Patent ID: 7024317
Filing Date: 2006-04-04
Classification: B60K,G01F

Abstract:
1. A system for establishing fuel accountability and optimization for a vehicle, the system comprising: a first fuel tank to contain hydrocarbon fuels, the first fuel tank being operably engaged to a first fuel sensor; an engine positioned inside the vehicle and being adapted to power the vehicle, the engine being operable with the hydrocarbon fuels supplied from the first fuel tank into the engine through a first fuel supply line directed from the first fuel tank to the engine; a first flow meter operably engaged to the first fuel supply line, the first flow meter to measure the flow rate of the hydrocarbon fuels moving through the fuel supply line from the first fuel tank into the engine; a communication network for transmitting data, the communication network interfacing with the first flow meter; a computer defining a server having a memory associated therewith, the computer interfacing with the communication network to communicate with the first flow meter, and the computer adapted to interface with a user; a computer program stored in the memory of the computer, the program comprising: (a) instructions to measure with the first fuel sensor an amount of fuel in the first fuel tank at a first point in time, the amount of fuel being determined through communication with the first fuel sensor, (b) instructions to measure with the first fuel sensor the amount of fuel in the first fuel tank at a second point in time, the amount of fuel being determined through communication with the first fuel sensor, and (c) instructions to determine the amount of fuel burned by the engine between the first point in time and the second point in time, the amount of fuel burned by the engine being determined by utilizing information obtained from communication with the first flow meter.