Patents by Inventor Thomas Senez

Thomas Senez 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: 9570770
    Abstract: This underwater vehicle includes an electrolyte-activated electrochemical fuel cell to supply it with electrical power, which fuel cell includes: an electrochemical power production cell (3), a reservoir (4) to contain the electrolyte. means of circulation (7) of the electrolyte between the electrochemical cell (3) and the reservoir (4), comprising a semi-axial flow pump arranged axially in the reservoir and comprising a motorized wheel rotatably mounted in a diffuser, characterized in that the diffuser has the general shape of a dome to direct the flow of the electrolyte coming out of the pump in a direction substantially parallel to the axis of the pump, and thus of the reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: DCNS
    Inventors: Francois Gerlier, Thomas Senez, Alexandre Lemasquerier
  • Patent number: 9359050
    Abstract: Disclosed is an underwater craft having an electrochemical battery activated by an electrolyte, including: an electrochemical cell; a tank (13) intended to contain the electrolyte; a seawater flow rate regulator (37) arranged upstream of the tank (13). The flow rate regulator includes: a fixed housing (60) including first ports (64); a slide (62) including second ports (66); the slide (62) being movable, in relation to the fixed housing (60), under the effect of the pressure of the seawater entering the regulator (37), to a balanced position in which the first and second ports (64, 66) define outlet openings (70) for seawater to flow to the tank (13), the slide (62) being movable between a maximum opening position, in which the area of the openings is at a maximum, and a maximum restriction position, in which the area of the openings (70) is at a minimum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: DCNS
    Inventor: Thomas Senez
  • Publication number: 20140193688
    Abstract: Disclosed is an underwater craft having an electrochemical battery activated by an electrolyte, including: an electrochemical cell; a tank (13) intended to contain the electrolyte; a seawater flow rate regulator (37) arranged upstream of the tank (13). The flow rate regulator includes: a fixed housing (60) including first ports (64); a slide (62) including second ports (66); the slide (62) being movable, in relation to the fixed housing (60), under the effect of the pressure of the seawater entering the regulator (37), to a balanced position in which the first and second ports (64, 66) define outlet openings (70) for seawater to flow to the tank (13), the slide (62) being movable between a maximum opening position, in which the area of the openings is at a maximum, and a maximum restriction position, in which the area of the openings (70) is at a minimum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2012
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: DCNS
    Inventor: Thomas Senez
  • Publication number: 20140113210
    Abstract: This underwater vehicle includes an electrolyte-activated electrochemical fuel cell to supply it with electrical power, which fuel cell includes: an electrochemical power production cell (3), a reservoir (4) to contain the electrolyte. means of circulation (7) of the electrolyte between the electrochemical cell (3) and the reservoir (4), comprising a semi-axial flow pump arranged axially in the reservoir and comprising a motorised wheel rotatably mounted in a diffuser, characterised in that the diffuser has the general shape of a dome to direct the flow of the electrolyte coming out of the pump in a direction substantially parallel to the axis of the pump, and thus of the reservoir.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2012
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: DCNS
    Inventors: Francois Gerlier, Thomas Senez, Alexandre Lemasquerier
  • Publication number: 20140106197
    Abstract: The submersible according to the invention comprising an electrochemical battery activated by an electrolyte, designed to produce the electrical power for powering said submersible, the electrochemical battery comprising: an electrochemical cell (3) for producing electrical power, a tank (4) for containing the electrolyte, means (7) for reducing the flow of the electrolyte between the electrochemical cell (3) and the tank (4), said flow-inducing means including an axial flow pump axially arranged in the tank and including a motor-driven wheel rotatably mounted in a diffuser, is characterized in that the wheel of the pump is not asymmetric.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2012
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: DCNS
    Inventors: Francois Gerlier, Thomas Senez, Alexandre Lemasquerier