Sentronics sues Allengra over F1 fuel-flow meter patent

Sentronics Holdings Ltd. has sued Allengra GmbH in federal court in Texas, alleging that its rival’s fuel-flow meters infringe a U.S. patent. The complaint seeks a jury trial, financial damages and a permanent injunction that would bar Allengra from supplying or using the disputed meters in the United States. The allegations have not been tested in court, and no finding of infringement has been made. The lawsuit was filed October 16 in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas, according to the court docket. It comes as Formula 1 prepares for the United States Grand Prix in Austin. Sentronics has not sought an emergency ban, so the filing itself does not prevent use of the meters at the race. Sentronics says its U.S. Patent No. 11,391,609, granted in July 2022, covers a method for measuring fuel flow using ultrasonic signals sent through a fluid in opposite directions. Fuel-flow meters measure how much fuel reaches an engine and help the FIA enforce technical limits on fuel delivery. In its complaint, Sentronics alleges that laboratory testing in late 2024 showed Allengra’s meters used the patented method. The company also claims Allengra encouraged Formula 1...