A method for calculating the remaining usage time of a gas cylinder equipped with a pressure reducer, the method comprising the following steps: (a) measuring the pressure of the gas in the cylin-der; (b) calculating the variation of pressure of the gas in the cylinder over time while gas is out-putted; (c) calculating a remaining usage time Tr based on the measured pressure in the cylinder and the calculated variation of pressure. Step (c) takes into account characteristics of the pressure reducer relative to variations of its nominal flow rate along the decrease of its inlet pressure while emptying the cylinder.

Station for filling gas tanks comprising a gas source, a circuit comprising an upstream end connected to the source and a downstream end comprising a hose portion, the end of which is intended to be connected to the tank(s) to be filled, the circuit comprising, between the source and the downstream end, an automatic shut-off breakaway coupling arranged along a working axis, said breakaway coupling ensuring an automatic shut-off of the circuit in case of a determined tensile force on said breakaway coupling along its working axis, the station comprising a dispenser housing, the breakaway coupling being arranged in the dispenser housing with a determined orientation of the working axis, at least one part of the hose portion of the downstream end of the circuit protruding from the dispenser housing, the dispenser housing comprising a guide member for guiding a zone of the hose portion, characterized in that the guide member comprises an assembly deflecting wall(s) converging toward a central passage zone ensuring the localized retention of the hose portion, the portion of circuit located between the breakaway coupling and the guide member being oriented at least substantially along the working axis of the breakaway coupling, the assembly of deflecting wall(s) of the guide member being further configured to transfer, along the working axis of the breakaway coupling, at least part of the tensile forces on the hose portion that are oriented transversely with respect to the working axis of the breakaway coupling.

Device for filling with liquefied gas comprising a fluid circuit provided with a first pipe for liquid transfer comprising a first end that is intended to be connected to a source of liquefied gas and a second end that is intended to be connected to a tank to be filled, a second pipe for gas transfer comprising a first end that is intended to be connected to the source of liquefied gas and a second end that is intended to be connected to said tank to be filled, the circuit comprising at least one third transfer pipe connecting the first and second transfer pipes, and a vent device connected to the first and second transfer pipes via a set of one or more safety valves, the circuit comprising a set of one or more valves for controlling the streams of fluid in the pipes of the circuit, the device comprising a system for gas flushing of the circuit, characterized in that the flushing system comprises a first source of pressurized gas, and a first set of one or more flushing pipes connecting the first source of pressurized gas in parallel both to the first and second transfer pipes via a set of one or more valves.

A vehicle (100, 200, 300, 400) includes a chassis (110, 210, 310, 410), a gas storage tank (120, 220, 320, 420) for a gas, and a gas storage tank (120, 220, 320, 420) arranged between the chassis (110, 210, 310, 410) and the gas storage tank (120, 220, 320, 420) and connected to the chassis (110, 210, 310, 410) and the gas storage tank (120, 220, 320, 420), the first weighing device (140, 240, 340, 440) being arranged to measure a force exerted by the gas storage tank (120, 220, 320, 420) on the first weighing device (140, 240, 340, 440).

A method of transporting liquid petroleum gas (LPG) comprising coupling reverse thread fittings of a first tank to reverse thread fittings of a second tank, the first tank storing the LPG; and allowing the LPG to flow from the first tank to the second tank through the reverse thread fittings of the first tank and the reverse thread fittings of the second tank.

A control device of a gas charging device controls opening/closing of a control valve so that pressure increase rate of gas pressure in a tank when gas charging to the tank increases at a reference increase rate determined in advance. The control device, when gas charge to the tank begins, controls pressure increase rate at a high increase rate higher than the reference increase rate. After the difference between gas pressure in the tank when gas charging is performed at the high increase rate and gas pressure in the tank when the charging is performed at the reference increase rate has reached a predetermined pressure difference, the control device controls the opening/closing of the control valve so that gas charge to the tank is performed at the reference increase rate.

Station for filling one or more tank(s) with pressurized gas, in particular pressurized hydrogen, comprising at least two pressurized gas source stores, a transfer pipe having an upstream end connected parallel to the source stores and a downstream end intended to be connected to a tank to be filled, the station comprising a valve assembly for controlling the transfer of gas between the sources and the tank to be filled and an electronic controller connected to the valve assembly and configured to control the valve assembly, the electronic controller being configured to implement successive transfers of gas between the source stores and the tank to be filled via successive pressure balancing sequences, the electronic controller being configured to determine the temperature attained by the gas in the source stores or by the source stores during transfers of gas and, when said attained temperature is below a determined threshold, to prevent or to interrupt this transfer of gas or to reduce the flow of gas transferred during said transfer.

A method for calculating the remaining usage time of a gas cylinder equipped with a pressure reducer, the method comprising the following steps: (a) measuring the pressure of the gas in the cylin-der; (b) calculating the variation of pressure of the gas in the cylinder over time while gas is out-putted; (c) calculating a remaining usage time Tr based on the measured pressure in the cylinder and the calculated variation of pressure. Step (c) takes into account characteristics of the pressure reducer relative to variations of its nominal flow rate along the decrease of its inlet pressure while emptying the cylinder.

A filling apparatus capable of using a single hydrogen storage container for as long as possible during hydrogen filling and maintaining opening degree of a flow rate adjusting valve within a predetermined range. A filling apparatus (100) according to the present invention includes a plurality of hydrogen storage containers (20: for example, hydrogen cylinders or hydrogen storage tanks), a pipe (1) that connects a filling hose (8) and the hydrogen storage containers (20), a flow rate adjusting valve (3: flow control valve) interposed in the pipe (1), and a control unit (10), and the control unit (10) has functions of adjusting a threshold value for switching the hydrogen storage container (20) communicating with the filling hose (8) to another hydrogen storage container (20) and adjusting valve opening of the flow rate adjusting valve (3).

A filling apparatus that does not significantly reduce a required pressure immediately after a start of hydrogen filling, and can reliably fill fuel cell vehicles and the like. The filling apparatus (100) of the present invention includes a control unit (10), and the control unit (10) has a function of boosting pressure required from a hydrogen filling apparatus (100) to a rear facility (200) until initial pressure measurement is completed. The control unit (10) may have a function of determining whether or not communication filling is established, and when communication filling is established, setting a pressure higher than an internal pressure of a tank received from a vehicle side by a predetermined pressure (for example, 5 MPa) as a pressure required for the rear facility (200) at an initial stage of filling.