Patents Assigned to Litex, Inc.
  • Patent number: 6716398
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for reducing pollutants in the exhaust gases produced from the combustion of a fuel by introducing hydroxyl and associated radicals and oxidizers into at least one of the precombustion and postcombustion gas stream of the combustion engine upstream of the catalytic converter and treating the exhaust gases with the catalytic converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: Litex, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert P. Caren, Jack A. Ekchian
  • Patent number: 6357223
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method for enhancing the rate of a chemical reaction in a gas stream. The apparatus includes at least one heterogeneous catalyst having an upstream end and a downstream end, and at least one surface having a plurality of catalytically active sites on the surface, where the catalyst is positioned so that at least a portion of the gas stream contacts at least a portion of the catalytically active sites on the surface. At least one device for producing radicals or other active species from at least one of water vapor or other gaseous species, such as a corona discharge device or a UV light source is used to produce radicals or other active species, which are introduced into the gas stream at a position upstream of the downstream end of the catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Assignee: Litex, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert P. Caren, David Christeller, Jack A. Ekchian
  • Patent number: 6330794
    Abstract: The invention is directed to an apparatus and a method for the reduction of pollutants in the exhaust stream of a combustion engine. Radicals are produced using a corona discharge in the combustion gas stream of the engine, either in the precombustion gas stream or from water in the exhaust gas. When the radicals are produced from the exhaust gas stream, the radicals may be produced using a corona discharge placed directly in the exhaust stream leading to the catalytic convertor, or a portion of the exhaust stream may be diverted to a remote corona discharge radical generator. The corona discharge in the generator produces radicals in the diverted exhaust gas, and the exhaust gas containing radicals is then conveyed to the exhaust gas stream at a point upstream of the catalytic convertor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2001
    Assignee: Litex, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert P. Caren, Leon Ekchian, Jack A. Ekchian
  • Patent number: 6321531
    Abstract: The invention is directed to an apparatus and a method for the reduction of pollutants in a gas stream containing gas formed from the oxidation of fuel, such as, in the exhaust stream of a combustion engine. Radicals are produced using a corona discharge in the combustion gas stream of the engine, either in the precombustion gas stream or from water in the exhaust gas. When the radicals are produced from the exhaust gas stream, the radicals may be produced using a corona discharge placed directly in the exhaust stream leading to or within the catalytic converter, or a portion of the exhaust stream may be diverted to a remote corona discharge radical generator. The corona discharge in the generator produces radicals in the diverted exhaust gas, and the exhaust gas containing radicals is then conveyed to the exhaust gas stream at a point upstream of the outlet of the catalytic converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2001
    Assignee: Litex, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert P. Caren, Jack A. Ekchian, Tony Dekelaita, Ray Hallenbeck, Victor J. Nowak, John Pietrasik, Gregory J. Roth, Jeff Taus, Mike Tyle, Josef Yampolsky
  • Patent number: 6264899
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for reducing pollutants in the exhaust gases produced from the combustion of a fuel by introducing hydroxyl and associated radicals and oxidizers into at least one of the precombustion and postcombustion gas stream of the combustion engine upstream of the catalytic converter and treating the exhaust gases with the catalytic converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2001
    Assignee: Litex, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert P. Caren, Jack A. Ekchian
  • Patent number: 6048500
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for reducing pollutants in the exhaust gases produced from the combustion of a fuel by introducing hydroxyl and associated radicals and oxidizers into at least one of the precombustion and postcombustion gas stream of the combustion engine upstream of the catalytic converter and treating the exhaust gases with the catalytic converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2000
    Assignee: Litex, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert P. Caren, Jack A. Ekchian
  • Patent number: 6047543
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method for enhancing the rate of a chemical reaction in a gas stream. The apparatus includes at least one heterogeneous catalyst having an upstream end and a downstream end, and at least one surface having a plurality of catalytically active sites on the surface, where the catalyst is positioned so that at least a portion of the gas stream contacts at least a portion of the catalytically active sites on the surface. At least one device for producing radicals or other active species from at least one of water vapor or other gaseous species, such as a corona discharge device or a UV light source is used to produce radicals or other active species, which are introduced into the gas stream at a position upstream of the downstream end of the catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2000
    Assignee: Litex, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert P. Caren, David Christeller, Jack A. Ekchian
  • Patent number: 6029442
    Abstract: The invention is directed to an apparatus and a method for the reduction of pollutants in the exhaust stream of a combustion engine. Radicals are produced using a corona discharge in the combustion gas stream of the engine, either in the precombustion gas stream or from water in the exhaust gas. When the radicals are produced from the exhaust gas stream, the radicals may be produced using a corona discharge placed directly in the exhaust stream leading to the catalytic convertor, or a portion of the exhaust stream may be diverted to a remote corona discharge radical generator. The corona discharge in the generator produces radicals in the diverted exhaust gas, and the exhaust gas containing radicals is then conveyed to the exhaust gas stream at a point upstream of the catalytic convertor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 29, 2000
    Assignee: Litex, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert P. Caren, Leon Ekchian, Jack A. Ekchian
  • Patent number: 5863413
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for reducing pollutants in the exhaust gases produced from the combustion of a fuel by introducing hydroxyl and associated radicals and oxidizers into at least one of the precombustion and postcombustion gas stream of the combustion engine upstream of the catalytic converter and treating the exhaust gases with the catalytic converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1999
    Assignee: Litex, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert P. Caren, Jack A. Ekchian