Control module for natural gas fuel supply for a vehicle

• US 6,041,762 A
• Filed: 08/15/1998
• Issued: 03/28/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Quantum Fuel Systems LLC
• Original Assignee: IMPCO Technologies Inc. (Econtrols Incorporated)
• Inventors: Adler, Eric G, Marley, David, Sirosh, Neel, Hussain, Syed
• Primary Examiner(s): Michalsky, Gerald A.
• Application Number:
  US09/134,777
• Time in Patent Office: 591 Days
• Field of Search: 123/527, 123/529, 137/505.25
• US Class Current: 123/529
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/013 of gas conduits
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/04 Tank inlets B60K15/077 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 21/0221 Fuel storage reservoirs, e.g. cryogenic tanks
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 21/0239 Pressure or flow regulators therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 21/0242 Shut-off valves; Check valves; Safety valves; Pressure relief valves
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 13/04 Arrangement or mounting of valves valves per se F16K ; snap-coupling of nipples F16L37/00
• 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 2205/0326 electrically actuated
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0332 Safety valves or pressure relief valves
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0335 Check-valves or non-return valves
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0338 Pressure regulators
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0341 Filters
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0391 inside the pressure vessel
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2221/033 Methane, e.g. natural gas, CNG, LNG, GNL, GNC, PLNG
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2223/0123 gaseous, e.g. CNG, GNC
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2223/036 Very high pressure (>80 bar)
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2227/0302 by heating
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2227/036 "Joule-Thompson" effect
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2250/032 : using computers
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2250/043 : Pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2250/0439 : Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2265/066 : for feeding engines for propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2270/0168 : by vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 16/103 : the sensing element placed between the inlet and outlet multiple-way valve G05D16/101
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/30 : Use of alternative fuels, e.g. biofuels
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7808 : Apertured reactor surface surrounds flow line

Abstract

The controls for controlling the supply of natural gas fuel for a vehicle are integrated together in a module which is located at the gas tank. Such controls include a high pressure regulator for lowering the pressure of the gas flowing from the tank and an electronically controlled solenoid valve which shuts off the gas flow when no fuel is required by the engine and when the gas pressure in the tank falls below a predetermined value. Also included in the module are a pressure sensor for providing signals for controlling the shutoff valve; a check valve which permits one way flow of gas into the gas tank when it is filled; a pressure relief mechanism responsive to the temperature and pressure sensors for allowing safe release of the gas to the outside should the temperature rise above a predetermined limit. The solenoid valve, as indicated above, responds to the sensors and additionally functions as an excess flow shut off valve to cut off gas flow from the tank should the gas line rupture or the module is sheared off.

Claims

1. In a vehicle having an engine capable of operating with gaseous fuel, a fuel tank having pressurized gaseous fuel therein and a fuel line for feeding gaseous fuel from the tank to the engine, the improvement comprising:

a pressure regulator mounted in the interior of said tank for lowering the pressure of said gaseous fuel,

said pressure regulator being connected between the interior of said tank for feeding lowered pressure gaseous fuel to said engine.

2. The system of claim 1 and further including a control module mounted on said tank for controlling the supply of gaseous fuel to the engine and wherein the pressure regulator is part of said control module and extends from the main body thereof.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein said module includes electrically controlled valve means responsive to an electrical signal of a predetermined minimum amplitude, said valve means shutting off the feeding of gaseous fuel to said engine when said minimum amplitude electrical signal is not being fed thereto.

4. The system of claim 3 and additional including temperature and pressure transducers incorporated in said module for generating electrical control signals in accordance with the temperature and pressure of the gas being fed to the engine respectively, the electrical control signals from said transducers being fed to said electrically controlled valve means.

5. In a vehicle having an engine capable of operating on gaseous fuel, a fuel tank having pressurized gaseous fuel contained therein and a fuel line for feeding gaseous fuel from said tank to said engine, the improvement constituting a control module mounted on said tank for controlling the supply of gaseous fuel to said engine comprising:

a pressure regulator mounted on said module for lowering the pressure of said gaseous fuel, said pressure regulator extending from said module into the interior of said tank and connected to said line for feeding gaseous fuel to said engine,

a pressure transducer incorporated in said module for generating an electrical signal in accordance with the pressure of the gaseous fuel being fed to said engine,

a temperature transducer incorporated in said module for generating an electrical signal in accordance with the temperature of the gaseous fuel being fed to said engine, and

electrically controlled valve means incorporated in said module responsive to a predetermined minimum amplitude electrical signal, said valve means shutting off the feeding of gaseous fuel to said engine when said minimum amplitude electrical is not being fed thereto,

the signals generated by said sensors being fed to said valve means to cause said valve means to shut off the supply of gaseous fuel to said engine when the gaseous fuel temperature or pressure is below predetermined values.

6. The device of claim 5 wherein said electrically controlled valve means comprises a solenoid.

7. The device of claim 5 wherein said pressure regulator reduces the pressure of the gaseous fuel to a value of the order of 160 psi.

8. The device of claim 5 and further including means for feeding heated coolant from said engine to said pressure regulator to prevent excessive cooling thereof.

9. The device of claim 5 and further including a pressure relief device incorporated in said module to provide release of gaseous fuel from the tank in the event that the ambient temperature rises above a predetermined limit.