Patents by Inventor Joshua D. Johnston

Joshua D. Johnston 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: 11961974
    Abstract: A battery cell capable of self-priming with molten metal produced within the battery cell includes a cathode compartment configured to contain a catholyte that releases metal ions, an anode compartment at least partially containing an anode current collector that receives electrons from an external power supply, an ion-selective membrane positioned between the cathode compartment and the anode compartment and configured to selectively transport the metal ions from the cathode compartment to the anode compartment when self-priming the battery cell, and an electron transport structure extending between the anode current collector and the ion-selective membrane within the anode compartment and configured to transport the electrons from the anode current collector to the ion-selective membrane when self-priming the battery cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Enlighten Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Sai V. Bhavaraju, Daniel S. Taggart, Mykola Makowsky, Joshua D. Johnston, Steven W. Hughes
  • Publication number: 20230344016
    Abstract: A battery cell capable of self-priming with molten metal produced within the battery cell includes a cathode compartment configured to contain a catholyte that releases metal ions, an anode compartment at least partially containing an anode current collector that receives electrons from an external power supply, an ion-selective membrane positioned between the cathode compartment and the anode compartment and configured to selectively transport the metal ions from the cathode compartment to the anode compartment when self-priming the battery cell, and an electron transport structure extending between the anode current collector and the ion-selective membrane within the anode compartment and configured to transport the electrons from the anode current collector to the ion-selective membrane when self-priming the battery cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2023
    Publication date: October 26, 2023
    Inventors: Sai V. Bhavaraju, Daniel S. Taggart, Mykola Makowsky, Joshua D. Johnston, Steven W. Hughes
  • Publication number: 20230207994
    Abstract: A molten metal battery system includes a plurality of secondary cells electrically connected in series with each other and comprising a plurality of molten metal anodes arranged fluidly in parallel with each other. The system also includes a plurality of electrically isolated molten metal reservoirs, each of the molten metal reservoirs fluidly connected to a corresponding secondary cell of the plurality of secondary cells and configured to exchange molten metal with the corresponding secondary cell while preventing electrical shunt current from flowing between the plurality of secondary cells via the molten metal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2022
    Publication date: June 29, 2023
    Applicant: Enlighten Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Mykola Makowsky, Sai V. Bhavaraju, Thomas R. Hinklin, Joshua D. Johnston, Daniel S. Taggart, Byron J. Charbonneau, Mikhail D. Chauvet, Darsey S. Godwin
  • Patent number: 8453665
    Abstract: The invention includes a method for continually circulating a fluid in a system, in the absence of an external pumping mechanism, by providing a fluid, an active space capable of generating a higher pressure zone and causing a contiguous lower pressure zone, a passive space, and a porous medium disposed between the active space and the passive space, and generating a pressure differential relationship between the active space and the passive space causing the fluid to circulate freely in both directions between the active space and the passive space, across the porous medium, without the aid of an external pumping system, such that the fluid circulation defines a self-acting self-circulating fluid system, and to the system created thereby.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: The University of Akron
    Inventors: Minel J. Braun, Ana M. Balasoiu, Stefan I. Moldovan, Gerald W. Young, Joshua D. Johnston
  • Publication number: 20100212744
    Abstract: The invention includes a method for continually circulating a fluid in a system, in the absence of an external pumping mechanism, by providing a fluid, an active space capable of generating a higher pressure zone and causing a contiguous lower pressure zone, a passive space, and a porous medium disposed between the active space and the passive space, and generating a pressure differential relationship between the active space and the passive space causing the fluid to circulate freely in both directions between the active space and the passive space, across the porous medium, without the aid of an external pumping system, such that the fluid circulation defines a self-acting self-circulating fluid system, and to the system created thereby.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2008
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Applicant: THE UNIVERSITY OF AKRON
    Inventors: Minel J. Braun, Ana M. Balasoiu, Stefan I. Moldovan, Gerald W. Young, Joshua D. Johnston