Auxiliary fuel tank control systems and methods of use
AssigneeZ4 Manufacturing, Inc.
InventorsJohn Zylstra, Chad Pennebaker
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention provides improved auxiliary fuel tank control systems and methods that avoid the need for locating, identifying, and tapping into a wire leading from the sending unit of the vehicle's primary fuel tank by connecting directly to a diagnostic port of the vehicle which is in communication with the output from the sending unit. Based on information received from the sending unit, embodiments of the invention may automatically cause fuel to be pumped from an auxiliary tank to the primary tank when the amount of fuel in the primary tank drops below a threshold.
Claims21
An auxiliary fuel controller system comprising:
- a. a controller for receiving and monitoring information from a sending unit of a primary fuel tank of a vehicle, and automatically transferring fuel from an auxiliary tank to said primary tank when information from said sending unit indicates that a fuel level in said primary tank has reached a minimum threshold, and
- b. a communication link between said controller and a diagnostic port of said vehicle, said diagnostic port being in electronic communication with said sending unit.
An auxiliary fuel controller system, comprising:
- a. a controller operable to run ISO 15765 Can protocol or SAE J1850 protocol, and to receive information from a sending unit of a vehicle, and automatically send a fuel transfer signal when said information indicates a primary tank of said vehicle has reached a minimum threshold;
- b. an OBD-II connector in electronic communication with said controller, said OBD-II connector being operable to connect to an OBD-II diagnostic port in a cabin of said vehicle, said OBD-II diagnostic port being in electronic communication with said sending unit of said vehicle;
- and
- c. a fuel pump relay in electronic communication with said controller, said fuel pump relay being operable to receive said fuel transfer signal and control a fuel pump, said fuel pump being operable to transfer fuel from an auxiliary tank to said primary tank.
An auxiliary fuel controller system comprising:
- a. a controller for receiving and monitoring information from a sending unit of a primary fuel tank of a vehicle,
- b. a communication link between said controller and a diagnostic port of said vehicle, said diagnostic port being in electronic communication with said sending unit, and
- c. a switch for manually activating a pump to transfer fuel from an auxiliary tank to said primary tank when information from said sending unit indicates that a fuel level in said primary tank has reached a minimum threshold.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.