Reconfigurable and scalable compressed natural gas refilling station
AssigneeParker-Hannifin Corporation
InventorsVincenzo Barbato, Billy J. Jackson, Jr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A reconfigurable and scalable fluid distribution system including a compression unit, a storage unit, and a control unit. The compression unit, storage unit and the control unit are in fluid, electronic and electrical communication with one another and are coupled together in a stacked relationship, each in abutting relation to the next. Additional compression, storage and/or control units may be coupled in abutting relationship to an existing stack of coupled units. A method of assembling a reconfigurable and scalable fluid distribution system. A method of dispensing fluid via a reconfigurable and scalable fluid distribution system. A control unit for use in a reconfigurable and scalable fluid distribution system.
Claims19
A reconfigurable and scalable fluid distribution system comprising:
- a compression unit comprising an inlet for receiving fluid from a fluid source, a compressor for compressing the fluid, and an outlet through which the compressed fluid exits the compression unit;
- a storage unit comprising an inlet for receiving compressed fluid, a storage tank for storing the compressed fluid, and an outlet through which the compressed fluid exits the storage unit;
- and
- a control unit comprising an inlet for receiving compressed fluid, an outlet through which the compressed fluid exits to a dispensing hose, and a controller for communicating with the compression unit and the storage unit,
- wherein the compression unit, the storage unit and the control unit are configured to be in fluid, electronic and electrical communication with one another and are configured to be coupled together in a stacked relationship, each in abutting relation to the next and are configured to allow additional compression, storage and/or control units to be coupled in abutting relationship to an existing stack of coupled units, and
- wherein each of the compression unit, the storage unit and the control unit further comprise a housing, wherein the housing comprises a frame and sheathing, and wherein the sheathing comprises apertures arranged in a pattern such that, when one unit is coupled to another unit in a stacked, abutting relationship, the apertures of one unit align with the apertures of the other unit.
A method for assembling a reconfigurable and scalable fluid distribution system including a compression unit, a storage unit, and a control unit, the compression unit comprising an inlet for receiving fluid from a fluid source, a compressor for compressing the fluid, and an outlet through which the compressed fluid may exit the compression unit, the storage unit comprising an inlet for receiving compressed fluid, a storage tank for storing the compressed fluid, and an outlet through which the compressed fluid may exit the storage unit, and the control unit comprising an inlet for receiving the compressed fluid, an outlet through which the compressed fluid may exit to a dispensing hose, and a controller for communicating with the compression unit and the storage unit, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) coupling the compression unit, the storage unit and the control unit together in a stacked relationship, each in abutting relation to the next;
- and
- (b) placing the compression unit, the storage unit and the control unit into fluid, electronic and electrical communication with one another.
A method of distributing fluid via a reconfigurable and scalable fluid distribution system comprising the steps of:
- (a) placing a compression unit, a storage unit and a control unit into fluid, electronic and electrical communication with one another;
- (b) connecting the units together in a stack, each in abutting relation to the next;
- (c) connecting a fluid source to the stack;
- (d) compressing the fluid using the compression unit;
- (e) storing the compressed fluid in the storage unit;
- and
- (f) distributing the compressed fluid from the control unit.
A control unit for a reconfigurable and scalable fluid distribution system comprising:
- a housing having an inlet for receiving compressed fluid from a storage tank and/or a compressor and an outlet through which the compressed fluid may exit to a dispensing hose;
- a mass flow meter disposed in the housing for measuring the amount of fluid exiting the outlet;
- a valve disposed in the housing for controlling the flow of fluid into and out of the storage tank and/or out of the compressor;
- and
- a controller disposed in the housing for controlling the valve,
- wherein the control unit is configured to be in fluid, electronic and electrical communication with a compression unit and a storage unit,
- wherein the compression unit comprises an inlet for receiving fluid from a fluid source, a compressor for compressing the fluid, and an outlet through which the compressed fluid may exit the compression unit,
- wherein the storage unit comprises an inlet for receiving compressed fluid, a storage tank for storing the compressed fluid, and an outlet through which the compressed fluid may exit the storage unit,
- wherein the control unit, the compression unit and the storage unit are configured to be coupled together in a stacked relationship, each in abutting relation to the next, and
- wherein the compression unit and the storage unit further comprise a housing, wherein the housings of the control unit, compression unit and storage unit each comprise a frame and sheathing, and wherein the sheathing comprises apertures arranged in a pattern such that, when one unit is coupled to another unit in a stacked, abutting relationship, the apertures of one unit align with the apertures of the other unit.
A compression unit for a reconfigurable and scalable fluid distribution system comprising:
- an inlet for receiving fluid from a fluid source;
- a compressor for compressing the fluid;
- and
- an outlet through which the compressed fluid may exit the compression unit,
- wherein the compression unit is configured to be in fluid, electronic and electrical communication with a control unit and a storage unit,
- wherein the storage unit comprises an inlet for receiving compressed fluid, a storage tank for storing the compressed fluid, and an outlet through which the compressed fluid may exit the storage unit,
- wherein the control unit comprises an inlet for receiving compressed fluid, an outlet through which the compressed fluid exits to a dispensing hose, and a controller for communicating with the compression unit and the storage unit,
- wherein the control unit, the compression unit and the storage unit are configured to be coupled together in a stacked relationship, each in abutting relation to the next, and
- wherein each of the compression unit, the storage unit and the control unit further comprise a housing, wherein the housing comprises a frame and sheathing, and wherein the sheathing comprises apertures arranged in a pattern such that, when one unit is coupled to another unit in a stacked, abutting relationship, the apertures of one unit align with the apertures of the other unit.
A storage unit for a reconfigurable and scalable fluid distribution system comprising:
- an inlet for receiving compressed fluid;
- a storage tank for storing the compressed fluid;
- and
- an outlet through which the compressed fluid exits the storage unit,
- wherein the storage unit is configured to be in fluid, electronic and electrical communication with a control unit and a compression unit,
- wherein the control unit comprises an inlet for receiving compressed fluid, an outlet through which the compressed fluid exits to a dispensing hose, and a controller for communicating with the compression unit and the storage unit,
- wherein the compression unit comprises an inlet for receiving fluid from a fluid source, a compressor for compressing the fluid, and an outlet through which the compressed fluid may exit the compression unit,
- wherein the control unit, the compression unit and the storage unit are configured to be coupled together in a stacked relationship, each in abutting relation to the next, and
- wherein each of the compression unit, the storage unit and the control unit further comprise a housing, wherein the housing comprises a frame and sheathing, and wherein the sheathing comprises apertures arranged in a pattern such that, when one unit is coupled to another unit in a stacked, abutting relationship, the apertures of one unit align with the apertures of the other unit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.