A valve for a fluid reservoir includes an inner portion configured to be arranged inside the reservoir, the inner portion including at least one portion of a sensor for measuring at least one parameter characterizing the fluid, the valve being capable of receiving information from a computer, external to the valve, the valve also includes an outer portion configured to be arranged outside the reservoir, the outer portion having an internal computer that acquires data from the at least one sensor, communicates bidirectionally with the external computer, takes into account information received from the external computer and data from the at least one sensor for controlling at least one actuator of the valve, and measures at least one current parameter in the electrical connection.

An automatic obstruction device for closing a filling circuit for filling a tank with fluid includes: a movable element movable between a non-obstruction position of the filling circuit, in which the movable element offers resistance to the fluid compatible with the filling of the tank, and an obstruction position of the filling circuit, in which the movable offers a resistance to the fluid that is incompatible with the filling of the tank; a holding element of the movable element holding the movable element in the non-obstruction position, and allowing movement of the movable element toward the obstruction position; and a first device of non-reversible movement or of non-reversible modification of the holding element allowing movement of the movable element toward the obstruction position, and being controllable by a control device.

The invention relates to a method for filling a hydrogen tank (2) of a motor vehicle (1) comprising a fuel cell drive, wherein the method comprises the steps: (a) determining a first operating time at which the motor vehicle (1) is to be started up and an expected first operating location at which the motor vehicle (1) is to be started up, (b) ascertaining a predicted maximum ambient temperature (T.sub.U,max) at the first operating location at the first operating time, and (c) filling the hydrogen tank with hydrogen (3) until a tank pressure (p) in the hydrogen tank (2) reaches a maximum permissible tank pressure (p.sub.max) at a tank temperature (T), wherein the following applies for the tank temperature (T): tank temperature (T)=[maximum ambient temperature (T.sub.U,max); maximum ambient temperature (T.sub.U,max)+10 K]. The invention relates further to a motor vehicle (1) comprising a hydrogen tank (2), a fuel cell drive and a control system (5) for controlling filling of the hydrogen tank (2), wherein the control system (5) to carry out the method.

A gas cylinder monitoring system comprising a gas cylinder for receiving and distributing gas. A flow control valve is associated with the gas cylinder and operable to allow or prevent the flow of gas from the cylinder. A monitor is provided for monitoring a signal from an input device associated with the flow control valve. The monitor has an environmental parameter sensor for detecting the presence or absence of a selected environmental parameter in the vicinity of the cylinder. The environmental parameter sensor is connected to the monitor for transmitting an environmental status signal thereto. A removable cover is provided for covering both the flow control valve and the environmental parameter sensor such as to only allow access to the flow control valve when the cover is removed. A transmitter is also provided for transmitting a signal, obtained by the monitor from the input device, to a receiver.

A multiply-redundant system that prevents a driver from starting and/or moving a vehicle if a compressed natural gas fill system is not correctly and completely disconnected from the vehicle. One or more sensors in combination with one or more optional microswitches combine to lock-out the vehicle's ignition or otherwise prevent it from starting and/or moving. For different levels of safety, different combinations of sensors can be used with the lowest level having a single proximity sensor sensing the presence or absence of a high-pressure fill hose. The highest level of safety being achieved by having separate proximity sensors on the fuel fill hose fitting, the gas cap cover and a manual safety valve along with a redundant microswitch. An optional override that may be restricted as to the number of times it can be used can allow starting with a faulty sensor in order to allow maintenance.

Multiply redundant safety system(s) that protects humans and assets while fueling vehicles, and/or transferring/fueling/tank exchanging of on road/off road, marine, aircraft, spacecraft, rockets, and all other vehicles/vessels utilizing Compressed and/or Liquefied Gas Fuels/compound(s), utilizing Hydrogen and/or Natural Gas Chemical Family of Natural Gas/Propane/Butane/ethane/ammonia/and/or any/all compound(s)/mixtures along with and/or without, oxidizer(s), such as Liquefied Oxygen, Oxygen Triplet (O3)/ozone/hydrogen peroxide/peroxide/solid oxidizer(s). One or more processors in combination with one or more system(s)/one or more sensor(s); in combination with one or more micro switches/one or more outputs/actuator(s) which combine to detect any leaks/fire(s)/explosion/voltage(s)/hazards/vehicle position/motion/vessel motion(s)/reusable tank/exchange tank/position(s)/arc's, spark(s)/and/or other hazards for rapid mitigation by locking out/stopping fueling/gas transfers/vehicle releasing/transfer line releasing. For different levels of safety, multiple combination(s) of various sensor(s)/detector(s)/input(s)/output(s)/device(s)/system(s)/action(s)/actuators, all may be standing alone and/or in any combination can be utilized.

Provided is a pressure vessel capable of adapting a release direction of gas in the pressure vessel (i.e., release-permitted direction) and a direction in which the gas in the pressure vessel should not be released (i.e., release-restricted direction) to an attitude of a vehicle or a surrounding environment. A release direction control unit is configured to variably change, with respect to the pressure vessel, a release direction of gas as a pressure relief valve opens, and without depending on an attitude of the pressure vessel, release the gas stored in the pressure vessel as the pressure relief valve opens (only) in the release-permitted direction set in advance with respect to a gravity direction, not in the release-restricted direction set in advance with respect to the gravity direction.

A motor vehicle with a pressure vessel system includes at least a first pressure vessel arranged in a first region of the motor vehicle and at least one second pressure vessel arranged in a second region of the motor vehicle having a lower intrusion probability than the first region. Fuel is preferentially removed first primarily from the at least one first pressure vessel. When the lower limit of fuel level or fuel temperature is reached in the at least one first pressure vessel, fuel is removed from the at least one second pressure vessel. If the fuel supply rate from the at least one first pressure vessel is lower than an overall fuel supply rate for an energy converter, fuel is removed from the at least one second pressure vessel to meet the overall fuel supply rate needed by the energy converter.

A multiply-redundant system that prevents a driver from starting and/or moving a vehicle if a compressed natural gas fill system is not correctly and completely disconnected from the vehicle. One or more sensors in combination with one or more optional microswitches combine to lock-out the vehicle's ignition or otherwise prevent it from starting and/or moving. For different levels of safety, different combinations of sensors can be used with the lowest level having a single proximity sensor sensing the presence or absence of a high-pressure fill hose. The highest level of safety being achieved by having separate proximity sensors on the fuel fill hose fitting, the gas cap cover and a manual safety valve along with a redundant microswitch. An optional override that may be restricted as to the number of times it can be used can allow starting with a faulty sensor in order to allow maintenance.

Methods and apparatus are disclosed for a low-emission nozzle and receptacle coupling for cryogenic fluid. An example nozzle includes a body defining a chamber through which cryogenic fluid is to flow. The body includes an outer shell that includes an outer shell surface. The nozzle includes a locking assembly configured to securely couple the nozzle to a receptacle. The locking assembly includes an inner sleeve fixedly coupled to the outer shell surface and an outer sleeve extending over and rotatably coupled to the inner sleeve. One or more locking teeth are fixedly coupled to the outer sleeve and configured to be slidably received by respective one or more coupling slots of the receptacle. The one or more locking teeth are configured to rotatably slide within the respective one or more coupling slots to couple the nozzle to the receptacle as the outer sleeve rotates relative to the inner sleeve.