Method and apparatus for measuring the volume of fuel in a tank

• US 7,305,875 B1
• Filed: 03/31/2005
• Issued: 12/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gerald Pindus
• Original Assignee: Gerald Pindus
• Inventors: Carleton, Jeffrey, Husson, Alan, Hoffman, Lee, Pindus, Gerald
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams; Hezron
• Assistant Examiner(s): FITZGERALD, JOHN P
• Application Number:
  US11/095,914
• Time in Patent Office: 985 Days
• Field of Search: 731/49, 732/90.V, 702/156, 702/166
• US Class Current: 73/149
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 17/00 Methods or apparatus for determining the capacity of containers or cavities, or the volume of solid bodies measuring linear dimensions to determine volume G01B
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/804 containing circuits handling parameters other than liquid level
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 25/0084 for measuring volume
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 25/20 of apparatus for measuring liquid level

Abstract

An apparatus for dynamically measuring a volume of fuel in a fuel tank of unknown geometry includes a fuel level sensor mounted on the fuel tank, a fuel meter for measuring a volume of fuel being consumed, and a rewritable look-up table storing correspondence between volumes of fuel and levels of fuel in the fuel tank. The loop-up table is rewritten as the oil in the tank is consumed. A system website is used for remotely monitoring the fuel tank of a building.

Claims

1. An apparatus for dynamically measuring a volume of fuel in a fuel tank, comprising:

a fuel level sensor mounted on said fuel tank;

a fuel meter configured to produce an electrical indication when a predetermined volume of fuel passes through said fuel meter;

a rewritable memory for storing a look-up table, wherein said look-up table stores correspondences between volumes of fuel in said fuel tank and levels of fuel in said fuel tank; and

a controller configured to receive outputs from said fuel level sensor and said fuel meter and convert the output from said fuel level sensor into a fuel volume by utilizing said look-up table,

wherein when said controller detects said electrical indication from said fuel meter, said controller calculates a current level of fuel from said output from said fuel level sensor and calculates a current volume of fuel by decrementing/incrementing a previous volume of fuel by said predetermined volume of fuel, and said controller rewrites said look-up table with said calculated current volume of fuel corresponding to said current level of fuel, and

wherein the controller further calculates heating degree days and oil consumption, and issues an alarm when a result of a comparison of said heating degree days and said oil consumption is outside a predetermined range.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said fuel level sensor is a loop-powered ultrasonic level sensor.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said look up table is initially loaded with default correspondences between said volumes of fuel and said levels of fuel.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein time and an amount of fuel delivered report is produced by monitoring sudden rises in fuel level.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an outdoor temperature sensor connected to said controller and said controller calculates heating degree days based on an output from said outdoor temperature sensor.

6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein said controller tracks said calculated heating degree days and corresponding fuel usage and outputs a maintenance warning when said correspondence is outside a predetermined range.

7. A system for remotely monitoring a fuel tank of a building, the system comprising:

a fuel gauge mounted on the fuel tank of the building and provided with a wireless transmitter for transmitting fuel level measurements; and

a computer for receiving said fuel level measurements transmitted by said fuel gauge, wherein said computer calculates whether a measured fuel level is below a predetermined level and issues an alarm in response to said calculation,

wherein the computer further calculates heating degree days and oil consumption, and issues an alarm when a result of a comparison of said heating degree days and said oil consumption is outside a predetermined range.

8. The system according to claim 7, wherein a user interacts via an Internet with said computer using a system website.

9. The system according to claim 7, wherein the computer further calculates and displays to a user a fuel usage report for a requested period of time in response to a user'"'"'s request.

10. A system for remotely monitoring a fuel tank of a building, the system comprising:

a fuel gauge mounted on the fuel tank of the building and provided with a wireless transmitter for transmitting fuel level measurements; and

a computer for receiving said fuel level measurements transmitted by said fuel gauge wherein said computer calculates whether a measured fuel level is below a predetermined level and issues an alarm in response to said calculation,

wherein a user interacts via an Internet with said computer using a system website,

wherein the computer further calculates and displays to a user a fuel usage report for a requested period of time in response to a user'"'"'s request, and

wherein the computer further calculates heating degree days and an oil consumption, and issues an alarm when a result of a comparison of said heating degree days and said oil consumption is outside a predetermined range.

11. A system for remotely monitoring a fuel tank of a building, the system comprising:

a fuel level sensor mounted on said fuel tank;

a fuel meter configured to produce an electrical indication when a predetermined volume of fuel passes through said fuel meter;

a rewritable memory for storing a look-up table, wherein said look-up table stores correspondences between volumes of fuel in said fuel tank and levels of fuel in said fuel tank; and

a controller configured to receive outputs from said fuel level sensor and said fuel meter and convert the output from said fuel level sensor into a fuel volume by utilizing said look-up table, wherein

when said controller detects said electrical indication from said fuel meter, said controller calculates a current level of fuel from said output from said fuel level sensor and calculates a current volume of fuel by decrementing/incrementing a previous volume of fuel by said predetermined volume of fuel, and

said controller rewrites said look-up table with said calculated current volume of fuel corresponding to said current level of fuel, and

said fuel gauge mounted on the fuel tank of the building is provided with a wireless transmitter for transmitting fuel level measurements, and further comprising

a computer for receiving said fuel level measurements transmitted by said fuel gauge, wherein said computer calculates whether a measured fuel level is below a predetermined level and issues an alarm in response to said calculation,

wherein a user interacts via an Internet with said computer using a system website,

wherein the computer further calculates and displays to a user a fuel usage report for a requested period of time in response to a user'"'"'s request, and

wherein the computer further calculates heating degree days and an oil consumption, and issues an alarm when a result of a comparison of said heating degree days and said oil consumption is outside a predetermined range.