Patents by Inventor Ned T. Stetson

Ned T. Stetson 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: 6823931
    Abstract: A hydrogen gas cooled hydrogen storage element which includes a hydrogen storage alloy material in which hydrogen flow channels are provided. The flow channels provide pathways through the hydrogen storage material to allow for high speed hydrogen gas flow. A portion of the high speed hydrogen flow is stored within the storage material which releases its heat of hydride formation. The remainder of the hydrogen flows through the hydrogen storage material at a sufficient mass flow rate to remove the heat of hydride formation. The unit also includes an encapsulant to prevent any loose particles of the storage material from becoming entrained in the high flow rate hydrogen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Assignee: Energy Conversion Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Ned T. Stetson, Arthur Holland, Trevor Stephenson
  • Publication number: 20040206424
    Abstract: A modified Ti—Mn2 hydrogen storage alloy. The alloy generally is comprised of Ti and Mn. A generic formula for the alloy is: TiQ-XZrXMnZ-YAY, where A is generally one or more of V, Cr, Fe, Ni and Al. Most preferably A is one or more of V, Cr, and Fe. The subscript Q is preferably between 0.9 and 1.1, and most preferably Q is 1.0. The subscript X is between 0.0 and 0.35, more preferably X is between 0.1 and 0.2, and most preferably X is between 0.1 and 0.15. The subscript Y is preferably between 0.3 and 1.8, more preferably Y is between 0.6 and 1.2, and most preferably Y is between 0.6 and 1.0. The subscript Z is preferably between 1.8 and 2.1, and most preferably Z is between 1.8 and 2.0. The alloys are generally single phase materials, exhibiting a hexagonal C14 Laves phase crystalline structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2004
    Publication date: October 21, 2004
    Inventors: Ned T. Stetson, Jun Yang, Benjamin Chao, Vitaliy Myasnikov, Zhaosheng Tan
  • Patent number: 6627148
    Abstract: A magnesium hydrogen storage alloy that has been hydrided and compacted into highly dense pellets for shipment and use, a method for making said magnesium alloy and a method for the safe, economical shipment of said hydrided magnesium hydrogen storage material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: Energy Conversion Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Stanford R. Ovshinsky, Rosa T. Young, Ned T. Stetson, Vitaliy Myasnikov
  • Patent number: 6626323
    Abstract: A hydrogen storage unit which uses hydrogen storage alloys to store hydrogen, and more particularly a heat transfer management/compartmentalization system for use in such system. The hydrogen storage alloy may be divided into compartments, separated by discs, further divided into sub-compartments by a flapper wheel. The discs and flapper wheel provide for optimal heat transfer throughout the system. The compartmentalization of the vessel may prevent compaction of the hydrogen storage alloys, which could lead to excessive strain on the vessel causing damage, deformation, or rupture of the vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: Energy Conversion Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Ned T. Stetson, Michael Marchio, Arthur Holland, Daniel Alper, David Gorman, Jun Yang
  • Publication number: 20030103861
    Abstract: A modified Ti—Mn2 hydrogen storage alloy. The alloy generally is comprised of Ti and Mn. A generic formula for the alloy is: TiQ−XZrXMnZ−YAY, where A is generally one or more of V, Cr, Fe, Ni and Al. Most preferably A is one or more of V, Cr, and Fe. The subscript Q is preferably between 0.9 and 1.1, and most preferably Q is 1.0. The subscript X is between 0.0 and 0.35, more preferably X is between 0.1 and 0.2, and most preferably X is between 0.1 and 0.15. The subscript Y is preferably between 0.3 and 1.8, more preferably Y is between 0.6 and 1.2,and most preferably Y is between 0.6 and 1.0. The subscript Z is preferably between 1.8 and 2.1,and most preferably Z is between 1.8 and 2.0. The alloys are generally single phase materials, exhibiting a hexagonal C14 Laves phase crystalline structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2001
    Publication date: June 5, 2003
    Inventors: Ned T. Stetson, Jun Yang, Benjamin Chao, Vitaliy Myasnikov, Zhaosheng Tan
  • Patent number: 6425251
    Abstract: A hydrogen gas cooled hydrogen storage element which includes a hydrogen storage alloy material in which hydrogen flow channels are provided. The flow channels provide pathways through the hydrogen storage material to allow for high speed hydrogen gas flow. A portion of the high speed hydrogen flow is stored within the storage material which releases its heat of hydride formation. The remainder of the hydrogen flows through the hydrogen storage material at a sufficient mass flow rate to remove the heat of hydride formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Assignee: Energy Conversion Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Ned T. Stetson, Subramanian Ramachandran
  • Publication number: 20010039803
    Abstract: A hydrogen gas cooled hydrogen storage element which includes a hydrogen storage alloy material in which hydrogen flow channels are provided. The flow channels provide pathways through the hydrogen storage material to allow for high speed hydrogen gas flow. A portion of the high speed hydrogen flow is stored within the storage material which releases its heat of hydride formation. The remainder of the hydrogen flows through the hydrogen storage material at a sufficient mass flow rate to remove the heat of hydride formation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2001
    Publication date: November 15, 2001
    Inventors: Ned T. Stetson, Subramanian Ramachandran
  • Patent number: 6293110
    Abstract: A hydrogen gas cooled hydrogen storage element which includes a hydrogen storage alloy material in which hydrogen flow channels are provided. The flow channels provide pathways through the hydrogen storage material to allow for high speed hydrogen gas flow. A portion of the high speed hydrogen flow is stored within the storage material which releases its heat of hydride formation. The remainder of the hydrogen flows through the hydrogen storage material at a sufficient mass flow rate to remove the heat of hydride formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2001
    Assignee: Energy Conversion Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Ned T. Stetson, Subramanian Ramachandran
  • Patent number: 6103024
    Abstract: A mechanically alloyed hydrogen storage material having 75-95 atomic percent Mg, 5-15 atomic percent Ni, 0.5-6 atomic percent Mo, and at least one additional element selected from the group consisting of Al, C, Ca, Ce, Co, Cr, Cu, Dy, Fe, La, Mn, Nd, Si, Ti, V, and Zr, preferably between 1-15 atomic %. The mechanically alloyed hydrogen storage preferably contains from 3-15 atomic % C and at least one other element selected from the group consisting of Al, Ca, Ce, Cu, Dy, Fe, La, Mn, and Nd. The hydrogen storage materials are created by mechanical alloying in a milling apparatus under an inert atmosphere, such as argon, or a mixed atmosphere, such as argon and hydrogen. The speed and length of the milling are varied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2000
    Assignee: Energy Conversion Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Krishna Sapru, Lu Ming, Ned T. Stetson
  • Patent number: 6099811
    Abstract: A self-heating metal-hydride hydrogen storage system comprising: a primary metal-hydride storage container housing a metal-hydride hydrogen storage material, the primary storage container having a hydrogen outlet port; a hydrogen combustor housed within the primary metal-hydride storage container and surrounded by the high-temperature storage material, the combustor having a hydrogen inlet port gaseously connected to the hydrogen outlet port of the primary storage container; and means for supplying hydrogen gaseously connected to the hydrogen inlet port of the combustor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2000
    Assignee: Energy Conversion Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Ned T. Stetson, Krishna Sapru, Heidi Van Kirk
  • Patent number: 5953922
    Abstract: A metal hydride hydrogen storage system comprising: at least a first metal hydride storage module directly coupled to an identical second metal hydride storage module, where each of the storage modules comprises: a metal hydride pressure vessel having a first and a second valved port; and a metal hydride material disposed within the pressure vessel; where the second valved port of the first module is directly coupled to the first valved port of said second module. The first and second valved ports of each of the storage modules may be adapted so that they are normally closed and so that said second valved port of the first module and the first valved port of the second module are urged open upon direct coupling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1999
    Inventors: Ned T. Stetson, Mark R. Nies
  • Patent number: 5778972
    Abstract: A modular metal hydride hydrogen storage system which can provide a robust and reliable source of hydrogen that can quickly and easily be modified for a variety of applications and environments. The hydrogen storage system comprises at least one storage module. Each storage module comprises a container having at least one open end, a metal hydride hydrogen storage means, means for introducing gaseous hydrogen into and withdrawing gaseous hydrogen from the container, and means for connecting storage modules together end-to-end to form a plurality of storage modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1998
    Assignee: Energy Coversion Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Krishna Sapru, Srinivasan Venkatesan, Ned T. Stetson, Krishnaswamy Rangaswamy
  • Patent number: 5697221
    Abstract: A modular metal hydride hydrogen storage system which can provide a robust and reliable source of hydrogen that can quickly and easily be modified for a variety of applications and environments. The hydrogen storage system comprises at least one storage module. Each storage module comprises a container for storing metal hydride and gaseous hydrogen, and an adapter for connecting storage modules together end-to-end to form a connected sequence of storage modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 16, 1997
    Assignee: Energy Conversion Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Krishna Sapru, Srinivasan Venkatesan, Ned T. Stetson, Krishnaswamy Rangaswamy