Compressed natural gas vehicle safety system and method
First Claim
1. A vehicle safety system for disabling a natural gas-fueled vehicle while fueling, comprising:
- a first sensor adapted to sense presence of a gas fill hose in proximity to a tank fill adapter coupled to a pressurized gas source;
a second sensor adapted to sense an open/closed position of an isolation valve, said isolation valve isolating said tank fill adapter from said gas source when closed;
a logic circuit adapted to combine inputs from said first and second sensors to produce a safe electrical signal indicating a safe condition when said fill hose is not in proximity to said tank fill adapter, and said isolation valve is closed;
a lockout circuit adapted to disable said vehicle when said safe electrical signal is absent.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A multiply-redundant system that prevents a driver from starting and/or moving a vehicle if a compressed natural gas fill system is not correctly and completely disconnected from the vehicle. One or more sensors in combination with one or more optional microswitches combine to lock-out the vehicle'"'"'s ignition or otherwise prevent it from starting and/or moving. For different levels of safety, different combinations of sensors can be used with the lowest level having a single proximity sensor sensing the presence or absence of a high-pressure fill hose. The highest level of safety being achieved by having separate proximity sensors on the fuel fill hose fitting, the gas cap cover and a manual safety valve along with a redundant microswitch. An optional override that may be restricted as to the number of times it can be used can allow starting with a faulty sensor in order to allow maintenance.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A vehicle safety system for disabling a natural gas-fueled vehicle while fueling, comprising:
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a first sensor adapted to sense presence of a gas fill hose in proximity to a tank fill adapter coupled to a pressurized gas source; a second sensor adapted to sense an open/closed position of an isolation valve, said isolation valve isolating said tank fill adapter from said gas source when closed; a logic circuit adapted to combine inputs from said first and second sensors to produce a safe electrical signal indicating a safe condition when said fill hose is not in proximity to said tank fill adapter, and said isolation valve is closed; a lockout circuit adapted to disable said vehicle when said safe electrical signal is absent. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A vehicle safety system for disabling a natural gas-fueled vehicle while fueling, comprising:
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a first sensor adapted to sense presence of a gas fill hose in proximity to a tank fill adapter; a second sensor adapted to sense an open/closed position of an isolation valve, said isolation valve isolating said tank fill adapter from said gas source when closed; a logic circuit adapted to combine inputs from said first and second sensors to produce a safe electrical signal indicating a safe condition when said fill hose is not in proximity to said tank fill adapter, said isolation valve is closed; a lockout circuit that disables said vehicle when said electrical safe signal is absent; a manual override circuit that overrides said logic circuit and produces said safe electrical signal when activated. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification