System For Calculating And Displaying Remaining Runtime For A Portable Generator

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016161318-A1
Application number	US-201514963538-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 9, 2015
Priority date	Dec 9, 2014
Publication date	Jun 9, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A system is provided for calculating and displaying an estimated remaining runtime for a portable generator. The system may include fuel sender with capacitive sensors communicating with a control system to display the fuel level and/or remaining runtime that can be recalculated when step changes in system performance are detected.

First claim

We claim:

1 . A method for calculating and displaying an estimated remaining runtime for a portable generator with a fuel tank assembly storing fuel for consumption by an internal combustion engine of the portable generator while generating electrical power, the method comprising the steps of:
performing an initial runtime estimation, including,
detecting an initial fuel level characteristic of fuel in the fuel tank assembly;
detecting an initial generator load characteristic of load being applied to the generator;
calculating an initial estimated remaining runtime value corresponding to a time duration at which the generator can continue to operate until running out of fuel based on the detected initial fuel level and generator load characteristics;
displaying the initial estimated remaining runtime value as an indicated remaining runtime for viewing by a user; and
performing a revised runtime estimation, including,
detecting a current fuel level characteristic of fuel in the fuel tank assembly after the initial detection of the fuel level characteristic;
detecting a current generator load characteristic of load being applied to the generator after the initial detection of the generator load characteristic;
calculating a revised estimated remaining runtime value corresponding to a time duration at which the generator can continue to operate until running out of fuel based on the detected current fuel level and generator load characteristics; and
displaying the revised estimated remaining runtime value as the indicated remaining runtime.

2 . The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:
performing a step updated revised runtime estimation, including,
identifying a step change in a value of at least one of the fuel level and generator load characteristics, wherein the step change of the value corresponds to a change exceeding a respective threshold value indicating a relatively large change influencing an amount of time at which the generator can continue to operate until running out of fuel;
detecting the current fuel level characteristic of fuel in the fuel tank assembly after identifying the step change in value of at least one of the fuel level and generator load characteristics;
detecting the current generator load characteristic of load being applied to the generator after identifying the step change in value of at least one of the fuel level and generator load characteristics;
calculating a step updated revised estimated remaining runtime value corresponding to the time duration at which the generator can continue to operate until running out of fuel based on the detected current fuel level and generator load characteristics; and
displaying the step updated revised estimated remaining runtime value as the indicated remaining runtime.

3 . The method of claim 2 wherein the indicated remaining runtime is displayed as a numerical value.

4 . The method of claim 3 wherein the remaining runtime is displayed as at least one of an hours and minutes value.

5 . The method of claim 1 wherein the fuel tank assembly includes a main fuel tank and at least one auxiliary fuel tanks operatively connectable to the main fuel tank.

6 . The method of claim 5 wherein the step of detecting an initial fuel level characteristic of fuel in the fuel tank assembly includes the steps:
detecting the presence of the auxiliary fuel tank operatively connected to the main fuel tank; and if the auxiliary fuel tank is detected, performing the step of detecting an initial fuel level characteristic of fuel in the main fuel tank and of fuel in the auxiliary fuel tank.

7 . The method of claim 2 wherein the fuel tank assembly includes a main fuel tank and at least one auxiliary fuel tank operatively connectable to the main fuel tank and wherein the step of performing the updated revised runtime estimation includes the additional steps of:
identifying the connection or the removal of the auxiliary tank from the main fuel tank and determining a possible step change of a total amount of fuel available in the fuel assembly, wherein the step change corresponds to a change of the total amount of fuel available which exceeds a threshold value;
calculating a revised estimated remaining runtime value corresponding to a time duration at which the generator can continue to operate until running out of fuel based on the total amount of fuel available and the generator load characteristics; and
displaying the revised estimated remaining runtime value as the indicated remaining runtime.

8 . A system for calculating and displaying an estimated remaining runtime for a portable generator with a fuel tank assembly storing fuel for consumption by an internal combustion engine of the portable generator while generating electrical power, the system comprising:
a first fuel sender extending at least partially into a main fuel tank of the fuel tank assembly and having a sensor arrangement configured to provide a signal corresponding to a portion of the sensor arrangement that is submerged in fuel stored in the main fuel tank; a control system operably connected to the first fuel sender and configured to receive the signal from the sensor arrangement and evaluate the signal to determine a fuel level of the fuel stored in the main fuel tank; and a display system operably connected to the control system and configured to display the fuel level for viewing by a user.

9 . The system of claim 8 wherein the sensor arrangement includes:
multiple capacitive sensing elements vertically stacked so that the fuel stored in the fuel tank wets respective portions of the multiple capacitive sensing elements changing capacitive characteristics thereof based on whether the portions of multiple capacitive elements are submerged in and wetted by the fuel or not submerged and not wetted by the fuel.

10 . The system of claim 9 wherein the fuel sender includes:
a printed circuit board (PCB) and the multiple capacitive sensing elements are arranged at the printed circuit board.

11 . The system of claim 10 wherein a cover overlies the PCB and provides a barrier between the PCB and the fuel stored in the fuel tank.

12 . The system of claim 11 wherein the cover is at least one of a conformal coat, an over mold, and a molded plastic housing.

13 . The system of claim 10 wherein the control system includes a microcontroller mounted to the PCB and being operably connected to the multiple capacitive sensing elements.

14 . The system of claim 8 wherein the fuel tank assembly includes an auxiliary fuel tank selectively connectable to the main fuel tank; and wherein the system further comprises a second fuel sender extending at least partially into an auxiliary fuel tank of the fuel tank assembly and having a sensor arrangement configured to provide a signal to the control system corresponding to a portion of the sensor arrangement of the second fuel sender that is submerged in fuel stored in the auxiliary fuel tank in response to the auxiliary fuel tank being connected to the main fuel tank.

15 . A system for calculating and displaying an estimated remaining runtime for a portable generator while generating electrical power, the system comprising:
a fuel tank assembly including a first fuel tank for storing fuel for consumption by an internal combustion engine of the portable generator; a first sensor arrangement extending at least partially into the first fuel tank and being configured to generate a signal corresponding to the quantity of fuel stored in the first fuel tank; a control system operably connected to the first se

Assignees

• Generac Power Systems Inc

Inventors

• Pruzina Steven P

Classifications

• G08C19/00

  Electric signal transmission systems (G08C17/00 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G01F15/068

  with electrical means (G01F15/063 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G01F23/0069

  Physics · mapped topic

• G01F9/008 Primary

  where the other variable is the flight or running time · CPC title