Description:Complete Specification

The following specification describes and ascertains the nature of this invention and the manner in which it is to be performed.
Field of the invention
[0001] This invention relates to a method to detect impending hydrogen vehicle crash, and more specifically to the method for detecting impending vehicle crash and shutting off a supply of hydrogen gas from a plurality of hydrogen tanks to a hydrogen engine of the hydrogen vehicle in consequence thereof.

Background of the invention
[0002] CN 110435585 A describes a hydrogen-energy automobile steering wheel and a safety gasbag assembly, and belongs to the technical field of automobiles. The assembly comprises a circular ring shaped safety gasbag cover and a steering wheel, wherein a steering wheel foaming body layer, a circular ring shaped safety gasbag cover layer and a leather coating layer sequentially surround a framework main body of the steering wheel through a suture sewing way. The circular ring shaped safety gasbag cover communicates with a hydrogen gas source through a hydrogen gas charging pipeline. After a car has crashed, the circular ring shaped safety gasbag cover is filled with hydrogen gas, breaks through the leather coating layer on the steering wheel and is expanded to form a circular ring shaped safety gasbag. The safety gasbag assembly is suitable for a hydrogen-energy automobile. The circular ring belt shaped safety gasbag cover filled with hydrogen gas is formed by directly packaging the steering wheel, and a gas generator for sparking off is not needed. The hydrogen-energy automobile steering wheel has the advantages of light weight and a small size.

Brief description of the accompanying drawing
[0003] Figure 1 illustrates a method for detecting impending vehicle crash and shutting off a supply of hydrogen gas from a plurality of hydrogen tanks of a hydrogen engine in consequence thereof in one embodiment of the invention.

Detailed description of the embodiments
[0004] Figure 1 illustrates a method 100 for detecting impending vehicle crash and shutting off a supply of hydrogen from a plurality of hydrogen tanks to a hydrogen engine. The method 100 comprises determining 110 a yaw rate of a vehicle by means of a yaw rate sensor, and determining 120 a position of a steering wheel of the vehicle by means of a steering wheel position sensor. The method 100 further comprises comparing 430 a signal from the yaw rate sensor that is indicative of the yaw rate of the vehicle with a signal from the steering wheel position sensor that is indicative of the position of the steering wheel of the vehicle, and initiating 140 no action if the compared signal from the yaw rate sensor and the steering wheel position sensor is indicative of a normal driving pattern.

[0005] Figure 1 illustrates a method 100 for detecting impending vehicle crash and shutting off a supply of hydrogen from a plurality of hydrogen tanks to a hydrogen engine. The method 100 comprises determining 110 a yaw rate of a vehicle by means of a yaw rate sensor. More specifically, the yaw rate sensor that is positioned in the vehicle determines the yaw rate and transmits this yaw rate to an electronic control unit. Therein, a position of a steering wheel of the vehicle is determined 120 by means of a steering wheel position sensor. More specifically, the steering wheel position sensor that is positioned in the vehicle determines the steering wheel position and transmits the steering wheel position to the electronic control unit. The method 100 for detecting impending vehicle crash and shutting off the supply of hydrogen from the plurality of hydrogen tanks to the hydrogen engine further comprises comparing 130 a signal from the yaw rate sensor that is indicative of the yaw rate of the vehicle with a signal from the steering wheel position sensor that is indicative of the position of the steering wheel of the vehicle. If a normal driving pattern is detected based on the compared signal from the yaw rate sensor and the steering wheel position sensor, then no action is initiated by the electronic control unit.
[0006] The method 100 for detecting impending vehicle crash and shutting off a supply of hydrogen gas from a plurality of hydrogen tanks to a hydrogen engine further comprises initiating 150 shutting off the supply of hydrogen gas from the plurality of hydrogen tanks to the hydrogen engine if a deviation of the yaw rate sensor and the steering wheel position sensor is beyond the normal driving pattern. In addition, if the brake pedal sensor is in an on position, and if the accelerator pedal sensor is in an off position, the electronic control unit determines that the vehicle is potentially heading for a crash. Therein, under the circumstances, the electronic control unit transmits a signal to a respective actuator/plurality of actuators for initiating 150 shutting off the supply of hydrogen gas from the plurality of hydrogen tanks of the hydrogen vehicle to the hydrogen engine.

[0007] In an exemplary embodiment, the method 100 for detecting impending vehicle crash and shutting off the supply of hydrogen gas from a plurality of hydrogen tanks to a hydrogen engine comprises determining 160 the yaw rate of the vehicle by means of the yaw rate sensor. More specifically, the yaw rate sensor that is positioned in the vehicle determines the yaw rate and transmits this yaw rate to an electronic control unit. Therein, a position of a steering wheel of the vehicle is determined by means of a steering wheel position sensor 170. More specifically, the steering wheel position sensor that is positioned in the vehicle determines the position of the steering wheel and transmits the position of the steering wheel to the electronic control unit.

[0008] The method 100 for detecting impending vehicle crash and shutting off the supply of hydrogen from the plurality of hydrogen tanks to the hydrogen engine further comprises comparing 180 a signal from the yaw rate sensor that is indicative of the yaw rate of the vehicle with a signal from the steering wheel position sensor that is indicative of the position of the steering wheel of the vehicle. If the brake pedal sensor is in an off position, if the accelerator pedal sensor is in an on position, and if the deviation of the yaw rate sensor and the steering wheel position sensor is within the normal pattern, the electronic control unit opens 190 the supply of hydrogen from the plurality of hydrogen tanks to the hydrogen engine.

[0009] In addition, the acceleration sensor gives information if a crash has happened or if the acceleration is greater than a threshold. This information is inputted into the electronic control unit from the acceleration sensor. The electronic control unit then transmits a signal to shut off the hydrogen tank valves that supply hydrogen to the hydrogen engine.

[0010] It must be understood that the embodiments explained above are only illustrative and do not limit the scope of the disclosure. Many modifications in the embodiments with regard to dimensions of various components are envisaged and form a part of this invention. The scope of the invention is only limited by the scope of the claims.
, Claims:We Claim

1. A method (100) for detecting impending vehicle crash and shutting off a supply of hydrogen from a plurality of hydrogen tanks to a hydrogen engine, the method (100) comprising:
determining (110) a yaw rate of a vehicle by means of a yaw rate sensor;
determining (120) a position of a steering wheel of the vehicle by means of a steering wheel position sensor;
comparing (130) a signal from the yaw rate sensor that is indicative of the yaw rate of the vehicle with a signal from the steering wheel position sensor that is indicative of the position of the steering wheel of the vehicle; and
initiating (140) no action if the compared signal from the yaw rate sensor and the steering wheel position sensor is indicative of a normal driving pattern.

2. The method (100) for detecting impending vehicle crash and shutting off a supply of hydrogen gas from a plurality of hydrogen tanks to a hydrogen engine further comprising initiating (150) shutting off the supply of hydrogen from the plurality of hydrogen tanks to the hydrogen engine if a deviation of the yaw rate sensor and the steering wheel position sensor is beyond the normal driving pattern, if the brake pedal sensor is in an on position, and if the accelerator pedal sensor is in an off position.

3. The method (100) for detecting impending vehicle crash and shutting off a supply of hydrogen from a plurality of hydrogen tanks to a hydrogen engine, further comprising;
determining (160) the yaw rate of the vehicle by means of the yaw rate sensor;
determining (170) the position of a steering wheel of the vehicle by means of a steering wheel position sensor;
comparing (180) the signal from the yaw rate sensor that is indicative of the yaw rate of the vehicle with the signal from the steering wheel position sensor that is indicative of the position of the steering wheel of the vehicle; and
opening (190) the supply of hydrogen from the plurality of hydrogen tanks to the hydrogen engine if the deviation of the yaw rate sensor and the steering wheel position sensor is within the normal pattern, if the brake pedal sensor is in an off position, and if the accelerator pedal sensor is in an on position.