# US 2023/0056873 A1 · Method for opening a valve assembly for a fuel tank

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- Number: US 2023/0056873 A1
- Document ID: US20230056873A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 17/794,669
- Filed: 2020-12-23
- Published: 2023-02-23
- Earliest claimed: 2020-01-22
- Assignees: Robert Bosch GmbH
- Applicants: Robert Bosch GmbH
- Inventors: Helerson Kemmer
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20230056873A1

## CPC

- F17C 13/04: Arrangement or mounting of valves (valves per se F16K {; snap-coupling of nipples F16L37/00})
- F17C 13/12: Arrangements or mounting of devices for preventing or minimising the effect of explosion (flame traps A62C4/00 ){; Other safety measures}
- F16K 31/0675: {Electromagnet aspects, e.g. electric supply therefor}
- F17C 13/123: {for gas bottles, cylinders or reservoirs for tank vehicles or for railway tank wagons}
- F17C 2205/0323: Valves
- F17C 2205/0326: electrically actuated
- F17C 2205/0332: Safety valves or pressure relief valves
- F17C 2221/012: Hydrogen
- F17C 2223/036: Very high pressure (>80 bar)
- F17C 2250/032: using computers
- F17C 2260/042: Reducing risk of explosion
- F17C 2260/046: Enhancing energy recovery
- F17C 2270/0178: Cars
- F17C 2270/0184: Fuel cells
- Y02E 60/32: Hydrogen storage
- Y02E 60/50: Fuel cells
- F17C: VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES (storing fluids in natural or artificial cavities or chambers in the earth B65G5/00; construction or assembling of bulk storage containers employing civil-engineering techniques E04H7/00; variable-capacity gas-holders F17B; liquefaction or refrigeration machines, plants, or systems F25)
- F16K: VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING {(devices for emptying and evacuating the excess liquid in valves or conduits F16L55/07)}
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

## Abstract

The invention relates to a method for opening a valve assembly for a fuel tank, comprising a pilot valve (V1) and at least one additional valve (V2), in particular for use in a fuel cell-operated vehicle, having the steps of applying (30) an amplification voltage (S1) in order to open the pilot valve (V1) in an opening phase (P1) of the pilot valve (V1), deactivating (32) the amplification voltage (S1) in order to terminate the opening phase (P1) of the pilot valve (V1), applying (34) a pull-in voltage (S2) in a pull-in phase (P2) of the pilot valve (V1) in order to hold the pilot valve (V1) open, and activating and deactivating (36) the pull-in voltage (S2) in an alternating manner in order to hold the pilot valve (V1) open and in order to open the at least one other value (V2) and hold same open in a readjustment phase (P3) such that the hold-open energy required on average for holding the pilot valve (v1) open and the opening energy and/or hold-open energy required on average for the at least one other valve (V2) is provided.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for opening a valve assembly for a fuel tank, said valve assembly comprising a pilot valve (V1) and at least one further valve (V2), , comprising the following steps:
applying (30) a booster voltage (S1) for opening the pilot valve (V1) in an opening phase (P1) of the pilot valve (V1),
switching off (32) the booster voltage (S1) for concluding the opening phase (P1) of the pilot valve (V1),
applying (34) an energizing voltage (S2) for keeping the pilot valve (V1) open in an energizing phase (P2) of the pilot valve (V1),
alternating switching off and on (36) of the energizing voltage (S2) for keeping the pilot valve (V1) open and for opening and keeping open the at least one further valve (V2) in a post-control phase (P3), so that the mean requisite keep-open energy for keeping the pilot valve (V1) open and also the mean requisite opening energy and/or keep-open energy of the at least one further valve (V2) is made available.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the booster voltage (S1) is numerically greater than the energizing voltage (S2), the booster voltage (S1) preferentially having an absolute value of more than 12 V.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the opening phase (Pi) lasts for more than 2 ms.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the energizing voltage (S2) is lower than the booster voltage (Si), the energizing voltage (S2) preferentially having a value of 12 V or less.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the alternating switching of the energizing voltage (S2) off and on is undertaken in a post-control phase (P3) in such a manner that an opening current and/or keep-open current of at least 2 amperes on average is set.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the frequency and/or the amplitude of the alternating switching of the energizing voltage (S2) off and on in the keep-open phase (P3) is varied as a function of the operating conditions.

### Claim 7

A system (1) for opening a valve assembly for a fuel tank for use in a fuel-cell-powered vehicle, the system, comprising:
a pilot valve (V1),
at least one further valve (V2),
a control unit for applying a booster voltage (S1) for opening the pilot valve (V1) and also for applying an energizing voltage (S2) for keeping the pilot valve (V1) open and for opening and keeping open the at least one further valve (V2),
the control unit having been designed and arranged within the system (1) in such a manner that the mean requisite keep-open energy for keeping the pilot valve (V1) open and for opening and keeping open the at least one further valve (V2) is capable of being made available by an alternating switching of the energizing voltage (S2) off and on.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The system (1) as claimed in claim 7, wherein the pilot valve (V1) and/or the at least one further valve (V2) take the form of self-closing valves, preferentially solenoid valves.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The system as claimed in claim 7, wherein a detection unit is provided for detecting measured values for determining a suitable point in time for applying a variable voltage.

### Claim 10 (depends on 7)

The system as claimed in claim 7, wherein a processing unit is provided for determining a suitable point in time for applying a variable voltage on the basis of measured values detected by means of the detection unit.

### Claim 11

A motor vehicle including a system comprising:
a pilot valve (V1),
at least one further valve (V2),
a control unit for applying a booster voltage (S1) for opening the pilot valve (V1) and also for applying an energizing voltage (S2) for keeping the pilot valve (V1) open and for opening and keeping open the at least one further valve (V2),
the control unit having been designed and arranged within the system (1) in such a manner that the mean requisite keep-open energy for keeping the pilot valve (V1) open and for opening and keeping open the at least one further valve (V2) is capable of being made available by an alternating switching of the energizing voltage (S2) off and on .