Invention Grant
- Patent Title: In-water refueling system for unmanned undersea vehicles with fuel cell propulsion
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Application No.: US16557214Application Date: 2019-08-30
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Publication No.: US10731549B1Publication Date: 2020-08-04
- Inventor: Benjamin Wilcox
- Applicant: The United States of America, as Represented by the Secretary of the Navy
- Applicant Address: US DC Washington
- Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
- Current Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
- Current Assignee Address: US DC Washington
- Agency: Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division
- Agent Jimmy M. Sauz
- Main IPC: B63G8/08
- IPC: B63G8/08 ; F02B43/10 ; B63G8/00 ; G01L19/00 ; G01K13/02

Abstract:
An in-water refueling system for unmanned undersea vehicles with fuel cell propulsion. The in-water refueling system may store a liquid such as water at constant pressure and may dispense gases such as hydrogen or oxygen for refueling. In its basic configuration, the in-water refueling system may comprise a tank with an interior space for storing the liquid; a pump for regulating the flow of liquid into the interior space of the tank; an electrolysis stack assembly for converting the liquid into one or more gases; and open-bottom cylinders for storing and dispensing the gases. Each open-bottom cylinder may comprise a float sensor for determining the amount of fluids entering its cylindrical space. The in-water refueling system may further comprise a controller for regulating a temperature and a fluid pressure in the tank. Dispense lines and valves may be utilized to release the gases from the tank.
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