Engineered Controls International, LLC

A cleaning nozzle for cleaning a fueling receptacle capable of receiving a separate fueling nozzle for transferring cryogenic fluid from a fueling station is disclosed. An example cleaning nozzle includes a body that defines a cavity. The example cleaning nozzle includes a nozzle head coupled to and extending from a distal end of the body. The nozzle head defines a plurality of spray holes to spray pressurized air onto the fueling receptacle. The example cleaning nozzle includes a blower that defines a blower inlet, a blower outlet, and a blower flow path extending between the blower inlet and the blower outlet. The blower comprises a valve and a lever operatively coupled to the valve. The example cleaning nozzle includes an insert defining an insert flow path that is fluidly coupled to the blower outlet. The example cleaning nozzle includes a connector fluidly connecting the insert and the nozzle head.

Pressure relief valves for liquid hydrogen tanks are disclosed. An example pressure relief valve includes a valve body defining a chamber. A seat body defines a valve seat positioned within the chamber. A valve disc includes a flange and defines a sealing surface. The valve disc is configured to engage the valve seat in a closed position. A guide includes a first guide end and a second guide end. The first guide end defines a recessed surface that securely receives the flange of the valve disc. A retainer is coupled to the guide and defines an inner ledge. The flange of the valve disc is secured between the inner ledge and the first guide end. A cap is coupled to the valve body within the chamber. A spring extends between and engages the cap and the second guide end to bias the valve disc to the closed position.

Automated nozzles for cryogenic fluid transfer are disclosed. A nozzle includes a flow body. The nozzle includes a rotating sleeve configured to rotate about the flow body. The rotating sleeve defines cam slot(s) configured to slidably receive respective teeth of a receptacle as the rotating sleeve is rotated from an unlocked position to a locked position. The rotating sleeve defines cutouts and includes helical guide rails. Each of the helical guide rails is located at an innermost wall defining a respective one of the cutouts. The nozzle includes locking/unlocking actuators. Each of the locking/unlocking actuators includes a shaft configured to engage and push against a respective one of the helical guide rails to cause the rotating sleeve to rotate between the unlocked position and the locked position.

A combination regulator valve for conveying fluid is disclosed. A valve for conveying fluid includes a body, a bonnet secured to the body, a diaphragm compressed between the bonnet and the body, and a bonnet screw that is ring-shaped and configured to thread into the body to secure the bonnet with respect to the body.

Methods and apparatus are disclosed for a coupling nozzle for cryogenic fluid. A nozzle for cryogenic fluid includes a flow body, a flow control assembly, a first linear actuator, and a locking actuator. The flow body defines a conduit. The flow control assembly is at least partially disposed in the conduit of the flow body. The flow control assembly is configured to transition between an open position and a closed position to permit and prevent, respectively, the cryogenic fluid to flow through the flow body. The first linear actuator includes an actuator body and a first shaft. The first shaft is configured to slide between an extended position and a contracted position to transition the flow control assembly between the open position and the closed position, respectively. The locking actuator is for locking the nozzle to a receptacle in an automated manner.

A low-emission nozzle and receptacle coupling for cryogenic fluid is disclosed. A nozzle includes a body, a shaft, a poppet eat, and a poppet. The body includes an outer shell, body segment(s), and interior walls sealingly coupled together. At least one of the interior walls is coupled to the outer shell. The interior walls extend longitudinally back-and-forth in a zig-zag pattern to define an elongated conduction path between the chamber and an exterior of the nozzle to impede a heat leak between the chamber and the exterior. The shaft is housed within and slidably extends through the chamber. The poppet is coupled to the shaft and is configured to engage a receptacle poppet when the receptacle is coupled to the nozzle. The poppet is configured to engage the poppet seat in a closed position and be disengaged from the poppet seat in an open position.

Shut-off valves for cryogenic fluids are disclosed herein. A shut-off valve includes a body that defines void(s) in fluid communication with a valve inlet and a valve outlet. The shut-off valve includes a valve seat defined by the body, a housing connected to the body, and a valve spindle disposed within the housing. The valve spindle includes a seat disc configured to sealingly engage with the valve seat. The shut-off valve includes a buffer composed of a cryogenic temperature resistant material circumferentially surrounding and connected to at least a portion of the valve spindle and slidingly engaged with an internal surface of the housing. The shut-off valve includes a valve actuating member operatively connected to the valve spindle and configured to cause an axial movement of the valve spindle, the seat disc, and the buffer to control a flow of a fluid.

A cryogenic cylinder control system for regulating fluid within a cryogenic cylinder is disclosed. The system includes a pressure relief and vent module fluidly connectable to a head space above liquid within the cryogenic cylinder, a manual valve module fluidly connectable to the liquid within the cryogenic cylinder and to an external device, a solenoid valve module fluidly connectable to the manual valve module and to the head space within the cryogenic cylinder, a build-up coil fluidly connectable to the manual valve module and to the solenoid valve module, and a controller operatively connected to the solenoid valve module to control fluid flow through the solenoid valve module.

A cleaning receptacle for cleaning a fueling nozzle used to transfer cryogenic fluid is disclosed. An example cleaning receptacle includes an outer body. The outer body includes an outer wall that extends circumferentially around a center axis of the cleaning receptacle. The outer wall has a first inner surface. The outer body includes a plurality of locating members extending inwardly from the first inner surface toward the center axis. The example cleaning receptacle includes a flow body. The flow body includes a second inner surface that defines a cavity and a lip at an outer end of the flow body. The example cleaning receptacle includes a spray body disposed at an inner end of the flow body. The spray body includes a spray head that defines a plurality of spray holes configured to spray air through the cavity of the flow body and onto surfaces of the fueling nozzle.