US5163409A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Vehicle mounted LNG delivery system
Assignee: Minnesota Valley Engineering Inc
•
Filing: 1992-02-18
•
Granted: 1992-11-17
•
Expires: 2012-02-18
Abstract
Abstract The present invention uses an on-board source of compressed natural gas (CNG) to pressurize the LNG in the vehicle's LNG storage tanks such that high pressure natural gas can be delivered to the use device. More than one LNG storage tank can be used without increasing the amount of CNG required if the storage tanks are connected together in series so that the upstream storage tank pressurizes the downstream storage tank.
Inventors
- 👤 Keith Gustafson
- 👤 George W. Kalet
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 23:18
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02M; F02M21/00; F02M21/02; F02M21/0203; F02M21/0215; F02D; F02D19/00; F02D19/02; F02D19/021; F02D19/022; F02D19/06; F02D19/0639; F02D19/0642; F02D19/0647; F02M21/0209; F02M21/0212; F02M21/0218; F02M21/0221; F02M21/0224; F02M21/0287; F02M21/06; Y; Y02; Y02T; Y02T10/00; Y02T10/10; Y02T10/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
71 words
A vehicle mounted delivery system for natural gas, comprising: a) a first tank for storing a quantity of liquid natural gas; b) means for storing a quantity of compressed natural gas; c) means for delivering the compressed natural gas to said first tank to pressurize and maintain the pressure in said first tank at a predetermined value; and d) means for delivering said pressurized liquid natural gas from said first tank.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
71 words
A vehicle mounted delivery system for natural gas, comprising: a) a first tank for storing a quantity of liquid natural gas; b) means for storing a quantity of compressed natural gas; c) means for delivering the compressed natural gas to said first tank to pressurize and maintain the pressure in said first tank at a predetermined value; and d) means for delivering said pressurized liquid natural gas from said first tank.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
The vehicle mounted delivery system according to claim 1, wherein said means for storing compressed natural gas is a storage vessel having approximately one third the volume of said tank.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The vehicle mounted delivery system according to claim 1, wherein the means for delivering the pressurized liquid natural gas is connected to a use device.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The vehicle mounted delivery system according to claim 3, wherein said use device is a vehicle engine.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
The vehicle mounted delivery system according to claim 1, further including a second tank for storing a quantity of liquid natural gas, said second tank being connected in series with said first tank.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
The vehicle mounted delivery system according to claim 1, further including a second tank for storing a quantity of liquid natural gas, and means for pressurizing the said second tank.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The vehicle mounted delivery system according to claim 6 wherein, the means for pressurizing said second tank utilizes the pressurized LNG in said first tank.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
The vehicle mounted delivery system according to claim 3, further including means for vaporizing said natural gas before it delivered to said use device.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
108 words
A vehicle mounted delivery system for natural gas, comprising: a) means for storing a supply of compressed natural gas; b) a plurality of tanks for storing a quantity of liquid natural gas, said tanks being connected in series with one another such that liquid natural gas flows from the upstream tank to the downstream tank; c) means for delivering the compressed natural gas to the most upstream tank to pressurize it, said upstream tank, in turn, pressurizing the down stream tanks; and d) means associated with said most down stream tank for converting LNG to natural gas and for supplying pressurized natural gas from the most downstream tank.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
108 words
A vehicle mounted delivery system for natural gas, comprising: a) means for storing a supply of compressed natural gas; b) a plurality of tanks for storing a quantity of liquid natural gas, said tanks being connected in series with one another such that liquid natural gas flows from the upstream tank to the downstream tank; c) means for delivering the compressed natural gas to the most upstream tank to pressurize it, said upstream tank, in turn, pressurizing the down stream tanks; and d) means associated with said most down stream tank for converting LNG to natural gas and for supplying pressurized natural gas from the most downstream tank.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
The vehicle mounted delivery system according to claim 9, wherein said means for storing compressed natural gas is approximately one third the volume of the most upstream tank.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
The vehicle mounted delivery system according to claim 9, wherein the means for supplying the pressurized natural gas is connected to a use device.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
The vehicle mounted delivery system according to claim 11, wherein said use device is the vehicle's engine.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2035399A
Cited
US2040059A
Cited
US2257897A
Cited
US2384677A
Cited
US2424723A
Cited
US2645906A
Cited
US2645907A
Cited
US2993344A
Cited
US3183678A
Cited
US3565201A
Cited
US3898853A
Cited
US3982516A
Cited
US4080800A
Cited
US4018582A
Cited
US4175395A
Cited
US4321796A
Cited
US4449509A
Cited
US4406129A
Cited
GB2122681A
Cited
DE3233935A1
Cited
US4531497A
Cited
US4632083A
Cited
US4638777A
Cited
US4583372A
Cited
US4811720A
Cited
US4744222A
Cited
JPS62251598A
Cited
US5076244A
Cited
US5025758A
Cited
US5033444A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-11-17 | 1996-05-18 | 1996-11-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-11-17 | 2000-05-18 | 2000-11-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-11-17 | 2004-05-18 | 2004-11-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |