The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 10, 1998
Filed:
Jan. 06, 1998
Brad Douville, Vancouver, CA;
Alain Touchette, Vancouver, CA;
Philip G Hill, Vancouver, CA;
Adrian J Post, Vancouver, CA;
Mark A Epp, Langley, CA;
Westport Research Inc., Vancouver, CA;
Abstract
The invention relates to an apparatus and method for supplying high pressure gaseous fuel from a storage vessel to a vehicle's internal combustion engine. More particularly, the invention is a fuel supply system with three main components: the storage vessel; an intensifier; and, an accumulator vessel. Fuel passages connect each one of the components directly with the other two components. The intensifier has a plurality of compression chambers and one of the compression chambers can be by-passed when the intensifier is operating in a low capacity mode, depending upon the pressure in the storage vessel. The intensifier operates continuously. When no fuel compression is required, the intensifier runs in an idle mode with the respective inlets and outlets of the compression chambers connected by fuel passages, thus preventing any fuel compression. The loading to the intensifier actuating mechanism is balanced in all modes of operation.