Water-in-fuel abuse detection
US6676841B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 6, 2001 |
| Grant date | Jan 13, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 6, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF02D2041/228
- WIPO fieldChemical engineering
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
A water-in-fuel abuse detection system provides a way to determine if a vehicle operator has ignored a conventional water-in-fuel indicator light and continued to operate the vehicle beyond a certain threshold. The system includes a sensor positioned in a fuel filter capable of separating an amount of water from a source of fuel. The sensor is operatively connected to a software routine, as well as to a conventional indicator light that illuminates to alert a vehicle operator that water must be purged from the fuel filtration system. The software routine determines the duration, in distance traversed or time elapsed, that the amount of water is at or above the level of the sensor. The routine then writes a fault code to permanent memory when the threshold is exceeded. A diagnostic tool can access the permanent memory and reveal whether the fuel system has be the subject of water-in-fuel abuse.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.