UNMANNED UNDERWATER VEHICLE FUEL CELL POWERED CHARGING SYSTEM AND METHOD
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A charging system for an unmanned underwater vehicle, comprising:
- an electrical port adapted to electrically couple to an unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV);
a fuel source;
a fuel cell adapted to selectively receive fuel from the fuel source and configured, upon receipt thereof, to generate electrical power;
a battery; and
a controller adapted to receive a UUV docking signal that indicates at least when the electrical port is electrically coupled to at least a portion of the UUV and one or more signals representative of at least a state of charge of the battery, the controller operable, in response to the UUV docking signal, to (i) selectively fluidly couple the fuel cell to the fuel source and (ii) selectively electrically couple the fuel cell to the electrical port, and further operable, in response to the one or more signals representative of at least a state of charge of the battery, to selectively electrically couple the fuel cell to the battery, to thereby recharge the battery to a predetermined state of charge.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A charging system for an unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) is disposed within a submerged docking station. The charging system includes a battery, a fuel cell, a fuel source, and a charge controller. The battery supplies electrical power to an electrical distribution bus in the docking station. The charge controller monitors the charge state of the battery and, when needed, activates the fuel cell to recharge the battery. The charge controller also activates the fuel cell when a UUV is docked in the docking station for recharging of its power plant.
33 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A charging system for an unmanned underwater vehicle, comprising:
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an electrical port adapted to electrically couple to an unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV);
a fuel source;
a fuel cell adapted to selectively receive fuel from the fuel source and configured, upon receipt thereof, to generate electrical power;
a battery; and
a controller adapted to receive a UUV docking signal that indicates at least when the electrical port is electrically coupled to at least a portion of the UUV and one or more signals representative of at least a state of charge of the battery, the controller operable, in response to the UUV docking signal, to (i) selectively fluidly couple the fuel cell to the fuel source and (ii) selectively electrically couple the fuel cell to the electrical port, and further operable, in response to the one or more signals representative of at least a state of charge of the battery, to selectively electrically couple the fuel cell to the battery, to thereby recharge the battery to a predetermined state of charge. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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2. (canceled)
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11. A docking station for an unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV), comprising:
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a housing;
a UUV docking port disposed within the housing and configured to dock a UUV therein;
an electrical port disposed at least partially within the UUV docking port, the electrical port adapted to electrically couple to a docked UUV;
a fuel source coupled to the housing;
a fuel cell disposed within the housing, the fuel cell adapted to selectively receive fuel from the fuel source and configured, upon receipt thereof, to generate electrical power;
a battery; and
a charge controller adapted to receive a UUV docking signal that indicates at least when the electrical port is electrically coupled to the docked UUV and one or more signals representative of at least a state of charge of the battery, the charge controller operable, in response to the UUV docking signal, to (i) selectively fluidly couple the fuel cell to the fuel source and (ii) selectively electrically couple the fuel cell to the electrical port, and further operable, in response to the one or more signals representative of at least a state of charge of the battery, to selectively electrically couple the fuel cell to the battery, to thereby recharge the battery to a predetermined state of charge. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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14. (canceled)
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23. A method of charging a power source in an unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV), comprising the steps of:
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electrically coupling an electrical port to at least a portion of the UUV power source;
supplying fuel to a fuel cell that is configured to generate electrical power upon receipt of the fuel; and
electrically coupling the fuel cell to the electrical port, to thereby charge the UUV power source using at least the fuel cell;
determining a state of charge of a battery; and
,based at least in part on the determined state of charge, selectively supplying the fuel to the fuel cell and selectively electrically coupling the fuel cell to the battery, to thereby recharge the battery to a predetermined state of charge. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27)
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24. (canceled)
Specification