Fuel monitoring system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11359745-B2
Application number	US-202117163828-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 1, 2021
Priority date	Jan 10, 2017
Publication date	Jun 14, 2022
Grant date	Jun 14, 2022

Abstract

A CNG leak detection system has a plurality of CNG tanks. A plurality of control valve mechanisms, equal in number to the plurality of CNG tanks, is coupled with each CNG tank. A sensor is coupled with each control valve mechanism. The sensor monitors the CNG in the tank. A processor is electrically coupled with the sensor. A display is coupled with the processor to display the sensed condition of at least one desired tank of the plurality of tanks.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A compressed natural gas (CNG) system comprising:
a CNG tank;
a control valve comprising a solenoid valve;
a fuel line system in fluid connection with the CNG tank;
one or more sensors configured to detect a first pressure of the CNG tank and a second pressure of the fuel line system; and
one or more processors communicatively coupled with the one or more sensors, the one or more processors configured to:
i) detect a leak in the CNG tank in response to determining that the first pressure exceeds the second pressure by at least a first predetermined threshold,
ii) detect a solenoid valve failure in response to determining that the second pressure exceeds the first pressure by at least a second predetermined threshold, and
iii) transmit a signal indicative of a status of one or more of: the first pressure, the second pressure, the CNG tank, or the solenoid valve.

2. The CNG system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more sensors comprise pressure sensors.

3. The CNG system of claim 1 , wherein the signal indicative of the status comprises an alarm triggered by a detected leak or a detected solenoid valve failure.

4. The CNG system of claim 1 , wherein the second predetermined threshold ranges from 200 to 800 pounds per square inch (psi).

5. The CNG system of claim 1 , wherein the first predetermined threshold ranges from 400 to 1000 psi.

6. The CNG system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are configured to detect the leak while a refuse vehicle ignition is off.

7. The CNG system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are configured to detect the leak while a refuse vehicle ignition is on.

8. The CNG system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are configured to disable the solenoid valve if the leak is detected.

9. The CNG system of claim 1 , wherein the CNG system is connected directly to a battery and is activated when an ignition is on or off.

10. The CNG system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more sensors are configured to remain active when an ignition is on or off.

11. The CNG system of claim 1 , wherein a display is communicatively coupled with the one or more processors, the display configured to receive the signal from the one or more processors.

12. The CNG system of claim 1 , wherein the signal is indicative of a failure of a sensor of the one or more sensors.

13. A refuse vehicle comprising:
a chassis with a drive train, wheels, a cab, a refuse container, and a compressed natural gas (CNG) tank on the refuse vehicle;
a control valve comprising a solenoid valve;
a fuel line system in fluid connection with the CNG tank;
one or more sensors configured to detect a first pressure of the CNG tank and a second pressure of the fuel line system; and
one or more processors communicatively coupled with the one or more sensors, the one or more processors configured to:
i) detect a leak in the CNG tank in response to determining that the first pressure exceeds the second pressure by at least a first predetermined threshold,
ii) detect a solenoid valve failure in response to determining that the second pressure exceeds the first pressure by at least a second predetermined threshold, and
iii) transmit a signal indicative of a status of one or more of: the first pressure, the second pressure, the CNG tank, or the solenoid valve.

14. The refuse vehicle of claim 13 , wherein the one or more sensors comprise pressure sensors.

15. The refuse vehicle of claim 13 , wherein the signal indicative of the status comprises an alarm triggered by a detected leak or a solenoid valve failure.

16. The refuse vehicle of claim 13 , wherein the second predetermined threshold ranges from 200 to 800 pounds psi.

17. The refuse vehicle of claim 13 , wherein the first predetermined threshold ranges from 400 to 1000 psi.

18. The refuse vehicle of claim 13 , wherein the one or more processors are configured to detect the leak while a refuse vehicle ignition is off.

19. The refuse vehicle of claim 13 , wherein the one or more processors are configured to detect the leak while a refuse vehicle ignition is on.

20. The refuse vehicle of claim 13 , further comprising a display communicatively coupled with the one or more processors, the display configured to receive the signal from the one or more processors.

21. The refuse vehicle of claim 20 , wherein the display is configured to display a visual indicator corresponding to the signal.

22. The refuse vehicle of claim 20 , wherein the display is configured to display the first pressure, the second pressure, or both the first and second pressures.

23. The refuse vehicle of claim 20 , wherein the display is configured to display one or more visual indicators corresponding to the leak in the CNG tank or the solenoid valve failure.

24. The refuse vehicle of claim 20 , wherein the display resides within the cab.

Assignees

• Heil Co

Inventors

• Shroff Nitesh
• Ham Brian H
• Maroney Stanley

Classifications

• F16K37/0091 Primary

  by measuring fluid parameters · CPC title

• G06F3/048

  Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI] · CPC title

• G01M3/184

  for valves · CPC title

• G01M3/3236

  by monitoring the interior space of the containers · CPC title