Compressed gaseous fuel system

Claim 2

In apparatus for enabling a vehicle engine normally employing a conventional fuel to operate on a second fuel, and normally including: a fuel-air mixer connected with the intake manifold of said engine and with a low pressure regulator and having means for admixing a combustion supporting gas with said second fuel; on-off valve interposed in a conduit means for carrying said second fuel to said vehicle engine; said conduit means being connected with said fuel-air mixer and with a pressure regulator; low pressure regulator interposed in said conduit means downstream of said on-off valve for reducing upstream pressure to a low pressure in the range of from a few inches of water to a few pounds per square inch guage (psig) for supplying to said fuel-air mixer; and on-off valve interposed in a fuel line supplying said conventional fuel for stopping flow of said conventional fuel to said engine when said second fuel is being employed; the improvement comprising: a. a high pressure section located outside of the passenger compartment of said vehicle for safety, said high pressure section including: i. at least one container of a compressed gaseous fuel under superatmospheric pressure; said compressed gaseous fuel serving as said second fuel; said container being capable of withstanding pressure in excess of 1,000 pounds per square inch gauge (psig); and ii. a high pressure assembly connected with said container of compressed gaseous fuel; said high pressure assembly including a first high pressure fitting for said container of said compressed gaseous fuel; high pressure tubing connected to said first high pressure fitting; a second high pressure fitting connected to said tubing; a fill connection connected with said second high pressure fitting and into the remainder of said high pressure assembly for refilling said container with said compressed gaseous fuel; fuel gauge means connected responsively with said second high pressure fitting and into the remainder of said high pressure assembly for monitoring the quantity of said compressed gaseous fuel in said container; and high pressure regulator connected with said second high pressure fitting and into the remainder of said high pressure assembly for regulating a downstream pressure to a medium pressure in the range of from several psig to 150 psig; and b. medium pressure relief valve connected with the downstream side of said high pressure regulator for venting said gaseous fuel at pressures greater than a preset maximum; said medium pressure relief valve having means for altering said preset maximum; and c. a gas-air mixer serving as said fuel-air mixer

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said high pressure regulator comprises a single stage compensated regulator.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said high pressure assembly is leak-free.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said fill connection includes a convenient, sealing connect-disconnect fitting and has check valve means disposed on both sides of the joint of said fill connection, said check valve means being operable to permit flow when said fitting is connected for filling said container and operable to prevent flow from either of the free ends in the event of an inadvertent disconnection during filling.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein a low pressure relief valve is connected with the downstream side of said low pressure regulator for venting said gaseous fuel at pressures above a second preset maximum low pressure; said low pressure relief valve having means for altering said second preset maximum low pressure.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said apparatus is installed in an automobile, said high pressure section is installed in the trunk of said automobile; and said medium pressure relief valve has a vent pipe that traverses to the exterior of said trunk and to a safe place for venting any gaseous fuel from said medium pressure relief valve.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein an excess flow shut-off valve is incorporated into said apparatus for blocking flow from said high pressure assembly in the event there is a failure at some point that would otherwise vent said gaseous fuel at a rate greater than a predetermined rate.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein there are a plurality of containers of said compressed gaseous fuel and said high pressure assembly comprises a manifold interconnected with said plurality of containers; said containers comprising cylinders of compressed natural gas.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said fill connection has check valve means and a redundant check valve Is interposed in the flow line to prevent back flow when said fill connection is connected.

Claim 11

In apparatus for enabling a vehicle engine normally employing a conventional fuel to operate on a second fuel, and normally including: a fuel-air mixer connected with the intake manifold of said engine and with a low pressure regulator and having means for admixing a combustion supporting gas with said second fuel; on-off valve interposed in a conduit means for carrying said second fuel to said vehicle engine; said conduit means being connected with said fuel-air mixer and with a pressure regulator; low pressure regulator interposed in said conduit means downstream of said on-off valve for reducing upstream pressure to a low pressure in the range of from a few inches of water to a few pounds per square inch gauge (psig) for supplying to said fuel-air mixer; and on-off valve interposed in a fuel line supplying said conventional fuel for stopping flow of said conventional fuel to said engine when said second fuel is being employed; the improvement comprising: a. at least on container of a compressed gaseous fuel under superatmospheric pressure; said container being capable of withstanding pressure in excess of 1,000 pounds per square inch gauge (psig); said compressed gaseous fuel serving as said second fuel; b. high pressure conduit and fittings connected with said container of gaseous fuel; c. a fill connection connected with said high pressure conduit and fittings for refilling said container with gaseous fuel; d. high pressure regulator for regulating a downstream pressure to a medium pressure in the range of from several psig to 150 psig; said high pressure regulator being connected at its upstream side with said high pressure conduit and fittings; e. medium pressure relief valve connected with the downstream side of said high pressure regulator and said conduit means for venting said gaseous fuel at pressures greater than a preset maximum; said medium pressure relief valve having means for altering said preset maximum; f. a gas-air mixer serving as said fuel-air mixer; and g. fuel gauge means including: i. a pressure responsive element in fluid communication with said container for monitoring pressure therein, said pressure responsive element being disposed adjacent said container and outside the passenger compatment of the vehicle; said pressure responsive element being a pressure gauge that displays the pressure adjacent said container also, facilitating monitoring during filling; ii. transducing means for converting said pressure into a single-valued transmissible signal; iii. remote indicator gauge means disposed in said passenger compartment and connected with said transducer means for effecting a visual display of a quantity of fuel responsive to said signal.

Claim 12

In apparatus for enabling a vehicle engine normally employing a conventional fuel to operate on a second fuel, and normally including: a fuel-air mixer connected with the intake manifold of said engine and with a low pressure regulator and having means for admixing a combustion supporting gas with said second fuel; on-off valve interposed in a conduit means for carrying said second fuel to said vehicle engine; said conduit means being connected with said fuel-air mixer and with a pressure regulator; low pressure regulator interposed in said conduit means downstream of said on-off valve for reducing upstream pressure to a low pressure in the range of from a few inches of water to a few pounds per square inch gauge (psig) for supplying to said fuel-air mixer; and on-off valve interposed in a fuel line supplying said conventional fuel for stopping flow of said conventional fuel to said engine when said second fuel is being employed; the improvement comprising: a. at least on container of a compressed gaseous fuel under superatmospheric pressure; said container being capable of withstanding pressure in excess of 1,000 pounds per square inch gauge (psig); said compressed gaseous fuel serving as said second fuel; b. high pressure conduit and fittings connected with said container of gaseous fuel; c. a fill connection connected with said high pressure conduit and fittings for refilling said container with gaseous fuel; d. high pressure regulator for regulating a downstream pressure to a medium pressure in the range of from several psig to 150 psig; said high pressure regulator being connected at its upstream side with said high pressure conduit and fittings; e. medium pressure relief valve connected with the downstream side of said high pressure regulator and said conduit means for venting said gaseous fuel at pressures greater than a preset maximum; said medium pressure relief valve having means for altering said preset maximum; f. a gas-air mixer serving as said fuel-air mixer; and g. fuel gauge means including: i. a pressure responsive element in fluid communication with said container for monitoring pressure therein, said pressure responsive element being disposed adjacent said container and outside the passenger compatment of the vehicle; said pressure responsive element being a pressure gauge that displays the pressure adjacent said container also, facilitating monitoring during filling; ii. transducing means for converting said pressure into a single-valued transmissible signal; iii. remote indicator gauge means disposed in said passenger compartment and connected with said transducer means for effecting a visual display of a quantity of fuel responsive to said signal.

Claim 13

The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said pressure gauge has a pointer and said transducing means comprises a magnet that is carried by said pointer, a potentiometer that is disposed above said magnet; said potentiometer having as its potentiometer wiper an electrically conductive magnetic follower that is connected with a source of power, that is mounted for movement along substantially the same path as said pointer and freely mounted so as to follow the movement of said magnet on said pointer, and that effects a voltage output that is a function of the position of the magnetic follower on the potentiometer resistor; and said remote indicator gauge means comprises a galvanometer that is responsive to said voltage and is calibrated to read said voltage as a proportion of a full container of said gaseous fuel.

Claim 14

The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said pressure gauge has a pointer and said transducing means comprises a magnet that is carried by said pointer, a circular potentiometer that is disposed above said magnet; said circular potentiometer having as its potentiometer wiper an electrically condUctive magnetic follower that is connected with a source of power, that is pivotally mounted for pivotal movement about substantially the same axis as said pointer and freely mounted so as to follow rotational movement of said magnet on said pointer, and that effects a voltage output that is a function of the position of the magnetic follower on the potentiometer resistor; and said remote indicator gauge means comprises a galvanometer that is responsive to said voltage and is calibrated to read said voltage as a proportion of a full container of said gaseous fuel.