Patents by Inventor Richard Flathers

Richard Flathers 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).

  • Patent number: 12119642
    Abstract: A distributed power network includes a power bus infrastructure distributed over a region with node points provided to interface with controllable power nodes. Each power node can be connected to an external power device such as a DC power sources, a DC power load, or a rechargeable DC battery. The power nodes form a communication network and cooperate with each other to receive input power from DC power sources and or rechargeable DC batteries connected to the power bus infrastructure and distribute the power received therefrom to the power bus infrastructure for distribution to the DC power loads and to rechargeable DC batteries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2024
    Assignee: GALVION SOLDIER POWER, LLC
    Inventors: David N. Long, Richard Flathers, Gregory D. McConnell, Nicholas J. Piela
  • Patent number: 11605825
    Abstract: A fuel reformer module (8005) for initiating catalytic partial oxidation (CPOX) to reform a hydrocarbon fuel oxidant mixture (2025, 3025) to output a syngas reformate (2027) to solid oxide fuel cell stack (2080, 5040). A solid non-porous ceramic catalyzing body (3030) includes a plurality of catalyst coated fuel passages (3085). A thermally conductive element (9005, 10005, 11005, 13005), with a coefficient of thermal conductivity of 50 W/m° K or greater is thermally conductively coupled with the catalyzing body. A first thermal sensor (8030) is thermally conductively coupled with the thermally conductive element. A second thermal sensor is thermally conductively coupled with a surface of the fuel cell stack. A control method independently modulates an oxidant input flow rate, based on first thermal sensor signal values, a hydrocarbon fuel input flow rate, based on second thermal sensor signal values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: Upstart Power, Inc.
    Inventors: Nathan Palumbo, Siddhant Singhal, Matthew Otis, Tyler Cote, Richard Flathers, Paul Osenar
  • Patent number: 11355928
    Abstract: A distributed power network includes a power bus infrastructure distributed over a region with node points provided to interface with controllable power nodes. Each power node can be connected to an external power device such as a DC power source, a DC power load, or a rechargeable DC battery. The power nodes form a communication network and cooperate with each other to receive input power from DC power sources and or rechargeable DC batteries connected to the power bus infrastructure and distribute the power received therefrom to the power bus infrastructure for distribution to the DC power loads and to rechargeable DC batteries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: Galvion Soldier Power, LLC
    Inventors: David N. Long, Richard Flathers, Gregory D. McConnell, Nicholas J. Piela
  • Publication number: 20200403255
    Abstract: A fuel reformer module (8005) for initiating catalytic partial oxidation (CPOX) to reform a hydrocarbon fuel oxidant mixture (2025, 3025) to output a syngas reformate (2027) to solid oxide fuel cell stack (2080, 5040). A solid non-porous ceramic catalyzing body (3030) includes a plurality of catalyst coated fuel passages (3085). A thermally conductive element (9005, 10005, 11005, 13005), with a coefficient of thermal conductivity of 50 W/m° K or greater is thermally conductively coupled with the catalyzing body. A first thermal sensor (8030) is thermally conductively coupled with the thermally conductive element. A second thermal sensor is thermally conductively coupled with a surface of the fuel cell stack. A control method independently modulates an oxidant input flow rate, based on first thermal sensor signal values, a hydrocarbon fuel input flow rate, based on second thermal sensor signal values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2020
    Publication date: December 24, 2020
    Applicant: Upstart Power, Inc.
    Inventors: Nathan Palumbo, Siddhant Singhal, Matthew Otis, Tyler Cote, Richard Flathers, Paul Osenar
  • Patent number: 10790523
    Abstract: A fuel reformer module (8005) for initiating catalytic partial oxidation (CPOX) to reform a hydrocarbon fuel oxidant mixture (2025, 3025) to output a syngas reformate (2027) to solid oxide fuel cell stack (2080, 5040). A solid non-porous ceramic catalyzing body (3030) includes a plurality of catalyst coated fuel passages (3085). A thermally conductive element (9005, 10005, 11005, 13005), with a coefficient of thermal conductivity of 50 W/m° K or greater is thermally conductively coupled with the catalyzing body. A first thermal sensor (8030) is thermally conductively coupled with the thermally conductive element. A second thermal sensor is thermally conductively coupled with a surface of the fuel cell stack. A control method independently modulates an oxidant input flow rate, based on first thermal sensor signal values, a hydrocarbon fuel input flow rate, based on second thermal sensor signal values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: Upstart Power, Inc.
    Inventors: Nathan Palumbo, Siddhant Singhal, Matthew Otis, Tyler Samuel Cote, Richard Flathers, Paul Osenar
  • Publication number: 20200185916
    Abstract: A distributed power network includes a power bus infrastructure distributed over a region with node points provided to interface with controllable power nodes. Each power node can be connected to an external power device such as a DC power source, a DC power load, or a rechargeable DC battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2020
    Publication date: June 11, 2020
    Applicant: Galvion Soldier Power, LLC
    Inventors: David N. Long, Richard Flathers, Gregory D. McConnell, Nicholas J. Piela
  • Patent number: 10587116
    Abstract: A distributed power network includes a power bus infrastructure distributed over a region with node points provided to interface with controllable power nodes. Each power node can be connected to an external power device such as a DC power source, a DC power load, or a rechargeable DC battery. The power nodes form a communication network and cooperate with each other to receive input power from DC power sources and or rechargeable DC batteries connected to the power bus infrastructure and distribute the power received therefrom to the power bus infrastructure for distribution to the DC power loads and to rechargeable DC batteries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: Galvion Soldier Power, LLC
    Inventors: David N. Long, Richard Flathers, Gregory D. McConnell, Nicholas J. Piela
  • Publication number: 20190165575
    Abstract: A distributed power network includes a power bus infrastructure distributed over a region with node points provided to interface with controllable power nodes. Each power node can be connected to an external power device such as a DC power source, a DC power load, or a rechargeable DC battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2016
    Publication date: May 30, 2019
    Applicant: Protonex Technology Corporation
    Inventors: David N. Long, Richard Flathers, Gregory D. McConnell, Nicholas J. Piela
  • Publication number: 20180191009
    Abstract: A fuel reformer module (8005) for initiating catalytic partial oxidation (CPOX) to reform a hydrocarbon fuel oxidant mixture (2025, 3025) to output a syngas reformate (2027) to solid oxide fuel cell stack (2080, 5040). A solid non-porous ceramic catalyzing body (3030) includes a plurality of catalyst coated fuel passages (3085). A thermally conductive element (9005, 10005, 11005, 13005), with a coefficient of thermal conductivity of 50 W/m° K or greater is thermally conductively coupled with the catalyzing body. A first thermal sensor (8030) is thermally conductively coupled with the thermally conductive element. A second thermal sensor is thermally conductively coupled with a surface of the fuel cell stack. A control method independently modulates an oxidant input flow rate, based on first thermal sensor signal values, a hydrocarbon fuel input flow rate, based on second thermal sensor signal values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2018
    Publication date: July 5, 2018
    Inventors: Nathan Palumbo, Siddhant Singhal, Matthew Otis, Tyler Samuel Cote, Richard Flathers, Paul Osenar
  • Patent number: D476389
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2003
    Assignee: Beach Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard Flathers