Fuel supply system for gaseous fuel operated vehicle and regulator therefor

• US 4,811,720 A
• Filed: 12/12/1986
• Issued: 03/14/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/1985
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Aisan Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Aisan Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Kondo, Shunichi, Katumata, Shoji
• Primary Examiner(s): Hart, Douglas
• Application Number:
  US06/941,103
• Time in Patent Office: 823 Days
• Field of Search: 123/527, 123/557, 123/549, 123/545, 123/553, 60/320
• US Class Current: 123/527
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 1/04 with fuel-air mixture admission into cylinder
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 19/0647 the gaseous fuel being liquefied petroleum gas [LPG], liquefied natural gas [LNG], compressed natural gas [CNG] or dimethyl ether [DME]
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 21/0233 Details of actuators therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 21/0239 Pressure or flow regulators therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 21/029 Arrangement on engines or vehicle bodies; Conversion to gaseous fuel supply systems
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 21/06 Apparatus for de-liquefying, e.g. by heating
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 31/125 Fuel
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/12 Improving ICE efficiencies
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/30 Use of alternative fuels, e.g. biofuels

Abstract

A fuel supply system for a gaseous fuel operated vehicle engine in which a compressed gas from a bomb is decompressed by regulator means and then mixed with air to supply air-fuel mixture to the engine. The regulator means is divided into at least two units, locating an upstream regulator and the bomb in a luggage room section of a vehicle, and locating a downstream regulator and a mixer in an engine room section of the vehicle. A low pressure piping system is extended across a passenger'"'"'s room section of the vehicle for interconnecting the upstream and downstream regulators. Particular structures of the regulator are also disclosed for effectively preventing freezing of fuel gas components which would lead to constriction of a high pressure gas passage formed in the regulator.

Claims

1. A regulator for a gaseous fuel operated vehicle engine, comprising:

a high pressure housing defining therein a high pressure gas passage and a valve chamber, said passage having one end thereof connectible to a high pressure conduit for introducing high pressure gaseous fuel thereinto and the other end thereof opening to said valve chamber;

a low pressure housing fixedly mounted to said high pressure housing, said low pressure housing defining therein a decompression chamber;

valve means mounted in said valve chamber for selectively opening and closing said other end of said high pressure gas passage in response to the gas pressure in said decompression chamber;

means for moving said valve means in response to the gas pressure in said decompression chamber, said moving means including a diaphragm disposed parallel with the flow of gaseous fuel through said decompression chamber;

fuel cutoff valve means mounted in said high pressure gas passage for cutting off the supply of high pressure fuel gas when the engine is at rest or at a time of emergency; and

PTC heater means located around said valve means and adjacent to said fuel cutoff valve means for heating both, said PTC heater means having an electric resistance with a positive temperature coefficient.