Patents by Inventor Stephen D. Noble

Stephen D. Noble 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: 7607898
    Abstract: This invention relates to an apparatus for pressurizing a fluid and delivering a gas comprising a pump, an accumulator and a heater such that the pump pressurizes a quantity fluid received from a fluid store and delivers that pressurized fluid to an accumulator. The accumulator then delivers a quantity of the pressurized fluid to a heater that, in turn, warms the fluid to a gas within a specified temperature and pressure range to be delivered to the end user as required. The invention further relates to a method of delivering a gas at a desired pressure and temperature wherein a quantity of fluid is received, pressurized and stored as a fluid in an accumulator storage vessel at a desired pressure. The fluid is then delivered from the accumulator to a heater where it is warmed and delivered to the end user as a gas at specified temperature and pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: Westport Power Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen D. Noble, Thomas C. Brook, Daniel J. H. Brennan, Valerie Nadia LeBlanc
  • Patent number: 7293418
    Abstract: A cryogenic tank assembly has a pump which discharges into an accumulator which is located in the cryogenic storage area. This reduces the space required for the device as well as the functioning of the device. The high pressure fluid in the accumulator remains at a cryogenic temperature. The system may also include a heater to deliver high pressure gas form the liquid storage volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: Westport Power Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen D. Noble, Thomas C. Brook, Lance G. Follett, Gregory C. Harper
  • Patent number: 6547250
    Abstract: A seal assembly for providing sealing between a movable cylindrical body and a housing body comprises separate sealing mechanisms for providing static and dynamic sealing. The seal assembly is associated in fixed relationship with either the cylindrical body or the housing body and provides a static seal with the body it is associated with and a dynamic seal with the body that moves relative to the seal assembly. The static sealing mechanism is temperature-activated so that within the operating temperature range, a metallic member of the static seal mechanism is pressed tightly against the associated body to provide a fluid tight static seal. The temperature-activation is caused by the metallic member having a different thermal expansion coefficient than the associated body. The dynamic seal may employ known dynamic sealing mechanisms such as spring-energized seals, interference fit seals, and/or temperature-activated seals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: Westport Research Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen D. Noble, Thomas Brook, Bruce Muehlchen
  • Patent number: 6298833
    Abstract: A dynamic fluid sealing system for a fuel injection valve employs sealing-fluid to separate a gaseous fuel and a second fluid in the fuel injection valve, thereby preventing leakage of the gaseous fuel into the second fluid. A pressure-balancing system, which includes a pressure-balancing device, reduces the pressure differential between the sealing-fluid and the gaseous fuel used in the injection valve. At the same time, the pressure balancing system dynamically balances the sealing-fluid pressure such that the sealing-fluid pressure is equal to or slightly greater than the pressure of the gaseous fuel within the injection valve. The pressure differential between the gaseous fuel and the sealing-fluid may be maintained throughout the operating range of engine speeds, engine loads, and fuel cut-off conditions so as to prevent leakage of compressible gaseous fuel into the second fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Assignee: Westport Research Inc.
    Inventors: Brad Douville, Stephen D. Noble, S. Michael Baker, Minh Tran, Alain Touchette