Patents by Inventor Olen Vanderleeden
Olen Vanderleeden 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: 9543604Abstract: A hydrogen generator and a fuel cell system including a fuel cell battery and the hydrogen generator. The hydrogen generator includes a cartridge, a housing with a cavity to removably contain the cartridge, and an initiation system. The cartridge includes a casing; a plurality of pellets including a hydrogen containing material; a plurality of solid heat transfer members in contact with but not penetrating the casing; a hydrogen outlet in the casing; and a hydrogen flow path from each pellet to the hydrogen outlet. A plurality of heating elements is disposed inside the housing. When the cartridge is in the cavity, each heating element is disposed so heat can be conducted from the heating element and through the casing and corresponding heat transfer member to initiate the release of hydrogen gas. The initiation system can selectively heat one or more pellets to release hydrogen gas as needed.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2015Date of Patent: January 10, 2017Assignee: Intelligent Energy Inc.Inventors: Richard A. Langan, Jason L. Stimits, Chad E. Law, Russell H. Barton, Thomas J. Kmetich, Allison M. Fisher, Guanghong Zheng, Olen Vanderleeden
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Publication number: 20160104907Abstract: A hydrogen generator and a fuel cell system including a fuel cell battery and the hydrogen generator. The hydrogen generator includes a cartridge, a housing with a cavity to removably contain the cartridge, and an initiation system. The cartridge includes a casing; a plurality of pellets including a hydrogen containing material; a plurality of solid heat transfer members in contact with but not penetrating the casing; a hydrogen outlet in the casing; and a hydrogen flow path from each pellet to the hydrogen outlet. A plurality of heating elements is disposed inside the housing. When the cartridge is in the cavity, each heating element is disposed so heat can be conducted from the heating element and through the casing and corresponding heat transfer member to initiate the release of hydrogen gas. The initiation system can selectively heat one or more pellets to release hydrogen gas as needed.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 18, 2015Publication date: April 14, 2016Applicant: Intelligent Energy Inc.Inventors: Richard A. Langan, Jason L. Stimits, Chad E. Law, Russell H. Barton, Thomas J. Kmetich, Allison M. Fisher, Guanghong Zheng, Olen Vanderleeden
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Patent number: 9231264Abstract: A hydrogen generator and a fuel cell system including a fuel cell battery and the hydrogen generator. The hydrogen generator includes a cartridge, a housing with a cavity to removably contain the cartridge, and an initiation system. The cartridge includes a casing; a plurality of pellets including a hydrogen containing material; a plurality of solid heat transfer members in contact with but not penetrating the casing; a hydrogen outlet in the casing; and a hydrogen flow path from each pellet to the hydrogen outlet. A plurality of heating elements is disposed inside the housing. When the cartridge is in the cavity, each heating element is disposed so heat can be conducted from the heating element and through the casing and corresponding heat transfer member to initiate the release of hydrogen gas. The initiation system can selectively heat one or more pellets to release hydrogen gas as needed.Type: GrantFiled: October 3, 2014Date of Patent: January 5, 2016Assignee: Intelligent Energy, Inc.Inventors: Richard A. Langan, Jason L. Stimits, Chad E. Law, Russell H. Barton, Thomas J. Kmetich, Allison M. Fisher, Guanghong Zheng, Olen Vanderleeden
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Publication number: 20150023846Abstract: A hydrogen generator and a fuel cell system including a fuel cell battery and the hydrogen generator. The hydrogen generator includes a cartridge, a housing with a cavity to removably contain the cartridge, and an initiation system. The cartridge includes a casing; a plurality of pellets including a hydrogen containing material; a plurality of solid heat transfer members in contact with but not penetrating the casing; a hydrogen outlet in the casing; and a hydrogen flow path from each pellet to the hydrogen outlet. A plurality of heating elements is disposed inside the housing. When the cartridge is in the cavity, each heating element is disposed so heat can be conducted from the heating element and through the casing and corresponding heat transfer member to initiate the release of hydrogen gas. The initiation system can selectively heat one or more pellets to release hydrogen gas as needed.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 3, 2014Publication date: January 22, 2015Inventors: Richard A. Langan, Jason L. Stimits, Chad E. Law, Russell H. Barton, Thomas J. Kmetich, Allison M. Fisher, Guanghong Zheng, Olen Vanderleeden
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Patent number: 8916305Abstract: Methods for generating hydrogen gas and power and related systems, including a hydrogen generator and a fuel cell system. The hydrogen generator includes a cartridge, a housing with a cavity to removably contain the cartridge, and an initiation system. The cartridge includes a casing; a plurality of pellets including a hydrogen containing material; a plurality of solid heat transfer members in contact with but not penetrating the casing; a hydrogen outlet in the casing; and a hydrogen flow path from each pellet to the hydrogen outlet. A plurality of heating elements is disposed inside the housing. Each heating element is disposed so heat can be conducted from the heating element through the casing to corresponding heat transfer member to initiate the release of hydrogen gas. The initiation system can selectively heat one or more pellets. Hydrogen gas can be provided to a fuel cell battery to generate power.Type: GrantFiled: June 11, 2014Date of Patent: December 23, 2014Assignee: Intelligent Energy Inc.Inventors: Richard A. Langan, Jason L. Stimits, Chad E. Law, Russell H. Barton, Thomas J. Kmetich, Allison M. Fisher, Guanghong Zheng, Olen Vanderleeden
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Publication number: 20140295304Abstract: A hydrogen generator and a fuel cell system including a fuel cell battery and the hydrogen generator. The hydrogen generator includes a cartridge, a housing with a cavity to removably contain the cartridge, and an initiation system. The cartridge includes a casing; a plurality of pellets including a hydrogen containing material; a plurality of solid heat transfer members in contact with but not penetrating the casing; a hydrogen outlet in the casing; and a hydrogen flow path from each pellet to the hydrogen outlet. A plurality of heating elements is disposed inside the housing. When the cartridge is in the cavity, each heating element is disposed so heat can be conducted from the heating element and through the casing and corresponding heat transfer member to initiate the release of hydrogen gas. The initiation system can selectively heat one or more pellets to release hydrogen gas as needed.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 11, 2014Publication date: October 2, 2014Inventors: Richard A. Langan, Jason L. Stimits, Chad E. Law, Russell H. Barton, Thomas J. Kmetich, Allison M. Fisher, Guanghong Zheng, Olen Vanderleeden
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Publication number: 20140248546Abstract: A hydrogen generator includes a housing, a pellet strip with a plurality of pellets disposed on a flexible carrier, the pellets including a hydrogen containing material that will release hydrogen gas when heated. A feed system feeds the pellet strip to sequentially position one or more pellets in proximity to a heater that heats the pellets to release hydrogen gas. The pellet strip can be folded or wound on a reel, stored in a compartment in the hydrogen generator or in a user-replaceable container. The hydrogen generator can be part of a fuel cell system that includes the hydrogen generator and a fuel cell battery.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 16, 2014Publication date: September 4, 2014Applicant: INTELLIGENT ENERGY, INC.Inventors: Russell H. BARTON, Olen VANDERLEEDEN, Guanghong ZHENG
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Patent number: 8771889Abstract: A hydrogen generator and a fuel cell system including a fuel cell battery and the hydrogen generator. The hydrogen generator includes a cartridge, a housing with a cavity to removably contain the cartridge, and an initiation system. The cartridge includes a casing; a plurality of pellets including a hydrogen containing material; a plurality of solid heat transfer members in contact with but not penetrating the casing; a hydrogen outlet in the casing; and a hydrogen flow path from each pellet to the hydrogen outlet. A plurality of heating elements is disposed inside the housing. When the cartridge is in the cavity, each heating element is disposed so heat can be conducted from the heating element and through the casing and corresponding heat transfer member to initiate the release of hydrogen gas. The initiation system can selectively heat one or more pellets to release hydrogen gas as needed.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 2012Date of Patent: July 8, 2014Assignee: Intelligent Energy Inc.Inventors: Richard A. Langan, Jason L. Stimits, Chad E. Law, Russell H. Barton, Thomas J. Kmetich, Allison M. Fisher, Guanghong Zheng, Olen Vanderleeden
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Patent number: 7560077Abstract: The compact chemical reactor with a central axis includes at least two unit reactors disposed adjacent to each other to form front and back sides of the compact chemical reactor; a front and back reactant plenum communicating with the front and back side respectively; at least one of the plenums comprises a reactant; and unit reactors comprising: a front cavity between front and back process layers; a back cavity between back and front process layers of adjacent unit reactors; the process layers facilitate transport processes between reactant plenums; each cavity communicates with one side of the compact chemical reactor; a front and back perimeter barrier on the back and front process layers respectfully, substantially surrounding respective cavities. At least one of the unit reactors comprise at least one frame formed from one of the process layers, at least one of the perimeter barriers, and at least one of the cavities.Type: GrantFiled: May 12, 2006Date of Patent: July 14, 2009Assignee: Angstrom Power IncorporatedInventors: Duhane Lam, Olen Vanderleeden
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Patent number: 7458997Abstract: The methods include steps for making a fuel cell layer, making a compact chemical reactor with high aspect ratio cavities from components with low aspect ratio cavities, and forming of a high aspect ratio compact chemical reactor using low aspect ratio layers. The methods entail forming at least two process layers; forming a perimeter barrier on at least one side of one of the process layers creating an intermediate assembly with at least one low aspect ratio cavity; repeating the initial steps to create additional intermediate assemblies with at least one low aspect ratio cavity; joining intermediate assemblies to create a compact chemical reactor with high aspect ratio cavities; and joining the compact chemical reactor with high aspect ratio cavities to two reactant plenums to facilitate a transport process between reactant plenums and process layers.Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 2004Date of Patent: December 2, 2008Assignee: Angstrom Power IncorporatedInventors: Gerard Francis McLean, Duhane Lam, Olen Vanderleeden
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Patent number: 7455925Abstract: A fuel cell layer and methods for making a fuel cell layer comprising at least one fuel cell in communication with first reactant plenum and second reactant plenum, wherein one of the reactant plenums contains oxidant and the other reactant plenum contains fuel. The fuel cell comprises a gas barrier region formed by disposing gas barrier material on a substrate; a second region having a first port formed on the gas barrier; a first gas diffusion electrode having a first seal disposed around the electrode; an electrolyte region formed by disposing electrolyte material on the second region; a fourth region having a second port formed on the electrolyte region; a second gas diffusion electrode having a second seal disposed around the electrode, wherein the second and fourth regions are in communication with the electrolyte region, and the gas barrier region separates the first reactant plenum from the second reactant plenum.Type: GrantFiled: July 8, 2004Date of Patent: November 25, 2008Assignee: Angstrom Power IncorporatedInventors: Gerard Francis McLean, Duhane Lam, Olen Vanderleeden
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Patent number: 7241525Abstract: The present invention relates to a fuel cell layer with frames with a central axis comprising: at least a first and second unit fuel cell, wherein the first and second unit fuel cells are disposed adjacent each other to form a front side and back side of the fuel cell layer; a front plenum comprising fuel communicating with the front side; and a back oxidant plenum comprising fuel communicating with the back side, and wherein each unit fuel cell comprises: a front and back process layer; a front and back cavity formed between the back process layers and the front process layer of adjacent unit fuel cells; a front perimeter barrier disposed on the back process layer substantially surrounding the back cavity; and a back perimeter barrier disposed on the front process layer substantially surrounding the front cavity and wherein the front cavity is in communication with the front side and the back cavity is in communication with the back side and wherein at least one of process layers facilitates a transport procType: GrantFiled: April 6, 2004Date of Patent: July 10, 2007Assignee: Angstrom Power Inc.Inventors: Gerard Francis McLean, Duhane Lam, Olen Vanderleeden
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Publication number: 20070084523Abstract: Portable electronic devices such as portable telephones, portable computers and the like may obtain power from fuel cells that consume fuel from fuel stores of the portable devices. A network of refilling stations permits users of portable devices to main the devices operational by frequently topping up the fuel stores. Payment systems combine payments for fuel with larger payments for other transactions to avoid the overhead of processing individual payments for very small amounts.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 23, 2005Publication date: April 19, 2007Applicant: Angstrom Power IncorporatedInventors: Gerard McLean, Olen Vanderleeden, Anna Stukas, Denis Connor
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Patent number: 7195652Abstract: The invention relates to a method making a compact chemical reactor with high aspect ratio cavities comprising the steps: forming at least one intermediate assembly, consisting of: at least one frame comprising: a process layer, a perimeter barrier and at least one low aspect ratio cavity; at least one frame comprising: a process layer, two perimeter barriers, and at least two low aspect ratio cavities disposed on a second process layer; at least one layer comprising a perimeter barrier formed on one side of a process layer with at least one low aspect ratio cavity; or combinations of (i) and (iii) joined together; joining at least two intermediate assemblies together to create a compact chemical reactor with at least one high aspect ratio cavity; and joining the compact chemical reactor with at least one high aspect ratio cavity to two reactant plenums to facilitate a transport process between the reactant plenums and the process layers.Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 2004Date of Patent: March 27, 2007Assignee: Angstrom PowerInventors: Gerard Francis McLean, Duhane Lam, Olen Vanderleeden
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Publication number: 20060204411Abstract: The compact chemical reactor with a central axis includes at least two unit reactors disposed adjacent to each other to form front and back sides of the compact chemical reactor; a front and back reactant plenum communicating with the front and back side respectively; at least one of the plenums comprises a reactant; and unit reactors comprising: a front cavity between front and back process layers; a back cavity between back and front process layers of adjacent unit reactors; the process layers facilitate transport processes between reactant plenums; each cavity communicates with one side of the compact chemical reactor; a front and back perimeter barrier on the back and front process layers respectfully, substantially surrounding respective cavities. At least one of the unit reactors comprise at least one frame formed from one of the process layers, at least one of the perimeter barriers, and at least one of the cavities.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 12, 2006Publication date: September 14, 2006Inventors: Duhane Lam, Olen Vanderleeden
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Patent number: 7067217Abstract: The fuel cell layer with a central axis includes a first and a second unit fuel cell, an oxidant plenum comprising an oxidant; and a fuel plenum comprises a fuel; and each unit fuel cell comprises: a first and second process layer; a first cavity and second cavity formed between the first and second process layer and a first process layer of an adjacent unit fuel cell; a first perimeter barrier disposed on the second process layer substantially surrounding the second cavity; a second perimeter barrier disposed on the first process layer substantially surrounding the first cavity forming a unit fuel cell comprising a front face and back face; the first cavity is in communication with the oxidant plenum; the second cavity is in communication with the fuel plenum; wherein at least one of the process layers transports ions between the first and second cavities.Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 2004Date of Patent: June 27, 2006Assignee: Angstrom PowerInventors: Gerard Francis McLean, Duhane Lam, Olen Vanderleeden
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Patent number: 7063910Abstract: The compact chemical reactor with a central axis includes at least two unit reactors disposed adjacent to each other to form front and back sides of the compact chemical reactor; a front and back reactant plenum communicating with the front and back side respectively; at least one of the plenums comprises a reactant; and unit reactors comprising: a front cavity between front and back process layers; a back cavity between back and front process layers of adjacent unit reactors; the process layers facilitate transport processes between reactant plenums; each cavity communicates with one side of the compact chemical reactor; a front and back perimeter barrier on the back and front process layers respectfully, substantially surrounding respective cavities. At least one of the unit reactors comprise at least one frame formed from one of the process layers, at least one of the perimeter barriers, and at least one of the cavities.Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 2004Date of Patent: June 20, 2006Assignee: Angstrom PowerInventors: Gerard Francis McLean, Duhane Lam, Olen Vanderleeden
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Patent number: 7052795Abstract: The compact chemical reactor includes one or more unit reactors, a front reactant plenum, and a back reactant plenum. Each unit reactor is made of a front and back process layer, a front and back cavity, and a front and back perimeter barrier. The resulting assemblage is configured so the front cavity is in communication with the front side of the compact chemical reactor and the back cavity is in communication with the back side of the compact chemical reactor. The process layers facilitate an exchange of reactants between the reactant plenums.Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 2004Date of Patent: May 30, 2006Assignee: Angstrom PowerInventors: Gerard Francis McLean, Duhane Lam, Olen Vanderleeden
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Publication number: 20060008682Abstract: A fuel cell layer and methods for making a fuel cell layer comprising at least one fuel cell in communication with first reactant plenum and second reactant plenum, wherein one of the reactant plenums contains oxidant and the other reactant plenum contains fuel. The fuel cell comprises a gas barrier region formed by disposing gas barrier material on a substrate; a second region having a first port formed on the gas barrier; a first gas diffusion electrode having a first seal disposed around the electrode; an electrolyte region formed by disposing electrolyte material on the second region; a fourth region having a second port formed on the electrolyte region; a second gas diffusion electrode having a second seal disposed around the electrode, wherein the second and fourth regions are in communication with the electrolyte region, and the gas barrier region separates the first reactant plenum from the second reactant plenum.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 8, 2004Publication date: January 12, 2006Inventors: Gerard McLean, Duhane Lam, Olen Vanderleeden
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Publication number: 20050226996Abstract: The methods include steps for making a fuel cell layer, making a compact chemical reactor with high aspect ratio cavities from components with low aspect ratio cavities, and forming of a high aspect ratio compact chemical reactor using low aspect ratio layers. The methods entail forming at least two process layers; forming a perimeter barrier on at least one side of one of the process layers creating an intermediate assembly with at least one low aspect ratio cavity; repeating the initial steps to create additional intermediate assemblies with at least one low aspect ratio cavity; joining intermediate assemblies to create a compact chemical reactor with high aspect ratio cavities; and joining the compact chemical reactor with high aspect ratio cavities to two reactant plenums to facilitate a transport process between reactant plenums and process layers.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 6, 2004Publication date: October 13, 2005Inventors: Gerard McLean, Duhane Lam, Olen Vanderleeden