Pressure-Locking Nozzle for Natural Gas Vehicles
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fuel nozzles for natural gas vehicles lack a safe and reliable mechanism to prevent accidental discharge of pressurized gas during improper engagement and fail to meet the high pressure uncoupling force requirements of NGV standards.
Innovation Solution
A pressure-locking nozzle design with a slideably movable outer sleeve and integrated fuel delivery outlet tube that functions as both a valve and control mechanism, ensuring proper engagement and maintaining a pressure-locked engagement during fueling, while preventing fluid flow without a suitable connector engagement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional nozzle design is used, then the structure is simple, but it cannot prevent accidental discharge of pressurized gas during improper engagement
Solution Approach 1:
The nozzle performs preliminary actions by automatically clamping the connector and sealing the passage before pressurization occurs. The spring-loaded clamping members engage the connector upfront, and the piston seals the passage beforehand, preventing accidental discharge even if the vehicle operator inadvertently opens the valve.
Solution Approach 2:
The nozzle is self-actuating through spring-loaded clamping members and a piston that automatically seal the fluid passage when the connector is inserted. The system uses its own internal pressure to maintain the sealed state and automatically releases when pressure is relieved, without requiring external control mechanisms.
2Force
If a conventional nozzle design is used, then the device is simple to operate, but it fails to meet high pressure uncoupling force requirements of NGV standards
Solution Approach 1:
The nozzle uses pneumatic pressure from the compressed natural gas to actuate the piston, which in turn actuates the clamping members. The high pressure gas automatically provides the force needed to lock the connector in place during fueling, and the same pressure system maintains the locked state throughout the fueling process.
Solution Approach 2:
The nozzle transitions from a static locking mechanism to a dynamic one where the clamping force is continuously adjusted by the internal pressure. The spring-loaded clamping members provide initial engagement, then the pressure-driven piston maintains and adjusts the clamping force dynamically during fueling, ensuring compliance with NGV standards.
3Reliability
If the nozzle allows fluid flow during improper engagement, then the operation is unrestricted, but it creates safety hazards from pressurized gas discharge
Solution Approach 1:
The piston acts as an intermediary element between the connector and the fluid passage. It automatically seals the passage when the connector is properly engaged, preventing direct communication between the pressurized gas source and the external environment during improper engagement, thereby eliminating safety hazards.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides automatic feedback through the spring-loaded clamping members and piston mechanism. When the connector is properly inserted, the clamping force and piston position automatically seal the passage. If the connector is not properly engaged, the sealing mechanism remains inactive, preventing accidental discharge without requiring external monitoring or control.
Data Source
AI summary
A high pressure dispensing nozzle for providing fuel from an inlet reserve to a connector of an outlet receptacle, including a generally tubular nozzle construction having an outer sleeve extending from adjacent a proximal end towards a distal end of the nozzle construction, an internal passageway construction disposed within the outer sleeve, and a plurality of radially movable jaw members disposed between the internal passageway construction and the outer sleeve extending to near the distal end of the tubular construction, wherein the internal passageway construction includes interacting components responsive to insertion of the connector into the distal end and engagement thereof with the internal passageway construction to effect movement of the jaws to lock the connector in engagement and to establish a fuel passageway through the nozzle construction for the delivery of fuel therethrough and wherein the internal passageway construction components include a pistonably slideable outlet tube construction that not only serves as part of the fuel delivery passageway through the nozzle construction but also both as a control for locking the jaws and the outer sleeve in a fueling configuration and as a valve construction for allowing and preventing fuel flow through the nozzle construction. The nozzle preferably is also responsive to the introduction of fuel thereinto to pressure lock the outer sleeve in a fueling configuration and additionally operates to prevent the dispensing of fuel in the event that a proper and correct connector is not locked into engagement for fuel dispensing.