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).
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Patent number: 11299023Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 16, 2016Date of Patent: April 12, 2022Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: James McManaman, Tommy M. Gunther, Steven Droste, Rajaram Subramanian
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Patent number: 10431803Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 7, 2017Date of Patent: October 1, 2019Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Francisco Fernandez-Galindo, Daniel Paul Roberts, Steven Droste
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Publication number: 20190044119Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: August 7, 2017Publication date: February 7, 2019Inventors: Francisco FERNANDEZ-GALINDO, Daniel Paul ROBERTS, Steven DROSTE
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Patent number: 9755212Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: November 11, 2014Date of Patent: September 5, 2017Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Temam Kedir, Steven Droste, Debbi Callicoat
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Publication number: 20170232916Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: February 16, 2016Publication date: August 17, 2017Inventors: James MCMANAMAN, Tommy M. GUNTHER, Steven DROSTE, Rajaram SUBRAMANIAN
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Patent number: 9484562Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 27, 2014Date of Patent: November 1, 2016Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Brian Utley, Patrick Daniel Maguire, Sai K. Perumalla, Steven Droste
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Patent number: 9397328Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: January 22, 2014Date of Patent: July 19, 2016Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Steven F. Chorian, Steven Droste, Debbi Callicoat
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Patent number: 9356270Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 20, 2014Date of Patent: May 31, 2016Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Rajaram Subramanian, Tommy M. Gunther, Daniel Miller, Steven Droste, Andrew Elms
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Publication number: 20160133906Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: November 11, 2014Publication date: May 12, 2016Inventors: Temam Kedir, Steven Droste, Debbi Callicoat
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Publication number: 20160064783Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 3, 2014Publication date: March 3, 2016Inventors: Steven F. CHORIAN, George Albert GARFINKEL, Dhanunjay VEJALLA, Sai K. PERUMALLA, Steven DROSTE
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Publication number: 20160056426Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: August 20, 2014Publication date: February 25, 2016Inventors: Rajaram SUBRAMANIAN, Tommy M. GUNTHER, Daniel MILLER, Steven DROSTE, Andrew ELMS
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Publication number: 20150280183Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 27, 2014Publication date: October 1, 2015Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Brian UTLEY, Patrick Daniel MAGUIRE, Sai K. PERUMALLA, Steven DROSTE
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Publication number: 20150207126Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: January 22, 2014Publication date: July 23, 2015Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Steven F. Chorian, Steven Droste, Debbi Callicoat