Fuel measuring system for engines

• US 4,079,623 A
• Filed: 04/12/1976
• Issued: 03/21/1978
• 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:
  US05/675,753
• Time in Patent Office: 708 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

A volumetric measuring device arranged for use with a fuel system for engines of the type which return unburned fuel. The measuring device has a movable measuring member. An electric sensor in an electric circuit senses movement of the movable member. Indicating or recording devices, or both, are responsive to the electric sensor to indicate and record fuel flow through the measuring device. One system of the invention utilizes two measuring devices to provide a differential in output of the electric sensors for accurate measurement. Structure for treatment of the fuel may be employed with the system for cooling, removing bubbles, or the like. An alternative structure for sensing movements of the movable member comprises a magnetic pickup. Another concept of the invention conducts fuel from the measuring device, which may or may not be volumetric, to the engine in bypassing relation to the structure for treating the fuel. In further concepts of the invention, the movable member of the measuring device is operated by the simultaneous admission and discharge of fuel, and the measuring device is connected prior to the combining of the recirculated fuel and a fuel supply for the engine.

Claims

1. A fuel measuring system arranged for use with an engine of the type 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 return fuel back to the fuel supply means, said fuel measuring system comprising volumetric measuring means having means for connection in the fuel supply means of an engine and arranged to measure fuel supplied to the engine, volumetric measuring means having means for connection in a return line of an engine and arranged to measure return fuel flow in the return line, each of said measuring means having a movable member arranged to be operated by the flow of fuel, an electric circuit, electric sensor means in said circuit for each measuring means sensing movements of said movable members, each of said sensor means having a fuel flow measurement output, means responsive to said two sensor means outputs determining an output which comprises the differential in output of said two measuring means, and indicating means totalizing said differential of fuel flowing through said measuring means.

2. The fuel measuring system of claim 1 including bubble removing means having means for connection in at least one of the fuel supply means and the return line.

3. The fuel measuring system of claim 1 wherein said electric sensor means comprises magnetically responsive sensor means.

5. The fuel measuring system of claim 1 including bubble removing means having means for connection in at least one of the fuel supply means and the return line.

4. A fuel measuring system arranged for use with an engine of the type 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 return fuel back to the fuel supply means, said fuel measuring system comprising volumetric measuring means having means for connection in the fuel supply means of an engine and arranged to measure fuel supplied to the engine, volumetric measuring means having means for connection in a return line of an engine and arranged to measure return fuel flow in the return line, each of said measuring means having a movable member arranged to be operated by the flow of fuel, an electric circuit, electric sensor means in said circuit for each measuring means sensing movements of said movable members, each of said sensor means having a fuel flow measurement output, means responsive to said two sensor means outputs determining an output which comprises the differential in output of said two measuring means, and recording means recording said differential of fuel flowing through said measuring means.

6. The fuel measuring system of claim 4 wherein said electric sensor means comprises magnetically responsive sensor means.

7. A fuel measuring system arranged for use with an engine of the type having fuel supply means and in which a portion of the fuel fed thereto is unburned and including a return line from the engine to return fuel back to the fuel supply means, said fuel measuring system comprising volumetric measuring means having means for connection in the fuel supply means of an engine and arranged to measure fuel supplied to the engine, volumetic measuring means having means for connection in a return line of an engine and arranged to measure return fuel flow in the return line, each of said measuring means having a movable member arranged to be operated by the flow of fuel, an electric circuit, electric sensor means in said circuit for each measuring means sensing movements of said movable members, each of said sensor means having a fuel flow measurement output, means responsive to said two sensor means outputs determining an output which comprises the differential in output of said two measuring means, and indicating means indicating the rate of said differential of fuel flowing through said measuring means.

8. The fuel measuring system of claim 7 including bubble removing means having means for connection in at least one of the fuel supply means and the return line.

9. The fuel measuring system of claim 7 wherein said electric sensor means comprises magnetically responsive sensor means.

10. A fuel measuring system arranged for use with an engine of the type 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 return fuel back to the fuel supply means, said fuel measuring system comprising volumetric measuring means having means for connection in the fuel supply means of an engine and arranged to measure fuel supplied to the engine, volumetric measuring means having means for connection in a return line of an engine and arranged to measure return fuel flow in the return line, each of said measuring means having a movable member arranged to be operated by the flow of fuel, an electric circuit, electric sensor means in said circuit for each measuring means sensing movements of said movable members, each of said sensor means having a fuel flow measurement output, means responsive to said two sensor means outputs determining an output which comprises the differential in output of said two measuring means, and recording means recording the rate of said differential of fuel flowing through said measuring means.

11. The fuel measuring system of claim 10 including bubble removing means having means for connection in at least one of the full supply means and the return line.

12. The fuel measuring system of claim 10 wherein said electric sensor means comprises magnetically responsive sensor means.

13. 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 volumetric measuring means having a measuring member operated by the simultaneous admission and discharge of fuel, said measuring means having means for connection prior to the combining of the recirculated fuel and the fuel supply means, an electric circuit, electric sensor means in said circuit sensing movements of said movable member, indicating means responsive to said sensor means totalizing the amount of fuel flowing through said measuring means, and cooling means having means for connection in said fuel measuring system.

14. The fuel measuring system of claim 13 wherein said electric sensor means comprises magnetically responsive sensor means.

15. 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 volumetric measuring means having a movable measuring member operated by the simultaneous admission and discharge of fuel, said measuring means having means for connection prior to the combining of the recirculated fuel and the fuel supply means, an circuit, electric sensor means in said circuit sensing movements of said movable member, indicating means responsive to said sensor means totalizing the amount of fuel flowing through said measuring means, and bubble removing means having means for connection in said fuel measuring system.

16. The fuel measuring system of claim 15 wherein said electric sensor means comprises magnetically responsive sensor means.

17. A fuel measuring system arranged for use with an engine having fuel supply means and in which a portion of the fuel fed thereto to is unburned and including a return line from the engine arranged to recirculate unburned fuel back to the engine, said fuel measuring system comprising volumetric measuring means having a movable measuring member operated by the simultaneous admission and discharge of fuel, said measuring means having means for connection prior to the combining of the recirculated fuel and the fuel supply means, an electric circuit, electric sensor means in said circuit sensing movements of said movable member, recording means responsive to said sensor means recording to totalized amount of fuel flowing through said measuring means, and cooling means having means for connection in said fuel measuring system.

18. The fuel measuring system of claim 17 wherein said electric sensor means comprises magnetically responsive sensor means.

19. 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 volumetric measuring means having a movable measuring member operated by the simultaneous admission and discharge of fuel, said measuring means having means for connection prior to the combining of the recirculated fuel and the fuel supply means, an electric circuit, electric sensor means in said circuit sensing movements of said movable member, recording means responsive to said sensor means recording a totalized amount of fuel flowing through said measuring means, and bubble removing means having means for connection in said fuel measuring system.

20. The fuel measuring system of claim 19 wherein said electric sensor means comprises magnetically responsive sensor means.

21. 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 volumetric measuring means having a movable measuring member operated by the simultaneous admission and discharge of fuel, said measuring means having means for connection prior to the combining of the recirculated fuel and the fuel supply means, an electric circuit, electric sensor means in said circuit sensing movements of said movable member, indicating means responsive to said sensor means indicating the rate of fuel flowing through said measuring means, and cooling means having means for connection in said fuel measuring system.

22. The fuel measuring system of claim 21 wherein said electric sensor means comprises magnetically responsive sensor means.

23. 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 volumetric measuring means having a movable measuring member operated by the simultaneous admission and discharge of fuel, said measuring means having means for connection prior to the combining of the recirculated fuel and the fuel supply means, an electric circuit, electric sensor means in said circuit sensing movements of said movable member, indicating means responsive to said sensor means indicating the rate of fuel flowing through said measuring means, and bubble removing means having means for connection in said fuel measuring system.

24. The fuel measuring system of claim 23 wherein said electric sensor means comprises magnetically responsive sensor means.

25. 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 volumetric measuring means having a movable measuring member operated by the simultaneous admission and discharge of fuel, said measuring means having means for connection prior to the combining of the recirculated fuel and the fuel supply means, an electric circuit, electric sensor means in said circuit sensing movements of said movable member, recording means responsive to said sensor means recording to rate of fuel flowing through said measuring means, and cooling means having means for connection in said fuel measuring system.

26. The fuel measuring system of claim 25 wherein said electric sensor means comprises magnetically responsive sensor means.

27. 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 volumetric measuring means having a movable measuring member operated by the simultaneous admission and discharge of fuel, said measuring means having means for connection prior to the combining of the recirculated fuel and the fuel supply means, an electric circuit, electric sensor means in said circuit sensing movements of said movable member, recording means responsive to said sensor means recording the rate of fuel flowing through said measuring means, and bubble removing means having means for connection in said fuel measuring system.

28. The fuel measuring system of claim 27 wherein said electric sensor means comprises magnetically responsive sensor means.

29. 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 treatment means having means for connection in said fuel measuring system, measuring means having a movable member, fuel line means for conducting fuel from said measuring means to the engine in bypassing relation to said treatment means, an electric circuit, electric sensor means in said circuit sensing movements of said movable member, and indicating means responsive to said sensor means totalizing the amount of fuel flowing through said measuring means.

30. The fuel measuring system of claim 29 wherein said electric sensor means comprises magnetically responsive sensor means.

31. 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 treatment means having means for connection in said fuel measuring system, measuring means having a movable member, fuel line means for conducting fuel from said measuring means to the engine in bypassing relation to said treatment means, an electric circuit, electric sensor means in said circuit sensing movements of said movable member, and recording means responsive to said sensor means recording a totalized amount of fuel flowing through said measuring means.

32. The fuel measuring system of claim 31 wherein said electric sensor means comprises magnetically responsive sensor means.

33. 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 treatment means having means for connection in said fuel measuring system, measuring means having a movable member, fuel line means for conducting fuel from said measuring means to the engine in bypassing relation to said treatment means, an electric circuit, electric sensor means in said circuit sensing movements of said movable member, and indicating means responsive to said sensor means indicating the rate of fuel flowing through said measuring means.

34. The fuel measuring system of claim 33 wherein said electric sensor means comprises magnetically responsive sensor means.

35. 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 treatment means having means for connection in said fuel measuring system, measuring means having a movable member, fuel line means for conducting fuel from said measuring means to the engine in bypassing relation to said treatment means, an electric circuit, electric sensor means in said circuit sensing movements of said movable member, and recording means responsive to said sensor means recording the rate of fuel flowing through said measuring means.

36. The fuel measuring system of claim 35 wherein said electric sensor means comprises magnetically responsive sensor means.