Patents by Inventor Edward Mufford
Edward Mufford 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: 6885298Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack with single fuel cells stacked together in a fuel cell housing and a detection system for fire or elevated temperatures. The detection system may include a monitoring system; a sensor unit that detects fire or elevated temperatures inside said fuel cell housing; and a voltage or current source.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2001Date of Patent: April 26, 2005Assignee: Ballard Power Systems AGInventors: Ted Everson, Adrian Corless, Edward Mufford
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Patent number: 6822551Abstract: A method and apparatus for the purpose of ensuring positioning between a fixed automatic fueling service terminal and a vehicle, such that the vehicle is identified within a close range and authorized to dock at an identified service terminal to exchange services. This is accomplished by wirelessly determining the proximity of a couplable vehicle, with respect to a docking location at the service terminal. When a vehicle is within a specified distance of an automatic fueling service terminal, known as the zone of proximity detection, the vehicle identification code and service terminal identification code are both continuously determined and passed to a multi-port station controller, for authentication of service transactions and secure service processes, including automatically fueling the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: November 14, 2002Date of Patent: November 23, 2004Assignee: General Hydrogen CorporationInventors: Edward Wing Ping Li, Henrik Thorning Christensen, Bruce Stephen Jenner, William Edward Mufford, Curtis Michael Robin
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Patent number: 6817879Abstract: Various service port configurations for the transfer of fluids, gases and electricity between a service terminal and a vehicle are provided. The service port includes a receptacle and a controller. The receptacle includes a clamp and a clamp actuator for actuating the clamp; a service exchange interface in between the clamp; and sensors inside the receptacle and configured to monitor the position of a plug inside the receptacle. The controller is connected to the sensors and the actuator, and monitors the sensors. When a sensor detects that a plug is in position for engagement, the controller instructs the clamp actuator to move the clamp until the plug is clamped with sufficient force to enable a service to be exchanged. The receptacle and the plug are couplable to either the service port or a vehicle and a service terminal, and both are implementable at a multiplicity of locations on a vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: November 25, 2002Date of Patent: November 16, 2004Assignee: General Hydrogen CorporationInventors: Alan John Mulvenna, David Michael Routtenberg, John David Trevor Graham, William Edward Mufford
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Patent number: 6810925Abstract: A hydrogen fueling station and system for hydrogen fueled vehicles that can transfer any gaseous fuel to any vehicle and can be located in any place where a vehicle can park and where environmental, safety and other regulatory requirements permit gaseous fuel to be transferred. The hydrogen fueling station is vertically elongate and includes an enclosure that has a plurality of housings to house groups of like components. The housings are configured and positively ventilated with external air to prevent the accumulation of leaked hydrogen.Type: GrantFiled: January 10, 2003Date of Patent: November 2, 2004Assignee: General Hydrogen CorporationInventors: John David Trevor Graham, Alan John Mulvenna, William Edward Mufford, Joachim George Borck, James Ko, Matthew Albert MacLennan Harper
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Publication number: 20040095230Abstract: A method and apparatus for the purpose of ensuring positioning between a fixed automatic fueling service terminal and a vehicle, such that the vehicle is identified within a close range and authorized to dock at an identified service terminal to exchange services. This is accomplished by wirelessly determining the proximity of a couplable vehicle, with respect to a docking location at the service terminal. When a vehicle is within a specified distance of an automatic fueling service terminal, known as the zone of proximity detection, the vehicle identification code and service terminal identification code are both continuously determined and passed to a multi-port station controller, for authentication of service transactions and secure service processes, including automatically fueling the vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 14, 2002Publication date: May 20, 2004Inventors: Edward Wing Ping Li, Henrik Thorning Christensen, Bruce Stephen Jenner, William Edward Mufford, Curtis Michael Robin
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Patent number: 6619342Abstract: This invention relates to a wheel stop service port for coupling to a connectivity device of a wheeled vehicle such that one or more services, namely electricity, data, and fluids, are transferable therebetween. The service port includes a housing having a receptacle recess with a recess opening on an outside surface of the housing; a fastener on the housing for fastening the service port to the ground; a receptacle inside the recess and comprising an opening shaped to receive a service plug of a vehicle connectivity device, and a service engagement portion inside the receptacle for engaging a corresponding service engagement portion on the plug; a service conduit junction coupled to the receptacle and couplable to a service conduit to enable the transfer of a service therebetween; and a wheel contact surface located on the housing outside surface such that upon contact of the contact surface by a wheel of a vehicle, the connectivity device of the vehicle is within coupling range of the service port.Type: GrantFiled: May 10, 2002Date of Patent: September 16, 2003Assignee: General Hydrogen CorporationInventors: John David Trevor Graham, David Michael Routtenberg, William Edward Mufford, Darren Scott Sokoloski, Alan John Mulvenna
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Publication number: 20030164202Abstract: A hydrogen fueling station and system for hydrogen fueled vehicles that can transfer any gaseous fuel to any vehicle and can be located in any place where a vehicle can park and where environmental, safety and other regulatory requirements permit gaseous fuel to be transferred. The hydrogen fueling station is vertically elongate and includes an enclosure that has a plurality of housings to house groups of like components. The housings are configured and positively ventilated with external air to prevent the accumulation of leaked hydrogen.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 10, 2003Publication date: September 4, 2003Inventors: John David Trevor Graham, Alan John Mulvenna, William Edward Mufford, Joachim George Borck, James Ko, Matthew Albert MacLennan Harper
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Publication number: 20030162448Abstract: Various service port configurations for the transfer of fluids, gases and electricity between a service terminal and a vehicle are provided. The service port includes a receptacle and a controller. The receptacle includes a clamp and a clamp actuator for actuating the clamp; a service exchange interface in between the clamp; and sensors inside the receptacle and configured to monitor the position of a plug inside the receptacle. The controller is connected to the sensors and the actuator, and monitors the sensors. When a sensor detects that a plug is in position for engagement, the controller instructs the clamp actuator to move the clamp until the plug is clamped with sufficient force to enable a service to be exchanged. The receptacle and the plug are couplable to either the service port or a vehicle and a service terminal, and both are implementable at a multiplicity of locations on a vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 25, 2002Publication date: August 28, 2003Inventors: David Michael Routtenberg, John David Trevor Graham, William Edward Mufford
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Publication number: 20030127155Abstract: This invention relates to a connectivity device for passively connecting a vehicle to a service port. The connectivity device comprises a mount for mounting to one of the vehicle or service port; a deployment apparatus movably attached to the mount; a plug for coupling to a receptacle in the other of the vehicle or service port; and, a compliant member attaching the plug to the deployment apparatus. The compliant member provides sufficient compliance for the plug to engage the receptacle when the connectivity device is in range of but not perfectly aligned with the receptacle.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 29, 2002Publication date: July 10, 2003Inventors: Alan John Mulvenna, John David Trevor Graham, William Edward Mufford, Darren Scott Sokoloski, Craig James Greenhill, Bruce Conrad Wilnechenko, Curtis Michael Robin, Matthew Albert MacLennan Harper, Theodore Douglas Yntema
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Publication number: 20030112140Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack with single fuel cells stacked together in a fuel cell housing and a detection system for fire or elevated temperatures. The detection system may include a monitoring system; a sensor unit that detects fire or elevated temperatures inside said fuel cell housing; and a voltage or current source.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 17, 2001Publication date: June 19, 2003Inventors: Ted Everson, Adrian Corless, Edward Mufford
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Publication number: 20030075235Abstract: This invention relates to a wheel stop service port for coupling to a connectivity device of a wheeled vehicle such that one or more services, namely electricity, data, and fluids, are transferable therebetween. The service port includes a housing having a receptacle recess with a recess opening on an outside surface of the housing; a fastener on the housing for fastening the service port to the ground; a receptacle inside the recess and comprising an opening shaped to receive a service plug of a vehicle connectivity device, and a service engagement portion inside the receptacle for engaging a corresponding service engagement portion on the plug; a service conduit junction coupled to the receptacle and couplable to a service conduit to enable the transfer of a service therebetween; and a wheel contact surface located on the housing outside surface such that upon contact of the contact surface by a wheel of a vehicle, the connectivity device of the vehicle is within coupling range of the service port.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 10, 2002Publication date: April 24, 2003Inventors: John David Trevor Graham, David Michael Routtenberg, William Edward Mufford, Darren Scott Sokoloski, Alan John Mulvenna
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Patent number: 6223844Abstract: A fuel cell engine for a vehicle comprises at least one fuel cell stack for producing electric power from a fuel and an oxidant, a propulsion motor, for propelling the vehicle. The propulsion motor is connected to receive electric power from the at least one fuel cell stack and is operatively connected to mechanically drive a device for directing a fluid stream into the fuel cell stack. In preferred embodiments the propulsion motor is operatively connected to drive a device for directing at least one reactant fluid stream into the fuel cell stack.Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 2000Date of Patent: May 1, 2001Assignee: Xcellsis GmbHInventors: Craig J. Greenhill, W. Edward Mufford, Adrian J. Corless, Robert D. Merritt
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Patent number: 6186254Abstract: A temperature regulating system for a fuel cell powered electric motor vehicle assists in maintaining the temperature of the fuel cell stack within a temperature range that provides satisfactory fuel cell performance.Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 1998Date of Patent: February 13, 2001Assignee: Xcelliss Fuel Cell Engines Inc.Inventors: W. Edward Mufford, Douglas G. Strasky, Brian N. Gorbell
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Patent number: 6053266Abstract: A fuel cell engine for a vehicle comprises at least one fuel cell stack for producing electric power from a fuel and an oxidant, a propulsion motor, for propelling the vehicle. The propulsion motor is connected to receive electric power from the at least one fuel cell stack and is operatively connected to mechanically drive a device for directing a fluid stream into the fuel cell stack. In preferred embodiments the propulsion motor is operatively connected to drive a device for directing at least one reactant fluid stream into the fuel cell stack.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 1997Date of Patent: April 25, 2000Assignee: dbb Fuel Cell Engines GmbHInventors: Craig J. Greenhill, W. Edward Mufford, Adrian J. Corless, Robert D. Merritt
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Patent number: 5991670Abstract: A control system interrelatedly controls the electric power output and oxidant supply in a fuel cell electric power generation system. The power generation system comprises at least one fuel cell stack, and a plurality of electrical loads powered by the fuel cell stack, including an electric traction motor for propelling the vehicle, and a compressor for delivering oxidant gas to the fuel cell stack. The electric power output of the at least one fuel cell stack is dependent on the compressor speed. The control system comprises a summing device for determining the total instantaneous power demand of the electrical loads based on a plurality of sensed power demand signals, and a processor for generating a feed-forward output signal for adjusting the compressor speed to a value predicted to give fuel cell power output sufficient to satisfy the instantaneous power demand.Type: GrantFiled: January 3, 1997Date of Patent: November 23, 1999Assignee: dbb Fuel Cell Engines GmbHInventors: W. Edward Mufford, Douglas G. Strasky
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Patent number: 5771476Abstract: A power control system for controlling the supply of a reactant gas, such as air, for reaction within a fuel cell stack used to power, for example, a motor vehicle is set forth. The disclosed system may be used to reduce or eliminate compressor revving and instabilities common to prior systems in which fuel cell power output is dependent upon a flow of a reactant gas through a fuel cell stack, the flow of reactant gas being determined by the compressor speed.Type: GrantFiled: December 29, 1995Date of Patent: June 23, 1998Assignee: DBB Fuel Cell Engines GmbHInventors: W. Edward Mufford, Douglas G. Strasky