Patents by Inventor Richard D. Blakeley
Richard D. Blakeley 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: 10991955Abstract: Systems and methods including a header flange to evenly distribute contact pressure across seals include, in some aspects, a plate including a bead and a flange edge. The bead includes a bead-side and a bead-corner. The flange edge defines an aperture through the plate. The flange edge also includes a first edge-portion proximate the bead-side and a second edge-portion proximate the bead-corner. The bead-side and the first edge-portion define a first edge-distance therebetween. The bead-corner and the second edge-portion define a second edge-distance therebetween. The second edge-distance is greater than the first edge-distance.Type: GrantFiled: June 21, 2019Date of Patent: April 27, 2021Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC, Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Liang Xi, Xi Yang, Kentaro Ishida, Siguang Xu, Satoshi Oyama, Yu Tomana, Richard D. Blakeley
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Patent number: 10522852Abstract: A plate assembly includes a first plate having a planar portion and a first bead seal formed therein. The first bead seal includes a first end surface spaced away from the planar portion. The first bead seal includes first and second opposing sides extending away from the first end surface and contiguous with the planar portion. The first bead seal includes a first reinforcement structure having a first plurality of walls each intersecting the first opposing side of the first bead seal. The first plate includes a second bead seal formed therein. The first bead seal and the second bead seal may be joined via the first reinforcement structure such that the first plurality of walls of the first reinforcement structure each intersect a third opposing side of the second bead seal.Type: GrantFiled: February 6, 2017Date of Patent: December 31, 2019Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC., Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Xi Yang, Siguang Xu, Liang Xi, Richard D. Blakeley, Masaaki Sakano, Yu Tomana, Kentaro Ishida
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Publication number: 20190355999Abstract: Systems and methods including a header flange to evenly distribute contact pressure across seals include, in some aspects, a plate including a bead and a flange edge. The bead includes a bead-side and a bead-corner. The flange edge defines an aperture through the plate. The flange edge also includes a first edge-portion proximate the bead-side and a second edge-portion proximate the bead-corner. The bead-side and the first edge-portion define a first edge-distance therebetween. The bead-corner and the second edge-portion define a second edge-distance therebetween. The second edge-distance is greater than the first edge-distance.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 21, 2019Publication date: November 21, 2019Applicants: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC, Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Liang Xi, Xi Yang, Ishida Kentaro, Siguang Xu, Satoshi Oyama, Yu Tomana, Richard D. Blakeley
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Patent number: 10388969Abstract: A bipolar plate for a fuel cell includes a first plate having a first bead seal, and a second plate having a second bead seal. The first bead seal and the second bead seal are disposed opposite each other and extend along a centerline. An outer weld connects the first plate and the second plate together, and extends along an outer weld line. The outer weld line is laterally spaced an outer gap distance from an outer lateral edge of the first and second bead seals. The outer gap distance varies with a position along the centerline to control a stiffness of the bead seals. Positioning the weld line nearer the outer lateral edge increases the stiffness of the raised bead seals in low stiffness areas, whereas positioning the weld line farther from the lateral edge decreases the stiffness of the raised bead seals in high stiffness areas.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 2016Date of Patent: August 20, 2019Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Richard D. Blakeley, Xi Yang, Siguang Xu, Liang Xi
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Patent number: 10355289Abstract: A plate structure includes a plate having a planar portion defining a datum plane. The plate includes a raised bead seal and a tunnel protruding away from the datum plane. The raised bead seal extends along a centerline laying on the datum plane. The tunnel extends along a path laying on the datum plane. The tunnel intersects the raised bead seal. The path and the centerline intersect to form a first intersection angle and an adjacent second intersection angle on the datum plane. The first intersection angle and the second intersection angle are supplementary angles. The first intersection angle is an acute angle, and the second intersection angle is an obtuse angle. The path and the centerline are arranged to form a specific value of the first intersection angle and the second intersection angle to control a stiffness of the raised bead seal.Type: GrantFiled: February 6, 2017Date of Patent: July 16, 2019Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Xi Yang, Richard D. Blakeley, Liang Xi, Siguang Xu
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Patent number: 10347921Abstract: Systems and methods including a header flange to evenly distribute contact pressure across seals include, in some aspects, a plate including a bead and a flange edge. The bead includes a bead-side and a bead-corner. The flange edge defines an aperture through the plate. The flange edge also includes a first edge-portion proximate the bead-side and a second edge-portion proximate the bead-corner. The bead-side and the first edge-portion define a first edge-distance therebetween. The bead-corner and the second edge-portion define a second edge-distance therebetween. The second edge-distance is greater than the first edge-distance.Type: GrantFiled: February 17, 2017Date of Patent: July 9, 2019Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC., Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Liang Xi, Xi Yang, Ishida Kentaro, Siguang Xu, Satoshi Oyama, Yu Tomana, Richard D. Blakeley
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Publication number: 20180241053Abstract: Systems and methods including a header flange to evenly distribute contact pressure across seals include, in some aspects, a plate including a bead and a flange edge. The bead includes a bead-side and a bead-corner. The flange edge defines an aperture through the plate. The flange edge also includes a first edge-portion proximate the bead-side and a second edge-portion proximate the bead-corner. The bead-side and the first edge-portion define a first edge-distance therebetween. The bead-corner and the second edge-portion define a second edge-distance therebetween. The second edge-distance is greater than the first edge-distance.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 17, 2017Publication date: August 23, 2018Applicants: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC, Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Liang Xi, Xi Yang, Ishida Kentaro, Siguang Xu, Satoshi Oyama, Yu Tomana, Richard D. Blakeley
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Publication number: 20180226661Abstract: A plate structure includes a plate having a planar portion defining a datum plane. The plate includes a raised bead seal and a tunnel protruding away from the datum plane. The raised bead seal extends along a centerline laying on the datum plane. The tunnel extends along a path laying on the datum plane. The tunnel intersects the raised bead seal. The path and the centerline intersect to form a first intersection angle and an adjacent second intersection angle on the datum plane. The first intersection angle and the second intersection angle are supplementary angles. The first intersection angle is an acute angle, and the second intersection angle is an obtuse angle. The path and the centerline are arranged to form a specific value of the first intersection angle and the second intersection angle to control a stiffness of the raised bead seal.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 6, 2017Publication date: August 9, 2018Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Xi Yang, Richard D. Blakeley, Liang Xi, Siguang Xu
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Publication number: 20180226662Abstract: A plate assembly includes a first plate having a planar portion and a first bead seal formed therein. The first bead seal includes a first end surface spaced away from the planar portion. The first bead seal includes first and second opposing sides extending away from the first end surface and contiguous with the planar portion. The first bead seal includes a first reinforcement structure having a first plurality of walls each intersecting the first opposing side of the first bead seal. The first plate includes a second bead seal formed therein. The first bead seal and the second bead seal may be joined via the first reinforcement structure such that the first plurality of walls of the first reinforcement structure each intersect a third opposing side of the second bead seal.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 6, 2017Publication date: August 9, 2018Applicants: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC, Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Xi Yang, Siguang Xu, Liang Xi, Richard D. Blakeley, Masaaki Sakano, Yu Tomana, Kentaro Ishida
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Publication number: 20180123141Abstract: A number of variations may include a product that may include a fuel cell stack assembly that may include at least one bipolar plate that may include at least one raised bead and at least one raised limiter.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 28, 2016Publication date: May 3, 2018Inventors: Liang Xi, Richard D. Blakeley, Xi Yang, Siguang Xu, Ivan D. Chapman, Yeh-Hung Lai
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Publication number: 20180114994Abstract: A bipolar plate for a fuel cell includes a first plate having a first bead seal, and a second plate having a second bead seal. The first bead seal and the second bead seal are disposed opposite each other and extend along a centerline. An outer weld connects the first plate and the second plate together, and extends along an outer weld line. The outer weld line is laterally spaced an outer gap distance from an outer lateral edge of the first and second bead seals. The outer gap distance varies with a position along the centerline to control a stiffness of the bead seals. Positioning the weld line nearer the outer lateral edge increases the stiffness of the raised bead seals in low stiffness areas, whereas positioning the weld line farther from the lateral edge decreases the stiffness of the raised bead seals in high stiffness areas.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 20, 2016Publication date: April 26, 2018Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Richard D. Blakeley, Xi Yang, Siguang Xu, Liang Xi
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Publication number: 20080128993Abstract: A sealing gasket and a method are provided. One aspect of the sealing gasket includes a base. The base is densified to form a substantially flat portion and a raised seal portion. The raised seal portion is configured to conform to a contour of a surface of a component and seals a region between the surface and the base to prevent fluid leakage. Another aspect of the sealing gasket includes a filter portion. The filter portion is coupled to the base and configured to extend across a fluid passageway of the base.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 30, 2006Publication date: June 5, 2008Applicant: FREUDENBERG-NOK GENERAL PARTNERSHIPInventors: Richard D. Blakeley, Janet I. Ganther, Rocky A. Shepherd