Patents Assigned to Systems AG
  • Fuel cell system having flow-diverting element
    Patent number: 6670059
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a gas generation device for the catalytic steam reforming of a steam/fuel mixture and/or for the partial oxidation of an oxygen/fuel mixture for generating a hydrogen-rich medium and a gas cleaning stage for removing carbon monoxide from the product gas of the gas generation device using selective CO oxidation. A principal flow path of the medium is split at least over a certain length into a first and a second parallel flow path and is then brought together again. A flow-diverting means is provided at least in the first flow path in order to open or block the first flow path in a temperature-dependent manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignee: Ballard Power Systems AG
    Inventors: Phillip Atte Anumu, Axel Krüger, Carlo Saling, Matthias Wolfsteiner
  • Gas generator
    Patent number: 6669923
    Abstract: A gas generator for generating a hydrogen-rich carbon-monoxide-lean gas from a water-fuel mixture by catalytic steam reforming and/or from an oxygen-fuel mixture by partial oxidation includes at least one fuel reservoir vessel; a reforming reactor; a CO shift reactor; a gas purifying unit; and a line to feed water from a water reservoir vessel into the reformate gas stream fed to the CO shift reactor. The water reservoir vessel contains a water-methanol mixture having a mixing ratio effective to ensure adequate frost protection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignee: Ballard Power Systems AG
    Inventor: Berthold Keppeler
  • Method and device for insulation monitoring of a DC network
    Publication number: 20030234653
    Abstract: A method and device for insulation monitoring of an electrically insulated DC network by measuring of the insulation resistance using galvanic isolation between a measuring resistor which is connected to ground, and a measuring pulse generator, and a measurement-data acquisition device, which eliminates some of the effect that noise in the DC network would otherwise have on the measurement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2003
    Publication date: December 25, 2003
    Applicant: Ballard Power Systems AG
    Inventors: Gerald Kollenda, Hubert Urban
  • Fuel cell system having a heat exchanger
    Patent number: 6667122
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes (1) a heat exchanger for preheating a fuel/water mixture; (2) an evaporator unit for generating a starting-material gas flow from the preheated fuel/water mixture; (3) a gas generation unit for producing a hydrogen-rich gas containing carbon monoxide from the starting-material gas flow; (4) a gas cleaning unit for selective removal of carbon monoxide from the hydrogen-rich gas; (5) a cooling unit for the gas cleaning unit; and (6) at least one fuel cell comprising an anode chamber through which cleaned, hydrogen-rich gas flows, a cathode chamber through which an oxygen-containing medium flows, and a cooling space through which a coolant flows. The heat exchanger, through which the cleaned, hydrogen-rich gas flows, is arranged downstream of the gas cleaning unit. Alternatively, the heat exchanger is arranged downstream of the cooling space and through which the coolant flows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2003
    Assignee: Ballard Power Systems AG
    Inventor: Lars Kaufmann
  • Apparatus for charging tubular containers with a stack of flat items
    Patent number: 6662534
    Abstract: An apparatus for charging containers with a flat item stack, includes a supply conveyor; intermediate containers; and a transporting device carrying the intermediate containers into first and second stations. In the first station an item stack is loaded from the supply conveyor into the intermediate container, and in the second station an item stack is loaded from the intermediate container into a packaging container supported in the second station. A device rotates each intermediate container about an axis perpendicular to the advancing direction of the items on the supply conveyor from a first angular position into a second angular position and then back into the first angular position during travel of the intermediate container from the first station into the second station and back into the first station. A removing device in the second station carries away a filled packaging container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Assignee: SIG Pack Systems AG
    Inventors: Günter Straub, Peter Fritz
  • Method for improving the light-off performance of mobile fuel cell systems
    Patent number: 6660415
    Abstract: In a method for improving cold starting of a catalytically active component in gas generation systems for a mobile fuel cell system, a temporary store is arranged directly in the starting-material gas stream. During cold starting, the temporary store stores gaseous constituents from the gaseous starting material, which constituents cause problems when starting, and releases such constituents (which have been stored during the cold-start phase) again as a result of the heating which takes place as operation of the system continues.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Ballard Power Systems AG
    Inventors: Christian Klein, Martin Schuessler
  • Method and device for inserting a plurality of individual sheetlike forms of administration in a dispenser by forming a multilayer pile
    Patent number: 6659442
    Abstract: A process for introducing a plurality of segregated sheet-like administration forms into a dispenser under formation of a multilayered stack for individually dosable removal, with sheet-like tapes wound-up on rolls being present as starting material, utilizes the following steps. In a first step, a number of sheet-like layers of said tapes, which number corresponds to the stack, is simultaneously drawn from a plurality of rolls. In a further step, the individual tapes are united, using guide means, to form a multilayered strand, which in yet another step, is drawn forward to a cutting station where one length of stack is severed at a time, and wherein a length segment of the multilayered strand corresponding to the stack is substantially in the dispenser prior to being severed from a remainder of the multilayered strand by the cutting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: LTS Lohamann Therapie-Systeme AG
    Inventors: Peter Steinborn, Horst Dzekan, Klaus Schumann, Wolfgang Laux, Michael Horstmann
  • Device for carrying out a heterogenously catalysed reaction and method for producing a catalyst
    Patent number: 6660685
    Abstract: To carry out a heterogeneously catalysed reaction, a reaction mixture comprising hydrocarbon and water is fed onto a catalyst that is produced by compressing at least one catalyst powder into a highly compressed layer which forms a shaped body. The reaction mixture is pressed through the catalyst layer with a pressure drop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Ballard Power Systems AG
    Inventors: Martin Schüssler, Tomas Stefanovski, Detlef zur Megede
  • Device for transferring two-dimensional products onto a transportation device
    Patent number: 6658973
    Abstract: A device for transferring segregated flat-shaped products includes a transfer device and a transport device by which the products transferred from the transfer device are further transported along a transport path. The transport device includes a moveable transport surface having suction openings communicative with a vacuum container. The transfer device includes a roll arranged transverse to the transport path and having suction orifices arranged about a circumference thereof. The roll has internal channels having openings in opposed axial end faces of said roll which are communicative with the suction orifices. Vacuum chamber members are disposed axially at the opposed end faces of the roll which is rotatable relative to the vacuum chamber members. Each of the vacuum chamber members has a concentric grove and a ventilation channel which correspond to the openings of the internal channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: LTS Lohmann Therapie-Systeme AG
    Inventor: Dieter Sahm
  • Fuel cell system
    Patent number: 6656616
    Abstract: In a fuel cell system having a fuel cell and a catalytic burner connected downstream thereof, an additional hydrogen-containing medium is fed to the catalytic burner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: Ballard Power Systems AG
    Inventors: Stefan Boneberg, Michael Schonert, Thomas Stark
  • Device and process for uniform drying of products in web form produced by coating
    Patent number: 6655046
    Abstract: A device and a process for drying thin layers or films which are manufactured by applying a coating mass, which is produced on an aqueous basis, to a support, the said layer or film being transported through a drying device having at least one drying zone, is characterized in that in at least one drying zone, designated as moisture-compensation zone, air is supplied which has a moisture content corresponding to the constant moisture content of the film to be prepared or the layer to be prepared.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: LTS Lohmann Therapie-Systeme AG
    Inventors: Wolfgang Schäfer, Peter Schwarz, Rudi Brathuhn, Michael Hoffmann
  • Fuel cell system and method for operating a fuel cell
    Patent number: 6656619
    Abstract: In a fuel cell system having a gas generation system for providing hydrogen from a carbon- and hydrogen-containing medium for a fuel cell unit, means are provided for adjusting pressure in the gas generation system and/or mass flow through the fuel cell unit, upstream of the fuel cell unit. In a transition from a part-load range to a full-load range, the pressure can be at least briefly reduced, and in a transition from a full-load range to a part-load range, the pressure can be at least briefly increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: Ballard Power Systems AG
    Inventors: Werner Belschner, Joachim Blum, Lars Kaufmann
  • Maintaining measurement accuracy in prompt gamma neutron activation analyzers with variable material flow rates or material bed depth
    Patent number: 6657189
    Abstract: A method of maintaining measurement accuracy of specific constituents in prompt gamma neutron activation analyzers in a flow of bulk material having a known range of flow rates. The method comprises the steps of providing a plurality of samples of the bulk material for insertion into the analyzer in geometries and quantities referred to as loading profiles. Each of the loading profiles is inserted into the analyzer and measured long enough to yield a measurement uncertainty that is small compared to the observed differences in analysis results from one loading to another. The results are recorded and differences computed as measured errors for subsequent mathematical generation of the expected error at any loading value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: Analyser Systems AG
    Inventors: Thomas L. Atwell, Victor W. Lanz, Anton M. Lucchin
  • Primary packaging unit for film-like or oblate-like administered shapes
    Patent number: 6655112
    Abstract: A primary packaging unit for film-like or wafer-like administration forms for oral application with an off-cut of an upper web of packaging material and of an lower web of packaging material is characterized in that a plurality of dosage units of a film-like or wafer-like administration form, individually sealed in flat compartments formed without cold or hot forming of the packaging material and spaced at a distance to one another, are present in a primary packaging unit, and there are perforations between the compartments which enable the separation of individual compartments, if necessary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: LTS Lohmann Therapie-Systeme AG
    Inventors: Karsten Cremer, Karin Ludwig, Dieter Anhäuser, Klaus Schumann, Peter Steinborn, Uwe Bungarten
  • Method and apparatus for supplying an oxidant stream to the cathode of a fuel cell
    Publication number: 20030219636
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for supplying an oxidant stream, in particular air, to a cathode of a fuel cell, include an oxidant supply device and a return line to recirculate part of the oxidant discharged from the cathode into the oxidant supplied to the cathode. A throttle device is located in the return line, which is connected upstream of the oxidant supply device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2003
    Publication date: November 27, 2003
    Applicant: Ballard Power Systems AG
    Inventor: Lars Kaufmann
  • Dry-copying method for producing flat, individually dosed preparations of active agents
    Patent number: 6652903
    Abstract: A method for metering active ingredient in powder form onto a predetermined area is characterized in that the active ingredient is transferred as electrically charged powder to a roll with the opposite charge, the active ingredient transferred to the roll is transferred to a two-dimensional substrate with an electric charge opposite to the active ingredient, the active ingredient transferred to the substrate is fixed by means of a heat treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Assignee: LTS Lohmann Therapie-Systeme AG
    Inventor: Walter Muller
  • Fuel cell system
    Patent number: 6653010
    Abstract: In a fuel cell system, and a method of operating a fuel cell system comprising a fuel cell unit and an air supply for providing a fuel for the fuel cell unit, a compressor having a variable internal compression ratio is provided for media delivery in the gas generation system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Assignee: Ballard Power Systems AG
    Inventor: Andreas Knoop
  • Method and apparatus for vaporizing fuel for a reformer fuel cell system
    Publication number: 20030215679
    Abstract: A vaporizer, a fuel cell system including the vaporizer, and a method of vaporizing fuel in a fuel cell system are disclosed. The fuel cell system includes a fuel reservoir (24) for storing a liquid fuel and a fuel cell (10) for consuming a fuel and generating electricity therefrom. A fuel vaporizer (28) is interposed between the fuel reservoir (24) and the fuel cell (10) for receiving liquid fuel and vaporizing it and delivering it ultimately to the fuel cell (10). The fuel vaporizer (28) includes a heat exchanger which includes a hot fluid inlet (65), a hot fluid outlet (67) and a core (50) interconnecting the inlet (65) and the outlet (68). The core (50) has alternating fuel flow structures (68) and hot fluid structures (69) with the fuel flow structures (68,69) having an inlet (56) and an outlet (58).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2002
    Publication date: November 20, 2003
    Applicant: Modine Manufacturing Company and Ballard Power Systems AG
    Inventors: Michael J. Reinke, Jonathan Wattelet, Mark G. Voss, Marc Weisser, Bruno Motzet, Sven Thumm, Dennis C. Granetzke
  • Apparatus and method of monitoring insulation of a DC network that is electrically insulated with respect to the ground potential of a device
    Publication number: 20030214306
    Abstract: Insulation monitoring of an electrical network such as a DC network which is electrically insulated with respect to the ground of a device, includes at least two insulation monitoring devices that monitor different network sections, which can be isolated by one or more switches. Non-contacting switches are used to alternatingly connect and isolate respective measuring resistors of the monitoring devices to, and from, ground, as a result of which the insulation monitoring devices can not negatively affect each other's measurements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2003
    Publication date: November 20, 2003
    Applicant: Ballard Power Systems AG
    Inventors: Klaus Beutelschiess, Karl-Heinz Landenberger
  • Automotive vehicle seating comfort system
    Publication number: 20030214160
    Abstract: There is disclosed an automotive vehicle seating comfort system for providing heating, cooling, ventilation or a combination thereof to an individual in an automotive car seat. The system typically includes an insert, a blower and a tubular structure for providing fluid communication between the insert and blower for providing ventilation and/or cooling for the individual. Preferably, the insert includes a heater or heater layer for providing heat for the individual.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2003
    Publication date: November 20, 2003
    Applicant: W.E.T. Automotive Systems AG
    Inventors: Lindy Brennan, Goran Bajic, Lucas Fernandez, Valerija Drobnjakovic