Alternate fuel storage system and method

• US 8,256,401 B2
• Filed: 05/14/2007
• Issued: 09/04/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gilbarco Incorporated (Vontier Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Immixt, LLC
• Inventors: Payne, Edward A., Williams, Rodger Karl
• Primary Examiner(s): MCMAHON, MARGUERITE J
• Application Number:
  US11/748,022
• Publication Number:
  US 20070277794A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,940 Days
• Field of Search: 123543-557, 123575-577
• US Class Current: 123/557
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 31/10 by hot liquids, e.g. lubricants or cooling water
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 31/125 Fuel
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 37/0064 for engines being fed with multiple fuels or fuels having special properties, e.g. bio-fuels; varying the fuel composition controlling engines working with pluralities of fuels F02D19/06
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/12 Improving ICE efficiencies

Abstract

A fuel tank for storing an alternate fuel and providing the fuel to an internal combustion engine includes: an inner shell with an internal cavity designed to store fuel; an outer shell configured and positioned relative to the inner shell such that an interstitial volume is created between the inner and outer shells; and a heating unit positioned in the interstitial volume. In some embodiments, the interstitial volume is filled with air; in other embodiments, the interstitial volume is filled with a thermally insulative material.

Claims

1. A fuel tank for storing an alternate fuel and providing the fuel to an internal combustion engine, comprising:

an inner shell with an internal cavity designed to store fuel;

an outer shell configured and positioned relative to the inner shell such that an interstitial volume is created closed between the inner and outer shells; and

a heating unit positioned in the interstitial space, the heating unit configured to transfer heat energy to fuel stored within the inner shell.

2. The fuel tank defined in claim 1, wherein the interstitial volume is filled with a gas.

3. The fuel tank defined in claim 1, wherein the interstitial volume is filled with at least one thermally insulative material.

4. The fuel tank defined in claim 1, wherein the interstitial volume is evacuated.

5. The fuel tank defined in claim 1, wherein the interstitial volume is a thermally insulative barrier that also functions as one of the inner shell and the outer shell.

6. The fuel tank defined in claim 1, wherein the heating unit is a heat exchanger.

7. The fuel tank defined in claim 6, wherein the heat exchanger is mounted on an outer surface of the inner shell.

8. The fuel tank defined in claim 6, wherein the heat exchanger includes a control device that prevents coolant from reaching a portion of the heat exchanger.

9. The fuel tank defined in claim 8, wherein the control device is operatively associated with a temperature sensor positioned to detect the temperature of coolant in circulation.

10. The fuel tank defined in claim 8, further comprising a temperature sensor positioned to detect the temperature of fuel in the inner shell, the temperature sensor being operatively associated with the control device.

11. The fuel tank defined in claim 1, further comprising a temperature sensor positioned to detect the temperature of fuel in the inner shell.

12. The fuel tank defined in claim 1, wherein the heating unit comprises an electrical heating element.

13. The fuel tank defined in claim 12, wherein the heating element is configured to be connected to power through electrical conductors that extend outside the outer shell.

14. The fuel tank defined in claim 12, further comprising a thermostat operatively associated with the heating element.

15. The fuel tank defined in claim 12, wherein the heating element is mounted on an outer surface of the inner shell.

16. The fuel tank defined in claim 1, wherein the inner shell is thermally conductive.

17. The fuel tank defined in claim 1, further comprising a fuel volume sensor.

18. The fuel tank defined in claim 1, further comprising a fuel viscosity sensor.

19. A fuel tank for storing an alternate fuel and providing the fuel to an internal combustion engine, comprising:

an inner shell with an internal cavity designed to store fuel;

an outer shell configured and positioned relative to the inner shell such that an interstitial volume is created closed between the inner and outer shells;

a heating unit positioned in the interstitial space, the heating unit configured to transfer heat energy to fuel stored within the inner shell;

wherein the heating unit, inner shell and outer shell are mounted on a common mounting structure.

20. The fuel tank defined in claim 19, wherein the fuel tank includes at least one of a fuel level sensor, a fuel viscosity sensor, and a fuel temperature sensor mounted to the mounting structure.

21. The fuel tank defined in claim 19, wherein the fuel tank includes at least two of the fuel level sensor, a fuel viscosity sensor, and the fuel temperature sensor mounted to the mounting structure.