Method and apparatus for detecting a contaminated alcohol-gasoli

Details Method and apparatus for detecting a contaminated alcohol-gasoli Method and apparatus for detecting a contaminated alcohol-gasoli

1991-09-03

1993-06-01

Ng, Jin F.

Communications: electrical

Land vehicle alarms or indicators

Internal alarm or indicator responsive to a condition of the...

3404502, 123575, 73307, B60Q 100

Patent

active

052164098

ABSTRACT:
A method and apparatus are described for detecting dissolved contaminants in an alcohol-gasoline mixture used for fueling an internal combustion engine and then indicating that the fuel mixture is of substandard quality when the degree of contamination reaches an unacceptable level. The resistivity of the fuel mixture, which varies as a function of the degree of contamination, is measured using a sensor positioned in the engine fuel supply line. When the measured resistivity of the fuel decreases below a threshold amount, an indication of substandard fuel quality is provided. The threshold amount may be a fixed constant, or its value may vary depending upon the proportion of alcohol to gasoline in the fuel mixture. The composition of the fuel mixture is determined by using a capacitive sensor to measuring the fuel dielectric constant. A separate resistive sensor may be used for sensing fuel resistivity, or the same sensor used for sensing the fuel dielectric constant can be switched between resistive and capacitive measuring circuitry.

REFERENCES:
patent: 4316174 (1982-02-01), Sutton et al.
patent: 4369736 (1983-01-01), Ito
patent: 4629334 (1986-12-01), Hochstein
patent: 4638305 (1987-01-01), Sutton
patent: 4765187 (1988-08-01), Weinstein
patent: 4905655 (1990-03-01), Maekawa
patent: 4915084 (1990-04-01), Gonze
patent: 5033293 (1991-07-01), Honma et al.
"Intelligent Alcohol Fuel Sensor," G. Schmitz, R. Bartz, and U. Hilger SAE Paper No. 900231, 1990, pp. 1-7.

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