Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.

Jacquelyn Birdsall

Takehito Yokoo

Giorgio L Zoia

Dallas K Fox

Hannah L White

An apparatus, namely an infrared (IR) interference shield, is described that can be utilized with a vehicle that employs hydrogen fueling, such as a fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV). For example, the IR interference shield is mounted onto the vehicle's hydrogen fueling receptacle. The IR interference shield is distinctly structured to reduce or prevent interference of IR wireless communication between a vehicle-side IR transmitter on the receptacle, and an IR receiver of the hydrogen fueling station. The IR interference shield can block interference to IR signals that may negatively affect IR wireless communication between the hydrogen fueling station and the vehicle. Thus, the IR interference shield improves reliability of the communication between the vehicle and the hydrogen fueling station, thereby improving the overall effectiveness and efficiency of the hydrogen refueling process.

Hydrogen refueling IR interference shield

A fuel cylinder, such as a high-pressure fluid storage tank, is provided with dual-inlet refilling capabilities. The storage tank may include a main body section with a first domed end portion and a second domed end portion disposed at opposite portions of the main body section. A first inlet assembly and a second inlet assembly are provided at the respective first domed end portion and the second domed end portion. Each inlet assembly is configured to provide fluid communication between a supply of a high-pressure fluid and an interior of the storage tank. Each inlet assembly may include a boss and a tank valve, with each tank valve being in fluid communication with the compressed fluid receptacle. During filling of the storage tank, the high-pressure fluid travels through a compressed fluid receptacle and enters the interior of the storage tank simultaneously through each of the first and second inlet assemblies.

Dual-inlet valve refilling of a single fuel cylinder

System, methods, and other embodiments described herein relate to controlling a fuel dispenser. In one embodiment, a method of controlling a fuel dispenser includes broadcasting a pairing signal to a vehicle, receiving, from the vehicle, a confirmation signal confirming completion of a pairing process between the fuel dispenser and the vehicle, transmitting, subsequent to the confirmation signal, a disable signal to the vehicle in response to data from one or more proximity sensors indicating that the vehicle is within a threshold range and a determination that the vehicle is refueling, and transmitting an enable signal to the vehicle in response to a determination that the vehicle is no longer refueling. The disable signal disables a moving capability of the vehicle, and the enable signal restores the moving capability of the vehicle.

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Pasadena, CA, United States of America

Jacquelyn Birdsall