Gas filling apparatus

• US 10,041,628 B2
• Filed: 10/13/2016
• Issued: 08/07/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tatsuno Corporation
• Original Assignee: Tatsuno Corporation
• Inventors: Otaki, Tsutomu, Tsumura, Yasuyuki, Takase, Atsushi, Kimura, Kiyoshi, Takezawa, Masahiro, Fuse, Takayuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Maust, Timothy L
• Assistant Examiner(s): KELLY, TIMOTHY PATRICK
• Application Number:
  US15/292,539
• Publication Number:
  US 20170114958A1
• Time in Patent Office: 663 Days
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 13/025 having the pressure as the parameter
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 13/026 having the temperature as the parameter
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/037 Quick connecting means, e.g. couplings
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0376 Dispensing pistols
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2221/012 Hydrogen
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2221/033 Methane, e.g. natural gas, CNG, LNG, GNL, GNC, PLNG
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2227/0157 Compressors
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2227/0337 by cooling
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2250/032 using computers
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2250/034 using wireless transmissions
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2250/043 Pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2250/0439 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2250/0443 Flow or movement of content
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2250/0478 Position or presence
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2250/0694 with calculations
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2250/075 when full
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2260/022 Avoiding overfilling
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2260/042 Reducing risk of explosion
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2265/065 for refuelling vehicle fuel tanks
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2270/0139 Fuel stations
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2270/0168 : by vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 5/007 : for individual gas tanks or containers, e.g. in vehicles filling with liquid fuel not under pressure, B60S5/02, B67D7/00
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 5/06 : for filling with compressed gases
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/32 : Hydrogen storage

Abstract

To provide a gas filling apparatus with high handleability and safety. A gas filling apparatus including: a filling mechanism for carrying a gas through gas carrying pipes while measuring flow rate of the gas from a gas supply source (accumulator); a filling hose connected to the gas carrying pipe and having a filling nozzle at an end of the filling hose; and an attachment sensor (nozzle attachment detecting portion) for outputting a detection signal after detecting that the filling nozzle is attached to a filling port of an in-vehicle tank, wherein filling gas to the in-vehicle tank by the filling mechanism becomes possible after the detection signal is inputted to the filling mechanism from the attachment sensor. The gas filling apparatus may further include: a pressure gauge for measuring a pressure in the in-vehicle tank; a thermometer for measuring ambient temperature; and a target pressure calculating means (comparing means) for calculating a pressure in the in-vehicle tank when filling up the in-vehicle tank or filling preset amount of the gas is finished before filling gas to the in-vehicle tank based on a capacity of the in-vehicle tank and the measured pressure in the in-vehicle tank and the measured ambient temperature; wherein the filling mechanism stops carrying the gas to the in-vehicle tank when the pressure in the in-vehicle tank reaches the target pressure.

Claims

1. A gas filling apparatus comprising:

a filling mechanism, including a gas carrying pipe and at least one valve, for carrying a gas from a gas supply source while measuring flow rate of the gas;

a filling hose connected to the gas carrying pipe and having a filling nozzle at an end of the filling hose;

an attachment sensor for outputting a detection signal after detecting that the filling nozzle is attached to a filling port of an in-vehicle tank;

a calculating circuit for, before filling the gas to the in-vehicle tank, calculating time that the pressure in the in-vehicle tank reaches a target pressure based on flow rate of the gas carried by the gas carrying pipe; and

an informing circuit for, before filling the gas to the in-vehicle tank, transmitting the time that the pressure in the in-vehicle tank reaches the target pressure;

wherein filling gas to the in-vehicle tank by the filling mechanism becomes possible after the detection signal is inputted to the filling mechanism from the attachment sensor.

2. The gas filling apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a pressure gauge for measuring a pressure in the in-vehicle tank;

a thermometer for measuring ambient temperature around said gas filling apparatus; and

the calculating circuit additionally calculating a pressure in the in-vehicle tank when filling up the in-vehicle tank or filling preset amount of the gas is finished before filling gas to the in-vehicle tank based on a capacity of the in-vehicle tank and the measured pressure in the in-vehicle tank and the measured ambient temperature;

wherein said filling mechanism stops carrying the gas to the in-vehicle tank when the pressure in the in-vehicle tank reaches the target pressure.

3. The gas filling apparatus recited in claim 1, wherein the informing circuit includes a speaker controller operative to generate speaker control instructions, the gas filling apparatus further comprising a speaker capable of operating in accordance with the speaker control instructions.

4. The gas filling apparatus recited in claim 1, wherein the informing circuit includes a display controller operative to generate display control instructions, the gas filling apparatus further comprising a display capable of operating in accordance with the display control instructions.

5. A gas filling apparatus comprising:

a gas carrying pipe fluidly connectable with a gas supply source to receive gas therefrom;

at least one valve in fluid communication with the gas carrying pipe;

a filling hose connected to the gas carrying pipe and having a filling nozzle at an end of the filling hose;

an attachment sensor for outputting a detection signal after detecting that the filling nozzle is attached to a filling port of an in-vehicle tank;

a calculating circuit for calculating time that the pressure in the in-vehicle tank reaches a target pressure based on flow rate of the gas carried by the gas carrying pipe; and

an informing circuit for transmitting the time that the pressure in the in-vehicle tank reaches the target pressure as calculated by the calculating circuit;

wherein filling gas to the in-vehicle tank by the filling mechanism becomes possible after the detection signal is outputted by the attachment sensor.