Abstract: A card (20) has a recording surface (36) with three aligned horizontal rows (40,42,44) of boxes. The first row (40) is in the middle with the second row (42) above it and the third row (44) below it. An initial odometer reading of a vehicle is recorded in the first row (40). At the same time, a base fuel gauge reading is taken and is recorded by positioning a pivotable pointer (50) mounted on the card (20) above the first row (40). The vehicle is driven to consume fuel, and ten gallons of fuel are added to bring the fuel gauge reading above the base reading. When the fuel gauge again reaches the base reading, a second odometer reading is taken and recorded in the second row (42) of boxes. The reading in the first row (40) is subtracted from the reading in the second row (42), and the result is written in the third row (44) of boxes. A decimal point (46) is positioned between the two rightmost boxes of the third row (44) to automatically convert the subtraction results into miles per gallon.

Abstract: A signal proportional to a vehicle speed is applied to one input terminal of a differential amplifier, and the output of the differential amplifier is fed back to the other input terminal of the differential amplifier via a switch the on-time of which is proportional to consumed fuel. Then, the output of the differential amplifier is taken out as a fuel consumption signal for informing a vehicle driver the momentary fuel consumption of the vehicle on a voltmeter or ammeter.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for determining vehicular distance per fuel unit, such as the miles per gallon or liter of fuel consumed in driving a car. The vehicle has a fuel gage, and when stopped on, or operating on level road, a reference mark is made where the fuel gage pointer is then located and the odometer mileage reading is recorded. Vehicle operation is continued and when convenient, fuel is then added to the fuel tank to cause the pointer to show a greater quantity of fuel in the tank than is shown by the reference mark. The vehicle is then driven until the fuel gage pointer again returns to the reference mark, and the total distance traversed is also determined. With the knowledge of the amount of fuel consumed and the total distance traversed, the distance traversed per unit of fuel can be calculated.

Abstract: A vehicle energy conservation indicating device comprising an integrated instrument cluster functioning basically as a nomographic computing mechanism. The odometer distance traveled indicator computing mechanism is linked with the fuel indicating gauge mechanism such that a three variable equation computing mechanism is obtained. The three variables are distance traveled, quantity of fuel consumed and distance traveled per unit of fuel consumed. Energy conservation is achieved by operating the vehicle under such performance conditions as to produce the highest possible value for distance traveled per unit of fuel consumed. The instrument panel cluster brings the operator's attention to focus upon and continuously stimulated to conserving energy. Furthermore, the vehicle energy conservation indicating device can be adapted for recording these performance variables on tape type print out.

Abstract: This disclosure deals with a system for indicating to the driver of a vehicle a figure which represents the operating efficiency of the vehicle and which is derived from the fuel consumed and the distance traveled by the vehicle. The system measures the speed of the vehicle and a characteristic of the fuel supply system of the engine which is indicative of the fuel consumption. These two factors are combined in a dividing circuit which produces a signal that is fed to an indicator for displaying the figure to the operator of the vehicle. The vehicle engine has a fuel supply system including injectors and a fuel pressure regulating apparatus. The total fuel flowing to the injectors is divided into a burned flow portion and a return flow portion, and the burned flow portion is a relatively fixed ratio of the total flow. The characteristic of the supply system which is sensed is the total flow, and because of the fixed ratio, it is indicative of the fuel consumption rate.

Abstract: In a fuel economy measuring circuit a first train of pulses having a rate which is a function of the velocity of the vehicle or of the fuel consumption rate is fed into one input terminal of an up-down counter for causing the counter to count up or down as the case may be. A second train of pulses having a pulse rate which is a function of the fuel consumption of the vehicle per unit time or velocity of the vehicle is fed into one input of a rate multiplier for multiplication with the output of the up-down counter to derive a product output train of pulses having a pulse rate which is a function of the product of the output signal of the counter and the other input. The output pulse train of the rate multiplier is fed to the other input terminal of the up-down counter.

Abstract: The apparatus gives a simultaneous readout of the semi-instantaneous rate of fuel consumption, expressed in terms of miles per gallon; the distance traveled; and the total amount of gallons consumed since the apparatus was last reset for a moving vehicle powered by an internal combustion engine. The fuel is metered by a flow transducer which emits a pulse rate representative of fuel flow rate while at the same time the miles traveled by the moving vehicle are measured by a distance transducer also emitting a pulse rate. Both pulse rates are fed to digital integrated circuitry that provides readouts for miles traveled, total fuel consumed and for the semi-instantaneous miles per gallon.The apparatus also includes a reset switch, a hold switch to maintain the indicator readings while not inhibiting the accumulation of further counts, and internal switches to accommodate vehicle-to-vehicle variations in rear end ratios and tire sizes.

Abstract: A vehicle fuel economy calculator including a digital circuit for generating a first series of pulse groups with the number of pulses in each group representing a calculation of instantaneous vehicle fuel economy. A digital averaging circuit generates a second series of pulse groups with the number of pulses in each group representing an average vehicle fuel economy determined by the average number of pulses in each pulse group in a predetermined number of consecutive pulse groups in the first series. A gating and indicating circuit is responsive to the vehicle speed and fuel consumption rate for providing an indication of zero fuel economy when the vehicle speed is below a predetermined speed, for coupling the first series of pulse groups to the indicator during a specified period of time after the vehicle reaches the predetermined speed or when the fuel consumption exceeds a predetermined rate, and for coupling the second series of pulse groups to the indicator circuit at all other times.