Patents Examined by Barbara Gilliam
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Patent number: 9660286Abstract: An anode/cathode system is disclosed for use in a Benthic microbial fuel cell. Carbon cloth forms at least a portion of the anode and is disposed on one side of a water oxygen impermeable layer, which can be weighted around a periphery thereof to hold the anode against a water-sediment interface. Carbon cloth flaps or strands can be attached to the other side of the impermeable layer to form the cathode. The anode and cathode can be divided into sections with each section having an electrical lead coupled thereto. The system is deployed onto the seafloor with the anode side in contact with the water-sediment interface.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 2014Date of Patent: May 23, 2017Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the NavyInventor: Frank J. McNeilly
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Patent number: 9660278Abstract: A fuel cell system that determines the phase transition from water to gas through a bleed/drain valve in a water separation device. The fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack having an anode side and a cathode side. An injector injects hydrogen gas into the anode side of the fuel cell stack. The water separation device receives an anode exhaust gas from the anode side of the fuel cell stack, where the water separation device includes a water holding reservoir. A controller controls the injector and the bleed/drain valve and determines when the bleed/drain valve transitions from draining water to bleeding the anode exhaust gas by comparing the flow rate through the water separation device and the flow rate through the injector.Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 2010Date of Patent: May 23, 2017Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Patrick Frost, Daniel C. Di Fiore, Ralf Senner
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Patent number: 9660228Abstract: A secondary battery includes an electrode assembly, a case and a safety member. The electrode assembly has a first electrode plate, a second electrode plate and a separator interposed between the first and second electrode plates. The case accommodates the electrode assembly, and has an opened top. The safety member is inserted into an upper inside portion of the case, and seals the case. In the secondary battery, the safety member comprises an outer member contacting an inner surface of the case and having a center passing therethrough, an inner member spaced apart from the outer member at a predetermined interval and positioned at the center of the outer member, and a connection member connecting the outer and inner members. Accordingly, it is possible to increase the capacity of the battery.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 2012Date of Patent: May 23, 2017Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.Inventor: Dae-Kyu Kim
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Patent number: 9653737Abstract: A method of depositing a conductive material is described. The method includes: providing a plate selected from anode plates, cathode plates, bipolar plates, or combinations thereof, wherein the plate includes gas flow channels; providing a diffusion media in contact with the gas flow channel side of the plate to form an assembly; introducing a gaseous precursor of the conductive material into the assembly using a chemical vapor infiltration process; infiltrating the gaseous precursor into the diffusion media and gas flow channels of the plates; and depositing a coating of the conductive material on the diffusion media, the gas flow channels of the plate, or both. An assembly having a CVI conductive coating and a fuel cell incorporating the diffusion media having the CVI conductive coating are also described.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 2010Date of Patent: May 16, 2017Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Paul D. Nicotera, Chunxin Ji, Thomas A. Trabold
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Patent number: 9653765Abstract: The present invention generally relates to batteries and, in particular, to electrodes for use in batteries such as non-aqueous metal-air batteries, for example, lithium-air batteries, as well as in other electrochemical devices. Such devices may exhibit improved performance characteristics (e.g. power, cycle life, capacity, etc.). One aspect of the present invention is generally directed to electrodes for use in such devices containing one or more pores or channels for transport of gas and/or electrolyte therein, e.g., forming an open porous network. In certain embodiments, the electrolyte may be a gel or a polymer. In some embodiments, there may be network of such channels or pores within the electrode such that no active site within the electrode is greater than about 50 micrometers distant from a gas channel.Type: GrantFiled: July 23, 2010Date of Patent: May 16, 2017Assignee: Liox Power, Inc.Inventors: Gregory V. Chase, Dan D. Addison, Kenji A. Sasaki, Jasim Uddin
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Patent number: 9653713Abstract: A battery cell holder that may be used to form interconnection of cells in series and/or parallel arrangements. The cell holder includes slots for receiving battery cells, conductive apertures within the slots for attaching a conductor to the cells, and a hinge. The cell holder is foldable about the hinge and includes a keying system that allows multiple cell holders to be interconnected to form battery packs of multiple sizes and arrangements.Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 2013Date of Patent: May 16, 2017Assignee: EETREX, INC.Inventor: Kyle William Butterfield
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Patent number: 9647248Abstract: A secondary battery including an electrode assembly; a case accommodating the electrode assembly; a cap plate sealing the case; a terminal plate on the cap plate; a current collecting terminal penetrating through the cap plate and the terminal plate, the current collecting terminal being coupled with a top surface of the terminal plate and being electrically connected to the electrode assembly; and a reinforcing plate coupled with a bottom surface of the terminal plate to face the terminal plate.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2013Date of Patent: May 9, 2017Assignees: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd., Robert Bosch GmbHInventor: Duk-Jung Kim
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Patent number: 9647280Abstract: An object is to supply a sufficient amount of air to a fuel cell stack in a fuel cell vehicle when the fuel cell stack is mounted below a floor, the fuel cell stack configured to draw in air through an intake duct and discharge air to the exterior through an exhaust duct. An air introduction surface (26) faces upward or downward in a vehicle upper and lower direction, an intake passage portion (30) of the intake duct (28) extends along the air introduction surface (26) and vertical walls (31, 32) of left and right end portions of the fuel cell stack (11) while a pair of air introduction ports (33, 34) opens in left and right end portions of the intake passage portion (30), and an exhaust passage portion (39) of the exhaust duct (29) extends along an air discharge surface (27) and vertical walls (40, 41) of front and rear end portions of the fuel cell stack (11) while a pair of air discharge ports (42, 43) opens in front and rear end portions of the exhaust passage portion (39).Type: GrantFiled: February 29, 2012Date of Patent: May 9, 2017Assignee: Suzuki Motor CorporationInventors: Shiro Matsumoto, Naoki Ozawa, Toru Eguchi, Damian Patrick Davies
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Patent number: 9647294Abstract: The present invention provides an excellent nonaqueous electrolytic solution capable of improving low-temperature and high-temperature cycle properties and load characteristics after high-temperature charging storage, an electrochemical element using it, and an alkynyl compound used for it. The nonaqueous electrolytic solution of the present invention comprises containing at least one alkynyl compound represented by the following general formula (I) in an amount of from 0.01 to 10% by mass in the nonaqueous electrolytic solution. R1(O)n—X1—R2??(I) (In the formula, X1 represents a group —C(?O)—, a group —C(?O)—C(?O)—, a group —S(?O)2—, a group —P(?O) (—R3)—, or a group —X3—S(?O)2O—.Type: GrantFiled: February 2, 2011Date of Patent: May 9, 2017Assignee: UBE INDUSTRIES, LTD.Inventors: Koji Abe, Kazuhiro Miyoshi, Masahide Kondo
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Patent number: 9647276Abstract: A biasing mechanism for pressurizing an electrolytic solution of a reserve battery cell, the biasing mechanism containing a compressed spring and a trigger operatively associated with the compressed spring. The trigger is configured to release the compressed spring to pressurize the electrolytic solution.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 2013Date of Patent: May 9, 2017Assignee: EaglePicher Technologies, LLCInventors: James Anthony Degruson, David Andrew Timothy Darch, Michael Parrot, Greg Miller, Michael Scott Reeves, William G. Studyvin
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Patent number: 9640790Abstract: Disclosed herein is a middle- or large-sized battery module comprising a plurality of stacked unit cells, each unit module including two or more plate-shaped battery cells electrically connected with each other, each battery cell having electrode terminals formed at opposite sides thereof. The battery module is manufactured by connecting electrode terminals of a pair of unit modules by welding, mounting a sensing unit, including a sensing member, to the welding part and bending the welding part such that the unit modules are stacked, and repeatedly performing the above processes until all the unit cells are stacked.Type: GrantFiled: May 4, 2007Date of Patent: May 2, 2017Assignee: LG CHEM, LTD.Inventors: Junill Yoon, Jongmoon Yoon, Jaesung Ahn, Jong-yul Ro, Jae Hun Yang
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Patent number: 9640792Abstract: Disclosed herein is a battery assembly including at least two battery cells connected in series or in parallel. Each of the battery cells includes an electrode assembly including a cathode, an anode and a separator interposed between the cathode and the anode and a battery case in which the electrode assembly is mounted. An electrode terminal of a first battery cell and an electrode terminal of a second battery cell are formed as a single member at a series or parallel connection portion between the first and second battery cells.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2014Date of Patent: May 2, 2017Assignee: LG CHEM, LTD.Inventors: Jun Hee Jung, Sooryoung Kim, Jong Woon Choi, Jung Oh Moon, Tae Hwan Roh
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Patent number: 9640810Abstract: A power generator includes a housing, a chemical hydride fuel block adapted to be removably placed within the housing, an air conduit disposed about the chemical hydride fuel block in the housing. The air conduit includes a fuel cell portion and a water vapor permeable, hydrogen impermeable membrane portion. The housing has an air intake opening to draw air into the housing and through the air conduit to provide oxygen to the fuel cell portion and to carry water vapor generated by the fuel cell portion past the permeable membrane portion such that water vapor passes through the membrane and causes release of hydrogen from the fuel block.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 2011Date of Patent: May 2, 2017Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.Inventor: Steven J. Eickhoff
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Patent number: 9634329Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of preparing porous graphene from porous graphite, including 1) thermochemically reacting a highly crystalline carbide compound with a halogen element-containing gas to give a porous carbide-derived carbon; 2) treating the carbide-derived carbon with an acid, thus preparing a carbide-derived carbon oxide; and 3) reducing the carbide-derived carbon oxide. An anode mixture for a secondary battery including the graphene and an anode for a secondary battery including the anode mixture are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 2014Date of Patent: April 25, 2017Assignee: Korea Institute of Energy ResearchInventors: Sun-Hwa Yeon, Kyoung-Hee Shin, Chang-Soo Jin, Kyu-Nam Jung, Jae-Deok Jeon, Joonmok Shim, Jung-Hoon Yang, Bum-Suk Lee, Myung Seok Jeon, Wook Ahn
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Patent number: 9634304Abstract: A battery pack includes a battery cell, a circuit board, and a holder. The battery cell includes a battery device covered with a laminate film. The circuit board is connected to the battery cell. The holder includes a cell holder that covers the battery cell and a circuit board holder that covers the circuit board. In battery pack, the circuit board holder covering the circuit board is arranged in a space formed above a terrace portion of the battery cell covered with the cell holder.Type: GrantFiled: December 29, 2009Date of Patent: April 25, 2017Assignee: Sony CorporationInventor: Hiroshi Kano
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Patent number: 9634350Abstract: An energy storage device is provided. The energy storage device includes at least an energy-type electrode pair, including a first positive electrode; a first negative electrode disposed opposite to the first positive electrode; and a first electrolyte disposed between the first positive electrode and the first negative electrode; at least a power-type electrode pair, including a second positive electrode; a second negative electrode disposed opposite to the second positive electrode; and a second electrolyte disposed between the second positive electrode and the second negative electrode; and a housing receiving the energy-type electrode pair and the power-type electrode pair.Type: GrantFiled: July 17, 2014Date of Patent: April 25, 2017Assignee: NATIONAL TAIWAN UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGYInventors: Bing-Joe Hwang, Wei-Nien Su, Ming-Yao Cheng
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Patent number: 9634338Abstract: A humidification cell of a fuel cell apparatus includes a first outer plate and a second outer plate. A gas chamber, a humidification chamber and a water-permeable membrane separating the two chambers, are disposed between the first outer plate and the second outer plate, starting from the first outer plate. A first water-permeable support element that prevents fibers from detaching and also prevents medium flows from blocking narrow gas outlets, is disposed between the first outer plate and the membrane in such a way that the first support element is made of a filter material.Type: GrantFiled: February 9, 2009Date of Patent: April 25, 2017Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFTInventors: Torsten Brandt, Armin Datz, Albert Hammerschmidt, Silke Latzel, Josef Lersch, Arno Mattejat, Walter Stuehler, Ottmar Voitlein
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Patent number: 9627689Abstract: Disclosed herein is a cathode active material based on lithium nickel oxide represented by Formula 1, wherein the lithium nickel oxide has a nickel content of at least 40% among overall transition metals and is coated with a compound not reacting with an electrolyte (“non-reactive material”), which is selected from a group consisting of oxides, nitrides, sulfides and a mixture or combination thereof not reacting with an electrolyte, as well as a carbon material, at a surface of the lithium nickel oxide.Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 2010Date of Patent: April 18, 2017Assignee: LG CHEM, LTD.Inventors: Sung kyun Chang, Hong-Kyu Park, Sinyoung Park
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Patent number: 9620808Abstract: An electrolytic coin cell that has been used to study the growth of lithium dendrites by optical observation is described. The cell makes possible observation of the growth of the dendrites in response to various applied conditions, such as applied electrical signals, chemical effects, and temporal effects in a real coin cell geometry.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 2014Date of Patent: April 11, 2017Assignee: California Institute of TechnologyInventor: Asghar Aryanfar
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Patent number: 9620752Abstract: A vented battery cover with a vent cover is disclosed. The vent cover may be capable of attachment to the battery at a first position and a second position using one or more first snap features and one or more second snap features. The vent cover may also provide a fluid path from a fill tube hole in the battery cover to a vent wherein the path is a labyrinth.Type: GrantFiled: January 13, 2010Date of Patent: April 11, 2017Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology CompanyInventor: Glenn W. Andersen