US 9,869,281 B2 · Bi-fuel vehicle

Abstract

A bi-fuel vehicle includes an Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) to power the vehicle by combustion of liquid and gas-phase fuels. The vehicle has a dual fuel tank including a pressurizable gas-phase fuel compartment defined by a wall that is permeable by a gas-phase fuel. The gas-phase fuel compartment receives and contains the gas-phase fuel, and supplies the gas-phase fuel for combustion in the ICE. The dual fuel tank includes a liquid fuel compartment to receive and contain liquid fuel, and supply the liquid fuel for combustion in the ICE. A shell envelops the gas-phase fuel compartment, and defines the liquid fuel compartment. An interstitial space between the wall and the shell is in one-way fluid communication with the liquid fuel compartment. The interstitial space receives the permeated gas-phase fuel and channels the permeated gas-phase fuel to the liquid fuel compartment. The dual fuel tank has a vapor recovery system.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A bi-fuel vehicle, comprising:

an Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) to provide motive power to the vehicle by combustion of a liquid fuel and a gas-phase fuel;
a dual fuel tank, including:
a pressurizable gas-phase fuel compartment defined by a wall wherein a gas-phase fuel is permeable therethrough wherein the pressurizable gas-phase fuel compartment is to receive the gas-phase fuel, contain the gas-phase fuel, and supply the gas-phase fuel for combustion in the ICE;
a liquid fuel compartment to receive the liquid fuel, contain the liquid fuel, and supply the liquid fuel for combustion in the ICE;
a shell enveloping the pressurizable gas-phase fuel compartment and defining the liquid fuel compartment;
and
an interstitial space between the wall and the shell, the interstitial space in one-way fluid communication with the liquid fuel compartment wherein the interstitial space is to receive the permeated gas-phase fuel and channel the permeated gas-phase fuel to the liquid fuel compartment;
and
a vapor recovery system in fluid communication with the liquid fuel compartment.

6 more elements

A dual fuel tank for a bi-fuel vehicle, the dual fuel tank comprising:

a pressurizable gas-phase fuel compartment defined by a wall wherein a gas-phase fuel is permeable therethrough wherein the pressurizable gas-phase fuel compartment is to receive the gas-phase fuel, contain the gas-phase fuel, and supply the gas-phase fuel for combustion in an internal combustion engine (ICE) disposed in the vehicle;
a liquid fuel compartment to receive liquid fuel, contain the liquid fuel, and supply the liquid fuel for combustion in the ICE;
a shell enveloping the pressurizable gas-phase fuel compartment and defining the liquid fuel compartment;
and
an interstitial space between the wall and the shell, the interstitial space in one-way fluid communication with the liquid fuel compartment wherein the interstitial space is to receive the permeated gas-phase fuel and channel the permeated gas-phase fuel to the liquid fuel compartment.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Bi-fuel vehicle

Life of this patent

Bi-fuel vehicle

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20