Patents by Inventor Thomas B. Milnes

Thomas B. Milnes 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: 20190020086
    Abstract: An anaerobic aluminum-water electrochemical cell is provided. The electrochemical cell includes: a plurality of electrode stacks, each electrode stack including an aluminum or aluminum alloy anode, and at least one cathode configured to be electrically coupled to the anode; one or more physical separators between each electrode stack adjacent to the cathode; a housing configured to hold the electrode stacks, an electrolyte, and the physical separators; a water injection port, in the housing, configured to introduce water into the housing, and an amount of hydroxide base sufficient to form an electrolyte having a hydroxide base concentration of at least 0.5% to at most 13% of the saturation concentration when water is introduced between the anode and the least one cathode. The aluminum or aluminum alloy of the anode is substantially free of titanium and boron.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2018
    Publication date: January 17, 2019
    Inventors: Ian Salmon McKay, Ruaridh R. Macdonald, Thomas B. Milnes
  • Patent number: 10147961
    Abstract: A method for collecting aluminate waste. The method includes transporting a super-saturated aqueous aluminate stream through a non-electrode open cell foam such that aluminum hydroxide that is the product of an electricity-generating electrochemical reaction between aluminum and water is precipitated on the non-electrode open cell foam, wherein at least 50% wt of the precipitation occurs within the non-electrode open cell foam instead of on an electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: L3 Open Water Power, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason R. Kovacs, Ian S. McKay, David H. Porter, Thomas B. Milnes
  • Publication number: 20180287235
    Abstract: An anaerobic aluminum-water electrochemical cell that includes: a plurality of electrode stacks, each electrode stack comprising an aluminum or aluminum alloy anode, and at least one solid cathode configured to be electrically coupled to the anode; a liquid electrolyte between the anode and the at least one cathode; one or more physical separators between each electrode stack adjacent to the cathode; a housing configured to hold the electrode stacks, the electrolyte, and the physical separators; and a water injection port, in the housing, configured to introduce water into the housing. The electrolyte includes a hydroxide base at a concentration of at least 0.05 M to at most 3 M.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2018
    Publication date: October 4, 2018
    Inventors: Ian Salmon McKay, Ruaridh R. Macdonald, Thomas B. Milnes
  • Publication number: 20180212263
    Abstract: Waste management in electrochemical systems, such as electrochemical systems in which an electrochemically active material comprising aluminum is employed, is generally described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2018
    Publication date: July 26, 2018
    Inventors: Jason R. Kovacs, Ian S. McKay, David H. Porter, Thomas B. Milnes
  • Publication number: 20180183082
    Abstract: Waste management in electrochemical systems, such as electrochemical systems in which an electrochemically active material comprising aluminum is employed, is generally described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2018
    Publication date: June 28, 2018
    Inventors: Jason R. Kovacs, Ian S. McKay, David H. Porter, Thomas B. Milnes
  • Patent number: 10003095
    Abstract: Waste management in electrochemical systems, such as electrochemical systems in which an electrochemically active material comprising aluminum is employed, is generally described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: L3 Open Water Power, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason R. Kovacs, Ian S. McKay, David H. Porter, Thomas B. Milnes
  • Publication number: 20180019492
    Abstract: Waste management in electrochemical systems, such as electrochemical systems in which an electrochemically active material comprising aluminum is employed, is generally described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2017
    Publication date: January 18, 2018
    Inventors: Jason R. Kovacs, Ian S. McKay, David H. Porter, Thomas B. Milnes
  • Publication number: 20170279127
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus configured for the osmotic injection of water in electrochemical systems are generally described. In certain embodiments, water can be transported from a water-containing liquid in an environment outside the electrochemical cell into the electrochemical cell across an osmotic medium fluidically separating an interior compartment of the electrochemical cell from the environment outside the electrochemical cell. The systems, methods, and apparatus described herein can be, according to certain embodiments, configured to be part of an electrochemical system in which water is consumed (e.g., as a reactant).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2015
    Publication date: September 28, 2017
    Inventors: Thomas B. Milnes, Ian McKay, Thomas Humplik
  • Publication number: 20170077538
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus configured for the mitigation of hydrogen accumulation within electrochemical systems are generally described. The systems, methods, and apparatus described herein can be, according to certain embodiments, configured to be part of an electrochemical system in which hydrogen is generated (e.g., as a reaction byproduct).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2015
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Applicant: Open Water Power, Incorporated
    Inventors: Thomas B. MILNES, Thomas HUMPLIK, Ian S. MCKAY
  • Publication number: 20140154595
    Abstract: An anaerobic aluminum-water electrochemical cell includes electrode stacks, each electrode stack having an aluminum or aluminum alloy anode, and at least one solid cathode configured to be electrically coupled to the anode. The cell further includes a liquid electrolyte between the anode and the at least one cathode, one or more physical separators between each electrode stack adjacent to the cathode, a housing configured to hold the electrode stacks, the electrolyte, and the physical separators, and a water injection port, in the housing, configured to introduce water into the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2013
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Applicant: MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Ian Salmon McKay, Ruaridh R. Macdonald, Thomas B. Milnes
  • Patent number: 8497934
    Abstract: An actively addressable aperture disposed ahead of the rear surface of a camera lens allows the camera to capture a full-resolution, five-dimensional (5D) light field that describes every possible view from every possible angle of the scene being imaged. Shifting the aperture over the entire aperture plane and acquiring an image at each step yields a 2D grid of 2D images of the scene, otherwise known as a 4D parameterized light field. Estimating the 3D depth of the objects in the imaged scene yields a 3D model with 2D surface irradiance patterns, which is the full, non-parameterized 5D light field. The 5D light field can be used to display perspective changes in a way that mimics cognitive processing of the same scene or object. 5D light fields can also be used to create high-precision, 3D depth maps suitable for 3D movies, interactive displays, machine vision, and other applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Thomas B. Milnes, Douglas P. Hart
  • Publication number: 20110128412
    Abstract: An actively addressable aperture disposed ahead of the rear surface of a camera lens allows the camera to capture a full-resolution, five-dimensional (5D) light field that describes every possible view from every possible angle of the scene being imaged. Shifting the aperture over the entire aperture plane and acquiring an image at each step yields a 2D grid of 2D images of the scene, otherwise known as a 4D parameterized light field. Estimating the 3D depth of the objects in the imaged scene yields a 3D model with 2D surface irradiance patterns, which is the full, non-parameterized 5D light field. The 5D light field can be used to display perspective changes in a way that mimics cognitive processing of the same scene or object. 5D light fields can also be used to create high-precision, 3D depth maps suitable for 3D movies, interactive displays, machine vision, and other applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2010
    Publication date: June 2, 2011
    Inventors: Thomas B. Milnes, Douglas P. Hart
  • Publication number: 20040086342
    Abstract: A stake device for providing support to a structure, including an upper end that includes interface means for transferring torsional force to the support stake to enable an operator to rotate the support stake about a longitudinal axis of the support stake. The stake includes a lower end that includes thread means for threadably engaging ground to allow the support stake to be threaded downwardly into the ground. An elongate intermediate section is disposed between the upper end and lower end and includes at least one opening formed within the intermediate section, said opening running substantially orthogonally to the longitudinal axis of the support stake and being configured to receive a securing device to secure the support device to the structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2002
    Publication date: May 6, 2004
    Inventor: Thomas B. Milne