JP6013816B2 - Fuel filling system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a fuel filling system that fills liquid fuel into a fuel tank provided in a vehicle, for example.

  With the recent tightening of exhaust gas regulations, the number of vehicles using liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) or dimethyl ether (DME) instead of gasoline or light oil as a fuel is increasing. In such a fuel tank that stores LPG fuel or DME fuel, the maximum filling amount of fuel filled in the fuel tank for ensuring safety, that is, the upper limit value of the liquid amount in the fuel tank is set. It is prescribed. For example, when the fuel is LPG, the maximum filling amount is 85% of the fuel tank volume. Therefore, for example, Patent Literature 1 proposes a fuel filling system including an overfill prevention mechanism for preventing overfilling exceeding the maximum filling amount.

  A fuel filling system 801 of Patent Document 1 shown in FIG. 6 includes a fuel filling control device 802 for filling a fuel tank 805 provided in a vehicle. The fuel tank 805 is provided with a gas filling pipe 849 that communicates with the inside and outside of the fuel tank 805, and a gas filling pipe 849 disposed outside the fuel tank 805 has a filling nozzle of a fuel filling machine 821 to be described later. A quick coupling 848 capable of attaching and detaching 825 is provided, and an overfilling prevention device 830 is provided at the other end of the gas filling pipe 849 disposed inside the fuel tank 805. The overfill prevention device 830 closes the other end of the gas filling pipe 849 when the fuel in the fuel tank 805 reaches the maximum filling amount, and blocks the inflow of fuel into the fuel tank 805. Further, the fuel tank 805 is provided with a liquid level detection device 806 that detects a predetermined deceleration liquid level height, and the liquid level detection device 806 responds to the detection of the deceleration liquid level height. Outputs a signal containing liquid level information. A barcode 807 is affixed to the outer wall surface of the fuel tank 805, and container information representing a container form is written on the barcode 807.

  The fuel filling control device 802 includes a fuel filling machine 821 as a fuel supply means to which a hose 824 provided with a filling nozzle 825 at the tip is connected, and a filling control device 822 for driving and controlling the fuel filling machine 821. ing. Cables 826 and 827 are connected to the filling control device 822, and a connector 828 attached to the plug 815 of the above-described liquid level detection device 806 is provided at the tip of one cable 826, and the other cable. A barcode reader 829 for reading the barcode 807 described above is provided at the tip of 827. The filling control device 822 acquires the liquid level information and the container information via the cables 826 and 827, and detects the filling amount of the fuel filled in the fuel tank 805 based on these information. Based on this filling amount, the supply speed of the fuel supplied from the fuel filling machine 821 to the fuel tank 805 is controlled. As a result, the water hammer effect at the time of fuel supply speed change can be reduced and the filling time can be shortened.

JP 2009-138755 A

  As schematically shown in FIG. 7A, the above-described filling control device 822 of the fuel filling system 801 has a filling detection circuit 852 provided therein, and this filling detection circuit 852 is connected to the ground G ( Grounded). On the other hand, the liquid level detection device 806 provided in the fuel tank 805 of the vehicle has a liquid level detection circuit 851 provided therein, and the liquid level detection circuit 851 is used for the vehicle body of the vehicle. Connected to the ground FG. Then, as shown in FIG. 7B, when the connector 828 is fitted and fitted to the plug 815, the terminal fittings as the terminal portions come into contact with each other, and the filling detection circuit 852 and the liquid level height are contacted. The height detection circuit 851 is electrically connected.

  However, in general, when the vehicle is in contact with a dry road surface through a tire mainly composed of rubber or the like, the liquid level detection circuit 851 provided in the vehicle is not shown in FIG. As shown in (c), it is in a so-called floating state connected to the ground G via a virtual capacitor Cv, and the potential of the wiring of the liquid level height detection circuit 851 with respect to the ground potential becomes indefinite. . Therefore, a potential difference is generated between the potential E1 of the wiring P1 of the liquid level height detection circuit 851 and the potential E2 of the wiring P2 of the filling detection circuit 852 when the ground potential is used as a reference, and the plug 815 has a potential difference. When the connector 828 is mounted, the potential difference causes a current to flow through the closed circuit composed of the wiring P1, the wiring P2, the capacitor Cv, and the ground G, so that the terminal fitting 815a of the plug 815 and the terminal fitting 828a of the connector 828 are connected. There is a problem in that there is a risk of discharge occurring between the two.

  Further, in the fuel filling system 801 described above, the liquid level detection circuit 851 provided in the vehicle is always powered so that the liquid level can be detected even when the main power source of the vehicle is in an off state (ignition off state). Since it must be connected to a standby power supply that can be supplied, there is also a problem that power is supplied to the liquid level detection circuit 851 even when fuel is not supplied, and power is unnecessarily consumed.

  The present invention aims to solve this problem. That is, the present invention provides a fuel filling system that can suppress discharge that occurs when a device provided on the fuel tank side and a device provided on the fuel supply means side are communicably connected to each other, and does not require unnecessary power consumption. The purpose is to provide.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention described in claim 1 is a fuel filling system for filling a fuel tank with liquid fuel, a fuel supply device for supplying the fuel to the fuel tank, and the fuel An optical path portion that is routed to the tank and guides light incident from the inlet end to the outlet end, a float portion that floats on the fuel in the fuel tank, and movement of the float portion. A liquid level measuring device provided on the fuel tank side, comprising a permissible position that allows light to travel and a restricting wall that is moved to a restricting position that restricts the travel of the light, and the light path portion By the fuel supply device based on whether or not light is received by the light receiving unit, and a light receiving unit that receives light emitted from the outlet end of the light path unit. Supply speed of the fuel Feed rate control unit for controlling, with a, anda fuel supply controller of the liquid level height measuring device separately from the light emitting portion emits cyclically periodic change optical state is changed The supply speed control unit determines that the light received by the light receiving unit is receiving light when the state changes in the same cycle as the period change light, and receives light at other times. A light reception determination unit that determines that there is no light, and a supply speed control unit that controls the supply speed of the fuel by the fuel supply device based on the determination of the presence or absence of light reception by the light reception determination unit. It is a fuel filling system.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a fuel filling system for filling a fuel tank with a liquid fuel, a fuel supply device for supplying the fuel to the fuel tank, a fuel supply device routed to the fuel tank, and an inlet end An optical path portion that guides light incident from the outlet to an outlet end, a float portion that floats on the fuel in the fuel tank, and an allowable position that allows the light to travel in the optical path portion by movement of the float portion. A liquid level measuring device provided on the fuel tank side, and a light incident on the inlet end of the light path portion. A light emitting unit that emits light, a light receiving unit that receives light emitted from the exit end of the light path unit, and a rate at which the fuel is supplied by the fuel supply device based on whether light is received by the light receiving unit Supply speed controller, Equipped with, have, a fuel supply control system of the liquid level height measuring apparatus separately from, the light path section, the reflection surface for reflecting light incident from the upper wall of the fuel tank in the left-right direction A first light guide member provided with a reflective surface that is opposed to the first light guide member with a space in the left-right direction and that reflects light reflected by the first light guide member upward. A fuel filling system , wherein a space between the first light guide member and the second light guide member is a restriction position of the restriction wall portion .

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, in the light path portion arranged in the fuel tank, the light that is incident from the inlet end and guided to the outlet end is the height of the liquid level of the fuel in the fuel tank. When the restriction wall portion that is moved by the float portion that moves up and down according to the height is at a predetermined allowable position, the light is allowed to travel in the light path portion, and when the restriction wall portion is at the predetermined restriction position, the light travels. Is regulated. In other words, the light incident on the entrance end of the light path portion from the light emitting portion travels in the light path portion or is prevented from proceeding according to the liquid level indicated as the position of the restriction wall portion. The light emission state from the exit end of the light path portion changes. Then, the fuel supply speed by the fuel supply device is controlled based on whether or not the light emitted from the exit end of the light receiving unit is received.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, when the light emitting section emits the periodic change light whose state changes periodically, the periodic change light is incident on the entrance end of the optical path section. Then, the light reception determination unit of the supply speed control unit determines that the light received by the light receiving unit has received light when the state changes in the same cycle as this period change light, and otherwise does not receive light. The supply speed control means of the supply speed control unit controls the fuel supply speed by the fuel supply device based on the determination of the presence or absence of light reception.

  As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the light that has entered the entrance end of the light path portion from the light emitting portion has an optical path according to the liquid level indicated as the position of the restriction wall portion. The fuel supply device supplies the fuel on the basis of whether or not the light emitted from the exit end of the light path portion is changed and the light emission state from the exit end of the light path portion is changed. Since the speed is controlled, the light emitting unit and the entrance end of the optical path unit are arranged to face each other, and the light receiving unit and the exit end of the optical path unit are arranged to face each other, so that the liquid level height measuring device and the fuel supply control device are arranged. Without the electrical connection between the two devices, it is possible to communicate information indicating the liquid level by light. Suppresses the discharge that occurs when It can be.

  In addition, the regulation wall is moved to the allowable position or the regulation position by the float that floats on the liquid level of the fuel in the fuel tank and moves up and down according to the liquid level, so that no electric power is required, The progress of light in the optical path portion can be allowed or restricted according to the surface height, and therefore unnecessary power consumption can be suppressed.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the periodically changing light from the light emitting portion enters the entrance end of the optical path portion, and the light received by the light receiving portion is in the same cycle as this periodically changing light. Is determined to have received light when it is changing, otherwise it is determined that there is no light reception, and the fuel supply speed by the fuel supply device is controlled based on the determination of the presence or absence of light reception. It is possible to suppress erroneously determining that light is received, for example, when light having no periodic change such as sunlight is received.

It is a schematic block diagram of one Embodiment of the fuel filling system of this invention. It is a figure explaining the connection relation of each component of the fuel filling system of FIG. (A) is sectional drawing which shows the state which has a light control magnet in an allowance position in the liquid quantity measuring device of the fuel filling system of FIG. 1, (b) shows the state which has a light control magnet in a control position. It is sectional drawing. (A) is a schematic block diagram of the light reception unit of the fuel filling system of FIG. 2, (b) is a figure which shows the output waveform in each part of a light reception unit. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the process (supply speed control process) which concerns on this invention which CPU of MPU of the fuel supply control apparatus of FIG. 2 performs. It is a figure which shows the structure of the conventional fuel filling system. FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the fuel filling system of FIG. 6, wherein (a) shows a state before the liquid level detection circuit and the filling detection circuit are connected, and (b) shows the liquid level height. The state after the thickness detection circuit and the filling detection circuit are connected is shown, and (c) is a diagram schematically showing the electrical relationship between the liquid level detection circuit and the filling detection circuit.

  Hereinafter, a fuel filling system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  This fuel filling system is a system that fills a fuel tank mounted on a vehicle with liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) fuel. When a user performs an automatic filling operation, fuel filling starts and fuel in the fuel tank is filled. When the liquid amount reaches a predetermined supply rate deceleration amount Ls, the fuel supply rate to the fuel tank is gradually decreased, and the supply rate is reduced to 0 before reaching the maximum filling amount Lm of the fuel tank. That is, the fuel supply is stopped. Thereafter, the user supplies fuel by manual filling operation and fills up to the maximum filling amount Lm. The maximum filling amount Lm and the supply speed deceleration amount Ls are appropriately set according to the type of fuel, the configuration of the fuel tank, the configuration of the system, etc. In this embodiment, the maximum filling amount Lm is 85% of the fuel tank volume. Is set. The supply speed deceleration amount Ls is set to 70% of the maximum filling amount Lm.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the fuel filling system 1 includes a liquid amount measuring device 20 as a liquid level measuring device disposed in a fuel tank 10 mounted on a vehicle, a fuel supply device 50, And a fuel supply control device 60.

  Both the fuel supply device 50 and the fuel supply control device 60 are accommodated in a casing 70 provided with a filling hose 71. The filling hose 71 accommodates a fuel supply pipe 72 inside thereof, and a filling nozzle 73 is provided at the tip thereof.

  The fuel tank 10 is formed in a substantially box shape, and the side wall 10a is provided with a filling port 11 for filling the fuel F therein. The filling port 11 is provided with a quick coupling 12, and a filling nozzle 73 provided at the tip of a filling hose 71 extending from the housing 70 can be easily attached or detached. Since the fuel tank 10 is formed in a substantially box shape, the amount of liquid in the fuel tank 10 is proportional to the liquid level. Of course, the shape of the fuel tank 10 is arbitrary, and even in this case, the amount of liquid in the fuel tank 10 and the liquid level are related.

  The fuel tank 10 is provided with a fuel filling pipe 13. One end of the fuel filling pipe 13 is disposed in the filling port 11, and the other end is disposed in the fuel tank 10. The other end of the fuel filling pipe 13 is provided with an overfill prevention device (not shown) similar to the conventional fuel filling system described above, and this device prevents filling of the fuel F exceeding the maximum filling amount Lm. ing. One end of the fuel filling pipe 13 is connected to the fuel supply pipe 72 and communicated with each other when the filling nozzle 73 is attached to the filling port 11.

  Further, the upper wall portion 10 b of the fuel tank 10 is provided with an opening portion 10 c that communicates the inside and the outside of the fuel tank 10. A liquid level switch 30 described later is attached to the opening 10c of the fuel tank 10 so as to close the opening 10c.

  The liquid amount measuring device 20 includes a pair of fuel tank side optical cables 21 and 22 arranged in the fuel tank 10, an optical connector socket 23 provided in the filling port 11 of the fuel tank 10, and a liquid level in the fuel tank 10. And a liquid level switch 30 for measuring the height.

  The pair of fuel tank-side optical cables 21 and 22 are well-known optical cables that include an optical fiber and a protective coating (sheath) that covers the periphery of the optical fiber and guides light incident on one end to the other end. The pair of fuel tank side optical cables 21 and 22 are routed on the outer surface of the fuel tank 10.

  One end 21a of one fuel tank side optical cable 21 is connected to an optical connector socket 23 provided in the filling port 11 of the fuel tank 10, and the other end 21b is one optical cable mounting portion of a liquid level switch 30 described later. 38. The one fuel tank side optical cable 21 is provided so as to guide the light incident on one end 21a on the optical connector socket 23 side to one optical cable attachment portion 38 connected to the other end 21b.

  One end 22a of the other fuel tank side optical cable 22 is connected to the optical connector socket 23, and the other end 22b is connected to the other optical cable attachment portion 39 of the liquid level switch 30 described later. The other fuel tank side optical cable 22 is provided so as to guide the light incident on the other end 22b from the other optical cable attachment portion 39 to the one end 22a on the optical connector socket 23 side.

  As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the liquid level switch 30 includes a case 31, a pair of optical cable mounting portions 38 and 39, a first light guide member 41, a second light guide member 42, It has an upper support member 43, a lower support member 44, a light restriction magnet 45 as a restriction wall part, and a magnet float 47 as a float part.

  The case 31 has a bottomed cylindrical case main body 32 and a case lid 36 attached to the case main body 32. The case main body 32 and the case lid 36 are made of a material having corrosion resistance with respect to the fuel F supplied to the fuel tank 10 such as a metal material such as stainless steel.

  The case main body 32 includes a cylindrical peripheral wall portion 32a, a bottom wall portion 32b provided so as to close the lower end portion of the peripheral wall portion 32a, a flange portion 32c provided at the periphery of the upper end portion of the peripheral wall portion 32a, and a peripheral wall. A partition wall portion 32d that partitions the inner space of the portion 32a in the axial direction S (vertical direction in FIG. 3), and these are integrally formed.

  In the case main body 32, an upper space 33 and a lower space 34 which are disconnected from each other are provided. A plurality of communication holes 35 that communicate the lower space 34 and the outside of the case body 32 are provided in a portion surrounding the lower space 34 in the peripheral wall portion 32 a and the bottom wall portion 32 b.

  The outer diameter of the peripheral wall 32a of the case body 32 is formed smaller than the diameter of the opening 10c of the fuel tank 10, and the outer diameter of the flange 32c is formed larger than the diameter of the opening 10c. Thus, the case 31 is inserted into the opening 10c of the fuel tank 10 from the bottom wall portion 32b side of the case 31, and the peripheral wall portion 32a and the bottom wall portion 32b are positioned in the fuel tank 10, and the flange portion 32c The fuel tank 10 is attached so as to close the opening 10c.

  The case lid 36 is formed in a disc shape having substantially the same diameter as the inner diameter of the peripheral wall portion 32a of the case main body 32, and is attached to the case main body 32 so as to close the upper end portion of the peripheral wall portion 32a. When the case lid 36 is attached to the case body 32, the upper space 33 in the case body 32 is sealed.

  The pair of optical cable attachment portions 38 and 39 are optical connectors (also referred to as optical ferrules) to which the pair of fuel tank side optical cables 21 and 22 wired in the fuel tank 10 are attached. The pair of optical cable attachment portions 38 and 39 are disposed through the case lid 36.

  The one optical cable attaching portion 38 is connected to the other end 21b of the one fuel tank side optical cable 21 and the first guide described later so that the light from the one fuel tank side optical cable 21 is guided to the first light guide member 41 described later. The optical member 41 is connected.

  The other optical cable attaching portion 39 is connected to the other end 22b of the other fuel tank side optical cable 22 and the second guide to be described later so that light from the second light guide member 42 described later is guided to the other fuel tank side optical cable 22. The optical member 42 is connected.

  The first light guide member 41 is formed in a substantially L-shaped prism shape in a side view, for example, using a light-transmitting material such as quartz glass or acrylic resin, and is formed at the distal end portion on the long side of the L shape. Is provided with a first end surface 41a (surface facing upward in FIG. 3), and a L-shaped short side tip is provided with a second end surface 41b (surface facing left in FIG. 3). A reflection surface 41c for reflecting the light incident on the first end surface 41a toward the second end surface 41b is provided at the corner portion.

  The second light guide member 42 is formed in a substantially L-shaped prismatic shape in a side view using the same material as the first light guide member 41, and the first end surface is formed at the front end of the L-shaped short side. 42a (a surface facing right in FIG. 3) is provided, and a second end surface 42b (a surface facing upward in FIG. 3) is provided at the front end of the L-shaped long side. Is provided with a reflection surface 42c that reflects the light incident on the first end surface 42a toward the second end surface 42b.

  The first light guide member 41 and the second light guide member 42 are sandwiched and fixed vertically by an upper support member 43 and a lower support member 44 disposed in the upper space 33 of the case 31. The first end face 41 a of the first light guide member 41 is connected to one optical cable attachment portion 38, and the second end face 42 b of the second light guide member 42 is connected to the other optical cable attachment portion 39. In addition, the second end surface 41b of the first light guide member 41 and the first end surface 42a of the second light guide member 42 are disposed to face each other with a space therebetween.

  For example, a ferrite magnet is used as the light restricting magnet 45 and is formed in a cubic shape. The light regulating magnet 45 is formed such that the size of one surface is slightly larger than the second end surface 41 b of the first light guide member 41. The light restricting magnet 45 is provided in a magnet moving space 46 formed by the upper support member 43, the lower support member 44, the second end surface 41 b of the first light guide member 41, and the first end surface 42 a of the second light guide member 42. The N pole and the S pole are accommodated in the axial direction S. The magnet moving space 46 is formed in a square columnar space that is substantially the same as the shape in which the two light restricting magnets 45 are stacked in the axial direction S so that the light restricting magnet 45 can only move in the axial direction S. .

  When the light restricting magnet 45 is at a position close to the lower support member 44 shown in FIG. 3A (that is, the allowable position P1), the second light guide member 42 is moved from the second end face 41b of the first light guide member 41. The light in the magnet moving space 46 toward the first end face 42a is allowed to travel, and the position near the upper support member 43 shown in FIG. 3B (the second end face 41b of the first light guide member 41 and the second end face 42a). When located at a position between the light guide member 42 and the first end surface 42a, that is, at the regulation position P2), the second light guide member 41 is directed from the second end surface 41b toward the first light guide member 42 toward the first end surface 42a. The movement of light in all the magnet movement spaces 46 is restricted (blocked).

  The magnet float 47 is configured, for example, by embedding a magnet in a foamed resin material such as foamed nitrile rubber formed in a columnar shape so that the N pole and the S pole are aligned in the axial direction. The magnet float 47 is formed so that its diameter is slightly smaller than the diameter of the lower space 34 of the case body 32 so that it can move in the axial direction S within the lower space 34. The magnet float 47 is accommodated in the lower space 34 so that the same magnetic pole as the magnetic pole facing the lower space 34 of the light restricting magnet 45 is coaxial with the case body 32 and faces the upper space 33.

  The magnet float 47 is located on the bottom wall portion 32b when there is no fuel F in the lower space 34 of the case 31. At this time, the light regulating magnet 45 is in the allowable position P1. The magnet float 47 floats on the fuel F when the fuel F flows into the lower space 34 from the communication hole 35, and is moved according to the liquid amount (that is, the liquid level height) of the fuel F in the fuel tank 10. When the liquid amount of the fuel F in the fuel tank 10 reaches a predetermined supply speed deceleration amount Ls, the upper surface thereof is moved to a position where it abuts against the partition wall portion 32d. At this time, the light restricting magnet 45 is moved to the restricting position P <b> 2 by the magnetic force with the magnet float 47.

  That is, when the liquid level in the fuel tank 10 is less than the supply speed deceleration amount Ls, the liquid level switch 30 is positioned within the position range below the restriction position P2 including the permissible position P1. The light emitted from the second end face 41 b of the first light guide member 41 can enter the first end face 42 a of the second light guide member 42 through the magnet moving space 46.

  Further, the liquid level switch 30 is configured such that when the amount of liquid in the fuel tank 10 reaches the supply speed deceleration amount Ls, the light restricting magnet 45 is positioned at the restricting position P2 and the second end face 41b of the first light guide member 41. The light emitted from the light is blocked by the light restricting magnet 45, and the light entering the first end face 42a of the second light guide member 42 is restricted.

  In the liquid level switch 30, the light regulating magnet 45 is disposed in the upper space 33 (specifically, in the magnet moving space 46), and the magnet float 47 is disposed in the lower space 34 disconnected from the upper space 33. The light restricting magnet 45 and the magnet float 47 are arranged so that the magnetic poles that have the same polarity so that repulsive forces act on both sides of the partition wall portion 32d (in this embodiment, the S poles). Are facing each other. Therefore, the upper space 33 can be isolated from the fuel F. For example, the fuel F causes the second end surface 41b of the first light guide member 41 and the first end surface 41a of the second light guide member to become dirty, or the fuel F Therefore, it is possible to prevent the light regulating magnet from being fixed to the upper support member 43, the lower support member 44, and the like.

  In the liquid quantity measuring device 20, one fuel tank side optical cable 21, one optical cable attachment portion 38, a first light guide member 41, a magnet moving space 46, a second light guide member 42, the other optical cable attachment portion 39, and The other fuel tank side optical cable 22 constitutes one optical path portion 48. This optical path portion 48 uses the light incident on one end 21a (hereinafter also referred to as “inlet end 21a”) of one fuel tank side optical cable 21 as an inlet end to the other fuel tank side optical cable as an outlet end. 22 is configured to be led to one end 22a (hereinafter also referred to as "exit end 22a").

  The fuel supply device 50 is configured by, for example, a pump that sucks up liquid, and is a device that sucks up fuel F from a fuel storage tank (not shown) provided in the ground and supplies the fuel F to the fuel tank 10. The fuel supply device 50 is connected to the fuel supply pipe 72 of the filling hose 71, and flows the fuel F sucked up from the fuel storage tank into the fuel supply pipe 72 at a specified supply speed. The fuel supply device 50 is electrically connected to a fuel supply control device 60 described later, and the supply speed of the fuel F is controlled by a control signal from the fuel supply control device 60.

  The fuel supply control device 60 includes a pair of control device side optical cables 61 and 62 arranged in the filling hose 71, an optical connector plug 63 provided in the filling nozzle 73 of the filling hose 71, a light emitting unit 64, and a light receiving unit. A unit 65 and a supply speed controller 66 are provided.

  The pair of control device side optical cables 61 and 62 are well-known optical cables that include an optical fiber and a protective coating (sheath) that covers the periphery of the optical fiber, and guides the light incident on one end to the other end. The pair of fuel tank side optical cables 21, 22 are routed in the filling hose 71.

  One end 61a of one control device side optical cable 61 is connected to an optical connector plug 63 provided in the filling nozzle 73 of the filling hose 71, and the other end 61b is connected to a light emitting unit 64 described later. The one control device side optical cable 61 is provided so as to guide the light incident on the other end 61b from the light emitting unit 64 to the one end 61a on the optical connector plug 63 side.

  One end 62a of the other control device side optical cable 62 is connected to the optical connector plug 63, and the other end 62b is connected to a light receiving unit 65 described later. The other control device side optical cable 62 is provided so as to guide the light incident on the one end 62a on the optical connector plug 63 side to the light receiving unit 65 connected to the other end 62b.

  When the filling nozzle 73 of the filling hose 71 is attached to the filling port 11 of the fuel tank 10, the optical connector plug 63 is fitted into the optical connector socket 23 provided in the filling port 11. When the optical connector plug 63 and the optical connector socket 23 are fitted, one end 61a of one control device side optical cable 61 and one end 21a of one fuel tank side optical cable 21 (that is, the inlet end of the optical path portion 48). 21a) is connected so as to be able to transmit light, and one end 62a of the other control device side optical cable 62 and one end 22a of the other fuel tank side optical cable 22 (that is, the outlet end 22a of the optical path section 48) transmit light. Connected as possible.

  The light emitting unit 64 includes, for example, a light emitting element such as a laser diode and a drive circuit that drives the light emitting element. In the present embodiment, this drive circuit is a pulse drive circuit that periodically turns on and off the light emitting element so as to output pulsed light having a constant cycle (hereinafter referred to as pulsed light (that is, periodic change light)). It consists of Of course, the drive circuit is not limited to this, and for example, is configured by a circuit that drives the light emitting element so as to continuously output a constant amount of light without a periodic change over a predetermined period. Also good.

  The light emitting unit 64 is connected to an output port PO1 of the MPU 67, which will be described later, and operates the drive circuit based on a control signal from the MPU 67 to output light from the light emitting element. The light emitting unit 64 is connected to the other end 61 b so that the output light is incident on the other end 61 b of the one control device side optical cable 61.

  As shown in FIG. 4A, the light receiving unit 65 includes a light receiving element 65a such as a phototransistor, and a conversion circuit 65b that converts a signal output from the light receiving element 65a into a signal that can be input to the MPU 67. . In the present embodiment, the conversion circuit 65b includes a differentiation circuit 65b1 that outputs a signal indicating a change in received light, and a shaping circuit 65b2 that shapes the output waveform of the differentiation circuit 65b1, and the light receiving element 65a emits light. It is configured to output a state signal in which a single pulse having a small width is output when the light receiving state is changed to the light receiving state. FIG. 4B shows (i) the output waveform of the light receiving element 65a when receiving the pulsed light with the period T in the light receiving unit 65, (ii) the output waveform of the differentiating circuit 65b1, and (iii) shaping. An example of an output waveform (that is, a status signal) of the circuit 65b2 is shown. Of course, the conversion circuit is not limited to this, for example, a voltage level (for example, 0 V) indicating that the light receiving element receives light when the amount of received light is equal to or greater than a predetermined determination value. It may be configured by a circuit that outputs a state signal at a voltage level (for example, 5 V) indicating that the light receiving element is not receiving light when the value is less than the determination value.

  The light receiving unit 65 is connected to an input port PI of the MPU 67, which will be described later, and inputs a state signal indicating the state of received light to the MPU 67. The light receiving unit 65 is provided connected to the other end 62b so as to receive light emitted from the other end 62b of the other control device side optical cable 62.

  In the fuel supply control device 60, one control device side optical cable 61 and the light emitting unit 64 emit light to one end 21 a of one fuel tank side optical cable 21 of the liquid amount measurement device 20 (that is, the inlet end 21 a of the optical path portion 48). The other control device side optical cable 62 and the light receiving unit 65 are connected to one end 22a of the other fuel tank side optical cable 22 of the liquid amount measuring device 20 (that is, the optical path portion 48). A light receiving portion 69 for receiving the light emitted from the outlet end 22a) is formed.

  The supply speed control unit 66 includes a microcomputer (MPU) 67.

  The MPU 67 is composed of a known embedded microcomputer. The MPU 67 is a central processing unit (CPU) that performs various types of processing and control in accordance with a predetermined program, a ROM that is a read-only memory storing processing programs and various information for the CPU, and various types of data. It has a RAM, which is a readable / writable memory that stores and has an area necessary for processing operations of the CPU.

  The light emitting unit 64 is connected to the output port PO1 of the MPU 67, and the CPU of the MPU 67 outputs a control signal for outputting or stopping the output of the pulse light from the light emitting unit 64 to the light emitting unit 64 through the output port PO1. To do. The fuel supply device 50 is connected to the output port PO2 of the MPU 67.

  The light receiving unit 65 is connected to the input port PI of the MPU 67, and the CPU of the MPU 67 receives the light receiving state (whether light is received) in the light receiving unit 65 based on the state signal from the light receiving unit 65 input to the input port PI. Is detected. Then, the CPU of the MPU 67 outputs a control signal for supplying the fuel F to the fuel supply device 50 through the output port PO2 at a supply speed corresponding to the light receiving state.

  Next, an example of processing (supply speed control processing) according to the present invention executed by the CPU of the MPU 67 described above will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

  The CPU of the MPU 67 advances the process to step S110 shown in the flowchart of FIG. 5 at a predetermined timing (for example, every 5 seconds).

  In step S110, the CPU outputs a control signal for outputting pulsed light having a constant period (eg, 1 ms (ie, frequency 1 kHz)) to the light emitting unit 64 through the output port PO1. When the light emitting unit 64 receives this control signal, the light emitting unit 64 outputs pulsed light having a constant period.

  In step S120, the light receiving state of the light receiving unit 65 is detected. Specifically, the CPU measures the pulse interval time included in the state signal input to the input port PI over a predetermined observation time (for example, 1 second), and calculates the period of the pulse. Then, the process proceeds to step S130.

  In step S130, the presence or absence of light reception in the light receiving unit 65 is determined. Specifically, when the interval time of the pulses included in the state signal calculated in step S120 is constant and the same as the pulsed light emitted from the light emitting unit 64, the CPU determines that there is light reception and proceeds to step S140. Advance (Y in S130), otherwise, it is determined that no light is received, and the process proceeds to step S150 (N in S130).

  In step S140, the supply rate of the fuel F is set to the maximum supply rate (for example, 1 [L / s]). Specifically, the CPU outputs a control signal for setting the supply rate of the fuel F to the maximum supply rate to the fuel supply device 50 through the output port PO2. The fuel supply device 50 supplies the fuel F at the supply speed indicated by the control signal, that is, the maximum supply speed. Then, the process proceeds to step S160.

  In step S150, the supply speed of the fuel F is gradually decreased. Specifically, the CPU outputs a control signal for gradually reducing the supply speed of the fuel F (for example, decelerating by 0.1 [L / s] every second) to finally set the speed to 0. Output to the fuel supply device 50 through the port PO2. The fuel supply device 50 supplies the fuel F at a supply speed indicated by this control signal, that is, a speed at which the speed is gradually reduced from the maximum supply speed to zero. Then, the process proceeds to step S160.

  In step S160, the CPU outputs a control signal for stopping the output of the pulsed light to the light emitting unit 64 through the output port PO1. The light emitting unit 64 stops the output of the pulsed light when receiving this control signal. And the process of this flowchart is complete | finished.

  Step S130 described above corresponds to the light reception determination means in the claims, and steps S140 and S150 correspond to the supply speed control means in the claims.

  Next, the operation (action) according to the present invention of the fuel filling system 1 described above will be described.

  When the filling nozzle 73 of the filling hose 71 is attached to the filling port 11 of the fuel tank 10 in order to supply the fuel F to the fuel tank 10 of the vehicle, the optical connector socket 23 and the optical connector plug 63 are fitted, The pair of fuel tank side optical cables 21 and 22 and the pair of control device side optical cables 61 and 62 are connected so as to be able to transmit light. Then, pulse light is output from the light emitting unit 64 at a predetermined timing (for example, every 5 seconds) (S110).

  At this time, when the amount of liquid in the fuel tank 10 is less than the supply speed deceleration amount Ls, the light regulating magnet 45 of the liquid level switch 30 is positioned at the allowable position P1, so that the light output from the light emitting unit 64 is Light emitted from one control device side optical cable 61, one fuel tank side optical cable 21, one optical cable attachment portion 38, first light guide member 41, magnet moving space 46, second light guide member 42, and the other optical cable attachment The light is guided to the light receiving unit 65 through the other control device side optical cable 62 through the part 39 and the other fuel tank side optical cable 22 in order. That is, the pulsed light emitted from the light emitting unit 64 of the light emitting unit 68 is guided to the optical path unit 48 and received by the light receiving unit 65 of the light receiving unit 69.

  As a result, the light receiving unit 65 outputs a status signal including a pulse having the same cycle as the cycle of the received pulsed light, and the MPU 67 determines that light reception by the light receiving unit 65 is present based on this status signal and supplies the maximum signal. The fuel F is supplied at a speed (Y in S120 and S130, S140). Thereafter, the output of the pulsed light from the light emitting unit 64 is stopped (S160).

  Further, when the amount of liquid in the fuel tank 10 reaches the supply speed deceleration amount Ls, the light restriction magnet 45 of the liquid level switch 30 is positioned at the restriction position P2, so that the light output from the light emitting unit 64 is emitted. Although light is emitted from one control device side optical cable 61 and guided to one fuel tank side optical cable 21, one optical cable mounting portion 38, and the first light guide member 41, light regulation is performed in the magnet moving space 46. Progression is blocked by the magnet 45. That is, the pulsed light emitted from the light emitting unit 64 of the light emitting unit 68 is blocked in the middle of the optical path unit 48 and is not received by the light receiving unit 65 of the light receiving unit 69.

  As a result, the light receiving unit 65 outputs a state signal that does not include a pulse, and the MPU 67 determines that no light is received by the light receiving unit 65 based on this state signal, and gradually decreases the supply speed from the maximum supply speed. Thus, the supply of the fuel F is stopped at the speed 0 (N in S120 and S130, S150). Thereafter, the output of the pulsed light from the light emitting unit 64 is stopped (S160).

  Further, when the filling nozzle 73 is detached from the filling port 11 due to an operation error or the like, the fitting between the optical connector socket 23 and the optical connector plug 63 is released. Thereby, the light which does not change periodically, such as illumination light and sunlight, is incident on the other control device side optical cable 62. In other words, the pulsed light output from the light emitting unit 64 is not received by the light receiving unit 65, and the light without the periodic change is received.

  As a result, the light receiving unit 65 outputs a state signal that does not include a pulse, and the MPU 67 determines that no light is received by the light receiving unit 65 based on this state signal, and gradually decreases the supply speed from the maximum supply speed. Thus, the supply of the fuel F is stopped at the speed 0 (N in S120 and S130, S150). Thereafter, the output of the pulsed light from the light emitting unit 64 is stopped (S160).

  As described above, the fuel filling system 1 according to the present embodiment includes the fuel supply device 50 that supplies the fuel F to the fuel tank 10 and the light that is routed to the fuel tank 10 and incident from the inlet end 21a. The light path 48 guided to 22a, the magnet float 47 floated on the fuel F in the fuel tank 10, and the movement of the magnet float 47 allow the light to travel in the light path 48 and the permissible position P1. A light amount measuring device 20 provided on the fuel tank 10 side, which includes a light restricting magnet 45 that is moved to a restricting position P2 that restricts travel, and light emission that enters light into the inlet end 21a of the light path portion 48. , A light receiving portion 69 that receives light emitted from the outlet end 22a of the light path portion 48, and a supply speed of the fuel F by the fuel supply device 50 based on whether or not light is received by the light receiving portion 69 Feed speed controller 66, which controls the equipped with, and a fuel supply control device 60 separately from the liquid quantity measuring device 20, the.

  In addition, the light emitting unit 68 is configured to emit pulsed light whose state changes periodically, and the supply speed control unit 66 receives pulsed light from which the light received by the light receiving unit 69 is emitted from the light emitting unit 68. MPU 67 (CPU) as a light receiving determination means for determining that there is light reception when the state changes in the same cycle as the above, and no light reception otherwise, and fuel supply based on the determination of presence or absence of light reception by MPU 67 An MPU 67 (CPU) is provided as supply speed control means for controlling the supply speed of the fuel F by the device 50.

  In the present embodiment, in the light path portion 48 arranged in the fuel tank 10, the light incident from the inlet end 21 a and guided to the outlet end 22 a is the liquid level height of the fuel F in the fuel tank 10. When the light restricting magnet 45 moved by the magnet float 47 that moves up and down in response to is in the predetermined allowable position P1, the light is allowed to travel in the optical path portion 48 and is in the predetermined restricting position P2. The progress of the light is regulated. That is, the light incident on the entrance end 21 a of the light path portion 48 from the light emitting portion 68 travels or travels in the light path portion 48 according to the liquid level indicated as the position of the light restricting magnet 45. As a result, the light emission state from the outlet end 22a of the optical path portion 48 is changed. Then, the supply speed of the fuel F by the fuel supply device 50 is controlled based on whether or not the light emitted from the outlet end 22a by the light receiving unit 69 is received.

  In addition, the light emitting unit 68 emits pulsed light whose state changes periodically, so that the pulsed light enters the entrance end 21 a of the optical path unit 48. Then, the MPU 67 of the supply speed control unit 66 determines that light is received when the light received by the light receiving unit 69 has the same period as this pulsed light, and determines that there is no light reception otherwise, and supplies speed control The MPU 67 of the unit 66 controls the supply speed of the fuel F by the fuel supply device 50 based on the determination of the presence or absence of light reception.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the light that has entered the entrance end 21a of the light path portion 48 from the light emitting portion 68 depends on the liquid surface height indicated as the position of the light regulating magnet 45. The fuel supply device based on whether or not the light emitted from the outlet end 22a of the light path portion 48 changes and the light output from the outlet end 22a by the light receiving portion 69 is received. Since the fuel F supply speed by 50 is controlled, the light emitting portion 68 (specifically, one end 61a of one control device side optical cable 61) and the inlet end 21a of the optical path portion 48 are disposed opposite to each other, and the light receiving portion 69 ( Specifically, one end 62a of the other control device side optical cable 62 and the outlet end 22a of the optical path portion 48 are arranged to face each other, thereby electrically connecting the liquid amount measuring device 20 and the fuel supply control device 60. To do In addition, it is possible to communicate information indicating the liquid level by light, so that contact between the terminal fittings of the connector during communication between devices is unnecessary, and the discharge that occurs when the devices are connected so that they can communicate with each other is suppressed. it can.

  Further, since the light restricting magnet 45 is moved to the allowable position P1 or the restricting position P2 by the magnet float 47 that floats on the liquid level of the fuel F in the fuel tank 10 and moves up and down according to the liquid level height. It is possible to allow or restrict the progress of the light in the optical path portion 48 according to the liquid level, and to suppress unnecessary power consumption.

  Further, when the pulsed light from the light emitting unit 68 enters the entrance end 21a of the optical path unit 48, and the light received by the light receiving unit 69 has the same period as this pulsed light, it is determined that there is light reception, In other cases, it is determined that there is no light reception, and the fuel F supply speed by the fuel supply device 50 is controlled based on the determination of the presence or absence of light reception. It is possible to suppress erroneously determining that there is light reception when the light is received. Thereby, the supply of the fuel F can be stopped when the filling nozzle 73 is detached from the filling port 11 due to an operation error or the like.

  In the embodiment described above, the light emitting unit 64 emits pulsed light. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the light emitting unit 64 emits a constant amount of light with no periodic state change. It may be a thing. In this case, the conversion circuit of the light receiving unit 65, for example, has a voltage level (for example, 0V) indicating that light is received when the amount of received light is equal to or greater than a predetermined determination value, and no light is received when it is less than the determination value. The MPU 67 determines the light receiving state (light receiving presence / absence) based on the voltage level of the signal input to the input port PI.

  In the above-described embodiment, when the light received by the light receiving unit 69 has the same period as the pulsed light from the light emitting unit 68, it is determined that there is light reception, otherwise it is determined that there is no light reception, and When it is determined that there is no light reception, the supply speed of the fuel F is controlled to be gradually decreased. However, the present invention is not limited to this.

  For example, in the state where the pulse light is received by the light receiving unit 69, (1) when the light receiving unit 69 does not receive the light (the amount of received light is 0), the supply speed deceleration amount Ls is reached. As in the above, the supply speed of the fuel F is gradually decreased. (2) When light is received by the light receiving unit 69 (the amount of received light is not 0), the filling nozzle 73 is disengaged from the filling port 11, etc. It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which it is determined that the abnormal state is zero and the supply speed of the fuel F is immediately set to zero.

  That is, after the light reception determining means (CPU) determines that there is no light reception, it further determines that there is no light received by the light receiving unit (that is, when the amount of light received is 0), and determines that there is no normal light reception. When there is light received by (ie, when the amount of received light is not 0), it is configured to determine that no light is received when there is an abnormality, and when the supply speed control means (CPU) determines that light is received by the light reception determination means Then, the fuel supply speed by the fuel supply apparatus is controlled to be a predetermined maximum supply speed, and when it is determined that there is no light reception at the normal time, the fuel supply speed by the fuel supply apparatus is gradually decreased to zero speed. In this way, when it is determined that there is no light reception at the time of abnormality, the fuel supply speed by the fuel supply device may be controlled to be immediately set to zero.

  With such a configuration, when the supply speed deceleration amount Ls is reached by fuel supply (normal time), the supply speed can be gradually decreased to prevent the water hammer phenomenon and the like, and the supply nozzle If it is removed from the filling port and the light receiving unit receives light that does not match the period of the pulsed light, such as illumination light or sunlight (in the event of an abnormality), the fuel supply can be stopped immediately. , Can increase safety.

  Each of the above-described embodiments has described a fuel filling system for a vehicle that fills a fuel tank mounted on the vehicle with fuel, but is not limited thereto. For example, a fuel filling system that fills a fuel tank installed in a factory or home may be used, and a system to which the present invention is applied is arbitrary as long as the object of the present invention is not violated. In addition, the fuel to be filled is not limited to liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), for example, liquefied gas such as dimethyl ether (DME), liquid hydrogen, liquefied methane, fuel that becomes liquid at normal temperature and normal pressure (kerosene, gasoline, etc.), As long as the object of the present invention is not violated, the type is arbitrary.

  In addition, embodiment mentioned above only showed the typical form of this invention, and this invention is not limited to embodiment. That is, various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Fuel filling system 10 Fuel tank 20 Liquid quantity measuring device (liquid level height measuring device)
21 One fuel tank side optical cable 21a One end (inlet end of optical path part)
22 Other fuel tank side optical cable 22a One end (exit end of optical path)
30 Liquid Level Switch 31 Case 38 One Optical Cable Mounting Portion 39 Other Optical Cable Mounting Portion 41 First Light Guide Member 42 Second Light Guide Member 45 Light Restricting Magnet (Regulating Wall Portion)
46 Magnet movement space 47 Magnet float (float part)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 48 Optical path part 50 Fuel supply apparatus 60 Fuel supply control apparatus 61 One control apparatus side optical cable 62 Other control apparatus side optical cable 64 Light emission unit 65 Light reception unit 66 Supply speed control part 67 MPU (light reception determination means, supply speed control means)
68 Light emitter 69 Light receiver

Claims (2)

A fuel filling system for filling a fuel tank with liquid fuel,
A fuel supply device for supplying the fuel to the fuel tank;
An optical path portion that is routed to the fuel tank and guides light incident from an inlet end to an outlet end, a float portion that floats on the fuel in the fuel tank, and movement of the float portion, thereby the optical path A liquid level measuring device provided on the fuel tank side, including a permissible position that allows the light in the unit to travel and a regulation wall that is moved to a regulation position that regulates the travel of the light;
Based on whether or not light is received by the light receiving unit, a light receiving unit that receives light at the entrance end of the light path unit, a light receiving unit that receives light emitted from the exit end of the light path unit, and the light receiving unit The liquid level height measuring device and a separate fuel supply control device, comprising a supply speed control unit for controlling the supply rate of the fuel by the fuel supply device,
The light emitting unit is configured to emit periodic change light whose state periodically changes,
In the supply speed control unit,
A light-receiving determination unit that determines that light received by the light-receiving unit is received when the state changes in the same cycle as the period-changing light, and determines that no light is received otherwise;
A fuel supply system, comprising: a supply speed control means for controlling the fuel supply speed by the fuel supply device based on the determination of the presence or absence of light reception by the light reception determination means . A fuel filling system for filling a fuel tank with liquid fuel,
A fuel supply device for supplying the fuel to the fuel tank;
An optical path portion that is routed to the fuel tank and guides light incident from an inlet end to an outlet end, a float portion that floats on the fuel in the fuel tank, and movement of the float portion, thereby the optical path A liquid level measuring device provided on the fuel tank side, including a permissible position that allows the light in the unit to travel and a regulation wall that is moved to a regulation position that regulates the travel of the light;
Based on whether or not light is received by the light receiving unit, a light receiving unit that receives light at the entrance end of the light path unit, a light receiving unit that receives light emitted from the exit end of the light path unit, and the light receiving unit The liquid level height measuring device and a separate fuel supply control device, comprising a supply speed control unit for controlling the supply rate of the fuel by the fuel supply device,
The light path portion includes a first light guide member provided with a reflection surface that reflects light incident from an upper wall portion of the fuel tank in a left-right direction, and a space in the left-right direction from the first light guide member. And a second light guide member provided with a reflection surface that reflects light reflected by the first light guide member in an upward direction,
The fuel filling system , wherein a space between the first light guide member and the second light guide member is a restriction position of the restriction wall portion .

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