The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 06, 2004
Filed:
May. 04, 2001
Keith Andrew Oglesby, Livonia, MI (US);
Kurt David Osborne, Dearborn, MI (US);
Woong-chul Yang, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Ford Motor Company, Dearborn, MI (US);
Abstract
A system is provided for supplying air to a fuel cell for use within a vehicle . The system includes a conventional storage tank which receives and stores hydrogen gas at a relatively high pressure, an expander unit , a compressor unit , pressure regulators , a valve , a controller , and vehicle sensors , and a secondary compressor . The system selectively channels pressurized hydrogen gas through expander unit which lowers the pressure of the hydrogen gas and rotatably drives compressor . By utilizing the potential energy within the hydrogen gas to drive compressor , system conserves energy and improves the overall fuel economy of the vehicle