Patents Examined by Michael Forrest
  • Patent number: 9174846
    Abstract: High-purity crystalline ferric phosphate material with desirable characteristics for use in synthesis of nano-sized LFP cathode material are described. The ferric phosphate dihydrate material has as disclosed herein has a molar ratio of phosphorous to iron is from about 1.001 to about 1.05, a surface area of from about 25 m2/g to about 65 m2/g, and is substantially free of metallic or magnetic impurities. Methods of synthesizing high-purity crystalline ferric phosphate material with desirable characteristics for use in synthesis of nano-sized LFP cathode material are also described. In some embodiments, one or more magnetic traps are used during the reaction process and/or after the formation of the final product to remove magnetic impurities. In some embodiments, a synthetic method of ferric phosphate using multiple steps is described, wherein the intermediate of the synthesis is isolated and purified to improve the purity of the ferric phosphate material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: A123 Systems LLC
    Inventors: Larry W. Beck, Mahrokh Soltani, Liya Wang
  • Patent number: 9138706
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for adding an alkali metal promoter into steam and contacting the solution with a dehydrogenation catalyst during a dehydrogenation reaction is disclosed. The apparatus has a first conduit capable of transporting an alkali metal salt solution and a second conduit in fluid communication with the first conduit, the second conduit capable of transporting steam so that the alkali metal salt is dissipated into the steam prior to entry into a dehydrogenation reaction zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: FINA TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: James R. Butler, Joseph E. Pelati
  • Patent number: 9126846
    Abstract: A method of synthesizing metal composite oxide, the method including: a step of separately introducing into a high-speed stirring apparatus a ceria composite oxide microparticle colloid having a mean particle diameter of 10 nm or less after adding a dispersant and an alumina microparticle colloid having a mean particle diameter of 10 nm or less after adding a dispersant; a step of synthesizing alumina-ceria composite oxide microparticles by allowing the ceria composite oxide microparticles and the alumina microparticles that have been introduced into the high-speed stirring apparatus to react in a microscopic space; and a step of applying a shearing force of 17000 sec?1 or more to the alumina-ceria composite oxide microparticles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Satoshi Nagao, Kimiyasu Ono, Hirohito Hirata, Akihiko Suda, Kimitoshi Sato, Kae Yamamura, Akira Morikawa
  • Patent number: 9112238
    Abstract: An anode capable of preventing expansion of an anode active material layer and a battery using it are provided. The anode includes an anode current collector, and an anode active material layer containing silicon (Si) as an element, wherein the anode active material layer therein contains at least one selected from the group consisting of a fluoride of an alkali metal and a fluoride of an alkali earth metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takakazu Hirose, Kenichi Kawase, Isamu Konishiike, Masayuki Iwama
  • Patent number: 9103048
    Abstract: A process and a device for producing crystalline silicon, particularly poly- or multi-crystalline silicon are described, wherein a melt of a silicon starting material is formed and the silicon melt is subsequently solidified in a directed orientation. A phase or a material is provided in gaseous, fluid or solid form above the melt in such a manner, that a concentration of a foreign atom selected from oxygen, carbon and nitrogen in the silicon melt and thus in the solidified crystalline silicon is controllable, and/or that a partial pressure of a gaseous component in a gas phase above the silicon melt is adjustable and/or controllable, the gaseous component being selected from oxygen gas, carbon gas and nitrogen gas and gaseous species containing at least one element selected from oxygen, carbon and nitrogen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: FRIEBERGER COMPOUND MATERIALS GMBH
    Inventors: Berndt Weinert, Manfred Jurisch, Stefan Eichler
  • Patent number: 9089832
    Abstract: A catalyst includes: (A) at least one element selected from the group consisting of the Lanthanoid group, Mg, Ca, and the elements of Group 4 of the periodic table (Ti, Zr, and Hf); (B) at least one element selected from the group consisting of the Group 1 elements of Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, and the elements of Group 3 (including La and Ac) and Groups 5-15 of the periodic table; (C) at least one element selected from the group consisting of the Group 1 elements of Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, and the elements Ca, Sr, and Ba; and (D) oxygen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: FINA TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Sivadinarayana Chinta, Joseph Thorman, James Butler
  • Patent number: 9028787
    Abstract: Methods for preventing or reducing the formation of scale in a wet-process phosphoric acid production process by intermixing a water-soluble functional organic reagent with a phosphoric acid at one or more step of the phosphoric acid production process in an amount sufficient to prevent or reduce at least one species of scale are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Cytec Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Sathanjheri A. Ravishankar, Bing Wang
  • Patent number: 9005569
    Abstract: A microstructure that can develop non-conventional and novel physical properties and a method for producing the same are provided. Ethanol is added to a mixture solution produced by adding a surfactant solution to a peroxotitanic acid aqueous solution to produce precipitates, and the precipitates collected from the mixture solution are let dried to produce precursor powders 5. The precursor powders 5 are calcined at a predetermined temperature. Accordingly, a microstructure 2 can be produced which is formed of monophasic Ti4O7 in nano size. The microstructure 2 of monophasic Ti4O7 produced in this fashion can be fine-grained in nano size unlike prior-art crystals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: The University of Tokyo
    Inventors: Shin-ichi Ohkoshi, Deepa Dey, Yoshihide Tsunobuchi, Kazuhito Hashimoto, Hiroko Tokoro, Fumiyoshi Hakoe
  • Patent number: 8992873
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of producing hollow silica particles. First, an amine-ketimine compound is mixed with water to obtain a hydrophobic core dispersion, and then an organic siloxane compound and/or a coupling reagent is added into the hydrophobic core dispersion to form a core-shell silica dispersion. Then, the core-shell silica precipitate is separated from the core-shell silica dispersion, and then it is further dispersed and washed by a low carbon alcohol solution. Finally, hollow silica particles in accordance with the present invention are produced. In addition, the present invention also provides hollow silica particles produced by the afore-mentioned method without using any additional surfactant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: National Chin-Yi University of Technology
    Inventors: Hsu-Tung Lu, Mei-Hui Tsai, I-Hsiang Tseng, Shih-Liang Huang
  • Patent number: 8980215
    Abstract: A method for preparing ultrafine powder of tungsten carbide using ultrafine tungsten powder and carbon black as raw materials is provided. The following steps are included: (1) passivation of the ultrafine tungsten powder: passivating the ultrafine tungsten powder under pure carbon dioxide; (2) carbon addition: mixing the ultrafine tungsten powder with carbon black powder after applying cooling water and inert gases; (3) carbonization: synthesizing the bulk tungsten carbide powder at high temperature in a carbonizing stove; (4) crushing and sieving: crushing the bulk tungsten carbide powder, cooling and sieving to obtain the ultrafine powder of tungsten carbide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Jiangxi Rare Earth and Rare Metals Tungsten Group Corporation
    Inventors: Baiwan Wei, Zhao Lin, Zhifeng Li, Anshi Zou, Yi Wu
  • Patent number: 8974765
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing hydrogen using an aluminum-based water-split reaction, in which water is reacted with metallic aluminum, at least one-soluble inorganic salt catalyst that causes progressive pitting of the metallic aluminum, and at least one metal oxide initiator that increases temperature upon exposure to water. The solid reactant materials are differentially distributed in a matrix relative to at least one inlet for introducing water to the matrix. The differential distribution affects at least one characteristic of the reaction, such as the rate, temperature, pressure and products of the reaction, the latter comprising one or more of hydrogen, heat and steam. The water-soluble inorganic salt catalyst may be sodium chloride, potassium chloride and combinations thereof, and the metal oxide initiator may be magnesium oxide, calcium oxide and combinations thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Novofuel, Inc.
    Inventors: John F. Boyle, Sean H. McIntosh, David J. Cade
  • Patent number: 8961918
    Abstract: A method for processing a substrate is provided; wherein the method comprises applying a film of a copolymer composition, comprising a poly(styrene)-b-poly(dimethylsiloxane) block copolymer component to a surface of the substrate; optionally, baking the film; subjecting the film to a high temperature annealing process under particularized atmospheric conditions for a specified period of time; followed by a treatment of the annealed film to remove the poly(styrene) from the annealed film and to convert the poly(dimethylsiloxane) in the annealed film to SiOx.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignees: Rohm and Haas Electronic Materials LLC, Dow Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Shih-Wei Chang, Jeffrey D. Weinhold, Phillip D. Hustad, Peter Trefonas
  • Patent number: 8945309
    Abstract: A catalyst for cellulose hydrolysis and/or the reduction of hydrolysis products, in which a transition metal of group 8 to 11 is supported on a solid support. A method of producing sugar alcohols comprising: hydrolyzing cellulose in the presence of the catalyst in a hydrogen-containing atmosphere with pressurization; and reducing the hydrolysis product of cellulose. Provided are a catalyst for use in the production of sugar alcohols by the hydrolysis and hydrogenation of cellulose that affords easy separation of catalyst and product, and that does not require pH adjustment, acid or alkali neutralization, or activation of the catalyst during reuse, and a method of producing sugar alcohols from cellulose employing this catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: National University Corporation Hokkaido University
    Inventors: Atsushi Fukuoka, Paresh Laxmikant Dhepe
  • Patent number: 8945423
    Abstract: Method of extracting syngas between the zone in a furnace where oxygen-starved combustion of biomass occurs and the zone in the furnace where secondary air is added to complete combustion, conditioning and cleaning the extracted syngas, and delivering it in a metered amount to the oxidizer or upstream of the oxidizer to reduce or eliminate the need for additional fossil fuels once the oxidizer has achieved its operating temperature. The gasifier or furnace burns solid waste and produces a syngas containing relatively high levels of CO, which is extracted from the furnace, conditioned, and introduced into an RTO as a fuel source. In certain embodiments, no extraction of syngas from the furnace takes place; the furnace conditions are manipulated so that normally undesirable levels of CO and other VOC's remain in the process stream. The heat from the furnace is used as intended (e.g., to heat a dryer), the stream is conditioned, and ultimately proceeds to a downstream RTO.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: MegTec Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: James T. Cash, Jeffrey C. Rudolph
  • Patent number: 8936653
    Abstract: A pouch, in which an electrode assembly of a battery is held, including a frame, including a groove into which the electrode assembly is inserted with a front of the electrode assembly temporarily exposed, upper and lower flanges bordering upper and lower ends of the groove, and extended parts on either side of the groove, front and upper sealing parts formed when the extended parts are folded over the front of the electrode assembly and the upper and lower flanges and sealed together and to the upper flange, respectively, the front and upper sealing parts defining a pocket in which an electrolyte solution is injected toward the electrode assembly, and a lower sealing part formed when the folded extended parts are sealed to the lower flange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Joongheon Kim, Hyungbok Lee, Changsik Kim, Jeongwon Oh
  • Patent number: 8911695
    Abstract: Microporous glutaraldehyde-crosslinked chitosan sorbents, methods of making and using them, and a generator for the radioisotope 99Mo containing the sorbents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Perma-Fix Environmental Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Shameem Hasan
  • Patent number: 8894731
    Abstract: Abrasive articles possessing a highly open (porous) structure and uniform abrasive grit distribution are disclosed. The abrasive articles are fabricated using a metal matrix (e.g., fine nickel, tin, bronze and abrasives). The open structure is controlled with a porosity scheme, including interconnected porosity (e.g., formed by leaching of dispersoid), closed porosity (e.g., induced by adding a hollow micro-spheres and/or sacrificial pore-forming additives), and/or intrinsic porosity (e.g., controlled via matrix component selection to provide desired densification). In some cases, manufacturing process temperatures for achieving near full density of metal bond with fillers and abrasives, are below the melting point of the filler used, although sacrificial fillers may be used as well. The resulting abrasive articles are useful in high performance cutting and grinding operations, such as back-grinding silicon, alumina titanium carbide, and silicon carbide wafers to very fine surface finish values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignees: Saint-Gobain Abrasives, Inc., Saint-Gobain Abrasifs
    Inventors: Srinivasan Ramanath, Parul Walia
  • Patent number: 8889089
    Abstract: A process for a reduction in the amount of sulphur compounds, hydrogen cyanide, formic acid and formic acid derivatives in synthesis gas comprising these compounds, the process comprising contacting the synthesis gas with a sulphur absorbent comprising material and thereafter with a catalyst comprising one or more metals selected from the group consisting of silver, gold, copper, palladium, platinum and their mixtures and supported on a carrier comprising at least one of the oxides of scandium, yttrium, lanthanum, cerium, titanium, zirconium, aluminum, zinc, chromium and molybdenum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Haldor Topsoe A/S
    Inventors: Kim Aasberg-Petersen, Ib Dybkjaer, Poul Erik Højlund Nielsen
  • Patent number: 8859455
    Abstract: The present invention provides a nanocrystal tandem catalyst comprising at least two metal-metal oxide interfaces for the catalysis of sequential reactions. One embodiment utilizes a nanocrystal bilayer structure formed by assembling sub-10 nm platinum and cerium oxide nanocube monolayers on a silica substrate. The two distinct metal-metal oxide interfaces, CeO2—Pt and Pt—SiO2, can be used to catalyze two distinct sequential reactions. The CeO2—Pt interface catalyzed methanol decomposition to produce CO and H2, which were then subsequently used for ethylene hydroformylation catalyzed by the nearby Pt—SiO2 interface. Consequently, propanal was selectively produced on this nanocrystal bilayer tandem catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Peidong Yang, Gabor Somorjai, Yusuke Yamada, Chia-Kuang Tsung, Wenyu Huang
  • Patent number: 8828583
    Abstract: A battery module includes a plurality of flat batteries stacked upon one another in a thickness direction. The plurality of flat batteries each have an outer cover and plate-shaped electrode terminals connected. A power generating element is sealed within the outer cover of each of the plurality of flat batteries. The electrode terminals include substantially flat plates connected to the power generating element and projecting out of the outer cover in a projecting direction. The electrode terminals of the plurality of batteries are electrically connected to each other. Each of a plurality of electrically insulating spacers receives the electrode terminals of more than one of the flat batteries and the spacers are stacked in the thickness direction of the flat batteries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co. Ltd.
    Inventor: Ryuichi Amagai