IP Library › Granted Patent US 9,947,945
Granted Patent B2
US 9,947,945 · App. 12/019,724 · Granted Apr 17, 2018

Ventilation system for an automotive fuel cell stack enclosure

Inventors: Thomas Joseph Cusumano (Royal Oak, MI); Deborah Diane Pittman (Belleville, MI); Donald Paul Alessi, Jr. (Vancouver, CA)
Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
H01M8/04H01M8/2475H01M2250/20Y02T90/32
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,947,945
App. No.
12/019,724
Granted
Apr 17, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

A fuel cell stack is housed within a fuel cell stack enclosure. Air is used to ventilate the fuel cell stack enclosure. The air may be pulled from an air stream used to cool a high voltage battery. The air may also be pulled from a vehicle compartment such as a vehicle trunk or vehicle cabin. Filters are used to remove particulate matter from the air.

Claims (11)

1. A vehicle comprising:

a fuel cell enclosure;

a battery arrangement;

a duct fluidly connecting an air source and the battery arrangement and configured to deliver air from the air source to the battery arrangement to cool the battery arrangement; and

a conduit arrangement projecting from and connecting the duct and fuel cell enclosure and configured to deliver air from the duct to the fuel cell enclosure to remove hydrogen from the fuel cell enclosure.

2. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the duct includes an air filter.

3. The vehicle of claim 2 wherein the conduit arrangement has an entrance and wherein the entrance is downstream of the air filter.

4. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the conduit arrangement includes an air filter.

5. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the duct is configured to reduce liquid ingress from the air source.

6. The vehicle of claim 1 further comprising a pump to pull air from the duct into the conduit arrangement.

7. The vehicle of claim 6 wherein the pump comprises at least one of a positive displacement pump and a blower.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 31, 2008
From: CUSUMANO, THOMAS JOSEPH; PITTMAN, DEBORAH DIANE; ALESSI, DONALD PAUL, JR.
To: FORD MOTOR COMPANY
Reel/Frame 020482/0517 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20090191805A1 · Jul 30, 2009