Fuel measuring system for engines and method of monitoring fuel flow

• US 4,061,024 A
• Filed: 03/22/1976
• Issued: 12/06/1977
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/1974
• 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): Myracle, Jerry W.
• Application Number:
  US05/668,663
• Time in Patent Office: 624 Days
• Field of Search: 73/113, 73/114, 73/119 A, 73/229, 73/198, 73/194 E
• US Class Current: 73/114.42
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 3/16 in stationary cylinders
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 9/023 with electric, electro-mechanic or electronic means

Abstract

Measuring systems arranged to measure fuel flow for fuel combustion devices of the type which recirculate unburned fuel back to the system. A measuring device has a movable member which actuates a magnetic pickup in an electric circuit. Indicating or recording devices, or both, are responsive to the magnetic pickup to indicate and record fuel flow through the measuring device. Structure for treatment of the unburned fuel may be employed. The invention includes methods for measuring fuel flow in a system where excess fuel not used in a zone of use is routed back to the zone of use.

Claims

1. A fuel measuring system arranged for use with an engine having fuel supply means and in which a portion of the fuel fed thereto is unburned and including a return line from the engine arranged to recirculate unburned fuel back to the engine, said fuel measuring system comprising measuring means having a movable member operated by an uninterrupted fuel supply, an electric circuit, magnetic pickup means in said circuit actuated by said movable member, and indicating means responsive to said pickup means totalizing the amount of fuel flowing through said measuring means.

2. A fuel measuring system arranged for use with an engine having fuel supply means and in which a portion of the fuel fed thereto is unburned and including a return line from the engine arranged to recirculate unburned fuel back to the engine, said fuel measuring system comprising measuring means having a movable member, an electric circuit, magnetic pickup means in said circuit actuated by said movable member, and recording means responsive to said pickup means recording a totalized amount of fuel flowing through said measuring means.

3. A fuel measuring system in combination with an engine, fuel supply means for said engine, said engine being of the type in which a portion of the fuel fed thereto is unburned, a return line from said engine arranged to recirculate unburned fuel back to the engine, treatment means having means for connection in said measuring system, measuring means having a movable member operated by an uninterrupted fuel supply, an electric circuit, magnetic pickup means in said circuit actuated by said movable member, and indicating means responsive to said pickup means totalizing the amount of fuel flowing through said measuring means.

4. A fuel measuring system in combination with an engine, fuel supply means for said engine, said engine being of the type in which a portion of the fuel fed thereto is unburned, a return line from said engine arranged to recirculate unburned fuel back to the engine, treatment means having means for connection in said measuring system, measuring means having a movable member, an electric circuit, magnetic pickup means in said circuit actuated by said movable member, and recording means responsive to said pickup means making a record of the totalized amount of fuel flowing through said measuring means.

5. A fuel measuring system in combination with an engine, fuel supply means for said engine, said engine being of the type in which a portion of the fuel fed thereto is unburned, a return line from said engine arranged to recirculate unburned fuel back to the engine, treatment means having means for connection in said measuring system, measuring means having a movable member, an electric circuit, magnetic pickup means in said circuit actuated by said movable member, and indicating means responsive to said pickup means indicating the rate of fuel flowing through said measuring means.

6. A fuel measuring system in combination with an engine, fuel supply means for said engine, said engine being of the type in which a portion of the fuel fed thereto in unburned, a return line from said engine arranged to recirculate unburned fuel back to the engine, treatment means having means for connection in said measuring system, measuring means having a movable member, an electric circuit, magnetic pickup means in said circuit actuated by said movable member, and recording means responsive to said pickup means making a record of the rate of fuel flowing through said measuring means.

7. A method for measuring fuel flow comprising:

providing a first stream of fuel for transmission to a zone of use of which the fuel transmitted thereto may be in excess of that which is used,

removing excess fuel not used in said zone,

routing said removed excess fuel through a treatment zone and back to said zone of use,

commingling said excess removed fuel with said first stream,

magnetically responding to an uninterrupted measured volume of fuel flowing in said first stream prior to the commingling of said first stream with said removed excess fuel,

and indicating such magnetic responses.

8. A method for measuring fuel flow comprising:

providing a first stream of fuel for transmission to a zone of use of which the fuel transmitted thereto may be in excess of that which is used,

removing excess fuel not used in said zone,

routing said removed excess fuel through a treatment zone and back to said zone of use,

commingling said excess removed fuel with said first stream,

magnetically responding to the measured volume of fuel flowing in said first stream along said stream prior to the commingling of said first stream with said removed excess fuel,

and making a record of such magnetic responses.