reading in the information conveyed on the CAN bus and passing it on in the form of a message to the bus depot. The depot may receive the message on a suitable device, e.g. mobile telephone, computer unit etc.
The message facility described affords several advantages. For example, service responsibilities may be placed more on service staff instead of on the driver. This is particularly useful in the case of urban buses and major customers. In the case of large vehicle fleets, the vehicle depot receives advance information about which vehicle or vehicles need manual regeneration of the particle filter, to enable the depot to optimise its internal logistics. The depot may for example instruct drivers of vehicles which need regenerating to drive at the end of the shift to a particular marshalling point for vehicles which need regenerating, so that the depot can avoid spending time on locating the vehicles and possibly having to move them. The depot will thus know beforehand exactly which vehicles are to be regenerated instead of having to check each vehicle individually. The message facility may be implemented in all kinds of vehicle fleets which use particle filters which need regenerating, e.g. fleets of urban buses, refuse vehicles, inner-city tourist buses, certain distribution vehicles etc. The invention relates also to a computer programme product which comprises computer programme instructions to enable a computer system to effect steps according to the methods described above when the computer programme instructions are run on said computer system. The invention comprises also a computer programme product in which the computer programme instructions are stored on a medium which is readable by a computer system.
The present invention is not confined to the embodiments described above. Various alternatives, modifications and equivalents may be used. The aforesaid embodiments therefore do not limit the scope of the invention, which is defined by the attached claims.

Claims

Claims
1. A method for indicating regeneration of a particle filter in a vehicle, comprising:
A) generating at least one activation signal (AS) for activating regeneration of said particle filter;
B) receiving said activation signal in a control unit for the particle filter and activating regeneration of said particle filter;
C) generating at least one regeneration signal (RS) which indicates that said regeneration is taking place; c h a r a c t e r i s e d i n t h a t the method further comprises:
D) receiving said regeneration signal in a first signal unit in the vehicle; and
E) generating from said first signal unit, for as long as regeneration continues, at least one first signalling signal (SSI) which is adapted to being detected from outside the vehicle.
2. A method according to claim 1, which comprises generating signalling signals (SSI) continuously from said first signal unit for as long as the regeneration signal or signals indicate that regeneration is taking place.
3. A method according to either of claims 1 and 2, which comprises:
Dl) receiving at least one regeneration signal (RS) in the second signal unit in the vehicle, and
El) emitting from the second signal unit at least one second signalling signal (SS2) if the regeneration signal (RS) indicates that the regeneration has been completed.
4. A method according to any one of the foregoing claims, in which the first signal unit comprises warning flashers.
5. A method according to any one of the foregoing claims, in which the second signal unit provides acoustic signalling.
6. A method according to any one of the foregoing claims, which comprises conveying said at least one activation signal (AS) and/or regeneration signal (RS) via CAN (controller area network).
7. A method according to any one of the foregoing claims, which comprises monitoring the particle filter, detecting when it needs regeneration, and conveying this information to a central point.
8. A system for indicating regeneration of a particle filter in a vehicle, which system comprises :
- an activation unit adapted to generating at least one activation signal (AS) for activating regeneration of said particle filter;
- a control unit for the particle filter which is adapted to receiving said activation signal (AS), to activating regeneration of said particle filter and to generating at least one regeneration signal (RS) which indicates that said regeneration is taking place; c h a r a c t e r i s e d i n t h a t the system further comprises:
- a first signal unit adapted to receiving said regeneration signal (RS) and to generating, for as long as regeneration continues, a first signalling signal (SSI) which is adapted to being detected from outside the vehicle.
9. A method according to claim 8, in which said first signal unit is adapted to generating signalling signals (SSI) continuously for as long as the regeneration signal or signals (RS) indicate that regeneration is taking place.
10. A system according to either of claims 8 and 9, comprising a second signal unit in the vehicle which is adapted to receiving said regeneration signal (RS) and to emitting at least one second signalling signal (SS2) if the regeneration signal (RS) indicates that the regeneration has been completed.
11. A system according to any one of claims 8 to 10, in which the first signal unit comprises warning flashers.
12. A system according to any one of claims 8 to 11 , in which the second signal unit provides acoustic signalling.
13. A system according to any one of claims 8 to 12, which comprises conveying said at least one activation signal (AS) and/or regeneration signal (RS) via CAN (controller area network).
14. A system according to any one of claims 8 to 13, comprising a post- treatment module for the particle filter which is adapted to monitoring the particle filter and detecting when it needs regeneration, which system is adapted to conveying this information to a central point.
15. A computer programme product comprising computer programme instructions to enable a computer system to effect steps of the method according to any of claims 1 to 7 when the computer programme instructions are run on said computer system.
16. A computer programme product according to claim 15, such that the computer programme instructions are stored on a medium which is readable by a computer system.
EP11733146.2A 2010-01-14 2011-01-11 Method and system for external indication of regeneration of a particulate filter in vehicle exhaust system. Withdrawn EP2523829A4 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
SE1050025A SE535339C2 (en) 2010-01-14 2010-01-14 Method and system for indicating regeneration
PCT/SE2011/050015 WO2011087431A1 (en) 2010-01-14 2011-01-11 Method and system for external indication of regeneration of a particulate filter in vehicle exhaust system.

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EP2523829A1 true EP2523829A1 (en) 2012-11-21
EP2523829A4 EP2523829A4 (en) 2015-06-17

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WO (1) WO2011087431A1 (en)

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DE102012007058B4 (en) * 2012-04-05 2023-09-28 Daimler Truck AG Method for operating an exhaust system of a vehicle
EP2746550B1 (en) * 2012-12-18 2016-07-20 IVECO S.p.A. System for managing the maintenance of a particulate filter of an internal combustion engine
US9732646B2 (en) 2015-01-12 2017-08-15 Ford Global Technologies, Llc Systems and methods for opportunistic diesel particulate filter regeneration
CN114724345A (en) * 2022-04-13 2022-07-08 江铃汽车股份有限公司 A light-duty passenger vehicle instrument DPF regeneration alarm system and method

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SE535339C2 (en) 2012-07-03
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WO2011087431A1 (en) 2011-07-21

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