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System and method for measuring the rate of fuel comsumption of an internal combustion engine

  • US 5,445,018 A
  • Filed: 01/27/1994
  • Issued: 08/29/1995
  • Est. Priority Date: 01/27/1994
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. The method for deriving a value for the consumption of fuel by an internal combustion engine operated with fuel from a fuel tank having a given tank pressure, said engine having a fuel injection assembly with a fuel supply pump having a suction input and a discharge output, said discharge output being coupled in fuel supply and cooling relationship with fuel injectors and said assembly having a return conduit carrying return fuel from said injectors, comprising the steps of:

  • providing a fuel supply conduit between said fuel tank and said pump suction input, said supply conduit carrying make-up fuel from said fuel tank;

    providing a fuel combiner at a combiner location within said fuel supply conduit;

    providing a gas phase separator having an input and a fuel output coupled to convey fuel to said fuel combiner;

    directing return fuel from said return conduit to said gas phase separator;

    removing non-condensible gases from said return fuel at said gas phase separator;

    venting said removed non-condensible gases from said gas phase separator into said fuel tank to effect a substantial equalization of pressures therebetween;

    directing said return fuel from said gas phase separator output to said fuel combiner to combine said return fuel with said make-up fuel; and

    measuring the rate of flow of said make-up fuel at a measurement location within said fuel supply conduit intermediate said combiner location and said fuel tank.

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