Patents Examined by Aaron Greso
  • Patent number: 9406945
    Abstract: A bipolar plate used in a fuel cell and a method of making a bipolar plate. The sheet is made generally from a stainless steel, and in a more preferable form from a ferritic stainless steel. In one configuration, a stamping or related metal forming tool operation will introduce a negative clearance as a way to move or otherwise reallocate a portion of the material making up the sheet into other portions as a way to reduce stretching, necking, thinning and related thickness deviations associated with the bends formed in the bipolar plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Siguang Xu, Joseph N. Lovria, Elizabeth Dicocco
  • Patent number: 9401525
    Abstract: A power storage device having a small thickness is manufactured. A manufacturing method of the power storage device includes: forming a first layer and a second layer over a first substrate; forming a first insulating layer, a positive electrode and a negative electrode over the second layer; forming a solid electrolyte layer over the first insulating layer, the positive electrode, and the negative electrode; forming a sealing layer to cover the solid electrolyte layer; forming a planarization film and a support over the sealing layer; separating the first layer and the second layer from each other so that the second layer, the positive electrode, the negative electrode, the solid electrolyte layer, the sealing layer, the planarization film, and the support are separated from the first substrate; attaching the separated structure to a second substrate which is flexible; and separating the support from the planarization film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Konami Izumi
  • Patent number: 9394170
    Abstract: A reactor containing a heat exchanger is disclosed, which can be operated with co-current or counter-current flow. Also disclosed is a system that includes a reactor having a reformer and a vaporizer, a fuel supply, and a water supply. The reactor includes a source of combustion gas, a reformer operative to receive reformate, and a vaporizer operative to receive water. The reformer and vaporizer each include a stack assembly formed by a combination of separator shims and channel shims. The separator shims and channel shims are stacked in a regular pattern to form two sets of channels within the stack assembly. One set of channels will have vertical passageways at either end and a horizontal flowpath between them, while the other set of channels has only a horizontal flowpath.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: Battelle Memorial Institute
    Inventors: Paul E. George, II, Vincent Contini, Matthew E. Goshe
  • Patent number: 9397366
    Abstract: A method for preparing an ionic liquid nanoscale ionic material, the ionic liquid nanoscale ionic material and a battery that includes a battery electrolyte that comprises the ionic liquid nanoscale ionic material each provide superior performance. The superior performance may be manifested within the context of inhibited lithium dendrite formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: CORNELL UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Lynden A. Archer, Surya S. Moganty, Yingying Lu
  • Patent number: 9385367
    Abstract: A process of preparing mesoporous nano-composite LiMn1-xFexPO4 (0?x?1, e.g., x=0, 0.2, 0.5 and 0.8) particles. The process contains the steps of providing a mixture of a soft-template compound, a lithium ion-containing compound, an iron ion-containing compound, a manganese ion-containing compound, and a phosphate ion-containing compound in a solvent, removing the solvent to obtain a LiMn1-xFexPO4 precursor, and calcining the precursor followed by milling and annealing. Also disclosed is a mesoporous nano-composite LiMn1-xFexPO4 particle prepared by this process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: National University of Singapore
    Inventors: Palani Balaya, Vishwanathan Ramar
  • Patent number: 9373875
    Abstract: A storage element for a solid electrolyte energy store and a method of producing a storage element are provided. The storage element has a three-dimensional grid structure made of a material that comprises an electron-conducting redox pair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Carsten Schuh, Thomas Soller
  • Patent number: 9368798
    Abstract: A lithium (Li) ion battery comprising a cathode, a separator, an organic electrolyte, an anode, and a carbon black conductive additive, wherein the carbon black has been heated treated in a CO2 gas environment at a temperature range of between 875-925 degrees Celsius for a time range of between 50 to 70 minutes to oxidize the carbon black and reduce an electrochemical reactivity of the carbon black towards the organic electrolyte.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Robert Kostecki, Thomas Richardson, Ulrike Boesenberg, Elad Pollak, Simon Lux
  • Patent number: 9368781
    Abstract: A storage battery includes a terminal portion for storage batteries having a plurality of bolt insertion holes bored in one or a plurality of directions, a nut insertion opening through which a nut is inserted, a hollow in communication with the bolt insertion holes and the nut insertion opening and the nut having at least one screw hole threaded in a direction coincident with at least one or the plurality of directions. A fixation portion is formed to fix the nut by deforming the terminal portion with the nut being inserted through the nut insertion opening into the hollow and the at least one screw hole of the nut being in communication respectively with the at least one of the plurality of bolt insertion holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: GS Yuasa International Ltd.
    Inventors: Aya Harada, Eiji Hojo, Yasuhide Nakayama, Shin Osaki, Hiroshi Okumura, Katsuya Noguchi
  • Patent number: 9368778
    Abstract: The present invention provides a separator for a non-aqueous secondary battery including a porous substrate and an adhesive layer that is formed on at least one side of the porous substrate and is an aggregate layer of particles that contain a polyvinylidene fluoride resin and have an average particle diameter of from 0.01 ?m to 1 ?m, in which a content of the particles per one adhesive layer is from 0.1 g/m2 to 6.0 g/m2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: TEIJIN LIMITED
    Inventors: Susumu Honda, Satoshi Nishikawa
  • Patent number: 9362555
    Abstract: A rechargeable lithium cell comprising: (a) an anode comprising an anode active material; (b) a cathode comprising a hybrid cathode active material composed of an electrically conductive substrate and a phthalocyanine compound chemically bonded to or immobilized by the conductive substrate, wherein the phthalocyanine compound is in an amount of from 1% to 99% by weight based on the total weight of the conductive substrate and the phthalocyanine compound combined; and (c) electrolyte or a combination of electrolyte and a porous separator, wherein the separator is disposed between the anode and the cathode and the electrolyte is in ionic contact with the anode and the cathode. This secondary cell exhibits a long cycle life, the best cathode specific capacity, and best cell-level specific energy of all rechargeable lithium-ion cells ever reported.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: Nanotek Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Guorong Chen, Zhenning Yu, Aruna Zhamu, Bor Z. Jang
  • Patent number: 9362598
    Abstract: A traction battery assembly includes cells stacked in an array and a thermal plate positioned against the array. An interior of the thermal plate defines a C-channel formed from several chambers spanning a length of the array and configured to circulate fluid therein to facilitate heat transfer with the cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Giriraj Srinivasan, Patrick Daniel Maguire, Sai K. Perumalla
  • Patent number: 9359201
    Abstract: A process for producing hydrogen from natural gas, said process comprises the steps of: (i) providing an autothermal heat exchanger packed-bed membrane reformer (APBMR) comprising: (a) an elongated external gas oxidation compartment comprising an inlet, an outlet and packed oxidation catalyst particles, said inlet and outlet being located each at one extremity of said external gas oxidation compartment; (b) an elongated internal gas steam-reforming compartment comprising an inlet, an outlet and packed steam-reforming catalyst particles, said inlet and outlet being located each at one extremity of said internal gas steam-reforming compartment; (c) one or more hydrogen-separating membrane(s) positioned in said steam-reforming compartment substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said steam-reforming compartment; (d) one insulation layer surrounding said external compartment; and, optionally, (e) one or more elongated internal gas oxidation compartment(s) positioned in said steam-reforming compartment s
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: Technion Research & Development Foundation Ltd.
    Inventors: David Stanislav A. Simakov, Moshe Sheintuch
  • Patent number: 9352968
    Abstract: Graphene-based storage materials for high-power battery applications are provided. The storage materials are composed of vertical stacks of graphene sheets and have reduced resistance for Li ion transport. This reduced resistance is achieved by incorporating a random distribution of structural defects into the stacked graphene sheets, whereby the structural defects facilitate the diffusion of Li ions into the interior of the storage materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Harold H. Kung, Xin Zhao, Cary M. Hayner, Mayfair C. Kung
  • Patent number: 9350003
    Abstract: A battery module for an electric vehicle includes an external case, a battery box, a fixing mechanism, and a rotatable pull tab. The external case is fixed in the electric vehicle, and includes an accommodation space and a first fixing part. The battery box is detachably installed in the accommodation space. The fixing mechanism is disposed on the battery box. When the battery box is installed in the accommodation space, the fixing mechanism engages or disengages the first fixing part to selectively lock or unlock the battery box. When the battery box is locked, the battery box is securely fixed in the accommodation space. When the battery box is unlocked, the battery box is removable from the accommodation space. The rotatable pull tab is detachably inserted into the fixing mechanism. By rotating the rotatable pull tab the battery box is selectively locked or unlocked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: ALEEES ECO ARK CO. LTD.
    Inventors: Chung-Wei Wen, Ching-An Shu
  • Patent number: 9346932
    Abstract: Novel aqueous polyurethane dispersions and shaped three dimensional articles formed therefrom are provided. The aqueous polyurethane dispersions are provided in solvent-free systems of a prepolymer comprising at least one polyether, polyester, or polycarbonate polyol, a mixture of MDI isomers, and a diol. The shaped articles from such dispersions can be heat-activated for bonding, lamination, and adhesion of substrates, including stretch fabrics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: INVISTA North America S.a.r.l.
    Inventors: Hong Liu, Carmen A. Covelli, Douglas K. Farmer
  • Patent number: 9350027
    Abstract: A sealing structure includes: components (1, 2, 11, 16, 21, 22, 33, 34, 44, 51, 52, 61, 62) respectively having sealing surfaces (8, 9, 14, 17, 30, 31, 42, 43, 49, 71, 72) on surfaces thereof facing each other; and a seal member (3, 18, 25, 37, 46, 50, 55, 65, 104, 105, 106, 140, 240) interposed between the sealing surfaces to make the sealing surfaces closely adhere to each other, and at least a hard carbon film (6, 7, 13, 28, 29, 40, 41, 48, 53, 54, 66, 67, 108, 120, 130, 220, 230, 320, 330, 430) is formed on one or both of the sealing surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Kageyama, Yasuhiro Numao, Tomokatsu Himeno, Atsushi Miyazawa, Tsutomu Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 9350058
    Abstract: An air cell includes a positive electrode layer, an electrolyte layer stacked on the positive electrode layer, a negative electrode layer stacked on the electrolyte layer and an electroconductive liquid-tight ventilation layer stacked on the positive electrode layer, the electroconductive liquid-tight ventilation layer being positioned on the opposite side of the positive electrode from the electrolyte layer. The assembled battery is provided with a plurality of the air cells described above. The assembled battery is provided with a flow path through which oxygen-containing gas flows interposed between the electrically-conductive liquid-tight ventilation layer of a first air cell and the negative electrode layer of a second air cell adjacent to the first air cell. The first air cell is electrically connected to the negative electrode layer of the second air cell via the electrically-conductive liquid-tight ventilation layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Mori Nagayama, Nobutaka Chiba, Yoshiko Tsukada, Atsushi Miyazawa
  • Patent number: 9350052
    Abstract: A battery system having a battery, an overcurrent switch-off device in which a first current range with a maximum switchable current, and a second switch-off current range having a minimum switchable current. The maximum switchable current of the first current range and the minimum switchable current of the second current range lie above a maximum current of an operating current range, and the switchable current of the second switch-off current range is at least predominantly greater than the switchable current of the first switch-off current range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: AVL List GmbH
    Inventor: Dietmar Niederl
  • Patent number: 9337462
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electrolyte battery electrode component having a layer having a surface adjoined by electrolyte in the battery and provided with a fluid-conducting channel structure. In this context, it is envisaged that through the fluid-conducting structure has channels having channel depths in the range from 10 to 200 ?m and/or at least 50% of the thickness of the active layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: Karlsruher Institut fur Technologie (KIT)
    Inventors: Wilhelm Pfleging, Robert Kohler, Johannes Pröll
  • Patent number: 9337473
    Abstract: The present invention provides a nonaqueous electrolyte battery that exhibits high energy density and excellent cycle characteristics, as well as a cathode for use in such a battery, and a cathode active material for use in such a cathode. The cathode active material of the present invention has a composition represented by the formula (1) and a crystallite size in the (110) plane of not smaller than 85 nm: LixCo1-y-zNbyMzO2??(1) wherein M stands for at least one element selected from Mg, Y, rare earth elements, Ti, Zr, Hf, V, Ta, Cr, Mo, W, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, B, Al, Ga, C, Si, Sn, N, S, F, and Cl; and 0.9?x?1.1, 0.0002?y?0.01, and 0?z?0.05.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: SANTOKU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Nakamura, Tetsu Fujiwara, Akihito Kaneko