Patents by Inventor Tommy M. Gunther

Tommy M. Gunther 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: 11462805
    Abstract: A vehicle traction battery assembly including a pair of battery cells and a busbar is provided. Each of the battery cells may include a terminal and one or more locating features. The busbar may span between the cells and define a pair of arms each having a member sized to at least partially interlock with the one or more locating features. The busbar may span between the cells such that the busbar covers at least a portion of upper surfaces defined by each of the cells. At least one of the terminal apertures may be spaced in between outer edges of the respective arms such that a first and second surface area provide space sufficient for weld spots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Rajaram Subramanian, Francisco Fernandez, Stuart Schreiber, Tommy M. Gunther, Yunan Guo
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20190341596
    Abstract: A vehicle traction battery assembly including a pair of battery cells and a busbar is provided. Each of the battery cells may include a terminal and one or more locating features. The busbar may span between the cells and define a pair of arms each having a member sized to at least partially interlock with the one or more locating features. The busbar may span between the cells such that the busbar covers at least a portion of upper surfaces defined by each of the cells. At least one of the terminal apertures may be spaced in between outer edges of the respective arms such that a first and second surface area provide space sufficient for weld spots.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2019
    Publication date: November 7, 2019
    Inventors: Rajaram SUBRAMANIAN, Francisco FERNANDEZ, Stuart SCHREIBER, Tommy M. GUNTHER, Yunan Guo
  • Patent number: 10403875
    Abstract: A vehicle traction battery assembly including a pair of battery cells and a busbar is provided. Each of the battery cells may include a terminal and one or more locating features. The busbar may span between the cells and define a pair of arms each having a member sized to at least partially interlock with the one or more locating features. The busbar may span between the cells such that the busbar covers at least a portion of upper surfaces defined by each of the cells. At least one of the terminal apertures may be spaced in between outer edges of the respective arms such that a first and second surface area provide space sufficient for weld spots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Rajaram Subramanian, Francisco Fernandez, Stuart Schreiber, Tommy M. Gunther, Yunan Guo
  • Patent number: 9985267
    Abstract: An assembly connecting a battery bus bar to battery cell terminals, with the bus bar provided with spring clips. The clips fit over the battery terminals and hold the bus bar and terminals in contact, with welding attaching the clip to the terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Tommy M. Gunther, Wei Long Qiu, Yunan Guo, Louis Paspal, Francisco Fernandez
  • Publication number: 20170263911
    Abstract: An assembly and method of connecting a bus bar to battery cell terminals to produce a bus bar clip assembly. A bus bar is provided with spring clips. The clips fit over the battery terminals and hold the bus bar and terminals in contact for welding the components together.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2017
    Publication date: September 14, 2017
    Inventors: Tommy M. Gunther, Wei Long Qiu, Yunan Guo, Louis Paspal, Francisco Fernandez
  • 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: 9698402
    Abstract: A method of welding a bus bar to battery cell terminals to produce a bus bar clip assembly. A bus bar is provided with spring clips. The clips fit over the battery terminals and hold the bus bar and terminals in contact for welding the components together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Tommy M. Gunther, Wei Long Qiu, Yunan Guo, Louis Paspal, Francisco Fernandez
  • Patent number: 9634364
    Abstract: A vehicle including a pair of spaced apart battery cell arrays, a pair of sub-structures configured to retain the arrays, and a thermal plate assembly disposed between the arrays is provided. Each of the sub-structures may include opposing endplates and opposing upper and lower sidewalls secured to the endplates and each having a flange extending toward and overlapping with the respective flange of the other sub-structure to join the sub-structures without mechanical fastening. The thermal plate assembly may be disposed between the overlapping flanges and the arrays to form a sandwich formation. The thermal plate assembly may include at least one thermal interface component disposed on a side of a thermal plate, and in contact with a portion of at least one of the battery cell arrays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Rajaram Subramanian, Patrick Daniel Maguire, Tommy M. Gunther, Keith Kearney, Stuart Schreiber, John Jardine
  • Patent number: 9543557
    Abstract: A traction battery assembly for a vehicle includes an array of cells stacked on a tray. The array of cells defines opposing longitudinal sides and opposing lateral sides. First and second L-shaped components are attached to the tray. Each of the components includes an end wall and a sidewall that are integrally formed to define a substantially 90° corner. The first and second components are attached together such that each of the sidewalls is disposed adjacent one of the longitudinal sides and each of the end walls is disposed adjacent one of the lateral sides to form a housing around the tray that has an open top and an open bottom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Tommy M. Gunther, Rajaram Subramanian, Stuart Schreiber, John Jardine, Keith Kearney
  • Publication number: 20160308187
    Abstract: A vehicle traction battery assembly including a pair of battery cells and a busbar is provided. Each of the battery cells may include a terminal and one or more locating features. The busbar may span between the cells and define a pair of arms each having a member sized to at least partially interlock with the one or more locating features. The busbar may span between the cells such that the busbar covers at least a portion of upper surfaces defined by each of the cells. At least one of the terminal apertures may be spaced in between outer edges of the respective arms such that a first and second surface area provide space sufficient for weld spots.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2015
    Publication date: October 20, 2016
    Inventors: Rajaram Subramanian, Francisco Fernandez, Stuart Schreiber, Tommy M. Gunther, Yunan Guo
  • 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: 20160118701
    Abstract: A vehicle including a pair of spaced apart battery cell arrays, a pair of sub-structures configured to retain the arrays, and a thermal plate assembly disposed between the arrays is provided. Each of the sub-structures may include opposing endplates and opposing upper and lower sidewalls secured to the endplates and each having a flange extending toward and overlapping with the respective flange of the other sub-structure to join the sub-structures without mechanical fastening. The thermal plate assembly may be disposed between the overlapping flanges and the arrays to form a sandwich formation. The thermal plate assembly may include at least one thermal interface component disposed on a side of a thermal plate, and in contact with a portion of at least one of the battery cell arrays.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2014
    Publication date: April 28, 2016
    Inventors: Rajaram SUBRAMANIAN, Patrick Daniel MAGUIRE, Tommy M. GUNTHER, Keith KEARNEY, Stuart SCHREIBER, John JARDINE
  • Publication number: 20160093847
    Abstract: A traction battery assembly for a vehicle includes an array of cells stacked on a tray. The array of cells defines opposing longitudinal sides and opposing lateral sides. First and second L-shaped components are attached to the tray. Each of the components includes an end wall and a sidewall that are integrally formed to define a substantially 90° corner. The first and second components are attached together such that each of the sidewalls is disposed adjacent one of the longitudinal sides and each of the end walls is disposed adjacent one of the lateral sides to form a housing around the tray that has an open top and an open bottom.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Publication date: March 31, 2016
    Inventors: Tommy M. GUNTHER, Rajaram SUBRAMANIAN, Stuart SCHREIBER, John JARDINE, Keith KEARNEY
  • 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: 20150263326
    Abstract: A method of welding a bus bar to battery cell terminals to produce a bus bar clip assembly. A bus bar is provided with spring clips. The clips fit over the battery terminals and hold the bus bar and terminals in contact for welding the components together.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Publication date: September 17, 2015
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Tommy M. Gunther, Wei Long Qiu, Yunan Guo, Louis Paspal, Francisco Fernandez