FR2879585A1 - Storage cartridge for tank of e.g. car, has nozzle with label having conductive zone whose ends are in contact with open electronic circuit in order to constitute closed electric circuit, when nozzle cooperates with device - Google Patents

Abstract

The cartridge (2) has a nozzle (1) apt to cooperate with a complementary device on a delivery pipe of a tank. The nozzle has a label (3) intended to identification of fluid contained in the cartridge. The label has a conductive zone whose ends are in contact with an open electronic circuit presented on the device in order to constitute a closed electric circuit, when the nozzle cooperates with the device. Independent claims are also included for the following: (A) a tank with a storage cartridge (B) a method for filling a tank.

Description

Tank reserve cartridge

  The invention relates to the filling of onboard tanks on motor vehicles.

  In general motor vehicles (cars, light commercial vehicles, motorcycles, trucks, ...) are equipped with reservoirs intended to contain fluids of various natures and varied. It is possible to list tanks containing any type of product that can be used for cleaning (windshield washer fluid), lubrication (engine oil), braking and / or suspension (hydraulic oil), cooling (coolant) , depollution (additive for regeneration of the particulate filter, urea, ...).

  For all these fluids whose life is often less than the total life of the vehicles, it is necessary to redo the levels or to the extreme of refueling the entire onboard reserve.

  The filling operation is not easy and must take into account for these fluids constraints related to fills in the factory, with operating times extremely restrictive in terms of flow, pressure and time. Fluids can also be incorporated in the vehicle during maintenance throughout its life, and this with other filling, degassing or venting constraints than those that exist during assembly of this vehicle on a production line.

  It is also necessary to avoid filling the tank with an inadequate fluid. The filling may, for example, be achieved by means of a cartridge whose content is known through the labeling of the cartridge. However, conventional labeling (self-adhesive label with characterizing indications of the fluid for example) does not necessarily have sufficient reliability because a bad label may have been attached to the cartridge. In addition, even if the labeling is correct, this does not prevent the filling of the tank with an inappropriate fluid.

  In order to overcome this disadvantage, the object of the invention is to provide a means of securely and reliably identifying the contents of the resist cartridge so that the reservoir can be filled with a suitable fluid.

  For this purpose, the invention relates to a spare cartridge comprising a tip capable of cooperating with a complementary device on a supply pipe of a reservoir, said tip comprising a label for identifying a fluid contained in the cartridge. and the label comprising a conductive zone whose ends are brought into contact with an open electrical circuit present on the device complementary to the pipe so as to constitute a closed electrical circuit when the tip of the cartridge cooperates with said device.

  By reservoir is meant a reservoir capable of storing and dispensing a liquid in a system on a motor vehicle. By motor vehicle, we mean cars as well as trucks and motorcycles.

  The tank is a closed enclosure. By closed enclosure is meant a hollow body, of various shapes, generally waterproof vis-à-vis the outside that can be equipped with various internal or external accessories or through the wall of the enclosure, such as valves, pipettes , liquid-vapor separators and degassing capacities.

  The reservoir also generally comprises a supply pipe through which the fluid reservoir is filled.

  The tank may be in any material compatible with the fluid that it may contain. It may for example be a plastic material or a metal. The reservoir is preferably made of plastic. By plastic material is meant any material comprising at least one synthetic resin polymer.

  All types of plastics may be suitable. Well-suited plastics belong to the thermoplastics category.

  Thermoplastic means any thermoplastic polymer, including thermoplastic elastomers, and mixtures thereof. The term "polymer" denotes both the homopolymers and the copolymers (especially binary or ternary). Examples of such copolymers are, but are not limited to: random copolymers, block copolymers, block copolymers and graft copolymers.

  Any type of thermoplastic polymer or copolymer whose melting point is below the decomposition temperature is suitable. Synthetic thermoplastics having a melting range spread over at least 10 degrees Celsius are particularly suitable. Examples of such materials are those having a polydispersion of their molecular weight.

  In particular, it is possible to use polyolefins, polyvinyl halides, thermoplastic polyesters, polyketones, polyamides and their copolymers. A mixture of polymers or copolymers may also be used, as well as a mixture of polymeric materials with inorganic, organic and / or natural fillers such as, for example, but not limited to: carbon, salts and other inorganic derivatives, natural fibers, glass fibers and polymeric fibers. It is also possible to use multilayer structures consisting of stacked and solid layers comprising at least one of the polymers or copolymers described above.

  Polyvinyl halides and polyolefins are generally preferred.

  A polymer often used is polyethylene. Excellent results have been obtained with high density polyethylene (HDPE).

  The invention relates to a reserve cartridge for filling the reservoir. By reserve cartridge means a closed chamber that can contain a liquid fluid and comprising means for releasing this fluid.

  Preferably, this cartridge comprises a flexible plastic wall.

  According to the invention, the reserve cartridge comprises a tip capable of cooperating with a complementary device on the filling pipe of the reservoir.

  In a particular embodiment of the invention, the tip further comprises a locking device that prevents or allows fluid to flow from the cartridge into the supply line.

  According to the invention, the tip of the cartridge comprises a label for identifying the fluid that it contains.

  By label is meant an element of small thickness and limited dimensions, which is fixed on the peripheral surface of the nozzle.

  The label comprises a conductive zone, that is to say an area which is characterized by its resistivity at the passage of an electric current.

  Preferably, the conductive character of the label is obtained by removing, according to any printing technique known to those skilled in the art, an ink on one side of the label. The nature of the ink, the inking surface are parameters that can be used to obtain the desired resistivity value. A resistivity value is associated with each type of fluid contained in the cartridge.

  In addition, the dimensions of the inking zone are fixed so as not to obtain a surface which completely surrounds the periphery of the tip but so as to obtain an open surface, that is to say a surface having two ends non-contiguous.

  Any fixing technique known to those skilled in the art can be used to fix the label on the cartridge: gluing, the use of a self-adhesive tape, ...

  According to the invention, when the cartridge is connected to the supply line of the reservoir, the ends of the conductive label are brought into contact with the terminals of an open electrical circuit.

  In general, these terminals can be metal strips. These are part of an electrical circuit which is connected to a means for measuring the voltage and the intensity of the electric current flowing in the circuit.

  Preferably, the measuring means is an electronic calculator.

  In order to identify the liquid contained in the cartridge, the computer measures the intensity of the electric current flowing in the circuit under a given DC voltage. With these two data and the dimensions of the conductive zone, the computer calculates the value of the resistivity of the label and deduces, according to the information stored in its memory, the liquid contained in the cartridge.

  On the basis of this information, either the filling of the reservoir is allowed when it is the appropriate fluid, or the filling is not possible (that is to say that the locking device of the cartridge is not not unlocked) and in this case the cartridge should be replaced by another cartridge containing the appropriate liquid. In this way it avoids a bad filling of the tank.

  The fluid that the reservoir is intended to contain can be used for cleaning, lubrication, braking, suspension, cooling or depollution in particular.

  In a particularly suitable embodiment, the invention is used in the context of the exhaust gas pollution control of motor vehicles. In this case the fluid may be for example an additive used for the regeneration of a particulate filter or may be injected into the exhaust gas.

  In this context also, the reservoir is a reservoir for containing said additive.

  In this context, the additive contained in the reservoir is a composition, in solution in a hydrocarbon solvent, of a low temperature combustion catalyst of carbonaceous solid particles produced by the incomplete combustion of a heavy hydrocarbon in an ignition engine spontaneous. By heavy hydrocarbon is meant a liquid or pasty fuel at ordinary temperature whose molecules comprise more than 9 carbon atoms. An example of such a heavy hydrocarbon is a petroleum cut called gasoil, usable in diesel type engines.

  Examples of suitable liquid additives are the iron and cerium salts in hydrocarbon solution.

  In this case, the additive reservoir is preferably intended to be associated with (that is, connected to, attached to) a fuel system, ie any device incorporated in a vehicle whose main function is to storing, purifying, measuring or transporting fuel for the supply of a heat engine. It comprises at least one fuel tank and a filling pipe of this fuel tank.

  In another particular embodiment, the reservoir is intended to contain urea. Indeed, with the entry into force of strict standards on exhaust emissions for certain types of motor vehicles (for example heavy goods vehicles), nitrogen oxides (NOx) depollution devices must be put in place. . One solution to reduce NOx emissions to the required value is to perform a selective catalysis reaction with urea. To do this, it is necessary to equip the vehicles with a tank containing a solution of urea, and a device for dosing the amount of urea to be injected into the exhaust line of motor vehicles.

  The invention also relates to a reservoir, the filling of which is carried out by means of a reserve cartridge of the type of that described above and which is mounted on a motor vehicle. This reservoir comprises a supply line provided with a device for sealing a fluid reserve cartridge, said device being intended to cooperate with a complementary locking device on said cartridge and comprising an open electric circuit.

  Preferably, the open electrical circuit comprises as terminals metal strips.

  The reservoir advantageously comprises a venting device (for example a valve) and a degassing pipe for this tank. It may also include an additive fill line. The degassing pipe and the filling pipe preferably both terminate in a device fitted to the top of the main fuel tank filling pipe, next to a guide hole for a fuel dispensing gun. A common plug at the ends of these two pipes can also ensure more or less tight closure of these pipes, outside the filling periods of the additive tank.

  In the case where the tank comprises a degassing tubing and an air venting device, one or the other of these is preferably provided with a safety system under pressure and depression. This system is intended in particular to allow the evacuation of the air present in the tank during filling (pressure safety) and to replace the volume of fluid gradually consumed during operation of the vehicle by air (safety in depression ). Advantageously, this system comprises a valve which opens only beyond a given pressure threshold (for example greater than mbar) and this to prevent additive leakage and unwanted ingressions of liquid, dust,. ..

  The tank may also include a safety device preventing access to the supply line of the tank.

  Finally, the additive tank may be provided with means for visually indicating an overflow condition to an operator at the end of the additive filling process by the filling pipe. These means may consist, for example, of a float placed in the degassing pipe (if appropriate) and which rises to the upper orifice of this pipe, as soon as the tank is filled with additive and threatens to overflow through this pipe.

  Furthermore, if the additive reservoir is visible to the user (that is to say the person who fills it), said reservoir may be transparent or translucent and / or comprise a level bar system.

  The invention also relates to a method for filling a reservoir by means of a reserve cartridge according to the following steps: A cartridge is connected to the supply pipe of the reservoir so that the ends of the conducting zone the label is in contact and closes the open electrical circuit present on the device of the supply line; The electronic computer is connected to an electrical circuit so that the computer measures the intensity of the electric current flowing in the electrical circuit under a given DC voltage; With the values of the voltage, the intensity of the current and the dimensions of the conducting zone of the label, the value of the resistivity of the label is calculated by means of the calculator and it is deduced, according to the stored information. in the computer memory, the liquid contained in the cartridge.

  The method preferably also includes a step in which the locking device is activated to allow or prevent fluid to flow from the cartridge into the supply line of the reservoir depending on whether it is liquid. adequate or not.

  The following figure is given for the purpose of illustrating the invention, without, however, limiting its scope. It represents a reserve cartridge (2) comprising a tip (1) provided with a conductive label (3).

  When the cartridge (2) is connected to the supply line of the reservoir, the tip (1) cooperates with a complementary device on the pipe so that the ends of the conductive label (3) fixed on the nozzle ( 1) are in contact with the terminals of an electric circuit present on the complementary device of the pipe. The electrical circuit is connected to an electronic computer which measures the intensity of the electric current flowing in the circuit under a given DC voltage. With these two data and the dimensions of the conductive zone, the computer calculates the value of the resistivity of the label (3) and deduces, according to the information stored in its memory, the liquid contained in the cartridge (2).

  On the basis of this information, either the filling of the reservoir is permitted when it is the appropriate fluid, or the filling is not possible (ie the locking device of the cartridge (2) is not unlocked) and in this case, it is necessary to replace the cartridge (2) by another cartridge (2) containing the appropriate liquid.

Claims (10)

  1. - Reserve cartridge comprising a tip adapted to cooperate with a complementary device on a supply line of a reservoir, said nozzle comprising a label for identifying a fluid contained in the cartridge and the label comprising a conductive zone whose ends are brought into contact with an open electrical circuit present on the complementary device of the pipe so as to constitute a closed electrical circuit when the tip of the cartridge cooperates with said device.   2. - Cartridge according to claim 1, characterized in that the tip 10 further comprises a locking device which prevents or allows the fluid to flow from the cartridge in the supply line of the reservoir.   3. - Cartridge according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the conductive area of the label is obtained by depositing an ink on one side of the label.   4. - Cartridge according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it contains a fluid that can be used for cleaning, lubrication, braking, suspension, cooling or decontamination.   5. Cartridge according to claim 4, characterized in that the fluid is an additive used for the regeneration of a particulate filter.   6. - Cartridge according to claim 4, characterized in that the fluid is urea.   7. - Tank whose filling is carried out by means of a cartridge according to any one of the preceding claims and comprising a supply pipe provided with a device for sealing the cartridge, said device being intended to cooperate with a complementary locking device on said cartridge and comprising an open electrical circuit.   8. - Tank according to claim 7, characterized in that the open electrical circuit 30 comprises as terminals metal lamellae. - 9   9. - Process for filling a tank according to any one of claims 7 or 8 by means of a reserve cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that E is connected a cartridge to the supply pipe of the reservoir so that the ends of the conductive zone of the label are in contact and closes the open electrical circuit present on the device of the supply pipe; The electronic computer is connected to an electrical circuit so that the computer measures the intensity of the electric current flowing in the electrical circuit under a given DC voltage; With the values of the voltage, the intensity of the current and the dimensions of the conducting zone of the label, the value of the resistivity of the label is calculated by means of the calculator and it is deduced, according to the stored information. in the computer memory, the liquid contained in the cartridge.   10. - Method according to claim 9, characterized in that activates the locking device to allow or prevent fluid flowing from the cartridge in the supply line of the reservoir depending on whether it is liquid adequate or not.