Patents Examined by Helen O Conley
  • Patent number: 9997760
    Abstract: A combined battery (100) comprising a plurality of flat-type cells (10A to 10F) by laminating thereof so that polarity of electrode tabs (11A to 11F and 12A to 12F) is alternately set, wherein welding parts to connect in series the flat cells themselves, to compose a set when all the flat-type cells (10A to 10F) are laminated, are separated at a plurality of positions of the combined battery, and the flat-type cells having such a structure that all the flat-type cells are electrically connected in series by welding each of the welding parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masashi Watanabe, Yuuji Tanjou, Masayasu Ota, Tsuyoshi Enokida, Hiroaki Kishimoto, Ryuichi Amagai, Teruo Segawa, Muneto Hayami
  • Patent number: 9991530
    Abstract: A solid oxide fuel cell or a solid oxide electrolyzing cell, including a plurality of cathode-anode-electrolyte units, each CAE-unit having a first electrode for an oxidizing agent, a second electrode for a combustible gas, and a solid electrolyte between the first electrode and the second electrode and an interconnect between the CAE-units. The interconnect including oxidant inlet and outlet sides defining an oxidant flow direction of the oxidizing agent flow, a first gas distribution element. The first gas distribution element contacts the second electrode of the CAE-unit, and a second gas distribution element with oxidizing agent has channels connecting the oxidant inlet and outlet sides. The oxidizing agent channels are in contact with the first electrode of an adjacent CAE-unit, and a least one bypass channel for the oxidant flow arranged such that the bypass channel is not in contact with the first electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: HTCERAMIX S.A.
    Inventor: Zacharie Wuillemin
  • Patent number: 9954236
    Abstract: A humidifier has a stack unit having a plurality of water-vapor-permeable membranes which are arranged parallel one above the other and spaced apart from one another. Two adjacent membranes are connected to one another via fixing elements, wherein a first fixing element acts on the top membrane from above and a second fixing element acts on the bottom membrane from below.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: MANN+HUMMEL GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Fasold, Bernd Tippmer, Michael Harenbrock, Heinz Fuchs, Sascha Bauer, Joerg Menssen, Thomas Tschech, Steffen Schuetz
  • Patent number: 9923244
    Abstract: Provided is a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery in which the structural change of a positive electrode active material is suppressed at high voltage and which can achieve high capacity and long life. The nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery includes a positive electrode containing a positive electrode active material storing and releasing lithium ions, a negative electrode containing a negative electrode active material storing and releasing lithium ions, and a nonaqueous electrolyte. The positive electrode active material is a cobalt composite oxide which has a layered rock salt structure and which includes a lithium layer containing magnesium, magnesium is present in the lithium layer after charge is performed at a potential of 4.53 V or more versus lithium, and 4.5 mole percent to 10 mole percent of a magnesium-containing compound is present on the negative electrode with respect to magnesium in the positive electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: SANYO ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuu Takanashi, Atsushi Fukui, Kazuhiro Hasegawa, Sho Tsuruta
  • Patent number: 9917283
    Abstract: A rechargeable battery includes an electrode assembly including a first electrode plate, a second electrode plate, and a separator between the first and second electrode plates, an electrolyte having viscosity of about 1 Pa·s to about 15 Pa·s at a temperature from about 20° C. to about 25° C., a can having an opening on one surface through which the electrode assembly is inserted, the electrode assembly and the electrolyte being accommodated inside the can, and a cap plate that seals the opening of the can. A ratio of the height of the can to a cross-sectional area of the can is from about 12.5% to about 25%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: SAMSUNG SDI CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Sae-Weon Roh
  • Patent number: 9911998
    Abstract: A device for decreasing hydrogen concentration of a fuel cell system is installed in an exhaust system of a fuel cell system so as to discharge exhaust gas including hydrogen and air from fuel cells to the atmosphere through an exhaust line. The device includes: a catalyst diluter that includes catalysts for diluting hydrogen in the exhaust gas by generating a catalytic reaction, the catalyst diluter being connected to the exhaust line; and an air diluter that is disposed outside the catalyst diluter and guides external air to a gas exit side of the catalyst diluter, in which the catalyst diluter may include a valve unit that opens and closes an external air channel of the air diluter in accordance with flow pressure of the exhaust gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Jinwoo Koo, Myung Ju Jung
  • Patent number: 9905863
    Abstract: A separator for fuel cell is used for a fuel cell and is placed to face a membrane electrode assembly. The separator includes a separator center area placed to face a power generation area of the membrane electrode assembly; a peripheral region extended from the separator center area toward an outer edge; a cooling medium supply manifold and a cooling medium discharge manifold provided in the peripheral region; a fluid flow path area extended from the cooling medium supply manifold through the separator center area to the cooling medium discharge manifold; a sealing gasket provided in the peripheral region and placed to surround the fluid flow path area; and a gasket for peel test provided outside of the fluid flow path area and configured to receive an external force applied as a test for evaluation of an adhesive state of the gasket. Evaluating the adhesive state of the gasket for peel test improves the yield of products in manufacture of the separators for fuel cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tadahiro Ichioka, Chisato Kato, Fumishige Shizuku, Kenji Sato, Takuya Kurihara
  • Patent number: 9899711
    Abstract: Disclosed embodiments include thermal management systems and methods configured to heat and/or cool an electrical device. Thermal management systems can include a heat spreader in thermal communication with a temperature sensitive region of the electrical device. The heat spreader can include the one or more pyrolytic graphite sheets. The heat spreader can include thermal/electrical elevators connecting the one or more pyrolytic graphite sheets. The systems can include a thermoelectric device in thermal communication with the heat spreader. Electric power can be directed to the heat spreader and/or thermoelectric device to provide controlled heating and/or cooling of the electrical device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: GENTHERM INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Alfred Piggott, David Scott Thomas, Daniel Charles Guerithault
  • Patent number: 9882181
    Abstract: An outer peripheral surface of a cylindrical cell is coated with a heat insulation material. A heat-resistant material is stacked radially outside the heat insulation material. An electrical insulation material is stacked radially outside the heat-resistant material. The order in which the heat insulation material, the heat-resistant material and the electrical insulation material are stacked one on top of another may be changed. A coating material other than the heat insulation material, the heat-resistant material and the electrical insulation material may be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuki Tsuji, Masahiro Murasato, Yasuhiro Horiba, Ichiro Okazaki, Takuya Ishihara, Miho Kasahara
  • Patent number: 9876220
    Abstract: An electrode has a current collector and an electrode mixture containing a binder and an active material particle selected from at least one of a carbonaceous material, a metal particle and a metal oxide particle formed on the current collector. When cutting strength of an interface between the current collector and the electrode mixture is represented by “a” and cutting strength in a horizontal direction within the electrode mixture is represented by “b”, the “a” and “b” satisfy a relation of a/b>1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Yasuyuki Hotta, Takashi Kuboki, Tomokazu Morita
  • Patent number: 9876251
    Abstract: Layer cell includes an outer casing, positive electrode, negative electrode, separator disposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode, and electrically conductive current collector passing through the positive electrode, the negative electrode and the separator in an axial direction of the outer casing. The positive electrode, the negative electrode and the separator are stacked in the axial direction of the outer casing. First electrode which is one of the positive electrode and the negative electrode is in contact with an inner surface of the outer casing, but is not in contact with the current collector. Second electrode which is the other electrode is not in contact with the outer casing, but is in contact with the current collector. An outer edge of the second electrode is covered with the separator. Peripheral edge of a hole, in the first electrode is covered with the separator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: EXERGY POWER SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Kaduo Tsutsumi, Masateru Nakoji
  • Patent number: 9871258
    Abstract: A stainless steel having a low surface contact resistance for fuel cell separators is provided. The stainless steel has a Cr content of 16 to 40 mass % or more. The stainless steel includes a region having a fine textured structure on its surface, and the area percentage of the region is 50% or more, preferably 80% or more. The region having a fine textured structure is a region which has a structure having depressed portions and raised portions at an average interval between depressed portions or raised portions of 20 nm or more and 150 nm or less when observed with a scanning electron microscope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: JFE STEEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masayasu Nagoshi, Shinsuke Ide, Shin Ishikawa, Noriko Makiishi
  • Patent number: 9859568
    Abstract: The present invention provides a fuel cell electrode, which has increased physical and chemical durability, and a method for manufacturing a membrane-electrode assembly (MEA) using the same. According to the present invention, the fuel cell electrode is manufactured by controlling the amount of platinum supported on a first carbon support used in an anode to be smaller than that used in a cathode to increase the mechanical strength of a catalyst layer and maintain the thickness of the catalyst layer after prolonged operation and by adding carbon nanofibers containing a radical scavenger to a catalyst slurry to decrease deterioration of chemical durability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Jae Seung Lee
  • Patent number: 9847556
    Abstract: A film-packaged cell has a flat rectangular shape where power-generating element is housed in packaging body together with an electrolytic solution, the film-packaged cell being sealed along four edges of the packaging body in a state where terminals are led out through one edge thereof. In an electrolyte injection step, the electrolytic solution is injected into bag-shaped body where three edges excluding the upper edge of the packaging body are sealed in an orientation where the terminals are protruding laterally, the electrolytic solution being injected from the side of the opening upper edge. In a partial sealing step performed before the electrolyte injection step, only one section of opening upper edge of the bag-shaped body near edge through which terminals are led out is partially sealed, thereby preventing the electrolytic solution from leaking out during electrolyte injection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignees: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., Automotive Energy Supply Corporation
    Inventors: Satoshi Shirai, Nobuaki Akutsu, Takuya Takatsuka
  • Patent number: 9843041
    Abstract: High specific capacity lithium rich lithium metal oxide materials are coated with inorganic compositions, such as metal fluorides, to improve the performance of the materials as a positive electrode active material. The resulting coated material can exhibit an increased specific capacity, and the material can also exhibit improved cycling. The materials can be formed while maintaining a desired relatively high average voltage such that the materials are suitable for the formation of commercial batteries. Suitable processes are described for the synthesis of the desired coated compositions that can be adapted for commercial production.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: Zenlabs Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Herman A. Lopez, Subramanian Venkatachalam, Deepak Kumaar Kandasamy Karthikeyan, Shabab Amiruddin, Sujeet Kumar
  • Patent number: 9837652
    Abstract: A laminated porous film includes a porous base material layer containing polyolefin as a main component; a filler layer containing inorganic particles as a main component; and a resin layer containing resin particles as a main component, the resin particles showing an endothermic curve satisfying conditions (1) and (2) below, the endothermic curve being obtained by differential scanning calorimetry. Condition (1): a temperature at which DDSC is not less than 0.10 mW/min/mg is not less than 70° C. Condition (2): endothermic amount calculated from an area of the endothermic curve in a range of not less than 50° C. and not more than 70° C. is not less than ?20.0 J/g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: SUMITOMO CHEMICAL COMPANY, LIMITED
    Inventor: Junji Suzuki
  • Patent number: 9819005
    Abstract: A secondary battery including an electrode assembly, the electrode assembly including a first electrode, a second electrode, and a separator; a case accommodating the electrode assembly therein; a cell cover sealing the case; and a first terminal unit having one end that is electrically connected to the first electrode of the electrode assembly and having another end extracted to an outside of the case, wherein the first terminal unit includes a first collector in the case and electrically connected to the first electrode of the electrode assembly, the first collector having a fuse area; and an arc cutting block adjacent to the fuse area of the first collector, the arc cutting block being movable to a position previously occupied by the fuse area in the event that the fuse area is cut off, and cutting an arc generation path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: SAMSUNG SDI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Won-Jun Lee, Sang-Won Byun, Hong-Hyeon Lee
  • Patent number: 9812706
    Abstract: A protected active metal electrode and a device with the electrode are provided. The protected active metal electrode includes an active metal substrate and a protection layer on a surface of the active metal substrate. The protection layer at least includes a metal thin film covering the surface of the active metal substrate and an electrically-conductive thin film covering a surface of the metal thin film. A material of the metal thin film is Ti, V, Cr, Zr, Nb, Mo, Hf, Ta, or W. A material of the electrically-conductive thin film is selected from nitride of a metal in the metal thin film, carbide of a metal in the metal thin film, a diamond-like carbon (DLC), and a combination thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Jin-Bao Wu, Li-Duan Tsai, Jia-Jen Chang, Ming-Sheng Leu, Jenn-Yeu Hwang, Chun-Lung Li
  • Patent number: 9806348
    Abstract: A catalyst consisting of structurally ordered mesoporous carbon containing a transition metal and a method for preparing the same are provided. The method for preparing the catalyst includes forming a mixture of a carbon precursor and structurally ordered mesoporous silica, carbonizing the mixture to form a composite, and removing mesoporous silica from the composite.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: UNIST (ULSAN NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY)
    Inventors: Sang Hoon Joo, Jae Yeong Cheon
  • Patent number: 9799906
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a redox flow secondary battery being low in the electric resistance and excellent in the current efficiency as well, and further having the durability. The present invention relates to an electrolyte membrane for a redox flow secondary battery, the electrolyte membrane containing an ion-exchange resin composition containing a fluorine-based polyelectrolyte polymer, and having an ion cluster diameter of 1.00 to 2.95 nm as measured in water at 25° C. by a small angle X-ray method, and to a redox flow secondary battery using the electrolyte membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignees: ASAHI KASEI KABUSHIKI KAISHA, SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Naoto Miyake, Kiyoaki Moriuchi, Michiru Kubata