公开(公告)号：US11414199B2

公开(公告)日：2022-08-16

申请号：US16290704

申请日：2019-03-01

Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.

Inventor： Joseph Dean Rainville ,  John Richard McCullough

IPC: B64D29/06 ,  B64C27/26 ,  B64C29/02 ,  B64C39/02 ,  B60L58/30 ,  B64D27/24

Abstract: A line-replaceable thrust module includes a nacelle configured to be mechanically connected to an anchoring location of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), an electric motor coupled to the nacelle, an electric speed controller configured to control the speed of the electric motor and configured to be electrically connected to a communication network of the UAV, and a fuel cell system configured to produce electrical energy from an electrochemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen. The fuel cell system includes a fuel cell, a hydrogen tank, a pressure regulator coupled to the hydrogen tank, and a supply line coupled between the pressure regulator and the fuel cell.

公开(公告)号：US20200277069A1

公开(公告)日：2020-09-03

申请号：US16290704

申请日：2019-03-01

Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.

Inventor： Joseph Dean Rainville ,  John Richard McCullough

IPC: B64D29/06 ,  B64C27/26 ,  B64C29/02 ,  B64C39/02 ,  B64D27/24 ,  B60L58/30

Abstract: A line-replaceable thrust module includes a nacelle configured to be mechanically connected to an anchoring location of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), an electric motor coupled to the nacelle, an electric speed controller configured to control the speed of the electric motor and configured to be electrically connected to a communication network of the UAV, and a fuel cell system configured to produce electrical energy from an electrochemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen. The fuel cell system includes a fuel cell, a hydrogen tank, a pressure regulator coupled to the hydrogen tank, and a supply line coupled between the pressure regulator and the fuel cell.

公开(公告)号：US11365012B2

公开(公告)日：2022-06-21

申请号：US16214735

申请日：2018-12-10

Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.

Inventor： Joseph Dean Rainville

IPC: B64D31/00 ,  H01M8/04082 ,  H01M8/04746 ,  H01M8/04313 ,  B64D33/08 ,  B64C39/02 ,  B60L58/33 ,  B60L58/00 ,  B64D27/24 ,  H01M8/04029

Abstract: An aircraft that includes a fuselage, an electric motor driven propulsion system, and a fuel cell system configured to provide electricity to the electric motor. The fuel cell system includes a fuel cell, a hydrogen tank, an oxygen tank, an air channel, and a cathode switch. The cathode switch being configured to convert between an air mode, wherein the fuel cell operates utilizing air from the air channel, and an oxygen mode, wherein the fuel cell operates utilizing oxygen from the oxygen tank.

公开(公告)号：US20200313209A1

公开(公告)日：2020-10-01

申请号：US16372341

申请日：2019-04-01

Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.

Inventor： Joseph Dean Rainville ,  William Ben Johns

IPC: H01M8/04082 ,  F17C1/14 ,  H01M8/04089 ,  B64C39/02

Abstract: A tank configured to store a pressurized gas therein and carry a structural load between components of a vehicle.

公开(公告)号：US20200180940A1

公开(公告)日：2020-06-11

申请号：US16214784

申请日：2018-12-10

Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.

Inventor： Joseph Dean Rainville

IPC: B67D7/04 ,  B64D37/30 ,  B64F1/28 ,  B64D37/04 ,  B64D37/16

Abstract: A system and a method for mobilized autonomous hydrogen refueling of vertical lift aircraft using a framed landing pad with sensors, an onboard hydrogen storage tank, an onboard refueling arm configured to couple the hydrogen storage tank to the aircraft and an onboard controller configured to control a flow of fuel from the hydrogen storage tank to the aircraft.

公开(公告)号：US20200180774A1

公开(公告)日：2020-06-11

申请号：US16214735

申请日：2018-12-10

Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.

Inventor： Joseph Dean Rainville

IPC: B64D31/00 ,  H01M8/04082 ,  H01M8/04746 ,  H01M8/04313 ,  B64C39/02 ,  B64D33/08

Abstract: An aircraft that includes a fuselage, an electric motor driven propulsion system, and a fuel cell system configured to provide electricity to the electric motor. The fuel cell system includes a fuel cell, a hydrogen tank, an oxygen tank, an air channel, and a cathode switch. The cathode switch being configured to convert between an air mode, wherein the fuel cell operates utilizing air from the air channel, and an oxygen mode, wherein the fuel cell operates utilizing oxygen from the oxygen tank.

公开(公告)号：US11685536B2

公开(公告)日：2023-06-27

申请号：US16257726

申请日：2019-01-25

Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.

Inventor： Joseph Dean Rainville

IPC: B64D27/24 ,  B64C27/04 ,  H01M8/04537 ,  B64D41/00 ,  H01M8/04858

CPC classification number: B64D27/24 ,  B64C27/04 ,  B64D41/00 ,  H01M8/04552 ,  H01M8/04567 ,  H01M8/04873 ,  B64D2041/005 ,  B64D2221/00 ,  H01M2250/20

Abstract: A fuel-cell system at 540 VDC for powering an electrical load of a rotorcraft with a first fuel cell and a second fuel cell. Each fuel cell is configured identically and features a positive electrical node and a negative electrical node. Each fuel cell is configured to provide one half of the electrical load of the rotorcraft and one half of the voltage of the electrical load.

公开(公告)号：US11453514B2

公开(公告)日：2022-09-27

申请号：US16214765

申请日：2018-12-10

Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.

Inventor： Joseph Dean Rainville

IPC: B64F1/28 ,  B64D37/30

Abstract: A system and a method for autonomous hydrogen refueling of vertical lift aircraft using a landing pad with sensors, a hydrogen storage tank, a refueling arm configured to couple the hydrogen storage tank to the aircraft and a controller configured to control a flow of fuel from the hydrogen storage tank to the aircraft.

公开(公告)号：US20200239148A1

公开(公告)日：2020-07-30

申请号：US16257726

申请日：2019-01-25

Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.

Inventor： Joseph Dean Rainville

IPC: B64D27/24 ,  B64C27/04 ,  H01M8/04537 ,  H01M8/04858 ,  B64D41/00

Abstract: A fuel-cell system at 540 VDC for powering an electrical load of a rotorcraft with a first fuel cell and a second fuel cell. Each fuel cell is configured identically and features a positive electrical node and a negative electrical node. Each fuel cell is configured to provide one half of the electrical load of the rotorcraft and one half of the voltage of the electrical load.

公开(公告)号：US11745881B2

公开(公告)日：2023-09-05

申请号：US16257750

申请日：2019-01-25

Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.

Inventor： Joseph Dean Rainville

IPC: B64D27/24 ,  H01M8/04537 ,  H01M8/04858 ,  H01M8/04664 ,  B64C27/04 ,  B64D41/00

CPC classification number: B64D27/24 ,  B64C27/04 ,  B64D41/00 ,  H01M8/0488 ,  H01M8/04559 ,  H01M8/04567 ,  H01M8/04679 ,  B64D2041/005 ,  H01M2250/20

Abstract: A stack fuel cell array featuring paired fuel-cell systems combined to generate 540 VDC for a rotorcraft. Power from the hydrogen-based fuel cells is provided to the rotorcraft. A rated electrical load of the rotorcraft helps determine how many paired fuel-cell systems are needed during any fuel-cell systems failures. Each of the paired fuel-cell systems is coupled to an electrical load of the rotorcraft. The system detects any fuel cell failures and removes other working fuel cells as needed to balance the electrical system.