Article and method for monitoring temperature and pressure within a pressurized gas cylinder

• US 7,636,053 B2
• Filed: 09/20/2006
• Issued: 12/22/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Toyota Motor Corporation
• Original Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America Incorporated (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Ward, Justin David, Spare, Bradley Landon
• Primary Examiner(s): WONG, ALBERT KANG
• Application Number:
  US11/533,680
• Publication Number:
  US 20080079606A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,189 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.1, 340/870.01, 340/870.08, 340/870.13, 340/603, 340/612, 737/18, 141/94, 702/130, 702/138, 702/140
• US Class Current: 340/870.07
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 13/025 having the pressure as the parameter
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2201/0109 with exteriorly curved end-piece
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2203/0604 Liners
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2203/0621 with three layers
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2203/0639 Steels
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2203/067 helically wound
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2221/012 Hydrogen
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2223/0123 gaseous, e.g. CNG, GNC
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2250/034 using wireless transmissions
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2250/0408 Level of content in the vessel
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2250/043 Pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2250/0439 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2250/0491 Parameters measured at or inside the vessel
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2265/04 using an independent energy source, e.g. battery
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2270/0168 by vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2270/0184 Fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04373 of auxiliary devices, e.g. reformers, compressors, burners
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04425 at auxiliary devices, e.g. reformers, compressors, burners
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/32 Hydrogen storage
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

A wireless based sensor assembly incorporated within a sealed and pressurized vessel including an end plug secured against an inner surface of the vessel. Temperature and pressure sensors are mounted to inner exposed locations of the end plug and are capable of monitoring temperature and a pressure conditions existing within the sealed vessel. A power supply is communicated to the sensors within said vessel and such that the sensors communicate, in wireless fashion, information regarding the conditions existing internally within the vessel to an external location.

Claims

1. An assembly for remote monitoring of at least one condition existing within a said tank, having an inner wall defining an interior compartment, said interior compartment being sealed and containing a pressurized gas, said wall having a peripheral portion defining an aperture, said assembly comprising:

a sensor incorporated into a housing which also includes an end plug with a peripheral edge having a predetermined outer dimension, said end plug securing within said tank such that said peripheral edge overlaps said aperture and contacts said inner wall of said tank to prevent removal of said plug from said interior compartment and to prevent compressed gas from escaping the tank interior;

a power supply communicated to said sensor within said sealed environment; and

a transmitter incorporated into said sensor communicating, in wireless fashion, through said end plug to an exterior located receiver, information regarding the internal condition of the sealed and pressurized environment.

2. The assembly as described in claim 1, said at least one sensor having a specified shape and size and farther comprising a first temperature sensor and a second pressure sensor.

3. The assembly as described in claim 1, said power supply further comprising a lifetime battery built into the tank interior.

4. The assembly as described in claim 1, further comprising at least one of an inductive power supply communicated to said sensor from an exterior location of said tank and an inductive data transfer communicated from said sensor to said tank exterior through said end plug.

5. The assembly as described in claim 1, said sensor having a specified shape and size, the tank and associated end plug further exhibiting a specified shape and size and being constructed of a metal.

6. The assembly as described in claim 1, said sensor having a specified shape and size, a first inlet line and a second outlet line communicating with further locations associated with the tank.

7. The assembly as described in claim 1, said sensor having a specified shape and size and being utilized within a vehicle fuel cell application.

8. The assembly as described in claim 1, said sensor having a specified shape and size, the compressed gas within the tank further including at least a hydrogen gas.