System and method for controlling shutoff valves of compressed natural gas fuel tanks in a vehicle
US8544494B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 8, 2011 |
| Grant date | Oct 1, 2013 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 31, 2031 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T137/4874
- WIPO fieldEngines, pumps, turbines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A control system for a vehicle includes a fuel tank selection module, a fuel depletion determination module, and a fuel pressure balancing module. The fuel tank selection module closes (N−M) of N shutoff valves of N compressed natural gas (CNG) fuel tanks, respectively, when an enable condition is met and the N shutoff valves have been open for a first predetermined period, wherein N is an integer greater than one and M is an integer less than N. The fuel depletion determination module determines whether the M CNG fuel tanks have provided a predetermined amount of fuel based a fuel parameter. The fuel pressure balancing module opens the N shutoff valves for the first predetermined period when the M CNG fuel tanks have provided the predetermined amount of fuel.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.