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Fuel gauge for an automotive vehicle

  • US 4,531,407 A
  • Filed: 12/19/1983
  • Issued: 07/30/1985
  • Est. Priority Date: 10/16/1980
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A fuel gauge for an automotive vehicle, comprising:

  • (a) a tank containing fuel;

    (b) first and second conductive elements forming a capacitor, the first and second conductive elements being so arranged as to form therebetween a gap to be insulated from each other, the capacitor being located within the fuel tank so as to admit fuel into the gap thereof, whereby the capacitance of the capacitor varies with the position of the surface of the fuel, the gap of the capacitor being of a predetermined size allowing water droplets to fall out of the gap within a predetermined time period; and

    (c) a structural means for reducing inaccuracies in fuel measurement due to temporary presence of water droplets within said gap of said capacitor, includingtiming means comprising an arrangement of said conductive elements and the gap therebetween for defining said time period for a water droplet to pass through said gap, anda measuring means electrically connected to the capacitor for determining a time-averaged capacitance of the capacitor over a time duration in excess of said time period, thereby to reduce effects of a temporary presence of water droplets within said gap.

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