Patents by Inventor Thomas Howard Hunt

Thomas Howard Hunt 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: 6795756
    Abstract: A power distribution control system for a hybrid fuel cell vehicle is provided. The system includes a high energy converter (HEC) for providing current from an electrical bus to the battery, or from the battery to the bus. As a vehicle load changes, the HEC adjusts the battery current flow. A current command is sent to a fuel cell controller so that the fuel cell current output is adjusted. As the fuel cell current output changes, the HEC further adjusts the battery current flow, until there is a zero net current flow to and from the battery. At this point, a state of equilibrium is reached and the fuel cell provides all the current required by the vehicle loads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2004
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Wenjun Zhang, Raymond Spiteri, Thomas Howard Hunt
  • Patent number: 6792341
    Abstract: A power distribution control system for a hybrid fuel cell vehicle is provided. The system includes a high voltage energy converter (HVEC) for providing current from an electrical bus to the battery, or from the battery to the bus. As a vehicle load increases, the HVEC temporarily provides current to the bus from the battery. A feedforward signal is input into a fuel cell subsystem so that the fuel cell begins to generate additional current. As additional fuel cell current becomes available, an HVEC controller reduces the amount of current the HVEC provides to the bus from the battery, until there is a zero net current flow to and from the battery. At this point, a state of equilibrium is reached and the fuel cell provides all the current required by the vehicle loads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Thomas Howard Hunt, Raymond Spiteri
  • Publication number: 20040083039
    Abstract: A power distribution control system for a hybrid fuel cell vehicle is provided. The system includes a high voltage energy converter (HVEC) for providing current from an electrical bus to the battery, or from the battery to the bus. As a vehicle load increases, the HVEC temporarily provides current to the bus from the battery. A feedforward signal is input into a fuel cell subsystem so that the fuel cell begins to generate additional current. As additional fuel cell current becomes available, an HVEC controller reduces the amount of current the HVEC provides to the bus from the battery, until there is a zero net current flow to and from the battery. At this point, a state of equilibrium is reached and the fuel cell provides all the current required by the vehicle loads.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2003
    Publication date: April 29, 2004
    Applicant: FORD MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Thomas Howard Hunt, Raymond Spiteri