Filling system for compressed gas tanks
First Claim
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1. In a compressed gas tank filling system of the type comprising a source conduit configured for connection to a source of compressed gas, a fill conduit configured for connectien to a tank to be filled, a flow control conduit interconnecting tile source conduit and the fill conduit;
- a flow control valve coupled to the flow control conduit to control the flow of compressed gas through the fill conduit;
a pressure transducer in one of the conduits, downstream of the flow control valve, and a controller coupled to the flow control valve and responsive to the pressure transducer;
the improvement comprising;
a computer routine executed by the controller in filling the tank, said computer routine comprising;
a) a first portion operative to measure a first value indicative of pressure at the transducer with the valve closed;
b) a second portion operative to open the valve after measurement of the first value for a selected time period;
c) a third portion operative to measure a second value indicative of pressure at the transducer after the selected time period with the valve closed;
d) a fourth portion operative to determine a fill time based at least in part on the first and second values; and
e) a fifth portion operative to open the valve and then to close the valve after the fill time.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An automatic filling system for a compressed gas tank includes a controller that measures the rate of fill of a tank being filled in order to provide an accurate estimate of the fill time for the tank, given available source pressure.
49 Citations
10 Claims
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1. In a compressed gas tank filling system of the type comprising a source conduit configured for connection to a source of compressed gas, a fill conduit configured for connectien to a tank to be filled, a flow control conduit interconnecting tile source conduit and the fill conduit;
- a flow control valve coupled to the flow control conduit to control the flow of compressed gas through the fill conduit;
a pressure transducer in one of the conduits, downstream of the flow control valve, and a controller coupled to the flow control valve and responsive to the pressure transducer;
the improvement comprising;a computer routine executed by the controller in filling the tank, said computer routine comprising; a) a first portion operative to measure a first value indicative of pressure at the transducer with the valve closed; b) a second portion operative to open the valve after measurement of the first value for a selected time period; c) a third portion operative to measure a second value indicative of pressure at the transducer after the selected time period with the valve closed; d) a fourth portion operative to determine a fill time based at least in part on the first and second values; and e) a fifth portion operative to open the valve and then to close the valve after the fill time. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7)
- a flow control valve coupled to the flow control conduit to control the flow of compressed gas through the fill conduit;
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2. In a compressed gas tank filling system of the type comprising a source conduit configured for connection to a source of compressed gas, a fill conduit configured for connection to a tank to be filled, a flow control conduit interconnecting the source conduit and the fill conduit;
- a flow control valve coupled to the flow control conduit to control the flow of compressed gas through the fill conduit;
a pressure transducer in one of the conduits, downstream of the flow control valve, and a controller coupled to the flow control valve and responsive to the pressure transducer;
the improvement comprising;a computer routine executed by the controller in filling the tank, said computer routine comprising; a) a first portion responsive to the pressure transducer and operative to measure a parameter related to rate of fill for the tank during an initial test period; b) a second portion operative to determine a fill time based at least in part on the measured parameter; and c) a third portion operative to open the valve and then to close the valve after the determined fill time.
- a flow control valve coupled to the flow control conduit to control the flow of compressed gas through the fill conduit;
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3. In a compressed gas tank filling system of the type comprising a source conduit configured for connection to a source of compressed gas, a fill conduit configured for connection to a tank to be filled, a flow control conduit interconnecting the source conduit and the fill conduit;
- a flow control valve coupled to the flow control conduit to control the flow of compressed gas through the fill conduit;
a pressure transducer in one of the conduits, downstream of the flow control valve, and a controller coupled to the flow control valve and responsive to the pressure transducer;
the improvement comprising;a) means, included in the controller and responsive to the pressure transducer, for measuring a parameter related to rate of fill for the tank during an initial test period; b) means, included in the controller, for determining a fill time based at least in part on the measured parameter; and c) means, included in the controller, for opening the valve and then closing the valve after the determined fill time. - View Dependent Claims (4, 8)
- a flow control valve coupled to the flow control conduit to control the flow of compressed gas through the fill conduit;
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9. A method for automatically filling a compressed gas tank comprising the following steps:
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a) providing a compressed gas tank filling system comprising a source conduit connected to a source of compressed gas, a fill conduit connected to a tank to be filled, a flow control conduit interconnecting the source conduit and the fill conduit;
a flow control valve coupled to the flow control conduit to control the flow of compressed gas through the fill conduit;
a pressure transducer in one of the conduits, downstream of the flow control valve, and a controller coupled to the flow control valve and responsive to the pressure transducer;b) automatically measuring a parameter related to rate of fill of the tank during an initial test period;
thenc) automatically determining a fill time based at least in part on the measured parameter; and
thend) automatically opening the valve and then closing the valve after the determined fill time. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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Specification