Fuel interface modules and related systems and methods
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A fuel interface module comprising:
- a single, non-separable body comprising a single, unitary material, wherein the body comprises a fuel inlet port, a fuel storage port, a fuel outlet port, and a fuel channel at an interior of the body that connects each port to the other ports;
a check valve directly coupled with the fuel inlet port, wherein the check valve is configured to permit a gaseous fuel to be introduced into the fuel channel via the fuel inlet port and is configured to prevent the gaseous fuel from exiting the fuel channel via the fuel inlet port; and
a shutoff valve directly coupled with the body, wherein the shutoff valve is configured to transition between an open orientation and a closed orientation, wherein when the shutoff valve is in the open orientation, it is configured to permit a gaseous fuel to flow from the fuel channel through the fuel storage port so as to fill a fuel tank or to permit a gaseous fuel from a fuel tank to flow through the fuel storage port into the fuel channel for subsequent delivery to a pressure regulator, and wherein when the shutoff valve is in the closed orientation, it is configured to prevent a gaseous fuel from flowing through the fuel storage port;
wherein the fuel storage port is configured to be indirectly coupled with a fuel tank such that an entirety of the fuel interface module is spaced from the fuel tank and is at an exterior of the fuel tank when the fuel storage port is in fluid communication with the fuel tank.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Fuel interface modules that can be used in automotive vehicle fuel systems can include a body that defines a fuel channel and a plurality of ports through which fluid communication with the fuel channel can be established. Some modules include a check valve, a shutoff valve, and a coalescing filter assembly that are each coupled with a separate port. The fuel modules can be quickly installed and can eliminate many of the installing materials typically associated with automotive vehicle fuel systems.
105 Citations
30 Claims
-
1. A fuel interface module comprising:
-
a single, non-separable body comprising a single, unitary material, wherein the body comprises a fuel inlet port, a fuel storage port, a fuel outlet port, and a fuel channel at an interior of the body that connects each port to the other ports; a check valve directly coupled with the fuel inlet port, wherein the check valve is configured to permit a gaseous fuel to be introduced into the fuel channel via the fuel inlet port and is configured to prevent the gaseous fuel from exiting the fuel channel via the fuel inlet port; and a shutoff valve directly coupled with the body, wherein the shutoff valve is configured to transition between an open orientation and a closed orientation, wherein when the shutoff valve is in the open orientation, it is configured to permit a gaseous fuel to flow from the fuel channel through the fuel storage port so as to fill a fuel tank or to permit a gaseous fuel from a fuel tank to flow through the fuel storage port into the fuel channel for subsequent delivery to a pressure regulator, and wherein when the shutoff valve is in the closed orientation, it is configured to prevent a gaseous fuel from flowing through the fuel storage port; wherein the fuel storage port is configured to be indirectly coupled with a fuel tank such that an entirety of the fuel interface module is spaced from the fuel tank and is at an exterior of the fuel tank when the fuel storage port is in fluid communication with the fuel tank. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A fuel interface module for indirect coupling with a fuel tank and for indirect coupling with a pressure regulator, the fuel interface module comprising:
-
a single, non-separable body comprising a single, unitary material, the body comprising a fuel inlet port, a fuel storage port, a filter port, a fuel outlet port, and a fuel channel that connects each port to the other ports, wherein the fuel channel comprises a longitudinal section between a first end of the body and a second end of the body, wherein the fuel channel comprises branches extending from the longitudinal section; a check valve directly coupled with the fuel inlet port, wherein the check valve is configured to permit a gaseous fuel to be introduced into the fuel channel via the fuel inlet port and is configured to prevent the gaseous fuel from exiting the fuel channel via the fuel inlet port; a shutoff valve directly coupled with the body, wherein the shutoff valve is configured to transition between an open orientation and a closed orientation, wherein when the shutoff valve is in the open orientation, it is configured to permit a gaseous fuel to flow from the fuel channel through the fuel storage port so as to fill a fuel tank or to permit a gaseous fuel from a fuel tank to flow through the fuel storage port into the fuel channel for subsequent delivery to a pressure regulator, and wherein when the shutoff valve is in the closed orientation, it is configured to prevent a gaseous fuel from flowing through the fuel storage port; and a coalescing filter assembly directly coupled with the filter port, wherein the coalescing filter assembly is configured to filter oil from a gaseous fuel that is received into the fuel channel; wherein the fuel storage port is at the first end of the body and the fuel delivery port is at the second end of the body, wherein the longitudinal section of the fuel channel extends through the body between the fuel storage port and the fuel delivery port; and wherein the fuel interface module is configured such that gaseous fuel enters the body via the fuel storage port, travels through the body via the fuel channel without leaving the fuel channel other than passing through the coalescing filter assembly, and exits via the fuel delivery port. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
-
-
18. A fuel interface module for indirect coupling with a fuel tank and for indirect coupling with a pressure regulator, the fuel interface module comprising:
-
a body that comprises a fuel inlet port, a fuel storage port, a filter port, a fuel outlet port, and a fuel channel that connects each port to the other ports; a check valve directly coupled with the fuel inlet port, wherein the check valve permits a gaseous fuel to be introduced into the fuel channel via the fuel inlet port and prevents a gaseous fuel from exiting the fuel channel via the fuel inlet port; a shutoff valve directly coupled with the body, wherein the shutoff valve transitions between an open orientation and a closed orientation, wherein when the shutoff valve is in the open orientation a gaseous fuel is permitted to flow from the fuel channel through the fuel storage port so as to fill a fuel tank or a gaseous fuel is permitted to flow from a fuel tank through the fuel storage port into the fuel channel for subsequent delivery to a pressure regulator, and wherein when the shutoff valve is in the closed orientation a gaseous fuel is prevented from flowing through the fuel storage port; a coalescing filter assembly directly coupled with the filter port, wherein the coalescing filter assembly filters oil from a gaseous fuel passing through the fuel channel; a fuel storage fitting directly coupled with the fuel storage port, wherein the fuel storage fitting is configured to be directly coupled with a first portion of a fuel line that is coupled a fuel tank such that an entirety of the fuel interface module is spaced from the fuel tank and is at an exterior of the fuel tank when the fuel storage port is in fluid communication with the fuel tank; and a fuel delivery fitting directly coupled with the fuel delivery port, wherein the fuel delivery fitting is configured to be directly coupled with a second portion of a fuel line that is coupled with a pressure regulator when the fuel delivery port is in fluid communication with the pressure regulator; and wherein the fuel interface module permits fluid communication from a fuel tank to a pressure regulator when the fuel storage fitting is coupled with a first portion of a fuel line, when the fuel delivery fitting is coupled with a second portion of a fuel line, and when the shutoff valve is in the open orientation; wherein, when the fuel interface module is in use to provide fluid communication from a fuel tank to a pressure regulator, the configuration of the fuel interface module permits gaseous fuel to enter the fuel interface module via the fuel storage fitting, then to travel through the body via the fuel channel without leaving the fuel channel other than passing through the coalescing filter assembly, and then to exit the fuel interface module via the fuel delivery fitting; and wherein, when the fuel interface module is in use to provide fluid communication from a fuel tank to a pressure regulator, the configuration of the fuel interface module permits fuel to enter and exit the fuel interface module without passing through any fittings other than the fuel storage fitting and the fuel delivery fitting, and the configuration of the fuel interface module permits fuel to move through the fuel interface module between fuel storage fitting and the fuel delivery fitting via the fuel channel such that movement of the fuel is obstructed in the fuel channel only by the coalescing filter assembly. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
-
-
25. A system comprising:
-
a fuel tank; a pressure regulator; a fuel interface module, wherein the fuel interface module is indirectly coupled to the fuel tank via a first portion of a fuel line, wherein the fuel interface module is indirectly coupled to the pressure regulator via a second portion of a fuel line, wherein the fuel interface module comprises; a body that comprises a fuel inlet port, a fuel storage port, a fuel outlet port, and a fuel channel that connects each port to the other ports; a check valve directly coupled with the fuel inlet port, wherein the check valve permits a gaseous fuel to be introduced into the fuel channel via the fuel inlet port and prevents a gaseous fuel from exiting the fuel channel via the fuel inlet port; a shutoff valve directly coupled with the body, wherein the shutoff valve transitions between an open orientation and a closed orientation, wherein when the shutoff valve is in the open orientation a gaseous fuel is permitted to flow from the fuel channel through the fuel storage port so as to fill the fuel tank or a gaseous fuel is permitted to flow from the fuel tank through the fuel storage port into the fuel channel for subsequent delivery to the pressure regulator, and wherein when the shutoff valve is in the closed orientation a gaseous fuel is prevented from flowing through the fuel storage port;
a coalescing filter assembly directly coupled with the filter port, wherein the coalescing filter assembly filters oil from the gaseous fuel passing through the fuel channel;a fuel storage fitting directly coupled with the fuel storage port, wherein the fuel storage fitting is directly coupled with the first portion of the fuel line such that the fuel interface module is indirectly coupled with the fuel tank via the first portion of the fuel line; and a fuel delivery fitting directly coupled with the fuel delivery port, wherein the fuel delivery fitting is directly coupled with the second portion of the fuel line such that the fuel interface module is indirectly coupled with the pressure regulator via the second portion of the fuel line; wherein the fuel interface module provides fluid communication from the fuel tank to a pressure regulator when the shutoff valve is in the open orientation; wherein, when the fuel interface module is in use to provide fluid communication from a fuel tank to a pressure regulator, the configuration of the fuel interface module permits fuel to enter the fuel interface module via the fuel storage fitting, then to travel through the fuel interface module via the fuel channel, and then to exit the fuel interface module via the fuel delivery fitting; and wherein, when the fuel interface module is in use to provide fluid communication from a fuel tank to a pressure regulator, the configuration of the fuel interface module permits fuel to enter and exit the fuel interface module without passing through any fittings other than the fuel storage fitting and the fuel delivery fitting, and the configuration of the fuel interface module permits fuel to move through the fuel interface module between fuel storage fitting and the fuel delivery fitting via the fuel channel such that movement of the fuel is obstructed in the fuel channel only by the coalescing filter assembly. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
-
Specification