A major milestone occurred in 2011 - the first commercially successful application of Anisotropic Magneto Resistive (AMR) technology applied to Propane/ LPG /Autogas fuel level sending.
We made our technological introduction a critical test for the sending unit. We chose the aviation industry Yes the aviation industry.
A little know fact was that the aviation industry utilized Propane Level sending units for their sealed nature and their intrinsically safe design.
Aircraft fuel tanks breath as they ascend and descend providing pressure or vacuum against the fuel level sensor housing. In Propane the pressure of the propane fuel exerts a pressure on the housing requiring a pressure seal to retain the propane fuel. A sealed system is ideal for both applications.
Aircraft fuel tanks must meet that "Intrinsic Safety Requirement" mentioned above, in that wires or electronic components in the fuel tank are not ideal. In Propane the solvent nature of Propane will dissolve rubber or plastic parts. Remote reading of fuel level is ideal for both applications.
When we choose to apply this sender technology to the most popular GA aircraft built. It was a gutsy move to launch in aviation as our first market.But like Propane, you just can't stop anywhere and fill the tank - We thought it was the perfect analogy and a testament to the capability of our sensor system .
The CiES Fuel Level Sensor is a magnetic, non-contacting angular position sensor that converts rotary motion of the float arm into an electrical signal.
This signal provides an accurate fuel level measurement and enables reliable Instrument Panel or Fuel Gauge readout.
We tested our propane unit with one of the largest european component suppliers and just like the aircraft application we achieved astounding results in propane as well.
Our compact, modular design utilizing the familiar SAE 5 or 4 bolt mounting allows a wide range of applications and our calibrated output signal compensates for component and assembly variations. Our unique design using our patented AMR technology enables dependable performance and durability.The CiES Fuel Level Sensor's linear output - Frequency, Voltage, PWM Current Mode or Digital Bus is directly proportional to the position of the float in the tank. We can provide a mapped output to match the exact contents of the Propane tank.
We derive fuel volume by the measurement of the magnetic field direction. This patented method allows for wide mechanical tolerances, vibration and sensor placement. Just like a compass in your hand - no matter where or how you move the compass, it will continue to point North - our sensor continues to point at the float no matter what.
Noncontact performance is made possible by state-of-the-art programmable Anisotropic Magneto Resistive (AMR) technologies. Rotating magnets generate a voltage with a paired sine wave response signal. The sensor operates in a combined linear region of this sine wave response signal.
Benefits
• Modular and common interface help achieve competitive cost
• Can be easily modified to meet specific customer requirements
• Protection against contamination and fuel exposure
• Lower drive current minimizes system power consumption
• High resolution output signal with low hysteresis for improved system performance
Application
The CiES Fuel Level Sensor is ideally suited for Propane powered Buses, Recreational Vehicles, Trucks, Heavy Equipment, Lawn Mowers, Lift trucks and automobiles. The non contact measurement method is ideal for Propane fuel.We have eliminated sloppy internal gearing and shafts to keep unwanted friction out of the system. There is no need to "Rap" the tank to get the CiES sending unit to work.
Performance Advantages
The CiES Fuel Level Sensor features a proven technology that has been used in high volume absolute position sensor applications, like brake by wire, throttle and accelerator positioning, for more than 10 years.
