Patents by Inventor Rodney J. Rhodes

Rodney J. Rhodes 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 determining membrane protonic resistance of a fuel cell stack
    Patent number: 9853312
    Abstract: A method for determining membrane humidification by determining the membrane protonic resistance of a fuel cell stack at humidified conditions, and normalizing the base resistance of the fuel cell stack against the base resistance of a reference fuel cell stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Manish Sinha, Derek R. Lebzelter, John C. Fagley, Megan J. Quick, Rodney J. Rhodes, Sergio E. Garcia, Victor W. Logan
  • METHOD FOR DETERMINING MEMBRANE PROTONIC RESISTANCE OF A FUEL CELL STACK
    Publication number: 20140120434
    Abstract: A method for determining membrane humidification by determining the membrane protonic resistance of a fuel cell stack at humidified conditions, and normalizing the base resistance of the fuel cell stack against the base resistance of a reference fuel cell stack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2014
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Manish Sinha, Derek R. Lebzelter, John C. Fagley, Megan J. Quick, Rodney J. Rhodes, Sergio E. Garcia, Victor W. Logan
  • Auto-learning of base stack resistance for HFR based RH control
    Patent number: 8647783
    Abstract: A method for determining membrane humidification by determining the membrane protonic resistance of a fuel cell stack at humidified conditions, and normalizing the base resistance of the fuel cell stack against the base resistance of a reference fuel cell stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Manish Sinha, Derek R. Lebzelter, John C. Fagley, Megan Quick, Rodney J. Rhodes, Sergio Eduardo Garcia, Victor W. Logan
  • AUTO-LEARNING OF BASE STACK RESISTANCE FOR HFR BASED RH CONTROL
    Publication number: 20110189569
    Abstract: A method for determining membrane humidification by determining the membrane protonic resistance of a fuel cell stack at humidified conditions, and normalizing the base resistance of the fuel cell stack against the base resistance of a reference fuel cell stack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2010
    Publication date: August 4, 2011
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Manish Sinha, Derek R. Lebzelter, John C. Fagley, Megan Quick, Rodney J. Rhodes, Sergio Eduardo Garcia, Victor W. Logan
  • Method and apparatus for venting and purging of a fuel cell
    Patent number: 7132181
    Abstract: Hydrogen in a fuel cell is vented and purged with a fail-closed valve using stored energy (e.g. from a capacitor) when a diagnostic parameter is outside of an acceptable operating range. The valve closes after the stored energy has depleted. A safety switch in the relay circuit of the solenoid switch (or solenoid valve) is also grounded in computer-implemented shutdowns. Benefits from the invention include use of air-compatible catalysts, minimized parasitic losses to power output, minimized contamination of fuel cell internal surfaces after venting, minimized risk of explosive mixture buildup, and efficient operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2006
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Bruce J Clingerman, Kiran Mallavarapu, Bryan Tipton, Rodney J Rhodes, Robert Chalfant
  • System and method of controlling the coastdown of a vehicle
    Patent number: 6405587
    Abstract: A method of controlling the coastdown of a vehicle is provided. A base engine speed reference is determined. A speed of the vehicle is sensed, and a target engine speed is generated from the base engine speed reference and the speed of the vehicle. An actual engine speed is sensed, and a desired throttle position is determined as a difference between the target engine speed and the actual engine speed. A desired spark advance for the engine is determined as a difference between the target engine speed and actual engine speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2002
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Livshiz, Scott J. Chynoweth, Rodney J. Rhodes