US 11,535,207 B2Granted

Compressed-gas distribution associated with vehicle

AssigneeChange Energy Services

InventorsGordon Rymal Smith, Allan Wallace Davidson

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Abstract

A fluid-distribution assembly has controllable components. The fluid-distribution assembly also has a vehicle-fuelling connection configured to be selectively connectable to a first compressed-natural-gas tank of a first compressed-natural-gas-powered vehicle. The fluid-distribution assembly also has a fuel-storage connection configured to be selectively connectable to a fuel storage assembly. The fluid-distribution assembly is configured to be electrically connected to a controller assembly. The controller assembly is configured to monitor and control operations of the controllable components of the fluid-distribution assembly. The controllable components of the fluid-distribution assembly are configured to selectively distribute, under control by way of the controller assembly, a fluid flow of a compressed natural gas between the first compressed-natural-gas tank and the fuel storage assembly.

Claims17

Dependent claims

An apparatus, comprising:

a fluid-distribution assembly having controllable components;
and
the fluid-distribution assembly also having a vehicle-fuelling connection configured to be selectively connectable to a first compressed-natural-gas tank of a first compressed-natural-gas-powered vehicle;
and
the fluid-distribution assembly also having a fuel-storage connection configured to be selectively connectable to a fuel storage assembly;
and
the fluid-distribution assembly configured to be electrically connected to a controller assembly, in which the controller assembly is configured to monitor and control operations of the controllable components of the fluid-distribution assembly;
and
the controllable components of the fluid-distribution assembly configured to selectively distribute, under control by way of the controller assembly, a fluid flow of a compressed natural gas between the first compressed-natural-gas tank and the fuel storage assembly;
the fluid-distribution assembly configured to receive a flow of fluid fuel from the first compressed-natural-gas tank of the first compressed-natural-gas-powered vehicle and depending on execution of the preprogrammed operations of the controller assembly, convey the flow of fluid fuel from the first compressed-natural-gas tank of the first compressed-natural-gas-powered vehicle to a second compressed-natural-gas tank of a second compressed-natural-gas-powered vehicle.

7 more elements

An apparatus, comprising:

a controller assembly configured to be electrically connected to controllable components of a fluid-distribution assembly;
and
the controller assembly also configured to monitor and control operations of the controllable components of the fluid-distribution assembly, in which:
the fluid-distribution assembly also has a vehicle-fuelling connection configured to be selectively connectable to a first compressed-natural-gas tank of a first compressed-natural-gas-powered vehicle;
and
the fluid-distribution assembly also has a fuel-storage connection configured to be selectively connectable to a fuel storage assembly;
and
the controllable components of the fluid-distribution assembly configured to selectively distribute, under control by way of the controller assembly, a fluid flow of a compressed natural gas between the first compressed-natural-gas tank and the fuel storage assembly;
and
the fluid-distribution assembly configured to receive a flow of fluid fuel from the first compressed-natural-gas tank of the first compressed-natural-gas-powered vehicle and, depending on execution of preprogrammed operations of the controller assembly for the control of the controllable components of the fluid-distribution assembly, convey the flow of fluid from the first compressed-natural-gas tank of the first compressed-natural-gas-powered vehicle to a second compressed-natural-gas tank of a second compressed-natural-gas-powered vehicle.

7 more elements

An apparatus, comprising:

a compressed-natural-gas vehicle repair facility defining an interior space therein, in which the interior space is configured to receive a first compressed-natural-gas-powered vehicle;
and
a fuel storage assembly positioned exteriorly of the compressed-natural-gas vehicle repair facility;
and
a fluid-distribution assembly positioned in the interior space of the compressed-natural-gas vehicle repair facility;
and
a controller assembly positioned in the interior space of the compressed-natural-gas vehicle repair facility;
and
the fluid-distribution assembly having controllable components;
and
the controller assembly configured to be electrically connected to the controllable components of the fluid-distribution assembly;
and
the fluid-distribution assembly also having a vehicle-fuelling connection configured to be selectively connectable to a first compressed-natural-gas tank of the first compressed-natural-gas-powered vehicle;
and
the fluid-distribution assembly also having a fuel-storage connection configured to be selectively connectable to the fuel storage assembly;
and
the fluid-distribution assembly configured to be electrically connected to the controller assembly, in which the controller assembly is configured to monitor and control operations of the controllable components of the fluid-distribution assembly;
and
the controllable components of the fluid-distribution assembly configured to selectively distribute, under control by way of the controller assembly, a fluid flow of a compressed natural gas between the first compressed-natural-gas tank and the fuel storage assembly;
and
the fluid-distribution assembly configured to receive a flow of fluid fuel from the first compressed-natural-gas tank of the first compressed-natural-gas-powered vehicle, and depending on execution of preprogrammed operations of the controller assembly for the control of the controllable components of the fluid-distribution assembly, convey the flow of fluid fuel from the first compressed-natural-gas tank of the first compressed-natural-gas-powered vehicle to a second compressed-natural-gas tank of a second compressed-natural-gas-powered vehicle.

18 more elements

An apparatus, comprising:

a compressed-natural-gas vehicle repair facility defining an interior space therein, in which the interior space is configured to receive a first compressed-natural-gas-powered vehicle;
and
a fuel storage assembly positioned exteriorly of the compressed-natural-gas vehicle repair facility;
and
a fluid-distribution assembly positioned in the interior space of the compressed-natural-gas vehicle repair facility;
and
a controller assembly positioned in the interior space of the compressed-natural-gas vehicle repair facility;
and
the fluid-distribution assembly having controllable components;
and
the controller assembly configured to be electrically connected to the controllable components of the fluid-distribution assembly;
and
the fluid-distribution assembly also having a vehicle-fuelling connection configured to be selectively connectable to a first compressed-natural-gas tank of the first compressed-natural-gas-powered vehicle;
and
the fluid-distribution assembly also having a fuel-storage connection configured to be selectively connectable to the fuel storage assembly;
and
the fluid-distribution assembly configured to be electrically connected to the controller assembly, in which the controller assembly is configured to monitor and control operations of the controllable components of the fluid-distribution assembly;
and
the controllable components of the fluid-distribution assembly configured to selectively distribute, under control by way of the controller assembly, a fluid flow of a compressed natural gas between the first compressed-natural-gas tank and the fuel storage assembly;
and
the fluid-distribution assembly is configured to receive a flow of fluid fuel from a second compressed-natural-gas tank of a second compressed-natural-gas-powered vehicle and, depending on execution of preprogrammed operations of the controller assembly for the control of the controllable components of the fluid-distribution assembly, convey the flow of fluid fuel from a second compressed-natural-gas tank of a second compressed-natural-gas-powered vehicle to the first compressed-natural-gas tank of the first compressed-natural-gas-powered vehicle.

18 more elements

A memory assembly, comprising:

a controller-executable program that, when executed by a processor assembly of a controller assembly, causes the processor assembly to perform monitoring and controlling operations of controllable components of a fluid-distribution assembly, in which:
the controller assembly is configured to be electrically connected to the controllable components of the fluid-distribution assembly;
and
the fluid-distribution assembly has a vehicle-fuelling connection configured to be selectively connectable to a first compressed-natural-gas tank of a first compressed-natural-gas-powered vehicle;
and
the fluid-distribution assembly also has a fuel-storage connection configured to be selectively connectable to a fuel storage assembly;
and
the controllable components of the fluid-distribution assembly configured to selectively distribute, under control by way of the controller assembly, a fluid flow of a compressed natural gas between the first compressed-natural-gas tank and the fuel storage assembly;
and
wherein:
the fluid-distribution assembly is configured to receive a flow of fluid fuel from the first compressed-natural-gas tank of the first compressed-natural-gas-powered vehicle and, depending on execution of preprogrammed operations of the controller assembly, convey the flow of fluid fuel from the first compressed-natural-gas tank of the first compressed-natural-gas-powered vehicle to a second compressed-natural-gas tank of a second compressed-natural-gas-powered vehicle
wherein:
the fluid-distribution assembly is configured to receive the flow of fluid fuel from the second compressed-natural-gas tank of the second compressed-natural-gas-powered vehicle and, depending on execution of preprogrammed operations of the controller assembly, convey the flow of fluid fuel from the second compressed-natural-gas tank of the second compressed-natural-gas-powered vehicle to the first compressed-natural-gas tank of the first compressed-natural-gas-powered vehicle
wherein:
the fluid-distribution assembly is configured to receive the flow of fluid fuel from the compressor assembly and depending on execution of preprogrammed operations of the controller assembly, convey the flow of fluid fuel from the compressor assembly to:
the first compressed-natural-gas tank of the first compressed-natural-gas-powered vehicle;
or
the second compressed-natural-gas tank of the second compressed-natural-gas-powered vehicle;
or
the fuel storage assembly;
and
wherein:
the fluid-distribution assembly is configured to receive the flow of fluid fuel from the fuel storage assembly and, depending on execution of preprogrammed operations of the controller assembly, convey the flow of fluid fuel from the fuel storage assembly to:
the first compressed-natural-gas tank of the first compressed-natural-gas-powered vehicle;
or
the second compressed-natural-gas tank of the second compressed-natural-gas-powered vehicle;
or
the compressor assembly;
and
wherein:
the fluid-distribution assembly is configured to receive the flow of fluid fuel from a gas-source connection and, depending on execution of preprogrammed operations of the controller assembly, convey the flow of fluid fuel from the gas-source connection to the compressor assembly, and then to:
the fuel storage assembly;
or
the first compressed-natural-gas tank of the first compressed-natural-gas-powered vehicle;
or
the second compressed-natural-gas tank of the second compressed-natural-gas-powered vehicle.

33 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 16/199,155Filed 24 Nov 2018
Published: US 2020/0164840 A128 May 2020
Granted: 27 Dec 2022
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification27 codes

B60S 5/02
Servicing, maintaining, repairing, or refitting of vehicles: supplying fuel to vehicles; General disposition of plant in filling stations
F17C 5/007
Automated filling apparatus: for individual gas tanks or containers, e.g. in vehicles
F17C 9/02
Methods or apparatus for discharging liquefied or solidified gases from vessels not under pressure: with change of state, e.g. vaporisation
F17C 5/06
Methods or apparatus for filling containers with liquefied, solidified, or compressed gases under pressures: for filling with compressed gases