Patents Examined by Nicholas A. Smith
  • Patent number: 11383314
    Abstract: Tooling for producing scallops and fastening holes of a clamp of a disc by electrochemical machining using an electrolyte, the tooling having: an annular support tray to receive the disc; lower and upper shields configured to protect the disc from splashes of the electrolyte; a clamping lock to hold the disc in position during machining; and a die-sinking tool having in a substantially cylindrical insulating body a first and a second coaxial conductive cathode, the first and second cathodes rigidly fastened to each other, the first annular cathode including at an external periphery a plurality of radial machining protrusions of a shape complementary to that of the scallops to be machined and the second cathode includes, on the same circumference external to the first cathode relative to the central axis of the disc, a plurality of axial machining nozzles of a shape similar to the fastening holes to be machined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: SAFRAN AIRCRAFT ENGINES
    Inventors: Janvier François Lecomte, Estelle Michèle Nicole Auvray, Sophie Anne-Laure Tallon
  • Patent number: 11384442
    Abstract: A method for operating a water electrolysis device produces hydrogen and oxygen from water. In the electrolysis device, water which comes from a PEM electrolyzer (1) is fed to a first heat exchanger (10) for cooling, subsequently to an ion exchanger (11), then to a second heat exchanger (12) for heating and again to the PEM electrolyzer (1), in a water circuit (4). The heat exchangers (10, 12) form part of a common heat transfer medium circuit (20) at a secondary side. The heat transfer medium circuit includes a cooling device (24), through which the heat transfer medium flow is selectively led in a complete or partial manner or not at all, for the control and/or regulation of the temperature of the water which is fed to the ion exchanger (11) and/or to the PEM electrolyzer (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: HOELLER ELECTROLYZER GMBH
    Inventor: Stefan Höller
  • Patent number: 11384439
    Abstract: Some examples of a method for manufacturing an electrode material for electrolytic hydrogen generation are described. Tungsten salt and nickel salt are mixed in a determined molar ratio on a carbon support by effectively controlling synthesis temperature and composition. Water and adsorbed oxygen, produced by mixing the tungsten salt and nickel salt are removed. Then, methane gas is flowed over the mixture resulting in the electrode material. The electrode material is suitable for use as a catalyst in electrolytic hydrogen generation processes, for example, at an industrial scale, to produce large quantities of hydrogen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Belabbes Merzougui, Bukola Saheed Abidemi, Mohammad Qamar, Adeola Akeem Akinpelu, Mohamed Nabil Noui-Mehidi
  • Patent number: 11376681
    Abstract: A method of forming a curved-shaped processing hole in a workpiece by electromechanical machining includes a step of feeding an electrolytic solution through an inner channel of a processing electrode and jetting the electrolytic solution from an outlet opening of the inner channel disposed on a tip surface of the processing electrode, a step of applying a potential difference between the processing electrode and the workpiece while jetting the electrolytic solution from the outlet opening of the processing electrode, and a step of forming the curved-shaped processing hole in the workpiece. In the jetting step, at least one of a current density distribution on the tip surface of the processing electrode or a flow velocity distribution of the electrolytic solution jetted from the outlet opening is eccentric to a downstream side of a curving direction of the processing hole with respect to an axial center of the tip surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI POWER, LTD.
    Inventors: Kota Matsumoto, Masako Idota, Takuro Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 11371153
    Abstract: A method for operating a water electrolysis device for produces hydrogen and oxygen from water. A throughflow direction is reversed by way of a suitable activation of valves (17, 18) in order to increase a service life of a PEM electrolyzer (1). This is effected periodically such that an equal throughflow in both directions is effected, by which the service life is increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: HOELLER ELECTROLYZER GMBH
    Inventor: Stefan Höller
  • Patent number: 11358113
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to generating non-thermal plasma to selectively convert a precursor to a product. More specifically, plasma forming material, a precursor material, and a plasma promoter material are provided to a reaction zone of a vessel. The reaction zone is exposed to microwave radiation, including exposing the plasma forming material, the precursor material, and the plasma promoter material to the microwave radiation. The exposure of the plasma forming material and the plasma promoter material to the microwave radiation selectively converts the plasma forming material to a micro-plasma. The precursor material is mixed with the plasma forming material and the precursor material is exposed to the micro-plasma. The exposure of the precursor material to the micro-plasma and the microwave radiation selectively converts the precursor material to a product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: H QUEST VANGUARD, INC.
    Inventors: James J. Strohm, George L. Skoptsov, Evan T. Musselman, Kurt W. Zeller
  • Patent number: 11352706
    Abstract: An electrolyte flow regulator device and system that eliminates electrode edge strips, preferably cathodes edge strips, by obstructing the passage of the rich electrolyte to be electrodeposited and by the electrical isolation caused by the side walls of the device in the area where the edge strip was originally arranged, being able to obtain edges of an electrode without electrodeposition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Inventor: Percy Danilo Yañez Castañeda
  • Patent number: 11339481
    Abstract: Methods and systems for production of lithium hydroxide and lithium carbonate are described. One or more embodiments of the method include producing lithium hydroxide from potassium chloride, lithium chloride, and water. One or more embodiments of the method include producing lithium carbonate from potassium chloride, lithium chloride, water, and a carbon dioxide source. One or more embodiments of the method include producing lithium carbonate from sodium chloride, lithium chloride, water, and a carbon dioxide source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: Lithium Ark Holding B.V.
    Inventor: Peter Ehren
  • Patent number: 11342131
    Abstract: Disclosed is a semiconductor-liquid junction based photoelectrochemical (PEC) cell for the unassisted solar splitting of water into hydrogen and oxygen gas, the solar-driven reduction of CO2 to higher-order hydrocarbons, and the solar-driven synthesis of NH3. The disclosed system can employ a photocathode based upon wurtzite hexagonal semiconductors that can be tailored with proper band alignment for the redox potentials for water, CO2 reduction, and NH3 production, and with bandgap energy for maximum solar absorption. The design maximizes the carrier collection efficiency by leveraging spontaneous and piezoelectric polarization in these materials systems to generate hot electrons within the photocathode. These electrons have sufficient excess energy, preserved at a designed energy capture region, to overcome the kinetic overpotential (surface chemistry limitation) required for the reactions to occur at a high rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Michael Wraback, Anand V. Sampath, Paul Shen, Vijay S. Parameshwaran
  • Patent number: 11339488
    Abstract: A system for controlling an electrochemical production process includes a variable controllable power circuit and an electrolytic cell. The cell includes two electrodes and operates in different states dependent on the potential difference across the electrodes. The system includes a power circuit controller that causes the power circuit to apply a given potential difference across the electrodes to initiate operation of the cell in the one of multiple possible states associated with the given potential difference. The possible states include a production state associated with a first non-zero potential difference in which a product of interest is produced, and an idle state associated with a second non-zero potential difference in which the product of interest is not produced. A monitoring and control subsystem maintains a predefined set of production process conditions, including a predefined operating temperature range, while the cell operates in both the production state and the idle state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: ACHÍNIBAHJEECHIN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, LLC
    Inventor: Deóis Chiaráin Mac Séamuis Ua Cearnaigh
  • Patent number: 11332846
    Abstract: The embodiment relates to a hand-held cathode structure and an electrolytic polishing apparatus including the same. The hand-held cathode structure according to the embodiment has a cathode plate structure that is disposed adjacent to an electrolytic polishing target material for an electrolytic polishing, a cathode plate movable with respect to the electrolytic polishing target material, and an insulating fiber coating layer capable of absorbing the electrolyte disposed between the electrolytic polishing target material and the cathode plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Inventor: Jae Sang Hwang
  • Patent number: 11331737
    Abstract: A device for insulating a cathode surface in electrochemical machining is provided. The cathode surface insulation device is characterized in that super-hydrophobic micro-structures are prepared in regions to be insulated on the cathode surface, so as to realize selective insulation of the surface of the tool cathode, and thereby achieve objects of constraining an electrical field in the processing area, reducing stray corrosion and side surface taper, and improving processing efficiency and accuracy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: JIANGSU UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Kun Xu, Wenrong Shen, Zhaoyang Zhang, Hao Zhu, Xueren Dai, Qinming Gu
  • Patent number: 11332832
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for the management of fluids required to operate a fixed or mobile installation, the method including an operation of the anodic oxidation of a solution of hydrogen peroxide (P) for the purpose of producing oxygen, water and hydrogen cations by subjecting the solution to an electric current produced by an electrical power source. Also disclosed is a device that makes it possible to implement the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Inventors: Morou Boukari, Marc Auriol
  • Patent number: 11325068
    Abstract: An exhaust purification system of an internal combustion engine is provided with an electrochemical reactor provided in an exhaust passage of the internal combustion engine, and a voltage control device controlling a voltage supplied to the electrochemical reactor. The electrochemical reactor is provided with an ion conducting solid electrolyte layer and an anode layer and cathode layer placed on the surface of the solid electrolyte layer. The voltage control device is configured to perform short-circuit detection control detecting short-circuiting between the anode layer and the cathode layer, and energizing control applying current between the anode layer and the cathode layer so to energize the short-circuited part when short-circuiting is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tetsuya Sakuma, Keishi Takada, Yasumasa Notake
  • Patent number: 11325096
    Abstract: A microwave induced solvothermal method to prepare lithium thiophosphate composites including ?-Li3PS4 and crystalline Li7P3S11 is provided. The method is scaleable to commercial size production.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: John Muldoon, Patrick J. Bonnick, Koji Suto, Erika Nagai, Keita Niitani
  • Patent number: 11318424
    Abstract: Dye-sensitized ion-pumping membranes and methods of preparing said membranes are described herein. A regenerative and reversible photoactive dye is covalently-bonded to membrane or separator for ion-pumping. The photoactive dye-functionalized membranes can be arranged with other ion-exchange membranes, which serve as selective contacts to afford photovoltaic action and therefore form a power-producing membrane that pumps ions for use in driving an ion-exchange or ion-transport process, such as desalination and electrodialysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
    Inventors: Shane Ardo, William White, Christopher D. Sanborn, Joseph M. Cardon, Ronald S. Reiter, Eric Schwartz
  • Patent number: 11291972
    Abstract: A method of dissociating hydrogen and oxygen from a water molecule comprises isolating a predetermined volume of water between concentrically-mounted electrodes; applying a magnetic field across the predetermined volume of water, the magnetic field focused radially and attracting diametrically across the electrodes; exciting water molecules in the isolated volume of water to a resonant harmonic frequency; and synchronously applying short burst high voltage, high frequency AC pulse packets to the isolated volume of water to create an electric field. The AC pulse packets have a burst width of up to 1 millisecond and a voltage up to about 10 MV, and generate an oscillating electromotive force which acts on the excited water molecules to dissociate hydrogen and oxygen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: Davis Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Edward L. Davis
  • Patent number: 11285436
    Abstract: An exhaust purification system of an internal combustion engine is provided with an electrochemical reactor provided in an exhaust passage of the internal combustion engine, and a voltage control device controlling a voltage supplied to the electrochemical reactor. The electrochemical reactor is provided with an ion conducting solid electrolyte layer and an anode layer and cathode layer placed on the surface of the solid electrolyte layer. The voltage control device is configured to perform short-circuit detection control detecting short-circuiting between the anode layer and the cathode layer, and energizing control applying current between the anode layer and the cathode layer so to energize the short-circuited part when short-circuiting is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tetsuya Sakuma, Keishi Takada, Yasumasa Notake
  • Patent number: 11268198
    Abstract: A synthesis gas production system for producing CO and H2 by electrolyzing an aqueous solution containing CO2 includes: an electrolysis device including an anode chamber and a cathode chamber separated by a separator membrane; a cathode-side circulation line connected to the cathode chamber to circulate a cathode solution containing CO2; a catalyst supply device provided in the cathode-side circulation line to supply a CO production catalyst to the cathode solution; and a gas composition detection device configured to measure a ratio between CO and H2 in a production gas produced in the cathode chamber. At least one of control of a supply amount of the CO production catalyst by the catalyst supply device and control of a voltage applied between the anode and the cathode by the electrolysis device is performed to make a ratio of H2 to CO in the production gas be within a predetermined target range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: CHIYODA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jun Matsumoto, Dai Takeda
  • Patent number: 11266952
    Abstract: First and second laser beams having respective first and second wavelengths respectively excite palladium isotopes at a ground level to a first excited level then to a second excited level. At first and second excitation steps, palladium isotopes having an odd mass number are selectively excited to the second excited level, with the identity of the ion core state of each of the palladium isotopes retained between the first excited level and the second excited level. The first wavelength and the second wavelength are selected to allow the second excited level to be an autoionization level or, in a case where the second excited level is not the autoionization level, the first wavelength, the second wavelength, and a third wavelength are selected to excite the palladium isotopes at the second excited level to the autoionization level with a third laser beam having the third wavelength at a third excitation step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: RIKEN
    Inventors: Tohru Kobayashi, Katsumi Midorikawa