Patents by Inventor Rick Winter

Rick Winter 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: 20110318619
    Abstract: A metal halogen electrochemical energy cell system that generates an electrical potential. One embodiment of the system includes at least one cell including at least one positive electrode and at least one negative electrode, at least one electrolyte, a mixing venturi that mixes the electrolyte with a halogen reactant, and a circulation pump that conveys the electrolyte mixed with the halogen reactant through the positive electrode and across the metal electrode. Preferably, the positive electrode comprises porous carbonaceous material, the negative electrode comprises zinc, the metal comprises zinc, the halogen comprises chlorine, the electrolyte comprises an aqueous zinc-chloride electrolyte, and the halogen reactant comprises a chlorine reactant. Also, variations of the system and a method of operation for the systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2011
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Applicant: Primus Power Corporation
    Inventor: Rick Winter
  • Publication number: 20110271743
    Abstract: A leak detection system for a flowing electrolyte battery comprising a containment member associated with at least one of a stack of a flowing electrolyte battery and an electrolyte reservoir of a flowing electrolyte battery and a sensing member for sensing a fluid leak within the containment member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2011
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Inventor: Rick Winter
  • Patent number: 8039161
    Abstract: A metal halogen electrochemical energy cell system that generates an electrical potential. One embodiment of the system includes at least one cell including at least one positive electrode and at least one negative electrode, at least one electrolyte, a mixing venturi that mixes the electrolyte with a halogen reactant, and a circulation pump that conveys the electrolyte mixed with the halogen reactant through the positive electrode and across the metal electrode. Preferably, the positive electrode comprises porous carbonaceous material, the negative electrode comprises zinc, the metal comprises zinc, the halogen comprises chlorine, the electrolyte comprises an aqueous zinc-chloride electrolyte, and the halogen reactant comprises a chlorine reactant. Also, variations of the system and a method of operation for the systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Primus Power Corporation
    Inventor: Rick Winter
  • Publication number: 20110223451
    Abstract: A flow battery electrode assembly with a first impermeable, substantially metal electrode, a second permeable, substantially metal electrode and at least one electrically conductive spacer. The electrically conductive spacer connects the first impermeable, substantially metal electrode and the second permeable, substantially metal electrode such that the first impermeable, substantially metal electrode and the second permeable, substantially metal electrode are spaced apart from each other by an electrolyte flow path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2010
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Applicant: PRIMUS POWER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Rick Winter, Brad Kell, Jonathan Hall, Gerardo Jose LA O'
  • Publication number: 20110200853
    Abstract: An electrochemical energy generation system includes plural electrochemical cells connected electrically in series that utilize a common electrolyte that can be delivered to each of the cells and/or collected from each of the cells using one or more manifolds. The system provides a possibility for reducing shunt currents by applying a shunt-current minimizing voltage to terminals of the manifolds from the terminal electrodes of the cells connected in series.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2010
    Publication date: August 18, 2011
    Inventor: Rick Winter
  • Patent number: 7993932
    Abstract: A leak detection system for a flowing electrolyte battery comprising a containment member associated with at least one of a stack of a flowing electrolyte battery and an electrolyte reservoir of a flowing electrolyte battery and a sensing member for sensing a fluid leak within the containment member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Premium Power Corporation
    Inventor: Rick Winter
  • Publication number: 20110081562
    Abstract: A leak detection sensor for detecting a leakage of an electrolyte solution in a flow battery system is provided. The sensor includes a sensor housing, the sensor housing being at least partially surrounded by a fluid and having mounted therein at least one light source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2010
    Publication date: April 7, 2011
    Inventors: Gopalakrishnan R. Parakulam, Saroj Kumar Sahu, Rick Winter
  • Publication number: 20110074357
    Abstract: A controller for controlling a flow cell battery system is provided. The controller operates the flow cell battery system in a plurality of states including a plating state, a charging state and a discharge state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2010
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Inventors: Gopalakrishnan R. Parakulam, Saroj Kumar Sahu, Ali Firouzi, Rick Winter, Jagat Banerjee, Binod Kumar Agarwal, PandariNath Siddineni
  • Publication number: 20110070468
    Abstract: A metal halogen electrochemical energy cell system that generates an electrical potential. One embodiment of the system includes at least one cell including at least one positive electrode and at least one negative electrode, at least one electrolyte, a mixing venturi that mixes the electrolyte with a halogen reactant, and a circulation pump that conveys the electrolyte mixed with the halogen reactant through the positive electrode and across the metal electrode. Preferably, the positive electrode comprises porous carbonaceous material, the negative electrode comprises zinc, the metal comprises zinc, the halogen comprises chlorine, the electrolyte comprises an aqueous zinc-chloride electrolyte, and the halogen reactant comprises a chlorine reactant. Also, variations of the system and a method of operation for the systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2008
    Publication date: March 24, 2011
    Inventor: Rick Winter
  • Publication number: 20100136455
    Abstract: A stack for use in a flow battery, the stack comprising an odd number of interior elements positioned between two end elements, the two end elements each including an electrode, and the odd number of interior elements including membrane elements alternating with electrode elements, wherein the membrane elements include an interior frame and a membrane, the electrode elements include the interior frame and an electrode, wherein the interior frame is rotated by 180° from the frame of the membrane elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2009
    Publication date: June 3, 2010
    Inventor: Rick Winter
  • Publication number: 20100021805
    Abstract: An electrochemical energy generation system can include a sealed vessel that contains inside (i) at least one electrochemical cell, which has two electrodes and a reaction zone between them; (ii) a liquefied halogen reactant, such as a liquefied molecular chlorine; (iii) at least one metal halide electrolyte; and (iv) a flow circuit that can be used for delivering the halogen reactant and the electrolyte to the at least one cell. The sealed vessel can maintain an inside pressure above a liquefication pressure for the halogen reactant. Also disclosed are methods of using and methods of making for electrochemical energy generation systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2009
    Publication date: January 28, 2010
    Inventor: Rick Winter
  • Publication number: 20100009243
    Abstract: A metal halogen electrochemical energy cell system that generates an electrical potential. One embodiment of the system includes at least one cell including at least one positive electrode and at least one negative electrode, at least one electrolyte, a mixing venturi that mixes the electrolyte with a halogen reactant, and a circulation pump that conveys the electrolyte mixed with the halogen reactant through the positive electrode and across the metal electrode. Preferably, the positive electrode comprises porous carbonaceous material, the negative electrode comprises zinc, the metal comprises zinc, the halogen comprises chlorine, the electrolyte comprises an aqueous zinc-chloride electrolyte, and the halogen reactant comprises a chlorine reactant. Also, variations of the system and a method of operation for the systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2008
    Publication date: January 14, 2010
    Inventor: Rick Winter
  • Publication number: 20080050646
    Abstract: A leak detection system for a flowing electrolyte battery comprising a containment member associated with at least one of a stack of a flowing electrolyte battery and an electrolyte reservoir of a flowing electrolyte battery and a sensing member for sensing a fluid leak within the containment member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Publication date: February 28, 2008
    Inventor: Rick Winter
  • Patent number: 7314761
    Abstract: A leak detection system for a flowing electrolyte battery comprising a containment member associated with at least one of a stack of a flowing electrolyte battery and an electrolyte reservoir of a flowing electrolyte battery and a sensing member for sensing a fluid leak within the containment member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2008
    Assignee: Premium Power Corporation
    Inventor: Rick Winter
  • Patent number: 6711036
    Abstract: A voltage source capable of coupling in parallel to at least one second voltage source, the second voltage source having an AC waveform to power at least one load. The voltage source includes a power supply and a controller. The controller is associated with the power supply. The controller includes an AC waveform generator which is capable of providing a waveform to an output, a sensor for sensing the AC waveform produced by the second voltage source and a member for phase shifting the AC waveform to synchronize same to the AC waveform of the second voltage source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Inventor: Rick Winter
  • Publication number: 20030008203
    Abstract: A leak detection system for a flowing electrolyte battery comprising a containment member associated with at least one of a stack of a flowing electrolyte battery and an electrolyte reservoir of a flowing electrolyte battery and a sensing member for sensing a fluid leak within the containment member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2001
    Publication date: January 9, 2003
    Inventor: Rick Winter
  • Publication number: 20030007374
    Abstract: A voltage source capable of coupling in parallel to at least one second voltage source, the second voltage source having an AC waveform to power at least one load. The voltage source includes a power supply and a controller. The controller is associated with the power supply. The controller includes an AC waveform generator which is capable of providing a waveform to an output, a sensor for sensing the AC waveform produced by the second voltage source and a member for phase shifting the AC waveform to synchronize same to the AC waveform of the second voltage source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2001
    Publication date: January 9, 2003
    Inventor: Rick Winter
  • Publication number: 20030007370
    Abstract: An electric power providing system comprising a converter control system and a DC power source. The converter control system includes an AC to DC converter electrically associatable with an outside power supply, and, a DC to AC converter electrically associated with the AC to DC converter, and, electrically associatable with a load. The DC power source is electrically associated with each of the AC to DC converter and the DC to AC converter. The DC power source is positioned between the converters. The converter control system includes a member that controls the distribution of power between an outside power supply, the DC power source and a load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2001
    Publication date: January 9, 2003
    Inventor: Rick Winter