Patents by Inventor Drew A. Geller

Drew A. Geller 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).

  • Method and apparatus for separating mixtures of gases using an acoustic wave
    Patent number: 6733569
    Abstract: A thermoacoustic device separates a mixture of gases. An elongated duct is provided with first and second ends and has a length that is greater than the wavelength of sound in the mixture of gases at a selected frequency, and a diameter that is greater than a thermal penetration depth in the mixture of gases. A first acoustic source is located at the first end of the duct to generate acoustic power at the selected frequency. A plurality of side branch acoustic sources are spaced along the length of the duct and are configured to introduce acoustic power into the mixture of gases so that a first gas is concentrated at the first end of the duct and a second gas is concentrated at the second end of the duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Drew A. Geller, Gregory W. Swift, Scott N. Backhaus
  • Method and apparatus for separating mixtures of gases using an acoustic wave
    Publication number: 20030192427
    Abstract: A thermoacoustic device separates a mixture of gases. An elongated duct is provided with first and second ends and has a length that is greater than the wavelength of sound in the mixture of gases at a selected frequency, and a diameter that is greater than a thermal penetration depth in the mixture of gases. A first acoustic source is located at the first end of the duct to generate acoustic power at the selected frequency. A plurality of side branch acoustic sources are spaced along the length of the duct and are configured to introduce acoustic power into the mixture of gases so that a first gas is concentrated at the first end of the duct and a second gas is concentrated at the second end of the duct.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2002
    Publication date: October 16, 2003
    Inventors: Drew A. Geller, Gregory W. Swift, Scott N. Backhaus