# US 12,000,404 B1 · Inrunner axial compressor > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,000,404 B1 - Document ID: US12000404B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 18/458,787 - Filed: 2023-08-30 - Granted: 2024-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2023-08-30 - Assignees: ZeroAvia, Inc. - Applicants: ZeroAvia, Inc. - Inventors: Jonathan Leopold Nutzati Fontaine - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12000404B1 ## CPC - F04D 25/06: the pump being electrically driven (F04D25/08 takes precedence) - H01M 8/04111: using a compressor turbine assembly - B64D 27/355: using fuel cells - F04D 19/02: Multi-stage pumps - F04D 29/5806: {Cooling the drive system} - B64D 27/34: All-electric aircraft - H01M 2250/20: Fuel cells in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane - F04D: NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT PUMPS (engine fuel-injection pumps F02M; ion pumps H01J41/12; electrodynamic pumps H02K44/02) - H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY - B64D: EQUIPMENT FOR FITTING IN OR TO AIRCRAFT; FLIGHT SUITS; PARACHUTES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF POWER PLANTS OR PROPULSION TRANSMISSIONS IN AIRCRAFT ## Abstract A fuel-cell-powered vehicle includes an electrically-powered turbine assembly having a housing, a rotating shaft, an air compressor comprising a compressor stator fixed to the housing and a compressor rotor fixed to the rotating shaft, an electric motor including an electric motor stator fixed to the compressor stator and an electric motor rotor fixed to the rotating shaft, a turbine including a turbine stator affixed to the housing, a turbine rotor fixed to the rotating shaft, and two or more fuel cells arranged around an outside of the electrically-powered turbine assembly. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A fuel-cell-powered vehicle comprising an electrically-powered turbine assembly comprising: a housing; a rotating shaft; an air compressor comprising a compressor stator fixed to the housing and a compressor rotor fixed to the rotating shaft; an electric motor including an electric motor stator fixed to the compressor stator, and an electric motor rotor fixed to the rotating shaft; a turbine including a turbine stator fixed to the housing, and a turbine rotor fixed to the rotating shaft, and one or more filet cells arranged around an outside of the electrically-powered turbine assembly, wherein anode exhaust from the one or more fuel cells is configured to be passed to the turbine. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The fuel-cell-powered vehicle of claim 1, wherein the compressor stator has a passage configured to carry a fluid. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The fuel-cell-powered vehicle of claim 2, wherein the fluid comprises a thermal transfer fluid. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The fuel-cell-powered vehicle of claim 1, wherein the fuel cell comprises a hydrogen fuel cell, wherein the rotating shaft is configured to carry liquid hydrogen to cool the electric motor windings. ### Claim 5 A fuel-cell-powered vehicle comprising an electrically-powered turbine assembly comprising: a housing; a rotating shaft; an air compressor comprising a compressor stator fixed to the housing and a compressor rotor fixed to the rotating shaft; an electric motor including an electric motor stator fixed to the compressor stator, and an electric motor rotor fixed to the rotating shaft; a turbine including a turbine stator fixed to the housing, and a turbine rotor fixed to the rotating shaft; one or more fuel cells arranged around an outside of the electrically-powered turbine assembly; and one or more inverters electrically connected to the electric motors, wherein the one or more inverters include cooling fins extending into the housing and into cooling airflow from the air compressor. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The fuel-cell-powered vehicle of claim 5, wherein the air compressor is configured to deliver air to a cathode side of the one or more fuel cells. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The fuel-cell-powered vehicle of claim 5, wherein the electric motor stator includes fins configured to be cooled by airflow from the compressor. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The fuel-cell-powered vehicle of claim 5, wherein the vehicle is an aircraft. ### Claim 9 (depends on 5) The fuel-cell-powered vehicle of claim 5, wherein an electric motor or generator is affixed to the turbine stator, and a turbine rotor is fixed to the motor or generator rotor. ### Claim 10 (depends on 5) The fuel-cell-powered vehicle of claim 5, wherein the electric motor rotor, the compressor rotor, and the turbine rotor are mechanically linked together via the rotating shaft. ### Claim 11 (depends on 5) The fuel-cell-powered vehicle of claim 5, wherein the compressor stator is configured for carrying an electric current. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The fuel-cell-powered vehicle of claim 11, wherein the compressor stator has a passage configured to accommodate an electrical conduit within the compressor stator. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The fuel-cell-powered vehicle of claim 11, wherein the compressor stator is formed of an electrically conductive material and is configured to carry an electrical current. ### Claim 14 (depends on 5) The fuel-cell-powered vehicle of claim 5, wherein the compressor stator has a passage configured to carry a fluid. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The fuel-cell-powered vehicle of claim 14, wherein the fluid comprises a thermal transfer fluid. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The fuel-cell-powered vehicle of claim 14, wherein the fluid comprises a lubricant. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The fuel-cell-powered vehicle of claim 16, wherein the lubricant forms a fluid dynamic bearing for supporting the rotating shaft. ### Claim 18 (depends on 5) The fuel-cell-powered vehicle of claim 5, wherein the electric motor stator includes cooling fins. ### Claim 19 (depends on 5) The fuel-cell-powered vehicle of claim 5, wherein the rotating shaft comprises a segmented shaft, wherein the shaft segments are mechanically coupled to one another. ### Claim 20 (depends on 5) The fuel-cell-powered vehicle of claim 5; wherein the fuel cell comprises a hydrogen fuel cell, wherein the rotating shaft is configured to carry liquid hydrogen to cool the electric motor windings.