Fuel supply apparatus using low boiling point fuel and its control method

• US 20030230289A1
• Filed: 03/31/2003
• Published: 12/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Nakatsu, Kinya, Yamaoka, Shiro, Oosuga, Minoru
• Granted Patent: US 6,918,370 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 123/529
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 19/022 to adjust the fuel pressure, temperature or composition
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 19/023 to adjust the fuel mass or volume flow
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 19/025 Failure diagnosis or prevention; Safety measures; Testing
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 19/027 Determining the fuel pressure, temperature or volume flow, the fuel tank fill level or a valve position
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 21/0212 comprising at least 3 C-Atoms, e.g. liquefied petroleum gas [LPG], propane or butane
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 21/0221 Fuel storage reservoirs, e.g. cryogenic tanks
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 21/0287 characterised by the transition from liquid to gaseous phase F02M21/06 takes precedence; Injection in liquid phase; Cooling and low temperature storage
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 21/0296 Manufacturing or assembly; Materials, e.g. coatings
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 37/20 characterised by means for preventing vapour lock
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/30 Use of alternative fuels, e.g. biofuels
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/4824 Tank within tank

Abstract

A fuel supply apparatus reduces the fuel vaporization and leakage by means that the positions of vaporization and leakage and their amount in the fuel tank and the fuel pipe is detected properly in case of using a low boiling point fuel having a vapor phase in the normal temperatures and atmospheric pressures, and the fuel state is controlled based on those detected values. By providing another container made of elastomatic material having an expandable mechanical characteristic inside the fuel storing container, the low boiling point fuel is stored in the separate container. A flow rate controlling apparatus is provided for heating or cooling the fuel pipe leading the low boiling point fuel stored in the fuel storing container to the engine. A flow rate controlling apparatus is provided for adjusting the flow rate of the fuel in the fuel pipe for leading the low boiling point fuel stored in the fuel storing container to the engine. An adjusting apparatus is provided for at least one of the fuel pressure and the fuel temperature in responsive to the output signal from the control apparatus generating the electric signal in responsive to at least one of the fuel leakage volume and the fuel vaporization state.

Claims

1. A fuel supply apparatus using a low boiling point fuel comprising

a fuel storing container;

and

another container made of elastomatic material having an expandable mechanical characteristic inside said fuel storing container.

2. A fuel supply apparatus using a low boiling point fuel of claim 1, wherein

a feed pump is provided inside said another container made of elastomatic material.

3. A fuel supply apparatus using a low boiling point fuel comprising

a fuel pipe leading a low boiling point fuel stored in a fuel storing container;

and

a temperature adjusting device for heating or cooling said fuel pipe.

4. A fuel supply apparatus using a low boiling point fuel of claim 3, wherein said fuel pipe is covered by an insulation material.

5. A fuel supply apparatus using a low boiling point fuel of claim 3, wherein said fuel pipe and a flow route member for flowing a refrigeration medium for heating or cooling said fuel pipe are placed so as to be close to each other, and both are covered by an insulation material.

6. A fuel supply apparatus using a low boiling point fuel comprising

a fuel pipe for leading a low boiling point fuel stored in a fuel storing container to an engine;

and

a flow rate controlling apparatus for adjusting the flow rate of the fuel in the fuel pipe.