# US 12,179,577 B2 · Fuel measurement device with fuel passage and fuel level sensor > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,179,577 B2 - Document ID: US12179577B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/296,663 - Filed: 2019-10-09 - Published: 2022-01-27 - Granted: 2024-12-31 - Earliest claimed: 2018-12-28 - Assignees: Tf Technologies, LLC - Applicants: Tf Technologies, LLC - Inventors: Mark Haslam; Jan DeHoop - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12179577B2 ## CPC - B60K 15/03: Fuel tanks - B60K 15/04: Tank inlets (B60K15/077 takes precedence) - 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} - G01F 23/263: by measuring variations in capacitance of capacitors - B60K 2015/03217: {Fuel level sensors} - B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES - B60Q: ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL - G01F: MEASURING VOLUME, VOLUME FLOW, MASS FLOW OR LIQUID LEVEL; METERING BY VOLUME ## Abstract In one example in accordance with the present disclosure, a fuel measurement device is described. The fuel measurement device includes a collar to clamp against a neck of a fuel tank. A fuel port is coupled to the collar. The fuel port includes 1) a passage through which fuel is passed into the fuel tank and 2) a fuel level sensor that includes an elongated probe inserted into the fuel tank. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A fuel measurement device, comprising: a collar to clamp against a neck of a fuel tank, where the neck extends outward from the fuel tank at an opening into an interior of the fuel tank; a fuel port coupled to the collar, the fuel port comprising: a passage through which fuel is passed into the fuel tank; and a fuel level sensor comprising an elongated probe inserted into the fuel tank; wherein the collar is divided into multiple sections, each section being tightened against an adjacent section to clamp against the neck of the fuel tank. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the fuel level sensor passes into the fuel tank through the passage. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, further comprising a computing system in communication with the fuel level sensor, the computing system programmed to detect a possible fuel leak or theft based on output from the fuel level sensor. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the computing system is programmed to determine an indication of possible driver inefficiency based on output from the fuel level sensor. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein: the multiple sections are attached to each other by mechanical fasteners that pass through adjacent holes of respective sections of the collar. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, further comprising a throat formed of a flexible material, wherein the throat is attached to the fuel port and configured to receive a dispenser nozzle. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The device of claim 6, wherein the throat is angled relative to the passage. ### Claim 8 A method, comprising: affixing a collar to a neck of a fuel tank opening, where the neck extends outward from the fuel tank at an opening into an interior of the fuel tank; inserting a fuel measurement device comprising a fuel passage and a fuel level sensor into the fuel tank opening; and affixing the fuel measurement device to the collar via mechanical fasteners; wherein the mechanical fasteners that affix the fuel measurement device to the collar are perpendicular to fasteners that clamp the collar to the neck of the fuel tank. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the collar comprises threads for securing the collar to corresponding threads of the neck of the fuel tank. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8 further comprising establishing a data transmission path between the fuel level sensor and a computing system in a cab of a vehicle on which the fuel measurement device is disposed. ### Claim 11 A fuel management system comprising: at least one fuel measurement device, comprising: a collar to clamp against a neck of a respective fuel tank; a fuel port coupled to the collar, wherein the fuel port is coupled to the collar via mechanical fasteners, the fuel port comprising: a passage through which fuel is passed into the respective fuel tank; and a fuel level sensor comprising an elongated probe inserted through the passage into the respective fuel tank; and a computing system with a data connection with the at least one fuel measurement device, the computing system to: receive a fluid level measurement from each fuel measurement device; and determine a quantity of fuel in each fuel measurement device. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The fuel management system of claim 11, wherein the computing system is coupled to multiple fuel measurement devices, each fuel measurement device being disposed in a different fuel tank. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The fuel management system of claim 11, wherein the computing system receives fluid level measurements and determines the quantity of fuel periodically over a period of time. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The fuel management system of claim 11, wherein fuel level sensors are wirelessly connected to the computing system. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The fuel management system of claim 11, wherein fuel level sensors are connected via a wire to the computing system. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The fuel management system of claim 11, further comprising a tank lookup table to map fuel depth values to volumetric quantities of fuel. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The fuel management system of claim 11, wherein the computing system provides a notification of the quantity of fuel in the fuel tank. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The fuel management system of claim 11, wherein the computing system determines from the fluid level measurement, an indication of possible fuel leakage; or fuel theft. ### Claim 19 (depends on 11) The fuel management system of claim 11, wherein the computing system collects other information from other controllers to provide additional fuel consumption information. ### Claim 20 (depends on 11) The fuel management system of claim 11, wherein the computing system determines fuel quantity by: determining a fuel depth in a fuel tank; and converting the fuel depth to a fuel volume.