Fuel system for a vehicle

{
  "publication_number": "US9694671B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Fuel system for a vehicle",
  "abstract": "A natural gas system for a vehicle includes a fuel pod, a conduit defining a flow path, a fuel control module, and an accumulator. The fuel pod includes a fuel tank configured to store natural gas. The conduit includes a first end coupled to the fuel pod and a second end configured to be coupled to an engine. The fuel control module is disposed along the flow path and configured to regulate a flow of natural gas to the engine. The accumulator is disposed along the flow path downstream of the fuel control module. The accumulator is configured to buffer variations in the flow of natural gas such that the engine receives a consistent flow of natural gas.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A natural gas system for a vehicle, comprising: a tank configured to provide a supply flow of natural gas; a conduit defining a flow path, the conduit including a first end coupled to the tank and a second end configured to be coupled to an engine; a valve disposed along the flow path, wherein the valve is configured to provide a regulated flow of natural gas to the engine by adjusting the supply flow of natural gas; an accumulator disposed along the flow path downstream of the valve, the accumulator having a volume between an inlet and an outlet, wherein the volume, the inlet, and the outlet form a portion of the flow path, the accumulator thereby positioned to buffer at least a portion of the variations in the flow of natural gas such that the engine receives a consistent flow of natural gas, wherein the accumulator includes a movable wall, wherein an effective volume of the accumulator varies based on the position of the movable wall; a pressure transducer disposed along the flow path downstream of the valve, wherein the pressure transducer is configured to provide sensor signals relating to a pressure of the regulated flow of natural gas; and a controller configured to: evaluate a target pressure for the regulated flow of natural gas; selectively engage the valve based on the target pressure such that the valve provides a pressure adjustment; monitor the sensor signals for a fluctuation in the regulated flow of natural gas, the fluctuation comprising a pressure variation produced due to physical interaction of the supply flow of natural gas with at least one of the conduit and the valve; adjust the valve based on the fluctuation such that the engine receives natural gas at the target pressure; and vary the position of the movable wall in response to the pressure of the regulated flow of natural gas.",
    "2. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to evaluate the sensor signals and compare the pressure of the regulated flow of natural gas to the target pressure.",
    "3. The system of claim 2, wherein the valve includes a solenoid positioned to engage a movable valve element, wherein the pressure of the regulated flow of natural gas varies based on the position of the movable valve element.",
    "4. The system of claim 2, further comprising a throttle position sensor configured to provide information relating to a requested throttle input, wherein the controller is configured to determine the target pressure based on the requested throttle input.",
    "5. The system of claim 2, wherein the controller is configured to determine the target pressure based on an engine condition.",
    "6. The system of claim 1, wherein the movable wall comprises a flexible bladder.",
    "7. The system of claim 6, further comprising an actuator operatively coupled to the controller, wherein the controller is configured to engage the actuator to selectively reposition the flexible bladder by at least one of inflating and deflating the bladder.",
    "8. The system of claim 1, wherein the movable wall comprises a rigid wall.",
    "9. The system of claim 8, further comprising an actuator operatively coupled to the controller, wherein the controller is configured to engage the actuator to selectively reposition the rigid wall."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "Refuse vehicles collect a wide variety of waste, trash, and other material from residences and businesses. Operators use the refuse vehicle to transport the material from various waste receptacles within a municipality to a storage or processing facility (e.g., a landfill, an incineration facility, a recycling facility, etc.). Refuse vehicles may be powered by an internal combustion engine that burns gasoline, diesel fuel, or natural gas, among other types of fuel. Where the fuel is natural gas, various tanks provide fuel to a regulator, which reduces the pressure of the natural gas before it enters the engine. Mechanical regulators provide an inconsistent flow of natural gas that varies based upon the pressure of the fuel in the natural gas tanks. The natural gas tanks may be positioned above the roof of the body assembly. To isolate the natural gas tanks, an operator boards the refuse vehicle and engages valves positioned at the head of each tank. Despite these deficiencies, assemblies that provide variations in the natural gas flow and include tanks that must be individually isolated remain the primary fuel systems for natural gas powered refuse vehicles.\n\nOne embodiment of the invention relates to a natural gas system for a vehicle that includes a fuel pod, a conduit defining a flow path, a fuel control module, and an accumulator. The fuel pod includes a fuel tank configured to store natural gas. The conduit includes a first end coupled to the fuel pod and a second end configured to be coupled to an engine.",
  "cpc": [
    "B60K 15/013",
    "F02M 21/0212",
    "F02M 21/0221",
    "F02M 21/0239",
    "Y02T 10/30",
    "Y02T 10/32"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "B60K 15/03",
    "F02D 19/02",
    "F02M 21/04",
    "B60K 15/01",
    "F02M 21/02"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Oshkosh Corp"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Grant D. Wildgrube",
    "Clint D. Glunz",
    "Shashank Bhatia",
    "Bryan S. Datema"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2013-12-05",
  "publication_date": "2017-07-04",
  "grant_date": "2017-07-04",
  "priority_date": "2013-12-05",
  "application_number": "US-201314098143-A",
  "family_id": "53270665",
  "cited_by_count": 74,
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}