Fuel level display circuit for dual tank configuration
AssigneeAriens Company
InventorsDaniel J. Gindt, Nicholas R. Schrubbe, Clayton J. Van Thiel
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fuel level circuit for dual tank configuration includes fuel level sensors in each of two tanks and a fuel level display that can display the fuel level in one tank. The tank to be displayed on the fuel level display is selected by a flow diverting valve that selects the tank from which fuel will be delivered to a prime mover. A magnetic element moves with the flow diverting valve to actuate a magnetic switch to open or close a circuit element. A fuel selection relay places the fuel level display in communication with the fuel level sensor of the selected fuel tank in response to the magnetic switch opening and closing the circuit element.
Claims11
A circuit comprising:
- a flow diverting valve actuable between a first position to select flow of fuel from a first fuel tank and a second position to select flow of fuel from a second fuel tank;
- a magnetic element movable in response to actuation of the flow diverting valve between a first position in response to the flow diverting valve being actuated to select the first fuel tank and a second position in response to the flow diverting valve being actuated to select the second fuel tank;
- a first fuel level sensor in the first fuel tank and operable to sense a level of fuel in the first fuel tank;
- a second fuel level sensor in the second fuel tank and operable to sense a level of fuel in the second fuel tank;
- a magnetic switch operable to open a circuit element in response to the magnetic element being in the first position and to close the circuit element in response to the magnetic element being in the second position;
- a fuel level display;
- and
- a fuel selection relay communicating with each of the magnetic switch, the first fuel level sensor, the second fuel level sensor, and the fuel level display, and operable to place the fuel level display in communication with the first fuel level sensor in response to the magnetic switch opening the circuit element and place the fuel level display in communication with the second fuel level sensor in response to the magnetic switch closing the circuit element;
- wherein the fuel level display displays the level of fuel in the first tank as sensed by the first fuel level sensor when the fuel level display is in communication with the first fuel level sensor and displays the level of fuel in the second tank as sensed by the second fuel level sensor when the fuel level display is in communication with the second fuel level sensor.
A method for displaying on a fuel level display a fuel level in a selected one of a first fuel tank and a second fuel tank, the method comprising:
- providing a flow diverting valve actuable between a first position to select flow of fuel from a first fuel tank and a second position to select flow of fuel from a second fuel tank;
- moving a magnetic element in response to actuation of the flow diverting valve between a first position in response to the flow diverting valve being actuated to select the first fuel tank and a second position in response to the flow diverting valve being actuated to select the second fuel tank;
- positioning a first fuel level sensor in the first fuel tank to read a level of fuel in the first fuel tank;
- positioning a second fuel level sensor in the second fuel tank to read a level of fuel in the second fuel tank;
- actuating a magnetic switch to open a circuit element in response to the magnetic element being in the first position and to close the circuit element in response to the magnetic element being in the second position;
- communicating a fuel selection relay with each of the magnetic switch, the first fuel level sensor, the second fuel level sensor, and the fuel level display;
- placing, with the fuel selection relay, the fuel level display in communication with the first fuel level sensor in response to the magnetic switch opening the circuit element;
- placing, with the fuel selection relay, the fuel level display in communication with the second fuel level sensor in response to the magnetic switch closing the circuit element;
- displaying on the fuel level display the level of fuel in the first tank as sensed by the first fuel level sensor when the fuel level display is in communication with the first fuel level sensor;
- and
- displaying on the fuel level display the level of fuel in the second tank as sensed by the second fuel level sensor when the fuel level display is in communication with the second fuel level sensor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.