Fuel meter for outboard engines

• US 6,880,390 B2
• Filed: 11/07/2002
• Issued: 04/19/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NSM PLC
• Original Assignee: Bell Sea Marine Systems
• Inventors: Emord, Nicholas J.
• Primary Examiner(s): MCCALL, ERIC SCOTT
• Application Number:
  US10/289,631
• Publication Number:
  US 20030114977A1
• Time in Patent Office: 894 Days
• Field of Search: 731/12, 731/13, 731/14, 731/16, 731/172, 731/173, 731/181, 731/19.A, 731/19.R
• US Class Current: 73/114.42
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/0625 Fuel consumption, e.g. measured in fuel liters per 100 kms or miles per gallon
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/18 by measuring intake air flow
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 9/001 with electric, electro-mechanic or electronic means G01F9/008 and G01F9/02 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 9/023 with electric, electro-mechanic or electronic means

Abstract

An apparatus and method for determining a parameter related to fuel consumption in an engine are disclosed. An electrical sensor senses an electrical control signal used to control fuel introduced into the engine, such as by controlling a valve or fuel injector of the engine. The electrical sensor generates a measurement signal that is indicative of an electrical parameter such as frequency or voltage of the electrical control signal. A processor receives the measurement signal and uses the measurement signal to determine the parameter related to fuel consumption. The parameter can be volume of fuel consumed, fuel consumption rate, fuel efficiency or other related parameter.

Claims

1. A fuel meter for determining a parameter related to fuel consumption in an engine, comprising:

a controller electrically coupled to the engine, the controller generating an electrical control signal that controls fuel introduced into the engine;

a sensor coupled to the controller for sensing the electrical control signal, the sensor detecting an electrical parameter of the electrical control signal and, using the detected electrical parameter of the electrical control signal, generating from the electrical control signal an electrical measurement signal indicative of the electrical parameter of the electrical control signal; and

a processor that receives the electrical measurement signal and uses the electrical measurement signal to determine the parameter related to fuel consumption in the engine.

2. The fuel meter of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises an electrical sensor.

3. The fuel meter of claim 2, wherein the sensor is inductively coupled to a line carrying the control signal.

4. The fuel meter of claim 2, wherein the sensor is conductively coupled to a line carrying the control signal.

5. The fuel meter of claim 1, wherein the engine is an outboard engine.

6. The fuel meter of claim 1, wherein the electrical parameter is frequency of the electrical control signal used to control fuel introduced into the engine.

7. The fuel meter of claim 6, wherein the processor uses volume of a fuel injector to determine the parameter related to fuel consumption in the engine.

8. The fuel meter of claim 1, wherein the electrical parameter is voltage of the electrical control signal used to control fuel introduced into the engine.

9. The fuel meter of claim 8, wherein the processor uses volume of a fuel injector to determine the parameter related to fuel consumption in the engine.

10. The fuel meter of claim 1, wherein the electrical control signal controls a valve used to introduce fuel into the engine.

11. The fuel meter of claim 1, wherein the electrical control signal controls a fuel injector used to introduce fuel into the engine.

12. The fuel meter of claim 11, wherein the processor uses volume of a fuel injector to determine the parameter related to fuel consumption in the engine.

13. The fuel meter of claim 1, wherein the parameter related to fuel consumption in the engine is volume of fuel consumed.

14. The fuel meter of claim 1, wherein the parameter related to fuel consumption in the engine is rate of fuel consumption.

15. The fuel meter of claim 1, wherein the parameter related to fuel consumption in the engine is fuel efficiency.

16. The fuel meter of claim 1, wherein the measurement signal is generated independent of a measurement of engine rotations per minute (RPM).

17. The fuel meter of claim 1, further comprising a GPS receiver used in determining velocity of a boat propelled by the engine.

18. The fuel meter of claim 1, further comprising a velocity meter for determining velocity of a boat propelled by the engine.

19. The fuel meter of claim 1, wherein velocity of a boat propelled by the engine is used in determining the parameter related to fuel consumption in the engine.

20. The fuel meter of claim 1, wherein the processor is an integral part of an engine controller used to control the engine.

21. The fuel meter of claim 1, wherein the processor is an integral part of an engine controller used to generate the electrical control signal.

22. A method for determining a parameter related to fuel consumption in an engine, comprising:

electrically coupling a controller to the engine;

with the controller, generating an electrical control signal that controls fuel introduced into the engine;

coupling a sensor to the controller;

with the sensor, sensing the electrical control signal

with the sensor, detecting an electrical parameter of the electrical control signal;

with the sensor, using the detected electrical parameter of the electrical control signal to generate from the electrical control signal an electrical measurement signal indicative of the electrical parameter of the electrical control signal; and

receiving the electrical measurement signal and using the electrical measurement signal to determine the parameter related to fuel consumption in the engine.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the electrical control signal is sensed by an electrical sensor.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising inductively coupling the sensor to a line carrying the control signal.

25. The method of claim 23, further comprising conductively coupling the sensor to a line carrying the control signal.

26. The method of claim 22, wherein the engine is an outboard engine.

27. The method of claim 22, wherein the electrical parameter is frequency of the electrical control signal used to control fuel introduced into the engine.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the processor uses volume of a fuel injector to determine the parameter related to fuel consumption in the engine.

29. The method of claim 22, wherein the electrical parameter is voltage of the electrical control signal used to control fuel introduced into the engine.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein volume of a fuel injector is used to determine the parameter related to fuel consumption in the engine.

31. The method of claim 22, wherein the electrical control signal controls a valve used to introduce fuel into the engine.

32. The method of claim 22, wherein the electrical control signal controls a fuel injector used to introduce fuel into the engine.

33. The method of claim 22, wherein the processor uses volume of a fuel injector to determine the parameter related to fuel consumption in the engine.

34. The method of claim 22, wherein the parameter related to fuel consumption in the engine is volume of fuel consumed.

35. The method of claim 22, wherein the parameter related to fuel consumption in the engine is rate of fuel consumption.

36. The method of claim 22, wherein the parameter related to fuel consumption in the engine is fuel efficiency.

37. The method of claim 22, wherein the measurement signal is generated independent of a measurement of engine rotations per minute (RPM).

38. The method of claim 22, wherein velocity of a boat propelled by the engine is used in determining the parameter related to fuel consumption in the engine.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein a GPS receiver is used in determining velocity of the boat propelled by the engine.

40. The method of claim 38, wherein a velocity meter is used in determining velocity of the boat propelled by the engine.

41. The method of claim 22, wherein the parameter related to fuel consumption in the engine is determined by an engine controller used to control the engine.

42. The method of claim 22, wherein the parameter related to fuel consumption in the engine is determined by an engine controller used to generate the electrical control signal.