Method and apparatus for measuring fuel flow
AssigneeCaterpillar Tractor Co.
InventorsVirgil H. Newman, Frank W. Tidaback, Wayne D. Jacobson, Donald D. Hoagland
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fuel flow rate measuring system including an inlet (30) for receipt of liquid fuel, a flow meter (34) connected to the inlet for measuring and indicating fuel flow, and an outlet (44) for connection to a fuel consuming apparatus. A fuel flow recirculating line (42) is connected to the system between the flow meter and the outlet (44) and defines, with the outlet, a closed, constant volume fuel flow path. A gas vent (46) is disclosed in the path for venting gas therein while containing liquid fuel in the path. Also disclosed is a method of measuring the fuel flow rate to a fuel consuming apparatus.
Claims6
A fuel rate measuring system for use with a fuel consuming apparatus of the type which receives more fuel than it consumes with the excess recirculated, the fuel rate measuring system comprising:
- an inlet (30) for receipt of liquid fuel;
- a flow meter (34) connected to said inlet for measuring and indicating fuel flow from said inlet;
- an outlet (44) adapted to be connected to a fuel consuming apparatus (40) and connected to the flow meter for receiving fuel therefrom;
- fuel recirculating line (42) having one end adapted to be connected to a fuel consuming apparatus to receive excess fuel therefrom and its other end returned to the system between said flow meter and said outlet;
- said recirculating line and said outlet, when connected to a fuel consuming apparatus, defining a closed, constant volume path;
- and
- gas vent means (46, 48, 50) in said path for venting gas therein to the atmosphere while containing liquid in said path;
- said gas vent means comprising a vertically elongated standpipe (48) having its lower portion in fluid communication with said path and an air vent valve (50) closing the upper end of said standpipe.
In a fuel rate measuring system for use with a fuel consuming apparatus (40) of the type which recieves more fuel that it consumes with the excess recirculated, an inlet (30) for receipt of a liquid fuel, a flow meter (34) connected to said inlet (30), an outlet (44) adapted to be connected to a fuel consuming apparatus (40) and to receive fuel from said flow meter (34), the improvement comprising:
- gas vent means (46, 48, 50) for venting gas in the fuel to the atmosphere, said gas vent means (46,48,50) including a standpipe (48) connected to said outlet (44) and having an air vent valve (50) closing the upper end of said standpipe (48);
- and
- fuel recirculating line means (42) for delivering excess fuel from a fuel consuming apparatus (40) to said standpipe (48).
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.