Hydrogen fueling safety indicator
OwnerWilliam S. Lernerinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
One or more indicators provide an indication of fueling status of a hydrogen powered vehicle. One or more sensors detect temperature and/or other characteristics of the fuel provided to the vehicle and provide an electrical signal to one or more of the indicators to permit an indication of fueling status. The indicators, which may be visual and/or audible, may be positioned on the fueling apparatus and on the vehicle in the vicinity of a fueling receptacle. The indicators may also be positioned elsewhere on the vehicle and may be separate from the vehicle such as on or around a fueling station and/or on separate computerized devices. Certain of the visual indicators may be positioned on a fueling hose and may include electrically energized paint and an illuminated sheath.
Claims26
Apparatus for providing hydrogen to a vehicle, comprising:
- a hose that carries hydrogen from a pump to the vehicle;
- a nozzle attached to an end of the hose and adapted to removably attach to a filling receptacle on the vehicle;
- a handle, attached to the nozzle and adapted to permit movement by a user of the nozzle to permit removable attachment of the nozzle to the filling receptacle on the vehicle;
- one or more temperature sensors disposed on one or more of the hose, handle, and the nozzle;
- and
- wherein the hose has disposed thereon a visual indicator, that comprises one or more light emitting diodes, responsive to the one or more temperature sensors, and that provides a first visual textual indication, comprising one or more characters, indicating flow of hydrogen through the hose to the filling receptacle on the vehicle, and that provides a second visual textual indication, comprising one or more characters, when temperature of a surface of the handle is in a range to cause thermal injury to the user.
Apparatus for providing electrical energy to a vehicle, comprising:
- a charging hose containing one or more cables to provide electrical energy from charging station to the vehicle;
- a connector attached to an end of the charging hose and adapted to removably attach to a charging receptacle on the vehicle;
- a handle, attached to the connector and adapted to permit movement by a user of the connector to permit removable attachment of the connector to the charging receptacle on the vehicle;
- one or more temperature sensors disposed on one or more of the charging hose, handle, and the connector;
- and
- wherein the charging hose has disposed thereon a visual indicator that comprises one or more light emitting diodes, the visual indicator responsive to the one or more temperature sensors, the visual indicator providing a first visual textual indication, comprising one or more characters, indicating charging of the vehicle, and providing a second visual textual indication, comprising one or more characters, when temperature of a surface of the handle is in a range to cause thermal injury to the user.
Apparatus for providing hydrogen to a vehicle, comprising:
- a hose that carries hydrogen from a pump to the vehicle;
- a nozzle attached to an end of the hose and adapted to removably attach to a filling receptacle on the vehicle;
- a cuff positioned adjacent to the nozzle and disposed upon an outer surface of the hose;
- a handle, attached to the nozzle and adapted to permit movement by a user of the nozzle to permit removable attachment of the nozzle to the filling receptacle on the vehicle;
- one or more temperature sensors disposed on one or more of the hose, handle, the nozzle and cuff;
- and
- wherein the cuff has disposed thereon a visual indicator, that comprises one or more light emitting diodes, responsive to the one or more temperature sensors, and that provides a first visual indication, indicating flow of hydrogen through the hose to the filling receptacle on the vehicle, and that provides a second visual indication when temperature of a surface of the handle is in a range to cause thermal injury to the user.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.