Patents by Inventor Constance R. Stepan
Constance R. Stepan 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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Publication number: 20110104021Abstract: The present application is directed to a hydrophobic membrane assembly (28) used within a gas-generating apparatus. Hydrogen is separated from the reaction solution by passing through a hydrophobic membrane assembly (28) having a hydrophobic lattice like member (36) disposed within a hydrogen output composite (32) further enhancing the ability of the hydrogen output composite's ability to separate out hydrogen gas and prolonging its useful life.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 2, 2010Publication date: May 5, 2011Applicant: Societe BICInventors: Andrew J. Curello, Michael Curello, Constance R. Stepan
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Publication number: 20110099904Abstract: The present application is directed to gas generators comprising a fuel mixture and a catalyst. The catalyst is contained in a self-regulated reactor or buoy, and selectively opens and closes to produce a gas in accordance with the demand for gas. This fuel mixture is generally a solution formed by dissolving a solid fuel component in a liquid fuel component. The mixing preferably occurs before the first use, and more preferably occurs immediately prior to the first use. The inventive gas generators preferably further comprises a starting mechanism that isolates the solid fuel from the liquid fuel or vice versa before the first use. In one embodiment, the starting mechanism further comprises a catalyst shield mechanism that isolates the catalyst in the reactor or buoy from the liquid and/or the solid fuel prior to the first use.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 2, 2010Publication date: May 5, 2011Applicant: Societe BICInventors: Alain Rosenzweig, Andrew J. Curello, Constance R. Stepan, Michael Curello, Paul Spahr
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Patent number: 7896934Abstract: A gas-generating apparatus (10) includes a reaction chamber (18) containing a solid fuel component (24) and a liquid fuel component (22) that is introduced into the reaction chamber by a fluid path, such as a tube, nozzle, or valve. The flow of the liquid fuel to the solid fuel is self-regulated. Other embodiments of the gas-generating apparatus are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: June 12, 2006Date of Patent: March 1, 2011Assignee: Societe BicInventors: Andrew J. Curello, Floyd Fairbanks, Constance R. Stepan, Anthony Sgroi, Jr., Michael Curello
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Patent number: 7779856Abstract: A fuel supply connectable to a fuel cell is disclosed. The fuel supply comprises an outer casing and a fuel liner and an effective amount of fuel in the space between the outer casing and the fuel liner to control the pressure inside the fuel liner. In one example, the fuel inside the fuel liner is methanol, and the fuel between the outer casing and the fuel liner is methanol or methanol gel.Type: GrantFiled: October 5, 2005Date of Patent: August 24, 2010Assignee: Societe BICInventors: Paul Adams, Andrew J. Curello, Floyd Fairbanks, Constance R. Stepan
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Publication number: 20100104481Abstract: Disclosed herein are multiple embodiments of a hydrogen generator (10) that measures, transports or stores a single dose of a viscous fuel component from first fuel chamber (12) in storage area (38) when the internal hydrogen pressure (44, 44?) of the hydrogen generator is high, and transports this single dose to a metal hydride fuel component in second fuel chamber (14) when the internal pressure is low, so that the viscous liquid and metal hydride fuel components react together to generate more hydrogen and to restart the cycle. The viscous fuel component can be water or alcohol, such as methanol, in liquid or gel form, and the metal hydride fuel component can be sodium borohydride or other metal hydride that chemically reacts with the viscous fuel to produce hydrogen. The metal hydride fuel component can be in solid or viscous form, e.g., aqueous form.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 1, 2008Publication date: April 29, 2010Applicant: Societe BICInventors: Andrew J. Curello, Constance R. Stepan, Anthony Sgroi, Paul Spahr, Michael Curello, Alain Rosenzweig, Kurt Rath
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Publication number: 20090123342Abstract: The present invention increases the amount of hydrogen produced or released from reactions between a metal hydride fuel and liquid reactant. The present invention also decreases the volume of a hydrogen generating cartridge by reducing the pH of the liquid reactant.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 12, 2006Publication date: May 14, 2009Applicant: Societe BICInventors: Anthony Sgroi, Jr., Constance R. Stepan, Andrew J. Curello, Michael Curello
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Publication number: 20080233457Abstract: Disclosed herein are connecting valves with an interchangeability feature (18, 20) to ensure that the fuel cell fuel matches the fuel cell. Also disclosed are retainer mechanisms (28, 30, 32, 36) capable of releasably connecting the fuel supply to the fuel cell or to the electronic device equipped with a fuel cell. An improvement to the connecting valves to decrease the amount of residual fuel left in the fuel supply is also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 14, 2006Publication date: September 25, 2008Applicant: Societe BICInventors: Paul Adams, Andrew J. Curello, Constance R. Stepan, Paul Spahr
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Publication number: 20080233462Abstract: The present application is directed to a gas-generating apparatus and various pressure regulators or pressure-regulating valves. Hydrogen is generated within the gas-generating apparatus and is transported to a fuel cell. The transportation of a first fuel component to a second fuel component to generate of hydrogen occurs automatically depending on the pressure of a reaction chamber within the gas-generating apparatus. The pressure regulators and flow orifices are provided to regulate the hydrogen pressure and to minimize the fluctuation in pressure of the hydrogen received by the fuel cell. Connecting valves to connect the gas-generating apparatus to the fuel cell are also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 17, 2008Publication date: September 25, 2008Applicant: Societe BICInventors: Andrew J. Curello, Alain Rosenzweig, Anthony Sgroi, Paul Spahr, Constance R. Stepan
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Publication number: 20080216906Abstract: A gas-generating apparatus (10) includes a reaction chamber (18) containing a solid fuel component (24) and a liquid fuel component (22) that is introduced into the reaction chamber by a fluid path, such as a tube, nozzle, or valve. The flow of the liquid fuel to the solid fuel is self-regulated. Other embodiments of the gas-generating apparatus are also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 12, 2006Publication date: September 11, 2008Applicant: SOCIETE BICInventors: Andrew J. Curello, Floyd Fairbanks, Constance R. Stepan, Anthony Sgroi, Michael Curello
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Publication number: 20080206113Abstract: A gas-generating apparatus (12) includes a fuel introducing system that has a fuel transporting system that is pressure regulated and indexed. A reaction chamber (18) having a fluid fuel component (22) and an indexing mechanism (24) operatively connected to a solid fuel component are provided. The solid fuel component of the present invention is introduced into the fluid fuel component within the reaction chamber. Further, the indexing mechanism includes a ratcheting mechanism that may be in direct contact with the fluid fuel component. Alternatively, the reaction chamber may be contained within a pod which also contains the reservoir containing the fluid fuel component, a plurality of which are provided. The indexing mechanism advances the pods sequentially so that the fuel components may be introduced. Other indexing mechanisms are provided. A secondary fuel cell (14?) may be provided to extract excess production from the reaction chamber.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 12, 2006Publication date: August 28, 2008Applicant: Societe BICInventors: Constance R. Stepan, Paul Adams, Andrew J. Curello, Anthony Sgroi, Floyd Fairbanks
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Publication number: 20080199759Abstract: A fuel supply (10) is attachable to a fuel cell system (12). The fuel supply includes a fuel supply connector (14) configured to be attached to the fuel cell system. A fuel supply connector automatically separates the fuel supply from the fuel cell system in a predetermined manner if exposed to a separation load. Valves (24, 26) or filler material (23a-d) are used to automatically stop the flow of fuel through the fuel supply connector. Alternatively, the fuel supply connector includes a flexible tube (114) and a valve disposed within the connector. The flexibility of the tube prevents the connector from breaking in case of a separation load.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 14, 2006Publication date: August 21, 2008Applicant: Societe BICInventors: Paul Adams, Andrew J. Curello, Constance R. Stepan, Hung T. Than
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Patent number: 5154408Abstract: Apparatus for feeding and separating seriatim a sheet of paper from a stack of sheets.Type: GrantFiled: December 28, 1990Date of Patent: October 13, 1992Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.Inventors: Constance R. Stepan, James A. Spiers
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Patent number: 5088718Abstract: Apparatus for feeding and separating seriatim a sheet of paper from a stack of sheets.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 1990Date of Patent: February 18, 1992Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.Inventors: Constance R. Stepan, James A. Spiers
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Patent number: D530663Type: GrantFiled: May 7, 2004Date of Patent: October 24, 2006Assignee: Societe BICInventors: Andrew J. Curello, Ken Cooper, Constance R. Stepan
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Patent number: D538222Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2006Date of Patent: March 13, 2007Assignee: Societe BICInventors: Andrew J Curello, Ken Cooper, Constance R Stepan