Fuelling Valve Sensor Unit for Fuel Type Differentiation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fuelling systems lack a reliable method to ensure the correct fuel type or grade is used during refuelling of vehicles, particularly aircraft, which can lead to engine damage if incorrect fuels are used, due to structural mismatches in filler necks and pipes becoming obsolete with engine or powerplant changes.
Innovation Solution
A fuelling valve equipped with a sensor unit that uses ultrasound or infrared to detect the density of fuels within the filler pipe, allowing differentiation between multiple fuel types and grades, and communicates this information to the user through optical, acoustic, or haptic means, and can control the fuel flow based on predetermined settings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If structural correspondence of filler neck and filler pipe is used to prevent fuel mix-up, then fuel type differentiation is improved, but the system becomes obsolete when engine or powerplant changes occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical/structural correspondence system (shape-matched filler necks and pipes) with an acoustic detection system. The sensor unit uses acoustic waves to detect fuel properties and identify fuel types, eliminating the need for physical form factors to encode fuel type information. This allows the fuelling valve to adapt to any engine type through software-based fuel identification rather than hardware reconfiguration.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the detection parameter from physical geometry (shape, size of filler neck) to physical properties of the fuel itself (acoustic impedance, sound velocity, density). By measuring how acoustic waves propagate through the fuel, the system identifies fuel types based on their inherent physical parameters rather than the geometric parameters of the fuelling infrastructure, enabling universal compatibility across different engine and aircraft configurations.
2Measurement precision
If filler pipe form factors are changed to match different fuel types, then fuel type identification is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor unit serves multiple functions: it detects fuel presence, identifies fuel type, determines fuel grade, and can trigger appropriate fuelling valve operation. This single multi-functional device replaces the need for multiple specialized filler pipes and manual identification procedures, reducing overall system complexity while improving measurement precision through integrated sensing and control.
Solution Approach 2:
The acoustic wave acts as an intermediary between the fuelling valve and the fuel. Instead of directly interacting with fuel through mechanical means (shape-matched connectors), the system uses sound waves to probe fuel properties. This intermediary approach enables non-intrusive, automated fuel identification without requiring physical modifications to the fuel delivery infrastructure.
3Reliability
If manual fuel type verification is performed, then fuel type checking is improved, but time consumption and error risk increase
Solution Approach 1:
The fuelling valve system performs self-verification of fuel type automatically. The sensor unit continuously monitors fuel properties and the control unit autonomously determines whether the correct fuel is being dispensed. This eliminates the need for manual verification by operators, making the system self-checking and self-regulating, thereby improving reliability without adding time to the refuelling process.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements continuous feedback through the sensor unit that monitors fuel properties during the refuelling operation. The control unit receives real-time data from the sensor and can immediately detect mismatches between the intended fuel type and the actual fuel properties. This closed-loop feedback mechanism provides instantaneous verification, preventing errors before they cause damage while maintaining rapid refuelling speeds.
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
Ensures the correct fuel type or grade is used during refuelling by accurately identifying the fuel present in the vehicle's tank and preventing the use of incorrect fuels, thereby preventing engine damage and ensuring safe operation.
Implementation Method 1
uses ultrasound or infrared to detect the density of fuels within the filler pipe
Implementation Method 2
uses ultrasound or infrared to detect the density of fuels within the filler pipe
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The present invention relates to a fuelling valve (2) which is designed to convey a fuel via a filler pipe (26) into a fuel container (11) of a vehicle (1). The fuelling valve (22) is characterized by a sensor unit (3) having a sensor element (30) which is arranged and designed to detect a medium within the filler pipe (26) by sensor means, wherein the sensor unit (3) is designed to distinguish the medium detected by sensor means with regard to at least two fuel types and/or at least two fuel grades.