Patents by Inventor John J. Vajo

John J. Vajo 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).

  • Publication number: 20130004867
    Abstract: An exemplary embodiment and associated method of use discloses a reversible hydrogen storage system that liberates hydrogen and a perlithiohydrocarbon compound by destabilization of a hydrocarbon source or sources with lithium hydride (LiH). The liberated hydrogen may be subsequently utilized in a coupled end-use application.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2011
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: John J. Vajo
  • Patent number: 8097234
    Abstract: A capsule having a hydrogen gas permeable shell with solid-state hydride material, such as hydrogen rich LiAlH4, Li3AlH6, and/or AlH3 encapsulated therein. The hydrogen gas permeable shell has pores that are between about 1 nm to about 150 ?m in diameter to allow hydrogen gas to be extracted from the capsule. After passing the capsule through a hydrogen extraction zone, the capsule containing the spent solid-state hydride material is removed and is sent to recycling, wherein the capsule is opened to remove the spent solid-state hydride material, and the spent solid-state hydride material is rehydrogenated and repacked in a hydrogen gas permeable shell. The shell of the spent solid-state hydride material can be recycled and reused to make new shells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: HRL Laboratories, LLC
    Inventors: John J. Vajo, Tina T. Salguero
  • Patent number: 7959896
    Abstract: In one aspect, the present invention provides a system for methods of producing and releasing hydrogen from hydrogen storage compositions having a hydrogenated state and a dehydrogenated state. In the hydrogenated state, such a composition comprises a hydride and a hydroxide. In a dehydrogenated state, the composition comprises an oxide. A first reaction is conducted between a portion of the hydride and water to generate heat sufficient to cause a second hydrogen production reaction between a remaining portion of the hydride and the hydroxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Florian O Mertens, Scott W Jorgensen, John J Vajo
  • Publication number: 20110111954
    Abstract: A hydrogen storage material has been developed that comprises a metal hydride material embedded into a carbon microstructure that generally exhibits a greater bulk thermal conductivity than the surrounding bulk metal hydride material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2009
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Wen Li, Adam F. Gross, Alan J. Jacobsen, John J. Vajo
  • Patent number: 7938254
    Abstract: A capsule having a hydrogen gas permeable shell with solid-state hydride material, such as hydrogen rich LiAlH4, Li3AlH6, and/or AlH3 encapsulated therein. The hydrogen gas permeable shell has pores that are between about 1 nm to about 150 ?m in diameter to allow hydrogen gas to be extracted from the capsule. After passing the capsule through a hydrogen extraction zone, the capsule containing the spent solid-state hydride material is removed and is sent to recycling, wherein the capsule is opened to remove the spent solid-state hydride material, and the spent solid-state hydride material is rehydrogenated and repacked in a hydrogen gas permeable shell. The shell of the spent solid-state hydride material can be recycled and reused to make new shells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: HRL Laboratories, LLC
    Inventors: John J. Vajo, Tina T. Salguero
  • Patent number: 7927507
    Abstract: Compositions for hydrogen storage and methods of making such compositions employ an alloy that exhibits reversible formation/deformation of BH4? anions. The composition includes a ternary alloy including magnesium, boron and a metal and a metal hydride. The ternary alloy and the metal hydride are present in an amount sufficient to render the composition capable of hydrogen storage. The molar ratio of the metal to magnesium and boron in the alloy is such that the alloy exhibits reversible formation/deformation of BH4? anions. The hydrogen storage composition is prepared by combining magnesium, boron and a metal to prepare a ternary alloy and combining the ternary alloy with a metal hydride to form the hydrogen storage composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: HRL Laboratories, LLC
    Inventors: Wen Li, John J. Vajo, Robert W. Cumberland, Ping Liu
  • Patent number: 7910199
    Abstract: A porous carbon scaffold with a surface and pores, the porous carbon scaffold containing a primary metal and a secondary metal, where the primary metal is a metal that does not wet the surface of the pores of the carbon scaffold but wets the surface of the secondary metal, and the secondary metal is interspersed between the surface of the pores of the carbon scaffold and the primary metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: HRL Laboratories, LLC
    Inventors: Adam F. Gross, John J. Vajo, Robert W. Cumberland, Ping Liu, Tina T. Salguero
  • Publication number: 20100252444
    Abstract: One embodiment of the invention includes an electrochemical cell and an externally applied electrical potential used to drive a direct synthesis reaction to produce alane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2007
    Publication date: October 7, 2010
    Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: John J. Vajo, Ping Liu
  • Patent number: 7776201
    Abstract: A method for regenerating chemical hydrides from metal oxides and electrochemical cell for use in carrying out the method. The electrochemical cell has a cathode side with molten salt and a cathode, and an anode electrode side with an anode. The cathode side and the anode side are separated by an oxygen anion-conducting membrane. A metal oxide is placed in the molten salt of the cathode side and an electrical potential is applied to the cathode and anode while feeding hydrogen to the cathode electrode to effectuate conversion of the metal oxide to a metal hydride and feeding hydrogen to the anode to generate water and free electrons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: HRL Laboratories
    Inventors: John J. Vajo, Ping Liu
  • Publication number: 20100184595
    Abstract: An exemplary embodiment and associated method of use discloses a hydrogen storage system that liberates hydrogen and includes a combination of at least one complex hydride containing a cation and a complex hydride anion based on boron, aluminum or nitrogen, together with an approximately stoichiometric or chemically equivalent amount of at least one other complex hydride containing a cation and a complex hydride anion based on a transition metal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2010
    Publication date: July 22, 2010
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: John J. Vajo, Wen Li, Ping Liu, Tina T. Salguero
  • Patent number: 7749484
    Abstract: A material mixture is disclosed for storage of hydrogen for a hydrogen-using device and release of hydrogen on demand of the hydrogen-using device, especially by heating of the mixture. Such a mixture suitably comprises a solid hydrogen-containing lithium compound (e.g. LiBH4) and a solid magnesium compound, MgX, the magnesium compound being reactive with the lithium compound to release hydrogen and yield solid by products containing lithium and X. X may include one or more of F, Cl, OH, O, S, Se, Si, CO3, SO4, Cu, Ge, Ni, (OH)Cl, and P2O7.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: John J. Vajo, Gregory L. Olson
  • Patent number: 7601329
    Abstract: In one aspect, the invention provides a hydrogen storage composition having a hydrogenated state and a dehydrogenated state. In the hydrogenated state, such composition comprises a hydride and a hydroxide. In a dehydrogenated state, the composition comprises an oxide. The present invention also provides methods of and compositions for regenerating a species of a hydroxide and a hydride material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: John J Vajo, Florian O Mertens, Scott W Jorgensen
  • Patent number: 7521036
    Abstract: In one aspect, the invention provides a hydrogen storage composition having a hydrogenated state and a dehydrogenated state. In the hydrogenated state, such composition comprises a hydride and a hydroxide. In a dehydrogenated state, the composition comprises an oxide. The present invention also provides methods of producing hydrogen, including for mobile fuel cell device applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: John J Vajo, Florian O Mertens, Scott W Jorgensen
  • Patent number: 7462344
    Abstract: The invention provides a method of reversibly storing hydrogen at industrially practicable temperature and pressure conditions. A stable hydrogen storage hydride is mixed with a destabilizing hydride. The stable hydride is capable of releasing hydrogen at a first energy level. When the stable hydride is in the presence of the destabilizing hydride, the stable hydride releases hydrogen at a second energy level. The second energy level is significantly reduced from the first energy level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: John J. Vajo, Florian O. Mertens, Sky Skeith, Michael P. Balogh, Frederick E. Pinkerton, Martin S. Meyer
  • Patent number: 7329290
    Abstract: This invention relates to a fuel reforming apparatus for producing a carbon-monoxide free reformed fuel gas comprising hydrogen. More particularly, this invention relates to nonthermal plasma reactors for removing carbon monoxide from a reformed fuel gas produced from a fuel containing bonded atoms of hydrogen exiting a reformer. More particularly, this invention relates to nonthermal plasma reactors for reforming a fuel containing bonded atoms of hydrogen into a reformed fuel gas. This invention relates further to hydrogen-oxygen fuel cells, which comprise a fuel reformer for reforming a fuel into a reformed fuel gas comprising hydrogen, a carbon monoxide remover for removing carbon monoxide in the reformed fuel gas and supplying the reformed fuel gas to the fuel cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2008
    Assignee: HRL Laboratories, LLC
    Inventors: Weldon S. Williamson, John J. Vajo
  • Patent number: 7157166
    Abstract: This invention refers to generating electrical energy comprising an ammonia fuel cell for generating electrical energy including a catalyst being in contact with a high temperature proton conducting membrane and the catalyst comprising at least one decomposition catalyst which causes NH3 to decompose to N2 and H2 and at least one catalytic anode which dissociates and ionizes H2 into H+ and electrons, the fuel cell further including at least one catalytic cathode for reaction of H+, electrons and oxygen to form H2O, an external circuit from the catalytic anode to the catalytic cathode, an ammonia source for introducing ammonia into the fuel cell, a gas exit for N2, and an oxygen source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: HRL Laboratories, LLC
    Inventor: John J. Vajo
  • Patent number: 6908680
    Abstract: A method for improving the thermal barrier properties of silicone resin/glass fiber composites. Composites comprising a layer of polysiloxane (silicone resin) matrix with a glass or quartz fiber reinforcement embedded in such matrix and an organic polymeric layer were subjected to multi-cycle heat treatment, preferably with quartz lamps. The polysiloxane layer was pre-coated with graphite dispersion in order to ensure acceptable optical receptivity of the polysiloxane layer. As a result, the silicone resin was converted into a thick porous layer of silicone dioxide, the latter having the improved thermal barrier properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2005
    Assignees: HRL Laboratories, LLC, Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Kevin W. Kirby, John J. Vajo, Anthony Jankiewicz, John Herold, Carlos Valenzuela, Frank Judnich, Wayne Anderson
  • Publication number: 20040253492
    Abstract: This invention refers to generating electrical energy comprising an ammonia fuel cell for generating electrical energy including a catalyst being in contact with a high temperature proton conducting membrane and the catalyst comprising at least one decomposition catalyst which causes NH3 to decompose to N2 and H2 and at least one catalytic anode which dissociates and ionizes H2 into H+ and electrons, the fuel cell further including at least one catalytic cathode for reaction of H+, electrons and oxygen to form H2O, an external circuit from said catalytic anode to said catalytic cathode, an ammonia source for introducing ammonia into the fuel cell, a gas exit for N2, and an oxygen source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2003
    Publication date: December 16, 2004
    Applicant: HRL LABORATORIES, LLC.
    Inventor: John J. Vajo
  • Publication number: 20040118046
    Abstract: This invention relates to a fuel reforming apparatus for producing a carbon-monoxide free reformed fuel gas comprising hydrogen. More particularly, this invention relates to nonthermal plasma reactors for removing carbon monoxide from a reformed fuel gas produced from a fuel containing bonded atoms of hydrogen exiting a reformer. More particularly, this invention relates to nonthermal plasma reactors for reforming a fuel containing bonded atoms of hydrogen into a reformed fuel gas. This invention relates further to hydrogen-oxygen fuel cells, which comprise a fuel reformer for reforming a fuel into a reformed fuel gas comprising hydrogen, a carbon monoxide remover for removing carbon monoxide in the reformed fuel gas and supplying the reformed fuel gas to the fuel cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2003
    Publication date: June 24, 2004
    Inventors: Weldon S. Williamson, John J. Vajo
  • Publication number: 20030235673
    Abstract: A method for improving the thermal barrier properties of silicone resin/ glass fiber composites. Composites comprising a layer of polysiloxane (silicone resin) matrix with a glass or quartz fiber reinforcement embedded in such matrix and an organic polymeric layer were subjected to multi-cycle heat treatment, preferably with quartz lamps. The polysiloxane layer was pre-coated with graphite dispersion in order to ensure acceptable optical receptivity of the polysiloxane layer. As a result, the silicone resin was converted into a thick porous layer of silicone dioxide, the latter having the improved thermal barrier properties.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2003
    Publication date: December 25, 2003
    Applicant: HRL LABORATORIES, LLC
    Inventors: Kevin W. Kirby, John J. Vajo, Anthony Jankiewicz, John Herold, Carlos Valenzuela, Frank Judnich, Wayne Anderson