FUEL USAGE MONITORING SYSTEM FOR A SERVICE PACK

• US 20100199753A1
• Filed: 02/11/2009
• Published: 08/12/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Original Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Inventors: Renner, Ross, Peotter, Benjamin G.
• Granted Patent: US 7,908,911 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/114.52
• CPC Class Codes: B66C 23/42 with jibs of adjustable configuration, e.g. foldable
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/8468 vibrating measuring conduits

Abstract

A fuel usage monitoring system, in certain aspects, may be configured to determine the fuel usage rate of a work vehicle service pack engine using control signals relating to operating parameters of the service pack engine and associated equipment. In certain embodiments, the control signals may relate to operating parameters of the engine, a fuel injection pump associated with the engine, a governor associated with the fuel injection pump, a fuel reservoir associated with the engine, and other components associated with the engine. In particular, the control signals may relate a position of a control rack of the fuel injection pump. The control signals may be correlated with fuel usage rates prior to operation of the fuel usage monitoring system. In addition, the correlations may vary as certain parameters of the engine, such as operating speed, vary. The correlations may be implemented as algorithms within software of the fuel usage monitoring system.

Claims

1. A method for determining fuel usage rates, comprising:

receiving at least one control signal relating to an operating parameter of an engine or a component associated with the engine, wherein the operating parameter is not directly related to fuel usage rates; and

determining a fuel usage rate of the engine based at least in part on the at least one control signal.

2. The method of claim 1, comprising receiving the control signal relating to a position of a control rack of a fuel injection pump associated with the engine.

3. The method of claim 1, comprising receiving the control signal relating to a position of a solenoid of a governor associated with the engine.

4. The method of claim 1, comprising receiving the control signal relating to a tank level of a fuel reservoir associated with the engine.

5. The method of claim 1, comprising receiving the control signal relating to an operating speed of the engine, a torque generated by the engine, or a combination thereof.

6. The method of claim 1, comprising receiving a plurality of control signals relating to a plurality of different operating parameters of the engine or a component associated with the engine.

7. The method of claim 1, comprising determining the fuel usage rate of the engine based at least in part on an operating speed of the engine.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the fuel usage rate comprises executing algorithms corresponding to correlations between the at least one control signal and the fuel usage rate.

9. The method of claim 8, comprising:

receiving test control signals relating to the operating parameter of the engine or the component associated with the engine;

measuring test fuel usage rates of the engine;

correlating the test control signals and test fuel usage rates; and

developing the algorithms corresponding to the correlations between the test controls signals and the test fuel usage rates.

10. A fuel usage monitoring system, comprising:

a controller configured to;

receive control signals relating to operating parameters of an engine or components associated with the engine, wherein the operating parameters are not directly related to fuel usage rates; and

determine a fuel usage rate of the engine based at least in part on the operating parameters.

11. The fuel usage monitoring system of claim 10, wherein the controller comprises a memory with computer code encoded thereon, the computer code comprising algorithms corresponding to correlations between the control signals and the fuel usage rate.

12. The fuel usage monitoring system of claim 10, wherein the controller is configured to receive the control signals relating to a position of a control rack of a fuel injection pump associated with the engine.

13. The fuel usage monitoring system of claim 10, wherein the controller is configured to receive the control signals from the engine, a governor associated with the engine, a fuel injection pump associated with the engine, a fuel reservoir associated with the engine, or a combination thereof.

14. The fuel usage monitoring system of claim 10, comprising a user interface configured to receive inputs from an operator of the engine and to display outputs to the operator, wherein the outputs include the fuel usage rate.

15. A system, comprising:

an engine; and

a fuel usage monitor, comprising a computer storage medium having executable computer code encoded thereon, the computer code including instructions for;

receiving data representing an operating parameter of the engine or a component associated with the engine, wherein the operating parameter is not directly related to fuel usage rates; and

determining a fuel usage rate of the engine based at least in part on the operating parameter.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the operating parameter is a position of a control rack of a fuel injection pump associated with the engine.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the operating parameter is a position of a solenoid of a governor associated with the engine.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the operating parameter is a tank level of a fuel reservoir associated with the engine.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the operating parameter is an operating speed of the engine or a torque generated by the engine.

20. The system of claim 15, comprising an air compressor, a hydraulic pump, a generator, or a combination thereof, coupled to the engine.