Patents by Inventor Diana Bull

Diana Bull 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: 8117854
    Abstract: The invention provides systems and devices for producing two-phase coolants such as an ice slurry. Also provided are methods for producing two-phase coolants, and methods for using the two-phase coolants to lower the temperature or maintain a low temperature in any subject, system, object, device, or application where particular low temperatures are desired. Also provided are systems for determining the cooling capacity of two-phase coolants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: The Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania
    Inventors: Joshua W. Lampe, Lance B. Becker, Diana Bull
  • Publication number: 20110088413
    Abstract: The invention provides systems and devices for producing two-phase coolants such as an ice slurry. Also provided are methods for producing two-phase coolants, and methods for using the two-phase coolants to lower the temperature or maintain a low temperature in any subject, system, object, device, or application where particular low temperatures are desired. Also provided are systems for determining the cooling capacity of two-phase coolants.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2009
    Publication date: April 21, 2011
    Applicant: THE TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA
    Inventors: Joshua W. Lampe, Lance B. Becker, Diana Bull
  • Patent number: 7878734
    Abstract: Apparatus embodying the invention include a damping plate attached to the submerged end of a spar-like element floating in a body of water. The spar like element tends to move up and down in a vertical direction in response to passing waves. The damping plate has a pair of oppositely facing surfaces extending transversely to the vertical direction of the movement of the spar-like element and vertical structures (“lips”) mounted on the oppositely facing surfaces for increasing the effective mass of water pushed during movement of the damping plate through the water. Damping plates with lips, as per the invention, may be used in wave energy converters to control the relative motion between the spar-like element and a float to increase the energy produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Ocean Power Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Diana Bull, James Gerber, William Powers
  • Patent number: 7877994
    Abstract: The stability and power conversion efficiency of a wave energy converter (WEC) which includes a float, a spar and a power taken device (PTO) connected between the spar and the float is increased by connecting a heave plate to the spar in a very secure manner and by carefully limiting the movement between the float and spar to one direction (i.e., up-down motion). Buoyancy chambers may be attached to the WEC to facilitate its transportation and deployment. The WEC may be formed in sections and assembled at, or close to, the point of deployment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Ocean Power Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Diana Bull, James Gerber, William Powers
  • Publication number: 20100308257
    Abstract: The invention provides systems and devices for producing two-phase coolants such as an ice slurry. Also provided are methods for producing two-phase coolants, and methods for using the two-phase coolants to lower the temperature or maintain a low temperature in any subject, system, object, device, or application where particular low temperatures are desired. Also provided are systems for determining the cooling capacity of two-phase coolants.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2008
    Publication date: December 9, 2010
    Inventors: Joshua W. Lampe, Lance B. Becker, Diana Bull
  • Patent number: 7594780
    Abstract: A damping (or heave) plate comprises a generally flat plate attached, beneath the surface of a sea, and in horizontal orientation, to a structural member subject to being vertically moved in response to passing surface waves. The plate tends to resist vertical movements and has the effect of adding mass to the structure. A vertically extending structure is added to both major surfaces of the heave plate for increasing the volume of water moved by the plate. For minimizing drag forces generally created by use of the damping plate, the vertically extending structure is shaped to include curved hydrodynamic surfaces for minimizing turbulence in the surrounding water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2009
    Assignee: Ocean Power Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Diana Bull
  • Publication number: 20080131208
    Abstract: A damping (or heave) plate comprises a generally flat plate attached, beneath the surface of a sea, and in horizontal orientation, to a structural member subject to being vertically moved in response to passing surface waves. The plate tends to resist vertical movements and has the effect of adding mass to the structure. A vertically extending structure is added to both major surfaces of the heave plate for increasing the volume of water moved by the plate. For minimizing drag forces generally created by use of the damping plate, the vertically extending structure is shaped to include curved hydrodynamic surfaces for minimizing turbulence in the surrounding water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2007
    Publication date: June 5, 2008
    Inventor: Diana Bull
  • Publication number: 20070286683
    Abstract: Apparatus embodying the invention include a damping plate attached to the submerged end of a spar-like element floating in a body of water. The spar like element tends to move up and down in a vertical direction in response to passing waves. The damping plate has a pair of oppositely facing surfaces extending transversely to the vertical direction of the movement of the spar-like element and vertical structures (“lips”) mounted on the oppositely facing surfaces for increasing the effective mass of water pushed during movement of the damping plate through the water. Damping plates with lips, as per the invention, may be used in wave energy converters to control the relative motion between the spar-like element and a float to increase the energy produced. Damping plates with lips, as per the invention, may be used to effectively dampen the motion of an offshore platform to which the spar-like element is fixedly attached.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2007
    Publication date: December 13, 2007
    Inventors: Diana Bull, James Gerber, William Powers
  • Publication number: 20070266704
    Abstract: The stability and power conversion efficiency of a wave energy converter (WEC) which includes a float, a spar and a power taken device (PTO) connected between the spar and the float is increased by connecting a heave plate to the spar in a very secure manner and by carefully limiting the movement between the float and spar to one direction (i.e., up-down motion). Buoyancy chambers may be attached to the WEC to facilitate its transportation and deployment. The WEC may be formed in sections and assembled at, or close to, the point of deployment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2007
    Publication date: November 22, 2007
    Inventors: Diana Bull, James Gerber, William Powers