Opto-acoustic fuel quantity gauging system

Claim 2

An opto-acoustic fuel quantity gauging system, comprising: at least one tank means; at least one ultrasonic energy source means; at least one optical power source; fiber optic cable means; at least one ultrasonic sensor means; an optical detector means and circuit means; said ultrasonic energy source means being connected to said tank means; said ultrasonic energy sensor means being connected to said tank means; said optical power source being connected to said fiber optic cable means, each said ultrasonic energy source being connected to said fiber optic cable means, each said ultrasonic energy sensor means being connected to said optical detector means by said fiber optic cable means and said circuit means being connected to said optical detector means.

Claim 3

The opto-acoustic fuel quantity gauging system of claim 1 wherein said ultrasonic sensor means comprises a piezoelectric transducer.

Claim 4

The opto-acoustic fuel quantity gauging system of claim 1 further comprising computer control means, said computer control means comprising a central processing unit, said central processing unit being connected to each said ultrasonic sensor means.

Claim 5

The opto-acoustic fuel quantity gauging system of claim 3 wherein said sensor means comprises a plurality of ultrasonic sensors.

Claim 6

The opto-acoustic fuel quantity gauging system of claim 3 wherein said central processing unit is connected to said ultrasonic energy source means.

Claim 7

The opto-acoustic fuel quantity gauging system of claim 1 wherein said ultrasonic energy source means and said ultrasonic sensor means comprise a piezo-ceramic.

Claim 8

The opto-acoustic fuel quantity gauging system of claim 3 further comprising indicator means, said indicator means being connected to said central processing unit.

Claim 9

The opto-acoustic fuel quantity gauging system of claim 3 further comprising attitude sensor means, said attitude sensor means being connected to said central processing unit.

Claim 10

The opto-acoustic fuel quantity gauging system of claim 1 wherein each said ultrasonic energy source means is connected to said detector circuit by said fiber optic cable means.

Claim 11

The opto-acoustic fuel quantity gauging system of claim 1 wherein said tank means comprising a tank body member and at least one stillwell, each said stillwell being connected to said tank body member.

Claim 12

The opto-acoustic fuel quantity gauging system of claim 10 wherein each said stillwell is provided with apertures adjacent to said tank body member.

Claim 13

An opto-acoustic fuel quantity gauging system, comprising: at least one tank means; at least one ultrasonic energy source means; at least one optical power source; fiber optic cable means; at least one ultrasonic sensor means; and an optical detector means and circuit means; said tank means comprising a tank body member and at least one stillwell, each said stillwell being connected to said tank body member, each said stillwell having apertures adajcent to said tank body member; said ultrasonic energy source means being connected to said tank means; said ultrasonic energy sensor means being connected to said tank means; said optical power source being connected to said fiber optic cable means, each said ultrasonic energy source being connected to said fiber optic cable means, each said ultrasonic energy sensor means being connected to said optical detector means by said fiber optic cable means and said circuit means being connected to said optical detector means.

Claim 14

An opto-acoustic fuel quantity gauging system, comprising: at least one tank means; at least one ultrasonic energy source means; at least one optical power source; fiber optic cable means; at least one ultrasonic sensor means; and an optical detector means and circuit means; said tank means comprising a tank body member and at least one stillwell, each said stillwell being connected to said tank body member, each said stillwell having apertures adajcent to said tank body member; said ultrasonic energy source means being connected to said tank means; said ultrasonic energy sensor means being connected to said tank means; said optical power source being connected to said fiber optic cable means, each said ultrasonic energy source being connected to said fiber optic cable means, each said ultrasonic energy sensor means being connected to said optical detector means by said fiber optic cable means and said circuit means being connected to said optical detector means.

Claim 15

The system of claim 12 wherein said circuit means comprises: demultiplexer means, signal conditioner means, power supply means, central processing unit means and indicator means, said central processing unit means comprising memory means, said demultiplexer means being connected to said optical detector means and to said signal conditioner means, said signal conditioner means being connected to said power supply means, and to said central processing unit means, said central processing unit means being connected to said indicator means.

Claim 16

The system of claim 13 wherein said power supply is connected to said optical power source.

Claim 17

The system of claim 12 wherein said ultrasonic energy source is supported within said stillwell by said tank body member.

Claim 18

The system of claim 12 wherein said fiber optic cable means comprises a purality of optical fibers, said purality of optical fibers comprising a first optical fiber means and a second optical fiber means, sid first optical fiber being connected to said optical power source and to at least one said ultrasonic energy source, said second optical fiber means being connected to said ultrasonic energy sensor means and to said optical detector means.

Claim 19

The system of claim 16 wherein said ultrasonic energy sensor means comprises a light emitting diode.

Claim 20

The system of claim 1 wherein said fiber optic cable means comprises a purality of optical fibers, said purality of optical fibers comprising a first optial fiber means and a second optical fiber means, said first optical fiber being connected to said optical power source and to at lest one said ultrasonic energy source, said second optical fiber means being connected to said ultrasonic energy source means and to said optical detector means.

Claim 21

The system of claim 18 wherein said ultrasonic energy sensor means comprises a light emitting diode.