Patent · US Expired

Level indicator for liquid hydrogen tank

US7159456B2 · kind B2 · utility

2Cited by

7References

17Claims

0Family size

Assignee

General Motors LLC · US

Inventors

Rainer Pechtold · Idstein, DE
Andreas Koenekamp · Darmstadt, DE
Hartmut Stengelin · Mainz, DE
Andy Kraemer · Gerolzhofen, DE

Key dates

Filing date	Dec 10, 2004
Grant date	Jan 9, 2007
Priority date	—
Expiry date	May 24, 2025

Classification

Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
CPC primaryY02E60/32
WIPO fieldMeasurement
WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A liquid hydrogen tank assembly that employs a level sensor inductively coupled through the tank walls so as to minimize one conductive heat path through the tank walls. The tank assembly includes an inner tank and an outer tank having a vacuum layer therebetween to maintain the liquid hydrogen within the inner tank under cryogenic temperatures. A capacitive level sensor is positioned within the inner tank and provides an electrical indication of the level of the liquid hydrogen within the inner tank. The level sensor is electrically coupled to an inner coil within the inner tank. An outer coil is provided proximate the outer tank wall and is electrically coupled to a signal processing and conditioning circuit.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.