Residential compressor for refueling motor vehicles that operate on gaseous fuels

Abstract

A compressor for natural gas is made in a format suitable for mounting on a wall or upright support at a residential location. This permits refilling of the gas reservoir of a gaseous-fueled motor vehicle parked at the residence. The wall-mounted appliance has vibration isolation supports to minimize transmission of noise into the residence. It has a ventilation and air circulation system that allows it to test for the presence of flammable gas both leaking from the appliance and present in the adjacent ambient environment, e.g. a garage.

1 . An appliance for refueling gaseous fuel motor vehicles while they are parked at a residence or other location where an upright support is available, comprising: 
 a) a housing containing a motor/compressor assembly in the form of a multi-stage gas compressor and an electric motor that drives the multistage compressor, said compressor and motor being contained in a common, sealed casing;    b) an electrical connection means to supply power to the motors    c) a gas inlet on the appliance to connect the unit to a source of gas;    d) a gas outlet for delivery of compressed gas to a fuel storage reservoir, and    e) monitoring and control elements that allow the appliance to operate in an unattended manner. wherein said appliance is provided with means to allow the appliance to be mounted on said upright support at a height that is above 36 inches from the ground.    
   
   
       2 . An appliance as in  claim 1  comprising vibration isolation means positioned to reduce the transmission of vibrations arising from the motor assembly into the upright support.  
   
   
       3 . An appliance as in  claim 2  wherein the vibration isolation means comprises first and second vibration isolation means located in series between the motor assembly and the upright support.  
   
   
       4 . An appliance as in  claim 1  wherein the vibration isolation means comprises first vibration isolation means to reduce the transmission of vibrations arising from the motor assembly into the housing, said first isolation means 5 comprising flexible polymeric mounts positioned on either side of a horizontal plane passing approximately through the center of mass of the motor/compressor assembly, along an axis formed by a straight line extending between the mounts and through said horizontal plane, to secure the motor/compressor assembly to the housing.  
   
   
       5 . An appliance as in  claim 4  comprising a damper means extending between the motor/compressor assembly and the housing to absorb vibrational energy arising from motion of the motor/compressor assembly about said axis.  
   
   
       6 . An appliance as in  claim 2  wherein the vibration isolation means comprises second vibration isolation means to reduce the transmission of vibrations from the appliance housing to said upright support, said second vibration isolation comprising a plurality of flexible polymeric washers that are placed between the housing and upright support.  
   
   
       7 . An appliance as in  claim 6  wherein each of said flexible, polymeric washers are set at an inclined angle that eliminates or minimizes the shearing force on such washers.  
   
   
       8 . An appliance as in  claim 7  wherein each of said flexible, polymeric washers has a width, a length, a central  19  axis and a mounting hole formed along its central axis, said length being approximately equal to said width.  
   
   
       9 . An appliance as in  claim 7  wherein housing  7  itself is provided with mounting hardware which includes a frame with 5 two notched mounting bars for mounting onto mounting brackets positioned on the support structure, each of said flexible, polymeric washers being located between said frame and said brackets.  
   
   
       10 . An appliance as in  claim 9  wherein said brackets comprise tapered indentations to receive said notches, whereby the mounting of the appliance on said brackets may be effected by lifting the appliance with its frame to align the notches with the indentations  57  and advancing these elements into engagement.  
   
   
       11 . An appliance as in  claim 10  comprising a latch or tether extending between the frame or housing and at least one of said brackets to provide security in the event of a seismic disruption.  
   
   
       12 . An appliance for refueling gaseous fuel motor vehicles while they are parked at a residence or other location where an upright support is available, comprising: 
 a) a housing containing a motor/compressor assembly in the form of a multi-stage gas compressor and an electric motor that drives the multistage compressor, said compressor and motor being contained in a common, sealed casing;    b) an electrical connection means to supply power to the motors    c) a gas inlet on the appliance to connect the unit to a source of gas;    d) a gas outlet for delivery of compressed gas to a fuel storage reservoir, and    e) means to allow the appliance to be mounted on said upright support and further comprising as a ventilation system:    f) an air inlet, a fan and an air outlet in the housing to provide an air circulation zone around the motor/compressor assembly; and    g) a flammable gap sensor is positioned proximate to the air outlet to detect flammable gas passing through the ventilation system, whereby, when the appliance is mounted on said support means with said support means elevated above the ground by at least inches, the fan will draw air from the adjacent environmental space and the flammable gas sensor will detect flammable gas that has either escaped from the motor/compressor assembly or is present in the adjacent environmental space.    
   
   
       13 . An appliance as in  claim 12  comprising a cowling mounted over the motor/compressor assembly to confine the air circulation zone around said motor/compressor assembly.