Patents Assigned to ZAF Energy Systems, Incorporated
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Patent number: 11923561Abstract: A pouch cell includes an electrode assembly and a body forming a gas headspace within the pouch. Tabs of the electrode assembly may extend through or around the body and out of the pouch. Gas from the electrode assembly may collect in the gas headspace. The body may accommodate a vent mechanism that also extends out of the pouch.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2022Date of Patent: March 5, 2024Assignee: ZAF Energy Systems, IncorporatedInventors: Randy Moore, Shiloh J. Williams, Adam Weisenstein
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Patent number: 11652251Abstract: An aqueous battery system includes an electrode assembly, a recombination device, and a controller. The recombination device has a catalyst that combines hydrogen and oxygen produced by the electrode assembly to form water and generate heat via exothermic reaction. The controller, responsive to a detected temperature or change in temperature associated with the recombination device due to the heat, changes power supplied to the electrode assembly.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 2020Date of Patent: May 16, 2023Assignee: ZAF Energy Systems, IncorporatedInventors: Eivind Listerud, Adam Weisenstein, Melissa D. McIntyre, Allen Charkey, Michael J. Gordon, Shiloh J. Williams
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Patent number: 11462724Abstract: A method for manufacturing electrodes includes mixing a powder to form a homogenous blend, injecting a lubricant into the homogenous blend to form a dough, kneading the dough to form a fibrillated dough, and outputting segments of the fibrillated dough. The method also includes processing the segments into a continuous plaque, drying the continuous plaque to form an active material sheet, laminating portions of the active material sheet to a current collector substrate to form an electrode blank, and sectioning the electrode blank into electrodes.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2022Date of Patent: October 4, 2022Assignee: ZAF ENERGY SYSTEMS, INCORPORATEDInventors: Michael J. Gordon, Shiloh J. Williams, Allen Charkey, Andrew Souder, II
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Patent number: 11404696Abstract: A green secondary electrode includes a conductive substrate, active material and material additives in direct contact with the conductive substrate, and a combination of vinyl acetate-ethylene and methylcellulose-based additive binding the conductive substrate, active materials, and material additives together. The green secondary electrode may be a positive electrode or a negative electrode.Type: GrantFiled: January 5, 2022Date of Patent: August 2, 2022Assignee: ZAF ENERGY SYSTEMS, INCORPORATEDInventors: Hannah S. Smith, Melissa D. McIntyre, Adam Weisenstein, Andrew F. Souder, II
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Patent number: 11404747Abstract: A zinc-based battery includes a non-sintered separator system including a polymer separator and a coating on the polymer separator. The coating includes cellulose acetate that prevents metallic zinc penetration into the separator, and ceria bound with the cellulose acetate that chemically oxidizes metallic zinc to zinc oxide.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 2022Date of Patent: August 2, 2022Assignee: ZAF ENERGY SYSTEMS, INCORPORATEDInventors: Adam Weisenstein, Allen Charkey, Melissa D. McIntyre
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Patent number: 11367914Abstract: A metal air battery cell has a sealed pouch defined by a metallocene film and a gas and liquid impermeable flexible layer, and an electrochemical cell contained within the pouch. The metallocene film and gas and liquid impermeable flexible layer are sealed to each other and around the electrochemical cell.Type: GrantFiled: November 5, 2021Date of Patent: June 21, 2022Assignee: ZAF ENERGY SYSTEMS, INCORPORATEDInventors: Adam Weisenstein, William A. Garcia, Joel Ballard, Sean Barrett, Melissa D. McIntyre
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Patent number: 11329335Abstract: A metal air battery cell has a sealed pouch defined by a metallocene film and a gas and liquid impermeable flexible layer, and an electrochemical cell contained within the pouch. The metallocene film and gas and liquid impermeable flexible layer are sealed to each other and around the electrochemical cell.Type: GrantFiled: November 5, 2021Date of Patent: May 10, 2022Assignee: ZAF ENERGY SYSTEMS, INCORPORATEDInventors: Adam Weisenstein, William A. Garcia, Joel Ballard, Sean Barrett, Melissa D. McIntyre
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Patent number: 11322729Abstract: A method for manufacturing zinc negative electrodes includes mixing a powder including zinc with polytetrafluoroethylene to form a homogenous blend, injecting a lubricant into the homogenous blend to form a dough, kneading the dough to form a fibrillated dough, and extruding the fibrillated dough through a die to form a ribbon. The method also includes calendering the ribbon to a target thickness to form a plaque, drying the plaque to form an active material sheet, laminating portions of the active material sheet to a current collector substrate to form an electrode blank, and sectioning the electrode blank into zinc negative electrodes.Type: GrantFiled: November 5, 2021Date of Patent: May 3, 2022Assignee: ZAF ENERGY SYSTEMS, INCORPORATEDInventors: Michael J. Gordon, Shiloh J. Williams, Allen Charkey, Andrew Souder, II
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Patent number: 11258103Abstract: A zinc alkaline secondary battery includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode including a multi-valent oxide species, a separator system disposed between the electrodes, and an alkaline electrolyte in contact with the negative electrode. The alkaline electrolyte includes hexametaphosphate salt and zinc acetate. Ligands from the hexametaphosphate salt and zinc acetate are anchored to the negative electrode via chelation sites created by the multi-valent oxide species.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 2020Date of Patent: February 22, 2022Assignee: ZAF ENERGY SYSTEMS, INCORPORATEDInventors: Melissa D. McIntyre, Ernest Rimanosky, Adam Weisenstein, Cody R. Carter, Allen Charkey
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Patent number: 11228032Abstract: An electrochemical component has a green secondary electrode including a conductive substrate, homogeneous pre-synthesized calcium zincate in direct contact with the conductive substrate, and a combination of styrene-butadiene rubber and sintered polytetrafluoroethylene binding the conductive substrate and calcium zincate together.Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 2021Date of Patent: January 18, 2022Assignee: ZAF ENERGY SYSTEMS, INCORPORATEDInventors: Hannah S. Smith, Andrew F. Souder, II, Adam Weisenstein, Michael J. Gordon, Melissa D. McIntyre
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Patent number: 11228065Abstract: A secondary battery recombination system includes catalyst and hydrophobic gas diffusion layers defining an electrode that recombines hydrogen and oxygen into water, and a scaffold encapsulating and in non-bonded contact with the electrode. The electrode may be carbon cloth, carbon felt, carbon foam, or carbon paper. The scaffold may be expanded metal or perforated foil.Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 2021Date of Patent: January 18, 2022Assignee: ZAF ENERGY SYSTEMS, INCORPORATEDInventors: Adam Weisenstein, William A. Garcia, Melissa D. McIntyre, Eivind Listerud
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Patent number: 11205772Abstract: A method for manufacturing zinc negative electrodes includes mixing a powder including zinc with polytetrafluoroethylene to form a homogenous blend, injecting a lubricant into the homogenous blend to form a dough, kneading the dough to form a fibrillated dough, and extruding the fibrillated dough through a die to form a ribbon. The method also includes calendering the ribbon to a target thickness to form a plaque, drying the plaque to form an active material sheet, laminating portions of the active material sheet to a current collector substrate such that the current collector substrate is sandwiched between the portions to form an electrode blank, and sectioning the electrode blank into zinc negative electrodes.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 2021Date of Patent: December 21, 2021Assignee: ZAF ENERGY SYSTEMS, INCORPORATEDInventors: Michael J. Gordon, Shiloh J. Williams, Allen Charkey, Andrew Souder, II
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Patent number: 11128002Abstract: Monobloc batteries include compartments containing cells. Terminals extend into the compartments and are electrically connected with the cells via tabs. The tabs are folded to form bent stacks and include openings in partial registration with each other. The terminals extend through the openings and are secured to the tabs. The terminals are off-center relative to the compartments to preserve space for the bent stacks.Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 2019Date of Patent: September 21, 2021Assignee: ZAF ENERGY SYSTEMS, INCORPORATEDInventors: Michael J. Gordon, Shiloh J. Williams, Michael T. Shireman, Eivind Listerud, Adam Weisenstein, Randy Moore
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Patent number: 10944113Abstract: An electrode includes a current collector, a metal shell in direct contact with and encapsulating the current collector, green dendritic columnar growths extending out of the metal shell and having protrusions thereon, and active material in contact with the metal shell and having embedded therein the green dendritic columnar growths. The protrusions penetrate the active material to form a mechanical retainer that prevents delamination of the active material from the metal shell and define localized regions of increased current density during operation of the electrode that promote deposition of the active material first on the protrusions and then on areas of the green dendritic columnar growths adjacent to the protrusions such that the active material electrochemically adheres to the green dendritic columnar growths and the protrusions enlarge during repeated charge and discharge cycling of the electrode.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2020Date of Patent: March 9, 2021Assignee: ZAF ENERGY SYSTEMS, INCORPORATEDInventors: Melissa D. McIntyre, Adam Weisenstein, Kurt Salloux
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Patent number: 10777781Abstract: Monobloc batteries include compartments containing cells. Terminals extend into the compartments and are electrically connected with the cells via tabs. The tabs are folded to form bent stacks and include openings in partial registration with each other. The terminals extend through the openings and are secured to the tabs. The terminals are off-center relative to the compartments to preserve space for the bent stacks.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 2019Date of Patent: September 15, 2020Assignee: ZAF ENERGY SYSTEMS, INCORPORATEDInventors: Michael J. Gordon, Shiloh J. Williams, Michael T. Shireman, Eivind Listerud, Adam Weisenstein, Randy Moore
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Patent number: 10658675Abstract: An electrode includes a current collector having metallic struts formed by freeze tape casting along a cast direction, and an electrochemically active material occupying portions of the void spaces. The struts define a percolated conductive network and void spaces through the percolated conductive network. The struts are directionally aligned and the void spaces are directionally ordered perpendicular to the cast direction.Type: GrantFiled: November 1, 2018Date of Patent: May 19, 2020Assignee: ZAF ENERGY SYSTEMS, INCORPORATEDInventors: Adam Weisenstein, Allen Charkey, Melissa D. McIntyre
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Patent number: 10651445Abstract: An electrode assembly includes an electrode saturated with electrolyte, and one or more ionically conductive and electronically insulating cellulose acetate coatings forming a continuous and conformal film adhered to and encapsulating the electrode.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2018Date of Patent: May 12, 2020Assignee: ZAF Energy Systems, IncorporatedInventors: Sean Barrett, Adam Weisenstein, Cody R. Carter, William A. Garcia
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Patent number: 10637118Abstract: A metal-air battery cell includes an electrode assembly and a sealed pouch. The electrode assembly includes an air electrode, a negative electrode, a separator in contact with and disposed between the electrodes, and a hydrophobic gas diffusion layer in contact with a side of the air electrode opposite the separator. The pouch envelops the electrode assembly and contains an electrolyte therein. The pouch is defined by a gas permeable hydrophobic flexible layer in contact with the hydrophobic gas diffusion layer. The electrode assembly further includes a terminal extending from and away at least one of the electrodes, and through the pouch. Opposing sides of the pouch are sealed to each other and around the terminal.Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 2019Date of Patent: April 28, 2020Assignee: ZAF Energy Systems, IncorporatedInventors: Adam Weisenstein, Paula J. Kosted, Joel Ballard, Sean Barrett, William A. Garcia
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Patent number: 10511059Abstract: A battery cell includes an electrode assembly having a negative electrode, positive electrode, and separator bathed in an alkaline electrolyte, a pouch encapsulating the electrode assembly, and first and second tabs respectively extending from the positive and negative electrodes through the pouch. The first tab has thereon a coating including acrylic paint and the second tab has thereon a coating including lacquer to discourage creepage of the alkaline electrolyte along the first and second tabs and out of the pouch.Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 2018Date of Patent: December 17, 2019Assignee: ZAF Energy Systems, IncorporatedInventors: Adam Weisenstein, Allen Charkey, Melissa D. McIntyre, Blaine D. Latimer, Benjamin J. Washburn
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Patent number: 10297889Abstract: A metal-air battery cell includes an electrode assembly and a sealed pouch. The electrode assembly includes an air electrode, a negative electrode, a separator in contact with and disposed between the electrodes, and a hydrophobic gas diffusion layer in contact with a side of the air electrode opposite the separator. The pouch envelops the electrode assembly and contains an electrolyte therein. The pouch is defined by a gas permeable hydrophobic flexible layer in contact with the hydrophobic gas diffusion layer, and a gas and liquid impermeable flexible layer in contact with the negative electrode. The electrode assembly further includes a terminal extending from and away at least one of the electrodes, and through the pouch. The layers of the pouch are sealed to each other and around the terminal.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 2016Date of Patent: May 21, 2019Assignee: ZAF ENERGY SYSTEMS, INCORPORATEDInventors: Adam Weisenstein, Paula J. Kosted, Joel Ballard, Sean Barrett