Safety arrangement for a vehicle tank

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017144535-A1
Application number	US-201415319550-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 18, 2014
Priority date	Jun 18, 2014
Publication date	May 25, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

A safety arrangement for a DME fuel tank of a vehicle, adapted to release an excessive pressure from the fuel tank, including a spring-loaded pressure release valve adapted to open at a predefined pressure level, where the safety arrangement further includes a housing mounted on the fuel tank and having an outer opening closed by a lid, where the pressure release valve is arranged in the housing and where the housing is provided with an outlet pipe having an outlet opening, and where the lid is adapted to melt at a predefined temperature, thereby allowing gas to exit the pressure release valve through the outer opening of the housing when the pressure release valve is open and the lid has melted. A small gas leakage caused by an excessive pressure can be discharged downwards through the outlet pipe and outlet opening towards the ground, and a large gas leakage, caused by e.g. a fire, can be discharged outwards from the fuel tank, away from the fire.

First claim

1 . A safety arrangement for a liquefied gas fuel tank of a vehicle, adapted to release an excessive pressure from the fuel tank, comprising a spring-loaded pressure release valve adapted to open at a predefined pressure level, wherein the safety arrangement further comprises a housing mounted on the fuel tank and having an outer opening closed by a lid, where the pressure release valve is arranged in the housing and where the housing is provided with an outlet pipe having an outlet opening, and where the lid is adapted to melt at a predefined temperature, thereby allowing gas to exit the pressure release valve through the outer opening of the housing when the pressure release valve is open and the lid has melted.

2 . A safety arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the safety arrangement is mounted above the maximal fuel level of the tank.

3 . A safety arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the outlet opening of the outlet pipe is directed downwards, towards the ground.

4 . A safety arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the housing is made from metal and is welded to the fuel tank.

5 . A safety arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the predefined pressure level is 27 bar.

6 . A safety arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the lid is made from plastic, such as polycarbonate.

7 . A safety arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the lid is transparent.

8 . A safety arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the lid is gas tight.

9 . A safety arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the pressure release valve is provided with a plastic cap that is released when the pressure release valve opens.

10 . A safety arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the lid is attached to the housing with screws such that it is easily opened or replaced.

11 . A safety arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the safety arrangement is provided with a sealing ring between the lid and the housing.

12 . A safety arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the lid will melt at a temperature of above 155 degrees Celsius.

13 . A safety arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the liquefied gas fuel is DME.

14 . Vehicle, comprising a safety arrangement according to claim 1 .

Assignees

• Volvo Truck Corp

Inventors

• Sonderegger Sigurd

Classifications

• F17C2205/0317

  fusing or melting · CPC title

• B60K15/035

  characterised by venting means · CPC title

• F17C1/005

  Storage of gas or gaseous mixture at high pressure and at high density condition, e.g. in the single state phase · CPC title

• F17C13/12

  Arrangements or mounting of devices for preventing or minimising the effect of explosion (flame traps A62C4/00 ){; Other safety measures} · CPC title

• F17C2265/066

  for feeding engines for propulsion · CPC title