Long endurance hydrogen powered vehicle

US7806365B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• The Boeing Company · US

Inventors

• Gerald D. Miller · Macungie, US
• Wesley Moore · Seattle, US
• Adrian Viisoreanu · Kent, US
• Russell W. Morris · Redmond, US
• Ronald Davidson · Clamart, FR
• Shailesh Atreya · Orange, US
• Albert D. Olsen · Chicago, US
• William J. Bigbee-Hansen · Renton, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 5, 2006
• Grant date: Oct 5, 2010
• Expiry date: Mar 16, 2027

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02T90/40
• WIPO field: Transport
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

Hydrogen powered air vehicles that in some embodiments can fly with very long endurance (10 or more days) at altitudes over 60,000 ft carrying payloads of up to 2,000 pounds. Embodiments may include features such as large wingspan relative to fuselage and an all composite or partial composite structure for light weight and strength. The aircraft of the invention use one or more internal combustion engines adapted for hydrogen combustion, each engine driving propellers. The hydrogen fuel is stored on board in containers, located within the fuselage, as a cryogenic liquid, and is vaporized in a heat exchanger before delivery to the internal combustion engine.