Patents by Inventor Thomas Alan Wagner

Thomas Alan Wagner 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).

  • Fuel cell header wedge
    Patent number: 9484590
    Abstract: A fuel cell system may include a fuel cell stack having a header and active area in fluid communication with the header. The fuel cell system may also include a wedge disposed within the header and configured to alter the cross-sectional area of the header along the length of the stack such that, during operation of the stack, a flow velocity of gas through the active area is generally constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Thomas Alan Wagner, Ronald David Brost, Shinichi Hirano
  • FUEL CELL HEADER WEDGE
    Publication number: 20140370411
    Abstract: A fuel cell system may include a fuel cell stack having a header and active area in fluid communication with the header. The fuel cell system may also include a wedge disposed within the header and configured to alter the cross-sectional area of the header along the length of the stack such that, during operation of the stack, a flow velocity of gas through the active area is generally constant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2014
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Inventors: Thomas Alan Wagner, Ronald David Brost, Shinichi Hirano
  • Fuel cell stack that promotes generally uniform flow therein
    Patent number: 8889318
    Abstract: A power generating system may include a plurality of bipolar plates stacked to form a fuel cell assembly having an inlet side, a non-inlet side, an inlet header extending from the inlet side to the non-inlet side, an active area, and an inlet transition area. The inlet transition area may be in fluid communication with (i) the inlet header via feed passageways formed in each of the plates and (ii) the active area. The feed passageways of the plates located proximate to the inlet side may be generally smaller and/or fewer in number than the feed passageways of the plates located proximate to the non-inlet side such that, during operation of the fuel cell assembly, a flow velocity of gas through the active area is generally constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Alan Wagner, Ronald David Brost, Shinichi Hirano
  • Fuel cell header wedge
    Patent number: 8835070
    Abstract: A fuel cell system may include a fuel cell stack having a header and active area in fluid communication with the header. The fuel cell system may also include a wedge disposed within the header and configured to alter the cross-sectional area of the header along the length of the stack such that, during operation of the stack, a flow velocity of gas through the active area is generally constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Thomas Alan Wagner, Ronald David Brost, Shinichi Hirano
  • FUEL CELL STACK THAT PROMOTES GENERALLY UNIFORM FLOW THEREIN
    Publication number: 20110165500
    Abstract: A power generating system may include a plurality of bipolar plates stacked to form a fuel cell assembly having an inlet side, a non-inlet side, an inlet header extending from the inlet side to the non-inlet side, an active area, and an inlet transition area. The inlet transition area may be in fluid communication with (i) the inlet header via feed passageways formed in each of the plates and (ii) the active area. The feed passageways of the plates located proximate to the inlet side may be generally smaller and/or fewer in number than the feed passageways of the plates located proximate to the non-inlet side such that, during operation of the fuel cell assembly, a flow velocity of gas through the active area is generally constant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2010
    Publication date: July 7, 2011
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC.
    Inventors: Thomas Alan Wagner, Ronald David Brost, Shinichi Hirano
  • FUEL CELL HEADER WEDGE
    Publication number: 20110165492
    Abstract: A fuel cell system may include a fuel cell stack having a header and active area in fluid communication with the header. The fuel cell system may also include a wedge disposed within the header and configured to alter the cross-sectional area of the header along the length of the stack such that, during operation of the stack, a flow velocity of gas through the active area is generally constant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2010
    Publication date: July 7, 2011
    Applicant: FORD MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Thomas Alan Wagner, Ronald David Brost, Shinichi Hirano