Patents Examined by Barbara L. Gilliam
  • Patent number: 10556659
    Abstract: A boat has a battery located within an interior of a battery-housing, which includes a waste gas outlet that has a gas-permeable seal and a pressure relief valve. The battery housing is gastight and watertight with the exception of the waste gas outlet. The gas-permeable seal is water-impermeable and comprises a semi-permeable diaphragm that allows the passage of water vapor out from the interior of the battery housing, but prevents the passage of water vapor into the interior of the battery housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: Torqeedo GmbH
    Inventors: Jens Biebach, Philipp Krieger, Marc Hartmeyer
  • Patent number: 10553882
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a first fuel cell unit having a first fuel cell and a second fuel cell, a second fuel cell unit having a third fuel cell and a fourth fuel cell, a hydrogen tank coupled to all fuel cells, an oxygen supply unit and an air inlet. Oxidant inlets of the first fuel cell and the fourth fuel cell are couplable with the air inlet. Oxidant inlets of the second fuel cell and the third fuel cell are couplable with the oxidant supply unit couplable with at least one of the oxygen supply unit and the air inlet. Exhaust outlets of the first and fourth fuel cells are couplable with an inert gas outlet. Exhaust outlets of the second and third fuel cells are coupled with an exhaust switching unit couplable with the inert gas outlet and a water outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventors: Ralf-Henning Stolte, Ralf Peck
  • Patent number: 10516176
    Abstract: A power generation system includes: a power generation unit configured to discharge a flue gas; a housing configured to accommodate the power generation unit; a ventilator configured to ventilate the housing; a first gas channel through which a gas discharged from the ventilator flows; a second gas channel through which the flue gas from the power generation unit flows; a merging portion where the first gas channel and the second gas channel merge; a third gas channel through which the gases merged at the merging portion flow; a water trap unit connected to the first gas channel and including a water sealing structure; and a water discharge channel through which water in the water trap unit is discharged to an outside of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Akinori Yukimasa, Hiroshi Tatsui
  • Patent number: 10511002
    Abstract: A battery module includes: a case body for storing a plurality of cells each having an exhaust gas valve; an exhaust passage for releasing, to the outside of the case body, the high-pressure and high-temperature exhaust gas having come from the cells; and a flow route changing unit that is disposed in the exhaust passage, has a hole for passing the exhaust gas, and elongates the flow route of the exhaust gas from the upstream side to the downstream side of the exhaust passage by changing the flow direction of the exhaust gas a plurality of times in a zigzag manner along at least one of the width and height directions of the exhaust passage. The flow route changing unit includes a plurality of flat plates each having a hole for passing the exhaust gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Keisuke Shimizu, Daisuke Kishii, Takeshi Enomoto
  • Patent number: 10511047
    Abstract: Various embodiments of a reactant feed and return assembly, such as an anode splitter plate (ASP), are provided for facilitating reactant feed and exhaust flow in a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) stack system. Embodiments include a reactant feed and return assembly including at least a first portion formed of a chromium-based alloy, such as a chromium-iron alloy, having a similar coefficient of thermal expansion as other SOFC components and may therefore reduce internal stress in an SOFC stack. Methods for making an a reactant feed and return assembly comprising a chromium-based alloy are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: BLOOM ENERGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tad Armstrong, Martin Perry, Avinash Verma, Michael Petrucha, Dongai Shi, Cheng-Yu Lin, Shruti Baharani
  • Patent number: 10505211
    Abstract: The invention relates to fuel cell unit arranged in an underfloor space of a fuel cell vehicle. The fuel cell unit includes a fuel cell that has a plurality of cells stacked together; and a cell monitor that is arranged in a side region of the fuel cell, and that monitors a state of each of the cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tsutomu Shirakawa, Norishige Konno, Kazuya Mori
  • Patent number: 10497972
    Abstract: An electrolyte composition for a lithium battery includes a block copolymer and a nanoparticle composite dispersed in the block copolymer. The block copolymer includes a structural domain including a polymer having a structural repeating unit; and an ion conductive domain including a polymer having an ion conductive repeating unit, a rubbery domain including a polymer having a rubber repeating unit, or a hard domain comprising a polymer having an olefin-based repeating unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yonggun Lee, Saebom Ryu, Toshinori Sugimoto, Wonseok Chang, Hongsoo Choi
  • Patent number: 10490809
    Abstract: Embodiments of the inventive concepts described herein relate to a positive electrode active material for lithium secondary battery, and more particularly, relate to a positive electrode active material for a lithium secondary battery having a new structure which includes a core portion having gradients of concentrations of nickel, manganese, and cobalt in a direction from a center to a surface and in which each of the concentration gradients of nickel, manganese, and cobalt has at least one vertex in the core portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: IUCF-HYU (INDUSTRY-UNIVERSITY COOPERATION FOUNDATION HANYANG UNIVERSITY)
    Inventors: Hyung-Joo Noh, Yang-Kook Sun, Sung-June Youn
  • Patent number: 10490817
    Abstract: The present invention relates to nanostructured materials (including nanowires) for use in batteries. Exemplary materials include carbon-comprising, Si-based nanostructures, nanostructured materials disposed on carbon-based substrates, and nanostructures comprising nanoscale scaffolds. The present invention also provides methods of preparing battery electrodes, and batteries, using the nanostructured materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: OneD Material LLC
    Inventors: Yimin Zhu, Jay L. Goldman, Jason Hartlove, Hans Jurgen Hofler, Baixin Qian, Vijendra Sahi, Ionel C. Stefan, David P. Stumbo
  • Patent number: 10490862
    Abstract: A secondary battery includes: an electrode assembly including a positive electrode plate, a negative electrode plate, and a separator between the positive electrode plate and the negative electrode plate; a case accommodating the electrode assembly; a negative electrode lead and a positive electrode lead extending from the case and being respectively connected to the negative electrode plate and the positive electrode plate of the electrode assembly; a rigid circuit portion including a plurality of connection portions and an external connection terminal, the connection portions being respectively connected to the negative electrode lead and the positive electrode lead; and a flexible circuit portion including a bypass circuit pattern connecting the connection portions and the external connection terminal of the rigid circuit portion to each other, the flexible circuit portion being curved between a first side surface of the case and the rigid circuit portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jongchan Han
  • Patent number: 10490842
    Abstract: An electrochemical cell has a cell housing and an electrode assembly disposed in the housing. The electrode assembly includes positive electrode plates alternating with negative electrode plates and separated by at least one separator. An end of each of the positive and negative electrode plates includes a clear lane that is free of active material and includes an opening. An electrically conductive first inner plate extends through the openings in each positive electrode plate, and an electrically conductive second inner plate extends through openings in each negative electrode plate. The positive clear lanes are sandwiched between, and electrically connected to, the first inner plate and a first outer plate. The negative clear lanes are sandwiched between, and electrically connected to, the second inner plate and a second outer plate. The first outer plate is electrically connected to the housing, and the second outer plate is electrically connected to a terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignees: Bosch Battery Systems LLC, Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Dan Schneider, Jeffrey Buckholz, Liguo E
  • Patent number: 10476118
    Abstract: An air battery includes a positive electrode using oxygen as a positive electrode active material, a negative electrode containing metal as a negative electrode active material, and a sheet layer interposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode. The positive electrode is formed in a solid state containing an electrolyte for ionizing the metal of the negative electrode and conductive particles. The sheet layer is made of a material containing no electrolytic solution and exhibiting hygroscopic properties. The sheet layer allows the electrolyte contained in the positive electrode to penetrate toward the negative electrode, and allows metal ions generated in the negative electrode to penetrate toward the positive electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Inventor: Mari Tsuda
  • Patent number: 10454147
    Abstract: Battery packs for high energy density batteries (cells), particularly arrays of such batteries are described herein. The battery packs include a microfibrous media (MFM)-phase change materials (PCM) composite block and one or more active cooling structures. The MFM is typically sintered to the active cooling structures. The battery packs may contain more than one MFM-PCM composite block. Additionally or alternatively, the MFM-PCM composite block may contain different layers containing different MFM-PCM composites, which have different functionalities. In a preferred embodiment, at least one layer contains a flame retardant PCM, while at least one other layer contains a PCM with a lower melting temperature. The cells may be arranged in a repeating square or equilateral triangle pattern, with one or more active cooling structures in the geometric center of the square or triangle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: IntraMicron, Inc.
    Inventors: Hongyun Yang, Troy Barron, Bruce Tatarchuk, Paul Dimick
  • Patent number: 10454078
    Abstract: A Li-ion battery is provided in combination with fluorinated material positioned effective to abate combustion by said battery, the fluorinated material being normally non-gaseous and non-liquid and being itself effective to provide the combustion abatement by said battery, such fluorinated material being is such forms as the material of construction of the battery case containing the battery, film wrapped around said battery, and/or semi-solid material at least proximate to the battery, such as by forming a coating on said battery or said film on said battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: THE CHEMOURS COMPANY FC, LLC
    Inventors: Dennis J. Kountz, James R. Hoover, George Martin Pruce
  • Patent number: 10454103
    Abstract: The present application is generally directed to composites comprising a hard carbon material and an electrochemical modifier. The composite materials find utility in any number of electrical devices, for example, in lithium ion batteries. Methods for making the disclosed composite materials are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: Group14 Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Avery J. Sakshaug, Leah A. Thompkins, Henry R. Costantino, Aaron M. Feaver
  • Patent number: 10439242
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for combined cycle power generation while reducing or mitigating emissions during power generation. Recycled exhaust gas from a molten carbonate fuel cell power generation reaction can be separated by using a swing adsorption process so as to generate a high purity CO2 stream while reducing or minimizing the energy required for the separation and without having to reduce the temperature of the exhaust gas. A high temperature adsorption reactor adsorbs the CO2 and recovers H2 from an exhaust gas of a first molten carbonate fuel cell at a high temperature and at a low pressure. The reactor passes along the adsorbed CO2 to a cathode and the recovered H2 to an anode of a second molten carbonate fuel cell for further power generation. This can allow for improved energy recovery while also generating high purity streams of CO2 and H2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: EXXONMOBIL RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING COMPANY
    Inventors: Narasimhan Sundaram, Hans Thomann, Franklin F. Mittricker, Loren Starcher
  • Patent number: 10431856
    Abstract: In order to provide a method for producing a cell contact-making system for an electrochemical device which is executable in a simple manner and which enables a reliable signal conductor system with precise positioning to be produced, it is proposed that production of the cell contact-making system should includes separating out from a starting material at least one signal conductor group, which includes at least two signal conductor tracks of a signal conductor system of the cell contact-making system and at least one connection element by means of which at least two of the signal conductor tracks are connected to one another; connecting the signal conductor tracks of the signal conductor track group to a respective cell connector, cell terminal connector or sensor element of the cell contact-making system; and removing the at least one connection element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: ElringKlinger AG
    Inventor: Wolfgang Fritz
  • Patent number: 10431790
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a battery module including two or more battery cells, which can be charged and discharged, stacked in a state of being adjacent to each other in a vertical direction or in a horizontal direction, and sheathing members for respectively fixing the battery cells to form a battery cell stack, wherein each of the battery cells has electrode leads electrically connected to an electrode assembly, which is mounted in a battery cell case of each of the battery cells, in a state of protruding outward from the battery cell case, the electrode leads of the battery cells of the battery cell stack are coupled to each other by welding to form a coupled portion of the electrode leads, and the coupled portion of the electrode leads or the remaining portion of the electrode leads excluding the coupled portion of the electrode leads is provided with a damping structure for absorbing or buffering external force applied to the battery module or vibration generated during welding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: LG CHEM, LTD.
    Inventors: Bum Hyun Lee, Jin-Kyu Shin
  • Patent number: 10411286
    Abstract: An alkali/oxidant battery is provided with an associated method of creating battery capacity. The battery is made from an anode including a reduced first alkali metal such as lithium (Li), sodium (Na), and potassium (K), when the battery is charged. The battery's catholyte includes an element, in the battery charged state, such as nickel oxyhydroxide (NiOOH), manganese(IV) (oxide Mn(4+)O2), or iron(III) oxyhydroxide Fe(3+)(OH)3), with the alkali metal hydroxide. An alkali metal ion permeable separator is interposed between the anolyte and the catholyte. For example, if the catholyte includes nickel(II) hydroxide (Ni(OH)2) in a battery discharged state, then it includes NiOOH in a battery charged state. To continue the example, the anolyte may include dissolved lithium ions (Li+) in a discharged state, with solid phase reduced Li formed on the anode in the battery charged state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: Sharp Laboratories of America, Inc.
    Inventors: Yuhao Lu, Hidayat Kisdarjono, Jong-Jan Lee, David R. Evans
  • Patent number: 10396321
    Abstract: A battery pack spacer is divided into a first region and a second region, the first region includes an end portion in a first direction and occupies half of an entire region of the spacer in a second direction from the end portion in the first direction, the second region includes an end portion in the second direction and occupies half of the entire region of the spacer in the first direction from the end portion in the second direction, and the second region has higher compressibility in the single cell arrangement direction than the first region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuya Ishihara, Jumpei Terashima, Ayumu Kamakura