Circle Seal Controls, Inc.

Mark Shalkevich

David P Myers

A gaseous alternative fuels vehicle has a vehicle body with an engine and a gas fuel tank. A gaseous fuel supply system establishes gas communication between the engine and the gas fuel tank. The gaseous fuel supply system includes a valve having a valve body with a housing having a first unvalved port and a second unvalved port. A through-flow channel extends between the first unvalved port and the second unvalved port. The through-flow channel provides continuous gaseous communication between the first unvalved port and the second unvalved port. A valved port is in gaseous communication with the gas fuel tank, and a valving channel extends between the valved port and the through-flow channel. The valving channel provides valved gaseous communication between the valved port and the through-flow channel. A flow controller has a valve element within the valving channel at a valve location. The valve element is rotatably disposed to rotate about a valve element axis of rotation and includes a ball having a diametral passage therethrough disposed perpendicular to the valve element axis of rotation. An externally accessible handle extends through the valve body and connects to the valve element. The handle is operable to rotate through an operating arc of no more than &frac12; turn, and preferably exactly &frac14; turn, to rotate the ball about the valve element axis of rotation between a closed position and an open position.

Alternative fuels vehicle and fuel-system valve used therein

A thermal relief valve for a gas cylinder has a body with an inner wall defining a passageway for flow of fluid between inlet and outlet. A piston within the bore moves between a first position arresting flow from inlet to outlet, and a second position permitting flow from inlet to outlet. A restricting assembly for arresting movement of the piston towards the second position includes a thermal sensitive element of suitable eutectic material at the bore inner wall, with protrusions defining a first camming surface, and two or more restricting elements defining a second camming surface positioned to engage the first camming surface. The thermal sensitive element, at lower temperatures, maintains the second camming surface for engagement with the first camming surface, thereby to arrest movement of the piston, and, at higher temperatures, permits movement of the restricting elements into a position with the second camming surface spaced from engagement with the first camming surface, thereby to permit movement of the piston to release fluid.

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North Hollywood, CA, United States of America

Mark Shalkevich