Patents by Inventor Dennis E. O'Connor

Dennis E. O'Connor has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 5441575
    Abstract: An alkali metal thermoelectric converter (AMTEC) having a plurality of cells structurally connected in series to form a septum dividing a plenum into two chambers, and electrically connected in series, is provided with porous metal anodes and porous metal cathodes in the cells. The cells may be planar or annular, and in either case a metal alkali vapor at a high temperature is provided to the plenum through one chamber on one side of the wall and returned to a vapor boiler after condensation at a chamber on the other side of the wall in the plenum. If the cells are annular, a heating core may be placed along the axis of the stacked cells. This arrangement of series-connected cells allows efficient generation of power at high voltage and low current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 15, 1995
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Mark L. Underwood, Roger M. Williams, Margaret A. Ryan, Barbara J. Nakamura, Dennis E. O'Connor