Patents by Inventor Bruce F. Field

Bruce F. Field has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20100181208
    Abstract: A washing system and method comprising forming a charged activated liquid, and operating a washing system with the charged activated liquid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2010
    Publication date: July 22, 2010
    Applicant: TENNANT COMPANY
    Inventors: Thomas R. Denison, Bruce F. Field, Jonathan A. Zimmerman
  • Publication number: 20100147701
    Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided, in which and electroporation electrode is configured for example to apply an alternating electric field through liquid dispensed from the apparatus to a surface or volume being treated and thereby cause electroporation of microorganisms in contact with the liquid. The liquid may be suspended from the surface by charged nanobubbles and/or another mechanism to enhance application of the electric field to the microorganisms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2009
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Applicant: TENNANT COMPANY
    Inventor: Bruce F. Field
  • Publication number: 20100147700
    Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided. The method includes for example, treating a liquid in an apparatus to increase suspension properties of the liquid and dispensing the treated liquid from the apparatus to a surface or volume of space so as to create an electrically conductive path by the treated liquid from the apparatus to the surface or volume of space. During the step of dispensing, an alternating electric field is generated from the apparatus to the surface or volume of space, through the liquid along the conductive path, wherein the electric field is sufficient to destroy at least one microorganism from the surface or in the volume of space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2009
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Applicant: TENNANT COMPANY
    Inventors: Bruce F. Field, Thomas R. Denison
  • Publication number: 20100089419
    Abstract: A method for removing a cosmetic substance, the method comprising electrochemically activating a liquid, dispensing the electrochemically-activated liquid to a surface containing the cosmetic substance, and applying frictional wiping to the surface containing the cosmetic substance and the applied electrochemically-activated liquid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2009
    Publication date: April 15, 2010
    Applicant: TENNANT COMPANY
    Inventors: Bruce F. Field, Todd R. Schaeffer
  • Publication number: 20090314659
    Abstract: An electrolysis cell is provided, which includes an inlet, an outlet, and coaxial, cylindrical inner and outer electrodes. A cylindrical ion-selective membrane is located between the inner and outer electrodes and forms respective first and second electrolysis reaction chambers on opposing sides of the membrane. Fluid flow paths along the first and second chambers join together as a combined inlet flow path through the inlet and a combined outlet flow path through the outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2009
    Publication date: December 24, 2009
    Applicant: TENNANT COMPANY
    Inventor: Bruce F. Field
  • Publication number: 20090314654
    Abstract: An electrolysis cell is provided, which includes an anode electrode and a cathode electrode. At least one of the anode electrode or the cathode electrode includes a first plurality of apertures having a first size and/or shape and a second plurality of apertures having a second, different size and/or shape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2009
    Publication date: December 24, 2009
    Applicant: Tennant Company
    Inventor: Bruce F. Field
  • Publication number: 20090314655
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for passing water through an electrolysis cell having an anode and a cathode separated by an ion selective membrane. The cathode has a larger surface area than the anode. The method includes: applying an energization voltage at a first polarity to the anode and the cathode to produce an anolyte liquid and a catholyte liquid; temporarily reversing the energization voltage to a second polarity for a short time duration to reduce deposits on at least one of the anode or cathode and then returning the energization voltage to the first polarity; and dispensing a substantially constant supply of the anolyte liquid from the anode chamber and the catholyte liquid from the cathode chamber during the applying and reversing steps, the supply of catholyte being greater than the supply of anolyte per unit of time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2009
    Publication date: December 24, 2009
    Applicant: Tennant Company
    Inventor: Bruce F. Field
  • Publication number: 20090314658
    Abstract: A hand-held spray bottle is provided, which includes a liquid reservoir, a liquid outlet, an electrolysis cell, a power source and a DC-to-DC converter. The electrolysis cell is carried by the spray bottle and is fluidically coupled between the reservoir and the liquid outlet. The power source is carried by the spray bottle and has a voltage output. The DC-to-DC converter is coupled between the voltage output and the electrolysis cell and provides a stepped-up voltage, which is greater than the voltage output of the power source, to energize the electrolysis cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2009
    Publication date: December 24, 2009
    Applicant: TENNANT COMPANY
    Inventor: Bruce F. Field
  • Publication number: 20090314657
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for performing electrolysis with an electrolysis cell. The cell includes an anode electrode and a cathode electrode. At least one of the anode electrode or the cathode electrode is at least partially formed of conductive polymer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2009
    Publication date: December 24, 2009
    Applicant: TENNANT COMPANY
    Inventor: Bruce F. Field
  • Publication number: 20090314651
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided, which includes an electrolysis cell, a liquid flow path that passes through the electrolysis cell, and an indicator light. The indicator light is illuminated as a function of an operating characteristic of the electrolysis cell and luminous flux radiated from the light illuminates liquid along at least a portion of the flow path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2009
    Publication date: December 24, 2009
    Applicant: TENNANT COMPANY
    Inventor: Bruce F. Field
  • Publication number: 20090311137
    Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for generating an electrochemically activated liquid that is rendered at least partially aerosol.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2009
    Publication date: December 17, 2009
    Applicant: Tennant Company
    Inventor: Bruce F. Field
  • Publication number: 20090301445
    Abstract: A method and system for treating a combustible fluid and operating a combustion system, where the combustible fluid is introduced into an electrolysis cell, electrochemically activated in the electrolysis cell, and combusted in a combustion-based engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2009
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Applicant: Global Opportunities Investment Group, LLC
    Inventor: Bruce F. Field
  • Publication number: 20090301521
    Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for generating an electrochemically-activated vapor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2009
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Applicant: Tennant Company
    Inventor: Bruce F. Field
  • Publication number: 20090272652
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for energizing an electrolysis cell receiving a liquid to be electrochemically activated and contacting the liquid with an exposed, conductive tip of a voltage detector. The voltage detector generates a humanly-perceptible indicator as a function of charge movement sensed by the voltage detector through the liquid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2009
    Publication date: November 5, 2009
    Applicant: Tennant Company
    Inventor: Bruce F. Field
  • Publication number: 20090120460
    Abstract: A method is provided, which includes applying electrochemically activated acid and alkaline water to a surface as a pre-spray, allowing the electrochemically activated acid and alkaline water to remain on the surface for a dwell time, and after the dwell time, performing a cleaning operation on an area of the surface to which the pre-spray was applied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2008
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Applicant: Tennant Company
    Inventors: Frederick A. Hekman, Bruce F. Field, Peter A. Swenson
  • Publication number: 20090095639
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for reducing an oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) of an electrochemically activated liquid. The ORP is reduced by emitting ions from an ion generator into the electrochemically activated liquid, wherein the ions have a charge polarity that is opposite to the ORP of the liquid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2008
    Publication date: April 16, 2009
    Applicant: Tennant Company
    Inventor: Bruce F. Field
  • Publication number: 20080308427
    Abstract: A production system and process comprising mixing electrochemically-activated liquid and feedstock granules to form a slurry a slurry cooker, and producing alcohol from the slurry.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2008
    Publication date: December 18, 2008
    Applicant: Tennant Company
    Inventor: Bruce F. Field
  • Publication number: 20080210572
    Abstract: A hand-held spray apparatus is provided, which includes a tank for holding a supply of liquid to be treated and a functional generator carried by the hand-held spray apparatus. The functional generator receives the liquid from the tank and has an anode chamber and a cathode chamber separated by an ion exchange membrane and electrochemically activates the liquid that is passed through the functional generator. A spray output is coupled to an output of the functional generator and dispenses the electrochemically activated liquid as an output spray.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2008
    Publication date: September 4, 2008
    Applicant: Tennant Company
    Inventor: Bruce F. Field
  • Publication number: 20070186954
    Abstract: A method is provided, which includes moving a mobile floor cleaning device along a floor; electrochemically activating a liquid on the mobile floor cleaning device, and dispensing the electrochemically activated liquid from the mobile floor cleaning device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2007
    Publication date: August 16, 2007
    Applicant: Tennant Company
    Inventors: Bruce F. Field, Patrick J. Gronlund
  • Publication number: 20070187262
    Abstract: An electrochemically activated fluid is provided, which has an anolyte and a catholyte. For example, a sparged anolyte and a sparged catholyte are provided. In another example, a combined anolyte and catholyte is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2007
    Publication date: August 16, 2007
    Applicant: Tennant Company
    Inventors: Bruce F. Field, Patrick J. Gronlund