Return-Path: Received: from [24.25.9.103] (HELO ms-smtp-04-eri0.southeast.rr.com) by logan.com (CommuniGate Pro SMTP 4.2b8) with ESMTP id 336156 for flyrotary@lancaironline.net; Tue, 27 Jul 2004 15:25:12 -0400 Received-SPF: error receiver=logan.com; client-ip=24.25.9.103; envelope-from=eanderson@carolina.rr.com Received: from EDWARD (cpe-069-132-183-211.carolina.rr.com [69.132.183.211]) by ms-smtp-04-eri0.southeast.rr.com (8.12.10/8.12.7) with SMTP id i6RJOdVw006364 for ; Tue, 27 Jul 2004 15:24:40 -0400 (EDT) Message-ID: <000e01c4740f$61579e00$2402a8c0@EDWARD> From: "Ed Anderson" To: "Rotary motors in aircraft" Subject: Digitized Fuel Monitoring System ! Long Date: Tue, 27 Jul 2004 15:24:47 -0400 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="----=_NextPart_000_000B_01C473ED.DA13F180" X-Priority: 3 X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook Express 6.00.2800.1409 X-MIMEOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2800.1409 X-Virus-Scanned: Symantec AntiVirus Scan Engine This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_000B_01C473ED.DA13F180 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Well, for some of you (Kelly?) who have given up on my long delayed = effort to "digitize" the analogy fuel monitoring system I developed = several years ago there is news. Some of you have seen it hanging in = the cockpit from my light dimmer switch. At long last, I am happy to = report progress on converting to digital. Actually, took a completely = different design approach to capitalize on the capability of a digital = chip.=20 In any case, some of you had expressed an interest in the old analogy = system, but I even though I redesigned it twice with the thought of = providing systems, it was always too little capability and too many = parts. So I decided to switch from the analog to the digital world {:>) It was very difficult (for me) to get into learning assembly language = for these Microchip PIC microprocessors. They are very flexible devices = with all sorts of modules built in - which means a lot to learn. My old analog fuel monitoring system is very accurate, but it only = provided Fuel_Flow_rate Total_Fuel_Used I now have my new digital development system programmed and operating, = being fed by an injector pulse train. It at this point provides ( on 3 = user selectable screens on a 2x16 backlit LCD )the following: 1. Fuel_Flow Rate =20 2. Fuel_Used 3. Fuel_Remaining (for those of us who have problem subtracting above = 3000 MSL {:>)) 4. Time_Remaining (at current flow rate) before Dry tanks (This to keep = your heart beating at a faster pace) 5. RPM (to the nearest +- 1 rpm) 6. HP Power (Estimate calculated based on fuel flow rate - mainly just a = fun item that was easy to add) 7. Low_Fuel Alarm (Default value is 30 minutes at current burn rate but = can be user changed - maybe) 8. Air/Fuel Ratio Indication on LCD (L-------X--------R) with the X = position corresponding to the LED lite on the lean-rich line. (Uses the = cheap O2 sensor) It Will save Fuel_Remaining value to EEPROM on engine/power shutdown Will Retrieve Fuel_Remaining Value upon Power up. Everything mentioned above is current working on my development board = sitting on my bookcase design laboratory. Still working on how best to input/change data - right now 3 push = buttons appear to have the lead Need this so that user can 1. Can change fuel remaining value (in case someone stole fuel from you = tank {:>)) 2. Can Add fuel to quantity (preferably after refueling) perhaps change the Low fuel alarm - I may simply select 30 minutes as I = am concerned about somebody intending to put in 10 minutes and putting = in 1 {:>) - guaranteed to accelerate the heart rate. 3. A self calibration feature whereby you put in the amount of fuel it = took to fill the tank and the chip calculates the difference and adjusts = the K factor to close the error gap. This would also take care of aging = injectors and different flow rate injectors (up to a point). My current intentions is to put the unit in a 2 1/4" case provided I can = find a LCD or similar display that will still provide readable size Text = across the cockpit. Although I could fly with the development system on = the passengers seat, I still need to develop the operational board - = however, that will be a piece of cake compared to learning to program = the chip {:>). Just thought that some of you would be interested in the update. Ed Anderson RV-6A N494BW Rotary Powered Matthews, NC ------=_NextPart_000_000B_01C473ED.DA13F180 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
Well, for some of = you (Kelly?) who have=20 given up on my long delayed effort to "digitize" the analogy fuel = monitoring=20 system I developed several years ago there is news.  Some of=20 you  have seen it hanging in the cockpit from my light dimmer=20 switch.  At long last, I am happy to report progress on converting = to=20 digital.  Actually, took a completely different design approach to=20 capitalize on the capability of  a digital chip.
 
 
In any case, some of you had expressed = an interest=20 in the old analogy system, but I even though I redesigned it twice with = the=20 thought of providing systems, it was always too little capability and = too many=20 parts.
So I decided to switch from the analog = to the=20 digital world {:>)
 
It was very difficult (for me) to get = into learning=20 assembly language for these Microchip PIC microprocessors.  They = are very=20 flexible devices with all sorts of modules built in - which means a lot = to=20 learn.
 
My old analog fuel monitoring system is = very=20 accurate, but it only provided
 
Fuel_Flow_rate
Total_Fuel_Used
 
I now have my new digital development = system=20 programmed and operating, being fed by an injector  pulse = train.  It=20 at this point provides ( on = 3 user=20 selectable screens on a 2x16 backlit LCD )the following:
 
1. Fuel_Flow Rate 
2. Fuel_Used
3. Fuel_Remaining (for those of us who = have problem=20 subtracting above 3000 MSL {:>))
4. Time_Remaining (at current flow = rate) before Dry=20 tanks (This to keep your heart beating at a faster pace)
5. RPM (to the nearest +- 1 = rpm)
6. HP Power (Estimate calculated based = on=20 fuel flow rate - mainly just a fun item that was easy to = add)
7. Low_Fuel Alarm (Default value is 30 = minutes at=20 current burn rate but can be user changed - maybe)
8. Air/Fuel Ratio Indication on = LCD=20 (L-------X--------R)  with the X position corresponding to the LED = lite on=20 the lean-rich line. (Uses the cheap O2 sensor)
 
It Will save Fuel_Remaining value to = EEPROM on=20 engine/power shutdown
Will Retrieve Fuel_Remaining Value upon = Power=20 up.
 
Everything mentioned above is current = working on my=20 development board sitting on my bookcase = design laboratory.
 
Still working on how best to = input/change data -=20 right now 3 push buttons appear to have the lead
Need this so that user can
 
1.  Can change fuel remaining = value (in case=20 someone stole fuel from you tank {:>))
2.  Can Add fuel to quantity = (preferably after=20 refueling)
perhaps change the Low fuel alarm - I may simply select 30 minutes = as I am=20 concerned about somebody intending to put in 10 minutes and putting in 1 = {:>)=20 - guaranteed to accelerate the heart rate.
3.  A self calibration feature = whereby you put=20 in the amount of fuel it took to fill the tank and the chip calculates = the=20 difference and adjusts the K factor to close the error gap.  This = would=20 also take care of aging injectors and different flow rate injectors (up = to a=20 point).
 
My current intentions is to put the = unit in a 2=20 1/4" case provided I can find a LCD or similar display that will still = provide=20 readable size Text across the cockpit. Although I could fly with the = development=20 system on the passengers seat, I still need to develop the operational = board -=20 however, that will be a piece of cake compared to learning to program = the chip=20 {:>).
 
Just thought that some of you = would be=20 interested in the update.
 
 
Ed Anderson
RV-6A N494BW Rotary=20 Powered
Matthews, NC
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