Fuel tank monitoring system

• US 9,035,800 B2
• Filed: 10/12/2012
• Issued: 05/19/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Bommer, Jason Philip, Robb, Andrew M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zimmerman, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, An T
• Application Number:
  US13/650,380
• Publication Number:
  US 20140104079A1
• Time in Patent Office: 949 Days
• Field of Search: 340/545.4, 340/562, 340/602, 340/604, 340/612, 340/614, 340/616, 340/618, 340/626, 340/450.2, 340/936, 340/572.1, 340/572.7, 340/945, 73/530.1, 733/14, 732/90.R, 732/92, 733/04.C, 702/52, 702/50, 702/55
• US Class Current: 340/945
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/26 by measuring variations of capacity or inductance of capacitors or inductors arising from the presence of liquid or fluent solid material in the electric or electromagnetic fields
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/804 containing circuits handling parameters other than liquid level
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/77 for interrogation

Abstract

A method and apparatus for monitoring an interior of a fuel tank. Information about a fuel level and moisture in the interior of the fuel tank of a platform is generated using a fuel sensor unit in the interior of the fuel tank. The fuel sensor unit comprises a sensor configured to be located in the interior of the fuel tank and generate information about the fuel level in the fuel tank and the moisture in the fuel tank and a wireless unit electrically connected to the sensor. The wireless unit is configured to receive the information from the sensor and transmit the information using wireless signals. A number of actions is identified based on the information about the interior of the fuel tank.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a sensor configured to be located in an interior of a fuel tank and generate information about a fuel level in the interior of the fuel tank and about moisture in the fuel tank, the sensor being a single capacitive probe comprising a first tube and a second tube, wherein the first tube is located inside of the second tube, the first tube configured to conduct an electrical signal that determines whether the moisture is present in the fuel tank based upon whether the second tube receives the electrical signal; and

a wireless unit electrically connected to the sensor, wherein the wireless unit is configured to receive the information from the sensor and transmit the information using wireless signals.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a power source configured to provide power to the sensor and the wireless unit, wherein the power source is selected from at least one of an energy harvesting device and a battery system.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensor and the wireless unit form a fuel sensor unit and further comprises:

a monitor configured to receive the information from the fuel sensor unit.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a computer system in communication with the wireless unit, wherein the computer system is configured to receive the information, store the information, and display the information on a graphical user interface.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, comprising:

a second sensor electrically connected to the wireless unit.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the second sensor is selected from one of a temperature sensor.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the single capacitive probe comprises:

a first plate; and

a second plate, wherein the first plate is substantially parallel to the second plate.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the wireless unit comprises:

an antenna;

a circuit connected to the antenna; and

a power source connected to the circuit.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the wireless unit is a radio frequency identification tag.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fuel tank is located in a platform selected from one of a mobile platform, a stationary platform, a land-based structure, an aquatic-based structure, a space-based structure, a surface ship, a tank, a personnel carrier, a train, a spacecraft, a space station, a satellite, a submarine, an automobile, a power plant, a bridge, a dam, a house, a manufacturing facility, and a building.

11. A fuel tank monitoring system comprising:

a number of fuel sensor units configured to be located in an interior of a fuel tank, wherein each fuel sensor unit in the number of fuel sensor units comprises a sensor configured to generate information about a fuel level in the fuel tank and moisture in the fuel tank, the sensor being a single capacitive probe comprising a first tube and a second tube, wherein the first tube is located inside of the second tube, the firs tube configured to conduct an electrical signal that determines whether the moisture is present in the fuel tank based upon whether the second tube receives the electrical signal;

a wireless unit electrically connected to the sensor, wherein the wireless unit is configured to receive the information from the sensor and transmit the information using wireless signals; and

a computer system configured to receive the information from the number of fuel sensor units and display the information on a graphical user interface.

12. The fuel tank monitoring system of claim 11, wherein the computer system is configured to sample the information generated by the number of fuel sensor units over the wireless signals.

13. The fuel tank monitoring system of claim 11 further comprising:

a monitor configured to receive the information and display the information from the number of fuel sensor units on the graphical user interface.

14. The fuel tank monitoring system of claim 11, wherein the computer system is configured to initiate an action when a presence of the moisture is detected in the fuel tank.

15. A method for monitoring an interior of a fuel tank, the method comprising:

generating information about a fuel level and moisture in the interior of the fuel tank of a platform using a fuel sensor unit in the interior of the fuel tank, wherein the fuel sensor unit comprises a sensor configured to be located in the interior of the fuel tank and generate information about the fuel level in the fuel tank and the moisture in the fuel tank and a wireless unit electrically connected to the sensor, the sensor being a single capacitive probe comprising a first tube and a second tube, wherein the first tube is located inside of the second tube, the first tube configured to conduct an electrical signal that determines whether the moisture is present in the fuel tank based upon whether the second tube receives the electrical signal, wherein the wireless unit is configured to receive the information from the sensor and transmit the information using wireless signals; and

identifying a number of actions based on the information about the interior of the fuel tank.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the number of actions is selected from at least one of displaying the information on a display device in a computer system in the platform and generating an alert, by the computer system, when the information indicates that the moisture is present in the interior of the fuel tank.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the fuel sensor unit further comprises a second sensor electrically connected to the wireless unit and is a temperature sensor.