Apparatus and method for measuring low fuel level in a fuel tank
AssigneePierburg GmbH
InventorErnst Kuhlen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus for measuring low fuel level in a fuel tank having a fuel pump with an anti-slosh pot supplied with fuel from a predelivery pump in the fuel pump. Fuel measurement is effected by sensing delivery of air to the anti-slosh put by the predelivery pump when the fuel level in the tank is low, and measuring the amount of fuel in the anti-slosh pot when delivery of air is sensed. The amount of fuel measured in the anti-slosh pot accurately represents the amount of fuel remaining in the fuel tank.
Claims12
A fuel level indicator device for a fuel tank of a motor vehicle having a float system in the tank acting on a signal transmitter connected to an evaluation-indicator device, and a fuel pump in the tank at a bottom wall thereof, the fuel pump containing an anti-slosh pot supplied with fuel from a predelivery pump, said fuel level indicator device comprising means for determining when the fuel tank is almost empty, means in the anti-slosh pot for determining the amount of fuel in the anti-slosh pot, and means for supplying a signal to the evaluation-indicator device corresponding to the determined amount of fuel in the anti-slosh pot when the fuel tank is determined to be almost empty.
In a method for measuring the fuel level in a fuel tank having a fuel pump with an anti-slosh pot supplied with fuel from a predelivery pump in the fuel pump, the improvement comprising
- sensing delivery by the predelivery pump of air to the anti-slosh post when the fuel level in the tank is low and an inlet of the fuel pump is supplied with air, and
- measuring the amount of fuel in the anti-slosh pot when delivery of air is sensed in the anti-slosh pot, the amount of fuel measured in the anti-slosh pot representing the amount of fuel remaining.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.