Fuel Refill Sensor for Accurate Fuel Dispensing Verification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fuel dispensers at service stations often inaccurately report the amount of fuel dispensed, leading to incorrect charges for vehicle drivers, either due to intentional deception or equipment failures.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a sensor mounted on the fuel filler neck that detects fuel flow and communicates data to a data storage device, which then transfers information to a server, allowing users to verify the accuracy of fuel dispensed and location, enabling informed refueling choices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a sensor is mounted on the fuel filler neck to detect fuel flow, then measurement precision of fuel dispensed is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
An independent sensor mounted on the fuel filler neck acts as an intermediary measurement device that directly detects fuel flow through the filler neck, providing accurate fuel quantity data separate from the fuel dispenser's reporting system. This intermediary sensor resolves the contradiction by providing precise measurement without requiring modification of the fuel dispenser itself.
2Ease of operation
If fuel dispenser displays are used to report fuel amount, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability of fuel amount reporting deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback by comparing the sensor-measured fuel quantity with the fuel dispenser's reported quantity. This feedback mechanism allows users to verify accuracy and identify discrepancies, resolving the reliability issue while maintaining the ease of operation of the original fuel dispensing process.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor system enables self-service verification where the user can independently check the accuracy of fuel dispensed by comparing sensor data with dispenser readings, without requiring intervention from service station personnel or system modifications.
3Reliability
If independent fuel measurement system is implemented, then truthfulness of fuel reporting is improved, but loss of information increases due to additional data processing requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The system creates a copy of the fuel quantity measurement through the independent sensor, allowing verification of the original dispenser reading without altering it. This copying approach maintains truthfulness by providing an independent verification channel while minimizing information loss through efficient data comparison.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Provides a more accurate indication of fuel dispensed, enabling drivers to avoid incorrectly charging service stations and ensuring they pay the correct amount for the fuel purchased.
Implementation Method 1
The sensor detects the amount of fuel flowing through the fuel filler neck
Data Source
AI summary
A system for providing an indication of the amount fuel dispensed by a fuel dispenser. The system includes a sensor which communicates fuel data to a data storage device to store the fuel data. The fuel data includes the amount of fuel flowing through a filler neck and the total amount of fuel dispensed. A first communication device, such as a smartphone, accesses the data storage device to transfer the fuel data to a server, such that the server stores the fuel data, allowing a second communication device to access the server and obtain the fuel data. The data storage device also receives location information from a GPS module corresponding to the location of where the fuel data is obtained. The system allows users to access the server and locate service stations having the most accurate displays and charge the correct amount of money for the amount of fuel dispensed.