On-tank regulator for high-pressure tank

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11732843-B2
Application number	US-202117379935-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 19, 2021
Priority date	Jul 19, 2021
Publication date	Aug 22, 2023
Grant date	Aug 22, 2023

Abstract

A storage tank includes a tank wall, a pressure regulator, a low-pressure coupling, and a fill coupling. The tank wall of the storage tank is configured to contain a stored fluid at an internal pressure within the tank wall, the tank wall including an outer layer, an inner layer, and a regulator mount. The pressure regulator of the storage tank is connected to the regulator mount and is configured to receive a flow rate of the stored fluid and reduce the stored fluid from the internal pressure to an output pressure. The flow rate of the stored fluid is provided, via the low pressure coupling and at the output pressure to an external system. The fill coupling extends through the tank wall and receives the stored fluid from a fluid source to be stored within the storage tank.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A compressed fluid storage assembly, comprising:
a storage tank having a tank wall, the tank wall including an inner layer defining an interior space, the interior space being configured to store a compressed fluid at a first pressure;
a pressure regulator connected to the storage tank, wherein the pressure regulator comprises:
an input line extending through the tank wall, the input line fluidly connected to the interior space via a first opening in the inner layer,
an internal seal sealing an outer surface of the input line to the inner layer, and
a pressure reducing component comprising a throttling valve and fluidly connected to the input line;

a low-pressure coupling fluidly connected to the pressure regulator, pressure reducing component being configured to receive the compressed fluid, at the first pressure, via the input line, and to direct the compressed fluid to the low-pressure coupling at a second pressure less than the first pressure, the low-pressure coupling being configured to form a releasable fluid connection with an external system, and to direct the compressed fluid, at the second pressure, to the external system via the releasable fluid connection; and
a fill coupling fluidly connected to the interior space, the fill coupling being configured to receive the compressed fluid, at the first pressure, and to direct the compressed fluid to the interior space.

2. The compressed fluid storage assembly of claim 1 , wherein the pressure regulator further comprises:
an upper portion that includes the pressure reducing component, an output line, and the low-pressure coupling; and
a lower portion, wherein the upper portion is removably connected to the lower portion.

3. The compressed fluid storage assembly of claim 2 , wherein:
the tank wall further comprises an outer layer;
the lower portion is formed integral with the outer layer of the tank wall; and
the lower portion includes an input channel seal disposed around an opening in the lower portion, the opening being configured to direct the compressed fluid from the storage tank to the pressure reducing component.

4. The compressed fluid storage assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
the pressure regulator further comprises an output line;
the compressed fluid storage assembly further comprising a regulator mount formed integral with the storage tank; and
the regulator mount including an opening that fluidly connects the pressure regulator with interior space via the input line and being configured to couple with the pressure regulator.

5. The compressed fluid storage assembly of claim 1 , wherein the pressure regulator is at least partially integrated into the outer layer of a storage tank wall.

6. The compressed fluid storage assembly of claim 1 , wherein the pressure regulator includes:
an output line fluidly connected to the low-pressure coupling, the output line being configured to direct the compressed fluid to the external system via the low-pressure coupling.

7. The compressed fluid storage assembly of claim 6 , wherein the pressure reducing component includes a throttling gap, a diaphragm, and a compressible spring,
the pressure reducing component being configured to receive the compressed fluid at the first pressure via the input line, and output the compressed fluid at the second pressure via the output line, and
the diaphragm and the compressible spring being configured to allow the compressed fluid to flow through the pressure reducing component and apply an amount of force that reduces the compressed fluid from the first pressure to the second pressure.

8. The compressed fluid storage assembly of claim 1 , wherein the pressure regulator includes:
an expansion chamber fluidly connected to the input line and the low-pressure coupling, the expansion chamber configured to receive the compressed fluid via the input line.

9. The compressed fluid storage assembly of claim 1 , wherein the inner layer of the storage tank is substantially impermeable to the compressed fluid.

10. The compressed fluid storage assembly of claim 1 , wherein the fill coupling is fluidly connected to the input line of the pressure regulator via a split connector,
the split connector configured such that the storage tank is fluidly connected to the pressure regulator while discharging the compressed fluid to the external system, and is fluidly connected to the fill coupling while receiving the compressed fluid from a fluid source.

11. The compressed fluid storage assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
the fill coupling is fluidly connected to the interior space via a second opening in the storage tank.

12. A machine, comprising:
a power system configured to receive compressed hydrogen, and generate output power using the compressed hydrogen as an input;
a storage tank defining an interior space, the interior space being configured to store the compressed hydrogen at a first pressure, the storage tank comprising a tank wall having an inner layer;
a pressure regulator connected to the storage tank, wherein the pressure regulator comprises:
an input line extending through the inner layer, the input line fluidly connected to the interior space of the storage tank;
an internal seal sealing an outer surface of the input line to the inner layer;
a pressure reducing component comprising a throttling valve; and

a low-pressure coupling fluidly connected to the pressure regulator, the pressure reducing component being configured to receive the compressed hydrogen, at the first pressure, from the interior space, and to direct the compressed hydrogen to the low-pressure coupling at a second pressure less than the first pressure, the low-pressure coupling being configured to form a releasable fluid connection with the power system, and direct the compressed hydrogen, at the second pressure, to the power system via the releasable fluid connection; and
a fill coupling fluidly connected to the interior space, the fill coupling being configured to receive the compressed hydrogen, at the first pressure, and to direct the compressed hydrogen to the interior space.

13. The machine of claim 12 , wherein the pressure regulator and the fill coupling are configured such that,
while the pressure regulator is fluidly connected to the interior space, the fill coupling is fluidly disconnected from the interior space, and
while the fill coupling is fluidly connected to the interior space, the pressure regulator is fluidly disconnected from the interior space.

14. The machine of claim 12 , wherein:
the pressure regulator is fluidly connected to the interior space and receives the compressed hydrogen via a first opening in the storage tank; and
the fill coupling is fluidly connected to the interior space and provides the compressed hydrogen via a check valve and a second opening in the storage tank.

15. The machine of claim 12 , wherein the power system is a hydrogen engine or a hydrogen fuel cell that is releasably fluidly connected to the storage tank via the low-pressure coupling.

16. A method, comprising:
storing, within a storage tank having a tank wall, the tank wall including an inner layer defining an interior space, a compressed fluid at a first pressure, the storage tank including a pressure regulator, wherein the pressure regulator comprises:
an input line extending through the inner layer, the input line fluidly connected to the interior space of the storage tank via a first opening in the storage tank;
an internal seal sealing an outer surface of the input line to the inner layer;
a pressure reducing compone

Assignees

• Caterpillar Inc

Inventors

• Montgomery David T

Classifications

• F17C1/00 Primary

  Pressure vessels, e.g. gas cylinder, gas tank, replaceable cartridge (pressurised apparatus for purposes other than storage, see the relevant subclasses such as A62C, B05B; associated with vehicles, see the appropriate subclass of classes B60 - B64; pressure vessels in general F16J12/00 {; autoclaves B01J3/04; tank vehicles B60P3/22; railway tank wagons for carrying fluent materials B61D5/00; accumulators for supplying fluid under pressure F15B1/04; liquefied gas stoves F24C3/00}) · CPC title

• F17C7/00

  Methods or apparatus for discharging liquefied, solidified, or compressed gases from pressure vessels, not covered by another subclass · CPC title

• F17C2203/0619

  with two layers · CPC title

• F17C2205/0338

  Pressure regulators · CPC title

• F17C2221/012

  Hydrogen · CPC title