Clean Fill Port System and Method

Abstract

A clean fill port system for a compressed gas tank having a fill port includes a sealable enclosure surrounding the fill port. The sealable enclosure includes a closeable lid that defines a sealed cavity within the sealable enclosure when the lid is in a closed position. A pressurized fluid supply port is directly fluidly connected with the sealed cavity. The sealable enclosure completely encloses the fill port and is configured to maintain a pressurized fluid within the sealed cavity such that ingress of water or debris into the sealed cavity is prevented.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A clean fill port system for a compressed gas tank, the gas tank having a fill port, the clean port system comprising:
 a sealable enclosure surrounding the fill port, the sealable enclosure including a closeable lid that defines a sealed cavity within the sealable enclosure when the lid is in a closed position;   a pressurized fluid supply port that is directly fluidly connected with the sealed cavity;   wherein the sealable enclosure completely encloses the fill port and is configured to maintain a pressurized fluid within the sealed cavity such that ingress of water or debris into the sealed cavity is prevented.   
     
     
         2 . The clean fill port system of  claim 1 , wherein the compressed tank includes an outer shell, and wherein the sealable enclosure includes a wall connected to the outer shell and disposed around the fill port, the wall having a sufficient dimension to completely enclose the fill port when the closeable lid is in the closed position. 
     
     
         3 . The clean fill port system of  claim 2 , further comprising a seal disposed along an interface between the wall and the closeable lid. 
     
     
         4 . The clean fill port system of  claim 1 , further comprising a sensor disposed to sense and provide a position signal indicative of the closed position or an open position of the lid to an electronic controller. 
     
     
         5 . The clean fill port system of  claim 1 , further comprising a sensor disposed to sense and provide a pressure signal indicative of a fluid pressure within the sealed cavity to an electronic controller. 
     
     
         6 . An engine system that includes a compressed gaseous fuel tank provided to operate an engine, comprising:
 a fill port providing access for refueling of the compressed gaseous fuel tank;   a sealable enclosure surrounding the fill port, the sealable enclosure including a closeable element that defines a sealed cavity within the sealable enclosure when the closeable element is in a sealed position;   a pressurized fluid supply port that is directly fluidly connected with the sealed cavity and configured to provide a compressed fluid to fill and pressurize the sealed cavity when the closeable element is in the sealed position;   wherein the sealable enclosure completely encloses the fill port and is configured to maintain a compressed fluid within the sealed cavity in a pressurized condition during operation of the engine such that ingress of water or debris into the sealed cavity is prevented.   
     
     
         7 . The engine system of  claim 6 , wherein the compressed gaseous fuel tank includes an outer shell, and wherein the sealable enclosure includes a wall connected to the outer shell and disposed around the fill port, the wall having a sufficient dimension to completely enclose the fill port when the closeable element is in the sealed position. 
     
     
         8 . The engine system of  claim 7 , further comprising a seal disposed along an interface between the wall and the closeable element, the seal configured to prevent leakage of the compressed fluid from within the sealed cavity when the closeable element is in the sealed position. 
     
     
         9 . The engine system of  claim 6 , further comprising a position sensor disposed to sense and provide a position signal indicative of the sealed position or an open position of the closeable element to an electronic controller, the electronic controller disposed to at least one of provide an indication to an operator and prevent operation of the engine based on the position signal. 
     
     
         10 . The engine system of  claim 6 , further comprising a pressure sensor disposed to sense and provide a pressure signal indicative of a fluid pressure within the sealed cavity to an electronic controller, the electronic controller disposed to at least one of provide an indication to an operator and prevent operation of the engine based on the pressure signal. 
     
     
         11 . The engine system of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a gas conduit fluidly connecting an internal volume of the compressed gaseous fuel tank with the sealed cavity of the sealable enclosure; and   a pressure regulator device disposed to regulate a pressure of fluid passing through the gas conduit;   wherein the compressed fluid maintained within the sealed cavity in a pressurized condition during operation of the engine is gaseous fuel vented from the compressed gaseous fuel tank.   
     
     
         12 . The engine system of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 an auxiliary air compressor driven by the engine;   an auxiliary compressed air tank associated with the engine system;   an auxiliary air conduit fluidly connecting the auxiliary compressed air tank with the sealed cavity of the sealable enclosure; and   a flow regulator device disposed to regulate a pressure and flow rate of fluid passing through the auxiliary air conduit;   wherein the compressed fluid maintained within the sealed cavity in a pressurized condition during operation of the engine is compressed air.   
     
     
         13 . The engine system of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a turbocharger having a turbine and a compressor associated with the engine;   a charge air cooler disposed to compress an engine intake charge from the turbocharger compressor;   a charge air conduit fluidly connecting an outlet of the turbocharger compressor with the sealed cavity of the sealable enclosure; and   a flow regulator device disposed to regulate a pressure and flow rate of fluid passing through the charge air conduit;   wherein the compressed fluid maintained within the sealed cavity in a pressurized condition during operation of the engine is compressed air.   
     
     
         14 . A method for preventing contamination of a compressed gas kept in a compressed gas tank with water or other debris entering into the tank through a tank fill port during a tank filling operation, comprising:
 enclosing a fill port of a compressed gas tank within an enclosure extending around a fill portion of the fill port;   pressurizing an internal cavity of the enclosure with fluid;   maintaining the internal cavity of the enclosure in a pressurized condition such that ingress of debris into the internal cavity is discouraged;   opening the enclosure and depressurizing the internal cavity before carrying out a tank filling operation;   closing the enclosure after the tank filling operation is complete; and   re-pressurizing the internal cavity of the enclosure with fluid.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein opening the enclosure includes opening a lid that sealably and releasably engages a wall of the enclosure that surrounds the fill portion of the fill port. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising monitoring a position of the lid relative to the wall, and providing a signal indicative of the position of the lid to an electronic controller, wherein the electronic controller is configured to provide a notification to an operator when the lid is in the open position. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising monitoring a pressure of the fluid within the internal cavity and providing a signal indicative of the pressure of the fluid to an electronic controller, wherein the electronic controller is configured to provide a notification to an operator when the pressure of the fluid is below a threshold pressure value when the enclosure is sealed. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising regulating a pressure of the fluid used to pressurize the internal cavity. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the fluid is gas vented from the compressed gas tank. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising compressing air in an air compressor and regulating an air pressure of the compressed air, wherein the fluid is compressed air provided to the internal cavity.