Abstract: An annular elastomer is provided in a housing orifice that does not require a large force for deformation. This makes possible a solenoid-type actuator that provides a large displacement of the elastomer, thus allowing higher and lower rates of gas flow through a gas line.

Abstract: High-temperature superconductive devices and assemblies are provided. According to one embodiment, a high-temperature superconductive device includes a superconducting substrate and a dielectric ceramic insulator. The superconducting substrate comprises a superconducting material having superconductive properties above about 60 K. The dielectric ceramic insulator is applied to the superconducting substrate. The dielectric ceramic insulator comprises a thermal conductivity of at least about 0.2 W/cm-K at a temperature ranging from about 60 K to about 90 K and has a grain size of at least about 2 microns. Additional embodiments are disclosed and claimed.

Abstract: An annular elastomer is provided in a housing orifice that does not require a large force for deformation. This makes possible a solenoid-type actuator that provides a large displacement of the elastomer, thus allowing higher and lower rates of gas flow through a gas line.

Abstract: Thermal transfer devices according to the present invention comprise electrocaloric materials that increase in temperature upon application of an applied voltage thereto and decrease in temperature upon removal of the applied voltage. In specific embodiments of the present invention, the electrocaloric materials, described in further detail below, are configured such that the respective increases and decreases in temperature of the electrocaloric material extend from about ?10° C. to about 50° C. As a result, thermal transfer devices according to the present invention are suitable for use in a wide variety of practical refrigeration applications. In accordance with 37 CFR 1.72(b), the purpose of this abstract is to enable the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and gist of the technical disclosure. The abstract will not be used for interpreting the scope of the claims.

Abstract: A combined oxygen and NOx sensor is provided. Generally, the combined sensor employs a sensor body that includes two different types of electrodes—oxygen-porous electrode layers and dissociative oxygen-porous electrode layers. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the sensor comprises a sensor body, an oxygen content electrical signal output, and a NOx content electrical signal output. The sensor body is disposed in the gas and comprises a plurality of oxygen-porous electrode layers and a plurality of dissociative oxygen-porous electrode layers. The dissociative oxygen-porous electrode layers comprise a material selected to catalyze dissociation of NOx into nitrogen and oxygen.

Abstract: A capacitive energy storage device is provided with specialized dielectric materials. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a multilayer structure capacitive energy storage device is provided with a plurality of electrode layers and a plurality of dielectric layers. Respective ones of the dielectric layers are interposed between a selected pair of the plurality of electrode layers. The dielectric layers include a combination of materials as follows PbMgxNbyOz+SrTiO3.

Abstract: A low cost amperometric oxygen sensor which utilizes a plurality of oxygen ion conductor layers interposed between a plurality of oxygen-porous electrode layers is provided. Oxygen from a sample gas enters the sensor at porous cathode electrodes, is pumped through the ion conductor layers, and exits through the anode electrodes. The amperometric current generated is representative of the partial pressure of oxygen in the sample gas. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, an amperometric oxygen sensor is provided for determining the oxygen partial pressure of a gas. The sensor comprises a sensor body defined by a plurality of oxygen-porous electrode layers and at least one oxygen ion conductor layer. The plurality of oxygen-porous electrode layers include at least one cathode layer and at least one anode layer. Each of the cathode layers define first and second major cathode surfaces and each of the anode layers defining first and second major anode surfaces.

Abstract: A capacitive energy storage device for use at cryogenic temperatures is provided including first and second electrode layers having a layer of dielectric material there between. The electrode layers include an electrically conductive material having a formula selected from YBa2Cu3Ox and Bi2Ca2Sr2Cu3Oy. A method of storing electrical charge in a capacitive energy storage device is also provided.

Abstract: A honeycomb ceramic fuel cell is provided including, among other things, (i) an yttria stabilized bismuth oxide oxygen ion conductive ceramic with zirconia incorporated therein, (ii) a niobia stabilized bismuth oxide oxygen ion conductive ceramic, (iii) a copper cermet anode electrode disposed in the fuel supply passage of a bismuth oxide ceramic fuel cell, or (iv) specially arranged inter-passage channels formed in the ceramic body of the fuel cell. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a ceramic fuel cell is provided comprising an oxidant supply passage, a cathode electrode disposed in the oxidant supply passage, a fuel supply passage, an anode electrode disposed in the fuel supply passage, and a stabilized bismuth oxide oxygen ion conductive ceramic interposed between the cathode electrode and the anode electrode. The ceramic may be stabilized with yttria or niobia and may include zirconia.

Abstract: A ceramic honeycomb nitrogen purification device is provided including a source gas, a set of gaseous nitrogen passages, a set of oxygen disposal passages, an electroded oxygen conducting ceramic membrane, an electrical power source, an oxygen sensor, and nitrogen purification control circuitry. The source gas includes gaseous nitrogen. The set of gaseous nitrogen passages defines respective source nitrogen input openings and purified nitrogen output openings. The set of oxygen disposal passages defines disposed oxygen output openings, wherein a plurality of the gaseous nitrogen passages are exclusively dedicated to individual ones of the oxygen disposal passages.

Abstract: The present invention is an oxygen generator including a stabilized bismuth oxide body and a plurality of first and second channels. The first channels receive a first gas containing some oxygen and the second channels are sealed at the input and outlet openings and extend generally in parallel to the first channels. Electrodes are disposed on the channel walls of the first and second channels, the electrode composition includes LXM, wherein L is lanthanum, M is manganate, and X is strontium, calcium, lead or barium. The oxygen generator may further include silver disposed over the LXM which thereby decreases the resistivity of the electrodes without the electromigration of the silver. The silver may be mixed with glass to thereby provide improved adherence of the silver to the LXM. A method of making an oxygen generator includes forming a stabilized bismuth oxide body having channels extending therethrough and forming LXM electrodes in the channels.

Abstract: The present invention includes an oxygen generator having a ceramic honeycomb body. The honeycomb body includes one or more oxygen collection channels which extend laterally across a plurality of second channels in which oxygen is generated via the conduction of oxygen ions from a source gas residing in or passing through a plurality of first channels. The oxygen collection channels are located either positionally along a face of the generator, on one longitudinal end of the generator or are staggered about the side face such that the oxygen collection channels do not substantially impact the structural integrity of the honeycomb body. In addition, a method in which a honeycomb body having oxygen collection channels at its face includes extruding a ceramic body and forming one or more channels at a face of the extruded body. The method further includes forming electrodes within the body and sealing selected channels for the collection of oxygen.

Abstract: Capacitive pressure and temperature sensing devices for use at cryogenic temperatures are provided utilizing a quantum ferroelectric pyrochlore ceramic material as the dielectric. The ceramic material has the formula:(Cd.sub.1-x M.sub.x).sub.2 (Nb.sub.1-y M'.sub.y).sub.2 O.sub.7where M is Pb, Ca, Sr, Ba, or mixtures thereof; where M' is Ta, Sb, or mixtures thereof; and where x and y are numbers in the range of from 0 to 1. M and M' are chosen such that the pressure sensing device uses a ceramic with a nearly temperature independent dielectric constant while the temperature sensing device uses a ceramic with a strongly temperature dependent dielectric constant. The sensors may comprise multi-layered capacitive devices, and may be combined into a single temperature and pressure sensing device.