Fuel level meter for industrial vehicles
First Claim
1. A method for measuring pressurized liquid fuel level in a fuel tank used on an industrial vehicle comprising:
- measuring the pressure of the fuel to generate a pressure signal;
measuring the temperature of the fuel to generate a temperature signal;
determining a fuel level signal from said pressure signal and said temperature signal by doing one of;
dividing the temperature signal by the pressure signal (T/P) and dividing the pressure signal by the temperature signal (P/T);
detecting changes in said fuel level signal over time;
identifying a first point of said fuel level signal indicating approaching emptying of the tank when said pressure signal and said temperature signal become uncorrelated so that changes in said fuel level signal exceed a given value; and
signaling said approaching emptying of the tank to an operator of the vehicle in response to identifying said first point.
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Abstract
The present application discloses a method for measuring pressurized liquid fuel level in a fuel tank used on a vehicle comprising measuring the pressure of the fuel to generate a pressure signal and measuring the temperature of the fuel to generate a temperature signal. A fuel level signal is determined from the pressure signal and the temperature signal and changes in the fuel level signal are determined over time. A first point of the fuel level signal indicating approaching emptying of the tank is identified when changes in the fuel level signal exceed a given value and the approaching emptying of the tank is signaled to an operator of the vehicle in response to identifying the first point. Also disclosed is a fuel level meter system comprising a display comprising a series of at least three light sources arranged in a generally vertical column with a bottommost one of the at least three light sources being of a first color and light sources above the bottommost one of the at least three light sources being of a second color.
65 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method for measuring pressurized liquid fuel level in a fuel tank used on an industrial vehicle comprising:
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measuring the pressure of the fuel to generate a pressure signal; measuring the temperature of the fuel to generate a temperature signal; determining a fuel level signal from said pressure signal and said temperature signal by doing one of;
dividing the temperature signal by the pressure signal (T/P) and dividing the pressure signal by the temperature signal (P/T);detecting changes in said fuel level signal over time; identifying a first point of said fuel level signal indicating approaching emptying of the tank when said pressure signal and said temperature signal become uncorrelated so that changes in said fuel level signal exceed a given value; and signaling said approaching emptying of the tank to an operator of the vehicle in response to identifying said first point. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A pressurized liquid fuel level meter system for use on an industrial vehicle comprising:
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a display comprising; a series of at least three light sources arranged in a generally vertical column; and a bottommost one of said at least three light sources being of a first color and light sources above said bottommost one of said at least three light sources being of a second color; and
wherein the pressurized liquid fuel level meter system further comprises;at least one sensor for measuring the pressure of the fuel in a fuel tank to generate a pressure signal and for measuring the temperature of the fuel to generate a temperature signal; a fuel level meter processor receiving said pressure and temperature signals and determining a fuel level signal therefrom by doing one of;
dividing the temperature signal by the pressure signal (T/P) and dividing the pressure signal by the temperature signal (P/T);said processor detecting changes in said fuel level signal over time; said processor identifying a first point of said fuel level signal indicating approaching emptying of the tank when said pressure signal and said temperature signal become uncorrelated so that changes in said fuel level signal exceed a given value; and said processor signaling said approaching emptying of the tank to an operator of the vehicle in response to identifying said first point using said display. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method for measuring pressurized liquid fuel level in a fuel tank used on an industrial vehicle comprising:
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measuring the pressure of the fuel to generate a pressure signal; measuring the temperature of the fuel to generate a temperature signal; determining a fuel level signal from said pressure signal and said temperature signal by doing one of;
dividing the temperature signal by the pressure signal (T/P) and dividing the pressure signal by the temperature signal (P/T);detecting changes in said fuel level signal over time; identifying a first point of said fuel level signal indicating approaching emptying of the tank when changes in said fuel level signal exceed a given value over time; and signaling said approaching emptying of the tank to an operator of the vehicle in response to identifying said first point. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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21. A pressurized liquid fuel level meter system for use on an industrial vehicle comprising:
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a display comprising; a series of at least three light sources arranged in a generally vertical column; and a bottommost one of said at least three light sources being of a first color and light sources above said bottommost one of said at least three light sources being of a second color; and
wherein the pressurized liquid fuel level meter system further comprises;at least one sensor for measuring the pressure of the fuel in a fuel tank to generate a pressure signal and for measuring the temperature of the fuel to generate a temperature signal; a fuel level meter processor receiving said pressure and temperature signals and determining a fuel level signal therefrom by doing one of;
dividing the temperature signal by the pressure signal (T/P) and dividing the pressure signal by the temperature signal (P/T);said processor detecting changes in said fuel level signal over time; said processor identifying a first point of said fuel level signal indicating approaching emptying of the tank when changes in said fuel level signal exceed a given value over time; and said processor signaling said approaching emptying of the tank to an operator of the vehicle in response to identifying said first point using said display. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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Specification