A HIGH PRESSURE GASEOUS FUEL SUPPLY SYSTEM FOR AN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE AND A METHOD OF SEALING CONNECTIONS BETWEEN COMPONENTS TO PREVENT LEAKAGE OF A HIGH PRESSURE GASEOUS FUEL
First Claim
1. A fuel system for supplying a gaseous fuel to an internal combustion engine, said system comprising a thermoplastic polyurethane material provided at an interface between two components of said system or between parts of one of said components for sealing therebetween, wherein said components comprise:
- (a) a pressure increasing module;
(b) a fuel conditioning module;
(c) a fuel injection valve for injecting said fuel directly into a combustion chamber of said internal combustion engine; and
(d) conduits for conveying said gaseous fuel from said pressure increasing module to said fuel conditioning module, and from said fuel conditioning module to said fuel injection valve, wherein said conduits can be separate components or integral to an engine part, including other ones of said fuel system components.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A high-pressure fuel system supplies gaseous fuel to an internal combustion engine. Gaseous fuel pressure within the system is at least 17 MPa during normal operation. The system comprises a number of components and conduits and at least one resilient member for sealing at an interface between two components. The resilient member consists essentially of thermoplastic polyurethane. A corresponding method provides sealing between components containing gaseous fluids at pressures that can be above 17 MPa, in which the gaseous fluids routinely undergo rapid reductions in pressure. The method comprises disposing a resilient member, which consists essentially of thermoplastic polyurethane, at an interface between the components. Gas pressure fluctuations can occur during operation of the components or when the high-pressure gas is vented from the components upon shut down of the high-pressure system. A particularly suitable application for the present method is high-pressure gaseous fuel supply systems for internal combustion engines.
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Citations
40 Claims
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1. A fuel system for supplying a gaseous fuel to an internal combustion engine, said system comprising a thermoplastic polyurethane material provided at an interface between two components of said system or between parts of one of said components for sealing therebetween, wherein said components comprise:
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(a) a pressure increasing module;
(b) a fuel conditioning module;
(c) a fuel injection valve for injecting said fuel directly into a combustion chamber of said internal combustion engine; and
(d) conduits for conveying said gaseous fuel from said pressure increasing module to said fuel conditioning module, and from said fuel conditioning module to said fuel injection valve, wherein said conduits can be separate components or integral to an engine part, including other ones of said fuel system components. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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- 23. A method of sealing at an interface between components or parts of a component of a fuel system for supplying a gaseous fuel to an internal combustion engine at pressures that can be above 17 MPa, wherein said gaseous fuel routinely undergoes rapid reductions in pressure, said method comprising disposing a resilient member that provides a fluid seal at said interface, said resilient member consisting essentially of thermoplastic polyurethane.
Specification