ARTICLE AND METHOD FOR MONITORING TEMPERATURE AND PRESSURE WITHIN A PRESSURIZED GAS CYLINDER

• US 20080079606A1
• Filed: 09/20/2006
• Published: 04/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Motor Corporation
• Original Assignee: Toyota Engineering and Manufacturing North America Inc (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Ward, Justin D., Spare, Bradley L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,636,053 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/870.16
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 13/025 having the pressure as the parameter
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2201/0109 with exteriorly curved end-piece
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2203/0604 Liners
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2203/0621 with three layers
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2203/0639 Steels
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2203/067 helically wound
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2221/012 Hydrogen
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2223/0123 gaseous, e.g. CNG, GNC
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2250/034 using wireless transmissions
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2250/0408 Level of content in the vessel
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2250/043 Pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2250/0439 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2250/0491 Parameters measured at or inside the vessel
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2265/04 using an independent energy source, e.g. battery
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2270/0168 by vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2270/0184 Fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04373 of auxiliary devices, e.g. reformers, compressors, burners
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04425 at auxiliary devices, e.g. reformers, compressors, burners
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/32 Hydrogen storage
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

A wireless based sensor assembly incorporated within a sealed and pressurized vessel including an end plug secured against an inner surface of the vessel. Temperature and pressure sensors are mounted to inner exposed locations of the end plug and are capable of monitoring temperature and a pressure conditions existing within the sealed vessel. A power supply is communicated to the sensors within said vessel and such that the sensors communicate, in wireless fashion, information regarding the conditions existing internally within the vessel to an external location.

Claims

1. An assembly for remote monitoring of at least one condition existing within a sealed and pressurized environment, comprising:

at least one sensor located within said environment;

a power supply communicated to said sensor within said sealed environment; and

said sensor communicating, in wireless fashion to an external location, information regarding the internal condition of the sealed and pressurized environment.

2. The assembly as described in claim 1, the sealed and pressurized environment further including a tank filled with a compressed gas, said at least one sensor adapted to being mounted to an end plug in turn secured against an inner wall associated with the tank.

3. The assembly as described in claim 2, said at least one sensor having a specified shape and size and further comprising a first temperature sensor and a second pressure sensor.

4. The assembly as described in claim 2, said power supply further comprising a lifetime battery built into the tank interior.

5. The assembly as described in claim 2, further comprising at least one of an inductive power supply communicated to said sensor from an exterior location of said tank and an inductive data transfer communicated from said sensor to said tank exterior through said end plug.

6. The assembly as described in claim 2, said sensor having a specified shape and size, the tank and associated end plug further exhibiting a specified shape and size and being constructed of a metal.

7. The assembly as described in claim 2, said sensor having a specified shape and size, a first inlet line and a second outlet line communicating with further locations associated with the tank.

8. The assembly as described in claim 2, said sensor having a specified shape and size and being utilized within a vehicle fuel cell application.

9. The assembly as described in claim 2, said sensor having a specified shape and size, the compressed gas within the tank further including at least a hydrogen gas.

10. A sealed and pressurized vessel assembly, comprising.

at least one end plug adapted to being secured against an inner surface associated with the vessel;

at least one sensor mounted to an inner exposed location of said end plug and capable of monitoring at least one of a temperature and a pressure condition existing within the sealed vessel;

a power supply communicated to said sensor within said vessel; and

said sensor communicating, in wireless fashion, to an external location, information regarding the conditions existing internally within the vessel.

11. The assembly as described in claim 10, the vessel having a specified shape and size and further comprising a tank charged with a pressurized hydrogen gas.

12. The assembly as described in claim 10, said at least one sensor having a specified shape and size and further comprising a first temperature sensor and a second pressure sensor.

13. The assembly as described in claim 11, said power supply further comprising a lifetime battery built into the tank interior.

14. The assembly as described in claim 11, said power supply further comprising at least one of an inductive input power supply and an inductive output data transmission associated with said sensor, and through said end plug to an exterior location of said tank.

15. The assembly as described in claim 11, said tank having a specified shape and size and being constructed of a metal.

16. The assembly as described in claim 11, said tank having a specified shape and size and further comprising a first inlet line and a second outlet line communicating with further locations associated with said tank.

17. The assembly as described in claim 10, said vessel assembly having a specified shape and size and being utilized within a vehicle fuel cell application.

18. A method for remote monitoring of at least one condition existing within a sealed and pressurized environment, comprising the steps of:

securing at least one sensor to a location within said environment;

powering said sensor within said environment; and

transmitting, in wireless fashion from said sensor to an external location of the environment, information regarding the internal condition of the sealed and pressurized environment.

19. The method as described in claim 18, further comprising the step of mounting an end plug within said pressurized environment and upon which is disposed said at least one sensor.

20. The method as described in claim 18, further comprising the step of securing a first temperature sensor and a second pressure sensor to an inner facing location of said end plug.

21. The method as described in claim 19, said step of powering said sensor further comprising securing a lifetime battery to said end plug.

22. The method as described in claim 19, at least one of said steps of powering said sensor and transmitting information further comprising an inductive communicated supply provided through said end plug.

23. The method as described in claim 18, further comprising the step of communicating a first inlet line and a second outlet line with further locations associated with said environment.