Patents by Inventor Thomas L. Bunn

Thomas L. Bunn 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).

  • Patent number: 10844507
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an apparatus for electroplating an element. The apparatus may comprise a cathode cage assembly. The cathode cage assembly may include a cage member and at least one electrically conductive wire extending along at least a portion of the cage member. The wire may be arranged to form at least one volume within the cage member for retaining an element within the cage member. The cage member and the wire permit a degree of movement of the element during an electroplating process while retaining the element within the volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas L. Bunn, Corie Horwood
  • Patent number: 8485741
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating an image. Light is passed though an opening of a housing. The light has an intensity. At least a portion of the light received through the opening is increased using an intensifier unit to form intensified light. The intensified light is converted into a number of signals for the image using an image detection system located inside of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Thomas L. Bunn, Lynne C. Eigler
  • Patent number: 8405322
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are present for increasing an intensity of light. Light is sent into an input of a housing in which a vacuum is substantially provided in the housing. The light sent into the input of the housing is converted into initial electrons. Movement of the initial electrons is caused to diverge from an axis through the housing to form diverged electrons. Additional electrons are generated to form an increased number of electrons in response to receiving at least a portion of the diverged electrons. The increased number of electrons is converted into output light that exits an output of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Thomas L. Bunn
  • Patent number: 8377384
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for the generation of hydrogen peroxide from an electrochemical (EC) cell arrangement. One embodiment of the apparatus comprises an EC cell having anode and cathode electrodes with a cation exchange membrane disposed between them to form anode and cathode compartments. An aqueous salt solution is supplied to the anode compartment and water and oxygen are supplied to the cathode compartment. An electric potential applied across the anode and cathode electrodes initiates an electrochemical process that results in the formation of an acid anolyte solution in the anode compartment and an alkaline catholyte solution in the cathode compartment. The anolyte solution and the catholyte solution are combined in a neutralizing chamber to form a neutral aqueous solution comprising hydrogen peroxide, salt, and water. The hydrogen peroxide is separated from the neutral aqueous solution by conventional means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Thomas L. Bunn, Alan Z. Ullman, David Stelman
  • Patent number: 7512169
    Abstract: A method for producing singlet delta oxygen may include forming a molecular beam of oxygen clusters from oxygen from an oxygen source. The method may also include optically pumping the molecular beam of oxygen clusters to produce singlet delta oxygen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Thomas L. Bunn
  • Publication number: 20080192793
    Abstract: A method for producing singlet delta oxygen may include forming a molecular beam of oxygen clusters from oxygen from an oxygen source. The method may also include optically pumping the molecular beam of oxygen clusters to produce singlet delta oxygen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2007
    Publication date: August 14, 2008
    Inventor: Thomas L. Bunn
  • Patent number: 7195740
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for removing BHP contaminants (alkali hydroxide and H2O2) from a recycled aqueous alkali chloride solution stream before the stream is fed to a chloralkali cell so that the contaminants do not impair the operation of a chloralkali cell. Unwanted alkali hydroxide within the recycled alkali chloride brine solution is reacted with chlorine gas and converted into an alkali chloride, which is useful in the operation of the chloralkali cell, and oxygen gas, which is outgassed from the system. Any H2O2 remaining in the recycled stream after elimination of the alkali hydroxide is reacted with chlorine to form HCl and oxygen gas. The HCl raises the pH of the brine solution, after which the pH may be adjusted by the addition of supplemental alkali hydroxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2007
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Thomas L. Bunn, Stephen C. Hurlock, Alan Z. Ullman
  • Patent number: 7025868
    Abstract: An electrolytic cell for producing chlorine and basic hydrogen peroxide suitably includes an anode partition and a cathode partition separated by a membrane. The cathode partition is divided into a catholyte compartment and a gas plenum by a gas diffusion cathode. The anode partition electrolyzes alkali chloride received from the laser to produce free chlorine and alkali ions. The catholyte partition reduces oxygen received from the gas plenum through the cathode, and produces alkaline peroxide from the oxidized components combined with alkali ions received through the membrane from the anode partition. The cell is particularly useful in a fuel regeneration system (FRS) for a chemical oxygen iodine laser (COIL).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Thomas L. Bunn, Alan Zachary Ullman
  • Patent number: 6922429
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for removing BHP contaminants (alkali hydroxide and H2O2) from a recycled aqueous alkali chloride solution stream before the stream is fed to a chloralkali cell so that the contaminants do not impair the operation of a chloralkali cell. Unwanted alkali hydroxide within the recycled alkali chloride brine solution is reacted with chlorine gas and converted into an alkali chloride, which is useful in the operation of the chloralkali cell, and oxygen gas, which is outgassed from the system. Any H2O2 remaining in the recycled stream after elimination of the alkali hydroxide is reacted with chlorine to form HCl and oxygen gas. The HCl raises the pH of the brine solution, after which the pH may be adjusted by the addition of supplemental alkali hydroxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2005
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Thomas L. Bunn, Stephen C. Hurlock, Alan Z. Ullman
  • Patent number: 6884337
    Abstract: A method of generating basic hydrogen peroxide (BHP) fuel for a chemical oxygen-iodine laser (COIL) using stored alkali chloride, typically potassium chloride, and water. The alkali chloride and water are mixed to form a saturated or nearly saturated aqueous salt solution for use as an anolyte feed to a chlor-alkali cell. The chlor-alkali cell generates alkali hydroxide, hydrogen, and chlorine. Water and oxygen are reacted to form peroxide which is combined with the alkali hydroxide from the chlor-alkali cell to form a dilute solution of BHP, a mixture of hydrogen peroxide and alkali hydroxide, which dissociates into O2H? and ?OH. The BHP is concentrated and the molar ratio of hydrogen peroxide to alkali hydroxide is adjusted to 1:1 before the BHP is supplied to a COIL apparatus as fuel for the lasing process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2005
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Peter D. Amdisen, Thomas L. Bunn, Alan Z. Ullman
  • Publication number: 20040179990
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for removing BHP contaminants (alkali hydroxide and H2O2) from a recycled aqueous alkali chloride solution stream before the stream is fed to a chloralkali cell so that the contaminants do not impair the operation of a chloralkali cell. Unwanted alkali hydroxide within the recycled alkali chloride brine solution is reacted with chlorine gas and converted into an alkali chloride, which is useful in the operation of the chloralkali cell, and oxygen gas, which is outgassed from the system. Any H2O2 remaining in the recycled stream after elimination of the alkali hydroxide is reacted with chlorine to form HCl and oxygen gas. The HCl raises the pH of the brine solution, after which the pH may be adjusted by the addition of supplemental alkali hydroxide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2004
    Publication date: September 16, 2004
    Applicant: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Thomas L. Bunn, Stephen C. Hurlock, Alan Z. Ullman
  • Publication number: 20040179572
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for removing BHP contaminants (alkali hydroxide and H2O2) from a recycled aqueous alkali chloride solution stream before the stream is fed to a chloralkali cell so that the contaminants do not impair the operation of a chloralkali cell. Unwanted alkali hydroxide within the recycled alkali chloride brine solution is reacted with chlorine gas and converted into an alkali chloride, which is useful in the operation of the chloralkali cell, and oxygen gas, which is outgassed from the system. Any H2O2 remaining in the recycled stream after elimination of the alkali hydroxide is reacted with chlorine to form HCl and oxygen gas. The HCl raises the pH of the brine solution, after which the pH may be adjusted by the addition of supplemental alkali hydroxide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2004
    Publication date: September 16, 2004
    Applicant: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Thomas L. Bunn, Stephen C. Hurlock, Alan Z. Ullman
  • Patent number: 6763051
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for removing BHP contaminants (alkali hydroxide and H2O2) from a recycled aqueous alkali chloride solution stream before the stream is fed to a chloralkali cell so that the contaminants do not impair the operation of a chloralkali cell. Unwanted alkali hydroxide within the recycled alkali chloride brine solution is reacted with chlorine gas and converted into an alkali chloride, which is useful in the operation of the chloralkali cell, and oxygen gas, which is outgassed from the system. Any H2O2 remaining in the recycled stream after elimination of the alkali hydroxide is reacted with chlorine to form HCl and oxygen gas. The HCl raises the pH of the brine solution, after which the pH may be adjusted by the addition of supplemental alkali hydroxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2004
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Thomas L. Bunn, Stephen C. Hurlock, Alan Z. Ullman
  • Publication number: 20040129577
    Abstract: An electrolytic cell for producing chlorine and basic hydrogen peroxide suitably includes an anode partition and a cathode partition separated by a membrane. The cathode partition is divided into a catholyte compartment and a gas plenum by a gas diffusion cathode. The anode partition electrolyzes alkali chloride received from the laser to produce free chlorine and alkali ions. The catholyte partition reduces oxygen received from the gas plenum through the cathode, and produces alkaline peroxide from the oxidized components combined with alkali ions received through the membrane from the anode partition. The cell is particularly useful in a fuel regeneration system (FRS) for a chemical oxygen iodine laser (COIL).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2003
    Publication date: July 8, 2004
    Inventors: Thomas L. Bunn, Alan Zachary Ullman
  • Publication number: 20030215382
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for removing BHP contaminants (alkali hydroxide and H2O2) from a recycled aqueous alkali chloride solution stream before the stream is fed to a chloralkali cell so that the contaminants do not impair the operation of a chloralkali cell. Unwanted alkali hydroxide within the recycled alkali chloride brine solution is reacted with chlorine gas and converted into an alkali chloride, which is useful in the operation of the chloralkali cell, and oxygen gas, which is outgassed from the system. Any H2O2 remaining in the recycled stream after elimination of the alkali hydroxide is reacted with chlorine to form HCl and oxygen gas. The HCl raises the pH of the brine solution, after which the pH may be adjusted by the addition of supplemental alkali hydroxide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2002
    Publication date: November 20, 2003
    Inventors: Thomas L. Bunn, Stephen C. Hurlock, Alan Z. Ullman
  • Publication number: 20030213701
    Abstract: A method of generating basic hydrogen peroxide (BHP) fuel for a chemical oxygen-iodine laser (COIL) using stored alkali chloride, typically potassium chloride, and water. The alkali chloride and water are mixed to form a saturated or nearly saturated aqueous salt solution for use as an anolyte feed to a chlor-alkali cell. The chlor-alkali cell generates alkali hydroxide, hydrogen, and chlorine. Water and oxygen are reacted to form peroxide which is combined with the alkali hydroxide from the chlor-alkali cell to form a dilute solution of BHP, a mixture of hydrogen peroxide and alkali hydroxide, which dissociates into O2H− and −OH. The BHP is concentrated and the molar ratio of hydrogen peroxide to alkali hydroxide is adjusted to 1:1 before the BHP is supplied to a COIL apparatus as fuel for the lasing process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2002
    Publication date: November 20, 2003
    Applicant: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Peter D. Amdisen, Thomas L. Bunn, Alan Z. Ullman