Patents by Inventor Eric H. Miller

Eric H. Miller has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9698401
    Abstract: An improved, new, modified, or more robust embossed battery separator for a storage battery, a method for its production, an envelope embossed separator, batteries including the embossed separators and/or envelopes, and/or related methods for the production and/or use of the embossed separators, embossed envelopes, and/or batteries including such embossed separators and/or envelopes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Daramic, LLC
    Inventors: Eric H. Miller, Jeffrey K. Chambers, John R. Timmons
  • Publication number: 20170104199
    Abstract: Improved battery separators are disclosed herein for use in flooded lead-acid batteries, and in particular enhanced flooded lead-acid batteries. The improved separators disclosed herein provide for enhanced electrolyte mixing and substantially reduced acid stratification. The improved flooded lead-acid batteries may be advantageously employed in applications in which the battery remains in a partial state of charge, for instance in start/stop vehicle systems. Also, improved lead-acid batteries, such as flooded lead-acid batteries, improved systems that include a lead-acid battery and a battery separator, improved battery separators, improved vehicles including such systems, and/or methods of manufacture and/or use may be provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2016
    Publication date: April 13, 2017
    Inventors: Eric H. Miller, M. Neal Golovin, Ahila Krishnamoorthy, Matthew Howard, James P. Perry, J. Kevin Whear
  • Publication number: 20170072610
    Abstract: A method for producing a microporous material comprising the steps of: providing an ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE); providing a filler; providing a processing plasticizer; adding the filler to the UHMWPE in a mixture being in the range of from about 1:9 to about 15:1 filler to UHMWPE by weight; adding the processing plasticizer to the mixture; extruding the mixture to form a sheet from the mixture; calendering the sheet; extracting the processing plasticizer from the sheet to produce a matrix comprising UHMWPE and the filler distributed throughout the matrix; stretching the microporous material in at least one direction to a stretch ratio of at least about 1.5 to produce a stretched microporous matrix; and subsequently calendering the stretched microporous matrix to produce a microporous material which exhibits improved physical and dimensional stability properties over the stretched microporous matrix.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2016
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Inventors: Eric H. Miller, Joseph G. Yaritz, Mark T. Demeuse, J. Kevin Whear
  • Publication number: 20170077479
    Abstract: A battery separator for a lead acid battery addresses the issues of acid stratification and separator oxidation arising from contaminants. The separator includes a microporous membrane and a diffusive mat affixed thereto. The diffusive mat has a three hour wick of: at least about 2.5 cm. The diffusive mat may be made of synthetic fibers, glass fibers, natural fibers, and combinations thereof. The diffusive mat may include silica. The separator may include a rubber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2016
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Inventors: Eric H. Miller, J. Kevin Whear, John R. Timmons, Jeffrey K. Chambers, Pierre A. Hauswald
  • Publication number: 20170054123
    Abstract: Improved battery separators are disclosed herein for use in various lead acid batteries, and in particular lead acid battery strings. The improved separators, batteries, battery strings, methods, and vehicles disclosed herein provide substantially increased battery life, substantially reduced battery fail rate, and substantially higher voltage uniformity among the various batteries in a battery string. The improved battery strings may be advantageously employed in high depth of discharge applications such as electric bicycles, golf carts (or golf cars), uninterrupted power supply (UPS) backup power battery strings, and the like.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2016
    Publication date: February 23, 2017
    Inventors: Eric H. Miller, Yanxia Wu
  • Publication number: 20170047615
    Abstract: An exemplary hybrid battery separator is provided with a porous sheet with a folded bottom edge and joined lateral edges that form a pocket. The folded bottom edge may have one or more openings or slits. The hybrid separators of the present disclosure are particularly useful for flat-plate cycling batteries. The separators of the present disclosure may effectively enhance the battery re-chargeability and the backup time. In addition, the separators of the present disclosure may contribute to the reduction of water loss in the battery, lowering the maintenance needs in service. It is expected that batteries having the separators of the present disclosure may be useful in various applications, such as in inverters, golf carts, as well as solar and traction applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2016
    Publication date: February 16, 2017
    Inventors: Surendra Kumar Mittal, Naveen Prabhu Shanmugam, J. Kevin Whear, Eric H. Miller
  • Publication number: 20160372732
    Abstract: An improved, new, modified, or more robust embossed battery separator for a storage battery, a method for its production, an envelope embossed separator, batteries including the embossed separators and/or envelopes, and/or related methods for the production and/or use of the embossed separators, embossed envelopes, and/or batteries including such embossed separators and/or envelopes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2016
    Publication date: December 22, 2016
    Inventors: Eric H. Miller, Jeffrey K. Chambers, John R. Timmons
  • Publication number: 20160344036
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are novel or improved porous polyolefinic plate wrap materials for batteries, improved wrapped plates, improved systems, improved batteries or cells, non-PVC plate wraps, non-PVC wrapped plates, non-PVC batteries, and/or methods of production and/or use thereof. The use of such polyolefinic wraps may simplify the construction of batteries, produce more efficient or robust batteries, and/or the like.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2016
    Publication date: November 24, 2016
    Inventors: J. Kevin Whear, Jeffrey K. Chambers, Robert W. Saffel, Eric H. Miller
  • Publication number: 20160329540
    Abstract: Improved battery separators, batteries, and systems, as well as methods relating thereto are disclosed herein for use in various lead acid batteries such as valve-regulated lead acid (VRLA) batteries that include one or more AGM layers. The improved battery separators described herein may provide a battery system with an advantage of a significantly decreased acid filling time and a significantly increased acid filling speed. Various improved batteries, methods and systems are described herein using such improved battery separators that increase acid filling speed and decrease acid filling time for a VRLA battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2016
    Publication date: November 10, 2016
    Inventors: Eric H. Miller, Robert W. Saffel
  • Patent number: 9461291
    Abstract: An improved, new, modified, or more robust embossed battery separator for a storage battery, a method for its production, an envelope embossed separator, batteries including the embossed separators and/or envelopes, and/or related methods for the production and/or use of the embossed separators, embossed envelopes, and/or batteries including such embossed separators and/or envelopes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: Daramic, LLC
    Inventors: Eric H. Miller, Jeffrey K. Chambers, John R. Timmons
  • Publication number: 20150188111
    Abstract: A multilayer deep cycle battery separator comprising at least two layers of an automotive-sized separator bonded or welded together. The automotive-sized separator layers include a backweb having a backweb thickness between 6 to 10 mils, an overall thickness of between 25 to 65 mils, and a rib base width of between 20 to 35 mils. The automotive-sized separator layers also have an extraction time of between 45 to 75 seconds, thereby providing an overall extraction time of less than a standard deep cycle battery separator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2014
    Publication date: July 2, 2015
    Inventors: J. Kevin Whear, Eric H. Miller
  • Publication number: 20140255789
    Abstract: A battery separator for a lead/acid battery is resistant to oxidation arising from the use of water or acid containing contaminants, for example chromium (Cr), manganese (Mn), titanium (Ti), copper (Cu), and the like. The separator is a microporous membrane including a rubber. The rubber is no more than about 12% by weight of the separator. The rubber may be rubber latex, tire crumb, and combinations thereof. The rubber may be impregnated into the microporous membrane. The microporous membrane may be a microporous sheet of polyolefin, polyvinyl chloride, phenol-formaldehyde resins, cross-linked rubber, or nonwoven fibers. A method for preventing the oxidation and/or extending battery life of the separator is also included.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2014
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: Daramic, LLC
    Inventors: Eric H. Miller, J. Kevin Whear, Jeffrey K. Chambers
  • Publication number: 20140255752
    Abstract: A battery separator for a lead acid battery addresses the issues of acid stratification and separator oxidation arising from contaminants. The separator includes a microporous membrane and a diffusive mat affixed thereto. The diffusive mat has a three hour wick of: at least about 2.5 cm. The diffusive mat may be made of synthetic fibers, glass fibers, natural fibers, and combinations thereof. The diffusive mat may include silica. The separator may include a rubber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2014
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: Daramic, LLC
    Inventors: Eric H. Miller, J. Kevin Whear, John R. Timmons, Jeffrey K. Chambers, Pierre A. Hauswald
  • Patent number: 8784510
    Abstract: A method for producing an ultracapacitor comprises the steps of: providing a negative porous electrode in contact with a negative conducting plate; providing a positive porous electrode in contact with a positive conducting plate; providing an ultracapacitor separator being a microporous material that separates the negative porous electrode from the positive porous electrode; providing an electrolytic solution that impregnates the negative porous electrode, the positive porous electrode, and the ultracapacitor separator; and curing the ultracapacitor at a temperature of at least 200° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Daramic LLC
    Inventors: Eric H. Miller, Kevin Whear, Mark T. Demeuse
  • Publication number: 20130344373
    Abstract: An improved, new, modified, or more robust embossed battery separator for a storage battery, a method for its production, an envelope embossed separator, batteries including the embossed separators and/or envelopes, and/or related methods for the production and/or use of the embossed separators, embossed envelopes, and/or batteries including such embossed separators and/or envelopes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2012
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Applicant: DARAMIC, LLC
    Inventors: Eric H. Miller, Jeffrey K. Chambers, John R. Timmons
  • Patent number: 8404378
    Abstract: A battery separator for a lead acid (storage) battery is made from a thermoplastic sheet material. The sheet material has a central region flanked by peripheral regions. The central region includes a plurality of longitudinally extending ribs that are integrally formed from the sheet material. The peripheral regions are free of ribs and may include a densified structure. Also disclosed are a method of producing the foregoing separator, an envelope separator made from the sheet material, and a method of making the envelope separator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Daramic LLC
    Inventors: J. Kevin Whear, Eric H. Miller, Salvatore Cardillo, Daniel Dreyer
  • Publication number: 20120070747
    Abstract: In accordance with at least selected embodiments or aspects, the present invention is directed to improved, unique, and/or complex performance lead acid battery separators, such as improved flooded lead acid battery separators, batteries including such separators, methods of production, and/or methods of use. The preferred battery separator of the present invention addresses and optimizes multiple separator properties simultaneously. It is believed that the present invention is the first to recognize the need to address multiple separator properties simultaneously, the first to choose particular multiple separator property combinations, and the first to produce commercially viable multiple property battery separators, especially such a separator having negative cross ribs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Inventors: J. Kevin Whear, Eric H. Miller, Margaret R. Roberts
  • Publication number: 20110304951
    Abstract: A method for producing an ultracapacitor comprises the steps of: providing a negative porous electrode in contact with a negative conducting plate; providing a positive porous electrode in contact with a positive conducting plate; providing an ultracapacitor separator being a microporous material that separates the negative porous electrode from the positive porous electrode; providing an electrolytic solution that impregnates the negative porous electrode, the positive porous electrode, and the ultracapacitor separator; and curing the ultracapacitor at a temperature of at least 200° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2011
    Publication date: December 15, 2011
    Inventors: Eric H. Miller, Kevin Whear, Mark T. Demeuse
  • Patent number: 8027147
    Abstract: A method for producing an ultracapacitor includes the steps of: providing a negative porous electrode in contact with a negative conducting plate; providing a positive porous electrode in contact with a positive conducting plate; providing an ultracapacitor separator being a microporous material that separates the negative porous electrode from the positive porous electrode; providing an electrolytic solution that impregnates the negative porous electrode, the positive porous electrode, and the ultracapacitor separator; and curing the ultracapacitor at a temperature of at least 200° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: Daramic LLC
    Inventors: Eric H. Miller, Kevin Whear, Mark T. Demeuse
  • Publication number: 20110091761
    Abstract: A separator for a lead acid battery is a porous membrane having a positive electrode face and a negative electrode face. A plurality of longitudinally extending ribs, a plurality of protrusions or a nonwoven material may be disposed upon the positive electrode face. A plurality of transversely extending ribs are disposed upon the negative electrode face. The transverse ribs disposed upon the negative electrode face are preferably juxtaposed to a negative electrode of the lead acid battery, when the separator is placed within that battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2010
    Publication date: April 21, 2011
    Inventors: Eric H. Miller, J. Kevin Whear