Compressed gas fuel storage system

Patent · 01 January 2001

OSTI ID:873833

Wozniak, John J ^[1]; Tiller, Dale B ^[2]; Wienhold, Paul D ^[3]; Hildebrand, Richard J ^[4]

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1. Columbia, MD
2. Lincoln, NE
3. Baltimore, MD
4. Edgemere, MD

A compressed gas vehicle fuel storage system comprised of a plurality of compressed gas pressure cells supported by shock-absorbing foam positioned within a shape-conforming container. The container is dimensioned relative to the compressed gas pressure cells whereby a radial air gap surrounds each compressed gas pressure cell. The radial air gap allows pressure-induced expansion of the pressure cells without resulting in the application of pressure to adjacent pressure cells or physical pressure to the container. The pressure cells are interconnected by a gas control assembly including a thermally activated pressure relief device, a manual safety shut-off valve, and means for connecting the fuel storage system to a vehicle power source and a refueling adapter. The gas control assembly is enclosed by a protective cover attached to the container. The system is attached to the vehicle with straps to enable the chassis to deform as intended in a high-speed collision.

• Research Organization: John Hopkins University, Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, MD (US)
• DOE Contract Number: FG02-95CE50421
• Assignee: Johns Hopkins University (Baltimore, MD)
• Patent Number(s): US 6257360
• OSTI ID: 873833
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

/180/280/
activated
adapter
adjacent
air
air gap
allows
application
assembly
assembly including
attached
cell
cells
chassis
collision
compressed
compressed gas
comprised
connecting
container
control
control assembly
cover
deform
device
dimensioned
enable
enclosed
expansion
foam
fuel
fuel storage
gap
gas
gas control
gas fuel
gas pressure
high-speed
including
intended
interconnected
manual
means
physical
plurality
positioned
power
power source
pressure
pressure cell
pressure relief
pressure-induced
protective
protective cover
radial
radial air
refueling
relative
relief
relief device
resulting
safety
shape-conforming
shock-absorbing
shut-off
source
storage
straps
supported
surrounds
thermally
thermally activated
valve
vehicle
vehicle fuel
vehicle power
whereby