Patents by Inventor Steven Droste

Steven Droste 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: 11299023
    Abstract: A fastener assembly includes a stud and a nut. The stud has a proximal end and a distal end with a body therebetween. The stud also has a central axis extending from the proximal end to the distal end. The proximal end has a flange for coupling to a surface. The body has a cavity opening to an orifice at the distal end. The nut is retained within the cavity. Rotation of the nut about the central axis is inhibited.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: James McManaman, Tommy M. Gunther, Steven Droste, Rajaram Subramanian
  • Patent number: 10431803
    Abstract: A traction battery includes cells stacked in an array and having terminals, and endplates sandwiching the array. A busbar module extends between the endplates and includes slots and busbars interleaved along a length of the busbar module. The terminals extend through the slots and connect to the busbars. The busbar module includes a pair of end pieces and a center piece that are separately formed and secured together by connection features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Francisco Fernandez-Galindo, Daniel Paul Roberts, Steven Droste
  • Publication number: 20190044119
    Abstract: A traction battery includes cells stacked in an array and having terminals, and endplates sandwiching the array. A busbar module extends between the endplates and includes slots and busbars interleaved along a length of the busbar module. The terminals extend through the slots and connect to the busbars. The busbar module includes a pair of end pieces and a center piece that are separately formed and secured together by connection features.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2017
    Publication date: February 7, 2019
    Inventors: Francisco FERNANDEZ-GALINDO, Daniel Paul ROBERTS, Steven DROSTE
  • Patent number: 9755212
    Abstract: A vehicle including an array of pouch battery cells, a pair of carriers, and a plurality of busbars is provided. The array of pouch battery cells may each have terminal tabs of opposite polarity extending from opposing cell faces. The pair of carriers may extend along the cell faces and each may define a plurality of apertures sized to receive the terminal tabs. The plurality of busbars may be arranged with the carriers and terminal tabs such that an electrical connection across the cells includes parallel and series connections. The pouch battery cells may be arranged in clusters of adjacent cells connected in parallel, and the busbars may be arranged in spaced apart groups on each of the carriers and joined to adjacent terminal tabs to connect the clusters in series.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Temam Kedir, Steven Droste, Debbi Callicoat
  • Publication number: 20170232916
    Abstract: A fastener assembly includes a stud and a nut. The stud has a proximal end and a distal end with a body therebetween. The stud also has a central axis extending from the proximal end to the distal end. The proximal end has a flange for coupling to a surface. The body has a cavity opening to an orifice at the distal end. The nut is retained within the cavity. Rotation of the nut about the central axis is inhibited.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2016
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Inventors: James MCMANAMAN, Tommy M. GUNTHER, Steven DROSTE, Rajaram SUBRAMANIAN
  • Patent number: 9484562
    Abstract: A traction battery assembly includes a base plate and a plurality of prismatic cells stacked in an array on the base plate. A spacer assembly surrounds and is in contact with at least a portion of each of the cells. Each of the spacers assemblies include a pair of brackets having retaining tabs configured to extend over and retain a top portion of the cell opposite the base plate and anchoring tabs extending away from a base of the array. A clamp is disposed along the array and is configured to anchor the anchoring tabs to the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Brian Utley, Patrick Daniel Maguire, Sai K. Perumalla, Steven Droste
  • Patent number: 9397328
    Abstract: A traction battery assembly is provided including a support member, two battery cells, a busbar, and a segmented busbar holder. The battery cells include adjacent terminals at differing heights relative to the support member. The busbar is attached to the terminals. The segmented busbar holder includes adjacent panels configured to cover and orient the busbar relative to the terminals. The panels are also configured to move relative to one another such that the holder accommodates the differing heights of the terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Steven F. Chorian, Steven Droste, Debbi Callicoat
  • Patent number: 9356270
    Abstract: A battery assembly includes a lower array including opposing endplates having upwardly protruding pins, and an upper array including opposing endplates having pin bores. The upper array includes a mid-tray defining holes positioned such that the pins are receivable in the holes and the bores when the arrays are properly oriented and such that the mid-tray blocks the pins from being received within the bores when the arrays are positioned in a reverse orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Rajaram Subramanian, Tommy M. Gunther, Daniel Miller, Steven Droste, Andrew Elms
  • Publication number: 20160133906
    Abstract: A vehicle including an array of pouch battery cells, a pair of carriers, and a plurality of busbars is provided. The array of pouch battery cells may each have terminal tabs of opposite polarity extending from opposing cell faces. The pair of carriers may extend along the cell faces and each may define a plurality of apertures sized to receive the terminal tabs. The plurality of busbars may be arranged with the carriers and terminal tabs such that an electrical connection across the cells includes parallel and series connections. The pouch battery cells may be arranged in clusters of adjacent cells connected in parallel, and the busbars may be arranged in spaced apart groups on each of the carriers and joined to adjacent terminal tabs to connect the clusters in series.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2014
    Publication date: May 12, 2016
    Inventors: Temam Kedir, Steven Droste, Debbi Callicoat
  • Publication number: 20160064783
    Abstract: A vehicle traction battery heat sink includes a first fin having a cell contact portion in thermal contact with a plurality of battery cells. The first fin also includes a connector portion extending from the cell contact portion. The heat sink further includes a thermal plate in thermal contact with the connector portion and a thermal agent circulated within the thermal plate. The heat sink allows heat generated by the plurality of battery cells to be transferred through the fin to the thermal plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2014
    Publication date: March 3, 2016
    Inventors: Steven F. CHORIAN, George Albert GARFINKEL, Dhanunjay VEJALLA, Sai K. PERUMALLA, Steven DROSTE
  • Publication number: 20160056426
    Abstract: A battery assembly includes a lower array including opposing endplates having upwardly protruding pins, and an upper array including opposing endplates having pin bores. The upper array includes a mid-tray defining holes positioned such that the pins are receivable in the holes and the bores when the arrays are properly oriented and such that the mid-tray blocks the pins from being received within the bores when the arrays are positioned in a reverse orientation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2014
    Publication date: February 25, 2016
    Inventors: Rajaram SUBRAMANIAN, Tommy M. GUNTHER, Daniel MILLER, Steven DROSTE, Andrew ELMS
  • Publication number: 20150280183
    Abstract: A traction battery assembly includes a base plate and a plurality of prismatic cells stacked in an array on the base plate. A spacer assembly surrounds and is in contact with at least a portion of each of the cells. Each of the spacers assemblies include a pair of brackets having retaining tabs configured to extend over and retain a top portion of the cell opposite the base plate and anchoring tabs extending away from a base of the array. A clamp is disposed along the array and is configured to anchor the anchoring tabs to the base.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2014
    Publication date: October 1, 2015
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Brian UTLEY, Patrick Daniel MAGUIRE, Sai K. PERUMALLA, Steven DROSTE
  • Publication number: 20150207126
    Abstract: A traction battery assembly is provided including a support member, two battery cells, a busbar, and a segmented busbar holder. The battery cells include adjacent terminals at differing heights relative to the support member. The busbar is attached to the terminals. The segmented busbar holder includes adjacent panels configured to cover and orient the busbar relative to the terminals. The panels are also configured to move relative to one another such that the holder accommodates the differing heights of the terminals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2014
    Publication date: July 23, 2015
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Steven F. Chorian, Steven Droste, Debbi Callicoat