Apparatus and method for a portable fuel supply for a vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9567203-B2
Application number	US-201414272472-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 7, 2014
Priority date	Nov 24, 2011
Publication date	Feb 14, 2017
Grant date	Feb 14, 2017

Abstract

An improved apparatus and method provide a portable fuel supply for a vehicle. The apparatus comprises a vessel that is a source of fuel and a conduit that is operatively connected with the vessel at one end. There is also a coupling pin arrangement connected with the vessel. The coupling pin arrangement comprises a coupling pin and is mutually engageable with a fifth wheel coupling device. An end opposite the one end of the conduit operatively connects with a fuel system of the vehicle such that the vessel is in fluid communication with the fuel system and the vehicle operates with the fuel from the vessel.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A fuel apparatus for a vehicle, said vehicle comprising a fuel system and a fifth wheel coupling device, said apparatus comprising:
(a) a vessel comprising a source of fuel;
(b) a first conduit operatively connected with said vessel at one end; and
(c) a coupling pin arrangement connected with said vessel, said coupling pin arrangement comprising a coupling pin and being mutually engageable with said fifth wheel coupling device;
wherein said fuel apparatus is primarily supported by said vehicle and an end opposite said one end of said first conduit operatively connects with said fuel system of said vehicle such that said vessel is in fluid communication with said fuel system and said vehicle operates with said fuel from said vessel.

2. The fuel apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said fuel is a gaseous fuel.

3. The fuel apparatus of claim 2 , wherein said gaseous fuel is selected from the group consisting of natural gas, methane, hydrogen, LNG and LPG.

4. The fuel apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said fuel is a liquid fuel.

5. The fuel apparatus of claim 4 , wherein said liquid fuel is selected from the group consisting of diesel, gasoline, ethanol and blends of ethanol and gasoline.

6. The fuel apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said vessel is a compressed gas cylinder.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said first conduit comprises a flexible hose.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 , further comprising a sheath wrapped around said hose.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said coupling pin arrangement comprises a rotation prevention member.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said coupling pin arrangement comprises a tilt prevention member.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said vessel and said coupling pin arrangement are integrated.

12. The fuel apparatus of claim 1 , said coupling pin arrangement comprising a platform comprising a top side and a bottom side, said vessel secured to said top side and said coupling pin connected with said bottom side.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 , further comprising:
(d) a coupling comprising a valve, said coupling supported by said platform; and
(e) a second conduit connecting said coupling with said vessel;
whereby said first conduit connects said coupling with said fuel system and said valve controlling flow of said fuel between said first conduit and said second conduit.

14. The fuel apparatus of claim 12 , said fifth wheel coupling device comprising a first surface and said bottom side of said platform comprising a second surface; whereby said first surface is substantially congruent to said second surface.

15. The fuel apparatus of claim 12 , said platform further comprising supports on said top side for supporting said vessel.

16. The fuel apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising straps for fastening said vessel to said platform.

17. A method of fuelling a vehicle comprising:
securing a fuel supply with a fifth wheel coupling device of said vehicle, said fuel supply primarily supported by said vehicle;
fluidly connecting said fuel supply with a fuelling system of said vehicle; and
communicating fuel from said fuel supply to said fuelling system for combustion in cylinders of said vehicle.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein said fuel supply comprises a cylinder, the method further comprising adapting said cylinder to engage said fifth wheel coupling device on said vehicle.

19. The method of claim 17 , further comprising preventing rotation of said fuel supply.

20. The method of claim 17 , further comprising preventing tilt of said fuel supply.

21. A method of fuelling a vehicle having a primary fuel supply fluidly connected to a fuelling system of said vehicle and a secondary fuel supply secured with a fifth wheel coupling device of said vehicle, said secondary fuel supply primarily supported by said vehicle and fluidly connected with said fuelling system, said method comprising:
delivering fuel from said primary fuel supply to said fuelling system, said fueling system delivering a portion of said fuel for combustion in cylinders of said vehicle and a further portion of said fuel to said secondary fuel supply such that said secondary fuel supply is refueled with fuel from said primary fuel supply.

22. The method of claim 17 , further comprising replenishing said fuel supply with fuel from a gas line.

23. The method claim 22 , further comprising compressing fuel from said gas line.

24. The method of claim 17 , further comprising supporting said fuel supply on a support structure when not being used by said vehicle.

25. The method of claim 24 , wherein the step of securing comprises a sub-step of maneuvering said vehicle into said support structure whereby said fifth wheel coupling device engages said fuel supply; the method further comprising driving said vehicle away from said support structure.

26. The method of claim 25 , further comprising:
maneuvering said vehicle with said fuel supply into said support structure;
supporting said fuel supply with said support structure;
disengaging said fuel supply from said fifth wheel coupling device; and
driving said vehicle away from said support structure.

27. The method of claim 26 , wherein the step of disengaging comprises fluidly disconnecting said fuel supply from said fuelling system of said vehicle.

28. The method of claim 26 , wherein the step of maneuvering comprises a prior-step of fluidly disconnecting said fuel supply from said fuelling system of said vehicle.

Assignees

• Westport Power Inc

Inventors

• Komuniecki Konrad J
• Garner Gage

Classifications

• B60K2015/03184

  Exchangeable tanks, i.e. the empty tank is replaced by refilled tank · CPC title

• B67D7/84

  Casings, cabinets or frameworks; Trolleys or like movable supports · CPC title

• B60K15/07 Primary

  of gas tanks · CPC title

• B60Y2200/148

  Semi-trailers, articulated vehicles · CPC title

• B60K2015/03157

  for supply different types of fuel to the motor · CPC title