Patents by Inventor David Southwick
David Southwick has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 9728790Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosing providing for a fuel cell (“FC”) stack assembly utilizing bus bars that accommodate for variations in FC stack heights during assembly. In some embodiments, bus bars consistent with embodiments disclosed herein may be integrally formed with terminal plates out of a single piece of conductive material. Further embodiments of the bus bars disclosed herein may include structures configured to facilitating cooling of the bus bars during operation of the FC system.Type: GrantFiled: October 9, 2013Date of Patent: August 8, 2017Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: David A. Martinchek, David A. Southwick
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Patent number: 9225033Abstract: A fuel cell system having compression retention features that functions dually to provide compression retention and to provide structural sealing and vehicle mounting capability, eliminating the bulk of an additional structural enclosure while retaining the balance of plant simplicity associated with the use of structural enclosures. The fuel cell system has fuel cells disposed between a dry end unit plate and a wet end unit plate and a compression retention system with a pair of opposing end caps and a pair of opposing side panels such that wet end unit plate is fixedly secured to the opposing end caps and the dry end unit plate is adjustably secured to the opposing end caps. Methods for eliminating the effect of stack height variance and balance of plant tolerances on fuel cell system installation are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 2013Date of Patent: December 29, 2015Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: David A. Martinchek, David A. Southwick
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Publication number: 20150099213Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosing providing for a fuel cell (“FC”) stack assembly utilizing bus bars that accommodate for variations in FC stack heights during assembly. In some embodiments, bus bars consistent with embodiments disclosed herein may be integrally formed with terminal plates out of a single piece of conductive material. Further embodiments of the bus bars disclosed herein may include structures configured to facilitating cooling of the bus bars during operation of the FC system.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 9, 2013Publication date: April 9, 2015Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: DAVID A. MARTINCHEK, DAVID A. SOUTHWICK
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Publication number: 20140349205Abstract: A fuel cell system having compression retention features that functions dually to provide compression retention and to provide structural sealing and vehicle mounting capability, eliminating the bulk of an additional structural enclosure while retaining the balance of plant simplicity associated with the use of structural enclosures. The fuel cell system has fuel cells disposed between a dry end unit plate and a wet end unit plate and a compression retention system with a pair of opposing end caps and a pair of opposing side panels such that wet end unit plate is fixedly secured to the opposing end caps and the dry end unit plate is adjustably secured to the opposing end caps. Methods for eliminating the effect of stack height variance and balance of plant tolerances on fuel cell system installation are also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 22, 2013Publication date: November 27, 2014Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: David A. Martinchek, David A. Southwick
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Patent number: 7484555Abstract: A heat exchanger assembly includes a first and second manifold. Each of the manifolds includes a tubular wall and a pair of manifold ends spaced from each other defining a flow path. A plurality of flow tubes extend between the manifolds and are in fluid communication with the flow paths. An insert is slidably disposed in the flow path of the first manifold. The insert divides the flow path into a plurality of chambers. The chambers and the flow tubes cooperate to establish a plurality of flow passes. The flow passes are for directing a heat exchange fluid through the heat exchanger assembly. The chambers are useful for orienting and connecting plumbing connections at various locations along the manifolds.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 2006Date of Patent: February 3, 2009Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Henry Earl Beamer, David A. Southwick
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Publication number: 20080023186Abstract: A heat exchanger assembly includes a first and second manifold. Each of the manifolds includes a tubular wall and a pair of manifold ends spaced from each other defining a flow path. A plurality of flow tubes extend between the manifolds and are in fluid communication with the flow paths. An insert is slidably disposed in the flow path of the first manifold. The insert divides the flow path into a plurality of chambers. The chambers and the flow tubes cooperate to establish a plurality of flow passes. The flow passes are for directing a heat exchange fluid through the heat exchanger assembly. The chambers are useful for orienting and connecting plumbing connections at various locations along the manifolds.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 6, 2006Publication date: January 31, 2008Inventors: Henry Earl Beamer, David A. Southwick
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Patent number: 7260893Abstract: A secondary heat exchanger subassembly, such as a transmission oil cooler, is disposed in a metal tank of a radiator and has a pair of metal fluid fittings. Either a connector ring engages a fitting extending through the opening in the tank or a connector nut extends into the opening to threadedly engage the fitting whereby the metal fittings are held to the metal tank and inserted into a furnace for being brazed into sealed relationship with the metal tank.Type: GrantFiled: January 9, 2004Date of Patent: August 28, 2007Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Chris A. Calhoun, Terry Joseph Hunt, David A. Southwick, Karl Paul Kroetsch, Krzysztof Wawrocki, Khalid El Moutamid, Yusuke Matsunaga, Laurent Art
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Patent number: 7213412Abstract: A condenser for an air conditioning system includes a receiver integrally formed with a second, or return, header which is in fluid communication with a second, or sub-cooling, group of tubes. A conduit extends between entry and discharge ends both of which are completely enclosed within the interior of the receiver. The conduit transports a refrigerant fluid in an upflow direction within the interior of the receiver and through a second fluid port located adjacent the discharge end of the conduit for directing the fluid into and through the return header to the sub-cooling group of tubes.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 2005Date of Patent: May 8, 2007Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Scott Edward Kent, Lawrence P. Scherer, David A. Southwick
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Patent number: 7152669Abstract: An end cap closes the open end of the tank. The end cap is comprised of an inlet diverter wall and tube diverter wall. The inlet diverter wall extends into the tank across the inlet axis for redirecting fluid from the inlet and longitudinally into the tank along the end of the core. The tube diverter wall also extends longitudinally into the tank in a spaced relationship to the tubes of the core for directing fluid out of the tubes and longitudinally into the tank. A first embodiment of the invention provides tube diverter walls that are planar. A second embodiment of the invention provides tube diverter walls that are curved.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2003Date of Patent: December 26, 2006Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Karl Paul Kroetsch, David A. Southwick
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Patent number: 7147040Abstract: A heat exchanger is disclosed. A plurality of guides are integrally formed with the walls of a header tank and are used to position an oil cooler inside the tank to align a pair of fittings carried by the cooler with a pair of spaced openings in the tank.Type: GrantFiled: January 8, 2004Date of Patent: December 12, 2006Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Chris A. Calhoun, Terry Joseph Hunt, David A. Southwick, Karl Paul Kroetsch, Krzysztof Wawrocki, Khalid El Moutamid, Yusuke Matsunaga, Laurent Art
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Publication number: 20060242993Abstract: A condenser for an air conditioning system includes a receiver integrally formed with a second, or return, header which is in fluid communication with a second, or sub-cooling, group of tubes. A conduit extends between entry and discharge ends both of which are completely enclosed within the interior of the receiver. The conduit transports a refrigerant fluid in an upflow direction within the interior of the receiver and through a second fluid port located adjacent the discharge end of the conduit for directing the fluid into and through the return header to the sub-cooling group of tubes.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 28, 2005Publication date: November 2, 2006Inventors: Scott Kent, Lawrence Scherer, David Southwick
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Patent number: 7117927Abstract: A mounting system for a heat exchanger assembly consisting of a plastic bracket secured to the heat exchanger after brazing and requires no additional fasteners. The bracket includes a pair of arms that extend over a reinforcement member and engage a core. The first arm presents a resilient finger extending in a cantilever fashion to a protrusion presenting a ramp. The ramp allows the finger to flex outward as the bracket is assembled over the reinforcement member until the ramp snaps over and engages an edge on the reinforcement member. A notch and hole on the reinforcement member align with a male post and a second section of the bracket to limit movement of the bracket relative to the heat exchanger assembly. The arms have aligned openings, to create an airway through the bracket.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 2004Date of Patent: October 10, 2006Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Scott Edward Kent, David A. Southwick
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Patent number: 7059050Abstract: A metal tank cap is integral with a reinforcing member via a narrow connection and is flared outwardly at the narrow connection portion to be over an open end of the tank simultaneously with moving the metal tubes of the core into the tank. By unbending the connection portion, the respective tank caps are deflared into the open ends of the respective tanks and the entire assembly is placed in a furnace and brazed together.Type: GrantFiled: January 8, 2004Date of Patent: June 13, 2006Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Chris A. Calhoun, Terry Joseph Hunt, David A. Southwick, Karl Paul Kroetsch, Krzysztof Wawrocki, Khalid El Moutamid, Yusuke Matsunaga, Laurent Art
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Patent number: 7036569Abstract: A metal tank cap is integral with a reinforcing member via a narrow connection and covers an open end of the tank with adjacent reinforcement members being spaced from one another along each side of the core. The reinforcing members each have a pair of flanges extending outwardly from the sides thereof and have openings therein for receiving mounting anchors.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2003Date of Patent: May 2, 2006Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Karl Paul Kroetsch, David A. Southwick, David W Patterson
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Patent number: 7024884Abstract: A condenser for an air conditioning system includes a core assembly having a header tank and a receiver/dehydrator member operably connected to the core assembly for condensing a refrigerant flowing internally. The receiver/dehydrator or receiver member includes two openings to receive male couplers extending from a tubular member connected to the core assembly. The condenser includes a coupler that extends into the receiver/dehydrator member between each opening and the male couplers to form a seal therebetween. The coupler and the male coupler are connected one with the other by brazing. In an alternative embodiment, the male coupler includes a snap-in element to engage the male coupler with the coupler.Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 2004Date of Patent: April 11, 2006Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Scott Edward Kent, David A. Southwick, Maciej Kozikowski, Krzysztof Wawrocki, Christopher Alfred Fuller
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Publication number: 20060054306Abstract: A mounting system for a heat exchanger assembly consisting of a plastic bracket secured to the heat exchanger after brazing and requires no additional fasteners. The bracket includes a pair of arms that extend over a reinforcement member and engage a core. The first arm presents a resilient finger extending in a cantilever fashion to a protrusion presenting a ramp. The ramp allows the finger to flex outward as the bracket is assembled over the reinforcement member until the ramp snaps over and engages an edge on the reinforcement member. A notch and hole on the reinforcement member align with a male post and a second section of the bracket to limit movement of the bracket relative to the heat exchanger assembly. The arms have aligned openings, to create an airway through the bracket.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 14, 2004Publication date: March 16, 2006Inventors: Scott Kent, David Southwick
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Patent number: 7007743Abstract: A one-piece header tank includes side edges that are overlapped and brazed together to form a joint positioned within the interior of the tank. The tank also includes an integrally formed mounting flange that may be fabricated without jeopardizing the leak integrity of the tank.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2003Date of Patent: March 7, 2006Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Chris A. Calhoun, Terry Joseph Hunt, David A. Southwick, Karl Paul Kroetsch, Krzysztof Wawrocki, Khalid El Moutamid, Yusuke Matsunaga, Laurent Art
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Publication number: 20050268645Abstract: A condenser for an air conditioning system includes a core assembly having a header tank and a receiver/dehydrator member operably connected to the core assembly for condensing a refrigerant flowing internally. The receiver/dehydrator or receiver member includes two openings to receive male couplers extending from a tubular member connected to the core assembly. The condenser includes a coupler that extends into the receiver/dehydrator member between each opening and the male couplers to form a seal therebetween. The coupler and the male coupler are connected one with the other by brazing. In an alternative embodiment, the male coupler includes a snap-in element to engage the male coupler with the coupler.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 3, 2004Publication date: December 8, 2005Inventors: Scott Kent, David Southwick, Maciej Kozikowski, Krzysztof Wawrocki, Christopher Fuller
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Publication number: 20050150641Abstract: A metal tank cap is integral with a reinforcing member via a narrow connection and is flared outwardly at the narrow connection portion to be over an open end of the tank simultaneously with moving the metal tubes of the core into the tank. By unbending the connection portion, the respective tank caps are deflared into the open ends of the respective tanks and the entire assembly is placed in a furnace and brazed together.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 8, 2004Publication date: July 14, 2005Inventors: Chris Calhoun, Terry Hunt, David Southwick, Karl Kroetsch, Krzysztof Wawrocki, Khalid Moutamid, Yusuke Matsunaga, Laurent Art
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Publication number: 20050150647Abstract: A secondary heat exchanger subassembly, such as a transmission oil cooler, is disposed in a metal tank of a radiator and has a pair of metal fluid fittings. Either a connector ring engages a fitting extending through the opening in the tank or a connector nut extends into the opening to threadedly engage the fitting whereby the metal fittings are held to the metal tank and inserted into a furnace for being brazed into sealed relationship with the metal tank.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 9, 2004Publication date: July 14, 2005Inventors: Chris Calhoun, Terry Hunt, David Southwick, Karl Kroetsch, Krzysztof Wawrocki, Khalid Moutamid, Yusuke Matsunaga, Laurent Art