Method and system for determining level of fuel

• US 7,343,797 B2
• Filed: 07/15/2005
• Issued: 03/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: FCA US LLC (Stellantis NV)
• Original Assignee: Chrysler LLC (Stellantis NV)
• Inventors: Bremmer, Lavern M, Schmidt, Robert W, Teets, Michael R, Enge, Trevor
• Primary Examiner(s): Larkin; Daniel S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): FRANK, RODNEY T
• Application Number:
  US11/182,176
• Publication Number:
  US 20070012102A1
• Time in Patent Office: 977 Days
• Field of Search: 732/99, 733/03, 732/90.R, 702/55
• US Class Current: 73/299
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/18 Indicating, recording or alarm devices actuated electrically

Abstract

A method and system for determining the level of fuel contained in the tank of a motor vehicle includes a fuel pump disposed in the tank for creating a flow of fuel in the tank. An elongated tube is placed vertically in the tank. The system also includes a venturi tube coupled between the fuel pump and the elongated tube for creating a vacuum as a result of a portion of the flow of fuel therethrough from the fuel pump thereby drawing fuel vapor from the elongated tube at a varying pressure, the pressure decreasing as the amount of fuel vapor in the tank increases. A controller is coupled to the elongated tube for determining the level of fuel in the tank based on the pressure.

Claims

1. A system for determining a level of fuel contained in a tank of a motor vehicle containing both fuel and fuel vapor, the system comprising:

a fuel pump disposed in the tank that creates a flow of fuel in the tank and supplies fuel to a fuel rail of the motor vehicle;

an elongated tube placed vertically in the tank;

a venturi tube coupled between the fuel pump and the elongated tube that creates a vacuum as a result of a portion of the flow of fuel through the venturi tube from the fuel pump, and the vacuum created by the venturi tube draws fuel vapor from the elongated tube at a varying pressure, the pressure decreasing as the amount of fuel vapor in the tank increases, and

a controller coupled to the elongated tube for determining the level of fuel in the tank based on the pressure.

2. The system as recited in claim 1 further comprising:

a pressure transducer coupled to the elongated tube and the controller for determining the pressure at an interior of the elongated tube.

3. The system as recited in claim 1 further comprising:

a display coupled to the controller for displaying the level of fuel in the tank.

4. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein the tube has a plurality of perforations along a length of the elongated tube and wherein fuel vapor is drawn through the perforations.

5. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein the elongated tube is constructed of a plastic material.

6. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein the elongated tube is constructed of a metal material.

7. The system as recited in claim 4 wherein the perforations are holes.

8. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein the venturi tube is coupled to the elongated tube via an interconnect tube.

9. A method for determining a level of fuel contained in a tank of a motor vehicle containing both fuel and fuel vapor, the method comprising:

providing a fuel pump that delivers fuel to a fuel rail of the motor vehicle;

creating a flow of fuel in the tank with the fuel pump;

creating a vacuum as a result of a portion of the flow of fuel flowing through a venturi tube;

using the vacuum created by the venturi tube to draw fuel vapor from the fuel tank at a varying pressure, the pressure decreasing as the amount of fuel vapor in the tank increases; and

determining the level of fuel in the tank based on the pressure.

10. The method as recited in claim 9 further comprising displaying the level of fuel in the tank.

11. A method for determining a level of fuel contained in a tank of a motor vehicle containing both fuel and fuel vapor, the method comprising:

creating a flow of fuel in the tank;

creating a vacuum as a result of a portion of the flow of fuel flowing through a venturi tube;

using the vacuum created by the venturi tube to draw fuel vapor from the fuel tank at a varying pressure, the pressure decreasing as the amount of fuel vapor in the tank increases; and

determining the level of fuel in the tank based on the pressure.