Patents Examined by James R. Hakomaki
  • Patent number: 11306874
    Abstract: A gas supply system includes: a gas tank; an unbalanced pressure reducing valve that reduces a pressure of the gas supplied from the gas tank; a pressure sensor that detects an outlet-side pressure of the pressure reducing valve; a flow rate changing unit that changes an outlet-side flow rate of the pressure reducing valve; and a control unit. The control unit changes the outlet-side flow rate between first and second flow rates, obtains a first pressure, which is a detection value of the pressure sensor when the outlet-side flow rate is the first flow rate, and a second pressure, which is a detection value of the pressure sensor when the outlet-side flow rate is the second flow rate, and estimates an inlet-side pressure of the pressure reducing valve using the relationship among the first flow rate, the second flow rate, and the difference between the first and second pressures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Inventors: Kosuke Kobayashi, Yukihide Yokoyama
  • Patent number: 11306873
    Abstract: A system for evaluating filling performance of hydrogen storages having various capacities uses a plurality of nozzles, a plurality of receptacles, and a plurality of hydrogen storages, and includes discharging hydrogen filled in one hydrogen storage while filling another hydrogen storage with hydrogen. Evaluation of filling performance may be performed in a back-to-back manner such that hydrogen is introduced into one of the plurality of hydrogen storages and discharged from another of the hydrogen storages. The plurality of hydrogen storages have various capacities, and introduction of hydrogen into the plurality of hydrogen storages is controlled according to a combination of hydrogen storages that corresponds to an evaluation target capacity, such that filling performance evaluation for various capacities is possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Dae Nyung Lee, Aeun Yoon
  • Patent number: 11299037
    Abstract: A plastic filler neck for vehicles includes a fuel injection pipe, a retainer inserted and fastened into an internal space of a tip of the fuel injection pipe to support a refueling gun, a cap holder directly fastened to the tip of the fuel injection pipe by fusion, and an air drain casing mounted, by a mounting bracket, to an outer diameter portion of the cap holder fastened to the fuel injection pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation
    Inventors: Jin Ug Lee, Man Seok Oh, Jung Su Park, Chang Han Kim
  • Patent number: 11300248
    Abstract: In a tank filling process for filling a refrigerant tank of a vehicle with a cryogenic refrigerant, firstly a liquefied cryogenic refrigerant stored at a pressure p1 in a storage tank is supplied to a conditioning vessel, subsequently the flow connection between storage tank and conditioning vessel is interrupted, and the pressure in the conditioning vessel is increased, for example by virtue of a flow connection to a pressure build-up vessel being produced, to a pressure p2, wherein p2>p1, whereby the liquefied refrigerant is present in the conditioning vessel in the supercooled state. Subsequently, the supercooled, liquefied refrigerant is supplied to the tank to be filled. By means of the device according to the invention and the process according to the invention, evaporation losses during the filling process can be substantially avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignees: Messer SE & Co. KGaA, Messer France S.A.S.
    Inventors: Émilien Frère, Frank Gockel
  • Patent number: 11293595
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, a hydrogen fueling system based on real-time communication of a compressed hydrogen storage system (CHSS) for a fuel cell comprises a CHSS including a hydrogen tank and a hydrogen tank valve, a dispenser including a dispenser controller receiving sensing data including a pressure and temperature inside the hydrogen tank and a hydrogen supply unit supplying hydrogen to an inside of the hydrogen tank based on the sensing data, and a data hydrogen moving device including a CHSS controller converting the sensing data into data for wireless communication and outputting the data, a wireless communication unit provided for wireless communication between the CHSS controller and the dispenser controller of the dispenser, and a receptacle transferring hydrogen from the hydrogen supply unit to the hydrogen tank valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Inventor: Chung Keun Chae
  • Patent number: 11285803
    Abstract: The application relates to a fill level valve for a pressure equalization line of a fluid tank assembly, wherein the pressure equalization line is fluidically connected between a fluid tank and a filling line opening into the fluid tank, and wherein the fill level valve includes a connecting piece which can be arranged on the fluid tank. It is provided here that a dip tube, which can be arranged in the fluid tank, and which is fluidically connected to the connecting piece, originates from the connecting piece, wherein a flow resistance formed by a constricted flow cross section is provided in the dip tube. The application furthermore relates to a fluid tank assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: AFT AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventor: Thomas May
  • Patent number: 11285804
    Abstract: A ventilation device for ventilating a motor vehicle tank. The ventilation device includes a filler pipe, a ventilation line, a degassing line, and a guide arc member. The ventilation line is to be fluidically connected at a first ventilation line end to the motor vehicle tank, and at a second ventilation line end to the filler pipe via a ventilation inlet. The degassing line is to be fluidically connected at a first degassing line end to the filler pipe via a degassing outlet. The guide arc member is arranged in the filler pipe to define a guide path for incoming vapor passing through the ventilation inlet into the filler pipe. The guide arc member is to facilitate flow of the incoming vapor between an inner wall of the filler pipe and the guide arc member along a periphery of the filler pipe along a periphery of the filler pipe such that a gaseous component of the incoming vapor escapes through the degassing outlet and a liquid component of the incoming vapor flows off through the filler pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: MAGNA Energy Storage Systems GesmbH
    Inventors: Patrick Michael Wiedner, Dominik Steinmann, Karl-Heinz Kulmer
  • Patent number: 11262026
    Abstract: A cryogenic liquid dispensing system having a tank that holds cryogenic liquid and a basin configured to hold cryogenic liquid at a height above a bottom portion of the tank. The system is configured to pump cryogenic liquid for dispensing from the bottom portion of the tank when the cryogenic liquid in the tank is of a sufficient level to provide an adequate liquid head to permit pump operation, and is configured to pump cryogenic liquid for dispensing from the basin when the liquid in the tank is of an insufficient level to provide an adequate liquid head to permit pump operation to dispense cryogenic liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: Chart Inc.
    Inventors: Martin Lansky, Jan Kubica
  • Patent number: 11255484
    Abstract: A device for filling a tank or tanks with pressurized gas comprising a circuit comprising a plurality of upstream ends connected respectively to separate pressurized gas sources, at least one compressor, at least one buffer storage, a set of controlled valves and at least one downstream end intended to be connected to the tank(s) to be filled, the device further comprising an electronic control member configured to control the valves and/or the compressor in order to ensure a transfer of gas into the tank from at least one source and/or at least one buffer storage and/or via the compressor, the device comprising a set of sensors for measuring the pressure in the sources and the buffer storages, the control member comprising member for receiving or generating signal representative of the filling demand from a relatively high demand to a relatively low demand, the control member being configured to ensure the transfer of gas into the tank according to at least a first transfer mode using the source having the h
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide Societe Anonyme Pour L'Etude Et L'Exploitation Des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventor: Francois Thibaut
  • Patent number: 11255485
    Abstract: A method of dispensing compressed natural gas (CNG) includes assigning a first priority to the filling of a first destination tank and assigning a second priority to the filling of a second destination tank. The second priority is lower than the first priority. The method also includes filling the first destination tank from a first CNG source while filling the second destination tank from a second CNG source. The second CNG source provides CNG at a lower pressure relative to the pressure at which the first CNG source provides CNG.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Inventors: Richard Allan Poorman, Paul Howison Bergthold, Bradley Wade Fontenot
  • Patent number: 11250659
    Abstract: A fluid filling station which has a supply tank, filter, transfer pump, a high pressure valve, an optional flow meter, a pressure relief valve, at least one muffler, a filling head, a control module, a purge head, cylinder dispensing mechanism, and its method of use are provided for. This fluid filling station is capable of refilling many types of fluids, but is preferably for the use with carbon dioxide. Additionally, this station is capable of housing and dispensing prefilled refillable fluid containers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: FOUNTAIN MASTER, LLC
    Inventors: Francis X. Tansey, Jr., Gwenivere R. Tansey, Joseph F. Tansey
  • Patent number: 11242239
    Abstract: A flow control valve is provided including a valve aperture in a valve body configured to convey fuel from an inlet to an outlet, a valve element configured to close the valve aperture to block flow of the fuel, a valve actuator configured to shift the position of the valve element between a closed position and an open position, and an antifraud circuit. The antifraud circuit is configured to receive a signal to open the flow control valve, determine if the signal is legitimate based on a signal characteristic, cause the flow control valve to shift to the open position in response to determining that the signal is legitimate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: Gilbarco Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph Daniel Long
  • Patent number: 11235578
    Abstract: A liquid supplying system includes a tank, a first tubular portion, a second tubular portion, a sleeve portion, and a liquid bottle. The first and second tubular portions have inner ends positioned inside a storage chamber of the tank, and outer ends positioned outside of the storage chamber. The first and second tubular portions are positioned inside the sleeve portion. The sleeve portion includes a first screw portion and a first engagement portion. The liquid bottle includes an outer sleeve connectable to the sleeve portion. The sleeve portion includes a second screw portion threadingly engageable with the first screw portion, and a second engagement portion engageable with the first engagement portion. The first engagement portion can guide the second engagement portion to move in a direction parallel to a center axis of the sleeve portion during connection of the outer sleeve to the sleeve portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takuya Tsuji, Yoshinori Osakabe
  • Patent number: 11231215
    Abstract: An injection device (10) injects a dispensable fluid material (32), for example, a liquid sealant, into refrigerant lines of an air conditioning or refrigeration pressurized system, by utilizing the pressure difference between high and low pressure zones of the pressurized system. The device comprises a tube (12) which contains the dispensable fluid material (32) and is closed by an outlet valve (26). A movable member (34) houses a spring-loaded check valve (38) and is disposed downstream of and spaced from the outlet valve (26). The movable member (34) is movable within a passageway (24e) formed in an outlet tube connector (24). Upon being connected to a service port (17) of a pressurized system by an installation nut (28), movable member (34) is forced into engagement with the outlet valve (26) to open it to dispense fluid material (32) into service port (17).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: ZYNON TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Floyd Kent Matlack, Brian E. King, Adam Eckenroth, Jay S. Tourigny
  • Patent number: 11220420
    Abstract: Exemplary sanitary soap refilling systems and methods are disclosed herein. An exemplary refill refilling system includes a housing, a pump located within the housing, and a bulk storage tank connector. The bulk storage tank connector having a liquid outlet and an air inlet. A liquid inlet conduit is in fluid communication with the pump the liquid outlet. A refill connector is included. The refill connector has a liquid inlet and an air outlet. The refill connector air outlet and the bulk storage tank connector air inlet are in fluid communication with one another. The refill liquid inlet is in fluid communication with the pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: GOJO Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron D. Marshall, Nick E. Ciavarella, John J. McNulty, Matthew J. Archer, Emily Barbara Kennedy, Bradley L. Lightner, Richard E. Corney, Jason Fokens, Chet J. Bonner
  • Patent number: 11215324
    Abstract: A high pressure container unit includes a container body configured to store high pressure gas, a case storing the container body inside the case, a pipe connected with the container body and extending to an outside of the case, a closing member that is configured to close the pipe and allow the high pressure gas stored in the container body to be discharged from the pipe when a given condition is satisfied, and a ventilation mechanism that discharges air inside the case to the outside of the case with use of pressure of the discharged high pressure gas when the given condition is satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Chiaki Kataoka
  • Patent number: 11204133
    Abstract: If an abnormality detecting unit detects an output abnormality of an internal temperature sensor, a discharge control unit obtains the amount of discharge (a limit value L of gas flow rate F) on the basis of an ambient temperature measured by an ambient temperature sensor, and controls the discharge of fuel gas on the basis of the obtained amount of discharge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoru Kawase, Makoto Wada, Kazuyuki Kadowaki
  • Patent number: 11197502
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and assembly for refilling a reservoir with liquid dispensed from a dispenser, in particular, but not exclusively, to a system and assembly for the substantially leak-free refilling of the reservoir of a smoking-substitute device with a liquid comprising nicotine from a refill dispenser. The assembly is configured to provide a gas communication pathway through the assembly and physically separate from the liquid communication pathway for venting gas from an end of the assembly proximal the first aperture to an exterior of the assembly responsive to the movement of the assembly to the secured and open configuration, the assembly configured to close the gas communication pathway in the unsecured and closed configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: Fontem Holdings 1 B.V.
    Inventors: Kenneth Scott, Christopher Lord, David Jones, Stephen J. McDonald, Thomas S. Sudlow
  • Patent number: 11193631
    Abstract: To provide a filling apparatus capable of suppressing radial movement of a rod-shaped member (connecting pin) of a nozzle, and preventing damages and deformations (recesses and so on) from generating on an outer peripheral surface of the connecting pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: TATSUNO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masahiro Takezawa
  • Patent number: 11194259
    Abstract: An Equipment Front End Module (EFEM) having a Front Opening Unified Pod (FOUP) dock and a tool access port, includes a robotic wafer handling system configured to transfer silicon wafers between a FOUP coupled to the FOUP dock and a process tool positioned for access via the tool access port. An air curtain system inside the EFEM is positioned to produce an air curtain across the tool access port while the port is open, acting to isolate the interior of the EFEM from the tool environment, and prevent passage of airborne contaminants into the EFEM via the access port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chih-Chiang Chiu, Ding-I Liu, Yu-Ying Lu