Patents by Inventor Denis J. Connor
Denis J. Connor 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: 10002680Abstract: An apparatus for generating a pressure wave in a liquid medium is disclosed. The apparatus includes a plurality of pressure wave generators having respective moveable pistons, the pistons having respective control rods connected thereto. The apparatus also includes a plurality of transducers coupled to the liquid medium and means for causing the pistons of respective ones of the plurality of the pressure wave generators to be accelerated toward respective ones of the plurality of transducers. The apparatus further includes means for causing restraining forces to be applied to respective control rods to cause respective pistons to impact respective transducers at respective desired times and with respective desired amounts of kinetic energy such that the respective desired amounts of kinetic energy are converted into a pressure wave in the liquid medium.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2009Date of Patent: June 19, 2018Assignee: General Fusion Inc.Inventors: Michel Georges Laberge, Daniel Gelbart, Ross Henry Hill, Denis J. Connor
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Patent number: 9569762Abstract: Portable electronic devices such as portable telephones, portable computers and the like may obtain power from fuel cells that consume fuel from fuel reservoirs of the portable devices. A network of fueling stations permits users of portable devices to main the devices operational by frequently topping up the fuel reservoirs. Payment systems combine payments for fuel with larger payments for other transactions to avoid the overhead of processing individual payments for very small amounts.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2006Date of Patent: February 14, 2017Assignee: Intelligent Energy LimitedInventors: Gerard F. McLean, Olen Richard Vanderleeden, Anna Stukas, Denis J. Connor
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Publication number: 20100163130Abstract: An apparatus for generating a pressure wave in a medium is disclosed. The apparatus includes a plurality of pressure wave generators having respective moveable pistons, the pistons having respective control rods connected thereto. The apparatus also includes a plurality of transducers coupled to the medium and means for causing the pistons of respective ones of the plurality of the pressure wave generators to be accelerated toward respective ones of the plurality of transducers. The apparatus further includes means for causing restraining forces to be applied to respective control rods to cause respective pistons to impact respective transducers at respective desired times and with respective desired amounts of kinetic energy such that the respective desired amounts of kinetic energy are converted into a pressure wave in the medium.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2009Publication date: July 1, 2010Inventors: Michel Georges Laberge, Daniel Gelbart, Ross Henry Hill, Denis J. Connor
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Patent number: 7687044Abstract: A chemical reaction is performed with separation of the product(s) and reactant(s) by pressure swing adsorption (PSA), using an apparatus having a plurality of adsorbers cooperating with first and second valve assemblies in a PSA module. The PSA cycle is characterized by multiple intermediate pressure levels between higher and lower pressures of the PSA cycle. Gas flows enter or exit the PSA module at the intermediate pressure levels as well as the higher and lower pressure levels, entering from compressor stage(s) or exiting into exhauster or expander stages, under substantially steady conditions of flow and pressure. The PSA module comprises a rotor containing the adsorbers and rotating within a stator, with ported valve faces between the rotor and stator to control the timing of the flows entering or exiting the adsorbers in the rotor. The reaction may be performed within a portion of the rotor containing a catalyst.Type: GrantFiled: June 13, 2007Date of Patent: March 30, 2010Assignee: Xebec Adsorption Inc.Inventors: Bowie G. Keefer, Denis J. Connor
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Publication number: 20090092864Abstract: Portable electronic devices such as portable telephones, portable computers and the like may obtain power from fuel cells that consume fuel from fuel reservoirs of the portable devices. A network of fueling stations permits users of portable devices to main the devices operational by frequently topping up the fuel reservoirs. Payment systems combine payments for fuel with larger payments for other transactions to avoid the overhead of processing individual payments for very small amounts.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 25, 2006Publication date: April 9, 2009Inventors: Gerard F. McLean, Olen Richard Vanderleeden, Anna Stukas, Denis J. Connor
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Patent number: 7250150Abstract: A chemical reaction is performed with separation of the product(s) and reactant(s) by pressure swing adsorption (PSA), using an apparatus having a plurality of adsorbers cooperating with first and second valve assemblies in a PSA module. The PSA cycle is characterized by multiple intermediate pressure levels between higher and lower pressure of the PSA cycle. Gas flows enter or exit the PSA module at the intermediate pressure levels as well as the higher and lower pressure levels, entering from compressor stage(s) or exiting into exhauster or expander stages, under substantially steady conditions of flow and pressure. The PSA module comprises a rotor containing the adsorbers and rotating within a stator, with ported valve faces between the rotor and stator to control the timing of the flows entering or exiting the adsorbers in the rotor. The reaction may be performed within a portion of the rotor containing a catalyst.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2000Date of Patent: July 31, 2007Assignee: QuestAir Technology, Inc.Inventors: Bowie G. Keefer, Denis J. Connor
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Patent number: 7087331Abstract: An electrical current generating system is disclosed that includes a fuel cell operating at a temperature of at least about 250° C. (for example, a molten carbonate fuel cell or a solid oxide fuel cell), a hydrogen gas separation system or oxygen gas delivery system that includes a compressor or pump, and a drive system for the compressor or pump that includes means for recovering energy from at least one of the hydrogen gas separation system, oxygen gas delivery system, or heat of the fuel cell. The drive system could be a gas turbine system. The hydrogen gas separation system or the oxygen gas delivery system may include a pressure swing adsorption module.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 2001Date of Patent: August 8, 2006Assignee: QuestAir Technologies Inc.Inventors: Bowie G. Keefer, Denis J. Connor, Carl F. Hunter
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Patent number: 6866950Abstract: Various systems, method and apparatuses are disclosed that include a pressure swing adsorption apparatus coupled to a fuel cell, wherein the fuel cell receives at least a portion of a product gas from the pressure swing adsorption and powers the pressure swing adsorption apparatus. Also disclosed is a portable gas separator that include a housing that houses a rotary pressure swing adsorption apparatus.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 2001Date of Patent: March 15, 2005Assignee: QuestAir Technologies Inc.Inventors: Denis J. Connor, Bowie G. Keefer, Christopher R. McLean, Shanna D. Knights, Jean St-Pierre
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Publication number: 20040197596Abstract: A parallel passage contactor structure which advantageously does not require a spacing member is provided according to the present invention. In an embodiment of the present invention a parallel passage contactor is provided comprising multiple layers of sheet material wherein the sheet material is perforated with a regular pattern of openings. The perforated openings in the sheet material comprising the layers of the contactor structure are arranged such that when multiple similarly perforated layers of material are suitably layered in contact with each other the perforated openings in adjacent layers form substantially continuous parallel passages suitable for the conduction of fluids.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 3, 2004Publication date: October 7, 2004Applicant: QuestAir Technologies Inc.Inventors: Denis J. Connor, David G. Doman
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Patent number: 6742507Abstract: A compact and efficient rotary pressure swing adsorption (PSA) apparatus with laminated sheet adsorbers is used to supply enriched oxygen and/or nitrogen streams to an internal combustion engine, allowing for reduced noxious emissions and enhanced engine performance.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 2001Date of Patent: June 1, 2004Assignee: QuestAir Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Bowie G. Keefer, Daniel K. Mather, David E. Foster, Denis J. Connor, Carl F. Hunter, Todd Smith
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Patent number: 6488747Abstract: A gas separation system for separating a feed gas mixture into a first component of the gas mixture and a second component of the gas mixture includes an adsorbent bed assembly and an axial or centrifugal compression machine. The adsorbent bed assembly includes a number of flow paths for receiving adsorbent material therein for preferentially adsorbing the first gas component in response to increasing pressure in the flow paths in comparison to the second gas component. Each flow path includes a pair of opposite ends and a valve communicating with each opposite end for controlling a flow of the feed gas mixture through the flow paths. Preferably, the compression machine consists of a gas turbine including a number of pressure inlet and outlet ports coupled to the valves for exposing each flow path to a number of different pressures between an upper pressure and a lower pressure for separating the first gas component from the second gas component.Type: GrantFiled: June 12, 2000Date of Patent: December 3, 2002Assignee: QuestAir Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Bowie Gordon Keefer, Denis J. Connor
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Publication number: 20020142208Abstract: An electrical current generating system is disclosed that includes a fuel cell operating at a temperature of at least about 250° C. (for example, a molten carbonate fuel cell or a solid oxide fuel cell), a hydrogen gas separation system or oxygen gas delivery system that includes a compressor or pump, and a drive system for the compressor or pump that includes means for recovering energy from at least one of the hydrogen gas separation system, oxygen gas delivery system, or heat of the fuel cell. The drive system could be a gas turbine system. The hydrogen gas separation system or the oxygen gas delivery system may include a pressure swing adsorption module.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 26, 2001Publication date: October 3, 2002Inventors: Bowie G. Keefer, Denis J. Connor, Carl F. Hunter
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Publication number: 20020127442Abstract: Various systems, method and apparatuses are disclosed that include a pressure swing adsorption apparatus coupled to a fuel cell, wherein the fuel cell receives at least a portion of a product gas from the pressure swing adsorption and powers the pressure swing adsorption apparatus. Also disclosed is a portable gas separator that include a housing that houses a rotary pressure swing adsorption apparatus.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 7, 2001Publication date: September 12, 2002Inventors: Denis J. Connor, Bowie G. Keefer, Christopher R. McLean, Shanna D. Knights, Jean St-Pierre
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Publication number: 20020104518Abstract: A compact and efficient rotary pressure swing adsorption (PSA) apparatus with laminated sheet adsorbers is used to supply enriched oxygen and/or nitrogen streams to an internal combustion engine, allowing for reduced noxious emissions and enhanced engine performance.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 26, 2001Publication date: August 8, 2002Inventors: Bowie G. Keefer, Daniel K. Mather, David E. Foster, Denis J. Connor, Carl F. Hunter, Todd Smith
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Patent number: 6406523Abstract: Gas separation by pressure swing adsorption (PSA) is performed within an apparatus having a plurality of adsorbers cooperating with first and second valves in a rotary PSA module, with the PSA cycle characterized by multiple intermediate pressure levels between the higher and lower pressures of the PSA cycle. Gas flows enter or exit the PSA module at the intermediate pressure levels as well as the higher and lower pressure levels, under substantially steady conditions of flow and pressure. The PSA module comprises a rotor containing laminated sheet adsorbers and rotating within a stator, with ported valve faces between the rotor and stator to control the timing of the flows entering or exiting the adsorbers in the rotor.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2000Date of Patent: June 18, 2002Assignee: QuestAir Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Denis J. Connor, David G. Doman, Les Jeziorowski, Bowie G. Keefer, Belinda Larisch, Christopher McLean, Ian Shaw
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Patent number: 5594705Abstract: A transformer for transmitting energy across a medium, comprised of a primary transducer juxtaposed to the first side of the medium, a secondary transducer juxtaposed to the medium on a second side opposite to the first side and a generator coupled to the primary transducer for applying a driving signal thereto.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 1994Date of Patent: January 14, 1997Assignee: Dynamotive Canada CorporationInventors: Denis J. Connor, Gerald F. Cummings, Michael J. Star