Patents Examined by Bruce Bell
  • Patent number: 8273224
    Abstract: A collector bar for electrical connection to a busbar system of an electrolytic cell, the collector bar being received within a recess in a cathode block of the cathode of the electrolytic cell; wherein the collector bar comprises a first conductor which electrically connects to the busbar system, the first conductor having an external surface or surfaces which electrically contact the cathode block and at least one second conductor having a lower electrical resistance to the first conductor, the second conductor being positioned on at least one external surface of the first conductor in electrical contact with the first conductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: BHP Billiton Innovation Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Ingo Bayer, Bruce Ringsby Olmstead
  • Patent number: 8273239
    Abstract: An electric field modifier for boosting a current output of a sacrificial anode to enhance its protective effect and direct the current output to improve current distribution in galvanic protection of steel in a concrete element exposed to air is disclosed. A cavity is formed in a concrete element and a combination comprising a sacrificial anode, an electric field modifier and an ionically conductive filler are embedded therein. The sacrificial anode is connected to the steel. The modifier comprises an element with an anode side, supporting an oxidation reaction, in electrical contact with a cathode side, supporting a reduction reaction. The cathode of the modifier faces the sacrificial anode and is separated therefrom by a filler which contains an electrolyte that connects the sacrificial anode to the cathode of the modifier. The anode of the modifier faces away from the sacrificial anode. Preferably, the reduction reaction, on the cathode of the modifier, comprises reduction of oxygen from the air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Inventors: Gareth Kevin Glass, Adrian Charles Roberts, Nigel Davison
  • Patent number: 8273225
    Abstract: The present invention provides a solid diamond electrode, a reactor, in particular a reactor comprising an anode, a cathode and at least one bipolar electrode having first and second major working surfaces positioned therebetween wherein the at least one bipolar electrode consists essentially of diamond, and methods in which the reactors are used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Element Six Limited
    Inventors: Jonathan James Wilman, Patrick Simon Bray, Timothy Peter Mollart
  • Patent number: 8268148
    Abstract: A reference electrode having a casing with an inner cavity successively filled with a paste constituting an active material and a porous material impregnated with an electrolyte solution. The projecting end of a silver wire is embedded in the paste at the bottom of the inner cavity. The paste is constituted of a powder of a silver compound and of the alkaline electrolyte solution. The silver compound is any insoluble silver salt or oxide containing the negative ion of the electrolyte solution. The impregnated porous material is preferably constituted by a plurality of mat separator pieces mechanically and compressed by a closing plug, closing the inner cavity and forming a porous liquid junction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Commissariat a l'energie Atomique
    Inventor: Angel Zhivkov Kirchev
  • Patent number: 8268146
    Abstract: A wellbore tool has an electrochemical sensor for measuring the amount of hydrogen sulphide or thiols in a fluid downhole in a wellbore. The sensor comprises a temperature- and pressure-resistant housing containing a flow path for the fluids. The fluids flow over one side of a gas permeable membrane the other side of the membrane being exposed to a chamber containing at least two electrodes and containing a reaction solution which together with the hydrogen sulphide or thiols create a redox reaction resulting in an electrical current dependent upon the amount of hydrogen sulphide or thiols in the fluid. Measurement is made by passing formation fluid along the flow path and repeatedly applying varying potential to one electrode and measuring the peak current flowing between that electrode and a second electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Li Jiang, Timothy Gareth John Jones, Jonathan Webster Brown, Andrew Gilbert
  • Patent number: 8268140
    Abstract: The invention relates to a synthetic diaphragm for chlor-alkali cells with improved energy consumption and gas separation characteristics. The diaphragm comprises a network of polymer fibers bound to a hydrophilic ceramic material containing zirconium chemically bound to hydroxyl groups. The ceramic material is obtained starting from ZrO2 by a process of hydration under vacuum which can be carried out directly in the cell by means of suitable equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Industrie de Nora S.p.A.
    Inventor: Giovanni Meneghini
  • Patent number: 8268134
    Abstract: According to various embodiments, a system includes a turbine engine component that includes a first material having a surface exposed to a fluid flow path and a sacrificial anode layer disposed on the surface. The sacrificial anode layer includes a second material that is electrochemically more active than the first material and the second material is configured to preferentially corrode to protect the first material from corrosion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: George Albert Goller, Paul Stephen Dimascio, Rebecca Evelyn Hefner
  • Patent number: 8268159
    Abstract: An electrochemical process for the production of sodium hypochlorite is disclosed. The process may potentially be used to produce sodium hypochlorite from seawater or low purity un-softened or NaCl-based salt solutions. The process utilizes a sodium ion conductive ceramic membrane, such as membranes based on NASICON-type materials, in an electrolytic cell. In the process, water is reduced at a cathode to form hydroxyl ions and hydrogen gas. Chloride ions from a sodium chloride solution are oxidized in the anolyte compartment to produce chlorine gas which reacts with water to produce hypochlorous and hydrochloric acid. Sodium ions are transported from the anolyte compartment to the catholyte compartment across the sodium ion conductive ceramic membrane. Sodium hydroxide is transported from the catholyte compartment to the anolyte compartment to produce sodium hypochlorite within the anolyte compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Ceramatec, Inc.
    Inventors: Shekar Balagopal, Vinod Malhotra, Justin Pendleton, Kathy Jo Reid
  • Patent number: 8262873
    Abstract: The invention relates to an anode assembly for electroplating comprising (a) an anode body comprising soluble anode material and (b) a shielding covering at least part of the anode body and comprising a self-passivating metal electrically connected to the anode body and allowing electrolyte transport therethrough. The shielding comprises at least one layer of self-passivating metal having no openings larger than 2 mm, preferably 1 mm, in width or the shielding comprises at least two layers of self-passivating metal wherein the openings of at least one layer are at least partially covered by the metal of another layer. The invention also relates to a shielded anode basket, a method for electroplating and the use of the anode assembly and the shielded anode basket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignees: Metakem Gesellschaft fur Schichtchemie der Metalle mbH, M. P. C. Micropulse Plating Concepts
    Inventors: Jörg Wurm, Stephane Menard, Lothar Schneider
  • Patent number: 8262872
    Abstract: Electrochemical apparatus and processes for the point-of-use production of cleansing, sanitizing, and antimicrobial agents, such as sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) or hypochlorous acid (HOCl). The processes may be used to produce NaOCl from seawater, low purity un-softened or NaCl-based salt solutions. HOCl may be produced from HCl solutions and water. NaOCl is produced using a sodium ion conductive ceramic membrane, such as membranes based on NASICON-type materials, in an electrolytic cell. HOCl is produced using an anion conductive membrane in an electrolytic cell. The cleansing, sanitizing, and antimicrobial agent may be generated on demand and used in household, industrial, and water treatment applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Ceramatec, Inc.
    Inventors: Ashok V. Joshi, Shekar Balagopal
  • Patent number: 8262890
    Abstract: Electrodeposition painting systems may include an electrodeposition bath containing an electrodeposition paint solution, wherein the electrodeposition paint solution is in contact with an electrodeposition bath anode that charges the paint such that it electrocoats parts submerged therein to form electrocoated parts, a rinse tank that rinses the electrocoated parts, wherein a rinse tank reservoir of the rinse tank is capable of fluid communication with the electrodeposition bath, a filter that filters the electrodeposition paint solution to separate filtered water from the paint, and an ionizer assembly including one or more electrodes in contact with the filtered water and a power supply connected to the one or more electrodes, wherein the power supply causes a plurality of electrode ions from the one or more electrodes to enter the filtered water to produce filtered water including electrode ions such that the filtered water including electrode ions flows into and sterilizes the electrodeposition paint solu
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: James Walter Meade
  • Patent number: 8262896
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of producing hydrogen comprising: contacting steam 20 with a proton conducting membrane 7 supported on a porous redox stable substrate 8, through said substrate 8. The membrane 7 is non-permeable to molecular gas and to oxide ions. A DC voltage is applied across an anode 15 coupled to the substrate side of the membrane and a cathode 9,11 coupled to its other side so as to dissociate at least part of the steam 20, into protonic hydrogen and oxygen at said anode 15. The protonic hydrogen passes through the membrane and forms molecular hydrogen 23 at the cathode 9, 11.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: The University Court of the University of St. Andrews
    Inventors: John Thomas Sirr Irvine, Angela Kruth, Cristian Daniel Savaniu, Shanwen Tao
  • Patent number: 8252154
    Abstract: An electroplating apparatus includes an electroplating tank, a first supporting bar, a first holding element, two second supporting bars, a number of spaced crossbars, a number of second holding elements, and a power supply. The first holding element is suspended in the tank from the first supporting bar, and the first holding element is configured for holding a plate-shaped workpiece in a manner that the workpiece is oriented along the first supporting bar. The second holding elements are suspended from the corresponding crossbars, each of the second holding elements arranged between the first and one of the second supporting bars and configured for holding a metal block. The power supply includes a cathode for electrical connection to the workpiece through the first supporting bar and the first holding element and an anode for electrically connection to the metal blocks through the second supporting bars and the second holding elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Zhen Ding Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chien-Pang Cheng
  • Patent number: 8252459
    Abstract: A new invention in cathode composition, arrangement, and design for primary and secondary batteries that offers high power, high capacity, and high specific energy is proposed herein. The claimed technology described herein incorporates materials into the cathode that results in a cathode which may accept two electrons per active site. Other advantages of the technology included herein include: 1) lower cost, 2) environmental friendliness, 3) safety, 4) a wide operational temperature range, 5) backwards compatibility with present electrochemical cells, and 6) versatility. The technology is cross-cutting, and has high impact applications, such as for electric vehicles, which require both high power and high specific energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Inventors: Cheryl D. Stevenson, John Perrin Davis
  • Patent number: 8246796
    Abstract: An apparatus for recharging a fuel cell cartridge and methods for recharging a fuel cell cartridge are disclosed. An example recharging apparatus may include a housing having a fuel cell cartridge holder. A water reservoir may be disposed in the housing and may have water disposed therein. The recharging apparatus may also include an electrolysis chamber for converting water into hydrogen and oxygen. The electrolysis chamber may be in fluid communication with the water reservoir. The electrolysis chamber may include a hydrogen passage for passing hydrogen from the electrolysis chamber to the fuel cell cartridge holder. The recharging apparatus may further include a vacuum pump at least selectively in fluid communication with the fuel cell cartridge holder. In some instances, the vacuum pump may be used to evacuate residual hydrogen and/or other gases or materials from the fuel cell cartridge and/or determine if the fuel cell cartridge is leaky and requires replacement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: Steven J. Eickhoff
  • Patent number: 8236151
    Abstract: A carrier provides the ability to perform wet chemical processing on substrates using low cost equipment inspired by the electroplating methods typically utilized in leadframe-based semiconductor packaging or printed circuit board industries. Two frame pieces are mated together to form the carrier which enables transport of at least one substrate through wet chemical processing and includes a non-conductive frame with an exposed conductive flange to allow electrical coupling with processing equipment. Electrical contacts within the non-conductive frame make contact with the at least one substrate and are coupled to the conductive flange allowing an electrical potential to develop across the substrate while undergoing processing within the electroplating equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy L. Olson, Kenneth Charles Blaisdell, William Walter Charles Koutny, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8236145
    Abstract: An electrolysis prevention device, for preventing corrosion caused by electrolysis, includes a sacrificial anode made of an active metal and an anode holder supporting the sacrificial anode. The holder is adapted to fit around the inlet connection of an engine heat exchange component, such as a radiator or heater core, in such a way as to allow for a hose to be attached overtop the device. The device may be included in an originally-manufactured engine heat exchange component or may be installed later.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Inventor: Frank Petrosino
  • Patent number: 8236157
    Abstract: A pigment dispersing resin is disclosed along with pigment dispersion, electrodepositable coating compositions using the pigment dispersing resin, and methods for applying the electrodepositable coating composition. The pigment dispersing resin consists essentially of the carboxylic acid salt of an aminated bisphenol epoxy resin and an alkoxylated styrenated phenol. Pigment dispersions made from the dispersing resin are especially useful for forming low or no volatile organic content electrocoating baths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: E I du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventor: Taddesse Gebregiorgis
  • Patent number: 8236163
    Abstract: A method for cleaning anode media, the method comprising removing the anode media from an electroplating system, and removing scale coatings from substrates of the anode media by vibrational polishing the anode media with abrasive particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Balaji Rao Garimella, Supramaniam Suppiah, Davan Gassappan
  • Patent number: 8231769
    Abstract: An electrode comprising: a least a first, preferably cylindrical, glass body, in which at least a first chamber is formed; at least a first electrolyte, which is located in the first chamber; at least a first potential-forming element, which is arranged in the chamber, and forms a first potential when contacted by the first electrolyte; at least a first closing element, which is axially fixed in the first chamber for enclosing the first electrolyte and the first potential-forming element and sealedly closes the first chamber; wherein, additionally, the first closing element is conductive, the first potential-forming element conductingly contacts the first closing element, and the electrode furthermore includes at least a first electrical conductor, which electrically contacts the first closing element on the side of the first closing element facing away from the first electrolyte.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Endress + Hauser Conducta Gesellschaft fur Mess- u. Regeltechnik mbH + Co. KG
    Inventors: Katrin Scholz, Reiner Franzheld, Ingrid Wunderlich