Method and apparatus for accurately delivering a predetermined amount of fuel to a vehicle

• US 7,469,725 B2
• Filed: 02/22/2006
• Issued: 12/30/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Annati, Richard E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Maust; Timothy L
• Assistant Examiner(s): ARNETT, NICOLAS ALLEN
• Application Number:
  US11/359,733
• Publication Number:
  US 20070193650A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,042 Days
• Field of Search: 141/83, 141/95, 141/96, 141/114, 141/198, 141/199, 141/205, 141/10, 141/312, 141/331, 141/337, 141/344.1, 137/426, 137/448, 244/135.R, 244/135.A, 244/135.B, 244/135.C
• US Class Current: 141/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/00 Arrangement in connection with fuel supply of combustion engines or other fuel consuming energy converters, e.g. fuel cells; Mounting or construction of fuel tanks tanks in general B65D, F17C; supplying combustion engines with combustible mixtures or constituents F02M
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/04 Tank inlets B60K15/077 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/03361 for checking the quality or quantity of fuel during filling of fuel tank
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/0007 for discrete indicating and measuring G01F23/02 - G01F23/28 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/003 with a probe suspended by rotatable arms with floats G01F23/32
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7413 Level adjustment or selection means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7485 Pivoted valve

Abstract

A system for accurately measuring and delivering a predetermined amount of fuel to a vehicle for a specified mission. This system rapidly refuels vehicles to a specific wet vehicle weight. The fuel loading value is determined based upon an algorithm, which accounts for interactions of mission duration, and/or mission payload weight, and/or mission environmental effects. The fuel loading is accomplished by using one or more measuring tubes with a floating valve, which precludes the continued flow of fuel into the tank when the predetermined amount of fuel is delivered. The measuring tubes can be of specific lengths each corresponding to an output of the algorithm or a single telescoping tube that enables varying the length of the tube. Each unique tube length corresponding to a unique output of the algorithm. An alternative system comprises different sized fuel bladders. These systems enable a rapid foolproof method of refueling.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a computing apparatus, wherein, based on a plurality of predetermined factors associated with a vehicle to be fueled, the computing apparatus calculates a precise amount of fuel to be provided to a fuel tank for the vehicle; and

a plurality of different sized tubes, wherein each of the plurality of different sized tubes corresponds to a different amount of fuel to be provided to the fuel tank, and wherein one of the plurality of different sized tubes is selected to provide the calculated precise amount of fuel to the fuel tank by extending into the fuel tank by an amount corresponding to the calculated precise amount of fuel.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said plurality of predetermined factors comprises environmental conditions, payload weight, mission duration and fuel tank geometry.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each tube of the plurality of different sized tubes comprises a length wherein the fuel enters a bottom of said each tube when the precise amount of fuel is achieved.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said plurality of different sized tubes is comprised of a telescoping tube.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said telescoping tube comprises a telescoped length wherein the fuel enters a bottom of said telescoped tube when the precise amount of fuel is achieved.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said plurality of different sized tubes comprises a series of interlocking tubes.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein each tube of said series of interlocking tubes comprises a length wherein the fuel enters a bottom of said each tube when the precise amount of fuel is achieved.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of different sized tubes further comprises a bottom and a float valve affixed to the bottom.

9. A method of fueling a vehicle with a precise amount of fuel, the precise amount of fuel being a desired fuel level based on a plurality of predetermined factors, the method comprising the steps of:

a) calculating the precise amount of fuel based on the plurality of predetermined factors;

b) selecting a tube corresponding to the calculated precise amount of fuel; and

c) fueling the vehicle with the precise amount of fuel via the selected tube, wherein the selected tube extends into a fuel tank of the vehicle by an amount corresponding to the desired fuel level for the tank.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the plurality of predetermined factors comprises environmental conditions, payload weight, mission duration and fuel tank geometry.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the tube is one of a plurality of tubes from which the tube is selected, and wherein each tube in the plurality of tubes comprises a specific length.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein the step of selecting a tube comprises telescoping the tube to a predetermined telescoping length.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein the step of fueling comprises stopping a flow of fuel when the fuel enters a bottom of the tube.

14. The method of claim 9 further comprising the step of stopping a flow of the fuel with a floating valve.