Gaseous fuel system for automotive vehicle
First Claim
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1. A gaseous fuel system for an automotive vehicle, comprising:
- a gaseous fuel storage tank;
a pressure sensor for monitoring the pressure of gas contained within said storage tank and for generating a gas pressure signal corresponding to said pressure;
a controller for receiving said gas pressure signal and for recording each filling cycle wherein said pressure signal indicates that the pressure within said storage tank has been increased from below a first threshold value to a value above a second threshold value, with said controller initiating mitigation in the event that the number of recorded filling cycles exceeds a predetermined number of cycles.
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Abstract
A gaseous fuel system for an automotive vehicle includes a gaseous fuel storage tank and an associated pressure sensor for monitoring pressurized gas contained within the storage tank. A parameter-driven routine monitors the integrity of the tank by tracking filing cycles marked by the increase of the tank pressure from a first threshold to a second threshold. Mitigation actions may be taken in the event that the filling cycles exceed a predetermined number, or in the event that other system integrity monitoring indicates that mitigation is in order.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A gaseous fuel system for an automotive vehicle, comprising:
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a gaseous fuel storage tank; a pressure sensor for monitoring the pressure of gas contained within said storage tank and for generating a gas pressure signal corresponding to said pressure; a controller for receiving said gas pressure signal and for recording each filling cycle wherein said pressure signal indicates that the pressure within said storage tank has been increased from below a first threshold value to a value above a second threshold value, with said controller initiating mitigation in the event that the number of recorded filling cycles exceeds a predetermined number of cycles. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An automotive vehicle comprising:
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a gaseous fuel storage tank containing a quantity of compressed gas; a prime mover comprising at least one rotating machine and an associated transmission, with said prime mover being fueled by gaseous fuel from said fuel storage tank; a pressure sensor for monitoring the pressure of gas contained within said storage tank and for generating a gas pressure signal corresponding to said pressure; and a controller for receiving said gas pressure signal and for recording each filling cycle wherein said pressure signal indicates that the pressure within said storage tank is increased from below a first threshold value to a level above a second threshold value, with said controller initiating mitigation in the event that the number of recorded filling cycles exceeds a predetermined number of cycles. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for monitoring the operating condition of a gaseous fuel storage system and an associated prime mover, comprising the steps of:
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monitoring the number of filling cycles of a gaseous fuel storage tank by recording each instance in which the gas pressure within the tank is increased from below a first threshold value to a value above a second threshold value; monitoring the integrity of a fuel transfer line extending from said storage tank to said prime mover by tracking the pressure within said transfer line when fuel is not being withdrawn from said storage tank; and initiating mitigation in the event that either the number of filling cycles exceeds a predetermined number, or in the event that the tracked pressure within said fuel transfer line decreases at a rate in excess of a predetermined maximum permissible rate. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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21. A gaseous fuel system for an automotive vehicle, comprising:
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a gaseous fuel storage tank; a plurality of sensors for determining the values of a plurality of operating parameters of said gaseous fuel system, with said sensors including at least a pressure sensor for determining the gas pressure within said storage tank; a controller operatively connected with said plurality of sensors, with said controller comprising a parameter-driven routine, using as input data at least the output of said pressure sensor, for monitoring the operating condition of said fuel storage tank; and wherein said controller monitors the useful life of said storage tank by recording each filling cycle wherein the output of said pressure signal indicates that the pressure within said storage tank has been increased from a first threshold value to a second threshold value. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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Specification