Method and system for supplying fuel gas
AssigneeCaterpillar Inc.
InventorMatthew T. Wolk
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system for introducing a gaseous fuel to an internal combustion engine includes a fuel storage device, a compressor, and an air and fuel conduit in fluid communication with the fuel storage device and with the compressor. The air and fuel conduit includes a first passage and a second passage that includes a first portion and a second portion, the second portion being a venturi portion, the second passage being fluidly connected to the compressor in parallel with the first passage.
Claims19
A system for introducing a gaseous fuel to an internal combustion engine, the system comprising:
- a fuel storage device;
- a compressor;
- and
- an air and fuel conduit in fluid communication with the fuel storage device and with the compressor, the air and fuel conduit including:
- a first passage;
- and
- a second passage that includes a first portion and a second portion, the second portion being a venturi portion that includes an inlet opening configured to receive fuel, the venturi portion being configured to receive an entirety of the air that passes through the second passage, the inlet opening being provided on an inner surface of the second passage, the second passage being fluidly connected to the compressor in parallel with the first passage wherein the air and fuel conduit is connected upstream of the compressor.
A fuel system, comprising:
- a fuel storage device;
- a first passage including:
- a first air inlet configured to receive intake air;
- a first fuel inlet in fluid communication with the fuel storage device and configured to receive gaseous fuel downstream of the first air inlet;
- and
- a valve configured to open and close the first passage;
- and
- an actuator configured to change a position of the valve in response to a change in a pressure of gas compressed by a compressor;
- a second passage connected in parallel with the first passage, the first passage and the second passage being upstream of the compressor, the second passage including:
- a second air inlet configured to receive intake air;
- and
- a second fuel inlet configured to receive gaseous fuel downstream of the second air inlet.
A method for supplying fuel and air to an internal combustion engine, the method comprising:
- controlling a flow of intake air and fuel through a first passage of an air and fuel conduit;
- receiving intake air and fuel with a second passage of the air and fuel conduit, the second passage being connected in parallel with the first passage;
- opening the first passage when a pressure of gas from a compressor downstream of the first passage and the second passage of the air and fuel conduit reaches an opening pressure to permit a flow of the intake air and fuel;
- and
- supplying the intake air and fuel from the first passage and from the second passage to the internal combustion engine.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.