DESC:Field of the invention

The present invention mainly relates to a cooking stove and more particularly relates to a system and method for measuring an amount/volume of fuel/gas left in the cylinder and its consumption rate.
Background of the invention

Generally, a cooking fuel/gas stove is a stove that is fuelled by combustible gas such as syngas, natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas, etc. The cooking fuel/gas stove or LPG burners are currently used for the purpose of cooking only. The fuel/gas stove is one of the core utilities (cooking instruments or machines) which is used widely all over the country since it is having the best efficiency in the cooking rather than any type of electric stove or any other cooking utilities. Also, the stove is the main utility which is being used in the majority of the cooking time by the housewives than any other utility.
The LPG or the fuel is consumed for burning, till the fuel bottle container or cylinder gets empty. There are some drawbacks that are faced while cooking are provided below.
Primarily, there is no device or instruments to find how much fuel/gas (LPG) is left in the gas/fuel cylinder with accuracy. The pressure gauge which are currently used in many other gas cylinders (mainly oxygen gas cylinder) is not an accurate method for the measurement of the quantity present in the cylinder. This is due to the property of the gases to vary the pressure (partial pressure which is influenced by each gas molecules to the surroundings), with the variation in the temperature and other factors which depends on the pressure of the gas stored inside a container. Thus, the need for an alternative instrument or device for the measurement of the gas quantity is necessary.
Further, there is no device or module system to predict how much time (hours or days) can the cooking fuel/gas stove can be fired using the gas left in the cooking fuel/gas cylinder. There are no devices or module systems that would alert the user before the gas cylinder becomes empty, there is no device or system to alert the user to replace the cooking fuel/gas cylinder at the right time. Usually, in the present generation of busy life, people ignore many things in daily life, such as to book for the next cooking fuel/gas cylinder, maintenance, etc.
Further, the leakage of gas from the cylinder leads to serious injurious and damages. And, there is no digital locking system implemented for the fuel/gas cylinder other than manual gas cylinder regulator valve. There is no display system integrated in the fuel/gas stove, to know all the alerts and the current working of the fuel/gas stove.
The LPG or the fuel is consumed for burning, till the fuel bottle container or cylinder gets empty. Moreover, the LPG bottle containers or cylinders are generally stored inside a cabin or outside the kitchen or house. Hence, it’s very difficult to know the amount of gas left in the fuel/gas cylinder at all time. So, in order to make the cooking more efficient it is very important to know the amount of gas left in the cylinder. Currently, there is no system and method which accurately identify the amount of gas left in the cylinder and further there is no stove or burner designed to display the amount of gas left for the usage or display the consumption rate or the amount of gas/fuel consumed by the stove.
Therefore, there is a need in the art with a system and method of electronic fuel amount/volume measuring system to solve the above mentioned limitations.
Objective of the present invention

The main objective of the present invention is to provide the system and method to display the amount/volume of gas/fuel available in the fuel/gas cylinder and its consumption rate, display the duration (hours and days) upto the fuel/gas stove can burn by consuming the gas/fuel left in the fuel/gas cylinder .

Summary of the Invention

An aspect of the present invention is to address at least the above-mentioned problems and/or disadvantages and to provide at least the advantages described below.
In one aspect of the present invention relates to a system (100) for measuring an amount of fuel in a cylinder, the system comprising: a load measuring unit (110) configured to hold the cylinder mounted thereon and to measure a load of the cylinder, wherein the load measuring unit comprises atleast one load cell configured to obtain a readings of the load which varies with the load (with fuel) of the cylinder, a knob position sensing unit (120) configured to sense a position of the knob of a stove, wherein the knob position sensing unit comprises a potential divider circuit configured to measure the sensed position to determine a position of the knob of the stove, a control unit (130) configured to receive the readings of the load from the atleast one load cell and the determined position of the knob from the knob position sensing unit, and further configured to compute and measure the amount of fuel consumed, measure amount of fuel in the cylinder, a display unit (140) configured to display a one or more features of the stove and the cylinder, wherein the display unit is assembled in a frame of the stove and a power supply unit (150) configured to provide power to the units of the system.
Another aspect of the present invention relates to a method (900) for measuring an amount of fuel in a cylinder, the method comprising: measuring (910), by a load measuring unit configured, a load of the cylinder, wherein the load measuring unit comprises atleast one load cell configured to obtain a readings of the load which varies with the load (with fuel) of the cylinder, sensing (920), by a knob position sensing unit, a position of the knob of a stove, wherein the knob position sensing unit comprises a potential divider circuit configured to measure the sensed position to determine a position of the knob of the stove, receiving (930), by a control unit, the readings of the load from the atleast one load cell and the determined position of the knob from the knob position sensing unit, to compute and measure the amount of fuel consumed, amount of fuel present in the cylinder, displaying (940), by a display unit, a one or more features of the stove and the cylinder , wherein the display unit is assembled in a frame of the stove and providing (950), by a power supply unit, a power to the units.
Other aspects, advantages, and salient features of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, which, taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings, discloses exemplary embodiments of the invention.

Brief description of the drawings

The above and other aspects, features, and advantages of certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be more apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 shows a circuitry block diagram of the electronic fuel/gas amount/volume measuring system according to one embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 2 shows a different modes of load cell of load measuring unit of the electronic fuel/gas amount/volume measuring system according to one embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 3 shows an example top view of the gas/fuel stove according to one embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 4 shows an example bottom view of the gas/fuel stove according to one embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 5-8 shows an example display modules of the gas/fuel stove according to one embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 9 shows a method for measuring an amount/volume of fuel/gas in a fuel/gas cylinder according to one embodiment of the present invention.
Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and may have not been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figure may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. Throughout the drawings, it should be noted that like reference numbers are used to depict the same or similar elements, features, and structures.

Detailed description of the invention

The following description with reference to the accompanying drawings is provided to assist in a comprehensive understanding of exemplary embodiments of the invention as defined by the claims and their equivalents. It includes various specific details to assist in the understanding, but these are to be regarded as merely exemplary. Accordingly, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that various changes and modifications of the embodiments described herein can be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. In addition, descriptions of well-known functions and constructions are omitted for clarity and conciseness.
The terms and words used in the following description and claims are not limited to the bibliographical meanings, but, are merely used by the inventor to enable a clear and consistent understanding of the invention. Accordingly, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the following description of exemplary embodiments of the present invention are provided for illustration purpose only and not for the purpose of limiting the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.
It is to be understood that the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to “a component surface” includes reference to one or more of such surfaces.
By the term “substantially” it is meant that the recited characteristic, parameter, or value need not be achieved exactly, but that deviations or variations, including for example, tolerances, measurement error, measurement accuracy limitations and other factors known to those of skill in the art, may occur in amounts that do not preclude the effect the characteristic was intended to provide.
Figures discussed below, and the various embodiments used to describe the principles of the present disclosure in this patent document are by way of illustration only and should not be construed in any way that would limit the scope of the disclosure. Those skilled in the art will understand that the principles of the present disclosure may be implemented in any suitably arranged communications system. The terms used to describe various embodiments are exemplary. It should be understood that these are provided to merely aid the understanding of the description, and that their use and definitions in no way limit the scope of the invention. Terms first, second, and the like are used to differentiate between objects having the same terminology and are in no way intended to represent a chronological order, unless where explicitly stated otherwise. A set is defined as a non-empty set including at least one element.
In the following description, for purpose of explanation, specific details are set forth in order to provide an understanding of the present disclosure. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art that the present disclosure may be practiced without these details. One skilled in the art will recognize that embodiments of the present disclosure, some of which are described below, may be incorporated into a number of systems.
However, the systems and methods are not limited to the specific embodiments described herein. Further, structures and devices shown in the figures are illustrative of exemplary embodiments of the presently disclosure and are meant to avoid obscuring of the presently disclosure.
The various embodiments of the present invention describe about the system and method for measuring an amount/volume of gas/fuel left in the fuel/gas cylinder. The present invention system and method measures and displays the amount/volume of fuel/gas consumed, gas/fuel available in the fuel/gas cylinder, displays the duration (hours and days) up to the gas/fuel stove can burn by consuming the gas/fuel left in the fuel/gas cylinder, automatically give an alert when the fuel/gas cylinder is emptying, automatically books for the next fuel/gas cylinder, automatically gives an alert when there is a gas/ fuel leak in the surroundings, automatically triggers the fire extinguisher system on fire impact, analyzes proper working of the stove and checking the malfunctioning and errors of the stove/burner.
Figure 1 shows a circuitry block diagram of the electronic fuel/gas amount/volume measuring system according to one embodiment of the present invention.
The figure shows a circuitry block diagram of the electronic fuel/gas amount/volume measuring system (100). The system comprises a load measuring unit (110), a knob position sensing unit (120), a control unit (130), a display unit (140) and a power supply unit (150), fire sensor unit (160), gas/fuel leakage sensor unit (170), GSM or Bluetooth module (180) and fire extinguisher unit (190).
In one embodiment, the present invention relates to a system (100) for measuring an amount of fuel in a cylinder, the system comprising: a load measuring unit (110) configured to hold the cylinder mounted thereon and to measure a load of the cylinder, wherein the load measuring unit comprises atleast one load cell configured to obtain a readings of the load which varies with the load of the cylinder (with fuel), a knob position sensing unit (120) configured to sense a position of the knob of a stove, wherein the knob position sensing unit comprises a potential divider circuit configured to measure the sensed position to determine a position of the knob of the stove, a control unit (130) configured to receive the readings of the load from the atleast one load cell and the determined position of the knob from the knob position sensing unit, and further configured to compute and measure the amount of fuel consumed, measure amount of fuel in the cylinder, a display unit (140) configured to display a one or more features of the gas/fuel stove and the cylinder, wherein the display unit is assembled in a frame of the gas/fuel stove and a power supply unit (150) configured to provide power to the units of the system.
In the present invention, the stove may be a gas stove or fuel stove, and the cylinder may be a gas cylinder or fuel cylinder.
The atleast one load cell measures a reading of a load of the empty fuel/gas cylinder, and further measures the reading of the load of the fuel/gas cylinder with gas/fuel which varies with the load of the fuel/gas cylinder and provide the readings to the control unit. The control unit (130) stores the reading of the load of the empty fuel/gas cylinder as a reference value. The control unit computes the amount/volume of fuel/gas in the fuel/gas cylinder by subtracting the reference value from the reading of the load of the fuel/gas cylinder (with fuel/gas) measured by the atleast one load cell (transducer).
The load cell obtains the load of fuel/gas cylinder as an analogue electrical voltage/signal (reading) with respect to the load or weight applied on the atleast one load cell.
Further, in the present invention, the control unit (130) receives each position of the knob of the gas/fuel stove from the knob position sensing unit and computes the amount/volume of fuel/gas in the fuel/gas cylinder continuously, and wherein the control unit is further configured to map and compute the amount/volume of the fuel/gas in the fuel/gas cylinder during consumption of gas/fuel with respect to each position of the knob respectively with respect to time, and analyse and store the mapped computed amount/volume of the fuel/gas in a memory of the control unit. The amount/volume of the fuel/gas consumed by the gas/fuel stove with respect to each position of the knob is computed with respect to time. The amount/volume of fuel/gas consumed at each position of the knob is mapped with respect to the time, thereby obtaining the fuel/gas consumption value at each position of the knob of the gas/fuel stove.
The control unit (130) is configured to calculate and measure the amount of fuel/gas in a fuel/gas cylinder, measure the amount of fuel/gas consumed based on the fuel/gas consumption value at each position of the knob of the gas/fuel stove and the reference value.
In the present invention, the load measuring unit (110) (e.g. trolley incorporated with atleast one loadcell) is designed with the load cell (transducer) implanted below the space where the cylinder is placed. Thus, the load or weight will be loaded on to the load cell (transducer). The load can be fully or partially loaded into the load cell (transducer) as per the load cell (transducer) specifications and load differentiation. As per the capacity of the load cell (transducer), the number of load cells (transducer) can be varied. In order to extend the life of the product, use more than one load cell (transducer), and divide the total load between each load cells (transducer).
In one embodiment, the present invention system uses a knob position sensing unit (120) to determine the position of the stove knob/controller. The position of the stove knob/controller is obtained using a particularly designed potential divider circuit system/ position sensing system, which is coupled to the stove knob/controller. The potential divider circuit is implemented in the system in such a way that a voltage/signal/potential/current value is obtained with respect to the knob/ controller. The voltage/signal/potential/ current value will be varying with respect to the position of the knob/ controller.
In the present invention, all the input (e.g. readings, values, positions, etc.) outputs (e.g. amount/volume of gas/fuel) are to be modulated by the controller unit (130), which may be microcontroller (placed outside the burner area), thermally proofed by tar (electronic seal) and silica gel for internal thermal conduction between the electronic components and to prevent the short circuit as well as electronic element blast. Thus, it is safe for electronic circuits to implement in the cooking stoves.
In the present invention, the protective coating can be of three layers: silica gel coating, conformal coating, glue coating. Silica gel coating is the lowest coating layer, which is in direct contact with the circuitry components. Since there are three coatings, it affects the operating temperature of the circuitry components. In order to maintain the optimum temperature for the circuitry components, the silica gel coating is applied. Silica gel coating is to be connected to the heat sink. So, that the silica gel coating maintains the internal thermal conduction and thus optimum temperature for the electronic circuits is balanced.
Conformal coating and the glue coating protect the board from the circuitry component the blast effect. These two coatings must with-stand the fire impact and the circuitry component blasts. These two coatings are the main protective layers. These layers are to be tolerant to high temperature and mechanical stress.
The entire system is controlled by a controller unit (130) i.e. microcontroller, by which each input sensing element and output elements are modulated. The steps are uploaded into the micro-controller and then processed to obtain the output in a preferred way. The formula, as well as the steps, conditions and threshold values of the input for output calibrated, are directly added into the controller, which is finally uploaded into the micro-controller.
The controller unit (130) is acting as the central unit of the system and method. It can be of either microprocessor or of any type of processor chip (or else any type). The processor unit is to be designed to perform all the functions of the system and method, also to modulate the input-output data transmissions.
In one embodiment, the control unit (130) of the system receives each position of the knob of the stove from the knob position sensing unit and computes the amount/volume of fuel/gas consumed and present in the fuel/gas cylinder continuously. The control unit (130) after knowing the position of the stove knob/controller, the value/amount of the fuel/gas consumed/released by the stove burner at each position of the knob/controller is analyzed and stored in the memory of the control unit. The value/amount of the fuel/gas consumed/released by the stove burner is calculated with respect to time, using a loadcell/weight transducer system.
The value/amount of the fuel/gas consumed/released is mapped with the different knob/controller positions and voltage/signal/potential value obtained from the potential divider circuit of knob/controller position sensing system. The mapping of the value/amount/volume of fuel/gas consumed/ released to the position of the knob/controller is done with respect to the time. Thus, by analyzing the voltage/signal/potential value obtained from the potential divider circuit, the position of the knob/controller and the fuel/gas consumption/ decrement value at that position of the knob/controller can be known by the control unit.
By using this fuel/gas consumption/decrement value, the total amount of fuel/gas consumed by the stove burner can be calculated. Also, the fuel left in the fuel cylinder/ bottle container can be calculated. In the present invention, the fuel consumed value and the fuel left can be calculated and displayed as per the requirement. Since for pipeline fuel connections, the usage/consumption value is analyzed, for fuel cylinders/bottle containers, the fuel amount consumed and also the fuel amount left in the cylinder can be calculated. By subtracting the value/amount of the fuel consumed/decrement from the fuel cylinder/bottle container fully filled fuel value (or partially filled but with known fuel value/amount/volume), the fuel left in the fuel cylinder/bottle container can be calculated.
In another embodiment, the present invention system, after storing/loading the fuel decrement/consumption value from the loadcell/ weight transducer system to the micro-controller unit, the system can work independently without the load measuring unit, as the fuel consumption value at each position of the knob of the stove with respect to time is analyzed, mapped and stored in the memory of the control unit.
The present invention system and method calculates and analyzes the fuel/gas decrement value for each positions of the knob/controller. This is done by taking the readings from the values of loadcell transducer and amplifier system with respect to time. All these values are stored in the memory of the micro-controller unit. By these stored values, the microcontroller unit forms a mapping function which is used to map the knob/ controller position value to the fuel/ gas decrement/consumption value.
Moreover, the system can work in two ways: Firstly, the system works accurately using both the live readings from the load cell and amplifier system and the knob/controller position sensor reading along with the microcontroller mathematical mapping function.
Secondly, the system works without the loadcell and amplifier system. In this mode, after storing and analyzing the fuel/gas decrement values from the load cell transducer, the loadcell transducer can be removed. Later, the micro-controller uses the previously stored fuel /gas decrement value, previously formed mathematical mapping function and the knob / controller position sensor readings. Advantage of this method is that there is no need of maintenance of two systems (stove burner system and loadcell transducer trolley system).
All the parameters are displayed through display system, which is within the stove. Also, the parameters and status values of the knob/controller working can be displayed on the electronic/mechanical display system, which is coupled to casing structure/socket structure of the knob / controller. All the data associated with stove can be transmitted to any other devices/smartphones as per the need of the user for the easiness of the usage.
In another embodiment, for the rotating knob of the stove, a rotating potentiometer is coupled with the stove knob. So that, when the knob is rotated, the rotatable stick (which is acting as the slider of potentiometer) will also rotates with respect to the rotation of the knob. For every position of the rotation of the knob, there is an equivalent voltage/signal/ potential value obtained from the potentiometer. Thus, by analyzing the value of the voltage/signal/potential value from the potentiometer, the position of the knob can be known. Similarly, for every position of the stove knob/controller of the stove, the fuel consumption/released/decrement value is calibrated. This fuel consumed/ released/decrement value is calculated using the load cell/ weight transducer system with respect to time. Then this fuel consumption/ decrement value is mapped with each of the knob/controller positions and also with potentiometer reading values with respect to time. So, by analyzing the output reading value of the potentiometer, the knob/controller position and the fuel consumption/ decrement value with respect to time at that position of knob/controller can be calculated. The analyzing, storing, calibrating, calculations and other data processing are carried out by the micro controller/electronic system. The values and parameters associated with the stove/burner can be displayed on top/ sideways/at any positions as per the convenience.
In another embodiment, instead of the potential divider circuit system, a position denoting sensors/other electronic component system can be used to find the actual position of the stove knob/controller of the stove/ burner.
The stove knob/controller can be of mechanical rotating/nonrotating type. Also, can be of any type of electronic based fuel consumption/release controlling system.
The controlling of the fuel consumption/release from the stove/burner can of linearly variable type/multiple stage-based type (low/low-medium/medium/ medium-high/ high/or of any) /particularly formed function (mathematical/or of any) designed fuel releasing type.
The display unit (140) is configured to display a one or more features of the fuel/gas stove and the fuel/gas cylinder, wherein the display unit is assembled in a frame of the stove. The display unit/module of the system is to interface with the user. The working status of the stove, amount of fuel/gas consumed, amount of gas/fuel left in the fuel/gas cylinder, future burning duration of the stove burner which is accordingly refreshed by the fuel/gas left in the fuel/gas cylinder, fuel/gas consumption rate, battery level of the micro-controller power source, current usage status, etc. can be displayed on the display screen, so that the user can easily understand the working state and every information regarding the stove. The preferred position for the display system is on the surface/frame of the stove, either enclosed within a bracket or enclosing with the surface. The display system can be of any type (LED, LCD, OLED or any which is depended on the temperature tolerance of the module).
In another embodiment, instead of the display module, an LED (Light Emitting Diode) (or any light source) combinations can be used to display the levels. So that, the power consumption can be reduced. Also, the display module can be kept in OFF state, as it is not necessary to be ON all time. A button/sensor switching system can be implemented on the stove to trigger the display to ON, after an interval of time, the display can be set to OFF automatically. By this adjustment, the power consumption can be reduced to a large extent.
Further, the display module can be a retro-fit type / glass in-built / stove body in-built / knob socket in-built / knob in-built as per the design and aesthetics of the society/ consumers. Multiple buttons or user interface systems like touch/ touchless sensing systems can be incorporated with the display system for the user to access into the data and controller (like inlet valve controller, display menu switching, etc)
The power supply unit (150) is configured to provide power to the units of the system. In the present invention, the power supply can be of rechargeable or non-rechargeable type. For the case of rechargeable type, a batter protection board can be designed to prevent the battery damage and to protect from voltage/signal fluctuations. A protective layer can be given for the battery in order to protect the battery from the external mechanical forces or heat and from liquid damages. Also, this layer coating can prevent the internal fluid leakage of the battery.
For the case of the non-rechargeable battery, the additional removable casing is to be given, in order to replace the battery, or else provide plug-in use ports to connect the power supply adapters.
The system further comprises a fire sensor unit (160) assembled in the frame of the stove to detect the fire in surroundings of the stove and provides the readings corresponding to detected fire to the control unit to trigger a fire alert.
The system further comprises a gas/fuel leakage sensor unit (170) assembled in the frame of the stove to detect the gas/fuel in surroundings of the stove cylinder and provides the readings corresponding to the detected fuel/gas to the control unit to trigger an alert, where the alert either an led notification or a symbolic notification in the display of the stove or an alert message transmitted to the predefined user's contact id through using a GSM (Global System for Mobile communications) system (180).
In the present invention system and method, the alert may be also sent to the user’s contact ID. This function can be achieved in two method: either by using GSM (Global System for Mobile communications) system or using Bluetooth module (180).
In case of GSM (Global System for Mobile communications) system, the micro-controller directly triggers the GSM (Global System for Mobile communications) system to send the pre-stored alert message to the pre-stored contact ID. The contact ID may include the contact details of the user, nearest police station, nearest fire force department and the nearest hospital. The alert message will be sent to the contact ID, by using the SIM installed inside the GSM (Global System for Mobile communications) module system.
In case of the Bluetooth module, the micro-controller interacts with the user’s mobile phone (smartphone) through Bluetooth serial communication channel. The smartphone and the Bluetooth system serial communication is established by an application, which acts as the user interface app. The micro-controller send the instructions to the smartphone through the Bluetooth system, the user interface application recognizes each instruction and triggers the alert which initiates the message to send, using the SIM installed in the smartphone.
By this design of using Bluetooth, the system may be connected to the smartphone, all data that are displayed on the display system, can also be displayed in the user interface app. So that the user can easily access the data.
For higher updation, the entire module system can be connected with the server (like Wi-Fi routers), where the user can access the working of the stove. A neural network can be implemented for analyzing the usage rate of the stove. So that the threshold value (for the gas/fuel low alert and fuel/gas cylinder booking) will be continuously refreshed with respect to the neural network results. This enhances the proper working of the entire systems.

The features of the present invention system and method are provided below.
Display the amount of gas/ fuel available in the fuel/gas cylinder at present:
In one embodiment, from the present invention system, the user can easily understand the exact amount/volume of gas/fuel left in the cylinder. Since pressure gauge reading varies with respect to the temperature (room temperature variation in the kitchen while cooking). When the temperature varies in the surroundings, the partial pressure of the gas molecules varies, so, the pressure gauge reading varies with respect to the partial pressure variation. Thus, the pressure gauge reading cannot be used for accurate measurement of the amount of gas/ fuel stored in the fuel/gas cylinder. The present invention system uses load cell (transducer) to obtain the amount of the gas/ fuel present in the fuel/gas cylinder.
The amount of gas/fuel present in the fuel/gas cylinder is obtained by the calibration of the load or weight of the fuel/gas cylinder. This load or weight is measured by the load cell (transducer), which produces an analogue electrical voltage/signal with respect to the load or weight applied on its plate. The load cell is of several types such as in different shapes, specifications, dimensions, etc. This load cell (transducer) is fixed on the fuel/gas cylinder trolley, on which the fuel/gas cylinder is placed. The output of the load cell (transducer) is fed into the micro-controller as input, the obtained input electrical voltage/signal will be processed into the total weight measured, which will be further calibrated into the weight of the gas/fuel present inside the fuel/gas cylinder. This is done by subtracting the weight of empty fuel/gas cylinder (standard value) from the total weight value measured by the load cell (transducer).

Display the duration (hours and days) up to the stove can burn by consuming the gas/fuel left in the fuel/gas cylinder:
From the present invention system, the user can easily know the right time for the replacing of the cooking fuel/gas cylinder and to book for the next cylinder. So that the user would get a non-interrupted cooking experience. The amount of gas/fuel left in fuel/gas cylinder is further processed to obtain the time (duration) up to which the stove can be burned by consuming the amount of gas/ fuel left in the cylinder. This duration can be calibrated in hours and days with respect to the steam/burner consumption rate [burn rate] constant implemented into the program algorithm. The ‘burn rate’ is a constant which gives the data of the amount of gas (fuel) required for the stove to burn for an hour (or else for a time interval) with respect to time.

In an example, consider the position of the knob/controller of the stove burner is in high state. In high state, consider the potential divider circuit system output reading is obtained as 1 volt or ohm. Consider the fuel/gas decrement rate at the knob/controller position high is 180 gram per hour obtained using the load cell or weight transducer. All these data are analyzed by the micro-controller and saved.
So, when the potential divider circuit system shows a reading of 1 volt or ohm, the microcontroller understands that the knob/controller position of the stove burner is in high position. Also, if the time duration of the knob/ controller position at high is one hour, the microcontroller can calculate that 180 gram of gas/fuel is consumed. Which means that 180 gram of gas/fuel amount is to be subtracted from the previous gas/fuel left value, to give the current amount of gas/fuel left value.

Automatically give an alert when the fuel/gas cylinder is emptying:

In one embodiment, from the present invention system, the user can know whether the fuel/gas cylinder is to be replaced immediately or not. A threshold value is predefined, to give the alert initiation. The alert will be triggered if the value of the cooking gas/fuel amount is below the threshold value. This alert notification can be processed by an if-else condition statement. Thus, the user can replace the fuel/gas cylinder or take necessary actions. The alert can be of light, audio notification or as a symbolic notification in the display screen.

Automatically book for the next fuel/gas cylinder:

Presently, cooking fuel/gas cylinders are now booked by text messages as well as by app interfaced. In the present invention, the booking can be either navigated by the use of GSM (Global System for Mobile communications) module or by any wireless smartphone interfaces. This function can be either turned off, with respect to the user's definition.

Automatically give an alert when there is a gas/fuel leak in the surroundings:

The present invention system has an automatic alert function act as the security module. This is an important feature of safety precautions. In this technically leading generation, safety is the first priority for every technology. The gas/ fuel sensor is a type of transducer which would give a trigger (digital or analogue) when there is a presence of the gas/ fuel in the surroundings. The gas/ fuel sensor (transducer) output is given into the micro-controller as input. Then the micro-controller produces the alert notification. This can be of either light, audio notification or symbolic notification in the display screen or alert message is sent to the predefined user's contact id by using the GSM (Global System for Mobile communications) system. This sensing element will be placed outside the stove burner areas, in order to prevent the unwanted alarm during burner activation. Also, the fuel/gas cylinder valve will be automatically closed when the gas/fuel leak alert is triggered.

Automatically trigger the fire extinguisher system on fire impact:

The present invention system has an automatic trigger function act as the security module of the stove. This system is activated only when there is a fire in the surroundings. The fire is sensed by the fire sensor (transducer) which produces an electric voltage/signal or potential when the sensing element is at an impact with the fire flame. The electrical voltage/signal or potential is fed into the micro-controller, which further process and gives a trigger to the fire alert, which in turn activates the fire extinguisher (190) system fixed inside the stove casing (or else at any space). The sensing element is fixed outside the stove. automatically triggers the extinguishing source present in the internal body of the stove.
This system can be also made in an alternative method, the fire extinguishing materials can be cased inside the stove casing (or else at any space), so that when the fire impact on the material casing, it automatically breaks and releases the fire extinguisher materials stored inside. The advantage of this alternative method is that it reduces the power consumption of the micro-controller. The disadvantage of this alternative method is that the efficiency and probability of the impact of fire on the casing structure cannot be predicted, so, hereby reducing the casing structure material hardness, the disadvantage can be ignored.

Automatic fuel/gas cylinder regulator valve-lock system:

The present invention system and method ensures the proper security of the fuel/gas stove and fuel/gas cylinder. In one embodiment, the automatic valve can be fixed either with the fuel/gas cylinder regulator or at the entry of the gas pipe inside the fuel/gas stove. For the case of automatic valve fixed at the fuel/gas cylinder regulator module, can be of in series or parallel with the manual valve. This is to assure the security of the valve, if the automatic valve does not work, one can use the manual valve. By the automatic fuel/gas cylinder valve system, the user can simply press a button to the interface (close and open) the fuel/gas cylinder regulator valve of the cylinder or set timer for the automatic closing of the valve. The timer can be set by the user, select the time intervals that are pre-stored in the microcontroller, so that the valve will be automatically closed after that time interval. By pressing the valve button, the valve of the fuel/gas cylinder automatically closes and opens with respect to the previous state of the valve or else can be of single channel valve, which operates for the open state while triggering the valve input.
For secured gas/fuel locking, the notification will be displayed after complete lock for safety precautions. Thus, the user can easily ensure the proper closure and opening of the fuel/gas cylinder regulator valve. The valve can be of any type like pressure-lock valves used for the gaseous regulation (like solenoid gas/ fuel valve). This valve operations are controlled by the micro-controller, with respect to the button triggering. The regulator valve opening, and closure can be also implemented as fully automatic, in such a way that the regulator valve closes after a predefined time period. The valve will be implemented at the cylinder regulator module. For a precaution, the automatically operated valve can be fixed in parallel to the manual fuel/gas cylinder valve.

Figure 2 shows a different modes of load cell of load measuring unit of the electronic fuel amount/volume measuring system according to one embodiment of the present invention.
The figure shows different modes of load cell load measuring unit of the electronic fuel amount/volume measuring system. In an example embodiment, the load cell (transducer) can be placed in the load measuring unit e.g. trolley in different modes (as shown in figure (2)). The figure shows the top view of the trolley with a load cell (transducer) (as rectangular black strip-like) and as a dotted circle with an inside cross sign shows the compressible type load cell (transducer) or of circular shaped load cells. If the module is to be designed with two rectangular block type load cells, arrange the load cells like figure 2 (a), which is in 180-degree angle between each. If the module is to be designed with three rectangular block type load cells, arrange the load cells like figure 2(b), which is in 120-degree angle between each, or else, if the module is to be designed with a circular shaped load cell (transducer) or compressible type of load cells (transducer), use one (or more) and fix the load cell (transducer) at the center position (or at any side ways) to the trolley as like in figure 2(c). For load cell (transducer) of any other model, it can be implemented at a position with respect to the center of the mass locating point.
The weight/load of the empty fuel/gas cylinder is varying for different sizes of the cylinder. So, in order to make the calibration accurate, the weight/load of the empty fuel/gas cylinder is requested by the controller to enter the value. The weight of the empty cylinder is a standard value for a particular size of the fuel/gas cylinder. This function can be also designed as, to select the value required, from a set of standard values pre-stored in the micro-controller. So that, the numerical keyboard is not necessary for the second design mode.
Figure 3 shows an example top view of the fuel/gas stove according to one embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 4 shows an example bottom view of the fuel/gas stove according to one embodiment of the present invention.
The figure 3 and 4 shows the top view and bottom view of the fuel/gas stove. The block diagram of the present invention may be a preferred model, the display and buttons, design can be of any modified type.
In one embodiment, the top view of the fuel/gas stove shows two burners (310), a display (330), a button (320) and burner knobs (340) with position sensing system. Further, the bottom view of the fuel/gas stove shows an auto fire extinguisher circuit (410), charging port (420), gas/fuel pipe in (430), valve (440), circuit board (450), gas/fuel pipe line (460), gas/fuel sensor (470) and fire sensor (480). In the example, the load cell (transducer) is fixed in the trolley i.e. load measuring unit, micro-controller and other circuitry fixed inside the fuel/gas stove, fire sensor and gas/ fuel leak sensor units fixed inside the fuel/gas stove, display unit fixed on the framework of the fuel/gas stove surface, atleast six buttons fixed nearby the display system where the buttons are assigned with different trigger functions), automatic valve fixed at the gas/fuel pipe entry position inside the fuel/gas stove, the power supply is of rechargeable type, charging port is fixed at a side of the fuel/gas stove surface.
The buttons which were specified in different modules can be made to a lesser number of buttons, by setting multiple trigger functions to a single button itself. This can be designed as assigning multiple stages for the button pressing, like single pressing, double pressing, triple pressing or else any number of pressing, also set stages of triggers with respect to the press-hold time duration, which is like pressing for 3 seconds or else any time duration of pressing the button. So that the number of buttons can be reduced. Instead of mechanical buttons, any type of button triggers like touch stimulation buttons or else can be implemented, to assign different trigger functions or else the user interface application can be also designed to activate the triggers, so that the user can trigger the functions using the user interface application.
Figure 5-8 shows an example display modules of the fuel/gas stove according to one embodiment of the present invention.
The figures 5-8 shows an example display modules of the fuel/gas stove. In an example embodiment, the display module/unit displays amount of gas left in the fuel/gas cylinder, the time period up to which the fuel/gas stove can be burned using the existing fuel/gas cylinder, burner state (ON/OFF), cylinder valve state, battery charge level, gas/fuel emptying alert, fuel/gas cylinder booking status, gas/fuel leak alert, fire alert.
Figure 9 shows a method for measuring an amount/volume of fuel/gas in a fuel/gas cylinder according to one embodiment of the present invention.
The figure shows a method (900) for measuring an amount/volume of fuel/gas in a fuel/gas cylinder. In one embodiment, the method comprising: measuring (910), by a load measuring unit configured, a load of the fuel/gas cylinder, wherein the load measuring unit comprises atleast one load cell configured to obtain a readings of the load which varies with the load of the fuel/gas cylinder, sensing (920), by a knob position sensing unit, a position of the knob of a fuel/gas stove, wherein the knob position sensing unit comprises a potential divider circuit configured to measure the sensed position to determine a position of the knob of the fuel/gas stove, receiving (930), by a control unit, the readings of the load from the atleast one load cell and the determined position of the knob from the knob position sensing unit, to compute and measure the amount of fuel/gas consumed, measure the amount/volume of fuel/gas in the fuel/gas cylinder, displaying (940), by a display unit, a one or more features of the fuel/gas stove and the fuel/gas cylinder, wherein the display unit is assembled in a frame of the fuel/gas stove and providing (950), by a power supply unit, a power to the units.
The method further comprises measuring by the atleast one load cell, a reading of a load of the empty fuel/gas cylinder, and the reading of the load of the fuel/gas cylinder with gas/fuel which varies with the load of the fuel/gas cylinder, and providing the readings to the control unit for storing.
The method further comprises storing the reading of the load of the empty fuel/gas cylinder as a reference value and computing by the control unit, the amount/volume of fuel/gas in the fuel/gas cylinder is calculated by subtracting the reference value from the reading of the load of the fuel/gas cylinder (with fuel/gas) measured by the atleast one load cell (transducer).
The method further comprises receiving by the control unit, each position of the knob of the fuel/gas stove from the knob position sensing unit and computing the amount/volume of fuel/gas in the fuel/gas cylinder continuously, and further mapping and computing by the control unit, the amount/volume of the fuel/gas in the fuel/gas cylinder during consumption of gas with respect to each position of the knob respectively, and analysing and storing the mapped computed amount/volume of the fuel/gas in a memory of the control unit, wherein computing the amount/volume of the fuel/gas consumed by the fuel/gas stove with respect to each position of the knob is with respect to time.
Further, mapping the amount/volume of fuel/gas consumed at each position of the knob is with respect to the time, thereby obtaining the fuel/gas consumption value at each position of the knob of the fuel/gas stove and calculating and measuring the amount/volume of fuel/gas in a fuel/gas cylinder based on the fuel/gas consumption value at each position of the knob of the fuel/gas stove and the reference value.
The present invention system and method discloses an electronically/ mechanically working-based knob/controller, which is particularly designed (linear type, stage-based type, function-based type) for the controlling of the fuel/gas consumption/releasing from the fuel/gas stove burner.
The present invention system and method discloses an electronically/ mechanically working based knob/controller for the controlling of amount of gas/fuel releasing from the stove burner which is coupled with the potential divider circuit system/position sensing system.
The present invention system and method discloses measurement of fuel decrement/consumption value with respect to the time, using the loadcell/ weight transducer system, for each positions of the knob/ controller.
The present invention system and method utilizes micro-controller mapping of the fuel/gas decrement/consumption value to each of the knob/controller positions, thereby mapping the fuel/gas decrement/ consumption value to the voltage/signal/potential value obtained from the knob/controller position sensing system.
The present invention system and method displays the amount of fuel/gas consumed/released by the fuel/gas stove burner.
The present invention system and method displays the fuel left in the fuel cylinder/bottle container, for which the previous fuel value (fully filled/ partially filled but known value).
In the present invention, the fuel left in the cylinder is calculated such that, by subtracting the value of the fuel consumed/ decrement from the fuel cylinder/ bottle container fully filled fuel value (or partially filled but known fuel value), the fuel left in the fuel cylinder/ bottle container can be calculated.
The present invention system and method displays the status and the parameters of stove/burner on the electronic/mechanical display system which is coupled to the knob/controller casing socket structure.
In the present invention system, after storing the fuel/gas decrement values from the load cell measuring unit, the load cell and amplifier system (in the trolley) can be removed from the system. And the fuel/gas stove system can run independently without load cell, by using the stored the fuel/gas decrement values in the microcontroller unit. The advantage of the removing load cell is that, maintenance of two systems and power consumption can be reduced.
Figures are merely representational and are not drawn to scale. Certain portions thereof may be exaggerated, while others may be minimized. Figures illustrate various embodiments of the invention that can be understood and appropriately carried out by those of ordinary skill in the art.
In the foregoing detailed description of embodiments of the invention, various features are grouped together in a single embodiment for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed embodiments of the invention require more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive subject matter lies in less than all features of a single disclosed embodiment. Thus, the following claims are hereby incorporated into the detailed description of embodiments of the invention, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment.
It is understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. It is intended to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. Many other embodiments will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. The scope of the invention should, therefore, be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. In the appended claims, the terms “including” and “in which” are used as the plain-English equivalents of the respective terms “comprising” and “wherein,” respectively.
,CLAIMS:

1. A system (100) for measuring an amount of fuel in a cylinder, the system comprising:
a load measuring unit (110) configured to hold the cylinder mounted thereon and to measure a load of the cylinder, wherein the load measuring unit comprises atleast one load cell configured to obtain a readings of the load which varies with the load of the cylinder;
a knob position sensing unit (120) configured to sense a position of a knob of a stove, wherein the knob position sensing unit comprises a potential divider circuit configured to measure the sensed position to determine a position of the knob of the stove;
a control unit (130) configured to receive the readings of the load from the atleast one load cell and the determined position of the knob from the knob position sensing unit, and further configured to compute and measure the amount of fuel consumed, measure amount of fuel in the cylinder;
a display unit (140) configured to display a one or more features of the stove and the cylinder, wherein the display unit is assembled in a frame of the stove; and
a power supply unit (150) configured to provide power to the units of the system.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the atleast one load cell measures a reading of a load of the empty cylinder, and further measures the reading of the load of the cylinder with fuel which varies with the load of the cylinder, and provide the readings to the control unit.
3. The system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the control unit stores the reading of the load of the empty cylinder as a reference value.

4. The system as claimed in claim 1 to 3, wherein the control unit computes the amount of fuel in the cylinder by subtracting the reference value from the reading of the load of the cylinder (with fuel) measured by the atleast one load cell (transducer).

5. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the atleast one load cell obtains the load of cylinder as an analogue electrical voltage/signal (reading) with respect to the load or weight applied on the atleast one load cell.

6. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control unit receives each position of the knob of the stove from the knob position sensing unit and computes the amount of fuel in the cylinder continuously, and wherein the control unit is further configured to map and compute the amount of the fuel in the cylinder during consumption of fuel/gas with respect to each position of the knob respectively, and analyse and store the mapped computed amount of the fuel in a memory of the control unit.

7. The system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the amount of the fuel consumption by the stove with respect to each position of the knob is computed with respect to time.

8. The system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the amount of fuel consumption at each position of the knob is mapped with respect to the time, thereby obtaining the fuel consumption value at each position of the knob of the stove.

9. The system as claimed in claim 1 to 8, wherein control unit is configured to calculate and measure the amount fuel consumed, measure the amount of fuel in a cylinder based on the fuel consumption value at each position of the knob of the stove and the reference value.

10. The system as claimed in claim 1 to 9, wherein the system works independently without load measuring unit, as the fuel consumption value at each position of the knob of the stove with respect to time is analysed (mapping function) and stored in the control unit.

11. The system as claimed in claim 1, further comprises a fire sensor unit (160) assembled in the frame of the stove to detect the fire in surroundings of the stove and provides the readings corresponding to detected fire to the control unit to trigger a fire alert.

12. The system as claimed in claim 1, further comprises a fuel/gas leakage sensor unit (170) assembled in the frame of the stove to detect the fuel/gas in surroundings of the stove cylinder and provides the readings corresponding to the detected fuel/gas to the control unit to trigger an alert, where the alert either an led notification or a symbolic notification in the display of the stove or an alert message transmitted to the predefined user's contact id through using a GSM (Global System for Mobile communications) system (180).

13. A method (900) for measuring an amount of fuel in a cylinder, the method comprising:
measuring (910), by a load measuring unit configured, a load of the cylinder, wherein the load measuring unit comprises atleast one load cell configured to obtain a readings of the load which varies with the load of the cylinder;
sensing (920), by a knob position sensing unit, a position of the knob of a stove, wherein the knob position sensing unit comprises a potential divider circuit configured to measure the sensed position to determine a position of the knob of the stove;
receiving (930), by a control unit, the readings of the load from the atleast one load cell and the determined position of the knob from the knob position sensing unit, to compute and measure the amount of fuel consumed, amount of fuel present in the cylinder;
displaying (940), by a display unit, a one or more features of the stove and the cylinder, wherein the display unit is assembled in a frame of the stove; and
providing (950), by a power supply unit, a power to the units.

14. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein measuring by the atleast one load cell, a reading of a load of the empty cylinder, and the reading of the load of the cylinder with fuel/gas which varies with the load of the cylinder , and providing the readings to the control unit for storing.

15. The system as claimed in claim 13, wherein storing the reading of the load of the empty cylinder as a reference value and computing by the control unit, the amount of fuel in the cylinder by subtracting the reference value from the reading of the load of the cylinder (with fuel) measured by the atleast one load cell (transducer).

16. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein receiving by the control unit, each position of the knob of the stove from the knob position sensing unit and computing the amount of fuel in the cylinder continuously, and further mapping and computing by the control unit, the amount of the fuel in the cylinder during consumption of fuel with respect to each position of the knob respectively, and analysing and storing the mapped computed amount of the fuel in a memory of the control unit.

17. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein computing the amount of the fuel consumed by the stove with respect to each position of the knob is with respect to time.

18. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein mapping the amount of fuel consumed at each position of the knob is with respect to the time, thereby obtaining the fuel consumption value at each position of the knob of the stove and calculating and measuring the amount of fuel consumed and present in a cylinder based on the fuel consumption value at each position of the knob of the stove and the reference value.