Fuel tank for storing and dispensing hydrogen and oxygen gas to a fuel cell
AssigneeThe Babcock & Wilcox Company
InventorsWilliam J. Bees, Joseph J. Mascolino, Robert D. Klingensmith
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A dual-gas fuel tank assembly for a fuel cell driven vehicle wherein the fuel tank is interposed within the vehicle frame as an integral portion thereof with the tank assembly having a plurality of cylindrical pressure tanks of composite material construction for containing oxygen gas and the cylindrical tanks being partially nested within the tank assembly housing to leave substantial space around the pressure tanks for storing metal hydride powder therein for producing hydrogen gas to the fuel cell upon application of heat thereto.
Claims19
A dual-gas fuel tank assembly for powering a fuel cell driven vehicle, comprising:
- a fuel tank housing having a plurality of cylindrical pressure tanks therein for storing oxygen fuel for the fuel cell of the vehicle;
- metal hydride being placed within said fuel tank housing to fill the space around said pressure tanks and to act as a hydrogen source for the fuel cell of the vehicle;
- and
- means for mounting said tank housing to the vehicle allowing it to act as a structural member for the vehicle.
A dual-gas fuel tank assembly for a fuel cell driven vehicle comprising:
- a tank housing positioned within side rails of a frame of a vehicle, said tank housing maintaining a plurality of oxygen gas pressure tanks therein and having space around said tanks for containing metal hydride;
- channel members extending from opposite ends of said tank housing and being securely engaged to respective ends of said side rails on opposite sides;
- and
- means for securing said tank housing to a floor of the vehicle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.