Method for determining the amount of an operating medium in a motor vehicle

US7013225B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Daimlerchrysler AG · US

Inventors

• Thomas Guertler · Stuttgart, DE
• Hartwig Hellwig · Stuttgart, DE
• Klaus Land · Neckargemünd, DE
• Harald C. Ott · Wenham, US
• Martin Riedel · Leverkusen, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 22, 2001
• Grant date: Mar 14, 2006
• Expiry date: Apr 22, 2022

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01F23/804
• WIPO field: Engines, pumps, turbines
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for determining the fill quantity of an operating medium, in particular of the engine oil in a motor vehicle having a reservoir container of the operating medium and having a data processing device for determining the fill quantity of the operating medium. A fill level sensor for sensing the fill level is arranged in the reservoir container for the operating medium. In order to determine the fill level of the operating medium, operating states of the vehicle such as the temperature of the operating medium and the engine speed are also sensed. According to the invention, a characteristic variable for the engine load, for example the position of the accelerator pedal, the throttle valve position or the torque on the drive train are sensed. The fill quantity of the operating medium is determined from the sensed data by a data processing device.