GB254846A - Improvements in and relating to means for measuring and indicating the use of liquidagainst distance travelled by a vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

254,846. British Thomson-Houston Co., Ltd., and Clinker, R. C. May 14, 1925. Measuring consumption of petrol with respect to mileage &c. of vehicles.-The rate of consumption of fuel by an engine is determined by measuring the distance travelled by the vehicle while a predetermined amount of fuel is being consumed. Fig. 9 shows diagrammatically an arrangement in which the main tank 11 fills an auxiliary reservoir 14 and feeds the carburettor pipe 12 when a valve 13 is open. On closure of a switch 51 the valve 13 is closed and the auxiliary reservoir 14 supplies the carburettor. At the same time the coil 52 is energized to attract an upwardly biassed detent 54, normally holding a wheel 35 driven according to the speed of the vehicle, releasing the wheel and allowing the pointer 26 to move over its scale and indicate miles per gallon. When a predetermined amount of fuel has been discharged from the reservoir 14, the float-controlled switch 20 engages the contacts 57 and the coil 56 is energized to apply a downwardly biassed detent 55 to the wheel 35 and stop it. On opening the switch 51 the valve 13 is opened and the parts restored to their previous positions. In the form shown in Figs. 5, 7 a shaft 28 driven proportionately to the vehicle speed drives a shaft 27 through gears 29, 30 which through a friction clutch 31<a> and gears 32, 33 drive a shaft 34 carrying a wheel 35 having a pin 36 adapted to engage a stop 37 on a piston 53 which is a tight fit in a cylinder 39 connected by a pipe 15 with the auxiliary chamber. A cord attached to the piston is passed over a pulley 40 to a counterweight 43. When the stop cock between the main tank and the auxiliary reservoir is open and the reservoir charged, the stop 37 lies against the pin 36. When the cock is closed and the auxiliary chamber supplies the carburettor, the chamber draws air from the cylinder 39 and the piston 38 moves down releasing the stop, the wheel 35 being free to rotate until engaged and held by a stop 45 on the counterweight, the pointer 26 indicating miles per gallon. Specifications 245,886, 245,896 and 247,692 are referred to.