Vulcanair - Partenavia P.68 Fuel Level

Vulcanair - Partenavia P68 Fuel Level Sensor 

We delivered the first digital fuel level units for Vulcanair P68 formerly the Partenavia.   This is the first factory installation of our digital fuel level system for a European manufacturer.

It is exciting to realize the potential of our fuel level patent on a worldwide basis.

While our business with Cirrus Aircraft involves pilot owners from around the world.  These pilots and operators are praising the new level of accuracy we have brought to their aircraft and fleets.

Working with manufacturers directly as we have done with Vulcanair brings a whole new family of professional owner operators to realize the benefits we can provide for fuel level indication for this family of aircraft.

While we are continuing a focus on supporting the aviation market,  we are working with several manufacturers in the automotive and marine industries to introduce our patented technology into these platforms.

We will be excited to announce several new customers and developments in the near future.

Anisotropic Magneto Resistive - The future of fuel and fluid level detection

A major milestone occurred in 2011 -  the first commercially successful application of Anisotropic Magneto Resistive (AMR) technology applied to fuel level sending.    

We made our technological introduction a critical test for the sending unit as we choose to apply this sender to the most popular GA aircraft built.  It was a gutsy move to use aviation as our launch vehicle, but by all measure and after two years of flawless performance, we can say that this methodology for measuring fuel level has been overwhelming success.

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 Multi-Function Display or Fuel Gauge readout.  

Our compact, modular design utilizing the familiar SAE 5 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 - either Frequency, Voltage or PWM Current Mode  is directly proportional  to the position of the float in the tank.  The we derive this location by the measurement of the magnetic field direction.  This method  allows for wide mechanical tolerances 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.

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 

• Low cost with electrical interface that powers and reads AMR effect output signal
• 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

Typical Applications 

The CiES Fuel Level Sensor is ideally suited for a wide range of aviation, automotive, heavy equipment, commercial vehicle, rail in-tank applications for Gasoline, Avgas, Jet A, Propane, Alcohol & Flex Fuel blends.  The non contact measurement method is immune from attack from any sulfur based, water based or solid contaminates.  This method of fuel measurement allows for a single fuel sender  to be applied to a wide variety of fuel types, including different fuels utilized in the same tank, providing the identical output response.

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.

The non-contacting design of the sensor maximizes product life by eliminating fuel level signal deterioration due to contact wear, resistive ink failure or dendritic growth.  Our low current draw with high resolution output signal may be calibrated for the angular travel of a specific application and allows us to  compensate for any assembly or tank variations.  

Oshkosh - EAA 2013

CiES Inc will be at OSHKOSH for the EAA AIRVENTURE  

We will be there...... but we will not be displaying our products at the show in a trade show booth.

We are demonstrating the system to several aviation OEM customers and potential customers.  If you are interested in the system and you are at OSHKOSH the early part of the AirVenture week - please reach out and contact us, we will be more than happy to demonstrate our system.

We continue to receive praise from our customers on the retrofit CiES Cirrus Fuel Level Kit

Noah Wood sent us this message yesterday

"Really happy with them. They are running really close to the totalizer. I posted a couple of shots on one of the COPA threads. I will post a couple of more on COPA after my next couple of flights.  I thought Clearstar Aviation in Addison did a good job on the installation.

I've noticed I actually prefer the digital display on the console to the tape on the MFD. Maybe it is force of habit. 

In my opinion, dollar for dollar, one of the best upgrades you can do to a Cirrus." 

Aviation Consumer - July Issue

CIES Fuel Level System in the News

" Gone are the mechanical fuel quantity gauges that used to live next to the fuel selector between the two seats. 

Instead, new fuel-level senders with electronic fuel quantity data is displayed on-screen, providing far more precision than most mechanical fuel gauges. 

The system helps keep fuel balanced between the left and right tank, periodically reminding the pilot to switch tanks with onscreen CAS alert messaging and warnings"                            


Aviation Consumer July 2013 

We like the reference to far more precision - that's the CiES byword

Universal Fuel Level

Universal Fuel Sender

When we started out to re-define fuel level in aviation we looked at every aspect of what was causing present sender systems to fail.

We then broke that down into three basic concepts that needed to be addressed:

1. The sending unit had to accurately report the position of the float in the fuel tank.
• We used our Patented AMR Sensor Solution
• Exceptional Accuracy
• High Reliability
• Non Contact  - Fuel or liquid intolerant 
2. The sending unit had to be built to aviation standards.
• We utilized aerospace materials and tight tolerance machined parts
• Aerospace Coatings
• TSO Designation - built and tested to an Aerospace Performance standard
3. The communication to the cockpit of the fuel level had to be fool proof
• We used a digital frequency output
• Easy communication, no connection or wiring issues
• Similar communication to fuel flow
• Easy to diagnose 

We created a phenomenal solution for aviation - In 1 1/2 years of delivering this product - we have yet to have an unscheduled removal from an aircraft - 

Over 2500 units in the field and not one failure.  

We produce this unit for the highest production single engine aircraft.

We measure Avgas, Jet A and Alcohol De-Ice fluid with the same unit.

We addressed the aviation aftermarket with a display partner Aerospace Logic to produce an  fuel level display unit that would accept our frequency input.    Aerospace Logic has approvals for their display in all types of GA Aircraft.

We addressed and solved a perplexing problem in aviation

 Accurate and Reliable Fuel Level

In creating news in the aviation field  we have generated a lot of  interest in our product. 

Fuel Sending Units are Universal 

Applicable to all fuel tanks

in any industry or vehicle 

same SAE Bolt pattern 

We are expanding our market 

The new sending unit design needs to have optional outputs:

1. Digital Frequency - proven in the field - exceptional clarity
2. Ratiometric Voltage - a  0 to 5 Volt solution
3. Current Output - simulating a variable resistance  

With this configuration we can accommodate all cockpit or instrument interfaces  - we even left a pigtail to accommodate existing connectors 

Talk to us about any fuel level sending issue 

Customer Responses to the Retrofit Cirrus Aircraft Kit

WHAT ARE THE CUSTOMERS  SAYING

David McGregor

Folks I just picked up the plane this evening from Advanced Aviation in Lancaster PA. Joel Glover and his team did an outstanding job installing the new CiES digital fuel sensors despite a steep learning curve on this first ever install. ... I had a chance to run the system through its paces on the short hop from KNLS to KMMU this evening.
I must say my first impression is WOW ! A huge improvement. I love having the fuel flow quantity on the MFD now, but the icing on the cake is the redundancy with the new digital fuel gauge that replaces the former analog version. Really cool looking, but more important is the functionality. I really like how you can flip between fuel quantity and the fuel burn graph, really helpful for fuel balance.
I would HIGHLY recommend this a must have upgrade to your Cirrus. Get in line now and place your orders.

Jeff Bessett

I just picked up MY aircraft, N874T SR20 - G3 Perspective with the new CiES fuel gauge STC - WOW. team at Advanced at Lancaster PA did the installation on my aircraft - and

Lancaster Avionics next door - did the avionics (Perspective) so it DOES show up on the Garmin Perspective system.

I only have 30 minutes flying with this, however, I believe this to be a game changer for anyone that has worried about the accuracy of the fuel gauges in their plane.

Tom Conroy

My partner, Gary Price and I just picked up our Cirrus from Leading Edge Aviation where they installed the new digital fuel gauges. I cannot tell you how nice it is to have a tool such as accurate fuel gauges. By using these gauges, we will be able to accurately assess whether there is a fuel leak in the system as well as accurately managing fuel supply. The gauges warn you ( by turning yellow) when there is a fuel imbalance in excess of that prescribed in the POH.

On the return trip, we wanted to see if we could land with equal fuel in each tank. About 20 minutes from our destination, we noticed a 6 to 7 gallon differential between tanks, so we switched tanks, and when we arrived at our hanger, there was less than a half

gallon differential. For some crazy reason, that made our evening...

CiES Inc Update

If we reflect on the past year we have accomplished quite a bit

• Secured a OEM contract on the most produced General Aviation Aircraft  - Cirrus SR20 & SR22.

• Obtained a TSO for producing this fuel level sender applicable to all aircraft.

• Received retrofit approval to install our TSO sender on all legacy Cirrus Aircraft. 

• Designed an LPG (propane) level sensor with iPhone/iPad interface

• Initiated OEM installation on the Gippsland GA-10 Turboprop, Discovery 201 & Vulcanair P68 Aircraft series.
  
  

• Achieved aircraft industry recognition for our accomplishments

What is now happening behind the scenes is truly impressive 

• Engaged in engineering design with several manufacturers for installation of our fuel level sensors on their aircraft platforms.

• Working three new aircraft platforms 

• Involved in several STC retrofit applications 

• Finalizing the boat level sensor to display at a major customer

• Engineering new aircraft systems and interfaces using our technology

• Planning for exposure in non aviation markets 

So we have been quite busy and very active - and look forward to next opportunity to demonstrate our capabilities