Claims:1. A high-pressure fuel supply assembly (100) for a vehicle running with gaseous fuel, the assembly (100) comprising:
a pressure reducer unit (1), connectable to a mouth of a fuel tank (2), the pressure reducer unit (1) is integrally formed with at least one valve (3) to regulate rate of flow of fuel from the fuel tank (2), wherein the pressure reducer unit (1) is configured to reduce pressure of the fuel at a first predefined pressure to a second predefined pressure, lower than the first predefined pressure; and
an integrated stabilizer and filter unit (4), fluidly connectable between an intake manifold (5) of an engine of the vehicle and the pressure reducer unit (1), wherein the integrated stabilizer and filter unit (4) is configured to further reduce the pressure of the fuel from the second predefined pressure to a third predefined pressure, to supply to the engine of the vehicle.

2. The assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pressure reducer unit (1) comprises:
an enclosure (6),
wherein, the at least one valve (3), located within the enclosure (6) and positioned on a port (7) defined in the enclosure (6), the at least one valve (3) is exposed to the mouth of the fuel tank (2) and is linearly displaceable when the pressure of the fuel in the port (7) is at the first predefined pressure; and
a plunger (9), rigidly connected to the at least one valve (3), the plunger (9) is defined with a cavity (10) extending along the at least one valve (3) to an outlet (13) of the enclosure (6), wherein the fuel is communicated from the port (7) of the enclosure (6) and along the cavity (10) to the outlet (13) of the enclosure (6), on displacement of the plunger (9).

3. The assembly (100) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the at least one valve (3) comprises:
first resilient member (14), disposable around the plunger (9), the first resilient member (14) is operated to assist displacement of the at least one valve (3) by the fuel at the first predefined pressure; and
second resilient member (15), disposable within the plunger (9) and about the enclosure (6), wherein the second resilient member (15) is configured to restrict displacement of the at least one valve (3) such that, the plunger (9) is displaced relative to the port (7) of the enclosure (6), to regulate the fuel from the first predefined pressure to the second predefined pressure.

4. The assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plunger (9) is defined with at least one aperture (12) proximal to the at least one valve (3) and the port (7) such that, a portion of the at least one aperture (12) is selectively exposed for flow of the fuel, when the at least one valve (3) is displaced under the first predefined pressure and biasing of the first resilient member (14) and the second resilient member (15).

5. The assembly (100) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the enclosure (6) of the pressure reducer unit (1) includes an engaging portion (8) for threadingly engaging the mouth of the fuel tank (2).

6. The assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pressure reducer unit (1) and the integrated stabilizer and filter unit (4) are fluidly connected by a tube (23) made from materials consisting at least one of polymers and metals.

7. The assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the integrated stabilizer and filter unit (4) comprises a stabilizer unit (17) comprising:
a housing (18), configured to receive the fuel at the second predefined pressure; and
a dampener arrangement (19), accommodated in the housing (18), the dampener arrangement (19) includes a cushioning member (20), wherein the cushioning member (20) is configured to stabilize and regulate pressure of the fuel from the second predefined pressure to the third predefined pressure.

8. The assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the dampener arrangement (19) includes third resilient member (16) biasing the cushioning member (20) against the housing (18).

9. The assembly (100) as claimed in claim 8, wherein the dampener arrangement (19) includes an adjuster element (21) abutting the third resilient member (16), and wherein the adjuster element (21) is configured to vary extent of dampening of the cushioning member (20) by the third resilient member (16) to limit the fuel to the third predefined pressure.

10. The assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the integrated stabilizer and filter unit (4) comprises a filter element (22), coupled to the housing (18) of the stabilizer unit (17).

11. The assembly (100) as claimed in claim 10, wherein the filter element (22) is configured to receive and filter the fuel at the third predefined pressure.

12. The assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the gaseous fuel is at least one of Compressed Natural Gas and Liquid petroleum gas, and the engine has a capacity of at least 100cc.

13. The assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first predefined pressure of the fuel is at least 200bars.

14. The assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second predefined pressure of the fuel is about 15bars to 50bars.

15. The assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the third predefined pressure of the fuel is about 2bars to 20bars.

16. A vehicle comprising a fuel supply assembly (100), wherein the fuel supply assembly (100) comprises:
a pressure reducer unit (1), connectable to a mouth of a fuel tank (2), the pressure reducer unit (1) is integrally formed with at least one valve (3) to regulate rate of flow of fuel from the fuel tank (2), wherein the pressure reducer unit (1) is configured to reduce pressure of the fuel at a first predefined pressure to a second predefined pressure, lower than the first predefined pressure; and
an integrated stabilizer and filter unit (4), fluidly connectable between an intake manifold (5) of an engine of the vehicle and the pressure reducer unit (1), wherein the integrated stabilizer and filter unit (4) is configured to further reduce the pressure of the fuel from the second predefined pressure to a third predefined pressure, to supply to the engine of the vehicle.
, Description:TECHNICAL FIELD

Present disclosure in general relates to automobiles. Particularly, but not exclusively, the disclosure relates to a fuel supply system for a vehicle. Further, embodiments of the disclosure, relates to a high-pressure gaseous fuel supply assembly for the vehicle.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE
Conventionally, vehicles such as, but not limiting to, passenger vehicles, light motor vehicles, heavy motor vehicles, sports utility vehicles, and multi utility vehicles are powered by gaseous fuel including, but not limited to, Liquid gasoline petroleum, Compressed Natural gas, biogas, hydrogen, and the like. Generally, such gaseous fuel is supplied to an engine of the vehicle under high-pressure, to improve formation of fuel mixture for combustion in such engine and in-turn improve efficiency of the engine. For such requirement, the gaseous fuel is generally contained in a fuel tank such as, a storage tank or a replaceable canister, through which such gaseous fuel is selectively supplied to the engine at a pre-set pressure.

The fuel tank is generally located away from the engine in the vehicle, while the gaseous fuel is suitably channelized to the engine by means including, but not limited to, conduits, pipes, and other fluid supply means. Further, to channelize the gaseous fuel at the pre-set pressure, the fuel tank is generally fitted with regulatory means including a plurality of valves, receptacles, regulators, and stabilizers. Additionally, the fuel tank may be either replaceable or be re-filled with the gaseous fuel, to adequately at the defined pre-set pressure on demand for operating the vehicle. However, such variation in configuration of the fuel tanks may render that the regulatory means required to supply the gaseous fuel from such fuel tank may also require modifications.

With advent of technology, various systems and mechanisms have been developed as a fitment assembly for the fuel tank, to regulate pressure of the gaseous fuel from the fuel tank to the engine. In one such conventional arrangement, the regulatory means includes a plurality of components such as, a regulator, a receptacle, valve, knob, and the like, which are independently connected to one another via a plurality of tubes or hoses. With such conventional arrangement, parameters such as length, dimension, and material specification of the plurality of tubes employed for channelizing the gaseous fuel is configured to be determined, in order to operate the conventional arrangement at an optimum supply efficiency. As an example, for supplying gaseous fuel such as Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), each component of the conventional arrangement is connected by a plurality of high-gauge stainless steel tubes, in order to withstand high-pressure of at least 200bar of CNG from the fuel tank to be supplied to the engine at a pressure of at least 1bar to 10bar, for maintaining optimum supply efficiency. However, with increase in required number of components in the conventional arrangement, such as, by including filters and/or stabilizers, may inherently increase in length of the plurality of high-gauge stainless steel tube to channelize CNG through the arrangement. With that, manufacturing costs and assembly lead time associated with the conventional arrangement is more. Also, it is imperative that costs associated with manufacturing the high-gauge stainless steel tubes are to be considered, as the same require minimal tolerance in degree of manufacturing. Additionally, material of high quality is required to produce such high-gauge stainless steel tubes, in order to operate under such pressure conditions for fuel supply in conventional vehicles.

The present disclosure is directed to overcome one or more limitations stated above or any other limitation associated with the conventional arts.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

One or more shortcomings of the prior art are overcome by an assembly as claimed and additional advantages are provided through the assembly as claimed in the present disclosure. Additional features and advantages are realized through the techniques of the present disclosure. Other embodiments and aspects of the disclosure are described in detail herein and are considered a part of the claimed disclosure.

In one non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure, a high-pressure fuel supply assembly for a vehicle running with gaseous fuel is disclosed. The assembly includes a pressure reducer unit, connectable to a mouth of a fuel tank. The pressure reducer unit is integrally formed with at least one valve to regulate rate of flow of fuel from the fuel tank. Further, the pressure reducer unit is configured to reduce pressure of the fuel at a first predefined pressure to a second predefined pressure, lower than the first predefined pressure. The assembly further includes an integrated stabilizer and filter unit, fluidly connectable between an intake manifold of an engine of the vehicle and the pressure reducer unit. The integrated stabilizer and filter unit is configured to further reduce the pressure of the fuel from the second predefined pressure to a third predefined pressure, to supply to the engine of the vehicle.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the pressure reducer unit includes at least one valve, located within an enclosure. The at least one valve is positioned on a port defined in the enclosure. The at least one valve is exposed to the mouth of the fuel tank and is linearly displaceable when the pressure of the fuel in the port is at the first predefined pressure. The pressure reducer unit includes a plunger, which is rigidly connected to the at least one valve. The plunger is defined with a cavity extending along the at least one valve to an outlet of the enclosure, such that, fuel is communicated from the port of the enclosure and along the cavity to the outlet of the enclosure, on displacement of the plunger.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the at least one valve includes first resilient member, which is disposable around the plunger. The first resilient member is operated to assist displacement of the at least one valve by the fuel at the first predefined pressure. The at least one valve also includes second resilient member, disposable within the plunger and about the enclosure. The second resilient member is configured to restrict displacement of the at least one valve such that, the plunger is displaced relative to the port of the enclosure, to regulate the fuel from the first predefined pressure to the second predefined pressure.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the plunger is defined with at least one aperture proximal to the at least one valve and the port such that, a portion of the at least one aperture is selectively exposed for flow of the fuel, when the at least one valve is displaced under the first predefined pressure and biasing of the first resilient member and the second resilient member.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the enclosure of the pressure reducer unit includes an engaging portion for threadingly engaging the mouth of the fuel tank.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the pressure reducer unit and the integrated stabilizer and filter unit are fluidly connected by a tube made from materials consisting at least one of polymers and metals.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the integrated stabilizer and filter unit comprises a stabilizer unit, which includes a housing, configured to receive the fuel at the second predefined pressure. Further, a dampener arrangement is provided in the stabilizer unit and is accommodated in the housing. The dampener arrangement includes a cushioning member, which is configured to stabilize and regulate pressure of the fuel from the second predefined pressure to the third predefined pressure.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the dampener arrangement includes third resilient member biasing the cushioning member against the housing. Further, the dampener arrangement includes an adjuster element abutting the third resilient member. The adjuster element is configured to vary extent of dampening of the cushioning member by the third resilient member to limit the fuel to the third predefined pressure.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the integrated stabilizer and filter unit comprises a filter element, coupled to the housing of the stabilizer unit.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the filter element is configured to receive and filter the fuel at the third predefined pressure.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the fuel is at least one of Compressed Natural Gas and Liquid petroleum gas and that the engine has a capacity as low as 100cc. Further, the first predefined pressure of the fuel is at least 170bars and the second predefined pressure of the fuel is about 15bars to 50bars, whereas the third predefined pressure of the fuel is about 2bars to 20bars.

It is to be understood that the aspects and embodiments of the disclosure described above may be used in any combination with each other. Several of the aspects and embodiments may be combined to form a further embodiment of the disclosure.

The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments, and features described above, further aspects, embodiments, and features will become apparent by reference to the drawings and the following detailed description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

The novel features and characteristic of the disclosure are set forth in the appended claims. The disclosure itself, however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further objectives, and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying figures. One or more embodiments are now described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying figures wherein like reference numerals represent like elements and in which:

Figure 1 illustrates a schematic line diagram of a high-pressure fuel supply assembly for a vehicle running with gaseous fuel, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Figure 2 illustrates a sectional view of a pressure reducer unit of the assembly employed in a high-pressure fuel supply assembly of Figure 1, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Figure 3 illustrates a sectional view of an integrated stabilizer and filter unit of the high-pressure fuel supply assembly of Figure 1, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

The figures depict embodiments of the disclosure for purposes of illustration only. One skilled in the art will readily recognize from the following description that alternative embodiments of the mechanism and assembly illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles of the disclosure described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

While the embodiments in the disclosure are subject to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiment thereof has been shown by way of example in the figures and will be described below. It should be understood, however that it is not intended to limit the disclosure to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the disclosure is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternative falling within the scope of the disclosure.

The terms “comprises”, “comprising”, or any other variations thereof used in the disclosure, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a device, assembly, mechanism, system, method that comprises a list of components does not include only those components but may include other components not expressly listed or inherent to such system, or assembly, or device. In other words, one or more elements in a assembly proceeded by “comprises… a” does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of other elements or additional elements in the assembly.

Embodiments of the present disclosure discloses a high-pressure fuel supply assembly for a vehicle running with gaseous fuel. The assembly includes a pressure reducer unit, connectable to a mouth of a fuel tank. The pressure reducer unit is integrally formed with at least one valve to regulate rate of flow of fuel from the fuel tank. Further, the pressure reducer unit is configured to reduce pressure of the fuel at a first predefined pressure to a second predefined pressure, lower than the first predefined pressure. The assembly further includes an integrated stabilizer and filter unit, fluidly connectable between an intake manifold of an engine of the vehicle and the pressure reducer unit. The integrated stabilizer and filter unit is configured to further reduce the pressure of the fuel from the second predefined pressure to a third predefined pressure, to supply to the engine of the vehicle. With such configuration, high-gauge and precise tubes may not be required to supply fuel from the fuel tank to the engine, which inherently reduces overall costs of the assembly. As the assembly includes integrated stabilizer and filter unit, assembly lead time is reduced.

In an embodiment, the term “gaseous fuel” may be referred to any fuel that may be either stored or supplied to an engine of a vehicle in a gaseous form. The gaseous fuel may be including, but not limited to, Liquid gasoline petroleum, Compressed Natural gas, biogas, hydrogen, and any other fuel that may be supplied to the engine in gaseous form.

In an embodiment, the term “fuel tank” may be referred to any storage tank capable of receiving and containing fuel in at a high-pressure and supply such fuel to the engine of the vehicle in gaseous form. The fuel tank may be made from rigid material including, but not limited to, metals, alloys, carbon fiber, powdered metallurgical material and any other material capable of containing the fuel at high-pressure. The fuel tank may be fitted in the vehicle or may be replaceable when the fuel contained therein is exhausted.

Embodiments of the disclosure are described in the following paragraphs with reference to Figures 1 to 3. In the figures, the same element or elements which have same functions are indicated by the same reference signs. It is to be noted that, the vehicle is not illustrated in the figures for the purpose of simplicity. One skilled in the art would appreciate that the mechanism and assembly as disclosed in the present disclosure can be used in any vehicle including, but not liming to, passenger cars, heavy motor vehicles, light motor vehicles or any other vehicle.

Figure 1 is an exemplary embodiment illustrating a schematic line diagram of a high-pressure fuel supply assembly (100) for a vehicle running with gaseous fuel. The high-pressure fuel supply assembly (100) [hereinafter interchangeably also referred to as “assembly (100)”] is configured to supply the gaseous fuel to an engine of the vehicle. The assembly (100) may be configured to supply the gaseous fuel at a predefined pressure either directly to the engine and to an inlet manifold of the engine. The assembly (100) may include a fuel tank (2), in which the gaseous fuel may be contained at a first predefined pressure, where the gaseous fuel may be substantially maintained at the first predefined pressure within the fuel tank (2) by virtue of suitable sealing mechanism. It is noted that the first predefined pressure of the gaseous fuel in the fuel tank (2) may inversely vary relative to quantity of such gaseous fuel being dispensed from the fuel tank (2) and any other losses may be considered as minimal or negligible from the fuel tank (2) to the atmosphere. Further, the first predefined pressure may be considered as the maximum value, when the fuel may be substantially filled in the fuel tank, where the first predefined pressure may reduce with reduction in quantity of the fuel in the fuel tank.

Further, to control flow of the gaseous fuel from the fuel tank (2), the assembly (100) may include a pressure reducer unit (1). The pressure reducer unit (1) is directly connectable to the fuel tank (2), to selectively dispense and channelize the gaseous fuel from the fuel tank (2). The pressure reducer unit (1) may be configured to reduce pressure of the fuel at the first predefined pressure to a second predefined pressure. Additionally, the pressure reducer unit (1) may be configured to receive and contain at least a portion of the gaseous fuel being regulated from the fuel tank (2), when such pressure reducer unit (1) may be operated to an OFF condition to stop or halt supply of the gaseous fluid from the fuel tank (2).

The assembly (100) further includes an integrated stabilizer and filter unit (4). The integrated stabilizer and filter unit (4) may be fluidly connectable between the pressure reducer unit (1) and either of the engine or the intake manifold (5) of the engine of the vehicle. The integrated stabilizer and filter unit (4) may include a stabilizer unit (17), which may be configured to receive the gaseous fuel from the pressure reducer unit (1) at the second predefined pressure and reduce such pressure of the gaseous fuel to a third predefined pressure. By reducing pressure of the gaseous fuel from the second predefined pressure to the third predefined pressure, the integrated stabilizer and filter unit (4) may be configured to improve mixing of the gaseous fuel with air being supplied to the inlet manifold or the engine. With that, the assembly (100) may be configured to enhance combustion of mixture containing the gaseous fuel and air in the engine, whereby increasing power output and load carrying capacity of the engine.

The integrated stabilizer and filter unit (4) includes a filter element (22), configured to filter the gaseous fuel prior supplying to the intake manifold (5) or the engine. In the exemplary embodiment, the integrated stabilizer and filter unit (4) may be positioned proximal to the intake manifold (5) or the engine, where filtered gaseous fuel from the filter element (22) is supplied to the intake manifold (5) or the engine. Additionally, the filter element (22) may receive the gaseous fuel at the third predefined pressure after being further reduced in pressure by the stabilizer unit (17) of the integrated stabilizer and filter unit (4).

In an embodiment, the pressure reducer unit (1) and the integrated stabilizer and filter unit (4) are fluidly connected by a tube (23), where such tube (23) may be made from materials consisting at least one of polymers and metals. In the illustrative embodiment, as pressure of the gaseous fuel from the fuel tank (2) is reduced from the first predefined pressure to the second predefined pressure by the pressure reducer unit (1), the tube (23) being employed for connecting the pressure reducer with the stabilizer unit (17) may not be required to be of high-gauge stainless steel. However, the tube (23) made from polymeric material or stainless steel having comparatively lower-gauge and less expensive in costs, may be employed for connecting the pressure reducer with the stabilizer unit (17). With such material configuration of the tube (23), overall costs associated with the assembly (100) may reduced without compromising safety of operating the assembly (100).

Turning now to Figure 2, which illustrates the pressure reducer unit (1) of the assembly (100). The pressure reducer unit (1) includes at least one valve (3), which is integrally defined within an enclosure (6) of the pressure reducer unit (1) in order to regulate rate of flow of the gaseous fuel from the fuel tank (2). The enclosure (6) of the pressure reducer unit (1) includes an engaging portion (8) for threadingly engaging a mouth of the fuel tank (2), where such engagement between the mouth of the fuel tank (2) and the enclosure (6) may be sealingly engaged about peripheral region thereabout, to mitigate leakage and/or entry of foreign particles into the assembly (100). Further, the at least one valve (3) may be seated on a port (7) defined in the enclosure (6), where a portion of the at least one valve (3) may be exposed to the mouth of the fuel tank (2). The at least one valve (3) may include a valve seat (11), displaceably accommodated on the port (7) of the enclosure (6). The valve seat (11) may be linearly displaceable when pressure of the gaseous fuel at the port (7) is at the first predefined pressure. The valve seat (11) may selectively define a passage with the port (7), when displaced by the gaseous fuel so that, a defined quantity of the gaseous fuel may be introduced into the at least one valve (3) therethrough. For example, considering CNG as the gaseous fuel and a volumetric capacity of the engine is at least 100cc [i.e. low capacity engines to a high-capacity engine with capacity of about 5000cc], the first predefined pressure may be at least 200bars, at which CNG may be stored and released from the fuel tank (2).

In an embodiment, the valve seat (11) may be rigidly connected to a plunger (9) of the at least one valve (3), where the plunger (9) may also be linearly displaceable when the valve seat (11) is displaced by the gaseous fuel. The plunger (9) is defined with a cavity (10) extending along the at least one valve (3) to an outlet (13) defined in the enclosure (6), where the fuel is communicated from the port (7) of the enclosure (6) and along the cavity (10) to the outlet (13) of the enclosure (6), on displacement of the valve seat (11) and in-turn the plunger (9). Further, the plunger (9) is defined with at least one aperture (12) proximal to the valve seat (11) and the port (7) such that, a portion of the at least one aperture (12) is selectively exposed for flow of the fuel into the cavity (10), when the valve seat (11) is displaced relative to the port (7) of the enclosure (6). In the illustrative embodiment, the at least one aperture (12) is laterally defined on a surface of the plunger (9) connecting to the valve seat (11) such that, portion of the enclosure (6) is configured to seal the at least one aperture (12), when the valve seat (11) is accommodated on the port (7) of the enclosure (6). On selective displacement of the valve seat (11), portion of the least one aperture (12) may be exposed to form a flow path for the fuel to channelize from the port (7) of the enclosure (6) and into the cavity (10) of the plunger (9).

The at least one valve (3) of the pressure reducer unit (1) further includes first resilient member (14), which may be disposable around the plunger (9). The first resilient member (14) may be operated to assist displacement of the at least one valve (3) by the fuel at the first predefined pressure. In an embodiment, the first resilient member (14) may be configured to expand and allow displacement of the valve seat (11), when the fuel within the enclosure (6) of the pressure reducer unit (1) engages the valve seat (11) at the first predefined pressure. Further, the at least one valve (3) includes second resilient member (15), which may be disposable within the plunger (9) and about the enclosure (6). The second resilient member (15) may be configured to restrict displacement of the valve seat (11) such that, the plunger (9) may be displaced relative to the port (7) of the enclosure (6), to regulate pressure of the fuel from the first predefined pressure to the second predefined pressure. With that, the second resilient member (15) may be configured to bias the plunger (9) in a direction opposite to expansion of the first resilient member (14), whereby restricting extent of displacement of the valve seat (11) and in-turn the plunger (9), based on pressure of the fuel within the enclosure (6) of the pressure reducer unit (1). That is, for the fuel to displace the at least one valve (3), pressure of the fuel may be regulated from the first predefined pressure to the second predefined pressure due to biasing of the plunger (9) by the first resilient member (14) and the second resilient member (15). In an embodiment, the first resilient member (14) and the second resilient member (15) may be selected such that, each have different stiffness, in order to adequately vary pressure of the fuel when dispensing from the pressure reducer unit (1). For example, when the CNG tank is regulated to release CNG at about 170bars, the at least one valve (3) of the pressure reducer unit (1) in the assembly (100) is configured reduce pressure of CNG to about 15bars to 50bars, based on pre-set parameters of the at least one valve (3). While such pre-set parameters may be including, but not limited to, nature of the first resilient member (14) and the second resilient member (15), resilience factor of the first resilient member (14) and the second resilient member (15), dimensions of the port (7) and at least one aperture (12), configuration of the valve seat (11), and the like.

Turning now to Figure 3, which illustrates the integrated stabilizer and filter unit (4) of the assembly (100). The stabilizer of the integrated stabilizer and filter unit (4) includes a housing (18), which may be configured to receive the fuel at the second predefined pressure from the pressure reducer unit (1). The stabilizer further includes a dampener arrangement (19), which may be accommodated in the housing (18). The dampener arrangement (19) includes a cushioning member (20) and third resilient member (16), configured to bias the cushioning member (20) against the housing (18). The housing (18) may be defined with an opening, to receive the fuel at the second predefined pressure and channelize such fuel towards the dampening arrangement. The fuel may be configured to engage the cushioning member (20), which may be positioned in a lateral direction to flow of the fuel. In an embodiment, the cushioning member (20) may be annularly held in a radial direction to flow of the fuel by means of a bracket provisioned in the housing (18). The cushioning member (20) may selectively deform [for example, oscillate] in the direction of flow of the fuel, where by virtue of resilience of the cushioning member (20), pressure of the fuel may be further reduced from the second predefined pressure to the third predefined pressure. To regulate and support operation of the cushioning member (20), the third resilient member (16) may be configured to selectively deform and absorb energy from the cushioning member (20), to calibrate the third predefined pressure for the fuel. The third resilient member (16) may in-turn be supported by the housing (18) in absorbing energy from the cushioning member (20), for regulating pressure of the fuel to the third predefined pressure. In an embodiment, the cushioning member (20) and the third resilient member (16) may be a diaphragm and a coil spring, respectively. However, other configuration of the cushioning member (20) and the third resilient member (16) may be varied to include a piston-cylinder arrangement, diaphragm-solenoid arrangement, pressure orifice, and any other suitable mechanism that may be capable of dampening and stabilizing the fuel being received at the second predefined pressure. Further, for stabilizing flow of the fuel, factors such as, but not limited to, dimension of the third resilient member (16), number of openings in the housing (18), material of the cushioning member (20), and the like, may be considered. The flow of the fuel may be stabilized and normally channelized by the cushioning member (20).

In an embodiment, the housing (18) may include an adjuster element (21), abutting the third resilient member (16). The adjuster element (21) may be configured to vary extent of dampening of the cushioning member (20) by the third resilient member (16) to limit the fuel to the third predefined pressure. In the illustrative embodiment, the adjuster element (21) is an adjustable screw, where extent of dampening of the cushioning member (20) may be determined and/or regulated based on parameters such as, but not limited to, pitch, shank length, pitch angle, material of the adjustable screw and the like.

The integrated stabilizer and filter unit (4) of the assembly (100) further includes the filter element (22), which may be threadingly coupled to the housing (18). The filter element (22) is configured to receive the fuel stabilized and normally channelized by the cushioning member (20), where pressure of the fuel may be stabilized to the third predefined pressure. The filter element (22) may be configured to receive and filter the fuel at the third predefined pressure, to selectively supply the fuel to the engine or the intake manifold (5). For example, for CNG, the integrated stabilizer and filter unit (4) may supply CNG at the third predefined pressure which may be about 2bars to 20bars, to the intake manifold (5) or the engine.

In an embodiment, the at least one valve (3) may be a spring valve, a solenoid, a piezo-electric valve, and any other valve capable of regulating flow of the fuel.

EQUIVALENTS

With respect to the use of substantially any plural and/or singular terms herein, those having skill in the art can translate from the plural to the singular and/or from the singular to the plural as is appropriate to the context and/or application. The various singular/plural permutations may be expressly set forth herein for sake of clarity.

It will be understood by those within the art that, in general, terms used herein, and especially in the appended claims (e.g., bodies of the appended claims) are generally intended as “open” terms (e.g., the term “including” should be interpreted as “including but not limited to,” the term “having” should be interpreted as “having at least,” the term “includes” should be interpreted as “includes but is not limited to,” etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such an intent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of such recitation no such intent is present. For example, as an aid to understanding, the following appended claims may contain usage of the introductory phrases “at least one” and “one or more” to introduce claim recitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed to imply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinite articles “a” or “an” limits any particular claim containing such introduced claim recitation to inventions containing only one such recitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases “one or more” or “at least one” and indefinite articles such as “a” or “an” (e.g., “a” and/or “an” should typically be interpreted to mean “at least one” or “one or more”); the same holds true for the use of definite articles used to introduce claim recitations. In addition, even if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitly recited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such recitation should typically be interpreted to mean at least the recited number (e.g., the bare recitation of “two recitations,” without other modifiers, typically means at least two recitations, or two or more recitations). Furthermore, in those instances where a convention analogous to “at least one of A, B, and C, etc.” is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at least one of A, B, and C” would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). In those instances where a convention analogous to “at least one of A, B, or C, etc.” is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at least one of A, B, or C” would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that virtually any disjunctive word and/or phrase presenting two or more alternative terms, whether in the description, claims, or drawings, should be understood to contemplate the possibilities of including one of the terms, either of the terms, or both terms. For example, the phrase “A or B” will be understood to include the possibilities of “A” or “B” or “A and B.”

In addition, where features or aspects of the disclosure are described in terms of Markush groups, those skilled in the art will recognize that the disclosure is also thereby described in terms of any individual member or subgroup of members of the Markush group.

While various aspects and embodiments have been disclosed herein, other aspects and embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The various aspects and embodiments disclosed herein are for purposes of illustration and are not intended to be limiting, with the true scope and spirit being indicated by the following claims.
Detailed Description :
Particulars Numerical
Assembly 100
Pressure reducer unit 1
Fuel tank 2
At least one valve 3
Integrated stabilizer and filter unit 4
Intake manifold 5
Enclosure 6
Port 7
Engaging portion 8
Plunger 9
Cavity 10
Valve seat 11
Aperture 12
Outlet 13
First resilient member 14
Second resilient member 15
Third resilient member 16
Stabilizer unit 17
Housing 18
Dampener arrangement 19
Cushioning member 20
Adjuster element 21
Filter element 22
Tube 23
Bracket 24
Opening 25