Patents by Inventor Peter N. Pintauro
Peter N. Pintauro 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).
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Publication number: 20140038076Abstract: In one aspect of the present invention, a fuel cell membrane-electrode-assembly (MEA) has an anode electrode, a cathode electrode, and a membrane disposed between the anode electrode and the cathode electrode. At least one of the anode electrode, the cathode electrode and the membrane is formed of electrospun nanofibers.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 29, 2013Publication date: February 6, 2014Applicant: Vanderbilt UniversityInventors: Peter N. Pintauro, Jason Ballengee, Matthew Brodt
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Publication number: 20130295002Abstract: A self-regulating gas generator that, in response to gas demand, supplies and automatically adjusts the amount of gas (e.g., hydrogen or oxygen) catalytically generated in a chemical supply chamber from an appropriate chemical supply, such as a chemical solution, gas dissolved in liquid, or mixture. In some embodiments, the gas generator may employ a piston, rotating rod, or other element(s) to expose the chemical supply to the catalyst in controlled amounts. In another embodiment, the self-regulating gas generator uses bang-bang control, with the element(s) exposing a catalyst, contained within the chemical supply chamber, to the chemical supply in ON and OFF states according to a self-adjusting duty cycle, thereby generating and outputting the gas in an orientation-independent manner. The gas generator may be used to provide gas for various gas consuming devices, such as a fuel cell, torch, or oxygen respiratory devices.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 7, 2012Publication date: November 7, 2013Applicant: Encite LLCInventors: Stephen A. Marsh, Donald M. Parker, Peter N. Pintauro
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Publication number: 20130209913Abstract: In one aspect, a method of forming an electrode for an electrochemical device is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes the steps of mixing at least a first amount of a catalyst and a second amount of an ionomer or uncharged polymer to form a solution and delivering the solution into a metallic needle having a needle tip. The method further includes the steps of applying a voltage between the needle tip and a collector substrate positioned at a distance from the needle tip, and extruding the solution from the needle tip at a flow rate such as to generate electrospun fibers and deposit the generated fibers on the collector substrate to form a mat with a porous network of fibers. Each fiber in the porous network of the mat has distributed particles of the catalyst. The method also includes the step of pressing the mat onto a membrane.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 27, 2011Publication date: August 15, 2013Applicant: VANDERBILT UNIVERSITYInventors: Peter N. Pintauro, Wenjing Zhang
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Publication number: 20120280179Abstract: A self-regulating gas generator that, in response to gas demand, supplies and automatically adjusts the amount of gas (e.g., hydrogen or oxygen) catalytically generated in a chemical supply chamber from an appropriate chemical supply, such as a chemical solution, gas dissolved in liquid, or mixture. In some embodiments, the gas generator may employ a piston, rotating rod, or other element(s) to expose the chemical supply to the catalyst in controlled amounts. In another embodiment, the self-regulating gas generator uses bang-bang control, with the element(s) exposing a catalyst, contained within the chemical supply chamber, to the chemical supply in ON and OFF states according to a self-adjusting duty cycle, thereby generating and outputting the gas in an orientation-independent manner. The gas generator may be used to provide gas for various gas consuming devices, such as a fuel cell, torch, or oxygen respiratory devices.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 4, 2012Publication date: November 8, 2012Inventors: Stephen A. Marsh, Donald M. Parker, Peter N. Pintauro
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Patent number: 8227135Abstract: Improved polymer-based materials are described, for example for use as an electrode binder in a fuel cell. A fuel cell according to an example of the present invention comprises a first electrode including a catalyst and an electrode binder, a second electrode, and an electrolyte located between the first electrode and the second electrode. The electrolyte may be a proton-exchange membrane (PEM). The electrode binder includes one or more polymers, such as a polyphosphazene.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2006Date of Patent: July 24, 2012Assignees: Toyota Motor Corporation, Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., Case Western Reserve UniversityInventors: Wen Li, John Muldoon, Hiroshi Hamaguchi, Akira Tsujiko, Toshiya Saito, Ryszard J. Wycisk, Jun Lin, Peter N. Pintauro
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Patent number: 8172912Abstract: A self-regulating gas generator that, in response to gas demand, supplies and automatically adjusts the amount of gas (e.g., hydrogen or oxygen) catalytically generated in a chemical supply chamber from an appropriate chemical supply, such as a chemical solution, gas dissolved in liquid, or mixture. The gas generator may employ a piston, rotating rod, or other element(s) to expose the chemical supply to the catalyst in controlled amounts. The gas generator may be used to provide gas for various gas consuming devices, such as a fuel cell, torch, or oxygen respiratory devices.Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 2004Date of Patent: May 8, 2012Assignee: Encite, LLCInventors: Stephen A. Marsh, Donald M. Parker, Peter N. Pintauro
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Patent number: 7943675Abstract: Improved polymer-based materials are described, for example for use as an electrode binder in a fuel cell. A fuel cell according to an example of the present invention comprises a first electrode including a catalyst and an electrode binder, a second electrode, and an electrolyte located between the first electrode and the second electrode. The electrolyte may be a proton-exchange membrane (PEM). The electrode binder includes one or more polymers, such as a polyphosphazene.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2008Date of Patent: May 17, 2011Assignees: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., Case Western Reserve University, Toyota Motor CorporationInventors: John Muldoon, Ryszard J. Wycisk, Jun Lin, Peter N. Pintauro, Kohai Hase
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Publication number: 20090004526Abstract: A proton exchange membrane (PEM) with an ion exchange capacity of not less than 1 molar equivalent per kilogram and less than 20% water swelling is provided. The PEM includes a polymer having a polyphosphazene backbone with a polyaromatic functional group linked to the polyphosphazene as a polyaromatic side chain, a non-polyaromatic functional group linked to the polyphosphazene as a non-polyaromatic side chain, and an acidic functional group linked to the non-polyaromatic side chain. The polyaromatic functional group linked to the polyphosphazene provides for increased thermal and chemical stability, excellent ionic conductivities and low water swelling. The mole fraction of polyaromatic functional groups linked to the polyphosphazene backbone is between 0.05 and 0.60.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 28, 2007Publication date: January 1, 2009Applicants: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., Case Western Reserve UniversityInventors: John Muldoon, Ryszard J. Wycisk, Peter N. Pintauro
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Publication number: 20080167392Abstract: Improved polymer-based materials are described, for example for use as an electrode binder in a fuel cell. A fuel cell according to an example of the present invention comprises a first electrode including a catalyst and an electrode binder, a second electrode, and an electrolyte located between the first electrode and the second electrode. The electrolyte may be a proton-exchange membrane (PEM). The electrode binder includes one or more polymers, such as a polyphosphazene.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 17, 2008Publication date: July 10, 2008Applicants: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., Case Western Reserve University, Toyota Motor CorporationInventors: John Muldoon, Ryszard J. Wycisk, Jun Lin, Peter N. Pintauro, Kohei Hase
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Publication number: 20080124606Abstract: A proton exchange membrane includes a semi-permeable polyelectrolyte films that extends along an axis. The polyelectrolyte film is stretched along the axis and remains stretched when immersed in a methanol or methanol and water solutions.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 9, 2007Publication date: May 29, 2008Inventors: Jun Lin, Ryszard Wycisk, Peter N. Pintauro
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Patent number: 6365294Abstract: The subject matter of this invention deals with sulfonated polyphosphazene-based cation-exchange membranes for proton-exchange membrane fuel cells where the polyphosphazene is crosslinked, non-crosslinked, suitably blended with one or more additional polymers, and/or impregnated into the void volume of an inert microporous membrane support and where the membranes operate in a hydrated state that is characterized by a high proton conductance and low water and methanol permeation rates. In particular, the invention relates to the use of poly[bis(3-methylphenoxy)phosphazene] as the base polymer, with sulfonated ion-exchange groups, for direct liquid-feed methanol fuel cells.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 1999Date of Patent: April 2, 2002Assignee: The Administrators of The Tulane Educational FundInventors: Peter N. Pintauro, Hao Tang
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Patent number: 6218556Abstract: An electrochemical process for hydrogenating an unsaturated fatty acid, mixtures of two or more fatty acids, or the unsaturated fatty acid constituents of an edible or non-edible oil's triglycerides is performed using a solid polymer electrolyte reactor. Membrane electrode assemblies consist of a cation exchange membrane onto which porous anode and cathode electrodes are attached. As the electrodes are permeable, reactant and products enter and leave the membrane/cathode and membrane/anode reaction zones via the back sides of the electrodes. Hydrogen is generated in situ by the electro-reduction of protons that are formed at the anode and which migrate through the ion exchange membrane for reaction with the fifty acids or fatty acid constituents. In the disclosed process, only protons (H+ ions) carry the current between the anode and the cathode. The need for a supporting electrolyte to conduct electricity has been circumvented.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 1996Date of Patent: April 17, 2001Assignee: The Administrators of the Tulane Educational FundInventor: Peter N. Pintauro
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Patent number: 5387378Abstract: The present invention provides a method for fabricating an asymmetric fluoropolymer membrane comprised of a fluoropolymer material, the membrane having a first surface comprised of a dense layer of the fluoropolymer material, and an opposite second surface comprised of a porous layer of the fluoropolymer material, comprising the steps of:(a) dissolving a fluoropolymer material in a solvent to form a solution;(b) depositing the solution on a casting surface; and(c) removing the solvent from the solution, thereby precipitating the membrane therefrom.The present invention also provides asymmetric fluoropolymer membranes comprised of a fluoropolymer material, wherein the membrane has a first surface comprised of a dense layer of the fluoropolymer material, and an opposite second surface comprised of a porous layer of the fluoropolymer material, and provides compositions for making the same.Type: GrantFiled: April 21, 1993Date of Patent: February 7, 1995Assignee: Tulane UniversityInventors: Peter N. Pintauro, Kangzhuang Jian
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Patent number: 5225581Abstract: An electrocatalytic process for hydrogenating an unsaturated fatty acid, triglyceride, or mixtures thereof as an oil or fat is described. Current is passed through a cathode and hydrogen is generated in situ on the high surface area, low hydrogen overvoltage catalytic material used as the cathode in a reactor containing a liquid reaction medium (electrolyte) comprised of oil and/or fat, water and/or an organic solvent (e.g. t-butanol), and a supporting electrolyte salt. Typical catalytic cathodes comprise a granular or powdered Raney metal or an alloy thereof, platinum black, ruthenium black, or finely divided carbon powder containing platinum, palladium, or ruthenium. Typical supporting electrolyte salts include sodium p-toluenesulfonate, tetraethylammonium p-toluenesulfonate, and sodium or potassium phosphate monobasic.A novel partially hydrogenated oil or fat product is obtained when the above process is carred out at temperatures less than 75.degree. C.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 1990Date of Patent: July 6, 1993Assignee: Tulane Educational FundInventor: Peter N. Pintauro