Internal-combustion engines – Charge forming device – Gaseous fuel and air mixer
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-18
2001-07-10
Kamen, Noah P. (Department: 3747)
Internal-combustion engines
Charge forming device
Gaseous fuel and air mixer
C137S203000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06257210
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to fueling systems for vehicles, and, more particularly, to a CNG-vehicle fueling system having a lubricant drainage device for preventing infiltrated lubricant from causing system elements not to function properly.
(b) Description of the Related Art
The use of natural gas as an alternative fuel for motor vehicles has economical and ecological advantages because natural gas is less costly and cleaner burning than gasoline or diesel. However, use natural gas as a fuel for a motor vehicle, a CNG fueling system must be provided for the vehicle.
FIG. 5
, shows a conventional CNG fueling system. As shown in
FIG. 5
, the conventional CNG fueling system including a CNG tank
102
and a flow line
104
which connects the CNG tank
102
and an internal combustion engine (not shown in the drawing), along which a high-pressure regulator
106
for regulating high-pressure gas from CNG tank
102
, a solenoid valve
108
which is opened or closed according to signals from a electronic control unit (ECU), a low-pressure regulator
110
for regulating low-pressure gas, a gas mass sensor
112
for detecting the amount of the gas flow, and a flow controller
114
for adjusting the gas introducing into the engine. The CNG tank
102
is also provided with a connector
116
to be connected with a gas charger.
However, the CNG fueling system has drawbacks in that when charging the CNG, lubricant infiltrates into system elements such as the low-pressure regulator
110
, the gas mass sensor
112
, the flow controller
114
, and even into a combustion chamber of a vehicle engine due to the high charging pressure. This lubricant infiltration can cause system elements not to function properly. Accordingly, engine performance deteriorates, especially related to the generation of toxic has due to the combustion of these infiltrated lubricants in the engine.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been made in an effort to solve the above problems of the prior art.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a CNG fueling system for preventing lubricant from infiltrating into system elements and combustion chamber so as to avoid the malfunction of other devices which deteriorate engine performance and in order to reduce toxic gases causing by burning lubricant.
To achieve the above object, the CNG fueling system of the present invention comprising a plurality of CNG tanks for storing compressed natural gas, a supply pipe for connecting the tanks to a combustion chamber of a internal combustion engine, valves provided with the supply pipe, a low pressure regulator for regulating low pressure, and a gas mass sensor for sensing the mass of the gas. The CNG fueling system further comprises a lubricant drainage device connected with the low pressure regulator for draining lubricant that has infiltrated into the system, the lubricant drainage device comprising a lubricant separator provided in the low pressure regulator for separating the lubricant from the gas by generating a vortex, a drainage tank for storing the lubricant from the low pressure regulator, a drainage pipe connecting the low pressure regulator at its bottom surface with the drainage tank so as the lubricant drain to the drainage tank, and a lubricant discharge means for discharging the lubricant in the drainage tank, if the lubricant reaches a predetermined level.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5012781 (1991-05-01), Yokoyama et al.
patent: 5367999 (1994-11-01), King et al.
patent: 5584467 (1996-12-01), Harnett et al.
patent: 5699767 (1997-12-01), Notsu et al.
patent: 5809970 (1998-09-01), Smith et al.
patent: 5893385 (1999-04-01), Igarashi
Christie Parker & Hale LLP
Huynh Hai
Hyundai Motor Company
Kamen Noah P.
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