Patent Publication Number: US-2012031397-A1

Title: Fuel Conversion System

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     Certain embodiments disclosed herein relate generally to fuel conversion system, and relate more specifically to a fuel conversion system comprising an integrated fuel distribution valve and convertible fuel regulator. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Valves and pressure regulators may be used in a variety of applications, including heat-producing devices. In particular, valves and pressure regulators may be used in many varieties of heaters and other heat-producing devices which are adapted to utilize pressurized, fluid fuels. Some such devices are adapted to operate with liquid propane, while other devices are adapted to operate with natural gas. 
     Many heat-producing devices are designed to operate with a single type of pressurized, fluid fuels 
     It remains desirable to provide a fuel conversion system to adapt heat-producing devices to utilize any of a variety of pressurized, fluid fuels. It remains desirable to provide valves and pressure regulators adapted for use within heat-producing devices which are adapted to utilize any of a variety of pressurized, fluid fuels. 
     SUMMARY 
     Provided is a fuel conversion system adapted for operation engagement with either of a first associated fluid fuel source or a second associated fluid fuel source. The fuel conversion system may comprise a convertible regulator, a fuel distribution valve, and a transmission. A convertible regulator may be adapted to receive either a first fluid fuel or a second fluid fuel. A fuel distribution valve may be operatively engaged with said convertible regulator. A transmission may be operatively engaged to said fuel distribution valve and operatively engaged with the convertible regulator. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a fuel conversion system; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a fuel distributor valve; 
         FIG. 3  is perspective view of a convertible regulator; 
         FIG. 4  is perspective view of a transmission. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Reference will be made to the drawings,  FIGS. 1-4 , wherein the showings are only for purposes of illustrating certain embodiments of a fuel conversion system, and not for purposes of limiting the same. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1-4 , non-limiting embodiments of a fuel conversion system  10  or elements thereof are shown. A fuel conversion system  10  may comprise a fuel distributor valve  20 , a convertible regulator  40 , and a transmission  60 . In certain non-limiting embodiments, a convertible regulator  40  is in fluid communication with a fuel distributor valve  20 ; the convertible regulator  40  is operatively connected to a transmission  60 ; and the fuel distributor valve  20  is operatively connected to the transmission  60 . 
     In certain embodiments, and without limitation, a fuel distributor valve  20  may comprise a valve body  22 , a valve stem  24 , a diverter (not shown), and a plurality of apertures  28 ,  29 ,  30 ,  31 ,  32 ,  33 . A valve body  22  may define an interior region (not shown) separate from the environment  90 . A valve stem  24  may be rotatably engaged with a valve body  20 . A diverter (not shown) may be housed within the interior region (not shown), may be rotatably engaged with the valve body  20 , and may be operably connected to the valve stem  24  to rotate in response to rotation of the valve stem  24 . In certain embodiments, the valve stem  24  is fixedly connected to the diverter (not shown) so that the diverter (not shown) rotates by the same amount and direction in response to rotation of the valve stem  24 . In some embodiments, engagement between the valve stem  24  and the diverter (not shown) may comprise a direct connection (not shown), a clutch (not shown), gears (not shown), or some combination thereof. A plurality of apertures  28 ,  29 ,  30 ,  31 ,  32 ,  33  may be adapted to permit fluid communication between the interior region (not shown) and either the environment  90  or other components fluidly connected thereto. 
     In certain embodiments, and without limitation, the apertures  28 ,  29 ,  30 ,  31 ,  32 ,  33  may comprise an inlet aperture  28 ,  29  and two or more outlet apertures  30 ,  31 ,  32 ,  33 . In some embodiments, the apertures  28 ,  29 ,  30 ,  31 ,  32 ,  33  are adapted to be operably engaged with other components of the fuel conversion system  10 , an associated fluid fuel source (not shown), an associated fluid fuel receptacle device (not shown), or some other component or part. Without limitation operable engagement of either an aperture  28 ,  29 ,  30 ,  31 ,  32 ,  33  may comprise a threaded engagement. Inlet apertures  28 ,  29  may be adapted to receive fluid fuel flow from a convertible regulator  40 . Inlet apertures  28 ,  29  may be adapted to send fluid fuel flow to an interior region (not shown), an outlet aperture  30 ,  31 ,  32 ,  33 , an associated fluid fuel receptacle device (not shown), or some combination thereof. In operation, an inlet aperture  28 ,  29  may be fluidly connected to an associated fluid fuel source (not shown) through a convertible regulator  40 . In certain embodiments, outlet apertures  30 ,  31 ,  32 ,  33  may be adapted to receive a fluid fuel flow from an interior region (not shown), an inlet aperture  28 ,  29 , an associated fluid fuel source (not shown), a convertible regulator  40 , or some combination thereof. Without limitation, outlet apertures  30 ,  31 ,  32 ,  33  may be adapted to receive fluid fuel flow from an interior region (not shown), which receives fluid fuel flow from an inlet aperture  28 ,  29 , which receives fluid fuel flow from a convertible regulator  40 , which receives a fluid fuel flow from an associated fluid fuel source (not shown). Outlet apertures  30 ,  31 ,  32 ,  33  may be adapted to be operably engaged with an associated fluid fuel receptacle device (not shown) and to send a fluid fuel flow to an operably engaged associated fluid fuel receptacle device (not shown). 
     An associated fluid fuel receptacle device (not shown) may be any type of device adapted to receive fluid fuel. Without limitation, various types of fluid fuel receptacle devices may include a heater (not shown), a burner (not shown), an oxygen depletion sensor (not shown), or a filter (not shown). Without limitation, in some embodiments each type of fluid fuel receptacle device has one or more species of device particular to each type fuel. That is, for sake of example and without limitation, a single type of fluid receptacle device, such as a burner, may comprise multiple species, such as a burner adapted to use natural gas, a burner adapted to use propane, and a burner adapted to use butane. Without limitation, a single type of fluid fuel receptacle device may have a first species of a device adapted to use natural gas, and a second species of the device adapted to use propane. Without limitation, an outlet aperture  30 ,  31 ,  32 ,  33  may be fluidly connected to an oxygen depletion sensor adapted to use natural gas (not shown), an oxygen depletion sensor adapted to use propane (not shown), a burner adapted to use natural gas (not shown), a burner adapted to use propane (not shown), or some other species or type of fluid fuel receptacle device (not shown). 
     In certain embodiments, the apertures  28 ,  29 ,  30 ,  31 ,  32 ,  33  are adapted for selective fluid communication such that fluid communication between an inlet and outlet is user selectable. In certain embodiments, the rotational position of the diverter (not shown) selects which of the outlet apertures  30 ,  31 ,  32 ,  33  are in communication with certain of the inlet apertures  28 ,  29 . In certain embodiments, each inlet  28 ,  29  may be selectably engaged in fluid communication with any one of a plurality of outlet apertures  30 ,  31 ,  32 ,  33  where there is at least one outlet aperture for each inlet for each of the fluid fuels which the fuel distributor valve  20  is adapted to receive. 
     In certain embodiments, a fuel distributor valve  20  may comprise multiple sets of apertures. The apertures  28 ,  29 ,  30 ,  31 ,  32 ,  33  may comprise a first set  34  of apertures  28 ,  30 ,  32  comprising a first inlet  28  and a first plurality of outlets  30 ,  32 ; and a second set  35  of apertures  29 ,  31 ,  33  comprising a second inlet  29  and a second plurality of outlets  31 ,  33 . 
     In certain embodiments, the rotational position of the diverter (not shown) selects one of the first plurality of outlets  30 ,  32  of the first set  34  to be in communication with the first inlet  28  and one of the second plurality of outlets  31 ,  33  of the second set  35  to be in communication with the second inlet  29 . In certain embodiments, the fuel distributor valve  20  comprises a particular set of outlets for each of the fuels which the fuel distributor valve  20  is adapted to receive; and the fuel distributor valve  20  further comprises a diverter (not shown) having a dedicated rotational position corresponding to a particular set of outlets for each of the fuels which the fuel distributor valve  20  is adapted to receive. In certain embodiments, the fuel distributor valve  20  is adapted to received either natural gas or propane, comprises two sets of outlets, one set of outlets for natural gas, and one set of outlets for propane, and further comprises a diverter (not shown) having a dedicated rotational position corresponding to the set of outlets for natural gas and having a dedicated rotational position corresponding to the set of outlets for propane. 
     In certain embodiments, the fuel distributor valve  20  comprises a particular set of outlets for each of the fuels which the fuel distributor valve  20  is adapted to receive, and each of the particular set of outlets comprises an outlet for each of a plurality of associated fluid receptacle devices (not shown). In certain embodiments, associated fluid receptacle devices (not shown) may comprise a burner (not shown) and an oxygen depletion sensor (not shown). In certain embodiments, the fuel distributor valve  20  is adapted to receive either natural gas or propane, comprises two sets of outlets, one set of outlets for natural gas  30 ,  31 , and one set of outlets for propane  32 ,  33 , and further comprises a diverter (not shown) having a dedicated rotational position corresponding to the set of outlets for natural gas  30 ,  31  and having a dedicated rotational position corresponding to the set of outlets for propane  32 ,  33 , and wherein the set of outlets for natural gas  30 ,  31  comprises one outlet  31  for a burner adapted to use natural gas (not shown) and one outlet  30  for an oxygen depletion sensor adapted to use natural gas (not shown), and wherein the set of outlets for propane  32 ,  33  comprises one outlet  33  for a burner adapted to use propane (not shown) and one outlet  32  for an oxygen depletion sensor adapted to use propane (not shown). The rotational positions of the diverter may be separated by some angle theta. As shown in  FIG. 2 , in certain embodiments, the angle separating the rotational positions of the diverter may be approximately  90  degrees. 
     In certain embodiments, all of the outlet apertures that are fluidly engaged with any inlet at any given position of the diverter (not shown) are adapted to use the same fuel. Without limitation, as shown in  FIG. 2 , the diverter (not shown) may have a first position that establishes a fluid connection to outlets  30 ,  31  and to associated fluid receptacle devices adapted to use a first fuel operably engaged thereto, in this example, and without limitation, natural gas. Thus, the diverter (not shown) has a first position for use when the fluid fuel input to the inlet apertures is natural gas, that will provide fluid communication of the natural gas to associated fluid receptacle devices (not shown) adapted to use natural gas. Without limitation, as shown in  FIG. 2 , the diverter may have a second position that establishes a fluid connection to outlets  32 ,  33  and to associated fluid receptacle devices adapted to use a second fuel operably engaged thereto, in this example, and without limitation, propane. Accordingly, the diverter has a second position for use when the fluid fuel input to the inlet apertures is propane that will provide fluid communication of the propane to associated fluid receptacle devices adapted to use propane. 
     By extension of the above, in certain non-limiting embodiments, the fuel distributor valve  20  comprises a set of outlets for each fuel for which it is adapted to use, each set of outlets comprises an outlet for each type of associated fluid receptacle device (not shown) for which the valve is adapted to supply, and the diverter has a dedicated rotational position corresponding to each fuel for which the fuel distributor valve  20  is adapted to use. 
     By further extension of the above, a fuel distributor valve  20  may be made to function properly with any number, N, types of associated fluid receptacle devices and with any number, M, kinds of fluid fuel. The valve may comprise N sets of apertures where each set corresponds to one of the N types of associated fluid receptacle device and wherein each set of apertures comprise M output apertures, wherein one output aperture in each set corresponds to one of the M kinds of fluid fuel. Similarly, the valve will comprise a diverter having M positions, wherein each of the M positions corresponds to one of the M kinds of fuels and to those outlet apertures corresponding to that kind of fuel. 
     A regulator is a unit capable of accepting an input fluid flow and outputting an output fluid flow of substantially constant pressure. A convertible regulator  40  may be any regulator capable of providing a selectable output pressure selected from a range of pressures. In certain embodiments, and without limitations, a convertible regulator  40  may comprise a regulator housing  42 , an inlet aperture  44 , outlet aperture  46 , an adjustor  48 . In certain embodiments, and without limitations, an adjustor  48  is adapted to modify a force or pressure put on another component, such as, without limitation, a diaphragm or a piston (not shown). An adaptation to modify a force or pressure may comprise a screw, a threadedly engaged component, a spring, an elastomeric component, a cam, an electromagnet, and electromagnetic coil, a solenoid, or a combination thereof. 
     In certain embodiments, and without limitations, a convertible regulator  40  may comprise a rotatable adjustor  48  that is adapted to permit selection of the output pressure of the convertible regulator  40  by rotation of said rotatable adjustor  48 . In certain embodiments, the rotatable adjustor  48  comprises a threaded component  50 , an axis of rotation (not shown), a spring contact surface (not shown), and a transmission engagement component (not shown). In certain embodiments regulator housing  42  is threaded to engaged the threaded component  50  of the rotatable adjustor  48  such that rotation of the rotatable adjustor  48  moves the rotatable adjustor  48  along its axis of rotation (not shown) into or out of the regulator housing  42 . In certain embodiments, the rotatable adjustor  48  is engaged with a spring (not shown) at a spring contact surface (not shown) to load the spring (not shown) and to provide thereby a spring force of which the selectable output pressure of the convertible regulator  40  is a function. In certain embodiments, rotating the rotatable adjustor  48  to move it along its axis of rotation (not shown) into or out of the regulator housing  42  will change the load in the spring (not shown) with which it is engaged, and thereby change the selectable output pressure of the convertible regulator  40 . In certain embodiments, the rotatable adjustor  48  is threadedly engaged with the regulator housing  42  by a right-handed thread, such that rotating the rotatable adjustor  48  clockwise advances engagement of the rotatable adjustor  48  into the regulator housing  42 , increases the load in the spring (not shown) engaged with said rotatable adjustor  48 , and increases the selectable output pressure of the convertible regulator  40 . 
     In certain embodiments, rotation of the rotatable adjustor  48  is produced by application of work applied through transmission engagement component (not shown). In certain embodiments, transmission engagement component (not shown) is operatively engaged with both the rotatable adjustor  48  and a transmission  60 , such that application of work from the transmission to the transmission engagement component (not shown) results in rotation of the rotatable adjustor  48 . 
     In certain embodiments, the spring (not shown) comprises a coil spring, an elastomeric material, or a cupped spring washer. In certain embodiments, the spring (not shown) produces a reaction force that is a substantially linear function of deflection. In certain embodiments, the spring (not shown) produces a reaction force that is a substantially non-linear function of deflection. 
     In certain embodiments, the convertible regulator  40  is adapted to selectively provide any output pressure within a continuous range of output pressures. In certain embodiments, the continuous range of output pressures comprises a pressure appropriate to the supply of a first fuel and a pressure appropriate to the supply of a second fuel. In certain embodiments, the continuous range of output pressures within which the convertible regulator  40  is adapted to selectively provide any output pressure comprises a pressure appropriate for the supply of natural gas and a pressure appropriate for the supply of propane. In certain embodiments, a pressure appropriate for the supply of natural gas is within the range of  3 - 5  inches of water. In certain embodiments, a pressure appropriate for the supply of propane is within the range of  9 - 11  inches of water. 
     A transmission  60  is a device that operates to transmit mechanical work from a first component to a second component. Without limitation, in certain embodiments, the transmission is operatively engaged with both the fuel distributor valve  20  and the convertible regulator  40  so that adjustment of the fuel distributor valve  20  results in adjustment of the convertible regulator  40 , or vice versa. Without limitation, in certain embodiments, the transmission is operatively engaged with valve stem  24  and rotatable adjustor  48  so that adjustment of the valve stem  24  results in adjustment of rotatable adjustor  48 , or vice versa. Without limitation, in certain embodiments, the transmission  60  is operatively engaged with the diverter and spring (not shown) so that adjustment of the diverter results in adjustment of the load of the spring (not shown). 
     A transmission  60  may comprise a set of gears, a linkage, a four bar mechanism, a set of pulleys, a chain drive, a belt drive, or other work transmitters. Gears may comprise spur gears, bevel gears, helical gears, hypoid gears, worm gears, or other types of gears. In certain embodiments, and without limitation, the transmission  60  may comprise a first gear  62  operatively engaged with a second gear  64 . In certain embodiments, and without limitation, the transmission  60  may comprise a first gear  62  operatively engaged with the diverter (not shown) and operatively engaged with a second gear  64 , and wherein second gear  64  is further operatively engaged with the rotatable adjustor  48 . 
     In certain embodiments, first gear  62  comprises a work input region  66  adapted to permit work to be applied to first gear  62 . Work input region  66  may comprise any region adapted to permit the application of work to first gear  62 . In certain embodiments, work input region  66  may comprise a receptacle, hole, keyway, or other engagement surface  68  adapted to engage a wrench, screwdriver, lever, key or other tool (not shown). In certain embodiments, work input region  66  may comprise a hexagonal receptacle comprising a substantially planar engagement surface  68  adapted to engage a hex wrench. In certain embodiments, in operation, application of work to first gear  62  is done by inserting a hex wrench (not shown) into work input region  66  and rotating the hex wrench to rotate first gear  62  by some desired angular displacement. Rotation of first gear  62 , in turn, rotates the diverter (not shown) and rotates the second gear  64 . Rotation of second gear  64  results in adjustment of the load of the spring (not shown) and, thereby changes the selectable output pressure of the convertible regulator  40 . 
     In certain embodiments, rotation of second gear  64  results in rotation of a transmission engagement component (not shown) operatively engaged with the second gear  64 , which results in rotation of a rotatable adjustor  48  operatively engaged with the transmission engagement component (not shown), which results in axial motion of rotatable adjustor  48  into or out of the regulator housing  42 , which changes the load of the spring (not shown) operatively engaged with the rotatable adjustor  48 , which changes the selectable output pressure of the convertible regulator  40 . 
     A transmission  60  may have some mechanical ratio, or mechanical advantage whereby, an angular displacement, angular velocity, angular acceleration, moment, or torque induced in a first component results in a proportionate angular displacement, angular velocity, angular acceleration, moment, or torque in a second component where the proportion may be greater than one, one, or some fraction. In certain embodiments, the mechanical ratio is substantially constant over the range of motion of the transmission. For sake of illustration only, and without limitation, referring to  FIG. 4 , first gear  62  is substantially larger than second gear  64 , such that an angular displacement of the first gear of some number of degrees, theta degrees, results in an angular displacement of the second gear of some number of degrees substantially larger than theta degrees. For sake of illustration only, and without limitation, if the diameter of the first gear  60  is four times that of the second gear  64 , then an angular displacement of the first gear by  90  degrees will result in an angular displacement of the second gear of  360  degrees. 
     The type of transmission that may be used to engage the diverter with the rotatable adjustor  48  is subject to engineering judgment. In certain embodiments, the mechanical ratio is not substantially constant over the range of motion of the transmission. Without limitation, certain mechanisms and linkages can be used as a transmission  60  which would allow transmission of motion in which the mechanical ratio would not be substantially constant over the range of motion of the transmission  60 . Without limitation, transmissions in which the mechanical ratio is not substantially constant over the range of motion of the transmission comprise four bar linkages, and other mechanisms and linkages. 
     In certain embodiments, without limitation, in operation, either natural gas or propane is selected for supply to the fuel conversion system  10 . Selection of the type of fuel determines to which of the outlet  30 ,  31 ,  32 ,  33  the fuel should be issued. Selection of natural gas requires that the diverter (not shown) be adjusted to provide fluid communication between inlets  28 ,  29  and outlets  30  and  31 . Adjustment of the diverter (not shown) may be done by rotation of first gear  62  using a hex wrench (not shown) to apply work to work input region  66 . Rotation of first gear  62  results in rotation of second gear  64 , rotation of the rotatable adjuster  48 , a change in the load of the spring (not shown) and thereby a change in the selectable output pressure of the convertible regulator  40 . By adjusting the diverter to provide fluid communication between inlets  28 ,  29  and outlets  30  and  31 , the selectable output pressure of the convertible regulator  40  may be simultaneously adjusted to provide a pressure appropriate for the supply of natural gas. Similarly, selection of propane requires that the diverter (not shown) be adjusted to provide fluid communication between inlets  28 ,  29  and outlets  32  and  33 . Adjustment of the diverter (not shown) may be done by rotation of first gear  62  using a hex wrench (not shown) to apply work to work input region  66 . Rotation of first gear  62  results in rotation of second gear  64 , rotation of the rotatable adjuster  48 , a change in the load of the spring (not shown) and thereby a change in the selectable output pressure of the convertible regulator  40 . By adjusting the diverter to provide fluid communication between inlets  28 ,  29  and outlets  32  and  33 , the selectable output pressure of the convertible regulator  40  may be simultaneously adjusted to provide a pressure appropriate for the supply of propane. 
     By careful selection of placement of the outlets  30 ,  31 ,  32 ,  33 , or by careful selection of the components of the transmission  60 , or by careful selection of the components of the rotatable adjuster  48 , or by some combination thereof, adjustment of the diverter for a particular fuel will result in simultaneous adjustment of the convertible regulator  40  to provide a pressure appropriate for the particular fuel. 
     While the fuel conversion system  10  has been described above in connection with the certain embodiments, it is to be understood that other embodiments may be used or modifications and additions may be made to the described embodiments for performing the same function of the fuel conversion system without deviating therefrom. Further, the fuel conversion system may include embodiments disclosed but not described in exacting detail. Further, all embodiments disclosed are not necessarily in the alternative, as various embodiments may be combined to provide the desired characteristics. Variations can be made by one having ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the fuel conversion system. Therefore, the fuel conversion system should not be limited to any single embodiment, but rather construed in breadth and scope in accordance with the recitation of the attached claims.