Systems and methods for fuel level monitoring in an engine-driven generator

Abstract

An engine-driven welding generator that monitors fuel level is provided. The engine-driven welding generator comprises a fuel level monitoring system configured to measure a remaining fuel level in a fuel tank of the engine-driven welding generator, determine a rate of fuel usage of an engine of the engine-driven welding generator, and calculate a remaining run time of the engine based on the remaining fuel level and the rate of fuel usage of the engine

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A system, comprising:
 a fuel level monitoring system comprising:
 a memory configured to store a fuel usage map comprising one or more generator outputs and/or engine outputs, each generator output and/or engine output being correlated with a fuel usage rate, and 
 a processor configured to:
 determine a current fuel usage rate of an engine using the fuel usage map and an output of the engine and/or a generator configured to be driven by the engine, and 
 calculate a remaining run time of the engine based on a remaining fuel level and the current fuel usage rate. 
 
   
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , further comprising a fuel sensor configured to measure the remaining fuel level of a fuel tank configured to supply fuel to the engine. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 21 , further comprising an output sensor configured to measure the output of the engine and/or generator. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 21 , further comprising a display configured to display the remaining run time of the engine calculated by the fuel level monitoring system. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 21 , further comprising an alarm, wherein the fuel level monitoring system is configured to activate the alarm when the remaining run time of the engine falls below a predetermined threshold. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 the engine; and   the generator configured to be driven by the engine.   
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 21 , further comprising a fuel tank configured to supply fuel to the engine. 
     
     
         28 . An engine-driven generator comprising:
 an engine; a generator configured to be driven by the engine; a fuel tank configured to supply fuel to the engine; and   a fuel level monitoring system comprising:
 a memory configured to store a fuel usage map comprising one or more generator outputs and/or engine outputs, each generator output and/or engine output being correlated with a fuel usage rate, and 
 a processor configured to:
 determine a current fuel usage rate of the engine using the fuel usage map and an output of the engine and/or the generator, and 
 calculate a remaining run time of the engine based on a remaining fuel level of the fuel tank and the current fuel usage rate. 
 
   
     
     
         29 . The engine-driven generator of  claim 28 , further comprising a fuel sensor configured to measure the remaining fuel level of the fuel tank. 
     
     
         30 . The engine-driven generator of  claim 29 , wherein the fuel sensor is further configured to store the remaining fuel level of the fuel tank in memory. 
     
     
         31 . The engine-driven generator of  claim 28 , further comprising an output sensor configured to measure the output of the engine and/or generator. 
     
     
         32 . The engine-driven generator of  claim 28 , further comprising an alarm, wherein the fuel level monitoring system is configured to activate the alarm when the remaining run time of the engine falls below a predetermined threshold. 
     
     
         33 . The engine-driven generator of  claim 32 , wherein the alarm comprises a visual alarm or an auditory alarm. 
     
     
         34 . The engine-driven generator of  claim 28 , further comprising a display configured to display the remaining run time of the engine calculated by the fuel level monitoring system. 
     
     
         35 . A method, comprising:
 storing, via memory, a fuel usage map comprising one or more generator outputs and/or engine outputs, each generator output and/or engine output being correlated with a fuel usage rate;   determining, via a processor, a current fuel usage rate of an engine using the fuel usage map and an output of the engine and/or a generator configured to be driven by the engine;   calculating, via the processor, a remaining run time of the engine based on a remaining fuel level and the current fuel usage rate.   
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , further comprising measuring, via a fuel sensor, the remaining fuel level of a fuel tank configured to supply fuel to the engine. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 35 , further comprising measuring, via an output sensor, the output of the engine and/or generator. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 35 , further comprising activating an alarm when the remaining run time of the engine falls below a predetermined threshold. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the alarm comprises a visual alarm or an auditory alarm. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 35 , further comprising displaying, via a display screen, the remaining run time of the engine.