Patents by Inventor Darren Bawden Hickey
Darren Bawden Hickey 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: 11695140Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting oxidation in at least one planar fuel cell stack that includes a multitude of cells is described. The height of the stack is measured to determine if there has been an increase from a previously-measured height. Such an increase correlates with the oxidation of at least some of the planar cells. In some cases, the fuel flow rate or airflow rate to each fuel cell stack can be adjusted, based in part on the oxidation detection technique. A power delivery system with at least two fuel cell stacks is also described, and it includes a stack height-measurement system, a health monitor for the fuel cell stacks, and a load balancer or airflow regulator.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2020Date of Patent: July 4, 2023Assignee: CUMMINS ENTERPRISE LLCInventors: Darren Bawden Hickey, Honggang Wang
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Patent number: 11335924Abstract: An integrated fuel cell system includes fuel cells, fuel heat exchangers, air heat exchangers, and tail gas oxidizers. The tail gas oxidizers oxidize a (second) portion of fuel received from the fuel cells with effluent that is output from the fuel cells. Fuel cell stacks are fluidly coupled with the fuel heat exchangers and the tail gas oxidizers such that the fuel that is output from the fuel cells is split into a first portion that is directed back into the fuel heat exchangers and a second portion that is directed into the tail gas oxidizers.Type: GrantFiled: July 8, 2019Date of Patent: May 17, 2022Assignee: Cummins Enterprise LLCInventors: Darren Bawden Hickey, Irfan Hussaini
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Patent number: 11196063Abstract: A formed substrate assembly includes an air flow form plate, a fuel flow form plate, and an anode. The fuel flow form plate is positioned over the air flow form plate. The fuel flow form plate partially defines a plurality of first channels. The fuel flow form plate also defines a plurality of second channels. The plurality of second channels defines a plurality of apertures, where a portion of the apertures extend from the plurality of second channels to the plurality of first channels. The anode is positioned over the fuel flow form plate. The anode partially defines the plurality of first channels such that the fuel flow form plate and the anode define the plurality of first channels. The portion of the plurality of apertures is configured to channel a flow of fuel from the plurality of second channels to the plurality of first channels.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2018Date of Patent: December 7, 2021Assignee: CUMMINS ENTERPRISE LLCInventors: Andrew Philip Shapiro, Darren Bawden Hickey
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Patent number: 11094958Abstract: An electric power generation system includes a fuel cell module. The fuel cell module includes a fuel cell and a compression plate. The compression plate includes a surface contacting the fuel cell. A support plate is opposite the compression plate. The compression plate is movable in relation to the support plate. A pressurized fluid container is disposed between the compression plate and the support plate. The pressurized fluid container includes a casing defining an internal space configured to contain pressurized fluid. The electric power generation system further includes a pressurized fluid source and a fluid line coupled to the pressurized fluid source and the pressurized fluid container.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2015Date of Patent: August 17, 2021Assignee: CUMMINS ENTERPRISE LLCInventors: Keith Garrette Brown, Darren Bawden Hickey
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Publication number: 20210043952Abstract: A formed substrate assembly includes an air flow form plate, a fuel flow form plate, and an anode. The fuel flow form plate is positioned over the air flow form plate. The fuel flow form plate partially defines a plurality of first channels. The fuel flow form plate also defines a plurality of second channels. The plurality of second channels defines a plurality of apertures, where a portion of the apertures extend from the plurality of second channels to the plurality of first channels. The anode is positioned over the fuel flow form plate. The anode partially defines the plurality of first channels such that the fuel flow form plate and the anode define the plurality of first channels. The portion of the plurality of apertures is configured to channel a flow of fuel from the plurality of second channels to the plurality of first channels.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 28, 2018Publication date: February 11, 2021Inventors: Andrew Philip SHAPIRO, Darren Bawden HICKEY
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Publication number: 20210028473Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting oxidation in at least one planar fuel cell stack that includes a multitude of cells is described. The height of the stack is measured to determine if there has been an increase from a previously-measured height. Such an increase correlates with the oxidation of at least some of the planar cells. In some cases, the fuel flow rate or airflow rate to each fuel cell stack can be adjusted, based in part on the oxidation detection technique. A power delivery system with at least two fuel cell stacks is also described, and it includes a stack height-measurement system, a health monitor for the fuel cell stacks, and a load balancer or airflow regulator.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 8, 2020Publication date: January 28, 2021Inventors: Darren Bawden HICKEY, Honggang WANG
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Patent number: 10862141Abstract: A multi-stack fuel cell system includes upper and lower housings defining interior chambers in corresponding upper and lower stacks of fuel cells are disposed. A heat exchanger assembly is fluidly coupled with the interior chambers. The heat exchanger assembly receives input fuel and/or input air from outside of the housings and receives outgoing fuel and/or outgoing air from the fuel cells. The heat exchanger assembly heats the input fuel and/or the input air, and/or cools the outgoing fuel and/or the outgoing air. The heat exchanger assembly may be disposed between the upper and lower housings. The upper housing an upper stack of fuel cells and/or the heat exchanger assembly may assist in compressing the fuel cells in the lower stack against each other.Type: GrantFiled: August 11, 2016Date of Patent: December 8, 2020Assignee: CUMMINS ENTERPRISE LLCInventors: Darren Bawden Hickey, Keith Brown
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Patent number: 10840528Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting oxidation in at least one planar fuel cell stack that includes a multitude of cells is described. The height of the stack is measured to determine if there has been an increase from a previously-measured height. Such an increase correlates with the oxidation of at least some of the planar cells. In some cases, the fuel flow rate or airflow rate to each fuel cell stack can be adjusted, based in part on the oxidation detection technique. A power delivery system with at least two fuel cell stacks is also described, and it includes a stack height-measurement system, a health monitor for the fuel cell stacks, and a load balancer or airflow regulator.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2016Date of Patent: November 17, 2020Assignee: CUMMINS ENTERPRISE LLCInventors: Darren Bawden Hickey, Honggang Wang
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Patent number: 10756552Abstract: An energy storage module includes a module housing, a positive polarity module terminal and a negative polarity module terminal accessible via an external surface of the housing, and a plurality of battery cells contained within the housing and coupled in series between the positive polarity terminal and a negative polarity terminal to form a battery cell string. A removable manual service disconnect (MSD) unit is physically coupled to the external surface of the housing and electrically coupled between at least one battery cell in the battery cell string and one of the module terminals. The MSD unit has at least a first MSD operating state to allow current conduction between the positive polarity module terminal and the negative polarity module terminal, and a second MSD operating state to prevent current conduction between the positive polarity module terminal and the negative polarity module terminal.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2018Date of Patent: August 25, 2020Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Kenneth McClellan Rush, Darren Bawden Hickey, Keith Garrette Brown, Luca Tonini
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Patent number: 10714783Abstract: A system includes a first plurality of fuel cell stacks configured to generate a first portion of an electric potential and a second plurality of fuel cell stacks configured to generate a second portion of the electric potential. The system includes a positive electrical bus bar conductively coupled with the first plurality of fuel cell stacks and configured to power an electrical load using the generated electric potential. The system includes a negative electrical bus bar conductively coupled with the second plurality of fuel cell stacks and configured to electrical load using the generated electric potential. The positive electrical bus bar is elongated and extends between the first plurality of fuel cell stacks and the negative electrical bus bar is elongated and extends between the second plurality of fuel cell stacks.Type: GrantFiled: May 9, 2017Date of Patent: July 14, 2020Assignee: CUMMINS ENTERPRISE LLCInventors: Darren Bawden Hickey, Irfan Saif Hussaini, Andrew Philip Shapiro, Keith Garrette Brown
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Publication number: 20200020963Abstract: An integrated fuel cell system includes fuel cells, fuel heat exchangers, air heat exchangers, and tail gas oxidizers. The tail gas oxidizers oxidize a (second) portion of fuel received from the fuel cells with effluent that is output from the fuel cells. Fuel cell stacks are fluidly coupled with the fuel heat exchangers and the tail gas oxidizers such that the fuel that is output from the fuel cells is split into a first portion that is directed back into the fuel heat exchangers and a second portion that is directed into the tail gas oxidizers.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 8, 2019Publication date: January 16, 2020Inventors: Darren Bawden HICKEY, Irfan HUSSAINI
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Patent number: 10355294Abstract: A formed substrate assembly includes an air flow form plate, a fuel flow form plate, and an anode. The fuel flow form plate is positioned over the air flow form plate. The fuel flow form plate partially defines a plurality of first channels. The fuel flow form plate also defines a plurality of second channels. The plurality of second channels defines a plurality of apertures, where a portion of the apertures extend from the plurality of second channels to the plurality of first channels. The anode is positioned over the fuel flow form plate. The anode partially defines the plurality of first channels such that the fuel flow form plate and the anode define the plurality of first channels. The portion of the plurality of apertures is configured to channel a flow of fuel from the plurality of second channels to the plurality of first channels.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2017Date of Patent: July 16, 2019Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Andrew Philip Shapiro, Darren Bawden Hickey
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Patent number: 10347924Abstract: An integrated fuel cell system includes fuel cells, fuel heat exchangers, air heat exchangers, and tail gas oxidizers. The tail gas oxidizers oxidize a (second) portion of fuel received from the fuel cells with effluent that is output from the fuel cells. Fuel cell stacks are fluidly coupled with the fuel heat exchangers and the tail gas oxidizers such that the fuel that is output from the fuel cells is split into a first portion that is directed back into the fuel heat exchangers and a second portion that is directed into the tail gas oxidizers.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 2016Date of Patent: July 9, 2019Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Darren Bawden Hickey, Irfan Hussaini
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Patent number: 10283804Abstract: A flange assembly for use with a SOFC system includes a first flange, a second flange, and a dielectric element coupled between the first flange and the second flange. The dielectric element includes an outer cylindrical surface and an inner cylindrical surface. The inner cylindrical surface defines a cylindrical region having a circumference. The inner cylindrical surface also defines a channel that extends radially about the circumference of the cylindrical region.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 2016Date of Patent: May 7, 2019Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Keith Garrette Brown, Liwei Hao, Darren Bawden Hickey, Kevin Joseph Gavel, John Raymond Krahn, Qin Chen, Lili Zhang, Daniel Qi Tan
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Publication number: 20190131805Abstract: An energy storage module includes a module housing, a positive polarity module terminal and a negative polarity module terminal accessible via an external surface of the housing, and a plurality of battery cells contained within the housing and coupled in series between the positive polarity terminal and a negative polarity terminal to form a battery cell string. A removable manual service disconnect (MSD) unit is physically coupled to the external surface of the housing and electrically coupled between at least one battery cell in the battery cell string and one of the module terminals. The MSD unit has at least a first MSD operating state to allow current conduction between the positive polarity module terminal and the negative polarity module terminal, and a second MSD operating state to prevent current conduction between the positive polarity module terminal and the negative polarity module terminal.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 31, 2018Publication date: May 2, 2019Applicant: General Electric CompanyInventors: Kenneth McClellan Rush, Darren Bawden Hickey, Keith Garrette Brown, Luca Tonini
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Publication number: 20180331385Abstract: A system includes one or more positive fuel cell stacks configured to generate a positive portion of an electric potential and one or more negative fuel cell stacks configured to generate a negative portion of the electric potential. The system includes a positive electrical bus bar conductively coupled with the positive fuel cell stacks and configured to conduct the positive portion of the electric potential from the positive fuel cell stacks to one or more loads. The system includes a negative electrical bus bar conductively coupled with the negative fuel cell stacks and configured to conduct the negative portion of the electric potential from the negative fuel cell stacks to the one or more loads. The positive electrical bus bar is elongated and extends between the positive fuel cell stacks and the negative electrical bus bar is elongated and extends between the negative fuel cell stacks.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 9, 2017Publication date: November 15, 2018Inventors: Darren Bawden Hickey, Irfan Saif Hussaini, Andrew Philip Shapiro, Keith Garrette Brown
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Patent number: D844562Type: GrantFiled: October 5, 2016Date of Patent: April 2, 2019Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventor: Darren Bawden Hickey
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Patent number: D894124Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 2019Date of Patent: August 25, 2020Assignee: CUMMINS ENTERPRISE LLCInventor: Darren Bawden Hickey
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Patent number: D976831Type: GrantFiled: August 6, 2020Date of Patent: January 31, 2023Assignee: CUMMINS ENTERPRISE LLCInventor: Darren Bawden Hickey
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Patent number: D990424Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2022Date of Patent: June 27, 2023Assignee: Cummins Enterprise LLCInventor: Darren Bawden Hickey