FUEL MEASURING SYSTEM FOR VEHICLES

• US 3,750,463 A
• Filed: 07/10/1970
• Issued: 08/07/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Curtis L. Erwin Jr
• Original Assignee: Curtis L. Erwin Jr
• Inventors: Erwin, Curtis L. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Queisser, Richard C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Korkosz, Arthur E.
• Application Number:
  US05/053,970
• Time in Patent Office: 1,124 Days
• Field of Search: 73/113,112
• US Class Current: 73/114.52
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/00 Measuring the volume flow or mass flow of fluid or fluent solid material wherein the fluid passes through a meter in a continuous flow measuring a proportion of the volume flow G01F5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 15/08 Air or gas separators in combination with liquid meters; Liquid separators in combination with gas-meters
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 9/00 Measuring volume flow relative to another variable, e.g. of liquid fuel for an engine

Abstract

The fuel measuring system of the invention is intended for use with a vehicle of the type wherein its fuel mixing device returns unburned fuel to the fuel supply. Such system includes an air bubble eliminator and further includes a fuel by-pass provided with a meter. A valve is included in the system which has two positions a first one of which provides normal flow of fuel to the fuel mixing device and a second one of which provides flow through the by-pass to measure the flow. The valve is operably connected to the emergency brake or a power take-off so that it is moved to its second position when the emergency brake or power take-off is activated. Also included in the system is a second meter arranged to measure total flow of fuel from the fuel tank of the vehicle. The valve and the meter associated with the bypass are preferably incorporated in a single compact housing.

Claims

1. A fuel measuring system for vehicles adapted for metering fuel consumed by said vehicle only at selected times, the vehicle being of the type having a fuel tank, a fuel mixing device, a fuel line extending between the fuel tank, and the fuel mixing device, the fuel mixing device being of the type arranged to discharge unused fuel so that such unused fuel can be returned for burning, a fuel return line extending from the fuel mixing device, and shiftable vehicle operating means, said fuel measuring system comprising a. by-pass means arranged to be connected to the fuel line for by-passing fuel from the fuel tank around a portion of the fuel line, b. flow measuring means in said by-pass means, c. means arranged to connect the fuel return line to the fuel line on the downstream side of said flow measuring means from the fuel tank whereby the return flow is unmetered, d. means arranged to be connected in one of the vehicle fuel line and fuel return line to remove air bubbles from fuel returned through the fuel return line, e. and valve means at the juncture of the fuel line and said bypass means arranged to be operably connected to the shiftable vehicle operating control means, f. said valve means having a pair of positions the first of which provides normal flow of fuel from the tank to the fuel mixing device and the second of which provides flow through said by-pass means to measure said flow.

2. The fuel measuring system of claim 1 wherein said means for removing bubbles comprises a. a tank, b. inlet means for the fuel return line connected to said tank, c. bubble removing means in said tank extending angularly relative to said inlet means whereby returned fuel impinges against said bubble removing means to remove air bubbles, d. outlet means for the fuel return line connected to said tank, e. and means in said tank maintaining a liquid level therein to provide non-influenced operation of the outlet means by the inlet means.

3. The fuel measuring system of claim 1 wherein said means for removing bubbles is connected into the fuel return line.

4. The fuel measuring system of claim 1 wherein said means for removing bubbles comprises a. a tank, b. inlet means for the fuel return line connected to said tank adjacent the upper end of the latter, c. baffle means angularly mounted in said tank and disposed below said inlet means whereby returned fuel falls on said angled baffle means to remove air bubbles, d. and outlet means for the fuel return line connected to said tank adjacent the lower end thereof.

5. The fuel measuring system of claim 1 wherein said means for removing bubbles comprises a. a tank, b. inlet means for the fuel return line connected to said tank adjacent the upper end of the latter, c. baffle means in said tank disposed below said inlet means whereby returned fuel falls on said baffle means to remove air bubbles, d. means defining an outlet opening for the fuel return line adjacent the lower end of said tank, e. and a float operated valve in said tank arranged to control the outlet flow of fuel from the outlet opening of said tank.

6. The fuel measuring system of claim 1 including second flow measuring means operably connected in the fuel line and arranged to meter fuel discharged from said fuel tank.

7. The fuel measuring system of claim 1 including a. a housing enclosing said valve means and said flow measuring means, b. means defining interior passageways in said housing leading between said valve means and said flow measuring means and to the exterior of said housing for connection to the fuel line, c. said by-pass means being disposed within said housing.

8. The fuel measuring system of claim 1 including a. a housing enclosing said valve means and said flow measuring means, b. means in said housing defining a first passageway leading from said valve to said flow measuring means and from said flow measuring means to said fuel line, c. means in said housing defining a second passageway leading from said valve to said fuel line, d. said valve means including a valve stem in said housing movable between two said two positions whereby to direct the flow of fuel through one or the other of said first and second passageways, e. and connecting means for connecting said housing to said fuel line, said fuel return line, and to said shiftable vehicle operating means.

9. The fuel measuring system of claim 1 including a. a housing enclosing said valve means and said flow measuring means, b. said valve means including a valve stem in said housing movable between said two positions, c. means in said housing defining a hollow portion for receiving said stem, d. said hollow portion being of greater diameter than said stem to permit fuel to flow therethrough, e. means on said valve stem controlling the direction of flow of fuel through said hollow portion, f. means defining a first passageway leading from the exterior of said housing to said hollow portion and arranged for connection to the fuel line from the fuel tank, g. means defining a second passageway leading from one end of said hollow portion to said meter, h. means defining a third passageway leading from the other end of said hollow portion to the exterior of said housing and arranged for connection to the fuel line extending to the fuel mixing device, i. and means defining a fourth passageway leading from said flow measuring means to said third passageway, j. one position of the valve stem comprising the first position of the valve means wherein fuel flows through said first passageway to said hollow portion and out said third passageway and the other position of the valve stem comprising the second position of the valve means wherein fuel flows through said first passageway to said hollow portion and out said second passageway to said meter.

10. The fuel measuring system of claim 11 wherein said means for removing bubbles comprises a. a tank, b. inlet means for said fuel return line connected to said tank, c. bubble removing means in said tank extending angularly relative to said inlet means whereby returned fuel impinges against said bubble removing means to remove air bubbles;

d. and outlet means for said fuel return line connected to said tank.