Wireless data collection unit for fuel management system

• US 7,463,971 B2
• Filed: 01/20/2005
• Issued: 12/09/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Varec, Inc. (Leidos Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Varec, Inc. (Leidos Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Jackson, Steven, Coggins, Keith, Holcomb, Dirk
• Primary Examiner(s): ARTHUR JEANGLAUDE, GERTRUDE
• Application Number:
  US11/039,050
• Publication Number:
  US 20050267672A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,419 Days
• Field of Search: 701/3, 701/123, 705/1, 705/21, 705/413, 340/450, 340/450.2, 340/945
• US Class Current: 701/123
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/08 Arrangements of devices for controlling, indicating, metering or registering quantity or price of liquid transferred arrangement of flow- or pressure-control valves B67D7/36; computing, calculating, counting G06; coin-freed apparatus for dispensing fluids G07F13/00; prepayment devices for metering liquids G07F15/00
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/145 by wireless communication means, e.g. RF, transponders or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/243 using electrical or electro-mechanical means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 13/025 wherein the volume is determined during delivery

Abstract

An electronic fueling data acquisition and wireless communications delivery system. The unit is mounted on Aircraft Fueling Vehicles and Aircraft Fuel Servicing Hydrant Vehicles (Hydrant Vehicles) and is hardwired to an external pulse transmitter. The pulse transmitter transmits pulse signals proportional to the volume of fuel that is being pumped. A software configurable hardware filter attenuates the input signal which is then counted by a pulse accumulator. When fueling ceases, the application software can convert the pulse signal values to an equivalent volumetric total. The information can then be wirelessly communicated to other devices without the need for maintaining paper hard copies.

Claims

1. A data collection unit for a fuel management system, comprising:

a pulse transmitter that transmits pulse signals corresponding to a flow of fuel;

a configurable filter that attenuates the pulse signals received from the pulse transmitter;

a pulse accumulator that increments a counter for each input pulse signal;

a micro-controller that reads the pulse accumulator and calculates a volume of fuel based on the pulse signals; and

an RF module coupled to the micro-controller for producing RF signals.

2. The data collection unit of claim 1, wherein the configurable filter is configured by a software module.

3. The data collection unit of claim 2, wherein the software module is executed by the micro-controller.

4. The data collection unit of claim 1, further comprising an antenna coupled to the RF module.

5. The data collection unit of claim 1, wherein the pulse transmitter produces signals proportional to a volume of fuel.

6. The data collection unit of claim 1, wherein the unit enters into a sleep mode to conserve power when the pulse transmitter does not transmit signals.

7. The data collection unit of claim 1, further comprising a power source that supplies input power to the micro-controller.

8. The data collection unit of claim 7, wherein the power source comprises a battery.

9. The data collection unit of claim 1, further comprising a voltage and current monitor.

10. The data collection unit of claim 1, further comprising a discontinuous voltage regulator.

11. The data collection unit of claim 1 wherein said micro-controller further comprises at least one of a serial interface connection, an expansion port, a non-volatile memory, and a low frequency oscillator.

12. A method for calculating a volume of pumped fuel, comprising:

receiving a request to monitor a volume of fuel being pumped;

receiving input pulse signals from a pulse transmitter;

filtering each input pulse signal to reduce noise;

tracking each input pulse signal;

determining a final input pulse value; and

calculating a fuel volume based on the input pulse signals.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising adjusting a configurable hardware filter.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising configuring an adjustable hardware filter with a software module.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein tracking each pulse signal further comprises incrementing a pulse accumulator for each input pulse signal.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising modulating RF signals with the fuel volume.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein calculating the fuel volume comprises:

multiplying an initial input pulse value and the final input pulse value by a meter factor, wherein said meter factor comprises a constant corresponding to an amount of fuel set equal to one pulse signal.

18. A data collection unit for a fuel management system, comprising:

a configurable hardware filter that attenuates signals;

a micro-controller that reads the pulse accumulator and calculates a volume of fuel based on signals from the filter;

an RF module coupled to the micro-controller for producing RF signals;

a housing for preventing explosions that encloses the filter, the micro-controller, the RF module; and

an antenna coupled to the housing and to the RF module for propagating the RF signals.

19. The data collection unit of claim 18, further comprising an antenna coupler for connecting the antenna to the housing.

20. The data collection unit of claim 19, wherein the antenna coupler comprises a predetermined number of threads.