Patents by Inventor Mark Hyland Smith

Mark Hyland Smith 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).

  • Method for converting a fuel cell membrane web to precisely positioned membrane sheets
    Patent number: 7569081
    Abstract: A method is provided for automated converting of a web of a thin patterned catalyst-coated membrane to separate membrane sheets for fuel cell assembly. The membrane typically has a thickness of about one thousandth of an inch. Automated web converting involves transporting, with use of a movable vacuum, an end portion of the membrane web from a first location to a second location. With use of respective first and second vacuums at the first and second locations, and after removal of the movable vacuum, the end portion of the membrane web is releasably secured at the first and second locations. The membrane web is cut within a gap defined between a single catalyst pattern of the membrane web end portion and an adjacent catalyst pattern to produce a membrane sheet. The membrane sheet is precisely positioned to a desired orientation to facilitate subsequent processing of the membrane sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Gary William Schukar, John Russell Mlinar, Mark Hyland Smith, Steven Mark Spicer
  • Apparatus and method for converting a fuel cell membrane web to precisely positioned membrane sheets
    Publication number: 20040168305
    Abstract: An apparatus and method provide for automated converting of a web of a thin patterned catalyst-coated membrane to separate membrane sheets for fuel cell assembly. The membrane typically has a thickness of about one thousandth of an inch. Automated web converting involves transporting, with use of a movable vacuum, an end portion of the membrane web from a first location to a second location. With use of respective first and second vacuums at the first and second locations, and after removal of the movable vacuum, the end portion of the membrane web is releasably secured at the first and second locations. The membrane web is cut within a gap defined between a single catalyst pattern of the membrane web end portion and an adjacent catalyst pattern to produce a membrane sheet. The membrane sheet is precisely positioned to a desired orientation to facilitate subsequent processing of the membrane sheet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2004
    Publication date: September 2, 2004
    Applicant: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Gary William Schukar, John Russell Mlinar, Mark Hyland Smith, Steven Mark Spicer
  • Apparatus for automatically fabricating fuel cell
    Patent number: 6740131
    Abstract: An apparatus and method provide for automated converting of a web of a thin patterned catalyst-coated membrane to separate membrane sheets for fuel cell assembly. The membrane typically has a thickness of about one thousandth of an inch. Automated web converting involves transporting, with use of a movable vacuum, an end portion of the membrane web from a first location to a second location. With use of respective first and second vacuums at the first and second locations, and after removal of the movable vacuum, the end portion of the membrane web is releasably secured at the first and second locations. The membrane web is cut within a gap defined between a single catalyst pattern of the membrane web end portion and an adjacent catalyst pattern to produce a membrane sheet. The membrane sheet is precisely positioned to a desired orientation to facilitate subsequent processing of the membrane sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2004
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Gary William Schukar, John Russell Mlinar, Mark Hyland Smith, Steven Mark Spicer
  • Apparatus and method for converting a fuel cell membrane web to precisely positioned membrane sheets
    Publication number: 20030190521
    Abstract: An apparatus and method provide for automated converting of a web of a thin patterned catalyst-coated membrane to separate membrane sheets for fuel cell assembly. The membrane typically has a thickness of about one thousandth of an inch. Automated web converting involves transporting, with use of a movable vacuum, an end portion of the membrane web from a first location to a second location. With use of respective first and second vacuums at the first and second locations, and after removal of the movable vacuum, the end portion of the membrane web is releasably secured at the first and second locations. The membrane web is cut within a gap defined between a single catalyst pattern of the membrane web end portion and an adjacent catalyst pattern to produce a membrane sheet. The membrane sheet is precisely positioned to a desired orientation to facilitate subsequent processing of the membrane sheet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2002
    Publication date: October 9, 2003
    Applicant: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Gary William Schukar, John Russell Mlinar, Mark Hyland Smith, Steven Mark Spicer