Patents by Inventor Patrick D. WILLSON

Patrick D. WILLSON 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: 9735401
    Abstract: The present application provides configurations, components, assemblies and methods for sealing cells of sodium-based thermal batteries, such as NaMx cells. In some embodiments the cells may include an integrated bridge member hermetically sealed to an electrically conductive case and a ceramic collar of the cell to hermetically seal an anodic chamber of the cell. In some embodiments the cells may include the ceramic collar hermetically sealed to an electrolyte separator tube of the cell to hermetically seal the anodic chamber of the cell. In some embodiments the anodic chamber may be defined, at least in part, by the case, integrated bridge member, ceramic collar and electrolyte separator tube. In some embodiments the cells may include a current collector hermetically sealed to the ceramic collar, and a cap member hermetically sealed to the current collector tube to hermetically seal a cathodic chamber of the cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Sundeep Kumar, Mohamed Rahmane, Neil A. Johnson, Patrick D. Willson, Raymond R. Cole, Timothy Yosenick, Thomas Angeliu, Tobias Juetting
  • Publication number: 20140295255
    Abstract: The present application provides configurations, components, assemblies and methods for sealing cells of sodium-based thermal batteries, such as NaMx cells, without a bridge member. In some embodimentsl the cells may include an electrically conductive case directly hermetically sealed to an electrically insulating ceramic collar of the cell to hermetically seal an anodic chamber of the cell. In some embodiments the ceramic collar and an electrolyte separator tube may be a cosintered one-piece member. In some embodiments the case and the ceramic collar and separator tube may form a hermetically sealed anodic chamber therebetween. In some embodiments the separator tube may define, at least in part, a cathodic chamber therein. In some embodiments the cells may include a current collector hermetically sealed to the ceramic collar, and a cap member hermetically sealed to the current collector to hermetically seal the cathodic chamber of the cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2013
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Sundeep KUMAR, Mohamed RAHMANE, Neil A. JOHNSON, Patrick D. WILLSON, Raymond R. COLE
  • Publication number: 20140295258
    Abstract: The present application provides configurations, components, assemblies and methods for sealing cells of sodium-based thermal batteries, such as NaMx cells. In some embodiments the cells may include an integrated bridge member hermetically sealed to an electrically conductive case and a ceramic collar of the cell to hermetically seal an anodic chamber of the cell. In some embodiments the cells may include the ceramic collar hermetically sealed to an electrolyte separator tube of the cell to hermetically seal the anodic chamber of the cell. In some embodiments the anodic chamber may be defined, at least in part, by the case, integrated bridge member, ceramic collar and electrolyte separator tube. In some embodiments the cells may include a current collector hermetically sealed to the ceramic collar, and a cap member hermetically sealed to the current collector tube to hermetically seal a cathodic chamber of the cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2013
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Sundeep KUMAR, Mohamed RAHMANE, Neil A. JOHNSON, Patrick D. WILLSON, Raymond R. COLE, Timothy YOSENICK, Thomas ANGELIU, Tobias JUETTING