Apparatus for determining change of fuel flow
AssigneeProprietary Technology, Inc.
InventorDonald D. Bartholomew
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
This invention discloses a device by which fuel flow within a pressurized fuel system can accurately be measured to determine if the flow of fuel falls within an acceptable range. If the device detects that the fuel flow is not within normal operating ranges of the fuel system, then the device will provide a warning indication that a malfunction or fuel leakage is present in the fuel system or shut off power to the fuel pump providing the flow of fuel. The detection device can either be a device which detects the actual flow of the through the fuel line, or a device which detects the pressure within the fuel line. By this invention, a pending malfunction, such as fuel filter blockage or leaking fuel line, can be ascertained before the malfunction becomes a serious problem.
Claims21
A fuel system comprising:
- a fuel tank for holding a certain quantity of fuel;
- at least one fuel line connected to said fuel tank;
- and
- means for determining a total flow of fuel through said at least one fuel line relative to a predetermined value, at a single point, so as to indicate a malfunction of the total fuel flow in said fuel system.
A fuel system for a vehicle comprising:
- a fuel tank for holding a certain quantity of fuel;
- a supply fuel line directing fuel from said fuel tank to a vehicle engine;
- a return fuel line directing fuel from the engine back to the fuel tank;
- a fuel pump positioned within the fuel tank for pumping fuel into the supply fuel line;
- a pressure regulator for regulating the fuel pressure in the fuel system;
- and
- means for measuring the flow of fuel through the return fuel line proximate the fuel tank, at a single point, so as to sense the fuel flow rate relative to a predetermined value and provide information relating to an abnormal fuel flow condition anywhere in said supply and return lines.
A method for supplying fuel from a fuel tank to a fuel rail comprising the steps of:
- pumping the fuel along a first fuel line between the fuel tank and the fuel rail;
- measuring the flow of fuel through the first fuel line at a single point therealong;
- and
- comparing the measured flow of fuel to the flow that would be expected during normal operation of fuel flow so as to detect a leak anywhere in said first fuel line.
A vehicle fuel system comprising:
- a fuel tank for holding a quantity of fuel;
- at least one fuel line connected to said fuel tank and a fuel rail of said vehicle, for supplying said fuel to said fuel rail;
- and
- a single fuel flow pressure detecting device disposed proximate said fuel rail to detect a fuel flow malfunction occurring anywhere in said fuel line.
A vehicle fuel system comprising:
- a fuel tank for holding a quantity of fuel;
- a fuel supply line coupled to said fuel tank and to an engine of said vehicle;
- a fuel return line coupled between and to said engine and said fuel tank;
- and
- single fuel flow sensing means disposed proximate said fuel tank in said fuel return line for sensing an actual fuel flow in said fuel supply and return lines and detecting a change in said actual fuel flow, from a predetermined amount, anywhere in said fuel supply and return lines, to thereby provide an indication of a malfunction in said fuel supply and return lines.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.