Did You Know...
...that the inventor of the electric motor was a blacksmith named Thomas Davenport? Described as "a brilliantly unsuccessful inventor", Davenport invented the first rotary electric motor. In 1836 he headed out -- on foot -- from his Vermont home to file a patent application at the Patent Office in Washington, D.C. By the time he got there, he had squandered away his money and couldn't afford the $30 filing fee so he turned around and went home. When he later mailed in his application with money he'd raised, the Patent office was destroyed in a fire. He did finally get credit for his invention on Feb. 5, 1837.
PatentStorm News
Make the Most of Our Site
See this month's Top Inventors and Most Cited Patents.
Stay on top of the latest innovations by subscribing to an RSS feed.
Registered users: Manage your profile.
| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8009028 | System for recommending maintenance for fuel economy improvement A method of optimizing fuel economy and carbon dioxide emissions of a vehicle may entail utilizing an interior vehicle display to alert a driver as to the state of various vehicle components and parameters and their effect on fuel economy and carbon dioxide emission... | 08/30/2011 |
| 7999664 | Behavior-based low fuel warning system A method is provided for determining when to provide a refueling notification to a driver of a vehicle. A refueling behavior is determined for refueling the vehicle. The refueling behavior is associated at least in part to an amount of fuel customarily remaining in ... | 08/16/2011 |
| 7952473 | Liquid level detecting apparatus A liquid level detecting apparatus includes a liquid level sensor of a variable resistance type which includes a sliding contact and a resistor, and which detects a resistance change corresponding to a change of a liquid level of a liquid in a tank and outputs a det... | 05/31/2011 |
| 7940165 | Low fuel warning systems for a motorized vehicle The low fuel warning system includes a fuel line configured to transport fuel between an inlet port and an outlet port and a reservoir located intermediate to the inlet port and the outlet port, wherein the reservoir is configured to collect the fuel in a liquid sta... | 05/10/2011 |
| 7675405 | Method and device for testing the measuring value of at least one level sensor arranged in a fuel tank Disclosed is a method and device for testing the measuring value of at least one filling level sensor arranged in a fuel tank. A plurality of measurements are taken by the filling level sensors and are each compared with a physical variable to determine whether the ... | 03/09/2010 |
| 7350412 | Vehicle's fuel tank equipped with two fuel outlet tubes A fuel tank, which is equipped with two fuel outlet tubes that are merged to one fuel injection pipe to engine, is provided. First fuel outlet tube is located at a corner of the bottom of the fuel tank. Second fuel outlet tube is located on a wall just 2.5 centimete... | 04/01/2008 |
| 7350413 | Liquid level detection apparatus A liquid level detection apparatus of the present invention includes contacts provided at a distal end portion of a contact plate, and resistance plates which are formed on a wiring board, and have respective conductor portions over which the contacts can slide, res... | 04/01/2008 |
| 7321102 | Float switch transient suppression device A float switch system for limiting to desirable levels current and energy entering a tank of combustible liquid comprises: a float switch disposed within the tank; an interface circuit external to the tank and coupled through wiring to the float switch; a passive tr... | 01/22/2008 |
| 7311076 | Low fuel pressure warning system An internal combustion engine system having an internal combustion engine, a fuel source, a fuel filter for filtering fuel from the source to the engine, and a fuel pressure switch disposed between the fuel filter and the fuel source. An additional sensor is provide... | 12/25/2007 |
| 7287556 | Gas cap proximity mounted fuel indicator A fuel level indicator indicating a fuel level in a vehicle fuel tank and disposed proximate a cap for closing a refueling orifice extending from the fuel tank. The fuel indicator indicates the fuel level in response to a fuel level sender unit disposed in the fuel ... | 10/30/2007 |
| RE39845 | Maintenance alert system for heavy-duty trucks A real-time maintenance alert system and method for use in a heavy-duty truck having an engine controller with memory are provided. The system includes a sensor operative to indicate an engine condition from the group consisting of: oil filter restriction, air filte... | 09/18/2007 |
| 7260988 | Fuel level sender circuit with alternating current direction The system includes a fuel sender and a controller. The fuel sender has a variable resistance and the variable resistance varies based on the quantity of fuel in the fuel tank. The controller is in electrical communication with the fuel sender. Further, the controll... | 08/28/2007 |
| 7259664 | Sensorless fuel level and oil change indicators Sensorless fuel level and oil change indicators are provided in a range extender for an electric vehicle. The range extender includes an engine, and an electric generating device driven by the engine to generate electric power supplied to the vehicle. The fuel level... | 08/21/2007 |
| 7173348 | Device, system and method for preventing vehicle theft A system for preventing theft of a vehicle having at least one essential module being essential to mobilization of the vehicle. The system comprises a control apparatus for controlling operation of the at least one essential module, and at least one armored encapsul... | 02/06/2007 |
| 7135981 | Fuel level variation detector for marine vehicle A signaling device for a marine vehicle having a fuel tank, a fuel level value detected in the fuel tank, and a blower to evacuate fuel fumes. The signaling device comprises: a fuel level variation detector; a refueling detector for detecting a fuel level variation ... | 11/14/2006 |
| 7132938 | Tire pressure warning system A tire pressure warning system has an air pressure detecting device 3, a low pressure warning display unit 5 and a fuel consumption deterioration warning display unit 4. The air pressure detecting device 3 detects an air pressure of each ... | 11/07/2006 |
| 7072762 | Evaluation system for vehicle operating conditions and evaluation method thereof The evaluation system for vehicle operating conditions comprises an automatic control device (10, 27) for setting target vehicle operating conditions and controlling the vehicle so as to achieve the target operating conditions, and a display device (4)... | 07/04/2006 |
| 7061391 | Method, system, and program for monitoring a consumable resource used by a system Provided is a method, system, and program for monitoring depletion of a consumable resource in a monitored system. Information is received on at least one unit of work to be processed by the monitored system, wherein the monitored system would deplete the consumable... | 06/13/2006 |
| 7059167 | Method and arrangement for indirectly determining fill characteristics of a fluid tank on a marine vessel Method and arrangement for accommodating indirect ascertainment of fill-characteristics of fluid tanks on marine vessels. The invention includes providing an experientially-based mapping of volume characteristics of a fluid tank positioned on a marine vessel that ar... | 06/13/2006 |
| 7055385 | Apparatus and method for measuring the amount of fuel in a vehicle using transmission lines The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for measuring the amount of fuel in a vehicle using transmission lines. An apparatus for measuring the amount of fuel in a vehicle according to an embodiment of the invention comprises a pair of transmission l... | 06/06/2006 |
| 7053782 | Fuel overflow alarm system A fuel overflow alarm system sounds a buzzer or other alarm when a fuel level in a fuel tank of a vehicle or other machine approaches an overflow state, thereby alerting a user that fueling should be halted. The device is activated when a fuel cap or fuel cap cover ... | 05/30/2006 |
| 7024306 | Evaluation system for vehicle operating conditions and evaluation method thereof A calculation unit (3) determines whether or not an operation which worsens fuel economy has been performed, and if it is determined that an operation which worsens fuel economy has been performed, the calculation unit (3) respectively calculates the a... | 04/04/2006 |
| 7012536 | Retain overfill monitor with integrated over-vacuum and over-pressure detection A system for monitoring the conditions within the fuel storage compartments of a transport tank comprises an overfill pressure vacuum probe installed in each fuel storage compartment and which has a first sensor for detecting the presence of fuel at a predetermined ... | 03/14/2006 |
| 7005991 | Method for anticipating, delaying and/or preventing the risk of spontaneous combustion and/or explosion of an explosive atmosphere The invention concerns a method for anticipating and/or delaying and/or preventing the risk of spontaneous combustion and/or explosion of an explosive atmosphere preserved in a confined or semi-confined medium, which consists in measuring the temperature of the mixi... | 02/28/2006 |
| 6975216 | System and method for indicating fluid condition A fluid condition indicating system and method using visual and audible devices. The system includes a circuit having visual and audible indicators, a power supply, and a plurality of switches or sensors. A start switch is coupled to the power supply, the visual ind... | 12/13/2005 |
| 6975217 | Vehicle fuel mileage meter A vehicle fuel mileage meter capable of displaying a value approximate to a fuel mileage obtained from actual driving only is provided. The fuel mileage meter includes a fuel mileage display and a control unit. The control unit controls display of a fuel mileage on ... | 12/13/2005 |
| 6940401 | Customizable low fuel indicator system A customizable low fuel indicator system for a motor vehicle having an engine control unit storing the average fuel economy of the motor vehicle. A fuel tank sensor is in electronic communication with the engine control unit and is adapted to sense the amount of fue... | 09/06/2005 |
| 6885919 | Method for controlling the operation of a marine vessel A process is provided by which the operator of a marine vessel can invoke the operation of a computer program that investigates various alternatives that can improve the range of the marine vessel. The distance between the current location of the marine vessel and a... | 04/26/2005 |
| 6778076 | Oil pressure switch failure detection system for outboard motor An oil pressure switch failure detection system for an outboard motor, having a first oil pressure switch which generates an ON signal indicating that the oil pressure is less than or equal to a first predetermined oil pressure and a second oil pressure switch which... | 08/17/2004 |
| 6750763 | System and method for measuring oil condition in large engines A system for measuring oil condition in large engines includes a bypass valve that is installed in a lubrication system along a fluid line between an oil pan and an engine. The bypass valve communicates with a measurement chamber and when energized by a control modu... | 06/15/2004 |
| 6664796 | Water contamination sensing algorithms for ethanol containing fuel A method for determining a level of water contamination in a fuel containing ethanol, including determining the ethanol concentration of the fuel; sensing the resistance of the fuel; determining a resistance limit of the fuel; and comparing the resistance... | 12/16/2003 |
| 6578415 | Limit-level sensor and method of determining the undershooting or overshooting of an intended level of liquid in a container A limit-level sensor for measuring level of a liquid has a resistance element which has an electric resistance which suddenly varies a transition temperature which lies above the maximum liquid temperature. The resistance element is first of all heated by... | 06/17/2003 |
| 6571168 | System for determining fuel usage within a jurisdiction A system for determining fuel usage within a jurisdiction includes a control computer operable to control fueling of an internal combustion engine and an auxiliary computer coupled thereto, wherein the auxiliary computer forms part of an operator interfac... | 05/27/2003 |
| 6564631 | Digital signal fuel sensor A digital signal fuel sensor includes a digital sensor and a wiper assembly for rotation relative to the digital sensor. The digital sensor has a plurality of sensing portions having at least one conductive segment thereon forming a fuel level portion. Th... | 05/20/2003 |
| 6484088 | Fuel optimization system with improved fuel level sensor A system for monitoring fuel consumption and optimizing refueling of a vehicle. The system includes a fuel level sensor designed to be mounted on a fuel tank. The fuel sensor has a transducer, such as an ultrasonic transducer, for generating a distance si... | 11/19/2002 |
| 6467337 | Device for calculating cruising range and method therefor A remaining fuel Z is calculated by subtracting a fuel injection amount J supplied to an engine 14 from stored fuel F measured by a fuel meter 12. A fuel economy Fm is calculated by dividing a running distance M of a vehicle by a fuel injection amount J. ... | 10/22/2002 |
| 6437697 | Propane level monitor assembly A propane level monitor assembly for determining the level of propane in a storage tank. The propane level monitor assembly includes a gauge monitor assembly including a housing being adapted to be removably mounted upon a propane tank gauge, and also inc... | 08/20/2002 |
| 6408692 | Liquid level sensor A liquid level sensor is provided that comprises an integral housing including therein a pickup tube, a return tube and a float cavity with a float positioned therein. Sensors are positioned within the float cavity for sensing the position of the float so... | 06/25/2002 |
| 6335690 | Fluid sensing system A fluid sensing system for monitoring a fluid parameter within a fluid container includes a fluid sensor and a fluid receiver. The fluid sensor is positioned at a first location and is operable to sense the fluid parameter. The fluid receiver is positione... | 01/01/2002 |
| 6297733 | Stable, reliable capacitive oil deterioration and level sensor A reliable capacitive oil deterioration and level sensor has a conductive housing member that includes a conductive shielding member defining a ground electrode, and a conductive inner member defining a measuring electrode. The shielding member protects t... | 10/02/2001 |
