Patents
US 8034494 B2: Fuel cell systems with maintenance hydration by displacement of primary power
- Granted
- 2011-10-11
- Filed
- 2010-06-30 application 12828107
- Type
- Utility · 26 claims
- Elsewhere
- Google Patents ↗ · USPTO patent document ↗ · USPTO Patent Center record ↗
Abstract
Fuel cell systems and methods that perform maintenance hydration by supplying power to satisfy at least part of an applied load from an energy-consuming assembly while a primary power source is in electrical communication with and available to supply power to the energy-consuming assembly to satisfy the portion of the applied load. In some embodiments, the systems or methods may determine a start time, or start condition, for hydration of the fuel cell system. Power may be supplied from the activated fuel cell system at an output voltage that is higher than a voltage at which power from the primary power source is being supplied, such that the applied load is satisfied, at least in part, by power from the fuel cell system instead of from the primary power source. Upon operation for a period sufficient to rehydrate the fuel cell stack, operation of the fuel cell system may be discontinued.
Source: PVGPATDIS, file of 2026-04-10 (ipg111011.xml).
Assignees
| Assignee | Type | Place | Also on furp.org | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Idatech, LLC 38 patents | US company or organization | Bend, OR | PVGPATDIS, file of 2026-04-10 |
Inventors
| Inventor | Place | Patents | Person page | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mason Patrick Kelley | Redmond, OR | 4 | PVGPATDIS, file of 2026-04-10 | |
| Arne LaVen | Bend, OR | 10 | PVGPATDIS, file of 2026-04-10 | |
| Tod L. Snider | Bend, OR | 3 | PVGPATDIS, file of 2026-04-10 |
CPC categories
| Subclass | Category | First group | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| H01M | Processes or means, e.g. batteries, for the direct conversion of chemical energy into electrical energy | H01M8/0485 | PVGPATDIS, file of 2026-04-10 |
| Y02E | Reduction of greenhouse gas [ghg] emissions, related to energy generation, transmission or distribution | Y02E60/10 | PVGPATDIS, file of 2026-04-10 |
| Y02P | Climate change mitigation technologies in the production or processing of goods | Y02P90/40 | PVGPATDIS, file of 2026-04-10 |
Cooperative Patent Classification, as currently assigned (one row per subclass).
Assignments and security interests
| Recorded | What | From | To | Reel/frame | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013-03-27 | Security interest Security interest Option | IDATECH, LLC signed 2013-03-13 | DCNS SA 44 620 LA MONTAGNE | 30100/642 | PASDL, file of 2026-10-15 |
| 2010-07-23 | Assignment Assignment of assignor's interest | LAVEN, ARNE signed 2007-05-24 KELLEY, MASON P. signed 2007-05-25 SNIDER, TOD L. signed 2007-05-25 | IDATECH, LLC BEND, OR | 24736/12 | ECORSEXC, file of 2026-09-25 |
Documents recorded with the USPTO Assignment Recordation Branch that list this patent. A security interest is a lender’s claim on the patent as collateral; a release ends it.
USPTO bulk data: PatentsView granted patents, disambiguated (PVGPATDIS) for patents, assignees, inventors, places and CPC categories; the USPTO Patent Assignment Dataset (ECORSEXC) for assignments and security interests. Patents filed in the last 20 years. No claims or full text. Links to other records are by name (and state): EXACT means the identical full name and state; FUZZY means a looser name match, with the confidence shown.