Fuel additive dispensing system
OwnerJohn F. Bryan, III, Brian W. Petersen +1inventors
InventorsJohn F. Bryan, III, Brian W. Petersen, Harley B. Martin
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An additive dispensing system for diesel fueled applications includes a diesel fuel system having either single or multiple tanks, a fuel level sensor, an additive tank, a fixed rate additive dispensing pump and a microprocessor operating on a logic basis whereby a minimum of three fuel level readings, taken at fixed periods and compared to one another and/or to predetermined standards, provide the input necessary to control the operation of the additive dispensing pump so as to maintain a predetermined concentration of additive in the diesel fuel system regardless of random refueling sequences.
Claims14
A system for automatically dispensing additive to a motor vehicle fuel supply, independent of vehicle operation, so as to maintain a predetermined additive concentration in said fuel supply through a series of random fuel depletion and refueling cycles comprising:
- refillable tank means for containing a fuel supply in a quantity measured by the level thereof;
- a supply of additive for treatment of said fuel;
- pumping means for transferring additive from said additive tank to said fuel supply at a fixed rate;
- means for gradual fuel depletion of said fuel supply;
- means for periodically sensing the level of said fuel supply;
- means for comparing a current level and the two consecutive prior levels to establish a lowest level of said fuel supply and for recognizing a refueling and the amount of fuel added;
- and
- means for activating and controlling said pumping means when said fuel supply level is increased so as to transfer a quantity of additive proportional to said amount of fuel added.
A system for automatically dispensing additive to a motor vehicle fuel supply, independent of vehicle operation, so as to maintain a predetermined additive concentration in said fuel supply through a random series of fuel depletion and refueling cycles comprising:
- refillable tanks wherein the fuel supply contained is measured by the level thereof;
- an additive tank containing a supply of additive for treatment of said fuel;
- pumping means for transferring additive from said additive tank to said fuel supply at a fixed rate;
- means for gradual depletion of said fuel supply;
- means for periodically sensing the level of said fuel supply;
- means for comparing a current level and the two consecutive prior levels to establish a lowest level of said fuel supply and for recognizing a refueling and the amount of fuel added;
- and
- means for activating and controlling said pumping means when said fuel supply level is increased so as to transfer a quantity of additive proportional to said amount of fuel added.
A method for evaluating a complete refueling event in an additive dispensing system for a vehicle, independent of the operation of the vehicle, comprising the steps of:
- periodically measuring the fuel level at intervals known to at least approximate the time required for refueling and balancing fuel levels;
- continuously storing the past two consecutive levels as the first, earlier level and the second level;
- comparing the first level to the current level to detect any significant increase in level;
- comparing the first level to said second level to establish the presence of a significant increase in level during that period;
- and
- comparing the first level to the current level to determine the total amount of fuel added in the refueling event.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.