Fuel Flow Patents (Class 73/114.42)
  • Patent number: 11753994
    Abstract: An additively manufactured attritable engine includes a compressor section, a combustion section, a turbine section, and an engine case wall, which surrounds the compressor section, the combustion section, and the turbine section. The engine case wall includes a first cavity embedded in the engine case wall that defines an injector that is in fluid communication with the combustion section. The engine case wall includes a second cavity embedded within the engine case wall and defines a fuel feed passage that is in thermal communication through the exterior surface of the engine case wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: RTX Corporation
    Inventors: Lawrence A. Binek, David W. Morganson
  • Patent number: 11028795
    Abstract: Various embodiments include a method for operating a fuel injector comprising: applying a first current to a solenoid to perform a first injection process and inject a predefined injection quantity; determining a value of a system parameter indicating the relationship between the actual fuel quantity and the predefined quantity; determining, on the basis of the value of the system parameter, whether the actually injected fuel quantity is smaller than the predefined fuel quantity by a predefined amount corresponding to a disparity between a magnetic force exerted on the armature in the direction of the pole piece and an opposite hydraulic force exerted on the armature by fuel; and if it was determined that the quantities differ by enough, applying a second current to the solenoid to perform a second injection; wherein the second current exerts a lower magnetic force on the armature in the direction of the pole piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: VITESCO TECHNOLOGIES GMBH
    Inventors: Markus Stutika, Gerd Rösel
  • Patent number: 10240496
    Abstract: An oil supply apparatus includes: an oil pump; a main oil supply path; a sub oil supply path connected to the main oil supply path; a first oil supply section which is connected to the main oil supply path and which supplies oil to a crank bearing section of a specific crank journal; a second oil supply section which is connected to the sub oil supply path and which supplies oil to a crank bearing section of a crank journal other than the specific crank journal; and a control apparatus which sets, as a target oil pressure, a highest required oil pressure among required oil pressures required from a plurality of hydraulic operating sections in accordance with an operation state of the engine, and which controls the discharge amount of the oil pump so that an oil pressure detected by an oil pressure sensor equals the target oil pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keiichi Kamimura, Hirokazu Matsuura, Tomohiro Koguchi, Kenta Honda
  • Patent number: 10174735
    Abstract: An injection device for an internal combustion engine includes a fuel delivery pump and a high-pressure pump which are connected to one another via a low-pressure fuel line. A high-pressure accumulator is connected to the high-pressure pump. At least one injector is connected via a high-pressure fuel line to the high-pressure accumulator. The injection device also has at least one fuel return line which is connected to the high-pressure accumulator and/or to the at least one injector. The fuel return line issues into the low-pressure fuel line which connects the fuel delivery pump and the high-pressure pump to one another. At least one air bleed valve is arranged in the course of the low-pressure fuel line or on the high-pressure pump or on a filter housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Tobias Ritsch, Daniel Anetsberger, Christoph Klesse, Uwe Lingener
  • Patent number: 10138836
    Abstract: A method for operating an engine system 200 comprising an engine 208 configured to consume a fuel, having at least a two flowmeters 214, 216, is provided. The method includes the step of operating an engine 208 disposed between a supply flowmeter 214 of the at least two flowmeters and a return flowmeter 216 of the at least two flowmeters. A first fuel density in the supply flowmeter 214 and a second fuel density in the return flowmeter 216 are measured. The fuel density measurements 317 between the supply flowmeter 214 and return flowmeter 216 are compared and a differential density measurement value, ?? 319, based on a difference in the second fuel density and the first fuel density is determined. The ?? 319 is compared to a range of theoretical differential fuel density values, ??t, and potential fuel contamination is indicated if the ?? lies outside a range of ??t values by a predetermined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: Micro Motion, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick John Zimmer, John Ansdell Houghton
  • Patent number: 9651038
    Abstract: A pulsation and particle suppressing continuous air flow system for air sampling instruments, particularly particle counters. An air pump occupies a portion of a sealed vacuum housing, with the other portion of the housing forming a surge chamber used to damp surges as the air pump attempts to pump air towards an air outflow port through an outflow pipe. The unoccupied volume of the surge chamber dampens or dilutes the surges at an air inflow port of the housing that is associated with an air sampling instrument, such as a particle counter. The air outflow port is associated with a filter for trapping particles originating inside of the air pump and associated motor while the interior of the housing itself traps particles originating outside of the air pump and motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: Met One Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerald A. Szpak, Thomas L. Pottberg
  • Patent number: 9284905
    Abstract: A classification method for an injector may include: actuating the injector by means of a predefinable test control signal, detecting a quantity of liquid dispensed by the injector on the basis of the test control signal, classifying the injector as a function of the detected dispensed quantity of liquid, and determining a required control signal on the basis of the classification of the injector considering a reduced injector stroke. A calibration method for a characteristic map of an injector, and a test bench device for performing the injector classification method are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventor: Uwe Jung
  • Publication number: 20140260575
    Abstract: A system according to the principles of the present disclosure includes a pressure sensor, a pressure variation module, and a purge flow diagnostic module. The pressure sensor generates a pressure signal indicating a pressure within a fuel system of an engine. The pressure variation module determines an amount of variation in the pressure signal over a period. The purge flow diagnostic module diagnoses a fault associated with flow through a purge valve of the fuel system when the pressure variation amount is less than a threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: ROBERT JACKSON
  • Publication number: 20140216126
    Abstract: A device for measuring a fuel flow in a test stand comprises a measuring module (10) for measuring a fuel flow guided through the measuring module (10) as well as a conditioning module (11) arranged downstream of the measuring module (10) for conditioning the fuel. Moreover, a verification module (19) is provided downstream of the measuring module (10) for checking the measuring precision of the measuring module (10). The fuel may be guided optionally to the conditioning module (11) or to the verification module (19). The verification module (19) is an integral part of the device may have an injector (26) as a dosing unit for extracting an exactly defined reference fuel quantity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2012
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: HORIBA EUROPE GMBH
    Inventors: Rainer Thuering, Guenter Hagemann
  • Patent number: 8695410
    Abstract: A fuel flow measuring apparatus comprises a fuel conditioning cabinet, a fuel supply delivered through a fuel supply line, a fuel measurement cabinet, a fuel transfer line to transfer fuel from the fuel conditioning cabinet to the fuel measurement cabinet, a fuel delivery line extending between the fuel measurement cabinet and the internal combustion engine and to deliver fuel thereto, a first fuel return loop extending from the fuel delivery line to the fuel measurement cabinet, a second fuel return loop extending between the fuel measurement cabinet and the fuel conditioning cabinet and an intermediate cooling system comprising an intermediate cooling tank containing an intermediate coolant, an intermediate coolant line in serial thermodynamic communication with the first fuel return loop and the second fuel return loop to thermally connect the fuel flowing through both of the fuel conditioning cabinet and the fuel measurement cabinet to define an isothermic fuel stability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Richard W. Gushman, Charles Thomas Sullivan, David J. Gunnels
  • Patent number: 8683853
    Abstract: An apparatus for detecting abnormality for a fuel property detecting apparatus according to the present invention includes the fuel property detecting apparatus having a sensor part provided on a fuel channel, temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the fuel in the vicinity of said sensor part, a heater capable of raising the temperature of the fuel in the vicinity of the sensor part, and abnormality determining means for determining whether or not there is an abnormality in the fuel property detecting apparatus based on the temperature detected by the temperature detecting means when the heater is activated. The abnormality determining means includes fuel flow abnormality determining means for determining whether or not there is an abnormality in the flow of the fuel in the vicinity of the sensor part and failure determining means for determining whether there is a failure of said fuel property detecting apparatus itself.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Wakao, Mie Sasai
  • Publication number: 20130255364
    Abstract: A fuel flow measuring apparatus comprises a fuel conditioning cabinet, a fuel supply delivered through a fuel supply line, a fuel measurement cabinet, a fuel transfer line to transfer fuel from the fuel conditioning cabinet to the fuel measurement cabinet, a fuel delivery line extending between the fuel measurement cabinet and the internal combustion engine and to deliver fuel thereto, a first fuel return loop extending from the fuel delivery line to the fuel measurement cabinet, a second fuel return loop extending between the fuel measurement cabinet and the fuel conditioning cabinet and an intermediate cooling system comprising an intermediate cooling tank containing an intermediate coolant, an intermediate coolant line in serial thermodynamic communication with the first fuel return loop and the second fuel return loop to thermally connect the fuel flowing through both of the fuel conditioning cabinet and the fuel measurement cabinet to define an isothermic fuel stability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Richard W. Gushman, Charles Thomas Sullivan, David J. Gunnels
  • Publication number: 20130199281
    Abstract: An apparatus includes an electroactive polymer member and a first electric terminal and a second electric terminal. The electroactive polymer member has a free portion configured to change position relative to a fixed portion in response to an external stimulus corresponding to at least one of a flow parameter or a fluid parameter. The first electric terminal and the second electric terminal are coupled to the electroactive polymer member. The first electric terminal and the second electric terminal provide an electrical signal in response to the change.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2011
    Publication date: August 8, 2013
    Applicant: BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Guoming G. Zhu, Xiaobo Tan, David Ling-Shun Hung
  • Publication number: 20130019669
    Abstract: The present invention aims at providing an apparatus for detecting abnormality capable of accurately detecting whether or not there is an abnormality in a fuel property detecting apparatus. An apparatus for detecting abnormality for a fuel property detecting apparatus according to the present invention includes the fuel property detecting apparatus having a sensor part provided on a fuel channel, temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the fuel in the vicinity of said sensor part, a heater capable of raising the temperature of the fuel in the vicinity of the sensor part, and abnormality determining means for determining whether or not there is an abnormality in the fuel property detecting apparatus based on the temperature detected by the temperature detecting means when the heater is activated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2010
    Publication date: January 24, 2013
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Wakao, Mie Sasai
  • Patent number: 8204672
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for detecting an anomaly in fuel demand data and fuel supply data generated by a fuel metering system for an engine, The method comprises collecting the fuel demand data and the fuel supply data during operation of the fuel metering system, generating expected fuel supply data based on the collected fuel demand data and a nominal response model describing the expected behavior of the fuel metering system, and detecting the anomaly if a difference between the expected fuel supply data and the collected fuel supply data exceeds a predetermined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Honeywell International, Inc.
    Inventors: Dinkar Mylaraswamy, Girija Parthasarathy
  • Patent number: 8196564
    Abstract: In a method for determining a controlled variable of pressure control of a high-pressure accumulator of an injection system, a setpoint pressure gradient value is determined in the high-pressure accumulator as a function of the maximum possible actual pressure gradient value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Fredrik Borchsenius, Michael Wirkowski
  • Publication number: 20120055423
    Abstract: Systems and methods for monitoring a fuel reformer which reforms ethanol into a reformate gas comprising H2, CO, and CH4 for fueling an engine are provided. Degradation of the fuel reformer may be indicated based on an amount of ethanol injected into the fuel reformer and an amount of at least one of H2, CO, and CH4 produced by the fuel reformer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2011
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventor: Ross Dykstra Pursifull
  • Patent number: 8047062
    Abstract: A testing device (10) for high-pressure injectors (50) of a common rail injection system of an engine unit, with the high-pressure injectors (50) each having a fuel return connection (52) for a fuel return line (54) is characterized by a throughflow quantity measuring/display unit (12) which can be detachably connected between the fuel return connection (52) and fuel return line (54).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Inventor: Friedrich Lehnert
  • Publication number: 20110056265
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a system and method for identifying whether a difference between measured lambda and computed lambda, based on mass air flow and mass fuel flow, is due to a drift in fuel metering or a drift in air metering. The determination is based on also measuring exhaust gas NOx using a NOx sensor. By comparing the measured NOx to modeled NOx, drift can be attributed appropriately to the air flow measurement and/or the fuel flow measurement. Appropriate correction in the calibration can be undertaken to overcome sensor drift and/or drift in the fuel injector/fuel system flow characteristics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2010
    Publication date: March 10, 2011
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventor: Yasser Mohamed sayed Yacoub
  • Publication number: 20110010075
    Abstract: A method, apparatus, and system to measure, record, and control exhaust products from an internal combustion engine (ICE) are disclosed. Measurements of the exhaust products of an ICE are recorded and made available. The measurements provide the inputs for one of a variety of different algorithms to determine the proper flow rates for a first and a for second fuel being feed to an ICE to achieve one or more goals relating to at least one of the measured exhaust products. These flow rates are then enforced to control the exhaust products.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2009
    Publication date: January 13, 2011
    Inventors: Noah Rogers, Aaron Stuart, Chad Buttars
  • Publication number: 20100300187
    Abstract: A sensor system for determining at least one parameter of a fluid medium flowing in a main flow direction has at least one sensor situated in the fluid medium, for determining the parameter of the fluid medium, and at least one grating situated transversely to the main flow direction and having at least one crosstie, the crosstie having a crosstie depth directed essentially in the main flow direction. The crosstie has at least one recess, the crosstie depth being reduced in the recess.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2008
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Inventors: Erhard Renninger, Uwe Konzelmann, Christoph Gmelin
  • Publication number: 20100288018
    Abstract: The application relates to a connector (11) for connecting at least a portion of a double-wall tubing (9) to a high-pressure line (4) and a fuel system having a high pressure line (4), a double wall tubing (9) and connector for coupling the double-wall tubing (9) to the high-pressure line (4). The connector (11) is configured to establish a fluid connection between a portion of the double wall tubing (9) and the high pressure line (4). The connector also provides a fluid detection passage, and a fluid connection between another portion of double wall tubing and said fluid detection passage. The application also relates to a method for detecting a leakage in a fuel system of the above type, having a plurality of first detection units and a second detection unit, in which fuel leakage, which may stem from different areas of the fuel system, may be detected by at least one of said first and second detection units.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 4, 2008
    Publication date: November 18, 2010
    Inventor: Ulrich Hopmann
  • Publication number: 20100275679
    Abstract: An engine control system comprises a model pressure determination module and a sensor diagnostic module. The model pressure determination module determines a modeled fuel rail pressure based on a fuel pump flow rate and an engine fuel flow rate. The sensor diagnostic module generates a status of a fuel rail pressure sensor based on a comparison of the modeled fuel rail pressure and a sensed fuel rail pressure sensed by the fuel rail pressure sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2009
    Publication date: November 4, 2010
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Wenbo Wang, Michael J. Lucido, Vincent A. White
  • Publication number: 20100220182
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a system includes an engine that includes a combustion chamber and a viewing port into the combustion chamber. The engine also includes a camera configured to obtain an image of a flame in the combustion chamber through the viewing port and a controller configured to adjust a parameter of the engine based on the image of the flame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2009
    Publication date: September 2, 2010
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Anthony Krull, David Leach, Gilbert Kraemer, Geoffrey Myers, Alexey Vert, Garth Frederick, Samer Aljabari
  • Patent number: 7647156
    Abstract: A method and system for using exhaust temperature anomalies to detect fugitive fueling of a reciprocating internal combustion engine compares an exhaust temperature attribute with a predetermined threshold value for such attribute, which is a function of either the combustion of fugitive fuel within the engine, or an indicator of an operating condition leading to fugitive fueling. If the value of the attribute exceeds the threshold value, remedial action will be taken to avoid engine damage resulting from fugitive fueling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: James R. Mischler, Luke M. Henry, Nikita Goel, Kyle C. Stott
  • Patent number: 7600417
    Abstract: A fuel delivery system uses a volumetric flow sensor and a densiometer to measure a mass flow rate of the fuel. A densiometer may be a coriolis mass flow sensor etched into a small circuit chip. As fuel flows past the densiometer a density of the fuel and characteristic slope as a function of temperature is determined. At least one temperature sensor is also located on the circuit chip to provide accurate temperature of the fuel to correspond to the fuel density reading. Piezoelectric crystals in the volumetric flow sensor generate and receive a sound wave. By analyzing the sound wave signals the volumetric flow rate of fluid through the volumetric flow sensor can be calculated. At least one temperature sensor is also placed on the volumetric flow sensor to correct for any thermal expansion of an inner diameter of the volumetric flow sensor and for final mass flow calculation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventor: Bruce Paradise
  • Patent number: 7587931
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for testing fuel flow in a return or returnless fuel system. The apparatus comprises a primary flow passage having an inlet for connection to the fuel system for receiving fuel pumped by the fuel pump, and an outlet adapted for connection to the fuel system for flow of fuel to one or more fuel injectors. The apparatus includes a first device for measuring a rate of fuel flow through the primary flow passage, and a second device for measuring a fuel pressure in the primary flow passage. A bypass valve in the primary flow passage is movable between a first position in which the bypass passage is closed and a second position in which the bypass passage is open. The bypass valve is movable to its first position for testing fuel flow in a return flow system and to its second position for testing fuel flow in a returnless fuel flow system. Different embodiments of the apparatus and methods of using the apparatus are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2009
    Assignee: Lincoln Industrial Corporation
    Inventors: Eric Daniel Krassinger, David Mark Allen
  • Publication number: 20090188308
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for testing fuel flow in a return or returnless fuel system. The apparatus comprises a primary flow passage having an inlet for connection to the fuel system for receiving fuel pumped by the fuel pump, and an outlet adapted for connection to the fuel system for flow of fuel to one or more fuel injectors. The apparatus includes a first device for measuring a rate of fuel flow through the primary flow passage, and a second device for measuring a fuel pressure in the primary flow passage. A bypass valve in the primary flow passage is movable between a first position in which the bypass passage is closed and a second position in which the bypass passage is open. The bypass valve is movable to its first position for testing fuel flow in a return flow system and to its second position for testing fuel flow in a returnless fuel flow system. Different embodiments of the apparatus and methods of using the apparatus are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2008
    Publication date: July 30, 2009
    Applicant: LINCOLN INDUSTRIAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Eric Daniel Krassinger, David Mark Allen
  • Publication number: 20090138214
    Abstract: A process for the evaluation of the true fuel flow rate supplied to a tested vehicle engine, in particular an industrial vehicle, the process including: the determination of a reference fuel flow rate, corresponding to the exact flow rate measured on a reference engine of the same type as the tested engine under various operation conditions as a function of a load the engine is subjected to; the measurement of the deceleration (?n/?t) of the tested engine from a first to a second rotation speed which are preset in the absence of fuel supply, corresponding to a load the engine is subjected to; the determination, based on said deceleration, and based on the actual operation conditions of the engine under similar load conditions, of the corresponding reference flow rate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2008
    Publication date: May 28, 2009
    Inventor: Michele Marconi
  • Publication number: 20090043478
    Abstract: In a dual fuel injected internal combustion engine, the primary injected fuel is gasoline with a secondary fuel injected consisting of Ethanol, Methanol, a combination of Ethanol and Methanol or a mixture of either fuel with water. The method and device claimed is an electronic controller that monitors the flow rate and or effect of the secondary injected fuel though sensory input signals and outputs a control signal to an external device which will reduce the internal combustion engines power output to a safe level in the event that the flow of the secondary fuel injected is not within a predetermined specified range and or the effect of the secondary fuel injected is not within a predetermined range as detected by an automotive inlet air temperature sensor or automotive knock sensor there by preventing damage to the internal combustion engine from detonation or pre-ignition of the primary air fuel charge as a result of reduced quantity of secondary injected fuel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2008
    Publication date: February 12, 2009
    Applicant: Labonte MotorSports, LLC
    Inventor: Daniel Joseph Labonte
  • Patent number: 7472586
    Abstract: A measuring body is provided in a fluid path between a pump and a fuel injection valve, a flow amount for which is measured. An inner space of the measuring body is divided into a first and a second fluid chambers by a partitioning wall, wherein the first and second fluid chambers are, respectively, operatively connected to the pump and the fuel injection valve. A movable member (float) is slidably inserted into a through-hole formed in the partitioning wall, so that both ends are respectively exposed to the first and second fluid chambers. When the fuel injection is carried out by the fuel injection valve, the fluid in the second fluid chamber is decreased corresponding to the amount of injected fluid, and thereby the float is moved in a direction from the first to the second fluid chamber. The amount of the injected fluid is measured by detecting the movement of the float.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2009
    Assignees: Denso Corporation, Tokyo Aircraft Instrument Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshihisa Niimi, Seigi Toiyama, Yosimi Saito, Tatsuya Masai
  • Publication number: 20080264155
    Abstract: The invention relates to a fuel supplying device comprising a low-pressure circuit, a high-pressure pump which is coupled to the low-pressure circuit on the input side thereof and transports fuel into a fuel accumulator, and an actuator which controls the fuel flow rate of the high-pressure pump. In the event of a stationary load, a first value of a fuel pressure and a first actuating signal of the actuator are determined, a second value of the fuel pressure is set, and said second value being larger or smaller than the first value of the fuel pressure by a pre-determined amount, a second actuating signal of the actuator is determined once the second value of the fuel pressure has been set, and an error in the fuel supplying device is detected according to the first and second actuating signals of the actuator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2005
    Publication date: October 30, 2008
    Inventors: Erwin Achleitner, Martin Cwielong, Gerhard Eser
  • Publication number: 20080209991
    Abstract: A fuel tank device capable of detecting consistency includes a fuel storage tank and a consistency detecting box. The fuel storage tank provides fuel needed by a fuel cell as a fuel supply source for the fuel cell. A consistency detecting passage is disposed near the bottom of the fuel storage tank for the fuel flowing outward to the consistency detecting box. The consistency detecting box further includes a signal emitting component, which is disposed in the consistency detecting box and capable of emitting a signal piercing the fuel in the consistency detecting box, a signal receiving component, which is disposed in the consistency detecting box and capable of collecting the signal after piercing the fuel in the consistency detecting box and a consistency detecting component, which is attached to the consistency detecting box, compares the emitted signal with the collected signal for detecting a consistency of the fuel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2007
    Publication date: September 4, 2008
    Inventors: TSANG-MING CHANG, Chien-An Chen, Wen Jui Chuang