Integrated fill system and method
AssigneeWorthington Industries, Inc.
InventorJames B. Rike
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An integrated fill system is provided for a vehicle. The integrated fill system can include a receptacle, a cap that mates with the receptacle, and a fill line that is in fluid communication between the receptacle and a container. The integrated fill system can further include a valve between an opening on an end of the container and an end of the fill line to allow one-way fluid communication for entry of compressed material into the container. The integrated fill system can further include a draw line on an opposite end of the container to maintain separate lines for filling and drawing compressed material into/from the container.
Claims20
An integrated fill system for a container housing a material used as a fuel source for a vehicle, comprising:
- a container configured to house a compressed gas, the container has a first end and a second end opposite thereto;
- a threaded male portion on the first end that is coupled to a female portion on a first neck mount, wherein the threaded male portion mates with the female portion;
- the second end inserted into a second neck mount to enable movement based on a pressure change or a temperature change;
- a housing configured to encase the container, the first neck mount, the second neck mount;
- a fill line having a first end and a second end, the first end is coupled to the first end of the container via a first valve, wherein the first valve is configured to allow flow of the compressed gas into the container;
- a first receptacle that is coupled to the second end of the fill line and positioned through the housing, the first receptacle is configured to receive at least one of the compressed gas or a nozzle that dispenses the compressed gas at a first rate of flow into the container;
- and
- a first cap that is configured to removeably mate with the first receptacle.
A fuel storage system for a vehicle, comprising:
- a housing having a first end and a second end opposite the first end and a thickness, the housing having a length between the first end and the second end;
- a container situated within the housing, the container houses a material, the container has a first end and a second end opposite thereto;
- the housing is configured to be coupled to a frame of a vehicle;
- a fill line having a first end and a second end, the first end is coupled to the first end of the container via a first valve, wherein the first valve is configured to allow flow of the compressed gas into the container;
- and
- a first receptacle that is coupled to the second end of the fill line and positioned through the housing, the receptacle is configured to receive at least one of the compressed gas or a nozzle that dispenses the compressed gas at a first rate of flow.
An integrated fill system for a container housing a material used as a fuel source for a vehicle, comprising:
- a housing having a first end and a second end opposite the first end and a thickness, the housing having a length between the first end and the second end;
- a container having a cylindrical shape, the container houses a material, the container has a first end and a second end opposite thereto;
- the housing configured to provide protection and enclose the container;
- one or more bracket assemblies, wherein each bracket assembly includes a coupling member that couples to a portion of the vehicle and a member that is coupled or supports exterior portion of the housing;
- a fill line having a first end and a second end, the first end is coupled to the first end of the container via a first valve, wherein the first valve is configured to allow flow of the compressed gas into the container;
- and
- a first receptacle that is coupled to the second end of the fill line and positioned through the housing, the receptacle is configured to receive at least one of the compressed gas or a nozzle that dispenses the compressed gas at a first rate of flow into the container.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.