Steven L Pratt

US Patent:

D456374, Apr 30, 2002

Filed:

Aug 13, 2001

Appl. No.:

29/146619

Inventors:

Andreas R. Haase - Plantation FL
Steven D. Pratt - Plantation FL

Assignee:

Motorola, Inc. - Schaumburg IL

International Classification:

1403

US Classification:

D14137

US Patent:

6406808, Jun 18, 2002

Filed:

Apr 10, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/546337

Inventors:

Steven D. Pratt - Plantation FL
Ronald J. Kelley - Coral Springs FL
Sivakumar Muthuswamy - Plantation FL
Robert W. Pennisi - Boca Raton FL

Assignee:

Motorola, Inc. - Schaumburg IL

International Classification:

H01M 804

US Classification:

429 26

Abstract:

A method and apparatus for managing thermal performance of a fuel cell system having a fuel cell assembly and a fuel storage container is disclosed. The fuel cell system consists of one or more fuel cells , each having a major surface , and disposed next to each other in a side-by-side adjacent arrangement and a fuel storage container having an exterior wall. The fuel cells are positioned such that distance between the major surfaces and the fuel storage container wall along a direction normal to the major surfaces is substantially the same. In addition, one or more of the fuel cells are in thermal contact with the fuel storage container such that cell waste heat is transferred to the fuel storage container.

US Patent:

6423434, Jul 23, 2002

Filed:

Aug 9, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/370157

Inventors:

Steven D. Pratt - Plantation FL
Ronald J. Kelley - Coral Springs FL
Sivakumar Muthuswamy - Plantation FL
Robert W. Pennisi - Boca Raton FL

Assignee:

Motorola, Inc. - Schaumburg IL

International Classification:

H01M 804

US Classification:

429 13, 429 22

Abstract:

A method and apparatus for managing the performance of a fuel cell system ( ) using an agitation means ( ). The method of managing the performance involves, monitoring operational parameters ( ) of individual fuel cells and the overall fuel cell system, comparing performance parameters ( ) of the system against target values, selecting a control method ( ) from a set of available control methods based on the result of comparison of the performance parameters against the target values and using that control method to initiate and control an agitation process, and actuating ( ) an agitation means using the selected control method so as alter the monitored operational parameters ( ).

US Patent:

6426158, Jul 30, 2002

Filed:

Jul 20, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/620234

Inventors:

Steven D. Pratt - Plantation FL
Sivakumar Muthuswamy - Plantation FL
Ronald J. Kelley - Coral Springs FL
Robert W. Pennisi - Boca Raton FL

Assignee:

Motorola, Inc. - Schaumburg IL

International Classification:

H01M 804

US Classification:

429 13, 429 22, 429 34

Abstract:

A method of diluting reacted fuel gas that is exhausted from a fuel cell. The reacted fuel gas is transferred from the fuel cell ( ) into a hydrogen diluting mechanism ( ) prior to release into the atmosphere, so that when the reacted fuel gas is subsequently released into the atmosphere, the percentage of hydrogen immediately surrounding the fuel cell does not exceed 4 percent by volume.

US Patent:

6584825, Jul 1, 2003

Filed:

Aug 13, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/928607

Inventors:

Steven D. Pratt - Plantation FL
Sivakumar Muthuswamy - Plantation FL
Ronald J. Kelley - Coral Springs FL
Robert W. Pennisi - Boca Raton FL

Assignee:

Motorola, Inc. - Schaumburg IL

International Classification:

G01N 1910

US Classification:

73 232, 73 2331, 422 88, 702 24

Abstract:

An apparatus and method for measuring the quantity of hydrogen in a hydrogen storage vessel of a hydrogen fuel cell using the Pressure, Composition, Temperature (PCT) relationship of the storage media is disclosed. The method of measuring the quantity of hydrogen involves, measuring the temperature of the hydrogen storage media at one or more points on the hydrogen storage vessel , measuring the mechanical strain at one or more points on the hydrogen storage vessel, computing the pressure inside the vessel based on the strain measurements, referring to a lookup table or an equation representing the discharge PCT curve for the particular composition of the hydrogen storage media at the measured temperature and computing the hydrogen concentration at the measured pressure. The changes in temperature and pressure during hydrogen absorption-desorption which are characteristic of hydride storage media air is used to measure the hydrogen concentration in the storage vessel and the hydrogen to metal hydride.

US Patent:

6586124, Jul 1, 2003

Filed:

Mar 26, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/817336

Inventors:

Ronald J. Kelley - Coral Springs FL
Steven D. Pratt - Plantation FL
Sivakumar Muthuswamy - Plantation FL
Robert W. Pennisi - Boca Raton FL

Assignee:

Motorola INC - Schaumburg IL

International Classification:

H01M 804

US Classification:

429 17, 429 12, 429 13, 4292182

Abstract:

An apparatus and method for temperature regulation of a fuel cell using differential heat capacity of the fuel storage media is disclosed. The method of regulating the temperature involves measuring the temperature of one or more fuel cells, comparing the temperature against target values, selecting a control method from a set of available control methods based on the result of comparison and using that control method to initiate and control a regulation cycle, and actuating a flow control means using the selected control method to alter the flow of fuel between one or more fuel storage containers, each containing fuel storage media which exhibit different enthalpies of formation and dissociation. The regulation process starts with measuring temperature ( ) of a fuel cell system ( ). The measured temperature is then compared ( ) to a predetermined set of ideal target values designed to provide peak fuel cell performance.

US Patent:

6689194, Feb 10, 2004

Filed:

Mar 12, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/803190

Inventors:

Steven D. Pratt - Plantation FL
Sivakumar Muthuswamy - Plantation FL
Ronald J. Kelley - Coral Springs FL
Robert W. Pennisi - Boca Raton FL

Assignee:

Motorola, Inc - Schaumburg IL

International Classification:

B01D 5304

US Classification:

95139, 95140, 961175, 96151, 423230, 423247, 429 12, 429 13

Abstract:

Oxides of carbon and other impurities are removed from a hydrogen fuel supply stream ( ) for a fuel cell ( ). A getter element ( ) sufficient for chemisorbing the oxides of carbon from the hydrogen is removably connected to the fuel cell anode side. The fuel stream is passed through the getter element so as to chemisorb the oxides of carbon onto the getter, thereby providing a purified stream of hydrogen ( ) to the fuel cell anode. The getter is removed from the fuel cell when the getter is spent and replaced with a fresh getter.

US Patent:

6699611, Mar 2, 2004

Filed:

May 29, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/867015

Inventors:

Gene Kim - Plantation FL
Ronald J. Kelley - Coral Springs FL
Steven D. Pratt - Plantation FL

Assignee:

Motorola, Inc. - Schaumburg IL

International Classification:

H01M 804

US Classification:

429 24, 429 22, 429 30, 429 39

Abstract:

A thermo-responsive polymer is incorporated into a fuel cell ( ) in order to maintain optimum hydration of the polymer electrolyte membrane. The thermo-responsive polymer ( ) is situated proximate to the membrane electrode assembly ( ) such that fuel or oxidant gas passes ( ) through the thermo-responsive polymer to the membrane electrode assembly. The thermo-responsive polymer swells or shrinks in response to changes in the operating temperature of the membrane electrode assembly, altering the flow rate of the fuel or oxidant gas passing through the thermo-responsive polymer.