Patents by Inventor Thomas Rock

Thomas Rock 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: 9478821
    Abstract: A fuel cell installation includes a support structure and a cell stack assembly that is removably insertable into the support structure from an uninstalled position to an installed position during an installation procedure. The cell stack assembly includes a fitting. An interfacing structure is mounted on one of the support structure in the cell stack assembly. The interfacing structure carries a connector that is configured to receive the fitting in interconnected relationship. At least one of the fitting and the connector floats in a plane relative to the support structure during the installation procedure. In operation, the fitting engages the connector when the cell stack assembly is inserted into the support structure. The fitting is repositioned relative to the connector to ensure that the fitting and connector are aligned with one another and connected upon installation. Related methods are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Audi AG
    Inventors: Sean M. Blondin, Garrett W. Fink, Robert A. Love, Thomas Rock
  • Publication number: 20140255823
    Abstract: A fuel cell installation includes a support structure and a cell stack assembly that is removably insertable into the support structure from an uninstalled position to an installed position during an installation procedure. The cell stack assembly includes a fitting. An interfacing structure is mounted on one of the support structure in the cell stack assembly. The interfacing structure carries a connector that is configured to receive the fitting in interconnected relationship. At least one of the fitting and the connector floats in a plane relative to the support structure during the installation procedure. In operation, the fitting engages the connector when the cell stack assembly is inserted into the support structure. The fitting is repositioned relative to the connector to ensure that the fitting and connector are aligned with one another and connected upon installation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2014
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: Ballard Power Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Sean M. Blondin, Garrett W. Fink, Robert A. Love, Thomas Rock
  • Patent number: 8765322
    Abstract: A fuel cell installation includes a support structure and a cell stack assembly that is removably insertable into the support structure from an uninstalled position to an installed position during an installation procedure. The cell stack assembly includes a fitting. An interfacing structure is mounted on one of the support structure in the cell stack assembly. The interfacing structure carries a connector that is configured to receive the fitting in interconnected relationship. At least one of the fitting and the connector floats in a plane relative to the support structure during the installation procedure. In operation, the fitting engages the connector when the cell stack assembly is inserted into the support structure. The fitting is repositioned relative to the connector to ensure that the fitting and connector are aligned with one another and connected upon installation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Ballard Power Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Sean M. Blondin, Garrett W. Fink, Robert A. Love, Thomas Rock
  • Publication number: 20110200908
    Abstract: A fuel cell installation includes a support structure and a cell stack assembly that is removably insertable into the support structure from an uninstalled position to an installed position during an installation procedure. The cell stack assembly includes a fitting. An interfacing structure is mounted on one of the support structure in the cell stack assembly. The interfacing structure carries a connector that is configured to receive the fitting in interconnected relationship. At least one of the fitting and the connector floats in a plane relative to the support structure during the installation procedure. In operation, the fitting engages the connector when the cell stack assembly is inserted into the support structure. The fitting is repositioned relative to the connector to ensure that the fitting and connector are aligned with one another and connected upon installation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2008
    Publication date: August 18, 2011
    Inventors: Sean M. Blondin, Garrett W. Fink, Robert A. Love, Thomas Rock
  • Publication number: 20050058186
    Abstract: A method for channel bonding begins when a master transceiver receives a channel bonding sequence. The process continues with the master transceiver generating a channel bonding request and transmitting it and channel bonding configuration information to the slave transceiver. The process continues with each slave receiving the channel bonding sequence, the channel bonding request and the channel bonding configuration information. The process continues as each slave processes the channel bonding request and the channel bonding sequence in accordance with the channel bonding configuration information to determine individual slave channel bonding start information. The process continues as the master processes the channel bonding sequence in accordance with the channel bonding configuration information and the channel bonding request to determine master channel bonding start information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2003
    Publication date: March 17, 2005
    Applicant: Xilinx, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Kryzak, Aaron Hoelscher, Thomas Rock
  • Publication number: 20040237078
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for updating software (sof) in different terminals (PEC, PAL), which are connected to a communications network (NET), said network allowing communication between the terminals. On request, the software state of software (sof) that is running on one of the terminals (PEC) is transmitted to the second terminal (PAL) via the communications network (NET) and software that is running on the second terminal (PAL), which corresponds to the software (sof) on the first terminal (PEC), is provided with the transmitted software state and continues to run on the second terminal (PAL) with the last current state of the first terminal (PEC). The software used is, for example, an agent software.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2004
    Publication date: November 25, 2004
    Inventors: Josef Weiss, Werner Dorrer, Thomas Rock, Andreas Mayerhofer