Patents by Inventor James L. Smith

James L. Smith 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: 5139896
    Abstract: An all-ceramic molten carbonate fuel cell having a composition formed of a multivalent metal oxide or oxygenate such as an alkali metal, transition metal oxygenate. The structure includes an anode and cathode separated by an electronically conductive interconnect. The electrodes and interconnect are compositions ceramic materials. Various combinations of ceramic compositions for the anode, cathode and interconnect are disclosed. The fuel cell exhibits stability in the fuel gas and oxidizing environments. It presents reduced sealing and expansion problems in fabrication and has improved long-term corrosion resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1992
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventors: James L. Smith, Eugenia H. Kucera
  • Patent number: 5008163
    Abstract: A ceramic anode composition is formed of a multivalent metal oxide or oxygenate such as an alkali metal, transition metal oxygenate. The anode is prepared as a non-stoichiometric crystalline structure by reaction and conditioning in a hydrogen gas cover containing minor proportions of carbon dioxide and water vapor. The structure exhibits a single phase and substantially enhanced electrical conductivity over that of the corresponding stoichiometric structure. Unexpectedly, such oxides and oxygenates are found to be stable in the reducing anode fuel gas of a molten carbonate fuel cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 16, 1991
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventors: James L. Smith, Eugenia H. Kucera
  • Patent number: 5006672
    Abstract: The present invention identifies several configurations of conducting elements capable of storing extremely high magnetic fields for the purpose of energy storage or for other uses, wherein forces experienced by the conducting elements and the magnetic field pollution produced at locations away from the configuration are both significantly reduced over those which are present as a result of the generation of such high fields by currently proposed techniques. It is anticipated that the use of superconducting materials will both permit the attainment of such high fields and further permit such fields to be generated with vastly improved efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 9, 1991
    Assignee: University of California Patent, Trademark & Copyright Office
    Inventors: Melvin L. Prueitt, Fred M. Mueller, James L. Smith
  • Patent number: 4992341
    Abstract: A substantially entirely fibrous ceramic which may have dual porosity of both micro and macro pores. Total porosity may be 60-75% by volume. A method of spraying a slurry perpendicularly to an ambient stream of air is disclosed along with a method of removing binders without altering the fiber morphology. Adding fine ceramic particulates to the green ceramic fibers enhances the sintering characteristics of the fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 12, 1991
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventors: James L. Smith, Eugenia H. Kucera
  • Patent number: 4992696
    Abstract: The present invention identifies several configurations of conducting elements capable of supporting extremely high magnetic fields suitable for plasma confinement, wherein forces experienced by the conducting elements are significantly reduced over those which are present as a result of the generation of such high fields by conventional techniques. It is anticipated that the use of superconducting materials will both permit the attainment of such high fields and further permit such fields to be generated with vastly improved efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 12, 1991
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventors: Melvin L. Prueitt, Fred M. Mueller, James L. Smith
  • Patent number: 4993059
    Abstract: An alarm system for a protected premises includes an alarm sensor for generating an alarm signal in the event of an alarm condition. A cellular-type radio/telephone transceiver is located at the protected premises and includes circuitry for generating and transmitting a unique identification number of the transceiver and a send signal for wireless communication with a cellular site. Structure is provided for connecting the alarm signal line to the cellular-type radio/transceiver such that upon receipt of the alarm signal, the cellular-type radio/transceiver will transmit the unique identification number and the send signal to the cellular site with no transmission of the telephone number of an alarm monitoring station to thereby enable the cellular site to transmit the alarm condition to the alarm monitoring station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 12, 1991
    Assignee: Cableguard, Inc.
    Inventors: James L. Smith, Gregory M. Howison
  • Patent number: 4983473
    Abstract: A portable, lightweight, self-contained auxiliary power source for starting a motor vehicle, heavy equipment, power boat and the like having a defective starter battery is disclosed. The auxiliary power source includes a generally upright housing defining a chamber having a bottom section and a closable top section. A battery is provided that is adapted to be received within the chamber and includes a plurality of cells. The battery has a positive terminal and a negative terminal. A pair of cables are provided that have a proximal end and a distal end, each of the proximal ends include clamps being detachably connected to one of the respective terminals of the battery and the distal ends each include an alligator clamp for being detachably connected to the respective terminal of the defective battery. A light is connected to one of the alligator clamps for illuminating the work area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 8, 1991
    Inventor: James L. Smith
  • Patent number: 4780437
    Abstract: A porous layer of catalyst material suitable for use as an electrode in a molten carbonate fuel cell includes elongated pores substantially extending across the layer thickness. The catalyst layer is prepared by depositing particulate catalyst material into polymeric flocking on a substrate surface by a procedure such as tape casting. The loaded substrate is heated in a series of steps with rising temperatures to set the tape, thermally decompose the substrate with flocking and sinter bond the catalyst particles into a porous catalytic layer with elongated pores across its thickness. Employed as an electrode, the elongated pores provide distribution of reactant gas into contact with catalyst particles wetted by molten electrolyte.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 1987
    Date of Patent: October 25, 1988
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventor: James L. Smith
  • Patent number: 4721513
    Abstract: A method of preparing a porous cathode structure for use in a molten carbonate fuel cell begins by providing a porous integral plaque of sintered nickel oxide particles. The nickel oxide plaque can be obtained by oxidizing a sintered plaque of nickel metal or by compacting and sintering finely divided nickel oxide particles to the desired pore structure. The porous sintered nickel oxide plaque is contacted with a lithium salt for a sufficient time to lithiate the nickel oxide structure and thus enhance its electronic conductivity. The lithiation can be carried out either within an operating fuel cell or prior to assembling the plaque as a cathode within the fuel cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1982
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1988
    Assignee: The United States of America represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventors: James L. Smith, James W. Sim, Eugenia H. Kucera
  • Patent number: 4714661
    Abstract: A molten electrolyte fuel cell with an array of stacked cells and cell enclosures isolating each cell except for access to gas manifolds for the supply of fuel or oxidant gas or the removal of waste gas, the cell enclosures collectively providing an enclosure for the array and effectively avoiding the problems of electrolyte migration and the previous need for compression of stack components, the fuel cell further including an inner housing about and in cooperation with the array enclosure to provide a manifold system with isolated chambers for the supply and removal of gases. An external insulated housing about the inner housing provides thermal isolation to the cell components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1986
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1987
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventors: Thomas D. Kaun, James L. Smith
  • Patent number: 4677119
    Abstract: A number of esters of maleic and fumaric acids were found to exhibit potent anticlostridial activity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1984
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1987
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture
    Inventors: Michael Dymicky, James L. Smith, Marianne Bencivengo
  • Patent number: 4643955
    Abstract: A molten carbonate fuel cell with anode and cathode electrodes and an eleolyte formed with two tile sections, one of the tile sections being adjacent the anode and limiting leakage of fuel gas into the electrolyte with the second tile section being adjacent the cathode and having pores sized to permit the presence of oxygen gas in the electrolyte thereby limiting the formation of metal deposits caused by the reduction of metal compositions migrating into the electrolyte from the cathode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1985
    Date of Patent: February 17, 1987
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Department of Energy
    Inventors: James L. Smith, Stanley A. Zwick
  • Patent number: 4643954
    Abstract: A device for equalizing the molten electrolyte content throughout the height of a fuel cell stack is disclosed. The device includes a passageway for electrolyte return with electrolyte wettable wicking material in the opposite end portions of the passageway. One end portion is disposed near the upper, negative end of the stack where electrolyte flooding occurs. The second end portion is placed near the lower, positive end of the stack where electrolyte is depleted. Heating means are provided at the upper portion of the passageway to increase electrolyte vapor pressure in the upper wicking material. The vapor is condensed in the lower passageway portion and conducted as molten electrolyte in the lower wick to the positive end face of the stack. An inlet is provided to inject a modifying gas into the passageway and thereby control the rate of electrolyte return.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1985
    Date of Patent: February 17, 1987
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Department of Energy
    Inventor: James L. Smith
  • Patent number: 4635245
    Abstract: A temperature sensitive data storage element is disclosed, suitable for application in an erasable optical read/write data storage system. The data storage element includes an optical tuning film and a film of thermochromic phase change material which will change from a first phase to a second phase at temperatures in excess of an upper temperature and back to the first phase at temperatures below a lower temperature. In one application, a thermally controlled support member may be employed to temporarily lower the temperature on the storage element to a point below the lower temperature, thereby initializing the element. In one embodiment, the storage element is a planar, suitably circular disk. In use, the storage element is adapted to be initialized by a modulated laser beam which may be focused on the storage element to temporarily heat particular portions of the element to a temperature in excess of the upper temperature, causing a phase change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1986
    Date of Patent: January 6, 1987
    Assignee: LTV Aerospace and Defense Company
    Inventor: James L. Smith
  • Patent number: 4632874
    Abstract: Substantially homogeneous aqueous composition for use in imparting coherency to textile filaments, and textile yarns having dried coatings thereon of such composition; the composition comprising a major amount of an emulsifiable textile finishing oil and a minor amount of water dissipatable polymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1985
    Date of Patent: December 30, 1986
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: James L. Smith
  • Patent number: 4598395
    Abstract: An erasable optical read/write data storage system is disclosed. The data storage system utilizes a temperature sensitive data storage disk which includes an optical tuning film and a film of thermochromic phase change material which will change from a first phase to a second phase at temperatures in excess of an upper temperature and back to the first phase at temperatures below a lower temperature. An environmentally controlled chamber is provided to maintain the data storage disk at a selected bias temperature between the lower and upper temperatures to ensure that no unintentional phase change will occur. A thermally controlled support member is utilized to temporarily lower the temperature of the disk to a point below the lower temperature, thereby initializing the disk. A modulated laser beam is then focused on the disk to temporarily heat particular portions of the disk to a temperature in excess of the upper temperature, causing a phase change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1983
    Date of Patent: July 1, 1986
    Assignee: LTV Aerospace and Defense Co.
    Inventor: James L. Smith
  • Patent number: 4564567
    Abstract: A high temperature, ceramic composition having electronic conductivity as measured by resistivity below about 500 ohm-cm, chemical stability particularly with respect to cathode conditions in a molten carbonate fuel cell, and composed of an alkali metal, transition metal oxide containing a dopant metal in the crystalline structure to replace a portion of the alkali metal or transition metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1983
    Date of Patent: January 14, 1986
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventors: Gene H. Kucera, James L. Smith, James W. Sim
  • Patent number: 4494826
    Abstract: A device capable of spatially modulating a collimated read-out light beam with an input image is described. The most essential elements of the key unit in this device include a photoconducting layer, charged grille-structure, an elastomer, and a thin metal anode. Real-time and storage operation is possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 1979
    Date of Patent: January 22, 1985
    Inventor: James L. Smith
  • Patent number: 4483109
    Abstract: A latching system is disclosed for a telescopic boom, and comprises a ladder structure for positionment longitudinally along a side of a smaller boom section, and a latch plate assembly for a pivotal attachment to a large boom section. Bias means is further provided for applying a biasing force tending to move the latch plate into the ladder detent slot, and counter bias means for applying counter bias force to the latch plate. Linkages are adapted to extend between the latch plate and the tensioned chains which actuate the small boom section outward and inward relative to the large boom section, whereby the tension forces within the chains serve to provide counter biasing forces to the latch plate mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1983
    Date of Patent: November 20, 1984
    Assignee: JLG Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Wayne P. MacDonald, James L. Smith
  • Patent number: D351807
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 25, 1994
    Inventors: Christopher Smith, James L. Smith