Patents by Inventor David Gerard

David Gerard 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).

  • Publication number: 20260208722
    Abstract: A method manages a hybrid powertrain of a hydrogen motor vehicle. The hybrid powertrain includes an internal combustion engine, a fuel cell, a hydrogen storage tank, and a line connecting an air outlet of the fuel cell to an air inlet of the internal combustion engine. The line has a cutoff valve. The method includes controlling the shutdown of the fuel cell, stopping the internal combustion engine, opening the cutoff valve when the fuel cell and the internal combustion engine are stopped, and running the internal combustion engine without injecting hydrogen from the storage tank in order to draw, via the line, the fluids present in the fuel cell to the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2023
    Publication date: July 23, 2026
    Applicant: AMPERE S.A.S.
    Inventor: David GERARD
  • Publication number: 20260208573
    Abstract: A powertrain that operates with hydrogen includes a hydrogen tank, an internal combustion engine supplied with hydrogen by the hydrogen tank, and an electric motor operating from a fuel cell supplied with hydrogen from this hydrogen tank. The powertrain includes an air-circulation connection circuit provided with an opening/closing device and connecting an air outlet of the fuel cell to an air inlet of the internal combustion engine to allow oxygen-depleted air from the fuel cell to supply the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2023
    Publication date: July 23, 2026
    Applicant: AMPERE S.A.S.
    Inventors: David GERARD, Cedric LIBERT
  • Patent number: 12479335
    Abstract: An electric power supply device includes-a first energy source having at least one battery and a second energy source having at least one fuel cell. The first and second energy sources supply energy to an electric motor of a motor vehicle in different proportions. A control module of the electric power supply device includes a memory that stores a value of a maximum operating power able to be supplied by the second energy source so that the second energy source is not asked to supply an amount greater than the stored maximum operating power. The maximum operating power value of the second energy source is dependent on a cooling capacity for the second energy source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2025
    Assignee: AMPERE S.A.S.
    Inventor: David Gerard
  • Patent number: 12208755
    Abstract: An electrical power supply for a hybrid or electric motor vehicle includes a first power source to supply a voltage network of the vehicle, a second power source to supply the voltage network of the vehicle and/or to recharge the first power source, and a control module to control a safety structure of the first power source and of the second power source. The electrical power supply includes a metal casing containing the first power source, the second power source, the control module and the safety structure. The safety structure is common to the two power sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: AMPERE S.A.S.
    Inventors: David Gerard, Christophe Ripoll
  • Publication number: 20240092177
    Abstract: A method discharges the electrical circuit of a vehicle including at least one traction electric machine and equipped with an electrical supply network including a high-voltage battery and a hydrogen-fuel-cell stack that is associated with a voltage converter, with a high-voltage consumption network including the machine associated with an inverter and appended pieces of equipment, and with a drive module. The discharging method includes the following successive steps: stopping the vehicle, electrically disconnecting the battery from the network, interrupting the supply of hydrogen to the stack, and discharging energy from the electrical circuit into the stator winding of the machine by driving the voltage converter via the drive module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2021
    Publication date: March 21, 2024
    Applicant: RENAULT S.A.S
    Inventors: David GERARD, Serge LOUDOT
  • Publication number: 20240025360
    Abstract: An electrical power supply for a hybrid or electric motor vehicle includes a first power source to supply a voltage network of the vehicle, a second power source to supply the voltage network of the vehicle and/or to recharge the first power source, and a control module to control a safety structure of the first power source and of the second power source. The electrical power supply includes a metal casing containing the first power source, the second power source, the control module and the safety structure. The safety structure is common to the two power sources.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2021
    Publication date: January 25, 2024
    Applicant: RENAULT S.A.S
    Inventors: David GERARD, Christophe RIPOLL
  • Publication number: 20240001808
    Abstract: A device for electrically powering an electric motor of a motor vehicle includes first energy source, a second energy source, and a memory module in which is stored a value of a maximum operating power that can be provided by the second energy source. This maximum operating power value is a function of the cooling capacity of the second energy source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2021
    Publication date: January 4, 2024
    Applicant: RENAULT S.A.S
    Inventor: David GERARD
  • Patent number: 9719442
    Abstract: A method for heating fuel upon start-up of a hybrid vehicle combustion engine, in which method temperature of fuel and temperature outside the vehicle are compared against a first threshold below which starting of the vehicle is forbidden, and against a second threshold higher than the first threshold and above which the engine will start without the fuel being heated. The fuel is heated by exchange of heat with a cooling circuit for the vehicle battery when the external temperature is between the two thresholds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: RENAULT s.a.s
    Inventors: David Gerard, Fano Rampanarivo, Pascal Emery
  • Publication number: 20150337776
    Abstract: A method for heating fuel upon start-up of a hybrid vehicle combustion engine, in which method temperature of fuel and temperature outside the vehicle are compared against a first threshold below which starting of the vehicle is forbidden, and against a second threshold higher than the first threshold and above which the engine will start without the fuel being heated. The fuel is heated by exchange of heat with a cooling circuit for the vehicle battery when the external temperature is between the two thresholds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2014
    Publication date: November 26, 2015
    Applicant: RENAULT s.a.s.
    Inventors: David GERARD, Fano RAMPANARIVO, Pascal EMERY
  • Patent number: 7399544
    Abstract: A power production unit onboard a motor vehicle, including a fuel cell including at least one orifice for evacuating off-gases, in particular of air and water vapor, which are discharged into a discharge pipe. A condenser liquefies the water vapor, and a compressor is interposed upstream of the condenser, liquid water being diverted from the discharge pipe to a liquid water circuit. The compressor compresses the off-gases so that the dew point of the water vapor is higher than the temperature of the condenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2008
    Assignee: Renault S.A.S.
    Inventor: David Gerard
  • Publication number: 20060134471
    Abstract: The invention concerns a power production unit (10) onboard a motor vehicle, comprising a fuel cell (12) including at least one orifice for evacuating off-gases (28) consisting in particular of air and water vapour, and which are discharged into a discharge pipe (30, 36) wherein is provided a condenser (28) which liquefies the water vapour, and wherein a compressor (32) is interposed upstream of the condenser (38), liquid water being diverted from the discharge pipe (36) to a liquid water circuit (62). The invention is characterized in that the compressor (32) compresses the off-gases so that the dew point of the water vapour is higher than the temperature of the condenser (38).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2003
    Publication date: June 22, 2006
    Applicant: RENAULT s.a.s.
    Inventor: David Gerard