Replaceable fuel system module and method

• US 20020171236A1
• Filed: 05/16/2002
• Published: 11/21/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dynetek Industries Ltd. (Luxfer Holdings PLC)
• Original Assignee: Dynetek Industries Ltd. (Luxfer Holdings PLC)
• Inventors: Joitescu, Sorin, Imhof, Ulrich
• Granted Patent: US 6,676,163 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/834
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/07 of gas tanks
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 1/00 Pressure vessels, e.g. gas cylinder, gas tank, replaceable cartridge pressurised apparatus for purposes other than storage, see the relevant subclasses such as A62C, B05B; associated with vehicles, see the appropriate subclass of classes B60 - B64; pressure vessels in general F16J12/00 ; autoclaves B01J3/04; tank vehicles B60P3/22; railway tank wagons for carrying fluent materials B61D5/00; accumulators for supplying fluid under pressure F15B1/04; liquefied gas stoves F24C3/00
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2201/0109 with exteriorly curved end-piece
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2201/035 with substantially horizontal main axis
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2201/056 Small (<1 m3)
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2201/058 portable (<30 l)
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2203/0604 Liners
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2203/0646 Aluminium
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2203/0663 in form of fibers or filaments
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0107 Frames
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0146 with details of the manifold
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0188 Hanging up devices
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0326 electrically actuated
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0335 Check-valves or non-return valves
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0338 Pressure regulators
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0394 in direct contact with the pressure vessel
• 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 2223/0161 cryogenic, e.g. LNG, GNL, PLNG
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2223/036 Very high pressure (>80 bar)
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2250/043 : Pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2250/0439 : Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2270/0171 : Trucks
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2270/0178 : Cars
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/32 : Hydrogen storage

Abstract

A unitary fuel system module comprising one or more fuel cylinders mounted to a frame as a module, preferably through neck-mounts, and having fueling lines for connecting the fuel cylinders to the vehicle. The frame is fitted with a latching mechanism that is readily actuated for alternately securing the frame to the fuel supply envelope in the vehicle or releasing the frame for removal of the fuel module as a unitary structure. Preferably, the frame is fitted with wheels or slides to enable sliding the module in and out of the envelope. In operation, as required return a vehicle to operation, a faulty module can be replaced with a replacement module, which is slid into the envelope where it is secured and-the fueling lines are re-connected to the vehicle.

Claims

1. A unitary modular fuel system, for use with alternative fuels, adapted to be secured within an envelope in a vehicle, the module comprising:

one or more pressurized fuel cylinders, each fuel cylinder having a longitudinal axis and opposing neck ends;

a frame to which the opposing neck ends of each of the two or more fuel cylinders are neck-mounted for forming a module; and

means for releasably securing the frame within the vehicular envelope and operable between a first secured position and a second released position.

2. The modular fuel system as described in claim 1 wherein the means for removably anchoring the frame to the vehicular envelope is an anchoring system comprising at least one latching means attached to the frame and adapted for securing to complementary anchors within the vehicle'"'"'s envelope.

3. The modular fuel system as described in claim 2 wherein the latching means are remotely actuated between the secured and released positions.

4. The modular fuel system as described in claim 3 wherein the latching means are remotely actuated between the secured and released positions from a periphery of the vehicle'"'"'s envelope.

5. The modular fuel system as described in claim 1 wherein the frame further comprises:

first and second end brackets; and

a plurality of neck-mounting attachments mounted to the first and second brackets so as to mount opposing neck ends of the pressurized fuel cylinders and space the first and second end brackets from one another.

6. The modular fuel system as described in claim 1 wherein the frame further comprises one or more crossbeams, each connected at first and second ends to each of the first and second end brackets.

7. The modular fuel system as described in claim 6 wherein a crossbeam is positioned between every second fuel cylinder.

8. The modular fuel system as described in claim 7 wherein at least one of the opposing neck-mounting attachments is threaded for securing the pressurized fuel cylinders against displacement along the fuel cylinder'"'"'s longitudinal axis.

9. The modular fuel system as described in claim 7 wherein at least one of the neck ends is axially moveable within one of the neck-mounting attachments so as to permit expansion of the tank in an axial direction.

10. The modular fuel system as described in claim 1 wherein the pressurized fuel cylinders are connected to the vehicle by fueling lines, the fueling lines comprising:

a fuel line;

a fill line; and

a vent line wherein the fueling lines are carried by the frame and are connected to corresponding fueling lines at the in the vehicle using releasable fittings.

11. The modular fuel system as described in claim 10 wherein the fuel line connection using releasable fittings is located at a periphery of the frame.

12. The modular fuel system as described in claim 1 wherein the frame further comprises means for slideably removing and replacing the module from and to the vehicular envelope when the latching mechanism is in the second released position.

13. The modular fuel system as described in claim 12 wherein the means for slideably removing the module from the envelope are wheels attached to the underside of the frame and engage the envelope.

14. The modular fuel system as described in claim 12 wherein the means for slideably removing the module from the envelope are Teflon™

pads attached to the underside of the frame

15. The modular fuel system as described in claim 1 further comprising anti-vibration pads positioned between the frame and a base of the envelope.

16. The modular fuel system as described in claim 1 wherein the frame further comprises eyelets on a top side of the brackets to permit lifting of the module once removed from the envelope.

17. The modular fuel system as described in claim 2 wherein the latching mechanism is an anchoring mechanism further comprising:

first and second hooks attached to the frame crossbeams and adapted to correspond to complementary anchors located in the vehicle'"'"'s envelope, the hooks having open sides oriented in opposing relationship; and

an actuation arm connected between first and second hooks;

so as to actuate first and second hooks between the first secured position and the second released position to respectively engage the hooks in the anchors so as to retain the module in the vehicle envelope and release the hooks from the anchors to release the module.

18. The modular fuel system as described in claim 16 wherein a handle is connected to the actuation arm so as to actuate the anchoring mechanism.

19. The modular fuel system as described in claim 17 wherein the handle is located at a periphery of the frame.

20. The modular fuel system as described in claim 18 wherein the handle is located remote from the module.

21. A unitary modular fuel system, for use with alternative fuels, adapted to be secured within an envelope in a vehicle, the module comprising:

one or more pressurized fuel cylinders;

a frame to which each of the one or more fuel cylinders are mounted for forming a module; and

means for releasably securing the module within the vehicular envelope and operable between a first secured position and a second released position.

22. The modular fuel system as described in claim 21 further comprising slides for aiding removal and replacement of the module from and to the vehicular envelope when the latching mechanism is in the second released position.

23. The modular fuel system as described in claim 21 wherein the means for removably anchoring the frame to the vehicular envelope is an anchoring system comprising at least one latching means attached to the frame and adapted for securing to complementary anchors within the vehicle'"'"'s envelope.

24. The modular fuel system as described in claim 23 wherein the latching means are remotely actuated between the secured and released positions.

25. The modular fuel system as described in claim 24 wherein the latching means are remotely actuated between the secured and released positions from a periphery of the vehicle'"'"'s envelope.

27. The method as described in claim 26 further comprising the steps of:

actuating a handle to actuate the latching mechanism between the first released and second secured position; and

sliding the used module from the envelope using sliding means attached to the frame and sliding the replacement module into the envelope.

28. The method as described in claim 27 wherein the handle is actuated from a location at a periphery of the frame.

29. The method as described in claim 28 wherein the handle is actuated from a location remote from the module.

26. A method of removal and replacement of a used vehicular fuel system module comprising the steps of:

providing at least two modules, a used module and a replacement module, each module having one or more fuel cylinders mounted to a frame, the frame having a latching mechanism;

disconnecting the pressurized fuel cylinders from the vehicle; and

actuating the latching mechanism for securing the mounting frame to a vehicular envelope from a first secured position to a second released position;

then sequentially;

removing the used module from the vehicle'"'"'s envelope;

inserting a replacement module into the vehicle'"'"'s envelope; and

then

actuating the latching mechanism for securing the mounting frame to the vehicle from a second released position to a first secured position, and

reconnecting the pressurized fuel cylinders to the vehicle.