Patents by Inventor Robert P. Hamlen

Robert P. Hamlen 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: 5849428
    Abstract: The migration of water and methanol across the hydrophilic membrane of hygen and methanol fuel cells from the anode to the cathode compartment decreases the electric energy output of such fuel cells. This migration is minimized by the precipitation in the pores of the membrane of zirconyl phosphate. A method and an apparatus for precipitaing zirconyl phosphate in the pores of membranes for hydrogen and methanol fuel cells are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 15, 1998
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventor: Robert P. Hamlen
  • Patent number: 5560783
    Abstract: A thermophotovoltaic generator for use in generating electricity using a or liquid fueled light emitter and an absorber with photocells, is provided. This generator includes a burner and mantle light emitter, and includes a multi-layer absorber having cylindrical layers of peripherally spaced tube units, each unit having end wall photocells which form a chamber that contains a dye.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1996
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventor: Robert P. Hamlen
  • Patent number: 5376471
    Abstract: An aluminum cell comprises an electrolysis region with a top reservoir and a sump below. Circulation of electrolyte is by convection. The cell is designed to continue operation past the point at which the electrolyte becomes saturated, and an aluminum hydroxide precipitate settles out by gravity in a stagnant lower region of the sump. The anode is preferably of an aluminum alloy containing magnesium, with tin present in the alloy or in the electrolyte. Batteries comprising stacks of such cells are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 27, 1994
    Assignee: Alcan International Limited
    Inventors: John A. Hunter, Robert P. Hamlen
  • Patent number: 5116695
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a deferred actuated battery assembly system comprised of a plurality of bipolar electrodes disposed between an inert cathode current collector acting as a hydrogen electrode and an anode plate formed of a material selected from the group consisting of aluminum, magnesium, aluminum alloys, magnesium alloys and mixtures thereof and configured for the flow of hydroxide-based alkaline electrolyte solutions selected from the group consisting of potassium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide and mixtures thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1992
    Assignee: Alupower, Inc.
    Inventors: Bhaskara M. L. Rao, Robert P. Hamlen
  • Patent number: 4959919
    Abstract: A self-illuminated salt water fishing lure including a hollow lure body which is open to receive salt water in which the body is submerged, and which has a light-transmissive wall; an electric light bulb mounted inside the lure body to produce light visible through the transmissive wall; and a battery, which uses salt water as an electrolyte, mounted inside the lure body for energizing the light bulb. The battery has electrodes with a gap between them which is open to receive salt water when the lure is submerged, but is otherwise empty, so that the battery is activated only during submersion of the lure. One suitable type of battery has a manganese dioxide cathode and an aluminum anode, with an interelectrode gap open at both ends so that sea water can flow into, through, and out of the gap to remove reaction products formed while the battery is activated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 2, 1990
    Assignee: Alupower, Inc.
    Inventors: Bhaskara M. L. Rao, James C. Menke, Robert P. Hamlen
  • Patent number: 4910104
    Abstract: There is disclosed a deferred actuated battery assembly comprised of a plurality of bipolar electrodes disposed between an inert cathode current collector acting as a hydrogen electrode and an anode plate formed of a material selected from the group consisting of aluminum, magnesium, aluminum alloys, magnesium alloys and mixtures thereof and configured for electrolyte flow therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 20, 1990
    Assignee: Alupower, Inc.
    Inventors: Bhaskara M. L. Rao, Robert P. Hamlen
  • Patent number: 4745529
    Abstract: A battery powered light source comprising an electric light bulb; a plurality of air cathodes; a plurality of metal anodes, one for each cathode; a plurality of electrically nonconductive housings disposed adjacent to each other, wherein each housing encloses a respective chamber containing one cathode and one anode which are spaced from each other and form an anode-cathode pair and also encloses a cavity which is below the anode-cathode pair and is in fluid flow communication with the chamber, each housing having a portion defining at least one air passage from its chamber to an adjacent housing, and an opening through which a surface of the contained cathode is exposed to air in the passage. The housings are secured to each other in such arrangement that their respective air-passage-defining portions cooperatively define at least one common air passage. Circuit elements are provided for electrically connecting the anode-cathode pairs to each other and to the electric light bulb.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1986
    Date of Patent: May 17, 1988
    Assignee: Alupower, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert P. Hamlen, Thomas J. Zoltner, William Kobasz, Michael V. Rose
  • Patent number: 4626482
    Abstract: A metal/air battery having plural series-connected cells, including a tank for holding a body of liquid electrolyte, and an electrically nonconductive frame carrying a plurality of air cathodes facing a common air chamber and a like plurality of anodes respectively juxtaposed to the cathodes outside the air chamber, the frame being removably insertable in the tank and engaging the tank wall, when inserted, so as to divide the tank into a plurality of separate and substantially electrically isolated electrolyte-holding zones each containing one anode-cathode pair. The anodes may have vertical slots to facilitate passage of electrochemical reaction products from the anode-cathode gaps. The battery may be incorporated in a lamp having a light bulb in a cartridge slidably held between resilient arms with electrical contacts arranged as a switch to close an otherwise-open circuit including the battery and the light bulb when the cartridge is moved to the extremity of the arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1985
    Date of Patent: December 2, 1986
    Assignee: Alupower, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert P. Hamlen, Peter F. Connolly
  • Patent number: D320190
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 24, 1991
    Assignee: Alupower, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert P. Hamlen