Methods and systems for compressed natural gas (CNG)

• US 9,358,877 B2
• Filed: 06/03/2015
• Issued: 06/07/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Worthington Enterprises, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Worthington Industries Incorporated (Kellogg Company)
• Inventors: Gibb, Gary, Pintz, Michael, Polatas, Stephen
• Primary Examiner(s): WALTERS, JOHN DANIEL
• Application Number:
  US14/729,727
• Publication Number:
  US 20150266372A1
• Time in Patent Office: 370 Days
• Field of Search: 180/69.4, 180/69.5, 180/314, 280/830, 280/831, 280/834, 280/837
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 supplementary tanks inside the fuel tank B60K2015/03105
• 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 that can include a frame and at least one container. The frame can include a first side and a second side, with each side being configured to partly define a portion of an interior space. The at least one container can be configured to house or contain CNG and can be engaged to and partly encased by the frame. The at least one container can be partly located within the interior space of at least one of the first side or the second side. The frame assembly can be engaged to a chassis of a vehicle such that the at least one container is located either at least partially underneath a cab of the vehicle or at least partially behind a cab of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A compressed natural gas fuel system that is configured to store or deliver compressed natural gas to an engine of a vehicle, comprising:

a frame assembly that supports and partly encases at least one container, wherein the container houses compressed natural gas;

a chassis of a vehicle;

one or more mounting brackets that couple the frame assembly to the chassis of the vehicle, wherein at least one damper is engaged between the frame assembly and the chassis of the vehicle;

the frame assembly is coupled to the vehicle via the one or more mounting brackets at a location on the chassis such that the at least one container is located at least partially rearward of a cab of the vehicle;

the frame assembly further includes a first side that defines a first interior space which partly encases a first container and a second side that defines a second interior space;

a first regulator that increases a pressure of flow of the compressed natural gas to a first pressure level prior to receipt at an engine of the vehicle;

a second regulator that increases the pressure of flow of the compressed natural gas to a second pressure level that is between zero and the first pressure level prior to receipt at the first regulator; and

the first regulator receives the compressed natural gas from the second regulator at the second pressure level and increases the pressure of flow of the compressed natural gas from the second pressure level to the first pressure level prior to receipt at the engine of the vehicle.

2. The compressed natural gas fuel system of claim 1, the second interior space partly encases a second container.

3. The compressed natural gas fuel system of claim 2, further comprising:

a connecting member engaged between the first side and the second side;

an additional connecting member engaged between the first side and the second side a distance from the connecting member; and

the connecting member and the additional connecting member configured to partly define a third interior space.

4. The compressed natural gas fuel system of claim 3, further comprising a third container supported by and partly encased within the third interior space.

5. The compressed natural gas fuel system of claim 3, at least one of the first side or the second side extends below a horizontal plane defined by the chassis of the vehicle.

6. The compressed natural gas fuel system of claim 1, wherein the at least one damper is an elastomeric damper or a spring damper.

7. The compressed natural gas fuel system of claim 1, further comprising:

a first manifold in fluid connection with the at least one container;

a second manifold in fluid connection with the at least one container;

the first manifold is located on the frame assembly or a first location of the vehicle that houses the vehicle engine;

the second manifold is located on the frame assembly or a second location of the vehicle that houses the vehicle engine;

each manifold includes;

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

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

8. The compressed natural gas fuel system of claim 1, further comprising a casing that surrounds the frame assembly, the casing further includes at least one door to access at least one of the first interior space or the second interior space.

9. A compressed natural gas fuel system that is configured to store or deliver compressed natural gas to an engine of a vehicle, comprising:

a frame assembly that supports and partly encases at least one container, wherein the container houses compressed natural gas;

a chassis of a vehicle;

one or more mounting brackets that couple the frame assembly to the chassis of the vehicle, wherein at least one damper is engaged between the frame assembly and the chassis of the vehicle;

the frame assembly is coupled to the vehicle via the one or more mounting brackets at a location on the chassis such that the at least one container is located at least partially below the cab of the vehicle;

the frame assembly further includes a first side that defines a first interior space which partly encases a first container, and a second side that defines a second interior space;

a first regulator that increases a pressure of flow of the compressed natural gas to a first pressure level prior to receipt at an engine of the vehicle;

a second regulator that increases the pressure of flow of the compressed natural gas to a second pressure level that is between zero and the first pressure level prior to receipt at the first regulator; and

the first regulator receives the compressed natural gas from the second regulator at the second pressure level and increases the pressure of flow of the compressed natural gas from the second pressure level to the first pressure level prior to receipt at the engine of the vehicle.

10. The compressed natural gas fuel system of claim 9, the second interior space partly encases a second container.

11. The compressed natural gas fuel system of claim 10, further comprising:

a connecting member having a first member and a second member, wherein a first end of the first member is coupled to the first side and a first end of the second member is coupled to the second side; and

a second end of the first member is coupled to a damper and the damper is coupled to a second end of the second member.

12. The compressed natural gas fuel system of claim 9, further comprising:

a first manifold in fluid connection with the at least one container;

a second manifold in fluid connection with the at least one container;

the first manifold is located on the frame assembly or a first location of the vehicle that houses the vehicle engine;

the second manifold is located on the frame assembly or a second location of the vehicle that houses the vehicle engine;

each manifold includes;

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

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

13. The compressed natural gas fuel system of claim 9, further comprising:

a first casing that surrounds the first side of the frame assembly, the first casing further includes at least one door to access the first interior space; and

a second casing that surrounds the second side of the frame assembly, the second casing further includes at least one door to access the second interior space.

14. A compressed natural gas fuel system that is configured to store or deliver compressed natural gas to an engine of a vehicle, comprising:

a frame assembly that partly defines an interior space and is configured to support and partly encase a portion of at least one container that houses compressed natural gas, wherein the frame assembly includes a first side and a second side, each side configured to partly define a portion of the interior space;

the at least one container partly located within the interior space of at least one of the first side or the second side;

the frame assembly configured to be engaged to a chassis of a vehicle such that the at least one container is located at least partially underneath a cab of the vehicle or that the at least one container is located at least partially behind a cab of the vehicle;

at least one manifold that is in fluid connection with the at least one container;

the at least one manifold is located on the frame assembly, a first location, or a second location of the vehicle that houses the vehicle engine;

each manifold includes;

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

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

15. The compressed natural gas fuel system of claim 14, further comprising one or more mounting brackets that couple the frame assembly to the chassis of the vehicle, wherein at least one damper is engaged between the frame assembly and the chassis of the vehicle.

16. The compressed natural gas fuel system of claim 14, further comprising:

a fuel transfer port adapted to transfer compressed natural gas between the at least one container supported by the frame assembly of the vehicle and a container not supported by the frame assembly of the vehicle; and

a transfer valve configured to control the transfer of compressed natural gas between the at least one container supported by the frame assembly of the vehicle and a container not supported by the frame assembly of the vehicle.

17. The compressed natural gas fuel system of claim 14, wherein the first location is on a driver side of the vehicle and the second location is on a passenger side of the vehicle.