Delphi Technologies, Inc.

Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Charles Dale Oakley

Gamdur S Mann

Rick Daniel Kerr

Randolph Kwok-Kin Chiu

Joseph V Mantese

Russell Harmon Bosch

David K Chen

Giulio Angel Ricci-Ottati

David Sturge Eddy

Jinping Zhang

Keith A Penney

Hermann Breitbach

David Thompson

Manfred Kolkman

Donald Robert Van Uum

Joseph Michael Leptich

Russel H Bosch

Hiroshi Takayama

Keisuke Okajima

Jack C Webb

Magnus Glavmo

John Franklin Mc Keon, Jr

Dale Lavern Freed, Jr

Ray William Atchinson, Ii

Jeannine Hogan, Legal Representative

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are related to an apparatus and method for providing a strain tolerant electrode, comprising: an upper layer; a lower layer; with the potential for a plurality of compliant members providing electrical communication between the upper layer and the lower layer; and wherein a surface of the upper layer is in direct contact with a surface of the lower layer to provide an electrical path between the upper layer and the lower layer.

Strain tolerant metal electrode design

A bipolar plate for use in a stack of fuel cell modules includes a bipolar plate that has at least one surface containing a metal alloy oxidizable to form a metal oxide having a surface resistance no greater than about 0.007 ohm-cm. The metal alloy is oxidized to form a layer of metal oxide having a thickness of about 10cm to about 10cm and a resistivity no greater than about 10ohm-cm. In addition to their use in fuel cells, the alloys can be employed to form conductive surfaces of electrical contacts useful for various electrical devices.

Conductive coatings for PEM fuel cell electrodes

An enclosure for enclosing piezoelectric elements of a piezoelectric actuator comprises a side wall that is shaped to define at least one strain compensation formation selected from a longitudinally-extensible part at which the side wall can be extended or contracted parallel to a longitudinal axis of the enclosure; and an inwardly-deflectable part at which the side wall can be deflected transversely to the longitudinal axis.

Piezoelectric actuator and enclosure therefor

An actuator includes a piezoelectric stack within a housing that applies a compressive load to the stack. The housing may include a cylindrical tube closed at one end and may seal the stack against fluid pressure. The housing may be shorter than the length of the piezoelectric stack and may include resilient means for inducing elastic strain in the stack. The resilient means may include one or more slots extending around the circumference of the housing and/or a corrugated region of the housing to form a tension spring at a lower end of the housing. The tension spring may then serve to draw the stack into compression. The stack may include a plurality of layers of piezoelectric or piezoceramic material interspersed with a plurality of layers of electrically conductive material and connecting means for connecting the layers to a source of electrical power.

Actuator

Electrical contact surfaces of a bipolar plate for a fuel cell assembly are formed of metals or metal alloys which when oxidized form highly conductive oxide passivation layers, thus maintaining high electrical conductivity and continuity through the fuel cell and forestalling corrosion failure of a cell assembly. Alloy composition systems such as, but not limited to, Ti&#x2014;Nb, Ti&#x2014;Ta, La&#x2014;Sr&#x2014;Cr, and La&#x2014;Sr&#x2014;Co are known to form oxide passivation layers which are highly conductive. The passivation layers may be formed in situ after assembly of a fuel cell or may be provided in an oxidative step during manufacture. The bipolar plate may be formed entirely of one or more of such alloys or may be formed of an inexpensive substrate metal having the alloy layers coated thereupon.

A bipolar plate for use in a fuel cell assembly having channels for conveying oxygen and fuel along the cathode and anode surfaces of adjacent fuel cell units. The channels are separated by lands for making electrical and mechanical contact with the respective cathode and anode surfaces and preferably are so configured as to provide the minimum area required for satisfactory electrical contact and mechanical support. The lands and channels preferably are formed as peaks and valleys or as raised or recessed dimples for making electrical/mechanical contact with the cathode and anode surfaces and are coated in those contact areas with corrosion-resistant metal such as gold, platinum, ruthenium, or combinations thereof.

Selective coatings for PEM fuel cell electrode contacts

An ion sensor glow plug assembly includes a shell for attachment to a cylinder head of a compression ignition engine and having a passageway extending axially therethrough. The ion sensor glow plug assembly also includes an insulator disposed at least partially in the passageway of the shell and having an aperture extending axially therethrough. The ion sensor glow plug assembly includes a glow bulb made of an insulative material and including a heating element disposed therein. The glow bulb extends through the aperture and into the passageway of the shell and is operatively connected to a source of power to create a heating circuit. The ion sensor glow plug assembly further includes a conductive material extending axially along the glow bulb and operatively connected to a source of power to create an ion sensing circuit.

Ion sensor bulb-shaped glow plug assembly

A glow sensor which combines functions of a diesel engine glow plug with an ion sensor for sensing engine combustion initiation and characteristics includes a ceramic rod retained in a supporting ceramic sleeve carried by a metal shell mountable in an engine cylinder head. The ceramic rod includes a heating element in a glow tip at the inner end of the rod which, in use, extends into an engine combustion chamber or pre-chamber. A conductive material such as platinum or palladium is coated on the lower end of the glow tip and connected by a conductor with a source of electric voltage. In use, the voltage produces a current carried by electrons generated by ionization of the combustion chamber gases during combustion. The current varies with the degree of ionization and the amount of electrons generated during various phases of the combustion event. The resulting information is usable in controlling engine operation or evaluating its operation for test purposes. Various construction features of disclosed embodiments include an internal conductor through the ceramic rod from the platinum or palladium material to a lead or an external conductor applied on the surface of the ceramic rod with which an insulating ceramic sleeve is utilized to mount the rod within its supporting shell. Grounding connections through an additional lead from the outer end of the ceramic rod or via metallic connections through the ceramic sleeve to the shell are alternatively disclosed.

Glow sensor-ceramic tip

A glow sensor provides functions of both a diesel engine glow plug for aiding fuel ignition during starting and low temperature operation and an ion sensor for sensing engine combustion initiation and characteristics. Compact glow sensor components may be assembled directly in combination with an engine combustion chamber defining component, such as a cylinder head, to provide a combination in which separate housings or shells for the glow sensors are not needed. Thus, the glow sensor elements and insulation may be made larger to provide greater electrical resistance in the ion sensor electrical circuit and enhance the operation of the ion sensor function. Various forms of glow sensors may optionally be used in such a combination including, for example, metal sheath type glow sensors with either isolated or non-isolated coils and ceramic rod or flat plate type glow sensors. Exemplary embodiments of glow sensor components mounted in a cylinder head are disclosed.

Glow sensor and engine component combination

The invention includes a spark plug for a combustion engine including a center electrode having a tapered portion with a plurality of ridges formed thereon. The spark plug may also include a tapered, ground electrode positioned over the center of the center electrode. The tapered center and ground electrodes allow for flames to propagate freely from the spark gap into the combustion chamber and to ignite an air-fuel mixture in the chamber leading to smooth idle and faster starts.

Spark plug with grooved, tapered center electrode

The invention includes an automotive exhaust gas sensor including an inside belleville design, wherein a belleville spring is located inside a middle shell sub-assembly and below an upper insulator. The design provides for improved interior loading pressures with improved resiliency for a self-contained air reference source exhaust gas sensors.

Watertight exhaust gas sensor

A metal spark plug shell includes an L-shaped copper core side electrode secured in an axially extending slot on the metal shell. The side electrode includes an attachment end having a portion with an outer side that is threaded contiguous with the metal shell and another portion adjacent the end of the metal shell with a recessed outer side that is unthreaded so as to permit spark plug gapping without breakage of the side electrode. The heat-resistant sheath around the copper core on the inner side of the attachment end may be spot welded to the metal shell.

Growing community of inventors

Davison, MI, United States of America

Charles Dale Oakley