Fuel measuring system for engines and method of monitoring fuel flow

#This invention relates to a meter for measuring the rate of fluid flow such as for determining the rate of fuel usage in an engine.

#The efficient functioning of engines comprises an important factor in the operational aspect of trucking firms, marine firms, and other firms which use engine driven equipment. These engines are tested periodically for output efficiency to determine whether or not repair or overhaul is necessary. Various testing methods are used, a common one employing a dynamometer. Another method to determine whether the engine is to be repaired or overhauled is merely by considering total miles run or hours operated. With the use of a dynamometer, or other methods now used, a precise analysis of engine condition is not altogether possible because of variables which may exist from engine to engine such as ignition conditions.

#The most efficient method of determining engine condition is to ascertain the amount of fuel consumed by the engine per unit of time. Prior devices have not accomplished this method of testing in a commercially feasible manner because the meters used, while showing fuel usage, do not give a direct reading of the rate that the fuel is used. In prior devices, it is thus necessary to make computations from the meter reading, which of course is inconvenient and many times inaccurate. Another disadvantage of prior devices is that they do not compensate for the expansion or contraction of fuel due to variations in temperature, and thus the fuel is not accurately metered, particularly in slow flow systems such as fuel feed systems for engines. Although temperature conversion tables are available, based on a temperature constant, for determining volume of flow, such computing method is often inaccurate and always inconvenient. In some cases the use of conversion tables is also impractical.

#FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view of a fuel system including the present fuel use rate meter for engines;

#FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the present meter, taken on the line 2--2 of FIG. 3;

#FIG. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 3--3 of FIG. 2, this view being reduced in size relative to FIG. 2 and having some of the parts omitted;

#With particular reference to the diagrammatic view of FIG. 1, an engine is designated by the numeral 10 and conventional fuel feed means therefor comprising a fuel tank and a fuel line are designated by the numerals 12 and 14, respectively.

#Forming a part of the present invention is a fuel meter apparatus 16 which upon being driven by fluid flow operates in a manner to provide accurate information in a direct reading on an instrument to indicate operating conditions of an engine, as will be more apparent hereinafter.

#The meter 16 is structurally detailed in FIGS. 2 through 6. It comprises an outer casing 18 of cylindrical shape. Casing 18 has a bottom wall 20 with projections 21 thereon for a purpose to be described. A sleeve 22, forming a cylinder, is disposed within the casing 18. The casing has a head 26 removably fitted therein.