Patents by Inventor Jerry C. Summers

Jerry C. Summers 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: 7985709
    Abstract: The invention described herein involves a novel approach to the production of oxidation/reduction catalytic systems. The present invention serves to stabilize the tin oxide reducible metal-oxide coating by co-incorporating at least another metal-oxide species, such as zirconium. In one embodiment, a third metal-oxide species is incorporated, selected from the group consisting of cerium, lanthanum, hafnium, and ruthenium. The incorporation of the additional metal oxide components serves to stabilize the active tin-oxide layer in the catalytic process during high-temperature operation in a reducing environment (e.g., automobile exhaust). Moreover, the additional metal oxides are active components due to their oxygen-retention capabilities. Together, these features provide a mechanism to extend the range of operation of the tin-oxide-based catalyst system for automotive applications, while maintaining the existing advantages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Jeffrey D. Jordan, David R. Schryer, Patricia P. Davis, Bradley D. Leighty, Anthony N. Watkins, Jacqueline L. Schryer, Donald M. Oglesby, Suresh T. Gulati, Jerry C. Summers
  • Patent number: 7390768
    Abstract: The invention described herein involves a novel approach to the production of oxidation/reduction catalytic systems. The present invention serves to stabilize the tin oxide reducible metal-oxide coating by co-incorporating at least another metal-oxide species, such as zirconium. In one embodiment, a third metal-oxide species is incorporated, selected from the group consisting of cerium, lanthanum, hafnium, and ruthenium. The incorporation of the additional metal oxide components serves to stabilize the active tin-oxide layer in the catalytic process during high-temperature operation in a reducing environment (e.g., automobile exhaust). Moreover, the additional metal oxides are active components due to their oxygen-retention capabilities. Together, these features provide a mechanism to extend the range of operation of the tin-oxide-based catalyst system for automotive applications, while maintaining the existing advantages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2008
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Jeffrey D. Jordan, David R. Schryer, Patricia P. Davis, Bradley D. Leighty, Anthony Neal Watkins, Jacqueline L. Schryer, Donald M. Oglesby, Suresh T. Gulati, Jerry C. Summers
  • Patent number: 7056856
    Abstract: A tin-oxide based three-way catalytic material employing precious metals that is stable at exhaust gas temperatures of internal combustion engines when the tin oxide lattice includes any of several rare earth oxide stabilizers in the lanthanide series. The rare-earth elements are the 15 lanthanide elements with atomic numbers 57 through 71 that are in Group IIIA of the Periodic Table: lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, neodymium, promethium, samarium, europium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, holmium, erbium, thulium, ytterbium, and lutetium. Such tin-oxide based catalytic materials may also beneficially include zirconium oxide and/or yttrium oxide. The invention is useful in providing three-way catalytic exhaust converters for internal combustion engines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: Airflow Catalyst Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Jerry C. Summers, Suresh T. Gulati