Patents by Inventor Alan John Mulvenna
Alan John Mulvenna 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: 7477505Abstract: A capacitor bank for an electrical power generator comprises: a positive assembly having a positive electrical terminal; a negative assembly having a negative electrical terminal; at least one capacitor sandwiched between and electrically coupled to the positive and negative assemblies; and electrical interconnects coupled to each of the terminals and for coupling to a load or to another capacitor bank. The positive and negative assemblies of the capacitor bank are each stackable on the positive and negative assemblies of another capacitor bank. When two capacitor banks are stacked with their positive assemblies facing each other, the interconnects couple the capacitor banks in series, and when two capacitor banks are stacked with a positive assembly facing a negative assembly, the interconnects couple the capacitor banks in parallel.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2006Date of Patent: January 13, 2009Assignee: General Hydrogen CorporationInventors: Mark Timmerman, Alan John Mulvenna
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Patent number: 6817879Abstract: Various service port configurations for the transfer of fluids, gases and electricity between a service terminal and a vehicle are provided. The service port includes a receptacle and a controller. The receptacle includes a clamp and a clamp actuator for actuating the clamp; a service exchange interface in between the clamp; and sensors inside the receptacle and configured to monitor the position of a plug inside the receptacle. The controller is connected to the sensors and the actuator, and monitors the sensors. When a sensor detects that a plug is in position for engagement, the controller instructs the clamp actuator to move the clamp until the plug is clamped with sufficient force to enable a service to be exchanged. The receptacle and the plug are couplable to either the service port or a vehicle and a service terminal, and both are implementable at a multiplicity of locations on a vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: November 25, 2002Date of Patent: November 16, 2004Assignee: General Hydrogen CorporationInventors: Alan John Mulvenna, David Michael Routtenberg, John David Trevor Graham, William Edward Mufford
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Patent number: 6810925Abstract: A hydrogen fueling station and system for hydrogen fueled vehicles that can transfer any gaseous fuel to any vehicle and can be located in any place where a vehicle can park and where environmental, safety and other regulatory requirements permit gaseous fuel to be transferred. The hydrogen fueling station is vertically elongate and includes an enclosure that has a plurality of housings to house groups of like components. The housings are configured and positively ventilated with external air to prevent the accumulation of leaked hydrogen.Type: GrantFiled: January 10, 2003Date of Patent: November 2, 2004Assignee: General Hydrogen CorporationInventors: John David Trevor Graham, Alan John Mulvenna, William Edward Mufford, Joachim George Borck, James Ko, Matthew Albert MacLennan Harper
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Patent number: 6722903Abstract: This invention relates to a fluid and electrical coupling for coupling a vehicle to a service port such that a fluid and electricity is transferable therebetween. The coupling includes a plug having a pair of opposed major surfaces, a fluid exchange interface on one of the major surfaces, and an electricity exchange interface on the other major surface. The coupling also includes a receptacle having an opening for receiving the plug, a fluid exchange interface facing the plug fluid exchange interface when the plug is coupled to the receptacle, and an electricity exchange interface facing the plug electricity exchange interface when the plug is coupled to the receptacle.Type: GrantFiled: May 29, 2002Date of Patent: April 20, 2004Assignee: General Hydrogen CorporationInventors: Alan John Mulvenna, John David Trevor Graham
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Patent number: 6691749Abstract: This invention relates to a service coupling for coupling a vehicle to a service port such that one or more services are transferable therebetween. The coupling comprises a plug comprising at least one service engagement portion; and a receptacle comprising an opening to receive the plug, and at least one service engagement portion positioned to engage the plug service engagement portion when the plug is inserted into the receptacle. The engagement is such that a service is transferable between the plug and receptacle. At least one of the plug and receptacle service engagement portions is arcuate thereby enabling engagement to be maintained between the plug and receptacle engagement portions when the plug is rotated about the axis and within the arc-length of the arcuate engagement portion.Type: GrantFiled: May 29, 2002Date of Patent: February 17, 2004Assignee: General Hydrogen CorporationInventors: Alan John Mulvenna, John David Trevor Graham
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Patent number: 6619342Abstract: This invention relates to a wheel stop service port for coupling to a connectivity device of a wheeled vehicle such that one or more services, namely electricity, data, and fluids, are transferable therebetween. The service port includes a housing having a receptacle recess with a recess opening on an outside surface of the housing; a fastener on the housing for fastening the service port to the ground; a receptacle inside the recess and comprising an opening shaped to receive a service plug of a vehicle connectivity device, and a service engagement portion inside the receptacle for engaging a corresponding service engagement portion on the plug; a service conduit junction coupled to the receptacle and couplable to a service conduit to enable the transfer of a service therebetween; and a wheel contact surface located on the housing outside surface such that upon contact of the contact surface by a wheel of a vehicle, the connectivity device of the vehicle is within coupling range of the service port.Type: GrantFiled: May 10, 2002Date of Patent: September 16, 2003Assignee: General Hydrogen CorporationInventors: John David Trevor Graham, David Michael Routtenberg, William Edward Mufford, Darren Scott Sokoloski, Alan John Mulvenna
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Publication number: 20030164202Abstract: A hydrogen fueling station and system for hydrogen fueled vehicles that can transfer any gaseous fuel to any vehicle and can be located in any place where a vehicle can park and where environmental, safety and other regulatory requirements permit gaseous fuel to be transferred. The hydrogen fueling station is vertically elongate and includes an enclosure that has a plurality of housings to house groups of like components. The housings are configured and positively ventilated with external air to prevent the accumulation of leaked hydrogen.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 10, 2003Publication date: September 4, 2003Inventors: John David Trevor Graham, Alan John Mulvenna, William Edward Mufford, Joachim George Borck, James Ko, Matthew Albert MacLennan Harper
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Publication number: 20030129868Abstract: This invention relates to a fluid and electrical coupling for coupling a vehicle to a service port such that a fluid and electricity is transferable therebetween. The coupling includes a plug having a pair of opposed major surfaces, a fluid exchange interface on one of the major surfaces, and an electricity exchange interface on the other major surface. The coupling also includes a receptacle having an opening for receiving the plug, a fluid exchange interface facing the plug fluid exchange interface when the plug is coupled to the receptacle, and an electricity exchange interface facing the plug electricity exchange interface when the plug is coupled to the receptacle.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 29, 2002Publication date: July 10, 2003Inventors: Alan John Mulvenna, John David Trevor Graham
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Publication number: 20030127153Abstract: This invention relates to a service coupling for coupling a vehicle to a service port such that one or more services are transferable therebetween. The coupling comprises a plug comprising at least one service engagement portion; and a receptacle comprising an opening to receive the plug, and at least one service engagement portion positioned to engage the plug service engagement portion when the plug is inserted into the receptacle. The engagement is such that a service is transferable between the plug and receptacle. At least one of the plug and receptacle service engagement portions is arcuate thereby enabling engagement to be maintained between the plug and receptacle engagement portions when the plug is rotated about the axis and within the arc-length of the arcuate engagement portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 29, 2002Publication date: July 10, 2003Inventors: Alan John Mulvenna, John David Trevor Graham
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Publication number: 20030127155Abstract: This invention relates to a connectivity device for passively connecting a vehicle to a service port. The connectivity device comprises a mount for mounting to one of the vehicle or service port; a deployment apparatus movably attached to the mount; a plug for coupling to a receptacle in the other of the vehicle or service port; and, a compliant member attaching the plug to the deployment apparatus. The compliant member provides sufficient compliance for the plug to engage the receptacle when the connectivity device is in range of but not perfectly aligned with the receptacle.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 29, 2002Publication date: July 10, 2003Inventors: Alan John Mulvenna, John David Trevor Graham, William Edward Mufford, Darren Scott Sokoloski, Craig James Greenhill, Bruce Conrad Wilnechenko, Curtis Michael Robin, Matthew Albert MacLennan Harper, Theodore Douglas Yntema
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Publication number: 20030075235Abstract: This invention relates to a wheel stop service port for coupling to a connectivity device of a wheeled vehicle such that one or more services, namely electricity, data, and fluids, are transferable therebetween. The service port includes a housing having a receptacle recess with a recess opening on an outside surface of the housing; a fastener on the housing for fastening the service port to the ground; a receptacle inside the recess and comprising an opening shaped to receive a service plug of a vehicle connectivity device, and a service engagement portion inside the receptacle for engaging a corresponding service engagement portion on the plug; a service conduit junction coupled to the receptacle and couplable to a service conduit to enable the transfer of a service therebetween; and a wheel contact surface located on the housing outside surface such that upon contact of the contact surface by a wheel of a vehicle, the connectivity device of the vehicle is within coupling range of the service port.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 10, 2002Publication date: April 24, 2003Inventors: John David Trevor Graham, David Michael Routtenberg, William Edward Mufford, Darren Scott Sokoloski, Alan John Mulvenna