Patents Examined by Tony S Chuo
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Patent number: 10700366Abstract: A fuel cell includes a membrane electrode assembly and a metal separator. The membrane electrode assembly includes an electrolyte membrane, first and second electrodes, and a resin frame member. The resin frame member is provided on an outer peripheral portion of the membrane electrode assembly. The metal separator is stacked on the membrane electrode assembly in a stacking direction and includes a reactant gas channel, a reactant gas manifold, and a flat portion. The resin frame member of the membrane electrode assembly has an outer shape to be disposed further inward than the reactant gas manifold and includes a connection channel portion that is disposed outward from an electrode surface and that connects the reactant gas manifold and the reactant gas channel to each other. The flat portion is provided in contact with the connection channel portion.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 2015Date of Patent: June 30, 2020Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Kentaro Ishida, Yoshihito Kimura
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Patent number: 10673095Abstract: Electrolytes and electrochemical cells include a novel ionic liquid having a quaternary cation and a boron cluster anion. In some versions, the boron cluster anion will be a functionalized or unfunctionalized icosahedral boranyl or carboranyl anion. Electrochemical cells have an electrolyte including the ionic liquid. In some versions, the ionic liquid is used as a solvent to dissolve an ionic shuttle salt for transport of active material, with an optional co-solvent. Methods to synthesize the ionic liquid include contacting a boron cluster salt with a quaternary salt to form the ionic liquid by a metathesis reaction.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 2017Date of Patent: June 2, 2020Assignees: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., Monash UniversityInventors: Rana Mohtadi, Oscar Tutusaus, Douglas R. MacFarlane, Mega Kar
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Patent number: 10615431Abstract: A method of manufacturing a unit fuel cell includes a step of forming an adhesive layer having ultraviolet curability and heat curability on an outer peripheral edge portion of a side surface of a membrane electrode assembly, a step of disposing a support frame so that an inner peripheral edge portion of the support frame which supports the membrane electrode assembly at an outer periphery of the membrane electrode assembly is disposed on an outer portion of the adhesive layer, and a step of disposing a second gas diffusion layer on the side surface of the membrane electrode assembly so that an outer peripheral edge portion of the second gas diffusion layer is disposed on an inner portion of the adhesive layer, and a step of integrating the membrane electrode assembly, the second gas diffusion layer and the support frame by curing the adhesive layer.Type: GrantFiled: October 7, 2015Date of Patent: April 7, 2020Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Akito Kawasumi, Kotaro Ikeda
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Patent number: 10608270Abstract: A device for generating gaseous dihydrogen, includes a body defining an inside volume having present therein a storage first compartment defined by a first wall and for receiving a hydrogen storage material; a conveyor second compartment, the first compartment surrounding the second compartment and being separated therefrom by a second wall, a conveyor system being present in the second compartment and configured to transport the hydrogen storage material from an inlet of the second compartment communicating with the first compartment to an outlet of the second compartment; and a recovery support in communication with the outlet of the second compartment and connected to the first and second walls, the support being movable in the first compartment. The device also includes a drive system for actuating the conveyor system and the movement of the recovery support in the first compartment; and a heater system configured to heat the second compartment.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2016Date of Patent: March 31, 2020Assignee: ARIANEGROUP SASInventors: Nicolas Autrusson, Arnaud Fournet, Thierry Feraille
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Patent number: 10587012Abstract: Electrolyte compositions comprising a) an ionic liquid and b) a protic acid and/or an organic solvent are suitable for use in electrochemical cells, e.g. metal hydride batteries. The electrolyte compositions may replace the currently employed 30% by weight aqueous KOH. Suitable protic acids include carboxylic acids, mineral acids, sulfonic acids and the like. Suitable organic solvents include organic carbonates, ethers, glymes, ortho esters, polyalkylene glycols, esters, lactones, glycols, formates, sulfones, sulfoxides, amides, alcohols, ketones, nitro solvents, nitrile solvents and combinations thereof. Present batteries may achieve a nominal open-circuit voltage of >1.2 V (volts) and up to about 6 V. The electrolyte compositions allow enlargement of the electrochemical window, thus allowing the use of further cathode active materials.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2015Date of Patent: March 10, 2020Assignee: BASF CorporationInventors: Tiejun Meng, Kwo Young, Diana Wong, Jean Nei
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Patent number: 10559790Abstract: The present invention relates to a lithium ion secondary battery, and more particularly, to a lithium ion secondary battery which makes the best use of an accommodating space in electronic apparatus in which a secondary battery is accommodated or mounted to maximize a performance of the battery. A secondary battery includes an electrode assembly in which a plurality of pocketing anode bodies and a plurality of cathode bodies are alternately stacked, in which a concavely recessed space is formed in the electrode assembly, and the space may be formed in the plurality of pocketing anode bodies and the plurality of cathode bodies excluding a cathode body disposed at the lowest end of the electrode assembly.Type: GrantFiled: June 13, 2016Date of Patent: February 11, 2020Assignee: ROUTE JADE INC.Inventors: Ji Jun Hong, In Joong Kim, Kyung Joon Kim, Young Ho Jung, Young Hun Jin, Taek Joo Jung
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Patent number: 10541439Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating a regenerative bipolar membrane fuel cell and regenerative bipolar cell for storing and generating energy.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 2016Date of Patent: January 21, 2020Assignee: W & F Beheer B.V.Inventors: Machiel Saakes, Hubertus Victor Marie Hamelers, Willem Johannes van Egmond
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Patent number: 10535886Abstract: The invention relates to a fuel cell arrangement (1) and a motor vehicle having a fuel cell arrangement (1). In order to be able to produce the fuel cell arrangement (1) in a compact manner and to be able to operate said fuel cell arrangement in an efficient manner, it is provided in accordance with the invention that an exhaust gas flow path (3a) of the fuel cell arrangement (1) extends through a jet pump (4).Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 2015Date of Patent: January 14, 2020Assignee: AUDI AKTIENGESELLSCHAFTInventors: Christian Lucas, Natalja Ermatschenko
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Patent number: 10529995Abstract: A receptacle in the body of a missile includes a plurality of electrical contacts connected to one or more electrically powered devices within the missile and configured to connect to an electrical power source. The receptacle receives a removable and reusable battery pack including connectors contacting the plurality of electrical contacts when the battery pack is mounted within the receptacle and one or more non-chemical, squibless batteries, preferably comprised of high power density primary cell lithium metal oxide cells. An interface circuit coupled to the squibless batteries initiates, terminates, and re-initiates delivery of electrical power from the squibless batteries to the plurality of electrical contacts based on a control input. Transportation, storage, and use risks associated with squibs in chemical batteries are avoided.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 2015Date of Patent: January 7, 2020Assignee: Raytheon CompanyInventors: Joseph Brent Miller, Jr., Timothy A. Murphy, Donald J. Golding
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Patent number: 10505183Abstract: Provided is a novel negative electrode for nonaqueous electrolyte secondary batteries, which is capable of improving cycle characteristics and is also capable of suppressing aggregation of active material particles in a slurry. The negative electrode active material for nonaqueous electrolyte secondary batteries contains silicon and has a D50 of 0.1 ?m to 5 ?m, and an amount of water measured at 120° C. to 300° C. by the Karl-Fischer method (referred to as “amount of water”) per specific surface area (referred to as “CS”), that is, the amount of water/CS, of 0.1 to 80 ppm/(m2/cc).Type: GrantFiled: April 2, 2013Date of Patent: December 10, 2019Assignee: Mitsui Mining & Smelting Co., Ltd.Inventors: Daisuke Inoue, Yanko Marinov Todorov, Shinya Kagei
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Patent number: 10446803Abstract: An electrochemical pouch cell includes a stacked or rolled arrangement of electrode plates disposed in a cell housing, and a lead tab that protrudes through the cell housing. The lead tab forms an electrical connection with the electrode plates within the cell and permits transfer of current out of the cell via an opening in a seal joint of the pouch cell housing. The lead tab has a configuration that improves reliability of the seal between the lead tab and the opening.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2017Date of Patent: October 15, 2019Assignees: Robert Bosch Battery Systems LLC, Robert Bosch GmbHInventors: Jeffrey Buckholz, Nick Karditsas, Adam Bisaro, Robert Schoenherr
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Patent number: 10431861Abstract: Proposed is an energy storage device, particularly for use in motor vehicles, comprising at least one base body as well as at least one housing section fixed thereto for accommodating at least one energy storage unit. The energy storage device is characterized by the base body comprising at least one integrated cooling duct for a gaseous medium.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2014Date of Patent: October 1, 2019Assignee: FLEXTRONICS INTERNATIONAL KFT.Inventor: Viktor Loewen
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Patent number: 10418599Abstract: A portion of an insulation member makes contact with a surface of a lid body by receiving a caulking force from a caulking member either directly or indirectly via another member. When not receiving the caulking force, a surface of the portion of the insulation member facing the lid body becomes a curved surface which indicates a curve bulging in a load direction of a caulking load on a cut plane, the cut plane cutting the portion of the insulation member in a longitudinal direction of the lid body. When kept in the fastened state by receiving the caulking force, the portion of the insulation member is elastically deformed and the surface of the portion of the insulation member facing the lid body is brought into close contact with the surface of the lid body.Type: GrantFiled: November 26, 2015Date of Patent: September 17, 2019Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Kazuyuki Kusama, Shigeru Matsumoto
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Patent number: 10403872Abstract: A cylindrical battery having a sealing unit which includes at least a valve member, a metal plate disposed farther inside the battery than the valve member and having a joint portion connected to the valve member, and an annular insulating member disposed between an outer peripheral portion of the valve member and an outer peripheral portion of the metal plate. The metal plate has a groove-shaped thin portion disposed around the joint portion, and straight portions that have different angles to the normal to the metal plate are disposed on an inner peripheral side and an outer peripheral side of a cross section of the thin portion perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 2016Date of Patent: September 3, 2019Assignee: SANYO Electric Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kazutoshi Kohira, Kyosuke Miyata, Oose Okutani, Shuji Sugimoto, Tomohiko Yokoyama, Shinya Geshi
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Patent number: 10396404Abstract: An electrochemical cell includes a negative electrode having a first liquid phase having a first active metal, a positive electrode having a second liquid phase having a second active metal, and a liquid electrolyte having a salt of the first active metal and a salt of the second active metal. The electrochemical cell also includes a bipolar faradaic membrane, disposed between the negative electrode and the positive electrode, having a first surface facing the negative electrode and a second surface facing the positive electrode. The bipolar faradaic membrane is configured to allow cations of the first active metal to pass through and to impede cations of the second active metal from transferring from the positive electrode to the negative electrode and is at least partially formed from a material having an electronic conductivity sufficient to drive faradaic reactions at the second surface with the cations of the positive electrode.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 2016Date of Patent: August 27, 2019Assignees: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Total S.A., Total Energies Nouvelles Activites USAInventors: Huayi Yin, Fei Chen, Brice Hoani Valentin Chung, Takanari Ouchi, Donald Robert Sadoway
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Patent number: 10381689Abstract: Provided is a highly reliable nickel-zinc battery including a separator exhibiting hydroxide ion conductivity and water impermeability.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2016Date of Patent: August 13, 2019Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.Inventors: Hiroshi Hayashi, Naohito Yamada, Kenshin Kitoh
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Patent number: 10367207Abstract: A fuel cell stack 101 includes a plurality of fuel cells 105 in which a fuel electrode 109, a solid oxide electrolyte 111, and an air electrode 113 are sequentially laminated, an interconnector 107 that electrically connects the fuel cells 105 which are adjacent to each other, and an interconnector connecting layer 108 that is interposed directly between the air electrode 113 and the interconnector 107. The interconnector connecting layer 108 is formed from a material, which is expressed by a composition formula of (La1-x-ySrxCay)zMnO3-AppmSiO2-DppmMgO (provided that, 0<x?0.4, 0<y?0.4, 0.1?x+y?0.5, 0.95?z<1, A: 10 to 300, D: 10 to 400), through firing.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2015Date of Patent: July 30, 2019Assignee: MITSUBISHI HITACHI POWER SYSTEMS, LTD.Inventors: Hiroshi Tsukuda, Yasuhiko Tsuru, Kenichi Hiwatashi, Shin Yoshida
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Patent number: 10367213Abstract: A method of controlling a fuel cell system includes circulating a coolant through a fuel cell circulation passage in which a fuel cell and a gas liquid separator are provided. A valve is controlled selectively to connect or disconnect the fuel cell circulation passage and an air conditioning equipment circulation passage in which an air conditioning mechanism is provided. The valve is maintained to connect the fuel cell circulation passage and the air conditioning equipment circulation passage to circulate the coolant through the air conditioning equipment circulation passage when it is determined that the coolant includes air bubbles more than or equal to the threshold amount, when the valve connects the fuel cell circulation passage and the air conditioning equipment circulation passage, and when a temperature of the fuel cell is higher than or equal to a threshold temperature even if the air conditioning mechanism stops.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 2017Date of Patent: July 30, 2019Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Shinya Watanabe, Nobutaka Nakajima, Yuji Matsumoto
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Patent number: 10361460Abstract: A process for producing a lithium battery, comprising: (A) Preparing a plurality of conductive porous layers, wet anode layers, and wet cathode layers; (B) Stacking a desired number of porous layers and wet anode layers in an alternating manner to form an anode electrode having a thickness no less than 100 ?m; (C) Placing a porous separator layer in contact with the anode electrode; (D) Stacking a desired number of porous layers wet cathode layers in an alternating manner to form a cathode electrode in contact with the porous separator, wherein the cathode electrode has a thickness no less than 100 ?m; and (F) Assembling and sealing the anode electrode, separator, and cathode electrode in a housing to produce the lithium battery. The consolidated anode or cathode layer is preferably thicker than 300 ?m more preferably thicker than 400 ?m, and further more preferably greater than 500 ?m.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 2015Date of Patent: July 23, 2019Assignee: Nanotek Instruments, Inc.Inventors: Aruna Zhamu, Bor Z Jang
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Patent number: 10347883Abstract: A battery-affixing frame member includes a body plate section and duct-forming members. The duct-forming members are affixed to one surface side of the body plate section and are combined with the body plate section to form gas discharge ducts. The gas discharge ducts are used to discharge gas discharged from the inside of battery modules. The battery-affixing frame member is used to form a battery-affixing member for integrally affixing the battery modules together, the battery modules being arranged on the other surface side of the body plate section.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2014Date of Patent: July 9, 2019Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.Inventors: Hiroshi Takasaki, Tomoaki Aoki