Patents by Inventor Jason D. Fuhr

Jason D. Fuhr 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).

  • Publication number: 20200161614
    Abstract: A lithium-ion battery module includes a housing having a plurality of partitions configured to define a plurality of compartments within a housing. The battery module also includes a lithium-ion cell element provided in each of the compartments of the housing. The battery module further includes a cover coupled to the housing and configured to route electrolyte into each of the compartments. The cover is also configured to seal the compartments of the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2020
    Publication date: May 21, 2020
    Inventors: Jason D. FUHR, Gary P. HOUCHIN-MILLER, Gerald K. BOWEN, John P. DINKELMAN, Dharmendra PATEL, Alex A. MOLINAROLI
  • Publication number: 20200083502
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a battery pack for a hybrid vehicle. The battery pack includes: multiple battery cells, a housing, a first end plate, a second end plate, a bearing plate and an upper cover, wherein the housing is provided with a bottom portion and side walls extending from the periphery of the bottom portion and forming an upper portion opening; the housing is configured for accommodating the multiple battery cells and the two end plates, when the multiple battery cells are sequentially arranged and mounted into the housing, the first end plate and the second end plate are located at two end sides of the sequentially arranged multiple battery cells to laterally fix the multiple battery cells; the bearing plate is mounted above the top portions of the multiple battery cells; and the upper cover is mounted above the housing to cover the upper portion opening of the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2017
    Publication date: March 12, 2020
    Applicants: CPS Technology Holdings LLC, Johnson Controls Advanced Power Solutions GmbH
    Inventors: Binbin FAN, Liang CHENG, Wei QU, Peng SONG, Yingyao FU, Chang LIU, Jason D. FUHR, Martin WIEGMANN, Xugang ZHANG, Jennifer L. CZARNECKI
  • Patent number: 10573861
    Abstract: A lithium-ion battery module includes a housing having a plurality of partitions configured to define a plurality of compartments within a housing. The battery module also includes a lithium-ion cell element provided in each of the compartments of the housing. The battery module further includes a cover coupled to the housing and configured to route electrolyte into each of the compartments. The cover is also configured to seal the compartments of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: Clarios Advanced Soltuions LLC
    Inventors: Jason D. Fuhr, Gary P. Houchin-Miller, Gerald K. Bowen, John P. Dinkelman, Dharmendra Patel, Alex A. Molinaroli
  • Publication number: 20200035964
    Abstract: A battery system includes an electrochemical cell. The electrochemical cell includes a cover having an opening therein. The electrochemical cell also includes an aluminum terminal pad disposed proximate an outer surface of the cover, and having a pad opening aligned with the opening in the cover. The pad opening includes a tapered surface such that the pad opening has a larger cross-sectional width proximate an upper surface of the aluminum terminal pad than proximate a lower surface of the aluminum terminal pad opposite the upper surface and facing the outer surface of the cover. The electrochemical cell also includes a rivet having a body portion extending through the opening in the cover, a head portion disposed in the pad opening of the aluminum terminal pad, and a shoulder extending between the body portion and the head portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2017
    Publication date: January 30, 2020
    Inventors: Xugang Zhang, Jason D. Fuhr
  • Patent number: 10431780
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to the field of lead-acid batteries. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to handle retention features that are integrated into the packaging of lead-acid batteries. A disclosed lead-acid battery includes a battery handle assembly having a woven fabric strap with a pair of tabs, wherein each tab includes polymer overmolded about a respective end of the strap. The battery also includes a polymer packaging having a cover, wherein a top portion of the cover defines a pair of slots. Each slot is engaged with a respective tab of the battery handle assembly, and wherein each slot includes a respective retention feature that blocks the respective tab from disengaging from the slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: CPS TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS LLC
    Inventors: Nicholas E. Elison, Christopher M. Bonin, Jason D. Fuhr
  • Publication number: 20190273241
    Abstract: Disclosed is a battery having a conductive terminal extending beyond a surface of a battery cover, the conductive terminal having an internal portion and an external surface, wherein the internal portion comprises lead and external surface comprises a non-lead conductive material. Further disclosed is a method for producing such a battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2019
    Publication date: September 5, 2019
    Inventors: Michael J. Koop, Donald J. Caldwell, Jason D. Fuhr, Jeffrey L. Troxel
  • Publication number: 20190273242
    Abstract: Disclosed is a non-lead conductive cap for a battery terminal and battery. The battery may comprise a battery housing and a positive and negative terminal, the positive and negative terminal being accessible through the battery housing; wherein the positive and negative terminal further comprise an electrically conductive cap mounted on both the positive and negative terminal, wherein the electrically conductive cap does not comprise lead.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2019
    Publication date: September 5, 2019
    Inventors: Ruediger Jaeppelt, Jason D. Fuhr, Jeffrey L. Troxel, William R. Murray
  • Patent number: 10347898
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes a battery module having a plurality of battery cells disposed in a housing. Each of the plurality of battery cells has a positive terminal, a negative terminal, an overcharge protection assembly, and a casing having an electrically conductive material. The overcharge protection assembly includes a vent, a first spring component, a second spring component, and an insulative component. The first spring component is coupled to the positive terminal, the second spring component is coupled to the negative terminal, the insulative component is between the first spring component and a conductive piece and between the second spring component and the conductive piece, and the vent is configured to drive the insulative component from between the first and second spring components and the conductive piece, such that the first and second spring components contact the conductive piece, when a pressure in the casing exceeds a threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: CPS Technology Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Xugang Zhang, Jonathan P. Lobert, Jason D. Fuhr, David R. Boone
  • Publication number: 20190157652
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a battery module having a housing and a stack of battery cells disposed in a receptacle area of the housing, where each battery cell has a top having a battery cell terminal and a bottom, where the top of the battery cells face outwardly away from the receptacle area. The battery module includes an integrated sensing and bus bar subassembly positioned against the stack of battery cells and has a carrier, a bus bar integrated onto the carrier, and a biasing member integrated onto the carrier. The bus bar electrically couples battery cells in an electrical arrangement, and the biasing member is between the top of each battery cell and the carrier, where the biasing member has a first material, more compliant than a second material of the carrier, and the biasing member biases the stack of battery cells inwardly toward the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2019
    Publication date: May 23, 2019
    Inventors: Robert J. Mack, Richard M. DeKeuster, Jennifer L. Czarnecki, Ken Nakayama, Matthew R. Tyler, Christopher M. Bonin, Xugang Zhang, Dale B. Trester, Jason D. Fuhr
  • Patent number: 10290841
    Abstract: A battery includes a cell element that is disposed in a housing, and the housing is sealed with a top cover made primarily of plastic. The top cover may include a layer of metallic foil, which may make the top cover more impermeable to moisture. The top cover may also include a vent, which may or may not utilize the metallic foil to determine the primary opening force of the vent. The top cover may also have one or more stiffening ribs that extend downwardly from a bottom portion of the top cover to contact the cell element, so as to limit movement of the cell element within the housing. In addition, the top cover may have one or more conductive terminals that are at least partially overmolded by the plastic of the top cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Matthew R. Tyler, Jason D. Fuhr
  • Patent number: 10199631
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a battery module having a housing and a stack of battery cells disposed in a receptacle area of the housing, where each battery cell has a top having a battery cell terminal and a bottom, where the top of the battery cells face outwardly away from the receptacle area. The battery module includes an integrated sensing and bus bar subassembly positioned against the stack of battery cells and has a carrier, a bus bar integrated onto the carrier, and a biasing member integrated onto the carrier. The bus bar electrically couples battery cells in an electrical arrangement, and the biasing member is between the top of each battery cell and the carrier, where the biasing member has a first material, more compliant than a second material of the carrier, and the biasing member biases the stack of battery cells inwardly toward the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Robert J. Mack, Richard M. DeKeuster, Jennifer L. Czarnecki, Ken Nakayama, Matthew R. Tyler, Christopher M. Bonin, Xugang Zhang, Dale B. Trester, Jason D. Fuhr
  • Publication number: 20180375085
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes a lithium-ion battery module that has a housing and a plurality of lithium-ion battery cells disposed in the housing. Each of the plurality of lithium-ion battery cells includes a first terminal with a first polarity, a second terminal with a second polarity opposite to the first polarity, an overcharge protection assembly, and a casing electrically coupled to the first terminal such that the casing has the first polarity, where the casing has an electrically conductive material. The lithium-ion battery module also includes a vent of the overcharge protection assembly electrically coupled to the casing and a conductive component of the overcharge protection assembly electrically coupled to the second terminal, and the vent is configured to contact the conductive component to cause a short circuit and to vent a gas from the casing into the housing when a pressure in the casing reaches a threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2018
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Inventors: Xugang Zhang, Jason D. Fuhr, Peter A. Selthafner, David R. Boone
  • Patent number: 10164296
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes a battery module having a first electrochemical cell and a second electrochemical cell positioned adjacent to the first electrochemical cell. The battery module also includes a separator plate disposed between the first electrochemical cell and the second electrochemical cell. The separator plate includes a body comprising a first side and a second side opposite the first side. The first side is disposed adjacent a first face of the first electrochemical cell and includes a first indention. The first indention defines a first space between the first face of the first electrochemical cell and the first side of the separator plate. The first space is configured to enable swelling of the first electrochemical cell into the first space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Robert J. Mack, Richard M. DeKeuster, Jennifer L. Czarnecki, Jason D. Fuhr, Mark R. Johnson, Jonathan P. Lobert
  • Publication number: 20180190968
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes a battery module having a plurality of battery cells disposed in a housing. Each of the plurality of battery cells has a positive terminal, a negative terminal, an overcharge protection assembly, and a casing having an electrically conductive material. The overcharge protection assembly includes a vent, a first spring component, a second spring component, and an insulative component. The first spring component is coupled to the positive terminal, the second spring component is coupled to the negative terminal, the insulative component is between the first spring component and a conductive piece and between the second spring component and the conductive piece, and the vent is configured to drive the insulative component from between the first and second spring components and the conductive piece, such that the first and second spring components contact the conductive piece, when a pressure in the casing exceeds a threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2018
    Publication date: July 5, 2018
    Inventors: Xugang Zhang, Jonathan P. Lobert, Jason D. Fuhr, David R. Boone
  • Patent number: 10008710
    Abstract: A lithium-ion battery module has a housing and a plurality of lithium-ion battery cells disposed in the housing. Each of the plurality of lithium-ion battery cells includes a first terminal with a first polarity, a second terminal with a second polarity opposite to the first polarity, an overcharge protection assembly, and a casing electrically coupled to the first terminal such that the casing has the first polarity, where the casing has an electrically conductive material. The lithium-ion battery module also includes a vent of the overcharge protection assembly electrically coupled to the casing and a conductive component of the overcharge protection assembly electrically coupled to the second terminal, and the vent is configured to contact the conductive component to cause a short circuit and to vent a gas from the casing into the housing when a pressure in the casing reaches a threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Xugang Zhang, Jason D. Fuhr, Peter A. Selthafner, David R. Boone
  • Patent number: 9985271
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes a battery module having a plurality of battery cells disposed in a housing. Each of the plurality of battery cells has a positive terminal, a negative terminal, an overcharge protection assembly, and a casing having an electrically conductive material. The overcharge protection assembly includes a vent, a first spring component, a second spring component, and an insulative component. The first spring component is coupled to the positive terminal, the second spring component is coupled to the negative terminal, the insulative component is between the first spring component and a conductive piece and between the second spring component and the conductive piece, and the vent is configured to drive the insulative component from between the first and second spring components and the conductive piece, such that the first and second spring components contact the conductive piece, when a pressure in the casing exceeds a threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Xugang Zhang, Jonathan P. Lobert, Jason D. Fuhr, David R. Boone
  • Publication number: 20180145293
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a stacked cell manufacturing scheme for battery modules. A disclosed method of manufacturing a battery module includes assembling a plurality of prismatic battery cells of the battery module into a cell stack. The method includes compressing the cell stack using an actuating clamping mechanism, inserting the cell stack into a housing of the battery module with the actuating clamping mechanism engaged with and compressing the cell stack, and removing the actuating clamping mechanism from the cell stack. The housing of battery module maintains a compression of the cell stack above a predetermined threshold in the battery module after removing the actuating clamping mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2018
    Publication date: May 24, 2018
    Inventors: Richard M. DeKeuster, Jason D. Fuhr, Robert J. Mack, Jonathan P. Lobert, Jennifer L. Czarnecki
  • Patent number: 9941554
    Abstract: A battery module includes a plurality of electrochemical cells and a structure including an upper portion configured to support a bottom portion of each of the plurality of electrochemical cells and a lower portion coupled to the upper portion. The lower portion includes a thermal management feature having at least one passage provided therein. The passage is configured for a thermal management fluid to pass therethrough to provide thermal management to the electrochemical cells of the battery module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Advanced Power Solutions LLC
    Inventors: Jason D. Fuhr, Kem M. Obasih, Richard M. DeKeuster, Robert J. Mack, Gary P. Houchin-Miller, Dhavalkumar Patel
  • Patent number: 9911953
    Abstract: A device for aiding in the fracture of a vent of an electrochemical cell includes a main body having a first surface and a plurality of lobes extending out from the first surface of the main body such that an open space is provided between adjacent lobes. Each of the plurality of lobes are configured to make contact with the vent during deployment of the vent such that the vent completely separates from a bottom of the electrochemical cell. The open space provided between adjacent lobes is configured to allow gases from inside the electrochemical cell to pass through during deployment of the vent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Johnson Controls-SAFT Advanced Power Solutions LLC
    Inventors: Matthew R. Tyler, Jason D. Fuhr
  • Patent number: 9911951
    Abstract: A battery module includes a housing including a first interior surface, a second interior surface opposite the first interior surface, and a compressed cell assembly disposed within an interior space of the housing between the first and second interior surfaces. The compressed cell assembly includes a plurality of prismatic battery cells arranged in a cell stack that includes a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and a retaining wall disposed between the first end of the cell stack and the first interior surface of the housing. The retaining wall includes a first surface in contact with the first end of the cell stack and a second surface opposite the first surface that contacts the first interior surface of the housing. The first and second interior surfaces are configured to maintain the compressed cell assembly in a compressed state having a compression force above a predetermined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Richard M. DeKeuster, Jason D. Fuhr, Robert J. Mack, Jonathan P. Lobert, Jennifer L. Czarnecki