And Programmed, Cyclic, Or Time Responsive Control Means Patents (Class 204/229.2)
  • Patent number: 10577263
    Abstract: A chlorine generator apparatus wherein a housing is adapted to be mounted in an exterior, user-accessible surface of a spa and a chlorine generating electrode cartridge carrying a pair of electrodes is configured to be installable by a user in the housing and to thereafter be removeable by the user for replacement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: Watkins Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Michael McCague, Paul Oddou
  • Patent number: 10388399
    Abstract: Memory devices and methods of operating the same are provided. The memory device including at least one internal circuit including a memory cell array and a peripheral circuit configured to drive the memory cell array, a monitor logic configured to monitor a current flowing into the at least one internal circuit and output a monitoring result, a detect logic configured to detect whether a leakage current flows in the at least one internal circuit based on the monitoring result, and output detected information regarding the leakage current, and diagnosis logic configured to diagnose an error in the at least one internal circuit based on the detected information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hye-jung Kwon, Kwang-il Park, Seung-jun Bae, Eun-sung Seo
  • Patent number: 9982355
    Abstract: A method of monitoring an electrolytic cell including detecting information indicative of a thermite reaction, comparing the information indicative of a thermite reaction to a threshold, generating a thermite response signal according to the comparison, and reacting to the thermite response signal by adjusting the operation of the electrolytic cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: Alcoa USA Corp.
    Inventors: Leroy E. D'Astolfo, William J. Steiner, Eric C. Moreland, Robert L. Kozarek, Yimin Ruan
  • Patent number: 8936712
    Abstract: A water electrolysis system includes a high-pressure hydrogen production unit for electrolyzing water to generate oxygen and high-pressure hydrogen (the pressure of the high-pressure hydrogen being higher than that of the oxygen), and a gas-liquid separation unit for removing water contained in the high-pressure hydrogen. The gas-liquid separation unit is placed on a hydrogen pipe for discharging the high-pressure hydrogen from the high-pressure hydrogen production unit. In addition, the water electrolysis system includes a high-pressure hydrogen supply pipe for transferring dewatered high-pressure hydrogen from the gas-liquid separation unit, a cooling unit, which is placed on the high-pressure hydrogen supply pipe and is capable of variably controlling the temperature of the high-pressure hydrogen to adjust the humidity of the high-pressure hydrogen, and a control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Daisuke Kurashina, Koji Nakazawa, Hisashi Nagaoka, Hiroyuki Ishikawa, Yuji Yamakawa, Jun Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 8858774
    Abstract: Methods of electroplating metal on a substrate while controlling azimuthal uniformity, include, in one aspect, providing the substrate to the electroplating apparatus configured for rotating the substrate during electroplating, and electroplating the metal on the substrate while rotating the substrate relative to a shield such that a selected portion of the substrate at a selected azimuthal position dwells in a shielded area for a different amount of time than a second portion of the substrate having the same average arc length and the same average radial position and residing at a different angular (azimuthal) position. For example, a semiconductor wafer substrate can be rotated during electroplating slower or faster, when the selected portion of the substrate passes through the shielded area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Novellus Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven T. Mayer, David W. Porter, Bryan L. Buckalew, Robert Rash
  • Patent number: 8795481
    Abstract: A power generation system including an electrolyzer may be optimized taking non-linear operational constraints into account with lower processing requirements than current solutions in real time. A pre-processing module assesses non-linear operational constraints in a low-overhead manner and passes results to an optimization module. The optimization module determines an operating power value constrained in accordance with results from the pre-processing module. A post-processing module uses results from the pre-processing and optimization modules to assemble instructions to control the electrolyzer. As a result, optimization may be performed in real time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Mohammad Reza Dadash Zadeh, Amirhossein Hajimiragha, Michael Joseph Krok
  • Publication number: 20140158525
    Abstract: A system comprises a water purification system having an electrolytic cell to receive a flow of waste water. A power source supplies power to the electrolytic cell. The power source at least comprises an H-bridge controller to apply power to the electrolytic cell. A device senses an amount of current being supplied to the H-bridge controller. An analog-to-digital device outputs a digital signal representative of the sensed current. A processor processes the digital signal and outputs a plurality of pulse width modulated control signals for the H-bridge controller. The control signals control the H-bridge controller to apply the power during a first period of time with a current in a first direction to maintain an average for the sensed current, and to apply the power during a second period of time with the current in a second direction to maintain the average.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2012
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Inventor: Anthony Elmer Greene
  • Patent number: 8747632
    Abstract: A blood measuring apparatus includes: first and second chambers which communicate with each other through an aperture; first and second electrodes which are disposed respectively in the first chamber and the second chamber; and a controller: which performs blood measurement by causing a current to flow between the first and second electrodes in a state where diluted blood is contained in the first chamber and diluting solution is contained in the second chamber; and which performs electrolysis by applying a voltage between the first and second electrodes in a state where diluting solution is contained in the first and second chambers, thereby producing washing solution, and which performs washing on at least the aperture, and the first and second chambers by using the produced washing solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Nihon Kohden Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Niiyama
  • Publication number: 20140116884
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a system and method for controlling electroplating, the method including: measuring current applied to an object to be plated at the time of electroplating, by a current sensor; receiving current data corresponding to the current applied to the object to be plated at the time of electroplating to execute necessary processing, and transmitting the processed current data to the HMI, by the measurement system; receiving the current data from the measurement system to execute necessary processing, and transmitting the processed data to the PLC, by the HMI; receiving the data from the HMI and storing the data in a memory, and then comparing and computing the stored current measurement value and a set current value, to control an output of the rectifier, by the PLC; and controlling the current supplied to the electroplating bath according to the control of the PLC, by the rectifier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRO-MECHANICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Young Gu KANG, Jae Chan LEE, Yong Chan JUNG, Kwang Myung KIM
  • Patent number: 8685224
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating hydrogen gas includes a reactor vessel in which electrolysis takes place in water, an electrical current source coupled to the reactor, and a chemical energy conversion device that converts chemical energy to electrical current by reacting hydrogen gas with oxygen gas. Conduits convey the gases from the reactor to the conversion device, and safety devices and controls maintain safe and efficient operation of the system. A backfire suppression apparatus may be used to prevent a backfire from propagating backward through the system and causing damage, while a buffer tank may ensure that the gases supplied to the chemical energy conversion device are substantially free of liquid water or other contaminants. One or more heat exchangers maintain an optimal temperature range for the water inside the reactor, and a programmable logic controller may be provided to monitor and control the operation of the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Innovative Energy Systems and Design, LLC
    Inventors: Tony W. Russo, Pamela Restis
  • Publication number: 20140038074
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus of reacting reaction components. The method comprises electro-chemically reacting reaction components on opposite sides of at least one membrane with at least one catalyst encompassing a respective volume. In another embodiment, the method includes conducting electrolysis, such as electrolysis of water. The apparatus includes at least one membrane with first and second sides encompassing a respective volume. The apparatus further includes at least one catalyst coupled to the first and second sides to electro-chemically react reaction components on the first and second sides in gaseous communication with the at least one catalyst, and a cover coupled to the at least one membrane to separate flow paths on the first and second sides.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2013
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Applicant: Encite, LLC
    Inventor: Stephen A. Marsh
  • Patent number: 8585875
    Abstract: A system for electroplating a substrate includes one or more controllers, with each controller having an FPGA with one or more output channels. A bulk power supply is connected to each controller. One or more transistors are associated with each output channel. An electroplating chamber has one or more electrodes, with each electrode connected to at least one output channel. The system may include a waveform capture and viewing circuit providing built-in process verification and diagnostic tools. The system may also have a throttle back mode which attempts to maintain proper anode current ratios by reducing setpoints of all anodes by the same percentage, if a fault condition causes a reduction in current to one of the anodes. Blackbox logging may also optionally be used for recording selected data values into a circular buffer having a selected amount of memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles A. Cummings, Mikael R. Borjesson
  • Publication number: 20130168236
    Abstract: A power generation system including an electrolyzer may be optimized taking non-linear operational constraints into account with lower processing requirements than current solutions in real time. A pre-processing module assesses non-linear operational constraints in a low-overhead manner and passes results to an optimization module. The optimization module determines an operating power value constrained in accordance with results from the pre-processing module. A post-processing module uses results from the pre-processing and optimization modules to assemble instructions to control the electrolyzer. As a result, optimization may be performed in real time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2012
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Mohammad Reza Dadash Zadeh, Amirhossein Hajimiragha, Michael Joseph Krok
  • Patent number: 8470159
    Abstract: A surface treatment method is provided. A surface treatment method comprising steps of providing a first and a second conductors; applying an electrical field between the first and the second conductors; enclosing the first and the second conductors with a material whose viscosity is varied with an intensity of the electrical field; actuating the first and the second conductors such that the first and the second conductors are in a relative motion with respect to each other; and varying the intensity of the electrical field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: National Taiwan University
    Inventors: Yao Yang Tsai, Chien Hoa Tzeng
  • Publication number: 20130126337
    Abstract: An apparatus for use in the electro-production of metals, comprising a plurality of anodes and a plurality of cathodes in an interleaved configuration, wherein each anode and cathode pair forms a cell; a plurality of power supplies, each cell associated with one or more respective power supplies; and the power supplies are arranged to control a direct current in the one or more cells to a predetermined value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2011
    Publication date: May 23, 2013
    Inventor: Duncan Grant
  • Publication number: 20130084509
    Abstract: The disclosure is directed at a method and apparatus for controlling fuel cell operating conditions. The apparatus includes a set of sensors for monitoring the fuel cell operating conditions and a processing unit, in communication with the set of sensors for determining when the fuel cell operating conditions are outside of an acceptable range. When it is determined that the fuel cell operating conditions are outside of the acceptable range, an electrolyser is activated to electrolyse waste liquid water or water vapour to assist in controlling the fuel cell operating conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Publication date: April 4, 2013
    Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
    Inventors: David Gerard RICH, Taha Shabbir Husain SUTARWALA
  • Publication number: 20110210005
    Abstract: Device and method suitable for the electrochemical processing of an object. The device is provided at least with a chamber for accommodating an electrolyte, means for supporting the object to be processed in this chamber, electrodes arranged in this chamber, and control means for applying an electric current between the object to be processed and the electrodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2009
    Publication date: September 1, 2011
    Applicant: ELSYCA N.V.
    Inventors: Bart Juul Wilhelmina Van Den Bossche, Gert Arnold Antoon Nelissen, Johan Maria Deconinck, Hubertus Martinus Maria Cuppens
  • Patent number: 7998334
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method, an apparatus and a computer program for electrochemical machining where a removal of cathode depositions is performed in a fully automated way by means of an application of optimal pulses of a suitable polarity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics, N.V.
    Inventors: Alexandr Nikolaevich Zajcev, Nasich Zijatdinovich Gimaev, Natalya Markelova, Viktor Nikolaevich Kucenko, Aleksandr Leonidovich Belogorsky, Rafail Ramzisovich Muchutdinov, Igor Leonidovich Agafonov
  • Publication number: 20110155583
    Abstract: A novel system and method for generating hydrogen by electrolysis of water from a green power source. Electricity generated by solar panel or wind mill is measured and connected with plurality of electrolysis stacks. The number of operating electrolysis stacks are constantly controlled by a controlling mechanism that calculates an optimal operating number of electrolysis stacks using the measured electricity parameter and the operating parameter of an electrolysis unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2011
    Publication date: June 30, 2011
    Inventor: Haiming Li
  • Patent number: 7959771
    Abstract: An electrophoretic dip coating plant comprises at least one dip tank, which is filled with a coating fluid. The objects which are to be coated are carried by means of a conveyor system through the coating fluid located in the dip tank and are then in electrical contact with a bus bar arrangement comprising an input and/or output region and a main region. The main region of the bus bar arrangement is connected to one terminal of a d.c. voltage supply unit. The other terminal of this d.c. voltage supply unit is electrically connected to at least one electrode which is immersed in the coating fluid in the dip tank. In order to enable the voltages which are applied to the adjacent regions of the bus bar arrangement to be regulated independently of one another, yet still to manage with a single d.c.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Eisenmann Anlagenbau GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Ingo Grass, Zoltan-Josef Horvath
  • Patent number: 7914650
    Abstract: In an air filtering apparatus in which power is supplied from a power supply to electrodes in an electrolytic bath to electrolyze water in the electrolytic bath and thus generate electrolytic water and the generated electrolytic water and air are supplied to a gas-liquid contact member to filter the air, a voltage varying unit varies the voltage applied between the electrodes, and includes a voltage switching unit for switching a power supply voltage, a voltage adjusting unit for adjusting the power supply voltage switched by the voltage switching unit and applying the adjusted voltage between the electrodes and a controller for controlling the voltage switching unit so that the power supply voltage is adjusted to a voltage nearest to the adjusted power supply voltage by the voltage adjusting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masanori Kobayashi, Mitsuhiro Dobashi
  • Patent number: 7854824
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes measuring the reflectance at the surface of a semiconductor substrate provided with concave portions and deciding a deposition parameter that represents a deposition condition corresponding to the measured reflectance. Then, a metal film is formed on the semiconductor substrate under a condition corresponding to the deposition parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Akira Furuya
  • Publication number: 20100314259
    Abstract: A hydrogen generating system includes an electrode plate assembly including a plurality of electrode plates, a first connector and a second connector, each connector connected to at least some of the plates, an amperage sensor, a temperature sensor, and a controller capable of receiving signals from the amperage sensor and temperature sensor to monitor an amperage and a temperature of the hydrogen generating system. The controller includes a processor programmed to receive a target amperage, select, based on the target amperage, certain of the plurality of conductive plates to receive voltage input during a predetermined duty cycle, determine an actual amperage and an actual temperature resulting from the voltage input, compare the actual amperage and the actual temperature to a respective amperage threshold and temperature threshold; and adjust the duty cycle for applying voltage based on the comparison.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2009
    Publication date: December 16, 2010
    Applicant: ETORUS, INC.
    Inventors: Leslie Paul Arnett, Scott Alan DeHart, Robert E. Yelin
  • Publication number: 20100276291
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for depositing an alloy and/or chemical compounds on a substrate immersed in an electrolyte (1), comprising the steps of: I) applying a first constant or varying potential to the substrate under voltage control for a first time interval (tA); II) applying a second constant or varying current to the substrate under current control for a second time interval (tB); repeating the sequence of steps (I-II). at least twice. Further the use of the method in particular for the deposition of Bi2+xTe3?x is disclosed as well as a specific device for carrying out the above method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2010
    Publication date: November 4, 2010
    Inventors: Lukas Durrer, Wulf Glatz, Etienne Schwyter
  • Publication number: 20100276295
    Abstract: A hydrogen generating system includes a plurality of conductive plates, a first connector and a second connector, wherein each connector is connected to at least some of the plates, an amperage sensor configured to measure an actual amperage of the hydrogen generating system, and a temperature sensor configured to measure an actual temperature of the hydrogen generating system, and a controller. The controller includes a processor programmed to receive a target amperage, a maximum amperage threshold, a maximum temperature threshold, and an optimal temperature, select, based on the target amperage, certain of the plurality of conductive plates to receive an applied voltage, receive a measurement of an actual amperage and an actual temperature from the amperage sensor and the temperature sensor, respectively, compare the actual amperage and the actual temperature to the maximum amperage threshold and the optimum temperature, respectively, and adjust the applied voltage based on the comparison.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2009
    Publication date: November 4, 2010
    Applicant: Etorus, Inc.
    Inventors: Leslie Paul Arnett, Scott Alan DeHart, Robert E. Yelin
  • Publication number: 20100175941
    Abstract: The present invention provides a signal generator device for generating an electrical signal for use in an electrolysis device. The signal comprises a waveform with a voltage, a duty cycle, and a frequency. These waveform parameters may be varied based on data received from a plurality of sensors. The signal generator may generate a second electrical signal superimposed with the first electrical signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2009
    Publication date: July 15, 2010
    Inventor: MOHAMMED KHODABAKHSH
  • Patent number: 7504016
    Abstract: This invention relates to a method for controlling additions of powder materials into an electrolytic cell designed for the production of aluminium by fused bath electrolysis. The method according to the invention, which can easily be automated, can be used to maintain monitoring of operation of the feed even during anode effects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Assignee: Aluminum Pechiney
    Inventors: Claude Ritter, Benoît Sulmont
  • Publication number: 20090008242
    Abstract: The invention relates to methods and devices for the decontamination of fluid, particularly the removal of heavy metals and/or arsenic and/or their compounds from water, by means of electrolysis, wherein the water to be purified subjected to electrodes of different polarities. The invention can include means for control of the pH of the fluid. The invention can also include control systems that allow self-cleaning of electrodes, self-cleaning of filters, and automatic monitoring of maintenance conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2008
    Publication date: January 8, 2009
    Applicant: ARS USA LLC
    Inventors: Andrew Polnicki, Giselher Klose
  • Patent number: 7413637
    Abstract: An automatic dishwashing appliance comprising an unattached electrolytic device which comprises an unattached electrochemical cell capable of generating electrolyzed water in the wash and/or rinse cycle, and more particularly to the unattached electrolytic device itself, methods of use, and articles of manufacture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: The Procter and Gamble Company
    Inventors: William Michael Scheper, Kenneth Nathan Price, Julia Elizabeth Ballas, Mario Elmen Tremblay
  • Patent number: 7231266
    Abstract: A digital control device for tracking a sine wave according to the present invention has a compensator, a control object and a feedback gain. An input into the compensator is a signal obtained by subtracting a control quantity from a reference value. An input into the control object is a signal obtained by subtracting an output of the feedback gain from an output of the compensator. A transfer function of the compensator is (k2z+k1)/(z2?2z cos ?T+1), where ? is an angular frequency, T is a sampling period, z is a z operator, and k1 and k2 are constants. Thus, a second-order compensator can be configured, with which a sinusoidal reference waveform can be tracked simply and with high accuracy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Inventor: Toshiji Kato
  • Patent number: 6916413
    Abstract: Electroplating station S has a head 1 with anode 2, to one side of which there is located an electrically neutral wall 3. The width of anode 2 is provided to accommodate the width of web 6. Serrations 9 are provided on the anode 2, especially in the area of top surface 8. A passageway 4 for electrolyte 5 is between anode 2 and wall 3. Mesh 11 is located at a throat section 12 of passageway 4 shortly before the start of the guide 7. In addition, mesh 13 is located further upstream in passageway 4 as an alternative and/or as an addition to mesh 11. Guide 7 of wall 3, serrations 9, and meshes 11 and 13 enhance and maximize the production of stream-wise vortices. These vortices cause a substantial increase in the ion flow, which overcomes boundary layers and results in additional deposition of copper onto the web 6.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2005
    Assignee: TDAO Limited
    Inventor: John Michael Lowe
  • Patent number: 6811660
    Abstract: Various kinds of wastewater and water such as methane fermentation digestion liquids, domestic wastewater, sewage, service water, culture pond water, wastewater defined by an active sludge law and wastewater from food industries are decomposed, cleaned and treated with a high efficiency with oxygen radicals, hydroxyl radicals and diphenyl para picrihydoral radicals, and injurious materials are decomposed, cleaned and treated by oxidizing and reducing functions. An apparatus for cleaning dissolved organic matters and a trace amount of injurious materials consisting of a anode which is formed or welded by coating clay or glass with a material prepared by mixing 2 to 15% by weight of a transition metal with 1 to 10% of an oxidized transition metal and sintering the glass within a range from 800 to 1500° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2004
    Inventor: Takaaki Maekawa
  • Patent number: 6478949
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for increasing the oxygen content of water have been shown and described. A volume of water is passed between the electrodes of an electrolytic cell, a portion of the volume of water converting to dissolved oxygen. A desired level of dissolved oxygen is selected, and the number of times the volume of water must flow through the electrolytic cell to ensure that the volume of water contains the selected percentage of dissolved oxygen is also selected. The volume of water is then forced through the cell the selected number of times, such that the volume of water contains the desired percentage of dissolved oxygen. The electrolytic cell is in fluid communication with a tank and a pump, the pump drawing the volume of water from the tank and forcing it through the electrolytic cell and back into the tank. The volume of water is thereby recirculated through the electrolytic cell by the pump for the selected number of times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2002
    Assignee: H2O Technologies, Ltd.
    Inventors: Gary S. Hough, Troy T. Johnson
  • Patent number: 6458262
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods and apparatus for analysis and monitoring of electrolyte bath composition. Based on analysis results, the invention controls electrolyte bath composition and plating hardware. Thus, the invention provides control of electroplating processes based on plating bath composition data. The invention accomplishes this by incorporating accurate bath component analysis data into a feedback control mechanism for electroplating. Bath electrolyte is treated and analyzed in a flow-through system in order to identify plating bath component concentrations and based on the results, the plating bath formulation and plating process are controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Assignee: Novellus Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Jonathan David Reid
  • Patent number: 6315886
    Abstract: Electropurification of contaminated aqueous media, such as ground water and wastewater from industrial manufacturing facilities like paper mills, food processing plants and textile mills, is readily purified, decolorized and sterilized by improved, more economic open configuration electrolysis cell designs, which may be divided or undivided, allowing connection as monopolar or bipolar cells. When coupled with very narrow capillary gap electrodes more economic operation particular when treating solutions of relatively low conductivity is assured. The novel cell design is also useful in the electrosynthesis of chemicals, such as hypochlorite bleaches and other oxygenated species.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2001
    Assignee: The Electrosynthesis Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Guillermo Daniel Zappi, Norman L. Weinberg
  • Patent number: 6235178
    Abstract: A method for coating a metal strip using a coating metal, in particular for coating a steel strip using zinc or a zinc/nickel compound, by means of at least one electroplating cell through which current flows and which contains an electrolyte through which the metal strip is passed, the current effecting the deposition of a layer of coating metal on the metal strip, and the current being controlled by a so-called monitor controller that has a process model and a controller part. The current is controlled in such a way that a layer of a desired thickness is deposited on the metal strip, the controller part being adjusted to the altered state of the coating plant in the event of changes in the state of the coating plant, in particular when a new metal strip enters or the coating falls below a minimum intended layer thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2001
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Wilfried Tautz
  • Patent number: 6179986
    Abstract: Disclosed is a novel proton-exchange membrane (PEM) based solid polymer electrolyte electrochemical oxygen control (EOC) system that can deplete and control the oxygen from a closed container to levels sufficient for both disinfestation and preservation. With the use of this electrochemical process, many insects that infest raw agricultural products and other produce can be exterminated, without detriment to the quality of the produce and without deposition of harmful residue, by reducing the ambient oxygen to a controlled low level for several days. The electrochemical process features the use of a bipolar stack comprised of a selected number of PEM cells connected electrically in series and separated by an electrically conductive bipolar plate. Each cell contains a membrane and electrode assembly, consisting of an anode structure and cathode structure in intimate contact with a PEM.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: Giner Electrochemical Systems LLC
    Inventors: Larry L. Swette, Anthony B. LaConti
  • Patent number: 6171469
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for increasing the oxygen content of water have been shown and described. A volume of water is passed between the electrodes of an electrolytic cell, a portion of the volume of water converting to dissolved oxygen. A desired level of dissolved oxygen is selected, and the number of times the volume of water must flow through the electrolytic cell to ensure that the volume of water contains the selected percentage of dissolved oxygen is also selected. The volume of water is then forced through the cell the selected number of times, such that the volume of water contains the desired percentage of dissolved oxygen. The electrolytic cell is in fluid communication with a tank and a pump, the pump drawing the volume of water from the tank and forcing it through the electrolytic cell and back into the tank. The volume of water is thereby recirculated through the electrolytic cell by the pump for the selected number of times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: H2O Technologies, Ltd.
    Inventors: Gary S. Hough, Troy T. Johnson