Fuel injection apparatus for vehicles

• US 5,284,267 A
• Filed: 04/22/1993
• Issued: 02/08/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: PAS, Inc. (General Dynamics Corporation)
• Original Assignee: PAS, Inc. (General Dynamics Corporation)
• Inventors: Miller, William S., Polletta, David F., Bjerke, David F., Todd, Steven G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cross, E. Rollins
• Assistant Examiner(s): SOLIS, ERICK R
• Application Number:
  US08/052,075
• Time in Patent Office: 292 Days
• Field of Search: 248/311.2, 248/313, 248/74.3, 248/74.4, 248/146, 248/154, 220/481, 220/477, 220/672, 220/581, 220/4.14, 220/4.15
• US Class Current: 220/4.14
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 19/024 by controlling fuel injectors
• 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 21/0221 Fuel storage reservoirs, e.g. cryogenic tanks
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 21/0245 High pressure fuel supply systems; Rails; Pumps; Arrangement of valves
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 21/0254 Electric actuators, e.g. solenoid or piezoelectric
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 21/0272 Ball valves; Plate valves; Valves having deformable or flexible parts, e.g. membranes; Rotatable valves
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 21/029 Arrangement on engines or vehicle bodies; Conversion to gaseous fuel supply systems
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2201/0109 with exteriorly curved end-piece
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2201/035 with substantially horizontal main axis
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2201/056 Small (<1 m3)
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0142 bundled in parallel
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0192 with external bearing means
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0397 on both sides of the pressure vessel
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2221/033 Methane, e.g. natural gas, CNG, LNG, GNL, GNC, PLNG
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2221/035 Propane butane, e.g. LPG, GPL
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2223/0123 gaseous, e.g. CNG, GNC
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2223/0153 Liquefied gas, e.g. LPG, GPL
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2250/032 using computers
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2250/0452 Concentration of a product
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2265/066 for feeding engines for propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2270/0178 : Cars
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 7/00 : Methods or apparatus for discharging liquefied, solidified, or compressed gases from pressure vessels, not covered by another subclass
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/30 : Use of alternative fuels, e.g. biofuels

Abstract

A fuel injection apparatus for a vehicle includes a throttle body having an air flow passage extending therethrough with a throttle plate mounted in the passage. At least one fuel injector is mounted below the throttle plate and above the intake manifold of the engine for cyclically injecting fuel into the air flow passage extending between the throttle body and the inlet of the intake manifold. A full time, closed loop feedback control system monitors exhaust gas content and adjusts the fuel flow based on the measured air/fuel ratio. A tank storing gaseous fuel at a high pressure is connected to the fuel injector via fluid flow conduits. An annular recess is formed on at least one location on the side wall of the tank. Annular shoulders are disposed on opposite sides of the recess and extend outward above the side wall of the tank. A mounting bracket is mounted in the recess surrounding the tank and is attachable to the vehicle to mount the tank to the vehicle. A fuel fill door sensor closes the fuel delivery path during refueling.

Claims

1. In a gaseous fuel injection apparatus for a vehicle having a frame structure with at least one cross member extending between two longitudinally extending side rails, the improvement comprising:

a tank for storing gaseous fuel at a high pressure, the tank having a cylindrical shape with a side wall;

a first annular recess formed in the side wall of the tank and spaced from one end of the tank;

first and second raised annular shoulders disposed on opposite sides of the recess and extending outward above the side wall of the tank; and

mounting means, engageable with the recess on the tank, for mounting the tank to a vehicle.

2. The improvement of claim 1 wherein two annular recesses, each having first and second spaced annular shoulders disposed on opposite sides thereof and extending above the side wall of the tank, are formed at spaced locations on the tank;

and

bracket means, mountable in each recess, for mounting the tank to a vehicle.

3. The improvement of claim 1 further comprising:

a plurality of separate tanks, each storing gaseous fuel at a high pressure and having a cylindrical shape with a side wall;

a first annular recess formed in the side wall of each of the plurality of tanks and spaced from one end of each of the tanks;

first and second raised annular shoulders disposed on opposite sides of the recess and extending outward above the side wall of each tank; and

mounting means, engageable with the recesses on each of the plurality of tanks, for mounting each of the tanks to a vehicle.