Compressed Natural Gas Vehicle Safety System and Method
First Claim
1. A vehicle safety system for disabling a natural gas-fueled vehicle while fueling, comprising:
- a first sensor adapted to sense presence of a gas fill hose in proximity to a tank fill adapter coupled to a pressurized gas source, said first sensor in wireless communication with a logic circuit;
a second sensor adapted to sense an open/closed position of an isolation valve, said isolation valve isolating said tank fill adapter from said gas source when closed, said second sensor in wireless communication with said logic circuit;
the logic circuit adapted to combine wireless inputs from said first and second sensors to produce a safe electrical signal indicating a safe condition when said fill hose is not in proximity to said tank fill adapter, and said isolation valve is closed;
a lockout circuit adapted to disable said vehicle when said safe electrical signal is absent.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A multiply-redundant system that prevents a driver from starting and/or moving a vehicle if a compressed natural gas fill system is not correctly and completely disconnected from the vehicle. One or more sensors in combination with one or more optional microswitches combine to lock-out the vehicle'"'"'s ignition or otherwise prevent it from starting and/or moving. For different levels of safety, different combinations of sensors can be used with the lowest level having a single proximity sensor sensing the presence or absence of a high-pressure fill hose. The highest level of safety being achieved by having separate proximity sensors on the fuel fill hose fitting, the gas cap cover and a manual safety valve along with a redundant microswitch. An optional override that may be restricted as to the number of times it can be used can allow starting with a faulty sensor in order to allow maintenance.
3 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A vehicle safety system for disabling a natural gas-fueled vehicle while fueling, comprising:
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a first sensor adapted to sense presence of a gas fill hose in proximity to a tank fill adapter coupled to a pressurized gas source, said first sensor in wireless communication with a logic circuit; a second sensor adapted to sense an open/closed position of an isolation valve, said isolation valve isolating said tank fill adapter from said gas source when closed, said second sensor in wireless communication with said logic circuit; the logic circuit adapted to combine wireless inputs from said first and second sensors to produce a safe electrical signal indicating a safe condition when said fill hose is not in proximity to said tank fill adapter, and said isolation valve is closed; a lockout circuit adapted to disable said vehicle when said safe electrical signal is absent. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A vehicle safety system for disabling a natural gas-fueled vehicle while fueling, comprising:
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a first wireless sensor adapted to sense presence of a high pressure natural gas fill hose in proximity to a tank fill adapter coupled to a high pressure natural gas tank; a second wireless sensor adapted to sense an open/closed position of a fill access cap, said fill access cap closing a compartment containing said tank fill adapter; a third wireless sensor adapted to sense an open/closed position of an isolation valve, said isolation valve isolating said tank fill adapter from said high pressure natural gas tank when closed; a logic circuit in wireless communication with the first, second and third sensors adapted to combine inputs from said first, second and third sensors to produce a safe electrical signal indicating a safe condition when said fill hose is not in proximity to said tank fill adapter, said fill access cap is closed, and said isolation valve is closed; a lockout circuit adapted to disable said vehicle when said safe electrical signal is absent. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A vehicle safety system for natural gas fueled vehicles comprising:
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a first sensor proximate to a natural gas filling attachment, said first sensor adapted to sense presence of a filling hose; a second sensor adapted to sense an open/closed position of an isolation valve, said isolation valve isolating said tank fill adapter from said gas source when closed; a lockout adapted to disable said vehicle when said filling hose is proximate to said filling attachment; an manual override cooperating with said lockout, said manual override adapted to enable said vehicle even when said first sensor indicates the high pressure filling hose is proximate to said filling attachment; an abuse preventer cooperating with said override, said abuse preventer adapted to limit usage of said override. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification