Flow sensor and system

Claim 2

Electrical circuit means, for use in an automotive vehicle having a fluid-fuel consuming engine, for producing, in response to a plurality of variable input signals indicative of indicia of vehicle operation, a linear output signal corresponding to the distance-rate of consumption of said fuel, said electrical circuit means comprising first branch electrical circuit means effective for opening and closing related electrical output circuit means in timed relationship to the speed of operation of said engine for producing a first variable electrical signal indicative of engine speed, second branch electrical circuit means effective for producing a second variable electrical voltage signal the magnitude of which varies in a linear relationship with respect to the rate of flow of said fuel to said engine, and electrical output means operatively connected to said output circuit means and adapted to be responsive to said second variable electrical signal, said output means being effectively acted upon by said second variable electrical signal whenever said output circuit means is closed in response to said first electrical signal for producing an output in response thereto, said first branch electrical circuit means comprising electrical multivibrator means, said multivibrator means comprising first and second transistor means electrically interconnected to define monostable multivibrator means, each of said first and second transistor means comprising a base terminal and an emitter-collector circuit, said first branch circuit means further comprising switching transistor means having a base terminal thereof electrically connected to the emitter-collector circuit of one of said first and second transistor means, said switching transistor means also comprising an emitter-collector circuit, and said output circuit means being electrically connected to said emitter-collector circuit of said switching transistor means.

Claim 3

Electrical circuit means according to claim 1 wherein said output circuit means further comprises integrating means effective for averaging-out the values of said first variable electrical signal.

Claim 4

Electrical circuit means, for use in an automotive vehicle having a fluid-fuel consuming engine, for producing, in response to a plurality of variable input signals indicative of indicia of vehicle operation, a linear output signal corresponding to the distance-rate of consumption of said fuel, said electrical circuit means comprising first branch electrical circuit means effective for opening and closing related electrical output circuit means in timed relationship to the speed of operation of said engine for producing a first variable electrical signal indicative of engine speed, second branch electrical circuit means effective for producing a second variable eLectrical voltage signal the magnitude of which varies in a linear relationship with respect to the rate of flow of said fuel to said engine, electrical output means operatively connected to said output circuit means and adapted to be responsive to said second variable electrical signal, said output means being effectively acted upon by said second variable electrical signal whenever said output circuit means is closed in response to said first electrical signal for producing an output in response thereto; and operator actuatable switch means, said switch means having at least two operating positions one of which is effective to electrically disconnect said second branch electrical circuit means to thereby prevent the application of said second variable electrical signal to said output means.

Claim 5

Electrical circuit means, for use in an automotive vehicle having a fluid-fuel consuming engine, for producing, in response to a plurality of variable input signals indicative of indicia of vehicle operation, a linear output signal corresponding to the distance-rate of consumption of said fuel, said electrical circuit means comprising first branch electrical circuit means effective for opening and closing related electrical output circuit means in timed relationship to the speed of operation of said engine for producing a first variable electrical signal indicative of engine speed, second branch electrical circuit means effective for producing a second variable eLectrical voltage signal the magnitude of which varies in a linear relationship with respect to the rate of flow of said fuel to said engine, electrical output means operatively connected to said output circuit means and adapted to be responsive to said second variable electrical signal, said output means being effectively acted upon by said second variable electrical signal whenever said output circuit means is closed in response to said first electrical signal for producing an output in response thereto; and operator actuatable switch means, said switch means having at least two operating positions one of which is effective to electrically disconnect said second branch electrical circuit means to thereby prevent the application of said second variable electrical signal to said output means.

Claim 6

Electrical circuit means according to claim 3 wherein said switch means is effective when actuated to another of said at least two operating positions to electrically disconnect said first branch electrical circuit means while electrically closing third branch electrical circuit means and said second branch electrical circuit means to thereby prevent application of said first variable electrical signal to said output means while enabling said second variable electrical signal to be amplified by said third branch electrical circuit means and applied to said output means.

Claim 7

Electrical circuit means according to claim 4 wherein said third branch electrical circuit means comprises first adjustable variable resistance means, second adjustable variable resistance means, and transistor means, said transistor means comprising a base terminal and an emitter-collector circuit wherein said first adjustable variable resistance means is electrically connected generally between said second branch electrical circuit means and said base terminal, and wherein said second adjustable variable resistance means is electrically connected generally between said emitter-collector circuit and said output means.

Claim 8

Electrical circuit means, comprising first electrical conductor means adapted for connection to an associated source of electrical potential, first transistor means comprising a first base terminal a first emitter and a first collector, said first emitter and said first collector defining a first emitter-collector circuit, second transistor means comprising a second base terminal a second emitter and a second collector, said second emitter and said second collector defining a second emitter-collector circuit, third transistor means comprising a third base terminal a third emitter and a third collector, said third emitter and said third collector defining a third emitter-collector circuit, first resistance means electrically connected in series in said first emitter-collector circuit, said first emitter-collector circuit and said first resistance means being electrically connected at one end to said first conductor means and electrically connected at an other end to said second base terminal, first capacitor means having a first electrical side thereof electrically connected to said second base terminal, second electrical conductor means adapted for connection to a source for producing electrical pulses in timed relationship to the speed of operation of an associated fluid-fuel consuming engine, said second conductor means being electrically connected to a second electrical side of said first capacitor means, second resistance means electrically connected in series circuit with said second conductor means as to comprise a portion thereof and generally between said source of electrical pulses and said second side of said first capacitor means, first adjustable resistance means and third resistance means in series circuit with each other and in series circuit with said third emitter-collector circuit, third conductor means in series circuit with said third emitter-collector circuit and electrical ground potential, fourth resistance means electrically interconnecting said second emitteR-collector circuit to said first conductor means, fifth resistance means electrically interconnecting said second emitter-collector circuit to said third conductor means, said third base terminal being electrically connected to said second emitter-collector circuit as to be generally electrically between said second transistor means and said fifth resistance means, sixth resistance means electrically connected to said first conductor means and to said first base terminal, second capacitor means having one electrical side thereof electrically connected to said first base terminal, seventh resistance means electrically connected to a second electrical side of said second capacitor means and to said second emitter-collector circuit generally electrically between said fourth resistance means and said second transistor means, eighth resistance means electrically connected to said third conductor means and to said second base terminal, ninth resistance means electrically connected across said second and third conductor means as to be generally between said second resistance means and said source for producing electrical pulses, third capacitor means electrically connected across said second and third conductor means as to be generally between said first capacitor means and said second resistance means, second adjustable resistance means operatively adjusted by associated fluid displaceable means responsive to the rate of flow of said fluid-fuel to said associated engine, electrical read-out gauge means, fourth electrical conductor means electrically interconnecting one electrical side of said gauge means to one electrical end of said second adjustable resistance means, tenth resistance means in series circuit with said fourth conductor means as to comprise a portion thereof and as to be situated generally electrically between said gauge means and said second adjustable resistance means, and fifth conductor means electrically interconnecting an other electrical side of said gauge means to said third emitter-collector circuit as to be in said third emitter-collector circuit generally electrically between said third transistor means and said third resistance means.

Claim 9

Electrical circuit means, comprising first electrical conductor means adapted for connection to an associated source of electrical potential, first transistor means comprising a first base terminal a first emitter and a first collector, said first emitter and said first collector defining a first emitter-collector circuit, second transistor means comprising a second base terminal a second emitter and a second collector, said second emitter and said second collector defining a second emitter-collector circuit, third transistor means comprising a third base terminal a third emitter and a third collector, said third emitter and said third collector defining a third emitter-collector circuit, first resistance means electrically connected in series in said first emitter-collector circuit, said first emitter-collector circuit and said first resistance means being electrically connected at one end to said first conductor means and electrically connected at an other end to said second base terminal, first capacitor means having a first electrical side thereof electrically connected to said second base terminal, second electrical conductor means adapted for connection to a source for producing electrical pulses in timed relationship to the speed of operation of an associated fluid-fuel consuming engine, said second conductor means being electrically connected to a second electrical side of said first capacitor means, second resistance means electrically connected in series circuit with said second conductor means as to comprise a portion thereof and generally between said source of electrical pulses and said second side of said first capacitor means, first adjustable resistance means and third resistance means in series circuit with each other and in series circuit with said third emitter-collector circuit, third conductor means in series circuit with said third emitter-collector circuit and electrical ground potential, fourth resistance means electrically interconnecting said second emitteR-collector circuit to said first conductor means, fifth resistance means electrically interconnecting said second emitter-collector circuit to said third conductor means, said third base terminal being electrically connected to said second emitter-collector circuit as to be generally electrically between said second transistor means and said fifth resistance means, sixth resistance means electrically connected to said first conductor means and to said first base terminal, second capacitor means having one electrical side thereof electrically connected to said first base terminal, seventh resistance means electrically connected to a second electrical side of said second capacitor means and to said second emitter-collector circuit generally electrically between said fourth resistance means and said second transistor means, eighth resistance means electrically connected to said third conductor means and to said second base terminal, ninth resistance means electrically connected across said second and third conductor means as to be generally between said second resistance means and said source for producing electrical pulses, third capacitor means electrically connected across said second and third conductor means as to be generally between said first capacitor means and said second resistance means, second adjustable resistance means operatively adjusted by associated fluid displaceable means responsive to the rate of flow of said fluid-fuel to said associated engine, electrical read-out gauge means, fourth electrical conductor means electrically interconnecting one electrical side of said gauge means to one electrical end of said second adjustable resistance means, tenth resistance means in series circuit with said fourth conductor means as to comprise a portion thereof and as to be situated generally electrically between said gauge means and said second adjustable resistance means, and fifth conductor means electrically interconnecting an other electrical side of said gauge means to said third emitter-collector circuit as to be in said third emitter-collector circuit generally electrically between said third transistor means and said third resistance means.

Claim 10

Electrical circuit means according to claim 6 and further comprising third variable resistance means electrically connected generally electrically across said fourth and fifth conductor means.

Claim 11

Electrical circuit means according to claim 7 and further comprising fourth capacitor means electrically connected generally electrically across said fourth and fifth conductor means.

Claim 12

Electrical circuit means according to claim 8 and further comprising fifth capacitor means, said fifth capacitor means being electrically connected to said fourth and fifth conductor means as to have one electrical side of said fifth capacitor means electrically generally between said tenth resistance means and said gauge means.