Patents Examined by Harry D. Wilkins, III
  • Patent number: 10625209
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to methods and systems for carrying out a pH-influenced chemical and/or biological reaction. In some embodiments, the pH-influenced reaction involves the conversion of CO2 to a dissolved species.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Michael C. Stern, Fritz Simeon, Trevor Alan Hatton
  • Patent number: 10626027
    Abstract: An electrode formed of synthetically produced, electrically conductive, doped diamond particles embedded in a carrier layer formed of electrically non-conductive material, wherein the diamond particles protrude on both sides of the carrier layer and come from a grain size range of 170 ?m to 420 ?m, wherein the diamond particles in the electrode have grain sizes which differ from one another by at most 50 ?m. At most 10% of the diamond particles have a grain size outside the particular grain size range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: PRO AQUA DIAMANTELEKTRODEN PRODUKTION GMBH & CO KG
    Inventors: Michael Schelch, Wolfgang Staber, Robert Hermann, Wolfgang Wesner
  • Patent number: 10626509
    Abstract: An electrolysis cell for carbon dioxide of an embodiment includes: an anode part including an anode which oxidizes water or hydroxide ions to produce oxygen and an anode solution flow path which supplies an anode solution to the anode; a cathode part including a cathode which reduces carbon dioxide to produce a carbon compound, a cathode solution flow path which supplies a cathode solution to the cathode, and a gas flow path which supplies carbon dioxide to the cathode; and a separator which separates the anode part and the cathode part. The anode has a first surface in contact with the separator, and a second surface facing the anode solution flow path so that the anode solution is in contact with the anode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Yuki Kudo, Akihiko Ono, Masakazu Yamagiwa, Yoshitsune Sugano, Ryota Kitagawa, Jun Tamura, Satoshi Mikoshiba
  • Patent number: 10619562
    Abstract: A dual-chamber electrolysis vessel safely stores HHO gas for use by an internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: HyTech Power, LLC
    Inventors: Evan Charles Johnson, William A. Woods
  • Patent number: 10610824
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to methods and systems for carrying out a pH-influenced chemical and/or biological reaction. In some embodiments, the pH-influenced reaction involves the conversion of CO2 to a dissolved species.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Aly Eldeen O. Eltayeb, Michael C. Stern, Trevor Alan Hatton
  • Patent number: 10590551
    Abstract: Provided are an electrode for electrolysis having excellent durability against reverse current, and a method that enables production of the electrode for electrolysis at low cost. The electrode for electrolysis 130 includes a conductive substrate 132 on which a catalyst layer is formed, and a reverse current absorption body 134 that is coupled to the conductive substrate 132 in a detachable manner, wherein the reverse current absorption body 134 is formed from a sintered compact containing nickel. The method for producing the electrode for electrolysis 130 includes a sintered compact formation step of obtaining the sintered compact by sintering a raw material powder composed of any one of Raney nickel alloy particles containing nickel and an alkali-soluble metal element, metallic nickel particles, and a mixture of Raney nickel alloy particles and metallic nickel particles, and a coupling step of coupling the sintered compact to the conductive substrate 132.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: DE NORA PERMELEC LTD
    Inventors: Suguru Takahashi, Akihiro Madono, Takamichi Kishi, Osamu Arimoto
  • Patent number: 10590554
    Abstract: Safe anode for electrochemical cells, of the type of vertical anodes constituted of a hanging structure based on a first horizontal bar, second vertical distribution bars defined by a copper or aluminum core with a titanium exterior layer, and coated or uncoated titanium anode plates attached to the second distribution bars, on both sides, such that the safe anode incorporates an adapter element that comprises, at least, one current limiter assembly, arranged between, at least, one of the second vertical distribution bars, and, at least, one coated or uncoated titanium anode plate, connecting the vertical distribution bar to the coated or uncoated titanium anode plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: INDUSTRIE DE NORA S.P.A.
    Inventor: Felix Prado Pueo
  • Patent number: 10590545
    Abstract: An electrochemical cell has a membrane located between two flow field plates. On a first side of the membrane, there is a porous support surrounded by a seal between the membrane and the flow field plate. There is a gap between the porous support and the seal at the surface of the membrane. On a second side of the membrane, there is a seal between the membrane and the flow field plate located inside of the gap in plan view. The electrochemical cell is useful, for example, in high pressure or differential pressure electrolysis in which the second side of the membrane will be consistently exposed to a higher pressure than the first side of the membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: HYDROGENICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Rami Michel Abouatallah, Rainey Yu Wang, Nathaniel Ian Joos
  • Patent number: 10584896
    Abstract: A heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) furnace includes a condensing furnace and a condensate removal system associated with the condensing furnace. The condensate removal system includes an electrolyzer having a container that may collect a condensate generated from an exhaust gas produced in the condensing furnace and an electrode disposed within the container and that may apply an electric current to the condensate to electrolyze the condensate and thereby generate condensate gases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Stephen C. Wilson, John T. Knight
  • Patent number: 10584425
    Abstract: An electroplating etching apparatus includes a power to output current, and a container configured to contain an electrolyte. A cathode is coupled to the container and configured to fluidly communicate with the electrolyte. An anode is electrically connected to the output, and includes a graphene layer. A metal substrate layer is formed on the graphene layer, and is etched from the graphene layer in response to the current flowing through the anode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Lian Guo, Shu-Jen Han, Xuesong Li
  • Patent number: 10577713
    Abstract: Provided is a substrate holder where an effect of a pressure of a plating solution can be suppressed. A substrate holder includes first and second holding members for sandwiching a substrate. The first holding member includes: a support base; a movable base for supporting the substrate; and a biasing mechanism disposed between the support base and the movable base, and biasing the movable base in a direction along which the movable base is separated from the support base. The second holding member includes a protruding portion brought into contact with the substrate so as to seal the substrate. A biasing force of the biasing mechanism which is applied to a region or a position of the movable base differs from a biasing force of the biasing mechanism which is applied to another region or at another position of the movable base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: EBARA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Matsutaro Miyamoto, Jumpei Fujikata, Kiyoshi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 10563312
    Abstract: Photoelectrochemical cells including a cathode including alpha-hematite and a metal dichalcogenide, an anode including a conducting polymer, and an electrolyte.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: University of South Florida
    Inventors: Hussein Alrobei, Manoj Kumar Ram
  • Patent number: 10557691
    Abstract: Self-regulating electrolytic gas generator and implant system including the same. In one embodiment, the electrolytic gas generator is a water electrolyzer and includes a polymer electrolyte membrane with an anode on one side and a cathode on the other side. Anode and cathode seals surround the peripheries of the anode and cathode and include inlets for water and outlets for oxygen and hydrogen, respectively. A cathode current collector is placed in contact with the cathode, and an anode current collector, which may be an elastic, electrically-conductive diaphragm, is positioned proximate to the anode. The anode current collector is reversibly deformable between a first state in which it is in direct physical and electrical contact with the anode and a second state in which it distends, due to gas pressure generated at the anode, so that it is not in physical or electrical contact with the anode, causing electrolysis to cease.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: GINER LIFE SCIENCES, INC.
    Inventors: Simon G. Stone, Linda A. Tempelman, Melissa Schwenk
  • Patent number: 10557207
    Abstract: The invention comprises methods and apparatuses for the electrorefining of Mg from Al or Mg alloy scrap. The invention utilizes the density and charge features of Mg present in a melted alloy to continuously extract Mg and Mg alloys from a melted Al alloy feed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: PHINIX, LLC
    Inventors: Adam J. Gesing, Subodh Das, Mark A. Gesing
  • Patent number: 10544514
    Abstract: A gas diffusion device includes a first gas diffusion layer that diffuses gas and is formed of metal and at least one first metal plate that is provided on at least one main surface of the first gas diffusion layer and includes a manifold hole through which gas flows and a gas flow path which communicates with the manifold hole, and the gas flow path passes through the first metal plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kunihiro Ukai
  • Patent number: 10538847
    Abstract: A system to remove sodium and Sulfur from a feed stream containing alkali metal sulfides and polysulfides in addition to heavy metals. The system includes an electrolytic cell having an anolyte compartment housing an anode in contact with an anolyte. The anolyte includes alkali metal sulfides and polysulfides dissolved in a polar organic solvent. The anolyte includes heavy metal ions. A separator includes an ion conducting membrane and separates the anolyte compartment from a catholyte compartment that includes a cathode in contact with a catholyte. The catholyte includes an alkali ion-conductive liquid. A power source applies a voltage to the electrolytic cell high enough to reduce the alkali metal and oxidize Sulfur ions to allow recovery of the alkali metal and elemental sulfur. The ratio of sodium to Sulfur is such that the open circuit potential of the electrolytic cell is greater than about 2.3V.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: ENLIGHTEN INNOVATIONS INC.
    Inventor: John Howard Gordon
  • Patent number: 10538436
    Abstract: An electrolytic reduction module and a water purification device are provided. The electrolytic reduction module includes an electrode set, a first baffle, and a second baffle. The electrode set includes an anode, a first cathode, and a second cathode. The anode is disposed between the first cathode and the second cathode. The first cathode is disposed between the first baffle and the anode. The second cathode is disposed between the second baffle and the anode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Po-Yu Hu, Teh-Ming Liang
  • Patent number: 10525436
    Abstract: There is disclosed an electrode array architecture employing continuous and discontinuous circumferential electrodes. There is further disclosed a process for the neutralization of acid generated at anode(s) by base generated at cathode(s) circumferentially located to each other so as to confine a region of pH change. The cathodes can be displayed as concentric rings (continuous) or as counter electrodes in a cross pattern (discontinuous). In this way reagents, such as acid, generated in a center electrode are countered (neutralized) by reagents, such as base, generated at the corners or at the outer ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: CustomArray, Inc.
    Inventors: Karl Maurer, John J Cooper, Jr., H Sho Fujii, Joseph Leonetti
  • Patent number: 10526718
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of plating, including, but not limited to electroplating metallic articles, for example metallic discs that can be used as, or converted into, coins. Embodiments of the present invention described herein incorporate luminescent particles into plated metallic layers so that they can be detected for security purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: The Royal Mint Limited
    Inventors: David Mathew James, Ellis Rhys Thomas, Gwilym Hibbert
  • Patent number: 10519554
    Abstract: An electrode is presented for use in an oxidation process. The electrode comprises a substrate having an electrically conductive surface carrying a chiral system. The chiral system is configured for controlling spin of electrons transferred between the substrate and electrolyte during the oxidation process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Inventors: Ron Naaman, Claudio Fontanesi, Wilbert Mtangi