Ventilation flow rate regulator for a pressurised tank of a vehicle
AssigneePlastic Omnium Advanced Innovation and Research
InventorRemi Thebault
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A ventilation flow rate regulator for a pressurised tank of a vehicle. The regulator includes a body including a gas inlet and a gas outlet, and at least one restrictor mounted movably relative to the body. The restrictor is mounted to reduce a cross-section of at least one path of a gas flow proceeding from the inlet to the outlet, when a flow rate at the inlet is greater than a predetermined threshold. The regulator is arranged so that the cross-section remains non-zero irrespective of a flow rate.
Claims13
A ventilation flow rate regulator for a pressurized tank of a vehicle, comprising:
- a body including a gas inlet and a gas outlet;
- an upstream restrictor which increases a flow rate of an upstream portion of a path of a gas flow proceeding from the inlet to the outlet when a pressure differential between a pressure upstream from the regulator and a pressure downstream from the regulator is higher than a predetermined threshold;
- and
- a downstream restrictor which moves relative to the body to reduce the flow rate of a downstream portion of the path, when a flow rate at the inlet is greater than a predetermined threshold,
- the regulator configured so that the flow rate of said downstream portion of the path remains non-zero,
- wherein the upstream restrictor comprises a diaphragm configured to be stable in only two positions,
- wherein the diaphragm is attached to a support that is stationary with respect to the body, the support being separate from the body and presenting a flared shape having a frustoconical portion, and the diaphragm including a thinned peripheral portion that is attached to an upstream end of the support, and
- wherein the diaphragm delimits, with the support, a chamber in gas communication with the outlet, and a biasing element is provided inside the chamber, a first end of the biasing element abutting the diaphragm and a second end of the biasing element abutting the support.
A pressurized vehicle tank, comprising:
- a ventilation flow rate regulator comprising
- a body including a gas inlet and a gas outlet;
- an upstream restrictor which increases a flow rate of an upstream portion of a path of a gas flow proceeding from the inlet to the outlet when a pressure differential between a pressure upstream from the regulator and a pressure downstream from the regulator is higher than a predetermined threshold;
- and
- a downstream restrictor which moves relative to the body to reduce the flow rate of a downstream portion of the path, when a flow rate at the inlet is greater than a predetermined threshold,
- the ventilation flow rate regulator configured so that the flow rate of said downstream portion of the path remains non-zero,
- wherein the upstream restrictor comprises a diaphragm configured to be stable in only two positions,
- wherein the diaphragm is attached to a support that is stationary with respect to the body, the support being separate from the body and presenting a flared shape having a frustoconical portion, and the diaphragm including a thinned peripheral portion that is attached to an upstream end of the support, and
- wherein the diaphragm delimits, with the support, a chamber in gas communication with the outlet, and a biasing element is provided inside the chamber, a first end of the biasing element abutting the diaphragm and a second end of the biasing element abutting the support.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.