Compressed natural gas fueling system with integrated fill receptacle

• US 9,499,047 B2
• Filed: 11/11/2013
• Issued: 11/22/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/11/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Worthington Enterprises, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Dhybrid Systems, LLC (Worthington Enterprises, Inc.)
• Inventors: Milton, Trevor, Mackelprang, Morgan, Sloan, Isaac, Hilton, Ralph
• Primary Examiner(s): KNUTSON, JACOB D
• Application Number:
  US14/076,836
• Publication Number:
  US 20140061266A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,107 Days
• Field of Search: 180/69.5, 180/89.1, 180/89.11, 180/312, 180/313, 180/314, 224/404, 224/405, 280/1, 280/830, 296/37.6, 296/97.22, 296/146.1, 296/190.08, 296/93.01, 296/193.03
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/03006 Gas tanks B60K15/07 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/063 Arrangement of tanks
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/07 of gas tanks
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/03019 Filling of gas tanks
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/0638 the fuel tank is arranged in the rear of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 9/06 at vehicle front or rear rear luggage compartments within vehicle extensible externally of the vehicle body B60R5/041
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/148 Semi-trailers, articulated vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 1/005 Storage of gas or gaseous mixture at high pressure and at high density condition, e.g. in the single state phase
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 13/084 for small-sized storage vessels, e.g. compressed gas cylinders or bottles, disposable gas vessels, vessels adapted for automotive use
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2201/0109 with exteriorly curved end-piece
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2201/035 with substantially horizontal main axis
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2201/054 medium (>1 m3)
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0107 Frames
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0111 Boxes
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0142 bundled in parallel
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0146 with details of the manifold
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2221/033 Methane, e.g. natural gas, CNG, LNG, GNL, GNC, PLNG
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2223/0123 gaseous, e.g. CNG, GNC
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2223/036 Very high pressure (>80 bar)
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2225/0123 gaseous, e.g. CNG, GNC
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2225/036 : Very high pressure, i.e. above 80 bars
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2250/043 : Pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2270/0171 : Trucks
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 5/06 : for filling with compressed gases

Abstract

A compressed natural gas fueling system includes a frame arrangement with at least one tank disposed therein and an inlet that can receive a compressed natural gas fueling nozzle to fill the at least one tank. The fueling system can be attached with and supported by frame rails behind a cabin of a vehicle such that the inlet is positioned above the frame rails.

Claims

1. A compressed natural gas fuel system comprising:

a housing configured to be disposed behind a cabin of a truck;

a plurality of tanks disposed within the housing, wherein each of the plurality of tanks includes front and rear mounts at opposing ends, the front and rear mounts are attached to tank supports, and the tank supports are attached between corner brackets to provide mounting structures for the plurality of tanks;

a filter, regulator, and pressure gage each supported within the housing, wherein the filter is configured to filter fluid from the plurality of tanks, the regulator is configured to be in fluid communication with the filter, the pressure gage is configured to indicate a pressure associated with the fuel system, and the filter and the regulator are attached with the tank supports; and

an inlet configured to receive a compressed natural gas fueling nozzle and be in fluid communication with the plurality of tanks, wherein the housing is further configured to be attached with and supported by frame rails of the truck such that the plurality of tanks and the inlet are positioned above the frame rails, and the plurality of tanks are stacked on each other such that axes of the plurality of tanks are oriented generally perpendicular to the frame rails.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising a manifold supported within the housing and configured to direct fluid from the fueling nozzle toward the plurality of tanks.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of tanks is generally cylindrical.

4. A compressed natural gas fuel system comprising:

a frame configured to be disposed behind a cabin of a truck;

a plurality of tanks disposed within and supported by the frame, wherein each of the plurality of tanks includes front and rear mounts at opposing ends, the front and rear mounts are attached to tank supports, and the tank supports are attached between corner brackets to provide mounting structures for the plurality of tanks;

a filter, regulator, and pressure gage each supported by the frame, wherein the filter is configured to filter fluid from the plurality of tanks, the regulator is configured to be in fluid communication with the filter, the pressure gage is configured to indicate a pressure associated with the fuel system, and the filter and the regulator are attached with the tank supports; and

a fill receptacle configured to receive compressed natural gas for the plurality of tanks, wherein the frame is further configured to be supported by frame rails of the truck such that the plurality of tanks and the fill receptacle are positioned above the frame rails, and the plurality of tanks are stacked on each other such that axes of the plurality of tanks are oriented generally perpendicular to the frame rails.

5. The system of claim 4 further comprising a manifold supported by the frame and configured to direct fluid received in the fill receptacle toward the plurality of tanks.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein each of the plurality of tanks is generally cylindrical.