US6036827A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electrolyzer
Assignee: Lynntech Power Systems Ltd
•
Filing: 1997-06-27
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Granted: 2000-03-14
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Expires: 2017-06-27
Abstract
Abstract The present invention provides a method and apparatus for chemically heating a catalyst bed by feeding hydrogen to the catalyst. The invention also provides a method and apparatus for thermally conditioning a catalyst in order to enhance the conversion of unacceptable emissions (emanating from an internal combustion engine) into water and other acceptable emissions. In one aspect of the invention, hydrogen is supplied from an electrolyzer or other hydrogen source and injected into the monolith of a catalytic converter to more rapidly bring the catalyst to a light-off temperature.
Inventors
- 👤 Craig C. Andrews
- 👤 Oliver J. Murphy
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 10:46
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01D; B01D53/00; B01D53/34; B01D53/92; B01D53/94; B01D53/9445; B01D53/9454; B01D53/74; B01D53/86; B01D53/90; B01D53/9495; C; C25; C25B; C25B1/00; C25B1/01; C25B1/02; C25B1/04; C25B15/00; C25B15/08; C25B15/081; C25B9/00; C25B9/17; C25B9/19; F; F01; F01N; F01N3/00; F01N3/08; F01N3/10; F01N3/18; F01N3/20; F01N3/2006; F01N3/206; F01N3/24; F01N3/30; F01N3/32; F01N3/34; B01D2251/00; B01D2251/20; B01D2251/202; F01N2610/00; F01N2610/04; Y; Y02; Y02T; Y02T10/00; Y02T10/10; Y02T10/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
44 words
An electrolyzer comprising: an anode compartment comprising a plurality of rigid components including an anode flowfield and a porous anodic electrocatalyst substrate molded into a cell frame; a cathode compartment comprising a resilient member; a flexible membrane disposed between the anode and cathode compartments.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
44 words
An electrolyzer comprising: an anode compartment comprising a plurality of rigid components including an anode flowfield and a porous anodic electrocatalyst substrate molded into a cell frame; a cathode compartment comprising a resilient member; a flexible membrane disposed between the anode and cathode compartments.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
63 words
An electrolyzer comprising: an anode compartment comprising a plurality of rigid components including an anode flowfield and an anode product outlet in communication with an upper portion of the anode flowfield; cathode compartment comprising a resilient member; a flexible membrane disposed between the anode and cathode compartments; and an upwardly sloping passage in communication between the anode product outlet and a water reservoir.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
63 words
An electrolyzer comprising: an anode compartment comprising a plurality of rigid components including an anode flowfield and an anode product outlet in communication with an upper portion of the anode flowfield; cathode compartment comprising a resilient member; a flexible membrane disposed between the anode and cathode compartments; and an upwardly sloping passage in communication between the anode product outlet and a water reservoir.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
68 words
An electrolyzer comprising: an anode compartment comprising a plurality of components including an anode flowfield and anode product outlet communicating with an upper portion of the anode flowfield; a cathode compartment; a flexible membrane disposed between the anode and cathode compartments; and an upwardly sloping passage in communication between the anode product outlet and a water reservoir; and a bubble detector disposed adjacent to the upwardly sloping passage.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
68 words
An electrolyzer comprising: an anode compartment comprising a plurality of components including an anode flowfield and anode product outlet communicating with an upper portion of the anode flowfield; a cathode compartment; a flexible membrane disposed between the anode and cathode compartments; and an upwardly sloping passage in communication between the anode product outlet and a water reservoir; and a bubble detector disposed adjacent to the upwardly sloping passage.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
54 words
An electrolyzer comprising: an anode compartment comprising a plurality of components including an anode flowfield and anode product outlet communicating with an upper portion of the anode flowfield; a cathode compartment; and a flexible membrane disposed between the anode and cathode compartments; and an upwardly sloping passage in communication with the anode product outlet.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
54 words
An electrolyzer comprising: an anode compartment comprising a plurality of components including an anode flowfield and anode product outlet communicating with an upper portion of the anode flowfield; a cathode compartment; and a flexible membrane disposed between the anode and cathode compartments; and an upwardly sloping passage in communication with the anode product outlet.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The electrolyzer of claim 4, further comprising a bubble detector disposed adjacent to the upwardly sloping passage.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
56 words
An electrolyzer comprising: an anode compartment comprising a plurality of components; a cathode compartment comprising a cathode, a cathode flowfield and a cathode product outlet communicating with an upper portion of the cathode flowfield; a flexible membrane disposed between the anode and cathode compartments; and an upwardly sloping passage in communication with the cathode product outlet.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
56 words
An electrolyzer comprising: an anode compartment comprising a plurality of components; a cathode compartment comprising a cathode, a cathode flowfield and a cathode product outlet communicating with an upper portion of the cathode flowfield; a flexible membrane disposed between the anode and cathode compartments; and an upwardly sloping passage in communication with the cathode product outlet.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
The electrolyzer of claim 6, further comprising a bubble detector disposed adjacent to the upwardly sloping passage.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
The electrolyzer of claim 6, further comprising: a hydrogen storage vessel having an inlet in communication with the cathode product outlet.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
The electrolyzer of claim 8, wherein the hydrogen storage vessel has an inlet that is elevated above the cathode product outlet.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
35 words
The electrolyzer of claim 8, further comprising a check valve disposed in fluid communication between the cathode product outlet and the hydrogen storage vessel to prevent backflow from the hydrogen storage vessel to the cathode.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
35 words
The electrolyzer of claim 8, further comprising: a water reservoir in fluid communication with one of the electrode compartments; and a water recycle line communicating water from the hydrogen storage vessel to the water reservoir.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
22 words
The electrolyzer of claim 8, further comprising: a check valve disposed to prevent backflow from the hydrogen storage vessel to the cathode.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
The electrolyzer of claim 6, further comprising: a hydrogen storage vessel having an inlet in communication with the upwardly sloping passage.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
43 words
An electrolyzer comprising: a first electrode compartment comprising a rigid component; a second electrode compartment comprising a resilient member; a flexible membrane disposed between the first and second electrode compartments; and a water reservoir in fluid communication with one of the electrode compartments.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
43 words
An electrolyzer comprising: a first electrode compartment comprising a rigid component; a second electrode compartment comprising a resilient member; a flexible membrane disposed between the first and second electrode compartments; and a water reservoir in fluid communication with one of the electrode compartments.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
15 words
The electrolyzer of claim 14, wherein the water reservoir is a windshield wiper fluid reservoir.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
17 words
The electrolyzer of claim 14, wherein the water reservoir communicates with an anode through an anode flowfield.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-03-14 | 2003-09-13 | 2004-03-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-03-14 | 2007-09-13 | 2008-03-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-03-14 | 2011-09-13 | 2012-03-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |