Gas refuelling device and method of refuelling a motor vehicle
AssigneeSulzer Brothers Limited
InventorHeinz Mutter
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The gas refuelling device for a motor vehicle comprises a compressor unit, a gas distributor unit and a control unit inside a housing and an external operating unit. At least one temperature sensor and one pressure sensor deliver measured values to the control unit, which has stored set values which are adapted to the changing environmental and operating conditions. When actual values deviate from their set values, the operating state of the gas refuelling device is altered. The operating states are selected such that the device closes down if there are serious incorrect manipulations or components fail and can only be made ready for operation again with auxiliary devices.
Claims29
A gas refuelling device capable of operating in one of at least two operating states, said device comprising
- a gas distribution means for conveying gas therethrough to an outlet;
- a compressor unit for pumping the flow of gas in said gas distribution means;
- at least one temperature sensor for sensing the temperature of ambient air external to said device and generating an actual value signal in response thereto;
- at least one pressure sensor for sensing the pressure of the gas flow in said gas distribution means and generating an actual value signal in response thereto;
- and
- a control unit for operating said gas distribution means in one of an IN OPERATION state and a NOT READY FOR OPERATION state, said control unit being connected to each sensor to receive a respective signal therefrom for comparison with a respective range of permissible values for said respective signal and to generate a control signal in response to a deviation of a respective actual value signal from a respective range of permissible values therefor to change said control unit from said IN OPERATION state to said NOT READY FOR OPERATION state.
A gas refuelling device comprising
- a gas distribution means for dispensing a flow of gas therefrom;
- a compressor unit for pumping the flow of gas in said gas distribution means;
- a control unit for operating said refuelling device in one of four operating states including READY FOR OPERATION, NOT READY FOR OPERATION, IN OPERATION and SERVICE MODE;
- at least one temperature sensor for sensing the temperature of ambient air external to said device and generating an actual value signal in response thereto;
- at least one pressure sensor for sensing the pressure of the gas flow in said gas distribution means and generating an actual value signal in response thereto;
- and
- said control unit being connected to each sensor to receive a respective signal therefrom for comparison with a respective range of permissible values for said respective signal and to switch said refuelling device into said NOT READY FOR OPERATION state in response to a deviation of a said actual pressure value signal from said range of permissible values therefor.
A method for refuelling a motor vehicle comprising the steps of
- delivering a flow of pressurized gas to the vehicle from a refuelling device;
- sensing the temperature of ambient air external to the refuelling device;
- sensing the pressure of the gas flow;
- and
- controlling the refuelling device in response to the sensed temperature and pressure to operate in one of four operating stages including READY FOR OPERATION, NOT READY FOR OPERATION, IN OPERATION and SERVICE MODE whereby in response to said pressure deviating from a permissible range of pressure, the device is switched into said NOT READY FOR OPERATION stage.
A gas refuelling device capable of operating in one of at least two operating states, said device comprising
- a gas distribution mean for conveying gas therethrough to an outlet;
- at least one pressure sensor for sensing the pressure of the gas flow in said gas distribution means and generating an actual value signal in response thereto;
- a control unit connected to said pressure sensor to receive an actual value signal therefrom for comparison with a range of permissible values for said signal and to generate a control signal in response to a deviation of an actual value signal from said range of permissible values therefor to change said device from one operating state to another of said operating states;
- at least one temperature sensor for sensing the temperature of ambient air external to said device and generating an actual value signal in response thereto;
- and
- means in said control unit connected to said temperature sensor to receive an actual value signal therefrom for increasing or decreasing said range of permissible values for said pressure signal in response to a corresponding increase or decrease in said actual temperature signal during a refuelling operation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.