Patents by Inventor Christopher Culberson

Christopher Culberson has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20260024387
    Abstract: This disclosure includes systems and methods for calibrating a vehicle fuel gauge. Some systems include a fuel system processor that is configured to transmit a first signal and receive, from an ECM of the vehicle, a second signal that corresponds to a fuel level to be displayed on a gauge of the vehicle, and a fuel level interface circuit configured to receive the first signal and transmit a third signal that corresponds to the first signal to the ECM to cause the ECM to transmit the second signal, wherein the fuel system processor and/or the fuel level interface circuit are configured to calibrate the gauge such that a fuel level corresponding to the first signal matches the fuel level corresponding to the second signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2025
    Publication date: January 22, 2026
    Inventors: Christopher Culberson, Michael Zimmerman, Robert Gregory Morris, Jon Michael Xavier Grabowski, Joshua Charles Gorsegner
  • Publication number: 20260022962
    Abstract: This disclosure includes systems and methods for testing a vehicle's fuel system. Some systems have a gauge configured to be mounted to a vehicle having a compressed gas fuel system including a compressed gas fuel tank, the gauge having a user interface configured to display fuel pressure within the fuel tank and receive user input to initiate diagnostic testing of the fuel system, and one or more processors configured to, in response to the user input, actuate one or more components of the fuel system, including a solenoid and/or a relay, and display, on the user interface, diagnostic information associated with the actuated one or more components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2025
    Publication date: January 22, 2026
    Inventors: Christopher Culberson, Michael Zimmerman, Robert Gregory Morris, Jon Michael Xavier Grabowski, Joshua Charles Gorsegner
  • Publication number: 20240151359
    Abstract: This disclosure includes fuel systems having multi-tank pressure-relief devices and related methods. Some fuel systems have two or more fuel tanks, each containing fuel at a pressure at or above 3,000 pounds per square inch (“psi”), two or more pressure-relief devices (“PRDs”) configured to receive fuel from the fuel tanks and vent the received fuel in response to temperature, and fuel conduits coupling the fuel tanks to the PRDs such that, for each of the fuel tanks, for each of the PRDs, fuel is permitted to flow from the fuel tank to the PRD without flowing through a valve that is not one of the PRDs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2023
    Publication date: May 9, 2024
    Inventors: Michael ZIMMERMAN, Christopher CULBERSON
  • Publication number: 20240117940
    Abstract: This disclosure includes fuel tank fittings, fuel systems and fueling stations having the same, and related methods. Some fuel tank fittings have a first end including a connector configured to be sealingly coupled to an outlet of a fuel tank, wherein the connector has a connection axis, a second end including two or more first ports, each positioned such that the connection axis does not extend therethrough, a first interior passageway extending from the connector, and two or more second interior passageways connecting the first interior passageway to the first ports such that, for each of the first ports, fluid is permitted to flow from the connector, through the first interior passageway, through one or more of the second interior passageways, and out of the first port without flowing through a valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2023
    Publication date: April 11, 2024
    Applicant: NATURAL GAS FUEL SYSTEMS, LLC
    Inventors: Michael ZIMMERMAN, Christopher CULBERSON
  • Publication number: 20220388390
    Abstract: Some of the present apparatuses include a frame defining first and second supports and at least a portion of a rigid tank mount laterally offset from the first and second supports, where the first support is configured to be pivotally coupled to a vehicle such that the frame is movable relative to the vehicle between a first position in which the second support is spaced apart from the vehicle and second position in which the second support is coupled to the vehicle. Some apparatuses include a frame mount having a flange defining a bounded opening configured to receive a fastener and a post extending from the flange and away from the opening, where the first support is configured to be pivotally coupled to the flange via the fastener and the second support is configured to be coupled to the post when the frame is in the second position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2022
    Publication date: December 8, 2022
    Applicant: Natural Gas Fuel Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Michael ZIMMERMAN, Christopher CULBERSON
  • Patent number: 11427074
    Abstract: Some of the present apparatuses include a frame defining first and second supports and at least a portion of a rigid tank mount laterally offset from the first and second supports, where the first support is configured to be pivotally coupled to a vehicle such that the frame is movable relative to the vehicle between a first position in which the second support is spaced apart from the vehicle and second position in which the second support is coupled to the vehicle. Some apparatuses include a frame mount having a flange defining a bounded opening configured to receive a fastener and a post extending from the flange and away from the opening, where the first support is configured to be pivotally coupled to the flange via the fastener and the second support is configured to be coupled to the post when the frame is in the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: NATURAL GAS FUEL SYSTEMS, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Zimmerman, Christopher Culberson
  • Publication number: 20190263260
    Abstract: Some of the present apparatuses include a frame defining first and second supports and at least a portion of a rigid tank mount laterally offset from the first and second supports, where the first support is configured to be pivotally coupled to a vehicle such that the frame is movable relative to the vehicle between a first position in which the second support is spaced apart from the vehicle and second position in which the second support is coupled to the vehicle. Some apparatuses include a frame mount having a flange defining a bounded opening configured to receive a fastener and a post extending from the flange and away from the opening, where the first support is configured to be pivotally coupled to the flange via the fastener and the second support is configured to be coupled to the post when the frame is in the second position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2018
    Publication date: August 29, 2019
    Applicant: Natural Gas Fuel Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael ZIMMERMAN, Christopher CULBERSON
  • Patent number: 10081243
    Abstract: Some of the present apparatuses include a frame defining first and second supports and at least a portion of a rigid tank mount laterally offset from the first and second supports, where the first support is configured to be pivotally coupled to a vehicle such that the frame is movable relative to the vehicle between a first position in which the second support is spaced apart from the vehicle and second position in which the second support is coupled to the vehicle. Some apparatuses include a frame mount having a flange defining a bounded opening configured to receive a fastener and a post extending from the flange and away from the opening, where the first support is configured to be pivotally coupled to the flange via the fastener and the second support is configured to be coupled to the post when the frame is in the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: NATURAL GAS FUEL SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Michael Zimmerman, Christopher Culberson
  • Publication number: 20170101003
    Abstract: Some of the present apparatuses include a frame defining first and second supports and at least a portion of a rigid tank mount laterally offset from the first and second supports, where the first support is configured to be pivotally coupled to a vehicle such that the frame is movable relative to the vehicle between a first position in which the second support is spaced apart from the vehicle and second position in which the second support is coupled to the vehicle. Some apparatuses include a frame mount having a flange defining a bounded opening configured to receive a fastener and a post extending from the flange and away from the opening, where the first support is configured to be pivotally coupled to the flange via the fastener and the second support is configured to be coupled to the post when the frame is in the second position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2016
    Publication date: April 13, 2017
    Inventors: Michael Zimmerman, Christopher Culberson