Patents Examined by Adam A Arciero
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Patent number: 11611225Abstract: A detecting device detects at least one battery characteristic of at least one battery cell of a battery plane of a battery stack. A carrier has at least one electrical lead element and at least one contact element having a contact section for contacting a mating contact section of the at least one battery cell. The contact element has a sensor section for detecting the at least one battery characteristic of the battery cell. The sensor section is connected by data-communicating to the at least one line element for forwarding the at least one detected battery characteristic. Furthermore, the invention relates to a battery stack having at least one battery plane with at least one battery cell and a detection device.Type: GrantFiled: July 24, 2018Date of Patent: March 21, 2023Assignee: Lion Smart GmbHInventors: Tobias Mayer, Daniel Ostermeier, Christian Behlen, Daniel Quinger, Michael Zettel
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Patent number: 11611122Abstract: A battery coolant heater assembly including a coolant manifold having liquid coolant pathways and a heat transfer surface for transferring heat to liquid coolant flowable within the coolant manifold, an electric heater element thermally contacted to the heat transfer surface of the manifold, and a cover sealably enclosing the heating element between the heat transfer surface and the cover via a gasket. The electric heater element is electrically connected via an electrical connector extending through and formed integrally with the gasket.Type: GrantFiled: July 6, 2020Date of Patent: March 21, 2023Assignee: Dana Automotive Systems Group, LLCInventors: Timothy W. Daughrity, Christopher M. Cook
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Patent number: 11611095Abstract: A battery and a load device are connected to a fuel cell stack. Electric power is supplied from the battery to fuel cell auxiliary equipment. A controller of a fuel cell system has stored therein a desired output of the fuel cell stack. The controller predicts auxiliary equipment power consumption, which is the amount of electric power that is consumed by the fuel cell auxiliary equipment for operation of the fuel cell stack, and determines estimated input and output power of the battery. The controller determines a requested output, which is an output requested for the fuel cell stack, based on the predicted auxiliary equipment power consumption and the estimated input and output power. The controller determines an operating point of the fuel cell stack based on the desired output. The load device controls its operation so that the difference between the requested output and the desired output becomes zero.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 2021Date of Patent: March 21, 2023Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Tomoya Ogawa
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Patent number: 11611110Abstract: A method for producing an all-solid-state battery, comprising the following steps (a) to (d), which are performed in the order of (a), (b), (c), and (d) or in the order of (a), (b), (d), and (c): (a) introducing the all-solid-state battery laminate into the metal case, (b) welding a protruding part of the positive electrode current collector layer or the negative electrode current collector layer and the folding margin part of the metal case, (c) folding the folding margin part, and the protruding part of the positive electrode collector layer or the negative electrode current collector layer, which has been welded to the folding margin part toward the inside of the metal case together, and (d) injecting a sealing resin into the metal case from the opening part of the metal case and then curing the sealing resin to seal the all-solid-state battery laminate in the metal case.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 2022Date of Patent: March 21, 2023Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Yushi Suzuki
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Patent number: 11577627Abstract: A control device for a fuel cell vehicle includes a power limiter limiting power of a fuel cell when a temperature correlation value correlated to a temperature of the fuel cell indicates that the temperature is equal to or higher than a temperature threshold, a calculation unit calculating a weight of a towed vehicle, a gradient acquirer acquiring upward gradients at respective points on a planned traveling route, a predictor predicting whether the power of the fuel cell is limited when the fuel cell vehicle is traveling along the planned traveling route in a towing travel state, and a controller issuing, when the predictor predicts that the power of the fuel cell is limited, an alert that a vehicle speed of the fuel cell vehicle is expected to decrease when the fuel cell vehicle is traveling along the planned traveling route in the towing travel state.Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 2020Date of Patent: February 14, 2023Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Hiromichi Sato
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Patent number: 11581563Abstract: A zinc-iron chloride flow battery relies on mixed, equimolar electrolytes to maintain a consistent open-circuit voltage of about 1.5 V and stable performance during continuous charge-discharge. Considering the good performance relative to the low-cost materials, zinc-iron chloride flow batteries represent a promising new approach in grid-scale and other energy storage applications.Type: GrantFiled: November 3, 2017Date of Patent: February 14, 2023Assignee: CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITYInventors: Steven Selverston, Jesse Wainright
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Patent number: 11569512Abstract: The present invention relates to a membrane electrode unit comprising a polymer membrane doped with a mineral acid as well as two electrodes, characterized in that the polymer membrane comprises at least one polymer with at least one nitrogen atom and at least one electrode comprises a catalyst which is formed from at least one precious metal and at least one metal less precious according to the electrochemical series.Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 2005Date of Patent: January 31, 2023Assignee: BASF FUEL CELL GMBHInventors: Thomas Schmidt, Oemer Uensal, Mathias Weber, Isabel Kundler, Gordon Calundann, Jochen Baurmeister
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Patent number: 11565588Abstract: A fuel cell vehicle includes a travel prohibition control unit. In the case where a lid sensor detects an open state of a lid, the travel prohibition control unit performs travel prohibition control to prohibit travel of the fuel cell vehicle. In the case where the number of shift control operations has reached a release number within release time, the travel prohibition control unit releases the travel prohibition control, and in the case where the number of shift control operations has not reached the release number within the release time, the travel prohibition control unit continues the travel prohibition control. The release number is two or more.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2020Date of Patent: January 31, 2023Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Kenji Taruya, Yasushi Shionoya
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Patent number: 11563221Abstract: A plug connector is provided for making electrical contact with a multiple number of bipolar plates having a contact groove. The plug connector includes a plug body formed from electrically insulating material, through which plug body a multiple number of electrically separated contact elements are guided, one contact element of each of which engaging in a corresponding contact groove of one of the bipolar plates and thereby making electrical contact with the bipolar plate. Each of the contact elements takes the form of an elastically deformable wire bracket engaging in the contact groove. A bipolar plate may be combined with a plug connector and other components of a fuel cell stack.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 2019Date of Patent: January 24, 2023Assignee: Audi AGInventor: Sebastian Gehres
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Patent number: 11557800Abstract: A cold plate for a battery may comprise channels that extend from a first end of the plate to a second end of the plate or from a first side of the plate to a second side of the plate, the channels are located in parallel with each other and between the top surface and the bottom surface. The channels may be separated from each other by walls. The plate may be milled to form a first manifold on each end. The plate may also be milled to form notches in the surface(s) over the manifold. A port for the inlet and a port for the outlet of a working fluid may be inserted into the notches. The plate may have end caps, and the end caps and the ports may be welded or brazed to form a sealed enclosure. In various embodiment, the plate is an extruded plate, a cast plate, or a stamped/formed plate.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2019Date of Patent: January 17, 2023Assignee: ROMEO SYSTEMS TECHNOLOGY, LLCInventors: W. Porter Harris, Umran Ashraf, Robert Wesley Thibault, Nick Certo, Prahit Dubey, Karlo Galvan
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Patent number: 11552347Abstract: An apparatus and method, according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a battery pack having a coolant inlet and a coolant outlet, a coolant source to cool the battery pack, and a proportional valve in communication with the coolant inlet and the coolant outlet, and in communication with the coolant source. A battery control module controls the proportional valve such that a direction of flow is switchable at the coolant inlet and the coolant outlet based on temperatures at the coolant inlet and the coolant outlet to provide bi-directional cooling flow through the battery pack. The battery control module directly connects the coolant outlet to the coolant inlet via the proportional valve to bypass the coolant source in response to a predetermined condition.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2019Date of Patent: January 10, 2023Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Suriyaprakash Ayyangar Janarthanam, Abdul Lateef, John Sturza, Philip Michael Gonzales, Chuck Honick
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Patent number: 11552367Abstract: A battery holder structure is disposed on an electric wrench which includes a battery unit, and the battery holder structure includes a back cover assembly. The back cover assembly is assembled on an end of the electric wrench, and the back cover assembly includes a cover, a supporting member, a first elastic member and a second elastic member. The cover has an accommodating space. The supporting member is disposed in the accommodating space. The first elastic member is assembled on an end of the supporting member, an end of the first elastic member contacts with the cover, and another end of the first elastic member contacts with the supporting member. The second elastic member is assembled on another end of the supporting member, an end of the second elastic member contacts with the supporting member, and another end of the second elastic member contacts with the battery unit.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2020Date of Patent: January 10, 2023Assignee: KABO TOOL COMPANYInventor: Chih-Ching Hsieh
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Patent number: 11522236Abstract: A battery pack for an electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle may include a housing, a stack of battery cells disposed within the housing, and a cooling subassembly. The housing typically holds the cell stack together, and the cooling subassembly typically cools the cell stack to prevent damage to the battery cells and to maintain the performance of the battery cells. The cooling subassembly may include a cold plate defining a liquid flow channel and one or more thermoelectric devices (TEDs) that are operable to cool the cell stack when current is supplied thereto. Heat spreaders may be employed within the battery pack, and exemplary configurations of components to thermally and mechanically couple the cooling subassembly are described.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2020Date of Patent: December 6, 2022Assignee: HYLIION INC.Inventors: David Scott Thomas, Alex Ho Yang, Timothy Hughes
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Patent number: 11518274Abstract: A battery cooling system includes a cooling fan that takes in inside air of a vehicle cabin to an intake passage and sends the air to a battery communicating with the vehicle cabin through the intake passage, a battery temperature sensor that detects a temperature of the battery, an intake air temperature sensor that is disposed in the intake passage and detects a temperature of the air flowing through the intake passage, and a controller. The controller controls the cooling fan based on the detected temperatures. The controller performs a temperature check operation. Firstly, when the difference value between the detected temperatures is larger than zero, the controller repeats the temperature check operation. Afterward, When the difference value in the latest temperature check operation is smaller than the difference value in the previous temperature check operation and larger than zero, the controller repeats the temperature check operation.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 2020Date of Patent: December 6, 2022Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATIONInventors: Tomoki Shinozaki, Ringo Shimada
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Patent number: 11522207Abstract: A fuel cell system includes fuel cell, an electrical storage device that stores electric power generated by the fuel cell, and a control device that controls generation of power by the fuel cell, that acquires a charging rate of the electrical storage device, when the electric power in the electrical storage device is supplied to external devices, the control device performs first control which increases a charging rate of the electrical storage device and second control which restricts a power generation amount of the fuel cell to be smaller than in the first control and decreases a charging rate of the electrical storage device, and when a temperature detected by the temperature sensor is lower than a predetermined temperature, a power generation amount per hour of the fuel cell in the first control is reduced in comparison when the detected temperature is equal to or greater than the predetermined temperature.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 2020Date of Patent: December 6, 2022Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Ryoji Sakai, Akihiro Matsui
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Patent number: 11489170Abstract: A fuel cell separator includes a separator main body having a first surface and a second surface, and a first seal member disposed on the first surface. When a region on the first surface of the separator main body corresponding to an electrode member disposed on the second surface is defined as a power generation region, and a region on the first surface of the separator main body corresponding to an in-cell seal member is defined as a seal region, a displacement/vibration reducing member made of polymer is disposed at a part of the seal region. The displacement/vibration reducing member includes multiple protrusions and a coupling portion. When viewed in plan view, an axis line connecting the centers of the figures of the adjacent protrusions does not coincide with a center line passing through the widthwise center of the coupling portion. The coupling portion has a gate cut mark.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 2020Date of Patent: November 1, 2022Assignees: Sumitomo Riko Company Limited, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Hideya Kadono, Shigeo Nakanishi, Shinobu Yamaguchi, Hitoshi Tamura, Shinichi Haga, Motohiro Mizuno, Kenji Sato, Takuya Kurihara, Tomohiro Mazaki
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Patent number: 11489180Abstract: Disclosed is a system for determining a hydrogen supply failure of a fuel cell, the system including: a fuel cell, a plurality of hydrogen tanks having hydrogen, a hydrogen supply line connected to the hydrogen tanks and supplying hydrogen from the hydrogen tanks to the fuel cell, a plurality of tank valves mounted on the hydrogen tanks, respectively, and discharging hydrogen in the hydrogen tanks to the hydrogen supply line when opening, a pressure sensor sensing pressure in the hydrogen supply line, and a determiner determining poor opening of the hydrogen tanks on the basis of pressure information sensed by the pressure sensor.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 2020Date of Patent: November 1, 2022Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATIONInventors: Boung Ho Min, Dong Hun Lee, Soon Woo Kwon
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Patent number: 11489182Abstract: A fuel cell system configured to supply electric power to load includes: a fuel cell; and a control unit configured to set target electric power to be generated by the fuel cell and control electric power generation by the fuel cell such that the fuel cell generates the target electric power. The control unit is configured to, when setting the target electric power using request electric power that the load requests the fuel cell to generate, execute a fluctuation suppression process for making a fluctuation of the target electric power smaller than a fluctuation of the request electric power.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2020Date of Patent: November 1, 2022Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Tetsuya Bono, Kenji Umayahara
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Patent number: 11450863Abstract: A cell plate assembly of a redox flow battery has a frame body and a cell plate in fluidic communication. Cell plates, electrolyte pathways and other components of the frame plate assembly may be overmolded inside a frame. Plates, frames and tubes may all be robustly sealed. One piece bonded plug and frames enable reduced use of O-rings and other wear items.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2019Date of Patent: September 20, 2022Assignee: STRYTEN CRITICAL E-STORAGE LLCInventor: Garrett Scott Kato
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Patent number: 11450868Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack, hydrogen gas system auxiliary devices disposed outside the fuel cell stack, and air system auxiliary devices disposed adjacent to the hydrogen gas system auxiliary devices. The hydrogen gas system auxiliary devices include injectors, upstream side auxiliary devices provided on the upstream side of the injectors in the flow direction of hydrogen gas, and downstream side auxiliary devices provided on the downstream side of the injectors in the flow direction of the hydrogen gas. The upstream side auxiliary devices are disposed at positions farther away from the air system auxiliary devices than the downstream side auxiliary devices.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 2020Date of Patent: September 20, 2022Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventor: Ryoichi Yoshitomi