Compressed natural gas pressure regulator protective bracket
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsShekar Prabhakar Erasala, Mario Alberto Mendez, Michael Shawn Watterworth, Jose Luis Luis Trejo Chavez, Ulises T Herrera Esquibel
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A protective bracket for a compressed natural gas pressure regulator mounted in an engine compartment of a motor vehicle is disclosed. The compressed natural gas pressure regulator is disposed between a natural gas pressurized tank and an intake system for an internal combustion engine within the engine compartment, and the protective bracket comprises a main body disposed essentially about the entire external volume of the compressed natural gas pressure regulator.
Claims16
A protective bracket for a compressed natural gas pressure regulator of a compressed natural gas fuel delivery system in fluid communication with an internal combustion engine mounted in an engine compartment of a motor vehicle, the compressed natural gas fuel delivery system comprising at least one natural gas pressurized tank for storing natural gas aboard the motor vehicle and fuel delivery lines extending from the pressured tank to an intake system for the internal combustion engine, wherein the compressed natural gas pressure regulator is disposed between the natural gas pressurized tank and the intake system for the internal combustion engine within the engine compartment, and wherein the protective bracket comprises a main body disposed essentially about the entire external volume of the natural gas pressure regulator, the main body comprising a first set of stiffener ribs oriented parallel to a longitudinal axis of the motor vehicle and a second set of stiffener ribs oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the motor vehicle to resist deformation of the main body and reduce compression forces exerted on the as pressure regulator in the event of a frontal impact.
A protective bracket for a compressed natural gas pressure regulator of a compressed natural gas fuel delivery s fluid communication with an internal combustion engine mounted in an engine compartment of a motor vehicle, the compressed natural gas fuel delivery system comprising at least one natural gas pressurized tank for storing natural gas aboard the motor vehicle and fuel delivery lines extending from the pressured tank to an intake system for the internal combustion engine, wherein the compressed natural gas pressure regulator is disposed between the natural gas pressurized tank and the intake system for the internal combustion engine within the engine compartment, and wherein the protective bracket comprises a main body disposed essentially about the entire external volume of the natural gas pressure regulator, and the protective bracket further comprises a front bracket and a top reinforcing bracket mounted to the main body to resist deformation of the main body and reduce compression forces exerted on the gas pressure regulator in the event of a frontal impact, and a battery tray disposed within the engine compartment in front of the gas pressure regulator, wherein the protective bracket further comprises a tray coupling bracket mounted to the front bracket and to the battery tray.
A method of protecting a compressed natural gas pressure regulator of a compressed natural gas fuel delivery system in fluid communication with an internal combustion engine mounted in an engine compartment of a motor vehicle, the compressed natural gas fuel delivery system comprising at least one natural gas pressurized tank for storing natural gas aboard the motor vehicle and fuel delivery lines extending from the pressured tank to an intake system for the internal combustion engine, wherein the compressed natural gas pressure regulator is disposed between the natural gas pressurized tank and the intake system for the internal combustion engine within the engine compartment, and wherein the motor vehicle further comprises a crash event sensor, a controller responsive to the crash event sensor and fuel delivery lines extending from the natural gas pressured tank to an intake system for the internal combustion engine, and an electronically actuated valve being disposed between the natural gas pressurized tank and the gas pressure regulator, and wherein the controller signals the electronically actuated valve to terminate the flow of compressed natural gas in response to a crash event detected by the crash sensor, the gas pressure regulator further comprising a connector for receiving a wiring harness connected with the controller and an opening in the main body aligned with the connector through which the wiring harness passes and wherein the connector is disposed entirely within the main body of the protective bracket, wherein the method comprises the steps of:
- providing the compressed natural gas pressure regulator with a compressed natural gas inlet from which high pressure natural gas is delivered to the gas pressure regulator through a high pressure delivery line and a low pressure compressed natural gas outlet from which low pressure natural gas is delivered to the internal combustion engine from the gas pressure regulator through a low pressure delivery line;
- providing a protective bracket having a main body provided with an opening aligned with the compressed natural gas inlet when the natural gas pressure regulator is disposed within the protective bracket;
- inserting the natural gas pressure regulator into and attaching the natural gas pressure regulator to the main body such that the entire external volume of the natural gas pressure regulator is fixedly disposed within the main body;
- mounting the protective bracket to a side rail within the engine compartment;
- connecting the wiring harness to the connector;
- and
- connecting the regulator inlet from which high pressure natural gas is delivered to the high pressure delivery line and connecting the regulator outlet to the low pressure delivery line.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.