IP Library Granted Patent US 7,793,620
Granted Patent B2
US 7,793,620 · App. 11/609,276 · Granted Sep 14, 2010

Integrated gaseous fuel delivery system

Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,793,620
App. No.
11/609,276
Granted
Sep 14, 2010
Kind
B2
Abstract

An integrated gaseous fuel delivery system is provided. The system includes a storage tank to hold a gaseous fuel and a pressure regulation system disposed interior the storage tank and configured to regulate a pressure of gaseous fuel delivered from the storage tank.

Claims (27)

1. An integrated gaseous fuel delivery system, comprising:

a storage tank to hold a gaseous fuel; and

a pressure regulation system disposed interior the storage tank and configured to regulate a pressure of gaseous fuel delivered from the storage tank, wherein the pressure regulation system is operated through a remote system external to the storage tank.

2. The fuel delivery system of claim 1 , wherein the pressure regulation system includes a main regulator.

3. The fuel delivery system of claim 2 , wherein the pressure regulation system includes a trim regulator.

4. The fuel delivery system of claim 1 , wherein the pressure regulation system includes at least one solenoid.

5. The fuel delivery system of claim 1 , wherein the gaseous fuel is hydrogen.

6. The fuel delivery system of claim 1 , wherein the storage tank is configured to store the gaseous fuel at a storage pressure and the pressure regulation system is configured to output a regulated pressure fuel from the storage pressure.

7. The fuel delivery system of claim 1 , wherein the pressure regulation system is operated through an electromagnetic coupling.

8. The fuel delivery system of claim 1 , further comprising at least one sensor or actuator electromagnetically coupled to the storage tank.

9. The fuel delivery system of claim 1 , further comprising a fuel line to an injector.

10. The fuel delivery system of claim 9 , wherein the fuel line is a double-walled fuel line.

11. A gaseous fuel power system for a vehicle, comprising:

an integrated fuel delivery system, including a storage tank to hold a gaseous fuel and a pressure regulation system;

a powerplant to convert energy from the gaseous fuel into energy useable to power the vehicle; and

an uninterrupted passage fluidically coupling the storage tank to the powerplant.

12. The fuel power system of claim 11 , wherein the powerplant is an internal combustion engine.

13. The fuel power system of claim 11 , wherein the powerplant is a fuel cell.

14. The fuel power system of claim 11 , wherein the gaseous fuel is hydrogen.

15. The fuel power system of claim 11 , wherein the integrated fuel delivery system includes an at least one solenoid and an at least one pressure regulator.

16. The fuel power system of claim 11 , wherein the integrated fuel delivery system includes an electromagnetically coupled control.

17. A method of reducing leaks in a gaseous fuel delivery system, the method comprising:

storing a gaseous fuel at a first pressure within a storage tank;

regulating pressure of the gaseous fuel to a second pressure, different than the first pressure, before the gaseous fuel exits the storage tank; and

delivering the gaseous fuel from the storage tank to a powerplant via a substantially uninterrupted passage.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein regulating pressure of the gaseous fuel includes operating a pressure regulator internal the storage tank.

19. The method of claim 17 , wherein delivering the gaseous fuel includes passage through a single interface between the tank and the powerplant.

Assignments (3)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE NAME OF THE ASSIGNOR PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 019252 FRAME 0155. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE CORRECT ASSIGNOR NAME OF FORD MOTOR COMPANY. Recorded Sep 13, 2007
From: FORD MOTOR COMPANY
To: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 019822/0490 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 4, 2007
From: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
To: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 019252/0155 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 16, 2007
From: KOTWICKI, ALLAN; LEWIS, DONALD J.; BOYER, BRAD
To: FORD MOTOR COMPANY
Reel/Frame 018900/0312 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20080135005A1 · Jun 12, 2008