US 12,241,434 B2
Hydrogen fuel system
Curtis J Caldwell, Metamora, IL (US); Seth Ost, Tucson, AZ (US); and Brian Kacynski, Washington, IL (US)
Assigned to Caterpillar Inc., Peoria, IL (US)
Filed by Caterpillar Inc., Peoria, IL (US)
Filed on Aug. 1, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/228,869.
Prior Publication US 2025/0043752 A1, Feb. 6, 2025
Int. Cl. B60L 50/75 (2019.01); E02F 9/08 (2006.01); F02M 21/02 (2006.01)
CPC F02M 21/0206 (2013.01) [E02F 9/0883 (2013.01); F02M 21/0221 (2013.01); F02M 21/0239 (2013.01); F02M 21/0242 (2013.01); F02M 21/0293 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A hydrogen fuel system for a work machine comprising:
a hydrogen storage tank containing hydrogen, the hydrogen being at least one of a liquid hydrogen or a gaseous hydrogen;
a hydrogen power unit configured to consume the hydrogen from the hydrogen storage tank, the hydrogen power unit including at least one of a plurality of fuel cells or a hydrogen combustion engine;
a boil-off pressure relief valve in fluid communication with the hydrogen storage tank; and
a tank pressure sensor in communication with the boil-off pressure relief valve, the boil-off pressure relief valve being configured to, when the tank pressure sensor detects a first pressure inside the hydrogen storage tank that exceeds a boil-off pressure threshold, vent the gaseous hydrogen to a boil-off fuel line fluidly connected to the hydrogen power unit, while the work machine is in an inactive state.