Patents by Inventor Christopher John Carnevale
Christopher John Carnevale 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: 10658686Abstract: A fuel pressure regulator unit is mounted on a manifold. The fuel pressure regulator unit includes a housing providing a fuel inlet passage, a regulated fuel outlet passage, a sense pressure passage, a recycle passage and a mixed fuel passage. A pressure regulator is provided in the housing and is arranged fluidly between the fuel inlet passage and the regulated fuel outlet passage. The sense passage fluidly interconnects the mixed fuel passage and the pressure regulator. The pressure regulator is configured to regulate the flow of fuel from the fuel inlet passage to regulated fuel passage in response to a pressure from the sense pressure passage. An ejector is arranged within the housing and fluidly between the regulated fuel outlet passage and the mixed fuel passage. An ejector is configured to receive recycled fuel from the recycle passage.Type: GrantFiled: February 3, 2011Date of Patent: May 19, 2020Assignee: AUDI AGInventors: Garrett W. Fink, David Melo Ferreira, Christopher John Carnevale
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Patent number: 10446859Abstract: An exemplary manifold assembly includes a gas inlet manifold configured to introduce a gas to a fuel cell. A gas outlet manifold is configured to direct gas away from the fuel cell. A drain channel connects the inlet manifold to the outlet manifold. The drain channel is configured to carry liquid from the gas inlet manifold to the gas outlet manifold.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 2012Date of Patent: October 15, 2019Assignee: AUDI AGInventors: Tommy Skiba, Christopher John Carnevale
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Patent number: 10038201Abstract: An exemplary fuel cell component includes a plate comprising an electrically conductive material. An electrical connector includes a first portion embedded in the plate. A second portion of the electrical connector extends from the plate. The second portion is configured to make an electrically conductive connection with another device.Type: GrantFiled: June 13, 2012Date of Patent: July 31, 2018Assignee: AUDI AGInventors: David Melo Ferreira, Christopher John Carnevale, Glenn Michael Allen
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Patent number: 9923212Abstract: An exemplary flow field includes a plurality of flow channel portions. There are n inlet portions configured for introducing a fluid into the flow field. A plurality of first pass portions direct fluid flow in a first direction. A plurality of second pass portions direct fluid flow in a second direction that is generally parallel to and opposite to the first direction. A plurality of third pass portions direct fluid flow in the first direction. n outlet portions are configured to allow fluid to exit the flow field. n is an integer and a number of the portions in at least one plurality of pass portions is a non-integer multiple of n.Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 2012Date of Patent: March 20, 2018Assignee: Audi AGInventors: Jonathan Daniel O'Neill, Christopher John Carnevale
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Patent number: 9923229Abstract: According to an embodiment, an assembly for use in a fuel cell includes a manifold having at least one inlet and at least one surface configured to facilitate fluid flow from the inlet along a direction in the manifold. A baffle is situated generally parallel to the direction of flow. The baffle has a first portion, a second portion and a third portion. The first portion is closer to the inlet than the second portion. The second portion is closer to the inlet than the third portion. The first portion has a first width situated generally perpendicular to the flow direction. The second portion has a second width situated generally perpendicular to the flow direction. The second width is less than the first width. The third portion has a third width situated generally perpendicular to the flow direction. The third width is greater than the second width.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2013Date of Patent: March 20, 2018Assignee: Audi AGInventor: Christopher John Carnevale
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Patent number: 9876238Abstract: An example fuel cell assembly includes a plate having channels configured to facilitate movement of a fuel cell fluid near an area of active flow of fuel cell. The channels include portions having a varying depth that extend laterally outside of the area of active flow.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 2012Date of Patent: January 23, 2018Assignee: Audi AGInventors: Jonathan Daniel O'Neill, Timothy W. Patterson, Christopher John Carnevale, Roopnarine Sukhram
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Patent number: 9755250Abstract: According to an illustrative embodiment, a method of making a fuel cell component includes removing material from a first plurality of locations along at least one surface on a plate to simultaneously establish a plurality of first channels on the surface. Each first channel has a length between a first end near a first edge of the surface and a second end spaced from a second, opposite edge of the surface. Material is also removed from a second plurality of locations along the surface to simultaneously establish a plurality of second channels on the surface. Each second channel has a length beginning at a first end spaced from the first edge and a second end near the second edge. Material is also removed from the surface near the first ends of at least some of the first channels to simultaneously establish an inlet portion for directing a fluid into the corresponding first channels.Type: GrantFiled: July 25, 2013Date of Patent: September 5, 2017Assignee: Audi AGInventors: Jonathan Daniel O'Neill, Roopnarine Sukhram, Glenn Michael Allen, Christopher John Carnevale
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Patent number: 9570763Abstract: A fuel cell power plant (36) has vertical fuel cells (102) each sharing a half of a hybrid separator plate (100) which includes a solid fuel flow plate (105) having horizontal fuel flow channels (106) on one surface and coolant channels (108) on an upper portion of the opposite surface, bonded to a plain rear side of a porous, hydrophilic oxidant flow field plate (115) having vertical oxidant flow channels (118). Coolant permeates through the upper portion of the porous, hydrophilic oxidant flow field plates and enters the oxidant flow channels, where it evaporates as the water trickles downward through the oxidant flow field channels, thereby cooling the fuel cell.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2010Date of Patent: February 14, 2017Assignee: Audi AGInventors: Christopher John Carnevale, Timothy W. Patterson, Jr., Robert M. Darling, Paravastu Badrinarayanan, Michael L. Perry
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Publication number: 20160233538Abstract: According to an embodiment, an assembly for use in a fuel cell includes a manifold having at least one inlet and at least one surface configured to facilitate fluid flow from the inlet along a direction in the manifold. A baffle is situated generally parallel to the direction of flow. The baffle has a first portion, a second portion and a third portion. The first portion is closer to the inlet than the second portion. The second portion is closer to the inlet than the third portion. The first portion has a first width situated generally perpendicular to the flow direction. The second portion has a second width situated generally perpendicular to the flow direction. The second width is less than the first width. The third portion has a third width situated generally perpendicular to the flow direction. The third width is greater than the second width.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 30, 2013Publication date: August 11, 2016Applicant: Audi AGInventor: Christopher John CARNEVALE
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Patent number: 9312548Abstract: An example method of securing a bond film to a fuel cell component includes positioning the bond film adjacent the fuel cell component and melting the bond film using thermal energy from an injection molded seal.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2011Date of Patent: April 12, 2016Assignee: Audi AGInventors: Kristoffer Ridgeway, Christopher John Carnevale, Michael D. Harrington
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Patent number: 9147895Abstract: Ejectors (22, 59) are configured to receive fresh fuel gas at the motive inlet (27, 60) and to receive fuel recycle gas at the suction inlet (29, 64, 65). Each ejector is disposed either a) within a fuel inlet/outlet manifold (13, 109) or adjacent to and integral with the fuel inlet/outlet manifold. The ejector draws fuel recycle gas directly from the fuel outlet manifold and, after mixing with fresh fuel, is expanded (34, 76) to lower the pressure and is then fed directly into the fuel inlet manifold (14, 80, 109). The ejector may be within an external manifold (13, 92) or an internal manifold (109). The ejector (59) may be formed of perforations clear through a plate (80), which is closed on either side by other plates (83, 85), or the ejector may be formed by suitable sculpture of fuel cells (12) having internal fuel inlet (109) and fuel outlet (15) manifolds.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 2009Date of Patent: September 29, 2015Assignee: Audi AGInventors: Matthew P. Wilson, Christopher John Carnevale, Jeffrey G. Lake, Michael D. Harrington
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Publication number: 20150188150Abstract: An exemplary flow field includes a plurality of flow channel portions. There are n inlet portions configured for introducing a fluid into the flow field. A plurality of first pass portions direct fluid flow in a first direction. A plurality of second pass portions direct fluid flow in a second direction that is generally parallel to and opposite to the first direction. A plurality of third pass portions direct fluid flow in the first direction. n outlet portions are configured to allow fluid to exit the flow field. n is an integer and a number of the portions in at least one plurality of pass portions is a non-integer multiple of n.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 28, 2012Publication date: July 2, 2015Applicant: BALLARD POWER SYSTEMS INC.Inventors: Jonathan Daniel O'Neill, Christopher John Carnevale
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Publication number: 20150099201Abstract: An exemplary manifold assembly includes a gas inlet manifold configured to introduce a gas to a fuel cell. A gas outlet manifold is configured to direct gas away from the fuel cell. A drain channel connects the inlet manifold to the outlet manifold. The drain channel is configured to carry liquid from the gas inlet manifold to the gas outlet manifold.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 24, 2012Publication date: April 9, 2015Applicant: Ballard Power Systems Inc.Inventors: Tommy Skiba, Christopher John Carnevale
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Publication number: 20150030964Abstract: According to an illustrative embodiment, a method of making a fuel cell component includes removing material from a first plurality of locations along at least one surface on a plate to simultaneously establish a plurality of first channels on the surface. Each first channel has a length between a first end near a first edge of the surface and a second end spaced from a second, opposite edge of the surface. Material is also removed from a second plurality of locations along the surface to simultaneously establish a plurality of second channels on the surface. Each second channel has a length beginning at a first end spaced from the first edge and a second end near the second edge. Material is also removed from the surface near the first ends of at least some of the first channels to simultaneously establish an inlet portion for directing a fluid into the corresponding first channels.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 25, 2013Publication date: January 29, 2015Inventors: Jonathan Daniel O'Neill, Roopnarine Sukhram, Glenn Michael Allen, Christopher John Carnevale
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Publication number: 20130344418Abstract: An example method of securing a bond film to a fuel cell component includes positioning the bond film adjacent the fuel cell component and melting the bond film using thermal energy from an injection molded seal.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2011Publication date: December 26, 2013Applicant: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATIONInventors: Kristoffer Ridgeway, Christopher John Carnevale, Michael D. Harrington
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Publication number: 20130337363Abstract: An exemplary fuel cell component includes a plate comprising an electrically conductive material. An electrical connector includes a first portion embedded in the plate. A second portion of the electrical connector extends from the plate. The second portion is configured to make an electrically conductive connection with another device.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 13, 2012Publication date: December 19, 2013Inventors: David Melo Ferreira, Christopher John Carnevale, Glenn Michael Allen
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Publication number: 20130323623Abstract: An example fuel cell assembly includes a plate having channels configured to facilitate movement of a fuel cell fluid near an area of active flow of fuel cell. The channels include portions having a varying depth that extend laterally outside of the area of active flow.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 5, 2012Publication date: December 5, 2013Inventors: Jonathan Daniel O'Neill, Timothy W. Patterson, Christopher John Carnevale, Roopnarine Sukhram
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Publication number: 20130273448Abstract: A fuel pressure regulator unit is mounted on a manifold. The fuel pressure regulator unit includes a housing providing a fuel inlet passage, a regulated fuel outlet passage, a sense pressure passage, a recycle passage and a mixed fuel passage. A pressure regulator is provided in the housing and is arranged fluidly between the fuel inlet passage and the regulated fuel outlet passage. The sense passage fluidly interconnects the mixed fuel passage and the pressure regulator. The pressure regulator is configured to regulate the flow of fuel from the fuel inlet passage to regulated fuel passage in response to a pressure from the sense pressure passage. An ejector is arranged within the housing and fluidly between the regulated fuel outlet passage and the mixed fuel passage. An ejector is configured to receive recycled fuel from the recycle passage.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 3, 2011Publication date: October 17, 2013Applicant: UTC Power CorporationInventors: Garrett W. Fink, David Melo Ferreira, Christopher John Carnevale
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Publication number: 20130260274Abstract: A fuel cell power plant (36) has vertical fuel cells (102) each sharing a half of a hybrid separator plate (100) which includes a solid fuel flow plate (105) having horizontal fuel flow channels (106) on one surface and coolant channels (108) on an upper portion of the opposite surface, bonded to a plain rear side of a porous, hydrophilic oxidant flow field plate (115) having vertical oxidant flow channels (118). Coolant permeates through the upper portion of the porous, hydrophilic oxidant flow field plates and enters the oxidant flow channels, where it evaporates as the water trickles downward through the oxidant flow field channels, thereby cooling the fuel cell.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 23, 2010Publication date: October 3, 2013Inventors: Christopher John Carnevale, Timothy W. Patterson, JR., Robert M. Darling, Paravastu Badrinarayanan, Michael L. Perry
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Publication number: 20130230789Abstract: An exemplary fuel cell assembly includes a cell stack having a plurality of cells. The cell stack has an outermost plate at each of two opposite ends of the cell stack. An end plate is adjacent the outermost plate at each of the opposite ends. A plurality of anti-rotation members at each of the opposite ends prevent relative movement between the outermost plates and the end plates. The anti-rotation members at each end are at least partially received into the end plate at the corresponding end. The anti-rotation members at each end are only partially received into the outermost plate at the corresponding end without extending through the outermost plate.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 24, 2010Publication date: September 5, 2013Applicant: UTC POWER CORPORATIONInventors: Christopher John Carnevale, Jeffrey G. Lake, Michael D. Harrington