Patents Examined by Bruce Bell
  • Patent number: 8398831
    Abstract: Embodiments of a closed-contact electroplating cup assembly that may be rapidly cleaned while an electroplating system is on-line are disclosed. One disclosed embodiment comprises a cup assembly and a cone assembly, wherein the cup assembly comprises a cup bottom comprising an opening, a seal surrounding the opening, an electrical contact structure comprising a plurality of electrical contacts disposed around the opening, and an interior cup side that is tapered inwardly in along an axial direction of the cup from a cup top toward the cup bottom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Novellus Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Shantinath Ghongadi, Robert Rash, Jeff Hawkins, Seshasayee Varadarajan, Tariq Majid, Kousik Ganesan, Bryan Buckalew, Brian Evans
  • Patent number: 8398827
    Abstract: Two rotating members placed to face each other and nipping a web such that only an end of the web provided with conductivity is pressed are provided, at least one of the rotating members serves as a feeding electrode, and these rotating members are rotated about the same velocity to a transportation velocity of the web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignees: Toray Industries, Inc., Toray Advanced Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mamoru Kawashita, Fumiyasu Nomura, Shintaro Kuge, Toru Miyake
  • Patent number: 8398837
    Abstract: A sensor (1) including a plate-shaped sensor element (21) extending in a front-rear direction and having at least 3 electrode terminals (25) provided on at least one side surface (24) of the sensor element at intervals in a lateral direction; a plurality of metallic terminal members (51a, 51b) connected to the electrode terminals (25) of the sensor element (21); and a separator (71) surrounding and insulating the plurality of metallic terminal members (51a, 51b). The metallic terminal members (51a, 51b) each has a crimp portion (57a, 57b) formed at a rear end thereof and a lead wire (61) is crimp-connected to the crimp portion (57a, 57b). The crimp portions (57a) located at opposite sides with respect to the lateral direction face the side surface (24) of the sensor element (21), whereas the crimp portion (57b) faces away from the side surface (24) of the sensor element (21).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Noboru Matsui, Tomohiro Nakamura
  • Patent number: 8394193
    Abstract: The invention relates to a hydraulic binder, comprising K, Ca, aluminosilicates, as well as optionally Li, Na, and Mg, wherein the binder comprises the following components: a) a latently hydraulic aluminosilicate glass with a ratio of (CaO+MgO+Al2O3)/SiO2>1 and b) an alkali activator of the empirical formula (I) a(M2O)*x(SiO2)*y(H2O)??(I) wherein M=Li, Na, K, a=0-4, and x=0-5 and y=3-20, wherein the molar ratio of Ca/Si is <1, the molar ratio of Al/Si is <1, and the molar ratio of M/Si is >0.1. Furthermore, it relates to binder matrices, mortars, concrete adhesives, and metal anodes made of such binder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Inventor: Wolfgang Schwarz
  • Patent number: 8394245
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a production apparatus for electro-deposited metal foil or the like that can reduce thickness fluctuation of electro-deposited metal foil. To achieve the object, a production apparatus for electro-deposited metal foil or the like in which a cathode and an insoluble anode apart from each other, supplying an electrolytic solution through a gap between the cathode and the anode, making the cathode move along to the insoluble anode, electrodepositing a metal component on an electro-deposition surface of the moving cathode is applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Permelec Electrode Ltd.
    Inventors: Yusuke Ozaki, Akira Kunimatsu
  • Patent number: 8388816
    Abstract: The invention consists of a bunker to visually hide and structurally protect a cathodic protection rectifier located in an open field or urban areas where there is high incidence of vandalism. The bunker consists of a mobile element which contains a rectifier and an underground cavity structure. Besides hiding and protecting the rectifier from vandalism, the only part of this apparatus that is normally visible is a circular plaque at ground level, with a waterproof seal. Occasionally the rectifier is removed for maintenance and diagnostic purposes. In order to extract the mobile element it is necessary, but not enough, to have a magnetic or electromagnetic anchor with a great load capacity. The mobile element may only be extracted when the bolt lock located at the base of the cylinder is wirelessly activated. The cavity structure has radial plates calculated to dissipate the heat produced through the operation of the rectifier. All electric connections are hidden and embedded in concrete.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Corrosion Y Proteccion Ingenieria, S.C.
    Inventors: Lorenzo Martinez Gómez, Lorenzo Martinez Martinez De La Escalara, Jorge Joaquin Cantó Ibañez
  • Patent number: 8377266
    Abstract: In a electric corrosion preventing structure of a marine vessel propelling machine, a cylinder is integrally formed in a cylinder block, an electric connection portion is provided in a portion in which a rod guide is fixed to the cylinder, an electric connection portion is provided in a portion in which a piston is fixed to a rod in an inner portion of the cylinder, and the piston fixed to the rod strikes against the rod guide in an electrically connected state, at a maximum extension when the rod protrudes out of the cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Showa Corporation
    Inventor: Atsushi Kagawa
  • Patent number: 8372255
    Abstract: The invention relates to a current collector for electrochemical diaphragm or membrane-type cells, comprising a layer obtained by interlacing or weaving of a multiplicity of first sets of metal wires with a multiplicity of single metal wires or of second sets of metal wires and provided with substantially parallel corrugations. Such layer is coupled to a planar element consisting of a cloth or a flattened stocking formed by weaving of a single metal wire. The current collector is characterised by a low angular coefficient of the pressure/thickness ratio over a wide range of compression levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Uhdenora S.p.A.
    Inventors: Michele Perego, Leonello Carrettin, Dario Oldani, Angelo Ottaviani
  • Patent number: 8372253
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, patterns of protrusions and recesses includes a substrate including a conductive region on at least one major surface, and a projecting pattern layer formed on the conductive region on the major surface, and made of a microcrystalline material, a polycrystalline material, an amorphous material, or an oxide of the microcrystalline, polycrystalline, or amorphous material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Satoshi Shirotori, Yoshiyuki Kamata, Takuya Shimada, Masatoshi Sakurai
  • Patent number: 8372251
    Abstract: According to various embodiments, a system includes a gasifier that includes a shell made of a first material exposed to a gasification region inside the gasifier and a patterned anode layer coupled to the shell inside the gasifier. The patterned anode layer is made of a second material, and the patterned anode layer is configured to protect the shell from corrosion by condensing hot gas in the gasification region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: George Albert Goller, Paul Stephen Dimascio, Rebecca Evelyn Hefner
  • Patent number: 8372260
    Abstract: A marine drive cathodic protection control circuit and method controls ohmic current from a power source to an anode according to electrical reference potential sensed by a reference electrode. The ohmic current is interrupted for an interruption interval, and reference potential is sensed during the interruption interval. The ohmic current is controlled according to reference potential sensed during the interruption interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: Richard E. Staerzl, Michael M. Blackwood
  • Patent number: 8372254
    Abstract: An electrode for use in producing copper in either a conventional electrowinning cell or the direct electrowinning cell is provided. The electrode includes a hanger bar and an electrode body coupled with the hanger bar. The electrode body includes at least one conductor rod having a core and an outer layer surrounding the core and a substrate coupled with the conductor rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Freeport-McMoran Corporation
    Inventors: Scot P Sandoval, Casey J Clayton, Timothy G Robinson, Christopher John Zanotti, Martin Kim Zanotti
  • Patent number: 8366892
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an electrode composed of carbon having at least two different zones, wherein an outer zone (A) forms the base of the electrode and carries one or more inner zones, wherein the innermost zone (B) projects from the zone (A) at the top and has a lower specific thermal conductivity than zone (A).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Wacker Chemie AG
    Inventors: Heinz Kraus, Mikhail Sofin
  • Patent number: 8366889
    Abstract: Subject The present invention aims to provide an anode for electrolysis by an ion exchange membrane process and the manufacturing method thereof which can show a lower concentration of by-product oxygen gas in chlorine gas and a lower overvoltage stably for a long time, compared with conventional anodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Permelec Electrode Ltd.
    Inventor: Toshikazu Hayashida
  • Patent number: 8366891
    Abstract: A metallic oxygen evolving anode for electrowinning aluminum by decomposition of alumina dissolved in a cryolite-based molten electrolyte, and operable at anode current densities of 1.1 to 1.3 A/cm2, comprises an alloy of nickel, iron, manganese, optionally copper, and silicon. Preferably, the alloy is composed of 64-66 w % Ni; Iron; 25-27 w % Fe; 7-9 w % Mn; 0-0.7 w % Cu; and 0.4-0.6 w % Si. The weight ratio Ni/Fe is in the range 2.1 to 2.89, preferably 2.3 to 2.6, the weight ratio Ni/(Ni+Cu) is greater than 0.98, the weight ratio Cu/Ni is less than 0.01, and the weight ratio Mn/Ni is from 0.09 to 0.15. The alloy surface can comprise nickel ferrite produced by pre-oxidation of the alloy. The alloy, optionally with a pre-oxidized surface, can be coated with an external coating comprising cobalt oxide CoO.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Rio Tinto Alcan International Limited
    Inventor: Thinh Trong Nguyen
  • Patent number: 8366890
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electrode formulation comprising a catalytic layer containing tin, ruthenium, iridium, palladium and niobium oxides applied to a titanium or other valve metal substrate. A protective layer based on titanium oxide modified with oxides of other elements such as tantalum, niobium or bismuth may be interposed between the substrate and the catalytic layer. The thus obtained electrode is suitable for use as an anode in electrolysis cells for chlorine production.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Industrie de Nora S.p.A.
    Inventors: Christian Urgeghe, Alexander Morozov, Alice Calderara, Dino Floriano Di Franco, Antonio Lorenzo Antozzi
  • Patent number: 8366904
    Abstract: Cathodic protection of a structure including a steel member at least partly buried in a covering layer, such as steel rebar in a concrete structure, is provided by embedding sacrificial anodes into the concrete layer at spaced positions over the layer and connecting the anodes to the rebar. The anode body is formed, by pressing together finely divided powder, flakes or fibers of a sacrificial anode material such as zinc to define a porous body having pores therein. The sacrificial anode material of the anode member is directly in contact with the covering material by being buried or inserted as a tight fit into a drilled hole so that any expansion forces therefrom would be applied to the concrete with the potential of causing cracking. The pores are arranged however such that corrosion products from corrosion of the anode body are received into the pores sufficiently to prevent expansion of the anode body to an extent which would cause cracking of the covering material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Inventor: David Whitmore
  • Patent number: 8361285
    Abstract: An electrochemical antifouling system for preventing fouling organisms from adhering to seawater-wetted structures includes a direct current circuit for creating an electrolytic environment in seawater, the direct current circuit having an adjustable direct current source, a lattice electrode having a single metallic component so as to provide a dimensionally stable lattice structure, the lattice electrode electrically insulated from a surface of a seawater-wetted structure, at least one corrosion-resistant counter electrode having polarity opposite to the lattice electrode and disposed at a distance therefrom, and a switching device configured to alternatively switch the lattice electrode to (a) a continuous operating mode, and (b) a temporary depletion mode, wherein the lattice electrode is disposed in a distance range from the surface of the seawater-wetted structure so that the surface lies within an area of influence of an increase in pH value of the seawater caused by electrolysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Stiftung Alfred-Wegener-Institut fuer Polar-und Meeresforschung
    Inventors: Roland Krone, Markus Paster
  • Patent number: 8361286
    Abstract: An improved sacrificial galvanic anode assembly for cathodic protection of a steel reinforced concrete structure. A galvanic cathodic protection device uses an embedded sacrificial anode of metallic foam for increased reactive surface area covered with a flexible penetrating coating to provide a continuous electrolyte to keep it active. The formulated coating paste is inert to cement embedment material and is pre-applied on the anode body prior to encapsulation. An integrated conductive contact band extends from the coated anode to attachment to a reinforcement bar for establishing electrical conductively therewith within the concrete structure transferring galvanic corrosion to the anode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Inventor: Roberto Giorgini
  • Patent number: 8361288
    Abstract: Compositions, electrodes, systems, and/or methods for water electrolysis and other electrochemical techniques are provided. In some cases, the compositions, electrodes, systems, and/or methods are for electrolysis which can be used for energy storage, particularly in the area of energy conversion, and/or production of oxygen, hydrogen, and/or oxygen and/or hydrogen containing species. In some embodiments, the water for electrolysis comprises at least one impurity and/or at least one additive which has little or no substantially affect on the performance of the electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Sun Catalytix Corporation
    Inventors: Steven Y. Reece, Arthur J. Esswein, Kimberly Sung, Zachary I. Green, Daniel G. Nocera