Clean Fill Port System and Method
AssigneeCaterpillar Inc.
InventorsCory A. Brown, Dana R. Coldren
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A clean fill port system for a compressed gas tank having a fill port includes a sealable enclosure surrounding the fill port. The sealable enclosure includes a closeable lid that defines a sealed cavity within the sealable enclosure when the lid is in a closed position. A pressurized fluid supply port is directly fluidly connected with the sealed cavity. The sealable enclosure completely encloses the fill port and is configured to maintain a pressurized fluid within the sealed cavity such that ingress of water or debris into the sealed cavity is prevented.
Claims20
A clean fill port system for a compressed gas tank, the gas tank having a fill port, the clean port system comprising:
- a sealable enclosure surrounding the fill port, the sealable enclosure including a closeable lid that defines a sealed cavity within the sealable enclosure when the lid is in a closed position;
- a pressurized fluid supply port that is directly fluidly connected with the sealed cavity;
- wherein the sealable enclosure completely encloses the fill port and is configured to maintain a pressurized fluid within the sealed cavity such that ingress of water or debris into the sealed cavity is prevented.
An engine system that includes a compressed gaseous fuel tank provided to operate an engine, comprising:
- a fill port providing access for refueling of the compressed gaseous fuel tank;
- a sealable enclosure surrounding the fill port, the sealable enclosure including a closeable element that defines a sealed cavity within the sealable enclosure when the closeable element is in a sealed position;
- a pressurized fluid supply port that is directly fluidly connected with the sealed cavity and configured to provide a compressed fluid to fill and pressurize the sealed cavity when the closeable element is in the sealed position;
- wherein the sealable enclosure completely encloses the fill port and is configured to maintain a compressed fluid within the sealed cavity in a pressurized condition during operation of the engine such that ingress of water or debris into the sealed cavity is prevented.
A method for preventing contamination of a compressed gas kept in a compressed gas tank with water or other debris entering into the tank through a tank fill port during a tank filling operation, comprising:
- enclosing a fill port of a compressed gas tank within an enclosure extending around a fill portion of the fill port;
- pressurizing an internal cavity of the enclosure with fluid;
- maintaining the internal cavity of the enclosure in a pressurized condition such that ingress of debris into the internal cavity is discouraged;
- opening the enclosure and depressurizing the internal cavity before carrying out a tank filling operation;
- closing the enclosure after the tank filling operation is complete;
- and
- re-pressurizing the internal cavity of the enclosure with fluid.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.