Apparatus and method for preventing a vehicle from running out of fuel

• US 9,884,596 B2
• Filed: 06/10/2015
• Issued: 02/06/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: First Principals, Inc.
• Original Assignee: First Principals, Inc.
• Inventors: Raniere, Keith A.
• Primary Examiner(s): McPherson, James M
• Application Number:
  US14/735,600
• Publication Number:
  US 20150274096A1
• Time in Patent Office: 972 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 9/00 Reinforcements or ply arrangement of pneumatic tyres inserts having reinforcing means B60C5/08; bead structure, e.g. turnup or overlap construction, B60C15/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/00 Arrangement or adaptation of signal devices not provided for in one of main groups B60Q1/00 - B60Q7/00 , e.g. haptic signalling
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0232 for measuring vehicle parameters and indicating critical, abnormal or dangerous conditions
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/12 for automatic initiation; for initiation not subject to will of driver or passenger limiting speed of vehicles other than rail vehicles B60K31/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/143 Alarm means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/146 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2530/209 Fuel quantity remaining in tank
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/16 Tactile feedback to the driver, e.g. vibration or force feedback to the driver on the steering wheel or the accelerator pedal
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 37/0082 Devices inside the fuel tank other than fuel pumps or filters electrical pumps submerged in fuel tanks F02M37/10, jet pumps F02M37/025
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/363 using electromechanically actuated indicating means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/20 Design optimisation, verification or simulation optimisation, verification or simulation of circuit designs G06F30/30
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/82 Elements for improving aerodynamics

Abstract

An apparatus for use with a motor vehicle to simulate fuel loss to encourage early refueling to prevent stranding. The apparatus may cause stumbling and hesitation by interrupting various engine management systems to simulate low fuel in the tank by cutting either spark or fuel momentarily or applying the brakes.

Claims

1. An apparatus to simulate fuel loss to a motor comprising:

a fuel level monitor; and

a programmable device in communication with said fuel level monitor, wherein said programmable device is configured to intermittently simulate fuel loss conditions when said fuel level monitor measures fuel to be at a predetermined fuel level, wherein said predetermined fuel level is greater than zero, wherein intermittent simulated fuel loss occurs via said programmable device intercepting a digital signal sent from a throttle pedal to a throttle body and said programmable device promulgates a signal to said throttle body that reduces or eliminates an amount of air sent to said motor.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a signal of said fuel level monitor conveys a remaining level of fuel to said programmable device.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

an incline sensor, said incline sensor in communication with said programmable device.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an accelerometer, said accelerometer in communication with said programmable device.

5. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said programmable device includes a program to calibrate said signal of said fuel level monitor to an actual fuel level present in a fuel tank.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a fuel gauge wherein said fuel gauge is in communication with said programmable device and indicates an empty fuel tank when said fuel tank contains said predetermined fuel level.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said programmable device is a microprocessor.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said programmable device further intermittently simulates fuel loss by intermittently interrupting power to an ignition system to mimic fuel starvation to said motor when said fuel level monitor measures fuel to be at said predetermined fuel level.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said programmable device modulates a brake system to initiate unintended braking impulses to mimic fuel starvation to said motor when said fuel level monitor measures fuel to be at said predetermined fuel level.

10. A device for imitating an effect of fuel loss to an engine comprising:

a sensor wherein said sensor measures a volume of fuel present in a fuel tank;

a microprocessor in communication with said sensor wherein said microprocessor is activated when said volume of fuel present measured by said sensor reaches a predetermined value greater than zero;

a fuel gauge in communication with said microprocessor wherein said fuel gauge is adjusted to display that said fuel tank is empty when said volume of fuel present is below said predetermined value; and

a fuel control device in communication with a monitor, wherein said fuel control device intermittently simulates fuel loss conditions when said monitor measures fuel to be at said predetermined value; and

a throttle of said engine in communication with said microprocessor when said volume of fuel present in said fuel tank reaches said predetermined value said microprocessor alters an electrical signal to said throttle causing said throttle to reduce airflow to said engine to mimic power loss from fuel starvation.

11. The device of claim 10 further comprising:

an ignition system of said engine in communication with said microprocessor and when said volume of fuel present in said fuel tank reaches said predetermined value said microprocessor intermittently interrupts electrical power to said ignition system to simulate loss of fuel.

12. A method for simulating a motor vehicle running out of fuel comprising:

providing a microprocessing device in communication with said motor vehicle, said motor vehicle having an engine and a fuel level sensor; and

intercepting, by said microprocessing device, a digital signal sent from a throttle pedal to a throttle body;

promulgating, by said microprocessing device, a signal to said throttle body that reduces or eliminates an amount of airflow sent to said engine of said motor vehicle; and

intermittently simulating fuel starvation with said microprocessing device to said engine at a predetermined fuel level to encourage refueling, as a function of said signal to said throttle body that reduces or eliminates said airflow sent to said engine, wherein said predetermined fuel level is greater than zero.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

providing a fuel gauge, wherein said fuel gauge communicates with said microprocessing device to show an empty condition of a fuel tank of the motor vehicle at said predetermined fuel level to promote early refueling.

14. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

providing a speaker; and

emulating sounds of said engine stalling with said speaker when fuel is at said predetermined fuel level.

15. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

calculating an actual remaining fuel level in a fuel tank of the motor vehicle by taking an average of several readings to determine said actual remaining fuel level of said motor vehicle.

16. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

interrupting an ignition spark of said engine of said motor vehicle when an actual level of fuel in said fuel tank is at said predetermined fuel level greater than zero, said interruption to simulate fuel starvation to said engine.

17. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

wherein reducing or eliminating said airflow to said engine of a throttle thereby causing causes power loss when an actual level of fuel in said fuel tank is at said predetermined fuel level greater than zero, to simulate fuel starvation to said engine.

18. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

pulsating a braking system of said motor vehicle to slow acceleration when an actual level of fuel in said fuel tank is at said predetermined fuel level greater than zero, to simulate fuel starvation to said engine.