Patents by Inventor Craig Winfield Peterson
Craig Winfield Peterson 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: 11837761Abstract: A vehicle includes a fuel cell stack, an ejector, a first injector, a second injector, and a controller. The fuel cell stack is configured to generate power to propel the vehicle. The fuel cell stack has an anode side. The ejector is configured to deliver hydrogen to the anode side. The ejector has a nozzle configured to accelerate and direct the hydrogen toward the anode side. The first and second injectors are configured to deliver hydrogen to the nozzle. The controller is programmed to, in response to a command to deliver hydrogen to the anode side, open each of the first and second injectors and subsequently close the second injector while the first injector remains open.Type: GrantFiled: February 9, 2022Date of Patent: December 5, 2023Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Craig Winfield Peterson, Chris Weinkauf
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Patent number: 11742504Abstract: A vehicle includes a fuel cell, an inlet valve, a purge valve, and a controller. The fuel cell has an anode side configured to receive hydrogen. The inlet valve is configured to open to deliver the hydrogen to the anode side. The purge valve is configured to open to purge water and nitrogen from the anode side. The controller is programmed to, operate the inlet valve to inject hydrogen into the anode side via opening the inlet valve followed by closing the inlet valve. The controller is further programmed to, in response to a concentration of the hydrogen in the anode side being less than threshold, open the purge valve to purge water and nitrogen from the anode side.Type: GrantFiled: January 19, 2022Date of Patent: August 29, 2023Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Zeng Qiu, Rajit Johri, Craig Winfield Peterson, Alireza Goshtasbi, Hao Wang, Ming Cheng, William Frederick Sanderson, Jr.
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Publication number: 20230253587Abstract: A vehicle includes a fuel cell stack, an ejector, a first injector, a second injector, and a controller. The fuel cell stack is configured to generate power to propel the vehicle. The fuel cell stack has an anode side. The ejector is configured to deliver hydrogen to the anode side. The ejector has a nozzle configured to accelerate and direct the hydrogen toward the anode side. The first and second injectors are configured to deliver hydrogen to the nozzle. The controller is programmed to, in response to a command to deliver hydrogen to the anode side, open each of the first and second injectors and subsequently close the second injector while the first injector remains open.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 9, 2022Publication date: August 10, 2023Inventors: Craig Winfield Peterson, Chris Weinkauf
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Publication number: 20230231166Abstract: A vehicle includes a fuel cell, an inlet valve, a purge valve, and a controller. The fuel cell has an anode side configured to receive hydrogen. The inlet valve is configured to open to deliver the hydrogen to the anode side. The purge valve is configured to open to purge water and nitrogen from the anode side. The controller is programmed to, operate the inlet valve to inject hydrogen into the anode side via opening the inlet valve followed by closing the inlet valve. The controller is further programmed to, in response to a concentration of the hydrogen in the anode side being less than threshold, open the purge valve to purge water and nitrogen from the anode side.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 19, 2022Publication date: July 20, 2023Inventors: Zeng Qiu, Rajit Johri, Craig Winfield Peterson, Alireza Goshtasbi, Hao Wang, Ming Cheng, William Frederick Sanderson, JR.
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Patent number: 10987994Abstract: An air-conditioning system and method of climate control for a fuel cell vehicle are provided herein. The system and method include a vacuum enclosure having an adsorber and an evaporator/condenser assembly. A conduit and valve system operates the air-conditioning system in two modes of operation to provide uninterrupted cooling to a passenger cabin, among other things. In one mode of operation, the adsorber is regenerated using waste heat from a fuel cell stack.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2018Date of Patent: April 27, 2021Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Furqan Zafar Shaikh, Sunil Katragadda, Michael Levin, William Frederick Sanderson, Craig Winfield Peterson
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Patent number: 10644336Abstract: A system and methods are provided for testing anode integrity during vehicle operation. In one example described, the system and methods allow for anode leak tests during vehicle operation based on a flow of hydrogen into a fuel cell, the flow of hydrogen into the fuel cell maintaining the vehicle power while the leak test is performed. The methods further allow for operational adjustments responsive to the leak test, which may include controlling the vehicle power to manage vehicle operations in the presence of a hydrogen leak in some instances.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2014Date of Patent: May 5, 2020Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Milos Milacic, Craig Winfield Peterson, Andreas R. Schamel
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Publication number: 20190111758Abstract: An air-conditioning system and method of climate control for a fuel cell vehicle are provided herein. The system and method include a vacuum enclosure having an adsorber and an evaporator/condenser assembly. A conduit and valve system operates the air-conditioning system in two modes of operation to provide uninterrupted cooling to a passenger cabin, among other things. In one mode of operation, the adsorber is regenerated using waste heat from a fuel cell stack.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 27, 2018Publication date: April 18, 2019Inventors: Furqan Zafar Shaikh, Sunil Katragadda, Michael Levin, William Frederick Sanderson, Craig Winfield Peterson
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Patent number: 10164273Abstract: An apparatus for heating a fuel cell stack in a cold start mode is provided. The apparatus comprises a fuel cell stack, a boost converter, and a controller. The fuel cell stack powers a vehicle. The boost converter includes a power switch that is thermally coupled to the fuel cell stack. The controller is configured to receive a signal indicative of a temperature during a vehicle startup and to compare the temperature to a predetermined temperature value. The controller is further configured to activate the power switch if the temperature is below the predetermined temperature value such that the power switch generates heat to apply to the fuel cell stack and generates a voltage for powering a power circuit to enable the vehicle to driveaway while the fuel cell stack receives the heat.Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 2013Date of Patent: December 25, 2018Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Hasdi R. Hashim, Craig Winfield Peterson, Raymond Anthony Spiteri
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Patent number: 10115979Abstract: An apparatus for heating a fuel cell stack in a cold start mode is provided. The apparatus comprises a fuel cell stack, a power converter, and a controller. The power converter may include a power switch and resistive heating element that is thermally coupled to the fuel cell stack. The controller is configured to activate the power converter, if a temperature is below a predetermined temperature value, to draw current from the fuel cell stack to cause the fuel cell stack to generate heat. Heat from the power converter is also applied to the fuel cell stack.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2014Date of Patent: October 30, 2018Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Craig Winfield Peterson, Hasdi R. Hashim, Michael W. Degner, Brian Gillespey
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Patent number: 9853303Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack in fluid communication with a separator. The separator has a first portion and a second portion forming a chamber. The first portion has a continuous inner wall and an end wall, with an inlet conduit connected to the inner wall and a liquid drain connected to the end wall. The second portion has an end wall and an outlet conduit extending into the chamber to form a channel with the inner wall of the first portion. A fuel cell separator includes a first end and a second end connected by a side wall to define a separation chamber. An inlet conduit is tangentially connected to the wall. An outlet conduit is connected to the first end and extending into the chamber to form a channel with the wall. A liquid drain is connected to the second end.Type: GrantFiled: June 21, 2013Date of Patent: December 26, 2017Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Craig Winfield Peterson, Steven Potvin, William F. Sanderson
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Publication number: 20160172696Abstract: A system and methods are provided for testing anode integrity during vehicle operation. In one example described, the system and methods allow for anode leak tests during vehicle operation based on a flow of hydrogen into a fuel cell, the flow of hydrogen into the fuel cell maintaining the vehicle power while the leak test is performed. The methods further allow for operational adjustments responsive to the leak test, which may include controlling the vehicle power to manage vehicle operations in the presence of a hydrogen leak in some instances.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 12, 2014Publication date: June 16, 2016Inventors: Milos Milacic, Craig Winfield Peterson, Andreas R. Schamel
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Publication number: 20140377675Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack in fluid communication with a separator. The separator has a first portion and a second portion forming a chamber. The first portion has a continuous inner wall and an end wall, with an inlet conduit connected to the inner wall and a liquid drain connected to the end wall. The second portion has an end wall and an outlet conduit extending into the chamber to form a channel with the inner wall of the first portion. A fuel cell separator includes a first end and a second end connected by a side wall to define a separation chamber. An inlet conduit is tangentially connected to the wall. An outlet conduit is connected to the first end and extending into the chamber to form a channel with the wall. A liquid drain is connected to the second end.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 21, 2013Publication date: December 25, 2014Inventors: Craig Winfield Peterson, Steven Potvin, William F. Sanderson
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Publication number: 20140302415Abstract: An apparatus for heating a fuel cell stack in a cold start mode is provided. The apparatus comprises a fuel cell stack, a power converter, and a controller. The power converter may include a power switch and resistive heating element that is thermally coupled to the fuel cell stack. The controller is configured to activate the power converter, if a temperature is below a predetermined temperature value, to draw current from the fuel cell stack to cause the fuel cell stack to generate heat. Heat from the power converter is also applied to the fuel cell stack.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 20, 2014Publication date: October 9, 2014Inventors: Craig Winfield Peterson, Hasdi R. Hashim, Michael W. Degner, Brian Gillespey
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Publication number: 20140272649Abstract: An apparatus for heating a fuel cell stack in a cold start mode is provided. The apparatus comprises a fuel cell stack, a boost converter, and a controller. The fuel cell stack powers a vehicle. The boost converter includes a power switch that is thermally coupled to the fuel cell stack. The controller is configured to receive a signal indicative of a temperature during a vehicle startup and to compare the temperature to a predetermined temperature value. The controller is further configured to activate the power switch if the temperature is below the predetermined temperature value such that the power switch generates heat to apply to the fuel cell stack and generates a voltage for powering a power circuit to enable the vehicle to driveaway while the fuel cell stack receives the heat.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 5, 2013Publication date: September 18, 2014Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Hasdi R. Hashim, Craig Winfield Peterson, Raymond Anthony Spiteri
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Patent number: 8158292Abstract: In at least one embodiment, a fuel cell anode exhaust system includes a fuel cell anode having an input and an output. The system also includes a first conduit loop communicating with the anode input and output. The system also includes a second conduit loop having an input and an output. The input and output communicate with the first conduit loop. A gas separator is disposed on the second conduit loop for purifying an exhaust stream fed into the gas separator.Type: GrantFiled: October 12, 2010Date of Patent: April 17, 2012Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Lawrence M. Rose, Suriyaprakash Ayyangar Janarthanam, Alexander T. Zaremba, Craig Winfield Peterson
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Publication number: 20110165480Abstract: In at least one embodiment, a fuel cell anode exhaust system includes a fuel cell anode having an input and an output. The system also includes a first conduit loop communicating with the anode input and output. The system also includes a second conduit loop having an input and an output. The input and output communicate with the first conduit loop. A gas separator is disposed on the second conduit loop for purifying an exhaust stream fed into the gas separator.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 12, 2010Publication date: July 7, 2011Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Lawrence M. Rose, Suriyaprakash Ayyangar Janarthanam, Alexander T. Zaremba, Craig Winfield Peterson