...that the inventor of the electric motor was a blacksmith named Thomas Davenport? Described as "a brilliantly unsuccessful inventor", Davenport invented the first rotary electric motor. In 1836 he headed out -- on foot -- from his Vermont home to file a patent application at the Patent Office in Washington, D.C. By the time he got there, he had squandered away his money and couldn't afford the $30 filing fee so he turned around and went home. When he later mailed in his application with money he'd raised, the Patent office was destroyed in a fire. He did finally get credit for his invention on Feb. 5, 1837.
Make the Most of Our Site
See this month's Top Inventors and Most Cited Patents.
Stay on top of the latest innovations by subscribing to an RSS feed.
Registered users: Manage your profile.
| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8163141 | Chlorination system for swimming pools and the like An improved chlorination system for pools, spas, potable water supplies, and the like, provides a vertically oriented electrolytic cell connected between a pump and a lightly salinated pool. The cell preferably contains a metallic electrode, such as titanium, and a ... | 04/24/2012 |
| 8062485 | Water treatment device There is disclosed a water treatment device capable of improving the treatment efficiency of for-treatment water and passing the for-treatment water once to sufficiently treat the water without repeatedly circulating the water, and the water treatment device include... | 11/22/2011 |
| 7935230 | Electro-chemical processor A processor for making porous silicon or processing other substrates has first and second chamber assemblies. The first and second chamber assemblies include first and second seals for sealing against a wafer, and first and second electrodes, respectively. The first... | 05/03/2011 |
| 7591934 | Apparatus for producing metal powder by electrowinning This invention relates to an apparatus for producing a metal powder product using either conventional electrowinning or alternative anode reaction chemistries in a flow-through electrowinning cell. A new design for a flow-through electrowinning cell that employs bot... | 09/22/2009 |
| 7438789 | Decomposition cell A decomposition cell having a first metal plate with a first layer of dielectric and a second metal plate with a second layer of dielectric wherein each layer of dielectric is sprayed onto the metal plates in molten form using a thermal plasma spray process. The pla... | 10/21/2008 |
| 7431810 | Apparatus for controlling flow in an electrodeposition process An electrowinning cell, having a tank with an opened upper end defined by a tank edge, electrolyte within the tank and a plurality of flat, metallic electrode plates disposed within the tank in side-by-side, spaced-apart, parallel relationship. Adjacent electrode pl... | 10/07/2008 |
| 7393438 | Apparatus for producing metal powder by electrowinning This invention relates to an apparatus for producing a metal powder product using either conventional electrowinning or alternative anode reaction chemistries in a flow-through electrowinning cell. A new design for a flow-through electrowinning cell that employs bot... | 07/01/2008 |
| 7393439 | Integrated microfeature workpiece processing tools with registration systems for paddle reactors Tools having mounting modules with registration systems are disclosed. The mounting module includes positioning elements for precisely locating a processing chamber and a transport system that moves workpieces to and from the processing chamber. The relative positio... | 07/01/2008 |
| 7368049 | Method and apparatus for electrowinning copper using the ferrous/ferric anode reaction and a flow-through anode The present invention relates, generally, to a method and apparatus for electrowinning metals, and more particularly to a method and apparatus for copper electrowinning using the ferrous/ferric anode reaction and a flow-through anode, such as, for example, a dimensi... | 05/06/2008 |
| 7351331 | Recreational spa including a bromine generator A bromine generator apparatus is provided for producing bromine from a bromide salt. The apparatus includes an electrical power unit, a housing, and first and second electrodes. The housing has inlet and outlet openings constructed and arranged for permitting the pa... | 04/01/2008 |
| 7335284 | Modular electrochemical cell A modular electrochemical cell having two interchangeable assemblies each with a support structure defining a cylindrical recess and having a fitting for connecting a pipe to the assembly. A disc-shaped electrode is arranged inside each recess and the assemblies are... | 02/26/2008 |
| 7335291 | Water treating method, water treating apparatus, and hydroponics system using the apparatus There are provided a water treating method and water treating apparatus which can significantly improve an effect of eliminating microorganisms contained in water intended for drinking and cooking or waster water and a hydroponics system using the apparatus. The met... | 02/26/2008 |
| 7326329 | Commercial production of hydrogen from water Large quantities of low cost hydrogen free of carbon oxides are required as fuel for the hydrogen economy. Commercial quantities of hydrogen can be produced from the electrolysis of water using a diaphragm-less electrolytic cell. The electrolytic cell has an anode c... | 02/05/2008 |
| 7323140 | Moving microdroplets in a microfluidic device The present invention relates to a system and method for moving samples, such as fluid, within a microfluidic system using a plurality of gas actuators for applying pressure at different locations within the microfluidic. The system includes a substrate which forms ... | 01/29/2008 |
| 7311810 | Two position anneal chamber Embodiments of the invention generally provide an annealing apparatus and method for a semiconductor processing platform. The annealing apparatus includes a plurality of isolated annealing chambers, wherein each of the annealing chambers has a heating plate position... | 12/25/2007 |
| 7270786 | Methods and systems for processing microfluidic samples of particle containing fluids The present invention relates to a microfluidic system for processing a cell-containing liquid. The system includes a microfabricated substrate having an enrichment channel to prepare an enriched cell sample from the cell-containing liquid. A flow through member is ... | 09/18/2007 |
| 7258779 | Method and means for hydrogen and oxygen generation A method and means for producing a combustible mixture of hydrogen and oxygen by electrolysis of water using a pulsed application of water onto electrodes while applying an electrical potential between electrodes and where the electrodes are not immersed in the wate... | 08/21/2007 |
| 7252752 | Method and apparatus for removing contaminants from conduits and fluid columns A method and apparatus for contaminant separation utilizes an interleaved array of oppositely charged electrode plates for fluid treatment. Spacing between the parallel electrode plates is graduated so that the volume of the cavities between the opposing electrodes ... | 08/07/2007 |
| 7241390 | Method and system for biologic decontamination of a vessel's ballast water A system for elimination of unwanted species from contaminated ship ballast water. The apparatus comprises an electrolytic cell containing at least one pair of electrodes, electric alternating current, and parallel perforated electrodes, for providing an effective a... | 07/10/2007 |
| 7211176 | Replaceable chlorinator electrode assembly The invention relates to an apparatus for electrolytic purification, comprising: (a) a pressure vessel having at least one access opening, at least one fluid flow inlet, and at least one fluid flow outlet, wherein the fluid flow in... | 05/01/2007 |
| 7204918 | High efficiency plating apparatus and method An improved apparatus for treating plate-like workpieces with a designated chemical solution, including printed circuit boards, includes: (1) a tray for holding the chemical solution, with the tray having an open top which is configured to receive a horizontally-ori... | 04/17/2007 |
| 7198867 | Electrochemical generation, storage and reaction of hydrogen and oxygen An electrolytic apparatus for using catalyst-coated hollow microspheres to produce gases, store them, and to make them available for later use. The apparatus uses catalyst-coated hollow microspheres in reversible electrochemical processes and reactions, such as thos... | 04/03/2007 |
| 7200163 | Method of splitting a signal and signal processing circuitry and apparatus utilizing the same A method of splitting a signal (10) into two parts (10″, 10′) is disclosed together with signal processing circuitry (22) for the same. The method comprises the steps of derotating the signal (10) whereby the frequency band of the der... | 04/03/2007 |
| 7192557 | Methods and systems for releasing intracellular material from cells within microfluidic samples of fluids The present invention relates to a microfluidic system for processing a cell-containing liquid. The system includes a lysing zone to receive the cell-containing sample and a positioning element to position the cell-containing sample in a lysing position in the vicin... | 03/20/2007 |
| 7186382 | Microchip apparatus A system and method for providing an improved microchip measurement apparatus comprising an external reservoir connected via an input line and output line to a well disposed on the microchip. The reservoir and well may be sealed and a pump connected to the input lin... | 03/06/2007 |
| 7181316 | Energy distribution network A hydrogen fuel supply system includes a hydrogen generator for generating hydrogen from an energy source at an outlet pressure. An outlet conduit feeds the hydrogen to a user. A controller controls the hydrogen generator to produce hydrogen at the outlet pressure. ... | 02/20/2007 |
| 7163624 | Electrostatic separator An electrostatic separator intended for separation of liquid phase systems, made up of mixtures of liquids of various electrical permittivity. In particular, the separator is intended for separation of an oil-and-water emulsion. The electrostatic separator contains ... | 01/16/2007 |
| 7160421 | Turning electrodes used in a reactor for electrochemically processing a microelectronic workpiece A facility for selecting and refining electrical parameters for processing a microelectronic workpiece in a processing chamber is described. The facility initially configures the electrical parameters in accordance with either a mathematical model of the processing ... | 01/09/2007 |
| 7153409 | Electrochemical cell system and method of operation In one embodiment, the electrochemical system comprises an electrochemical cell and hydrogen storage in fluid communication with the hydrogen electrode, the hydrogen storage comprising at least one of carbon nanotubes and carbon nanofibers. In one embodiment, the me... | 12/26/2006 |
| 7144493 | Process for the electrochemical decomposition of powders and electrolysis cells suitable therefor Process for the electrochemical decomposition of precursors in powder form by introducing a powder batch between two electrodes of an electrolysis cell, electrodes being designed to be liquid-permeable, and the electrolyte flowing through the powder batch perpendicu... | 12/05/2006 |
| 7087332 | Power slope targeting for DC generators A simple feedback control loop, in conjunction with an improved maximum power point tracking intermediate controller, can be used ensure efficient operation of a power generator. The improved maximum power point tracking controller operates the generator at its maxi... | 08/08/2006 |
| 7087143 | Plating system for semiconductor materials A workpiece processing station is disclosed. The workpiece processing station has particular applicability in an electroplating process for semiconductor wafers. The apparatus includes a work processing bowl having an outer bowl and an inner cup positioned at a loca... | 08/08/2006 |
| 7083733 | Water treatment system and method A water treatment system provides treated or softened water to a point of use by removing a portion of any hardness-causing species contained in water from a point of entry coming from a water source, such as municipal water, well water, brackish water and water con... | 08/01/2006 |
| RE39123 | Plating apparatus The plating apparatus has a plating section in which a plating process is performed and a control section for regulating the plating solution. The plating section includes a plating bath containing plating solution, an anode provided in the plating solution, and a p... | 06/13/2006 |
| 7056608 | Current collector for use in a fuel cell A current collector for use in a fuel cell is described and wherein the fuel cell includes an ion exchange membrane having opposite anode and cathode sides, and a current collector is disposed in ohmic electrical contact with each of the anode and cathode sides, and... | 06/06/2006 |
| 7052600 | Apparatus for treating water The inventive method and apparatus for treating water and water systems. The apparatus and method also assures the retention of calcium in drinking water provided to an animal by suppling water to a water feed line which is connected to a drinking device, oxidizing ... | 05/30/2006 |
| 7045053 | Process and apparatus for the superficial electrolytic treatment of metal strips An apparatus for the superficial electrolytic treatment of metal strips, comprising several separate and non-communicating tanks, or containers, located along the path of metal strip (13). A series of electrodes in pairs (14′, 15′, 14″, 15″, 14′â... | 05/16/2006 |
| 7022211 | Semiconductor wafer holder and electroplating system for plating a semiconductor wafer A semiconductor wafer holder including first and second holding members between which a semiconductor wafer is held. The second holding member includes a second conductive element placed in contact with a first conductive element of the first holding member and the ... | 04/04/2006 |
| 7018522 | Method and apparatus for removing contaminants from conduits and fluid columns A method and apparatus for contaminant separation utilizes an interleaved array of oppositely charged electrode plates for fluid treatment. Spacing between the parallel electrode plates is graduated so that the volume of the cavities between the opposing electrodes ... | 03/28/2006 |
| 7014740 | Brown gas mass production apparatus including a line style electrolytic cell Disclosed is a Brown gas mass production apparatus having a line style electrolytic cell in which an electrolytic cell case having an electrolyte distribution and discharging pipe mounted on the inside bottom surface thereof is coated with insulation material on the... | 03/21/2006 |