Fuel level variation detector for marine vehicle

• US 7,135,981 B1
• Filed: 10/12/2004
• Issued: 11/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Teleflex Megatech, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Teleflex Megatech, Inc.
• Inventors: Lafontaine, Yvan
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Tai T.
• Application Number:
  US10/961,227
• Time in Patent Office: 763 Days
• Field of Search: 340/618, 340/616, 340/620, 340/450.2, 340/623, 732/90.R, 733/04.R, 73/497
• US Class Current: 340/618
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 17/0027 Tanks for fuel or the like constructional features of bunkers B63B11/04; Accessories therefor, e.g. tank filler caps fuel tanks for vehicles in general B60K15/03; cargo tanks B63B25/08; cleaning of tanks B63B57/00; handling of liquids for use in power plants B63H21/38
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/80 Arrangements for signal processing
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/3245 using a level monitoring device G01M3/3272 takes precedence

Abstract

A signaling device for a marine vehicle having a fuel tank, a fuel level value detected in the fuel tank, and a blower to evacuate fuel fumes. The signaling device comprises: a fuel level variation detector; a refueling detector for detecting a fuel level variation corresponding to a refueling event; a refueling signal generator for generating a refueling signal when the refueling event is detected; and a refueling activator for activating the blower, and/or an indicator of refueling for the user, using the refueling signal. A signaling method for the marine vehicle comprising: detecting a variation of the fuel level value over time; detecting a fuel level increase in the variation to correspond to a refueling event; generating a refueling signal when the refueling event is detected; and activating the blower, and/or an indicator of refueling for the user, using the refueling signal.

Claims

1. A signaling device for a marine vehicle having a fuel tank, a fuel level value corresponding to a fuel level detected in the fuel tank, and a blower to evacuate fuel fumes, said signaling device comprising:

a fuel level variation detector for detecting a variation of the fuel level value over time;

a refueling detector for detecting a fuel level increase in said variation to correspond to a refueling event;

a refueling signal generator for generating a refueling signal when said refueling event is detected; and

a refueling activator for activating at least one of said blower and an indicator of said refueling for said user, using said refueling signal.

2. The signaling device of claim 1 wherein the indicator is a visual indicator and is at least one of a LED, a light, and a visual icon on a display.

3. The signaling device of claim 1 wherein the indicator is an audible indicator generated by a sound producing device, said audible indicator is at least one of a chime, a buzzer, and a siren.

4. The signaling device of claim 1 further comprising:

a threshold provider for providing a fuel level positive variation threshold value; and

wherein

said refueling signal generator generates said refueling signal only when said variation is greater than said threshold value.

5. The signaling device of claim 4 wherein said fuel tank has a fuel tank volume, and wherein said threshold value is 10% of said fuel tank volume.

6. The signaling device of claim 1 further comprising:

a timer for triggering said refueling signal generator to generate said refueling signal for a predetermined amount of time after said refueling event has been detected as ended by said refueling signal detector.

7. The signaling device of claim 6 wherein said predetermined amount of time is four minutes.

8. The signaling device of claim 1 further comprising:

a fuel usage provider for providing an expected fuel usage over time for said marine vehicle;

a leakage detector for detecting a fuel level decrease greater than said expected fuel usage in said variation to correspond to a leakage event;

a leakage generator for generating a leakage signal when said leakage event is detected; and

a leakage activator for activating a leakage indicator for said user using said leakage signal.

9. The signaling device of claim 8 further comprising:

an empty tank detector for obtaining, after said leakage event is detected to be ended by said leakage generator, said fuel level value; and

an empty tank activator for activating an empty tank indicator for said user after said fuel level value is detected by said empty tank detector to be nil.

10. A signaling method for a marine vehicle having a fuel tank, a fuel level value corresponding to a fuel level detected in the fuel tank, and a blower to evacuate fuel fumes, said signaling method comprising:

detecting a variation of the fuel level value over time;

detecting a fuel level increase in said variation to correspond to a refueling event;

generating a refueling signal when said refueling event is detected; and

activating at least one of said blower and an indicator of said refueling for said user, using said refueling signal.

11. The signaling method of claim 10, further comprising:

providing a fuel level positive variation threshold value; and

wherein said generating said refueling signal is only carried out when said variation is greater than said threshold value.

12. The signaling method of claim 11 wherein said fuel tank has a fuel tank volume, and wherein said threshold value is 10% of said fuel tank volume.

13. The signaling method of claim 10 further comprising:

triggering said refueling signal generator to generate said refueling signal for a predetermined amount of time after said refueling event has been detected as ended.

14. The signaling method of claim 13 wherein said predetermined amount of time is four minutes.

15. The signaling method of claim 10 further comprising:

providing an expected fuel usage over time for said marine vehicle;

detecting a fuel level decrease greater than said expected fuel usage in said variation to correspond to a leakage event;

generating a leakage signal when said leakage event is detected; and

activating a leakage indicator for said user using said leakage signal.

16. The signaling method of claim 15 further comprising:

obtaining, after said leakage event is detected to be ended, said fuel level value; and

activating an empty tank indicator for said user after said fuel level value is detected to be nil.