Non-intrusive fluid measuring system
First Claim
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1. A fluid meter system with a fluid tank for use in fluid measurements such as consumed fluid, remained fluid, or flow rate comprising:
- (a) a capacitive probe including first and second electrodes, means for securing said electrodes in a spaced-apart relationship and means for securing said electrodes in said fluid tank,(b) circuit means electrically connected to said first and second electrodes for providing signal pulses representative of the capacitance of said probe,(c) microprocessor means for receiving and processing said signal pulses including;
(i) program memory storage means,(ii) data memory storage means,(iii) a central processing unit operable in accordance with a program of said program memory storage means for calculating from said received signal pulses data signals corresponding to said fluid measurements, and(iv) means for storing said fluid measurements in said data storage means, and(d) means for outputting said stored data signals for providing an indication of same.
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Abstract
A non-intrusive fuel measuring system particularly adapted for use in fuel tanks of diesel engines. The fuel measuring device may be utilized for measuring fuel level, fuel consumed, fuel flow rate, mass flow rate and other parameters. The fuel device comprises a capacitive probe, digital interface circuit means and data processing means. The capacitive probe is mounted within a conventional fuel gauge port of the fuel tank and does not interfere with normal flows of the recirculating diesel fuel.
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Citations
34 Claims
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1. A fluid meter system with a fluid tank for use in fluid measurements such as consumed fluid, remained fluid, or flow rate comprising:
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(a) a capacitive probe including first and second electrodes, means for securing said electrodes in a spaced-apart relationship and means for securing said electrodes in said fluid tank, (b) circuit means electrically connected to said first and second electrodes for providing signal pulses representative of the capacitance of said probe, (c) microprocessor means for receiving and processing said signal pulses including; (i) program memory storage means, (ii) data memory storage means, (iii) a central processing unit operable in accordance with a program of said program memory storage means for calculating from said received signal pulses data signals corresponding to said fluid measurements, and (iv) means for storing said fluid measurements in said data storage means, and (d) means for outputting said stored data signals for providing an indication of same. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A non-intrusive fuel measuring device for use with a fuel tank of a vehicle comprising:
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(a) a capacitive probe including; (i) first and second concentrically mounted electrodes, (ii) means for securing said first and second electrodes in spaced-apart relationship, (iii) mounting means for securing said probe to said tank and for positioning said first and second electrodes in the interior of said tank for immersion in said fuel, (b) digital interface circuit means secured and electrically connected to said probe for generating digital signals representative of the capacitive value between said first and second electrodes, (c) data processing means positioned remote from said tank and near an operator compartment of said vehicle for receiving said digital signals, said data processing means including; (i) program memory storage means, (ii) data memory storage means, (iii) computing means connected to said program memory storage means and said data memory storage means for calculating from said digital signals the amount of fuel in said tank, and (iv) said data memory storage means storing data signals corresponding to the amount of fuel, and (d) means for outputting said data signals whereby the amount of fuel may be indicated. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A fuel measuring device for use with a fuel tank of a recirculating fuel diesel engine vehicle, said fuel tank having a fuel gauge port, said device comprising:
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(a) a capacitive probe having first and second electrodes spaced-apart for receiving fuel therebetween, (b) means for mounting said probe to said fuel gauge port for immersion of said electrodes in fuel of said fuel tank, (c) circuit means electrically connected to said electrodes for providing signal pulses representative of the capacitive value of said probe, (d) means for securing said circuit means to a portion of said mounting means and exterior to said tank, (e) processing means connected to receive said signal pulses and operable under program control to store data signals indicative of the amount of fuel in said tank, and (f) means for providing an output of said stored data signals whereby the amount of fuel may be indicated. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A fuel flow rate measuring device for use with a fuel tank of a recirculating fuel diesel engine vehicle, said fuel tank having a fuel gauge port, said device comprising:
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(a) a capacitive probe having first and second electrodes spaced-apart for receiving fuel therebetween, (b) means for mounting said probe to said fuel gauge port for immersion of said electrodes in fuel of said fuel tank, (c) circuit means electrically connected to said electrodes for providing signal pulses representative of the capacitive value of said probe, (d) means for securing said circuit means to a portion of said mounting means and exterior to said tank, (e) processing means connected to receive said signal pulses and operable under program control to store data signals indicative of the net fuel flow rate from said tank, and (f) means for providing an output of said stored data signals whereby the fuel flow rate may be indicated.
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34. A non-intrusive capacitive-type fuel measuring device for use with a diesel fuel tank of a diesel engine vehicle, said diesel fuel having a temperature coefficient of volume expansion substantially equal and opposite to its temperature coefficient of dielectric constant thereby enabling substantial temperature independent capacitive measurements by said device, said device comprising:
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(a) a capacitive probe including; (i) first and second concentrically mounted electrodes, (ii) means for securing said first and second electrodes in spaced-apart relationship, (iii) mounting means for securing said probe to said tank and for positioning said first and second electrodes in the interior of said tank for immersion in said fuel, (b) digital interface circuit means secured and electrically connected to said probe for generating digital signals representative of the capacitive value of said first and second electrodes, (c) data processing means positioned remote from said tank and near an operator compartment of said vehicle for receiving said digital signals, said data processing means including; (i) program memory storage means, (ii) data memory storage means, (iii) computing means connected to said program memory storage means and said data memory storage means for calculating from said digital signals the amount of fuel in said tank, and (iv) said data memory storage means storing data signals corresponding to the amount of fuel, and (d) means for outputting said data signals whereby the amount of fuel may be indicated.
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Specification