JP2019051732A - Nozzle connection detection device of vehicle and engine control system - Google Patents

Abstract

To detect it exactly if the state of a vehicle is under operation of fuel filling by detecting a connection state of a gas filling nozzle.SOLUTION: A nozzle connection detection device 20 comprises a movable plate 21 and a detection switch 22. Lower end side of the movable plate 21 is rotatably supported on a storage cover 5. A region of an opening periphery of the movable plate 21 is disposed in the neighborhood of a side face of a nozzle connection part 7. The detection switch 22 is disposed in an upward direction of the nozzle connection part 7 and detects a connection state of a gas filling nozzle 9. The movable plate 21 is situated in a normal position when the gas filling nozzle 9 is in a non-connection state. The movable plate 21 moves from the normal position to a detection position by being pressed to a tip end of the gas filling nozzle 9 when inserting the nozzle connection part 7 from the tip end of the gas filling nozzle 9 inside the gas filling nozzle 9. The movable plate 21 is kept in the detection position by the tip end of the gas filling nozzle 9 when the gas filling nozzle 9 is in the connection state.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle nozzle connection detection device and an engine control system.

  Patent Document 1 describes a fuel tank for a vehicle. In the vicinity of the fuel inlet of the fuel tank, a fuel supply switch serving as a fuel supply detecting means for detecting that the fuel gun is inserted into the fuel inlet through the seal is provided.

JP 7-103084 A

  By the way, in vehicles that use natural gas as fuel, when filling the vehicle tank with a fuel gas, the tank side nozzle connection portion is inserted into the gas filling nozzle from the tip of the gas filling nozzle, Gas is filled in a state where the filling nozzle and the nozzle connection portion are connected. Thus, since the structure of the part filled with fuel differs from the vehicle which uses gasoline, light oil, etc. as a fuel for a natural gas vehicle, it is difficult to apply the structure of the said patent document 1 in a nozzle connection part. . In addition, it is conceivable to detect that the fuel filling operation is being performed by providing an openable / closable door member that covers the nozzle connection portion outside the nozzle connection portion, and detecting the open state of the door member. In this case, if the user forgets to close the door member after the fuel filling operation is completed, the open state of the door member is detected, so that it is detected that the fuel filling operation is in progress even though the fuel filling operation has been completed. There is a risk of being.

  Therefore, the present invention accurately detects that the fuel filling operation is being performed by detecting the connection state of the gas filling nozzle in a vehicle that is filled with gas with the gas filling nozzle and the nozzle connecting portion being connected. It is an object of the present invention to provide a nozzle connection detection device and an engine control system for a vehicle that can perform the above-described operation.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, a first aspect of the present invention is to connect a gas filling nozzle for filling a vehicle with fuel to a nozzle connection portion provided in the vehicle and to connect the nozzle connection portion on one side in a predetermined direction. A vehicle nozzle connection detection device that detects a connection state in which a gas filling nozzle is connected to a nozzle connection portion when fuel is filled from a gas filling port, and includes a moving member and detection means. The moving member is disposed in the vicinity of the side surface of the nozzle connecting portion, and is movable between a detection position on the other side of the predetermined direction with respect to the gas filling port and a normal position on one side of the predetermined direction with respect to the detection position. Is supported on the vehicle body side. The detecting means is disposed outside the nozzle connecting portion, and detects the connection state by detecting the moving member at the detection position. The moving member is located in a normal position when the gas filling nozzle is not connected to the nozzle connection portion. When the gas filling nozzle is connected to the nozzle connection portion, the moving member is moved from one side to the other side in the predetermined direction. It is pressed by the tip of the gas filling nozzle that moves to the normal position to move to the detection position, and in the connected state, it is held at the detection position by the tip of the gas filling nozzle.

  In the above configuration, when the moving member moves to the detection position, the detecting means detects the moving member at the detection position and detects the connection state. Thereby, the connection state in which the gas filling nozzle is connected to the nozzle connecting portion can be detected. Thus, since it is possible to detect the connection state of the gas filling nozzle, it is possible to accurately detect that the filling operation is being performed.

  In addition, since the moving member and the detection means are arranged outside the nozzle connection portion, for example, in a vehicle in which the nozzle connection portion is inserted into the gas filling nozzle from the tip of the gas filling nozzle and filled with fuel, the structure is simple. It can be detected that the fuel filling operation is in progress.

  In addition, since the moving member and the detecting means are arranged outside the nozzle connecting portion, unlike the case where they are arranged inside the nozzle connecting portion, the assembly work of the nozzle connection detecting device on the vehicle body side is easy, Maintainability is improved.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an engine control system for a vehicle including the nozzle connection detecting device according to the first aspect, and further includes an engine start prohibiting unit. The engine start prohibiting means prohibits starting of the engine of the vehicle while the detecting means detects the connection state.

  In the above configuration, the engine start prohibiting unit prohibits starting of the engine while the detecting unit detects the connection state. That is, the engine start is prohibited during the gas filling operation, so safety can be ensured.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an engine control system having the nozzle connection detection device according to the first aspect or the engine control system according to the second aspect, comprising a notification unit. When the detection means detects the connection state, the notification means notifies the occupant that the connection state is established.

  In the above configuration, when the detection unit detects the connection state, the notification unit notifies the occupant that the connection state is established. The notification means notifies the occupant that the connection state is established, for example, by sound or light (such as a lamp). For this reason, since the passenger | crew can recognize that it is a connection state during the filling operation | work of gas, it can recognize that it is under the filling operation | work of a gas, or starting of an engine is prohibited. .

  According to the present invention, in a vehicle in which gas is filled in a state where the gas filling nozzle and the nozzle connecting portion are connected, it is possible to accurately detect that the fuel filling operation is being performed by detecting the connection state of the gas filling nozzle. Can do.

1 is an external perspective view of a natural gas vehicle to which an engine control system according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied. It is a schematic perspective view of a nozzle connection detection apparatus. It is a block diagram of an engine control system. It is sectional drawing of a nozzle connection detection apparatus, (a) shows a normal state, (b) shows a detection state, respectively.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In each figure, FR indicates the front of the vehicle, UP indicates the upper side, and IN indicates the inner side in the vehicle width direction. Moreover, in the following description, the left-right direction means the left-right direction with the vehicle facing forward.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a vehicle 1 according to the present embodiment is a natural gas vehicle (NGV) that drives an engine 30 (see FIG. 3) using natural gas as a fuel. It has a plurality of tanks 2 (only one tank is shown in FIG. 1) for storing gas. The natural gas stored in the tank 2 is, for example, a compressed natural gas (CNG) stored at high pressure as a gas, or a liquefied natural gas stored in a fuel container as a cryogenic container in a liquid state (CNG: compressed natural gas). LNG (Liquid Natural Gas) or adsorbed natural gas (ANG) that is adsorbed and stored in an adsorbent in a fuel container. The tank 2 is supported on the vehicle body side while being covered with the cover 3. A fuel filling portion 4 for filling the tank 2 with fuel is provided on the upper portion of the cover 3 on the front end side of the tank 2.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the fuel filling unit 4 has a box-shaped storage cover 5. The storage cover 5 has an opening 5a that opens outward in the vehicle width direction, and an open / close door 6 that opens and closes the opening 5a is attached to the storage cover 5 via a hinge. In FIG. 2, the rear side of the storage cover 5 and the open / close door 6 are not shown. In the storage cover 5, a nozzle connection portion 7 for filling fuel is disposed. The nozzle connection portion 7 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape, extends along the vehicle width direction (predetermined direction), and continues to the tank 2. A gas filling port 8 is provided at the outer (one side) end of the nozzle connecting portion 7 in the vehicle width direction. When filling the fuel, a cylindrical gas filling nozzle 9 (see FIG. 4B) for filling the fuel is connected to the nozzle connecting portion 7 from the outside in the vehicle width direction, and the gas filling port 8 Fuel is filled into the tank 2. The outer diameter of the nozzle connection portion 7 is formed smaller than the inner diameter of the gas filling nozzle 9. When filling the fuel, the nozzle connecting portion 7 is inserted into the gas filling nozzle 9 from the tip of the gas filling nozzle 9 and locked to the gas filling nozzle 9, and the gas filling nozzle 9 is connected to the nozzle connection portion 7. The connected state (state shown in FIG. 4B) is established.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the vehicle 1 has an engine control system 10 for prohibiting starting of the engine 30 when fuel is being charged. The engine control system 10 includes a nozzle connection detection device 20, a controller (engine start prohibiting means, notification means) 29, a notification lamp (notification means) 12, and a speaker (notification means) 13. The vehicle 1 is provided with an engine start control unit 11 that controls the start of the engine 30 in response to an operation of an ignition key (not shown).

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the nozzle connection detection device 20 includes a movable plate (moving member) 21 and a detection switch (detection means) 22.

  As shown in FIGS. 2, 4A and 4B, the movable plate 21 includes a movable plate main body 21a intersecting with the vehicle width direction, and a vehicle width from an end portion in the front-rear direction of the movable plate main body 21a. It has integrally the front and back plate portions 21b and 21c that bend outward in the direction. A shaft insertion hole 25 penetrating in the front-rear direction is formed at the lower ends of the front and rear plate portions 21b, 21c. The shaft insertion hole 25 has a shaft extending in the front-rear direction below the nozzle connection portion 7 in the storage cover 5. 23 is inserted. The lower end side of the movable plate 21 is supported by the storage cover 5 so as to be rotatable about the shaft 23. The movable plate main body 21 a has an opening 24 that penetrates in the vehicle width direction, and the nozzle connecting portion 7 is inserted through the opening 24. That is, the area around the opening 24 in the movable plate main body 21 a of the movable plate 21 is arranged in the vicinity of the side surface of the nozzle connection portion 7. A stopper member 26 protruding from the inner side surface 5b is attached to the inner side surface 5b opposed to the front and rear of the storage cover 5, and the movable plate 21 has outer end edges in the vehicle width direction of the front and rear plate portions 21b and 21c. A normal position (a position shown in FIG. 4A) that contacts the stopper member 26 from the inside in the vehicle width direction, and the upper end side of the movable plate 21 move inward in the vehicle width direction from the normal position to move the front and rear plate portions 21b and 21c. Can be tilted between a detection position (a position shown in FIG. 4B) where the outer edge in the vehicle width direction is spaced from the stopper member 26 inward in the vehicle width direction. The stopper member 26 restricts the tilting of the movable plate 21 outward in the vehicle width direction to the normal position. The shaft 23 is provided with a coil spring (biasing member) 27. One end of the coil spring 27 is fixed to the shaft 23, and the other end abuts on the inner surface in the vehicle width direction of the movable plate body 21a. In this state, the movable plate 21 is urged outward in the vehicle width direction (normal position side). As shown in FIG. 4 (a), the movable plate 21 at the normal position is disposed on the outer side in the vehicle width direction from the lower end side, and is inclined by a predetermined angle with respect to the vertical direction. In a state where the movable plate 21 is disposed at the normal position, the nozzle connecting portion 7 projects outward from the movable plate main body 21a of the movable plate 21 in the vehicle width direction. As shown in FIG. 4 (b), the movable plate 21 at the detection position is arranged at the upper end side outside the lower end side in the vehicle width direction and is inclined at an angle smaller than the predetermined angle with respect to the vertical direction. Yes. The detection position is a position defined by the tip of the gas filling nozzle 9 in the connected state when filling with fuel. That is, the detection position is a position on the inner side in the vehicle width direction than the gas filling port 8.

  The detection switch 22 is disposed above the nozzle connection portion 7 in the storage cover 5, and is fixed to the storage cover 5 via the bracket 28 on the inner side in the vehicle width direction of the upper end portion of the movable plate body 21 a of the movable plate 21. Is done. The detection switch 22 has a pressed portion 22a that can be pressed inward in the vehicle width direction, and is arranged at a position where the pressed portion 22a is not pressed against the movable plate 21 in a state where the movable plate 21 is arranged at the normal position. In a state where the plate 21 is disposed at the detection position, the pressed portion 22a is disposed at a position where the movable plate 21 is pressed. The detection switch 22 detects that the movable plate 21 is located at the detection position when the pressed portion 22 a is pressed by the movable plate 21. That is, the detection switch 22 detects a connection state in which the gas filling nozzle 9 is connected to the nozzle connection portion 7. The detection switch 22 transmits a connection state detection signal to the controller 29 while detecting the connection state of the gas filling nozzle 9.

  When the gas filling nozzle 9 is not connected to the nozzle connection portion 7 (the state shown in FIG. 4A), the movable plate 21 is located at the normal position, and the pressed portion 22a of the detection switch 22 is The movable plate 21 is not pressed. When filling the fuel, the gas filling nozzle 9 is moved inward in the vehicle width direction, the gas filling nozzle 9 is brought closer to the gas filling port 8 of the nozzle connecting portion 7 from the outside in the vehicle width direction, and the tip of the gas filling nozzle 9 When the nozzle connecting portion 7 is inserted into the gas filling nozzle 9 from the front, the tip of the gas filling nozzle 9 comes into contact with the area around the opening 24 of the movable plate main body 21a of the movable plate 21 and presses the movable plate 21 to move the movable plate 21. Is pushed inward in the vehicle width direction by the tip of the gas filling nozzle 9 and moves from the normal position to the detection position. In the connected state where the gas filling nozzle 9 is connected to the nozzle connecting portion 7 (the state shown in FIG. 4B), the movable plate 21 is held at the detection position by the tip of the gas filling nozzle 9, and the detection switch 22 is pressed. The connection state of the gas filling nozzle 9 is detected by detecting that the movable plate 21 is positioned at the detection position when the portion 22a is pressed by the movable plate 21.

  The notification lamp 12 is a lamp provided on an instrument panel (not shown) in front of the driver's seat, and can be notified that the gas filling nozzle 9 is in a connected state by being lit. The method for notifying the connection state is not limited to lighting of the lamp, but may be blinking of the lamp, or characters such as “fuel filling work” and “engine start prohibited” are displayed in the vehicle interior. May be displayed.

  The speaker 13 is provided in the passenger compartment and can notify that the gas filling nozzle 9 is in a connected state by outputting sound or sound.

  While receiving the connection state detection signal from the detection switch 22, the controller 29 controls the engine start control unit 11 to prohibit the start of the engine 30 and turns on the notification lamp 12. When the controller 29 receives the connection state detection signal from the detection switch 22, the controller 29 continuously outputs sound or sound from the speaker 13 into the vehicle compartment until a predetermined time elapses. Inform. Note that a sound or sound that informs the connection state may be continuously output while the detection switch 22 detects the connection state of the gas filling nozzle 9. That is, the controller 29 functions as an engine start prohibiting unit that prohibits starting of the engine 30 while the detection switch 22 detects the connection state. The controller 29, the notification lamp 12, and the speaker 13 function as notification means for notifying the occupant that the connection state is established when the detection switch 22 detects the connection state.

  In the nozzle connection detection device 20 configured as described above, the detection switch 22 detects that the movable plate 21 is positioned at the detection position by the pressed portion 22a being pressed by the movable plate 21, The connection state of the gas filling nozzle 9 is detected. When the gas filling nozzle 9 is in the connected state, the fuel filling operation is in progress. When the gas filling nozzle 9 is in the disconnected state, the fuel filling operation is not in progress. By detecting, it is possible to accurately detect that the fuel filling operation is in progress. For example, when it is detected that the fuel filling operation is being performed by detecting the open state of the opening / closing door 6 of the fuel filling unit 4, if the user forgets to close the opening / closing door 6 after the fuel filling operation, the fuel filling operation ends. However, the nozzle connection detection device 20 can accurately detect that the fuel filling operation is in progress.

  Further, since the movable plate 21 and the detection switch 22 are disposed outside the nozzle connection portion 7, the natural gas vehicle is filled with fuel by inserting the nozzle connection portion 7 into the gas filling nozzle 9 from the tip of the gas filling nozzle 9. 1, it is possible to accurately detect that the fuel filling operation is being performed with a simple structure.

  Therefore, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to accurately detect that the fuel filling operation is being performed in the natural gas vehicle 1 by detecting the connection state of the gas filling nozzle 9.

  In addition, since the movable plate 21 and the detection switch 22 are arranged outside the nozzle connection unit 7, unlike the case where the movable plate 21 and the detection switch 22 are arranged inside the nozzle connection unit 7, the nozzle connection detection device 20. Assembling work is easy and maintainability is improved.

  In the engine control system 10 configured as described above, the controller 29 controls the engine start control unit 11 to start the engine 30 while the detection switch 22 detects the connection state of the gas filling nozzle 9. Is prohibited. For this reason, even if an ignition key (not shown) is turned on during the fuel filling operation, the engine 30 is prohibited from being started, and the engine 30 is not started. Therefore, safety can be ensured.

  In addition, when the detection switch 22 detects the connection state of the gas filling nozzle 9, the controller 29, the notification lamp 12, and the speaker 13 notify the occupant that the gas filling nozzle 9 is in a connected state. For this reason, since the passenger | crew can recognize that it is a connection state during a fuel filling operation | work, it can recognize that it is under a fuel filling operation | work or the starting of the engine 30 is prohibited. Thereby, it is possible to suppress the start operation of the engine 30 by the occupant during the fuel filling operation, or to misunderstand that the vehicle 1 has failed because the engine 30 does not start when the occupant performs the start operation of the engine 30. Can be prevented.

  Note that the extending direction of the nozzle connecting portion 7 is not limited to the vehicle width direction (predetermined direction), and may be, for example, the front-rear direction.

  In the present embodiment, the movable plate 21 that can be tilted about the shaft 23 is provided. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a rail that extends in the vehicle width direction is provided on the vehicle body side. A movable plate 21 that is slidably supported in the vehicle width direction may be provided.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the movable plate (moving member) 21 is constituted by the movable plate main body 21a and the front and rear plate portions 21b and 21c, and the opening 24 through which the nozzle connecting portion 7 can be inserted is provided in the movable plate main body 21a. However, the shape of the moving member is not limited to this, and any other shape can be used as long as the moving member is arranged at least near the side surface of the nozzle connecting portion 7 and can move between the normal position and the detection position. It may be.

  In the present embodiment, the connection state of the gas filling nozzle 9 is detected by the detection switch 22 having the pressed portion 22a, but the connection state of the gas filling nozzle 9 may be detected by other detection means. For example, the connection state of the gas filling nozzle 9 may be detected by detecting the movable plate 21 at the detection position using a non-contact type sensor or the like.

  In this embodiment, the coil spring (biasing member) 27 is provided on the lower end side of the movable plate 21, but the coil spring 27 may not be provided. Even in this case, the movable plate 21 has the shaft 23 on the lower end side, and the movable plate 21 at the detection position is disposed on the outer side in the vehicle width direction with respect to the lower end side and inclined with respect to the vertical direction. Therefore, when the gas filling nozzle 9 is removed from the nozzle connection portion 7 and brought into a non-connected state, the movable plate 21 moves from the detection position to the normal position by its own weight.

  In the present embodiment, both the notification lamp 12 and the speaker 13 are provided as the notification means, but either the notification lamp 12 or the speaker 13 may be provided as the notification means.

  In this embodiment, the notification lamp 12 and the speaker 13 are provided as the notification means, and the connection state is recognized by the sight and hearing of the occupant. However, the notification means is not limited to this, and the connection is made to the occupant. Various notification means capable of recognizing the state can be applied. For example, it may be a notification means that allows the occupant to recognize the connection state by vibration of a seating seat or a handle.

  In this embodiment, the engine control system 10 is provided with both engine start prohibiting means (controller 29) and notification means (controller 29, notification lamp 12 and speaker 13). The engine control system 10 provided with either one may be used.

  As mentioned above, although this invention was demonstrated based on the said embodiment, this invention is not limited to the content of the said embodiment, Of course, it can change suitably in the range which does not deviate from this invention. That is, it is needless to say that other embodiments, examples, operation techniques, and the like made by those skilled in the art based on this embodiment are all included in the scope of the present invention.

  For example, in the above embodiment, the nozzle connection detection device 20 and the engine control system 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention are applied to a natural gas vehicle (NGV) using natural gas as fuel, but gas other than natural gas is used. You may apply to the vehicle (LPG car etc.) used as fuel.

1: Vehicle 7: Nozzle connection 8: Gas filling port 9: Gas filling nozzle 10: Engine control system 12: Notification lamp (notification means)
13: Speaker (notification means)
20: Nozzle connection detection device 21: Movable plate (moving member)
22: Detection switch (detection means)
29: Controller (engine start prohibiting means, notification means)
30: Engine

Claims (3)

The gas filling is performed when a gas filling nozzle for filling the vehicle with fuel is connected to a nozzle connecting portion provided in the vehicle and fuel is filled from a gas filling port on one side of the nozzle connecting portion in a predetermined direction. A nozzle connection detection device for a vehicle that detects a connection state in which a nozzle is connected to the nozzle connection portion,
Arranged in the vicinity of the side surface of the nozzle connection portion, and movable between a detection position on the other side of the predetermined direction with respect to the gas filling port and a normal position on one side of the predetermined direction with respect to the detection position. A moving member supported on the vehicle body side;
A detection unit that is disposed outside the nozzle connection part and detects the connection state by detecting the moving member at the detection position;
The moving member is positioned in the normal position in a non-connected state where the gas filling nozzle is not connected to the nozzle connection portion, and when the gas filling nozzle is connected to the nozzle connection portion, the predetermined direction The gas filling nozzle is pushed from the one side to the other side and moved from the normal position to the detection position, and in the connected state, the gas filling nozzle is held at the detection position by the tip. A nozzle connection detecting device for a vehicle. An engine control system for a vehicle having the nozzle connection detection device according to claim 1,
An engine control system for a vehicle, comprising engine start prohibiting means for prohibiting start of the engine of the vehicle while the detecting means detects the connection state. An engine control system having the nozzle connection detection device according to claim 1 or an engine control system according to claim 2,
When the detection means detects the connection state, the vehicle engine control system includes notification means for notifying an occupant that the connection state is established.

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