Method and apparatus for accurately delivering a predetermined amount of fuel to a vehicle

• US 20070193650A1
• Filed: 02/22/2006
• Published: 08/23/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Annati, Richard
• Granted Patent: US 7,469,725 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 141/83
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/00 Arrangement in connection with fuel supply of combustion engines or other fuel consuming energy converters, e.g. fuel cells; Mounting or construction of fuel tanks tanks in general B65D, F17C; supplying combustion engines with combustible mixtures or constituents F02M
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/04 Tank inlets B60K15/077 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/03361 for checking the quality or quantity of fuel during filling of fuel tank
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/0007 for discrete indicating and measuring G01F23/02 - G01F23/28 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/003 with a probe suspended by rotatable arms with floats G01F23/32
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7413 Level adjustment or selection means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7485 Pivoted valve

Abstract

A system for accurately measuring and delivering a predetermined amount of fuel to a vehicle for a specified mission. This system rapidly refuels vehicles to a specific wet vehicle weight. The fuel loading value is determined based upon an algorithm, which accounts for interactions of mission duration, and/or mission payload weight, and/or mission environmental effects. The fuel loading is accomplished by using one or more measuring tubes with a floating valve, which precludes the continued flow of fuel into the tank when the predetermined amount of fuel is delivered. The measuring tubes can be of specific lengths each corresponding to an output of the algorithm or a single telescoping tube that enables varying the length of the tube. Each unique tube length corresponding to a unique output of the algorithm. An alternative system comprises different sized fuel bladders. These systems enable a rapid foolproof method of refueling.

Claims

1. An apparatus for providing a precise amount of fuel to a vehicle, the precise amount of fuel comprising a plurality of predetermined factors, the apparatus comprising:

a computing apparatus for calculating the precise amount of fuel based on the plurality of predetermined factors; and

at least one sized tube comprising the precise amount of fuel.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said plurality of predetermined factors comprises environmental conditions, payload weight, mission duration and fuel tank geometry.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said at least one sized tube comprises a plurality of different sized tubes.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein each tube of the plurality of different sized tube comprises a length wherein the fuel enters a bottom of said each tube when the precise amount of fuel is achieved.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said at least one sized tube comprises a telescoping tube.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said telescoping tube comprises a telescoped length wherein the fuel enters a bottom of said telescoped tube when the precise amount of fuel is achieved.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said at least one sized tube comprises a series of interlocking tubes.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein each tube of said series of interlocking tubes comprises a length wherein the fuel enters a bottom of said each tube when the precise amount of fuel is achieved.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said at least one sized tube comprises a plurality of different sized fuel filled bladders.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a float valve affixed to a bottom of the at least one sized tube.

15. The method of claim 1.1 wherein the tube comprises a fuel filled bladder.

11. A method of fueling a vehicle with a precise amount of fuel, the precise amount of fuel comprising a plurality of predetermined factors, the method comprising the steps of:

a) calculating the precise amount of fuel base on the plurality of predetermined factors;

b) selecting a tube corresponding the calculated precise amount of fuel; and

c) fueling the vehicle with the precise amount of fuel via the selected tube.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the plurality of predetermined factors comprises environmental conditions, payload weight, mission duration and fuel tank geometry.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the tube comprises a specific length.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein the step of selecting a tube comprises telescoping the tube to a predetermined telescoping length.

16. The method of claim 11 wherein the step of fueling comprises stopping a flow of fuel when the fuel enters a bottom of the tube.

17. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of stopping a flow of the fuel with a floating valve.