A method for calculating the autonomy of a gas distribution system assembly including a container containing gas and equipped with at least one gas filling indicator device and a gas flow rate indicator device at the output of the container. The method includes recovering at least one item of identification information on the container and/or the gas used. The method also includes acquiring at least one image to recover a first datum on a value indicated by the gas filling indicator device and a second datum on a value indicated by the flow rate indicator device. The method also includes communicating the at least one acquired image and the at least one recovered item of identification to a computation module configured to deduce therefrom a corresponding value of autonomy of the gas distribution assembly, the computation module including at least the ability to process images.

A filling station comprises a filling device for an automated filling of a gas bottle inserted in the filling station and a filling device for refueling a motor vehicle, wherein the filling device for an automated filling of a gas bottle inserted in the filling station is arranged adjacent to the filling device for refueling a motor vehicle.

One or more indicators provide an indication of fueling status of a hydrogen powered vehicle. One or more sensors detect temperature and/or other characteristics of the fuel provided to the vehicle and provide an electrical signal to one or more of the indicators to permit an indication of fueling status. The indicators, which may be visual and/or audible, may be positioned on the fueling apparatus and on the vehicle in the vicinity of a fueling receptacle. The indicators may also be positioned elsewhere on the vehicle and may be separate from the vehicle such as on or around a fueling station and/or on separate computerized devices.

A system and device for monitoring the content of a gas/liquid or gas only containment vessel such as a cylinder is provided. The disclosed apparatus is easily affixed to a standard gas cylinder and configured to monitor the pressure of the cylinder contents and activate a visual and/or audio alarm when the contents of the gas/liquid cylinder are no longer in a liquid or partially liquid state as well as activate another visual and/or audio alarm at a prescribed pressure when the contents of the cylinder are nearing depletion.

The filling station according to the invention enables an automated refilling of a gas bottle by an end-user. This comprises an insertion device, which enables an end-user to insert an emptied gas bottle into the filling station. The filling station comprises a closing device for closing the filling station after the insertion of the gas bottle such that a removal of the gas bottle subsequent to the closing is not possible. The end-user may not remove the gas bottle in a closed state. Furthermore, the filling station comprises a filling device for an automated filling of an into the filling station inserted emptied gas bottle subsequent to the closing. A filling may thus only take place, if the filling station is closed and in consequence the gas bottle cannot be removed. There is a gas testing device for an automated gas leakage test after a refilling of an inserted gas bottle. With it, the tightness of a once again filled gas bottle is tested. There is a release device that releases an afore filled or full gas bottle only after a successful gas leakage test and thus enables a removal of a once again filled gas bottle. A removal of a gas bottled filled with gas respectively liquid gas is thus only possible, if the gas leakage test revealed that no gas escapes from the filled bottle. The invention further concerns a method for refilling.

A hole-making system for making holes on the collar of a cylinder is provided. The hole making system includes a hand unit for making holes on the collar of the cylinder and the hand unit being configured to be used with two hands. The hole making system further includes a control unit configured to control operation of the hand unit. The hole making system further includes a pedal configured to enable a user to control the operation of the hand unit with a foot. The hand unit is held and controlled with two hands and a drilling command is provided by the pedal, allowing the user to control the hand unit in a more reliable manner.

Systems and methods for fueling (or charging) communication, for example between a hydrogen fueling station and a hydrogen powered vehicle (or an electric vehicle and charging station) may utilize near field communication as well as vehicle to infrastructure communication. Safety information, fueling or charging information, payment information, and other information may be transmitted, and the redundant nature of the communication permits fault recovery and improved process monitoring. In this manner, fueling and/or recharging is made safer, faster, and more efficient.

A fluid dispensing system generally comprising a dispensing nozzle coupled to a supply conduit; the dispensing nozzle detachably connected to a receiver; a receiver identification device associated with the receiver; an electrical identification circuit being contact-based and including the receiver identification device; an electronics module connected to the supply conduit and arranged to communicate with the electrical identification circuit whereby connection of the dispensing nozzle to the receiver completes the electrical identification circuit and permits communication of at least a unique receiver identifier associated with the receiver identification device to the electronics module.

A fluid dispensing system generally comprising a dispensing nozzle coupled to a supply conduit; the dispensing nozzle detachably connected to a receiver; a receiver identification device associated with the receiver; an electrical identification circuit being contact-based and including the receiver identification device; an electronics module connected to the supply conduit and arranged to communicate with the electrical identification circuit whereby connection of the dispensing nozzle to the receiver completes the electrical identification circuit and permits communication of at least a unique receiver identifier associated with the receiver identification device to the electronics module.

A hydrogen fueling control device and method comprising step S100, obtaining initial parameters of a vehicle-mounted hydrogen reservoir, wherein the initial parameters comprise volume, initial hydrogen pressure, and initial ambient temperature of the vehicle-mounted hydrogen reservoir; step S200, computing a fueling rate and a target pressure for hydrogen fueling according to the initial parameters, wherein the computed fueling rate and target pressure cause the temperature of hydrogen during a hydrogen fueling process to be within a preset safe range; and step S300, controlling a hydrogen fueling station to fuel hydrogen to the vehicle-mounted hydrogen reservoir at the computed fueling rate to the computed target pressure. The control method controls a fueling process by obtaining a fueling rate and a target pressure by means of initial parameters of a vehicle-mounted hydrogen reservoir measured by a hydrogen fueling station, without requiring the real-time communication between the hydrogen fueling station and a vehicle.