Methods and systems for compressed natural gas (CNG) system

• US 8,915,322 B2
• Filed: 01/06/2014
• Issued: 12/23/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Worthington Enterprises, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Trilogy Engineered Solutions LLC
• Inventors: Gibb, Gary, Pintz, Michael, Polatas, Stephen
• Primary Examiner(s): WALTERS, JOHN DANIEL
• Application Number:
  US14/148,104
• Publication Number:
  US 20140251479A1
• Time in Patent Office: 351 Days
• Field of Search: 180/69.4, 180/69.5, 180/314, 280/830, 280/831, 280/834, 280/837
• US Class Current: 180/69.5
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/013 of gas conduits
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/03006 Gas tanks B60K15/07 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/07 of gas tanks
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/077 with means modifying or controlling distribution or motion of fuel, e.g. to prevent noise, surge, splash or fuel starvation
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/03019 Filling of gas tanks
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/03118 Multiple tanks, i.e. two or more separate tanks
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/03144 Fluid connections between the tanks
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/03236 characterised by special filters, the mounting thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/03309 Tanks specially adapted for particular fuels
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/03335 for fast filling of fuel tanks, e.g. specific filler pipes for pressurised fuelling
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/0638 the fuel tank is arranged in the rear of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/08 fluid
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/145 Haulage vehicles, trailing trucks
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/148 Semi-trailers, articulated vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 1/00 Pressure vessels, e.g. gas cylinder, gas tank, replaceable cartridge pressurised apparatus for purposes other than storage, see the relevant subclasses such as A62C, B05B; associated with vehicles, see the appropriate subclass of classes B60 - B64; pressure vessels in general F16J12/00 ; autoclaves B01J3/04; tank vehicles B60P3/22; railway tank wagons for carrying fluent materials B61D5/00; accumulators for supplying fluid under pressure F15B1/04; liquefied gas stoves F24C3/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/6855 Vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/6881 Automotive

Abstract

Provided is a compressed natural gas (CNG) fuel system comprising a frame, a first container, a second container, a first manifold, a second manifold, and a casing. The frame may have: a first side; a first connecting member; and a second side. The first container may be configured to house or contain CNG and be engaged to and substantially shrouded by the first side of the frame. The second container may be configured to house or contain CNG and be engaged to and substantially shrouded by the second side of the frame. The first manifold may be engaged to and substantially shrouded by the first side of the frame. The second manifold may be engaged to and substantially shrouded by the second side of the frame. The casing may at least partially surround the frame, the first container, the first manifold, and the second manifold.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a first side and a second side, each side configured to house at least one container;

at least one connecting member having a first end and a second end opposite thereof and includes at least two members connected via a first shock mount;

the at least one connecting member is engaged between the first side and the second side;

one or more mounting brackets coupled to at least one of the first side or the second side, each mounting bracket includes a shock mount in between the mounting bracket and one of the sides;

at least one container is configured to house compressed natural gas, is cylindrical in shape with a length, a diameter, and a first end opposite a second end in which the first end includes a valve opening; and

at least one of the one or more mounting brackets is coupled to a chassis of a vehicle such that first container or the second container is horizontally positioned in a plane that is substantially similar to a plane that the chassis of the vehicle resides or at least one axle of the vehicle resides.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a first manifold coupled to the first side; and

a second manifold coupled to the second side.

3. The system of claim 2, the first manifold further comprises:

a fast-fill port being in fluid communication with the at least one container, and adapted to receive compressed natural gas at a first rate;

a fill port being in fluid communication with the at least one container, and adapted to receive compressed natural gas at a second rate, wherein the second rate is less than the first rate;

a fuel transfer port being in fluid communication with the at least one container, and adapted to transfer compressed natural gas between the vehicle and one of a second vehicle; and

a transfer valve configured to regulate the fluid communication of the fuel transfer port.

4. The system of claim 2, the second manifold further comprises at least one of:

a fast-fill port being in fluid communication with the at least one container, and adapted to receive compressed natural gas at a first rate;

a fill port being in fluid communication with the at least one container, and adapted to receive compressed natural gas at a second rate, wherein the second rate is less than the first rate.

5. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

each of the at least one container includes a first neck mount opposite a second neck mount, the first neck mount is coupled to the first end of the at least one container and the second neck mount is coupled to the second end of the at least one container; and

the first neck mount and the second neck mount for each container is coupled to the first side or the second side.

6. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

the first manifold is in fluid communication with an engine of the vehicle by way of a conduit; and

the second manifold in fluid communication with the engine of the vehicle by way of a conduit.

7. The system of claim 6, further comprising

at least one filter that filters compressed natural gas prior to delivery to the engine.

8. The system of claim 2, further comprising a pressure release device adapted to vent the compressed natural gas of the at least one container based upon the pressure release device detection of a temperature proximate to the at least one container that is greater than or equal to a predetermined activation temperature.

9. The system of claim 2, wherein:

the first manifold is in fluid communication with the-at least one container by way of a conduit; and

the second manifold in fluid communication with the-at least one container by way of a conduit.

10. The system of claim 9, further comprising at least one filter integrated into the first manifold or the second manifold.

11. A system, comprising:

a first side that houses a first container;

a second side that houses a weight element that counterbalances a weight of the first container;

at least one connecting member having a first end and a second end opposite thereof and includes at least two members connected via a first shock mount the at least one connecting member is engaged between the first side and the second side;

one or more mounting brackets coupled to at least one of the first side or the second side, each mounting bracket includes a shock mount in between the mounting bracket and one of the sides;

the first container is configured to house a portion of compressed natural gas and is cylindrical in shape with a length, a diameter, and a first end opposite a second end in which the first end includes a valve opening; and

at least one of the one or more mounting brackets is coupled to a chassis of a vehicle such that first container or the weight element is horizontally positioned in comparison to the chassis of the vehicle.

12. A vehicle system, comprising:

a first side and a second side, each side configured to house at least one container;

at least one connecting member having a first end and a second end opposite thereof and includes at least two members connected via a first shock mount;

the at least one connecting member is engaged between the first side and the second side;

one or more mounting brackets coupled to at least one of the first side or the second side, each mounting bracket includes a shock mount in between the mounting bracket and one of the sides;

the at least one container is configured to house compressed natural gas, is cylindrical in shape with a length, a diameter, and a first end opposite a second end in which the first end includes a valve opening;

at least one of the one or more mounting brackets is coupled to a chassis of a vehicle such that the at least one container is horizontally positioned in comparison to the chassis of the vehicle; and

at least one manifold incorporated with the first side or the second side.

13. The system of claim 12, the at least one manifold further comprises:

a fast-fill port being in fluid communication with the at least one container, and adapted to receive compressed natural gas at a first rate;

a fuel transfer port being in fluid communication with the at least one container, and adapted to transfer compressed natural gas between the vehicle and one of a second vehicle; and

a transfer valve configured to regulate the fluid communication of the fuel transfer port.

14. The system of claim 12, the at least one manifold further comprises at least one of:

a fast-fill port being in fluid communication with the at least one container, and adapted to receive compressed natural gas at a first rate;

a fill port being in fluid communication with the at least one container, and adapted to receive compressed natural gas at a second rate, wherein the second rate is less than the first rate.

15. The system of claim 12, further comprising:

each of the at least one container includes a first neck mount opposite a second neck mount, the first neck mount is coupled to the first end of the at least one container and the second neck mount is coupled to the second end of the at least one container;

the first neck mount and the second neck mount for each container is coupled to the first side or the second side.

16. The system of claim 12, further comprising:

the at least one manifold is in fluid communication with an engine of the vehicle by way of a conduit.

17. The system of claim 16, further comprising:

at least one filter integrated into the at least one manifold or the conduit, wherein the at least one filter filters compressed natural gas prior to receipt at an engine.

18. The system of claim 12, further comprising a pressure release device adapted to vent the compressed natural gas of the at least one container based upon the pressure release device detection of a temperature that is greater than or equal to a predetermined activation temperature.

19. The system of claim 12, wherein;

the at least one manifold is in fluid communication with the at least one container by way of a flexible conduit.

20. The system of claim 12, further comprising;

a coalescing filter in fluid connection with at least one of the engine, the at least one container, the flexible conduit, or the at least one manifold.