Patents Examined by Claire L Roe
  • Patent number: 10622606
    Abstract: An energy store for a vehicle has an energy store cell arrangement and a housing that at least partly covers the energy store cell arrangement. A compensation apparatus is arranged between the housing and the energy store cell arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c.F. Porsche Aktiengesellscahft
    Inventors: Ralf Keller, Eduard Ewert
  • Patent number: 10615432
    Abstract: A cell frame includes a bipolar plate in contact with an electrode constituting a battery cell; and a frame body surrounding a periphery of the bipolar plate, wherein the frame body includes a liquid supply manifold through which an electrolyte is supplied into the battery cell, the bipolar plate includes, in a surface facing the electrode, a plurality of main groove portions that are arranged adjacent to one another and through which the electrolyte flows, at least one of the frame body and the bipolar plate includes a supply flow directing portion configured to distribute, in a direction in which the main groove portions are arranged adjacent to one another, the electrolyte supplied through the liquid supply manifold, to supply the electrolyte to each of the main groove portions, and each of widths Wi of electrolyte inlets of the main groove portions, and a width Wr of the supply flow directing portion in a direction orthogonal to the direction in which the main groove portions are arranged adjacent to one
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Takashi Kanno
  • Patent number: 10601003
    Abstract: A battery module having first and second battery cells, a u-shaped frame member, a thermally conductive layer, a top cover plate, and first and second side cover plates is provided. The u-shaped frame member has a bottom wall and first and second side walls coupled to the bottom wall that extend upwardly from the bottom wall. The u-shaped frame member defines an interior space that holds the first and second battery cells therein. The first and second battery cells are disposed directly on the thermally conductive layer. The top cover plate is coupled to the first and second side walls to enclose a top open region of the u-shaped frame member. The first side cover plate that is coupled to the top cover plate and the bottom wall to enclose a first side open region of the u-shaped frame member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventors: Heekook Yang, Robert Merriman
  • Patent number: 10593963
    Abstract: The invention relates to an anode and electrolyte and cathode in direct material contact in fuel cell applications, so that the anode and electrolyte, and the cathode and electrolyte, particularly at temperatures >400° C., can react in a solid chemical manner. Said reaction results in that the material of the anodes can diffuse into the electrolyte and vice versa, and the material of the cathodes can diffuse into the electrolyte or vice versa. The effect thereof is the modification of the electrical energy yield of the fuel cells. In order to prevent said effect, it is proposed according to the invention that a blocking layer is disposed between the electrolyte and anode and electrolyte and cathode and is made of areas having opened and closed pores and that the functional penetration paths for the diffusion are formed by the frame structure thus created.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: CeramTec GmbH
    Inventors: Claus Peter Kluge, Stefan Stolz
  • Patent number: 10566633
    Abstract: This invention uses the process of osmosis and diffusion of a liquid of low concentration into a liquid of high concentration. The invention taps the energy created by a liquid of low concentration flowing into a liquid of high concentration. The inventor has created several embodiments that can be heat engines, heat pumps, energy storage devices, and batteries. The invention changes solar ponds and concentration cells into heat storage devices and rechargeable batteries. Osmosis at two semipervious membranes, one heated and one cooled, in a loop of tubing produces a heat engine. A heat pipe is changed into a heat engine by using different concentration at each end. Two vessels, one a high concentration of a liquid and the other containing a low concentration of a liquid, can be configured with the used of electrodes, turbines, semipervious membranes into be heat engines, heat pumps, energy storage devices, and batteries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Inventor: Jerry Semer
  • Patent number: 10505184
    Abstract: A negative electrode active material for electric device is used which includes a silicon-containing alloy having a structure in which a silicide phase containing a silicide of a transition metal is dispersed in a parent phase containing amorphous or low crystalline silicon as a main component and a predetermined composition and in which a ratio value (B/A) of a diffraction peak intensity B of a silicide of a transition metal in a range of 2?=37 to 45° to a diffraction peak intensity A of a (111) plane of Si in a range of 2?=24 to 33° is 0.41 or more in an X-ray diffraction measurement of the silicon-containing alloy using a CuK?1 ray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Humihiro Miki, Tomohiro Kaburagi, Manabu Watanabe, Nobutaka Chiba
  • Patent number: 10468684
    Abstract: A composition and method of preparation of mixed valence manganese oxide, nickel-doped mixed valence manganese oxide and cobalt-doped mixed valence manganese oxide nanoparticles as well as tri-manganese tetroxide, nickel-doped tri-manganese tetroxide and cobalt-doped tri-manganese tetroxide nanoparticles for use as electrodes for aqueous energy storage devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: The University of New Hampshire
    Inventor: Xiaowei Teng
  • Patent number: 10403908
    Abstract: Provided is a fuel cell stack structure. The fuel cell stack structure includes first and second cell modules and first and second separation plates. In each of the first and second cell modules, one or more fuel cells generating electricity are stacked, and each of the fuel cells includes an electrolyte layer, and a cathode layer and an anode layer formed on both surfaces of the electrolyte layer, respectively, and generates electricity. The first and second separation plates are electrically connected to the first and second cell modules, respectively, and each separation plate has an air hole and a fuel hole at edges to provide an air including oxygen and a fuel gas including hydrogen to the cathode layer and the anode layer, respectively. At least one separation plate has a sealing unit for sealing the air hole and the fuel hole, and has a protruded convex at a different part from the sealing unit to improve an electrical contact with the other separation plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: MICO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sung Jin Choi, Chong Sik Lim, Ki Moon Han, Song Ho Choi
  • Patent number: 10396389
    Abstract: A fuel gas supply path in a fuel cell stack includes in series a first path, a second path, and a third path. In the second path, two inlets of the fuel gas in each of power generating cells included in the second path are located at a first position PA and a second position PB, and the position of one outlet of the fuel gas in each power generating cell is located at a third position PC. In the third path, an inlet of the fuel gas in each of power generating cells included in the third path is located at a position coinciding with the third position PC when the power generating cells are viewed in the stacking direction, and an outlet of the fuel gas in each power generating cell is located at a position between the first position PA and the second position PB.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shunsuke Tsuga, Takafumi Shichida, Tetsuya Morikawa, Nobuyuki Hotta
  • Patent number: 10374213
    Abstract: A liquid reserve battery including: a collapsible storage unit having a liquid electrolyte stored therein; a battery cell having an inlet in communication with an outlet of the collapsible storage unit, the battery cell having gaps dispersed therein; a first pyrotechnic material disposed adjacent the collapsible storage unit such that initiation of the first pyrotechnic material provides pressure to collapse the collapsible storage unit to heat and force the liquid electrolyte through the outlet and into the gaps; and one or more heat exchangers disposed between the outlet of the collapsible storage unit and the inlet of the battery cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: OMNITEK PARTNERS LLC
    Inventor: Jahangir S Rastegar
  • Patent number: 10367205
    Abstract: A secondary battery includes a base material, an intermediate layer including a carbon material on the base material, and an active material layer on the intermediate layer. A secondary battery including an intermediate layer may improve adhesion between the base material and the active material layer, thereby reducing the risk of separation of the active material from the base material and improving the reliability and lifetime of the secondary battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jun-Sik Kim, So-Ra Lee, Sung-Soo Kim, Soo-An Song, Jeong-Soon Shin
  • Patent number: 10312544
    Abstract: The method for manufacturing a particulate electrode active material provided by the present invention uses a carbon source supply material prepared by dissolving a carbon source (102) for forming a carbon coating film in a predetermined first solvent, and an electrode active material supply material prepared by dispersing a particulate electrode active material (104) in a second solvent that is compatible with the first solvent and is a poor solvent with respect to the carbon source. The carbon source supply material and the electrode active material supply material are mixed and a mixture of the electrode active material and the carbon source obtained after the mixing is calcined, thereby forming a conductive carbon film derived from the carbon source on the surface of the electrode active material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideyuki Yamamura, Seishu Komune, Yasuaki Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 10205175
    Abstract: A water battery includes a housing and at least one battery cell mounted in the housing, capable of operating by injecting water into the housing at the time of use. The at least one battery cell includes an anode made of a metal material with a lower ionization tendency than that of a magnesium, an anode drawer electrode electrically connected to the anode, a cathode made of a magnesium material, a cathode drawer electrode electrically connected to the cathode, a collector electrode mounted between the anode and the cathode, a sheet member with water absorptivity and water retention, closely attached to the collector electrode, and a fixing member for pressing to each other and fixing together the anode, the collector electrode, the sheet member and the cathode. The sheet member includes an electrolyte containing nitrophenol, sodium, citric acid and polyvinyl alcohol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: Mishima Denshi Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Toshikatsu Dannoura
  • Patent number: 10033069
    Abstract: A cell cathode compartment comprises a granule bed comprising metal granules, metal halide granules, and sodium halide granules, a separator adjacent to the granule bed, a liquid electrolyte dispersed in the granule bed, and a porous absorbent disposed in the granule bed, wherein a transverse cross-sectional distribution of the porous absorbent in the granule bed varies in a longitudinal direction from a first position to a second position. In another embodiment, a cell cathode compartment comprises a granule bed comprising metal granules, metal halide granules, and sodium halide granules, a separator adjacent to the granule bed, a liquid electrolyte dispersed in the granule bed, and a porous absorbent coating on a surface adjacent to the granule bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Manikandan Ramani, Edward James Balaschak, Robert Christie Galloway, Raymond R. Cole, Jonathan Adam Bielik
  • Patent number: 9972867
    Abstract: A system and method for stabilizing electrodes against dissolution and/or hydrolysis including use of cosolvents in liquid electrolyte batteries for three purposes: the extension of the calendar and cycle life time of electrodes that are partially soluble in liquid electrolytes, the purpose of limiting the rate of electrolysis of water into hydrogen and oxygen as a side reaction during battery operation, and for the purpose of cost reduction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Natron Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Colin Deane Wessells, Ali Firouzi, Shahrokh Motallebi, Sven Strohband
  • Patent number: 9935307
    Abstract: A positive electrode lead of the present invention comprises: a strip-shaped first lead half body electrically connected to a sealing body of a nickel-hydrogen secondary battery; a strip-shaped second lead half body electrically connected to a positive electrode of an electrode group of the nickel-hydrogen secondary battery; a PTC thermistor joined between the first lead half body and the second lead half body; and a protective member covering a portion of the positive electrode lead where the PTC thermistor is joined. The second lead half body includes a portion to be bent on the outer side of the portion covered with the protective member. A recessed groove is formed in the portion covered with the protective member and has a shape elongated in a direction intersecting with a bend line of the portion to be bent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignees: FDK CORPORATION, Littelfuse Japan G.K.
    Inventors: Erika Ido, Koji Izumi, Satoshi Wada, Hideaki Kitazume, Yohei Mizukami, Masatoshi Sakamoto, Toshikazu Yamaoka
  • Patent number: 9893382
    Abstract: A system and method for stabilizing electrodes against dissolution and/or hydrolysis including use of cosolvents in liquid electrolyte batteries for three purposes: the extension of the calendar and cycle life time of electrodes that are partially soluble in liquid electrolytes, the purpose of limiting the rate of electrolysis of water into hydrogen and oxygen as a side reaction during battery operation, and for the purpose of cost reduction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Natron Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Colin Deane Wessells, Ali Firouzi, Shahrokh Motallebi, Sven Strohband
  • Patent number: 9876255
    Abstract: A method for stabilizing electrodes against dissolution and/or hydrolysis including use of cosolvents in liquid electrolyte batteries for three purposes: the extension of the calendar and cycle life time of electrodes that are partially soluble in liquid electrolytes, the purpose of limiting the rate of electrolysis of water into hydrogen and oxygen as a side reaction during battery operation, and for the purpose of cost reduction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: Natron Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Colin Deane Wessells, Ali Firouzi, Shahrokh Motallebi, Sven Strohband
  • Patent number: 9876243
    Abstract: A method for controlling a fuel cell system, capable of quickly detecting the pressure rise caused by a faulted open anode injector, reducing pressure in the fuel cell stack when the fault occurs, and taking remedial action to allow continued operation of the fuel cell stack, and militate against a walk-home incident.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Kiran Mallavarapu, Abdullah B. Alp
  • Patent number: 9825281
    Abstract: A lithium secondary battery is produced by employing a charging method where a positive electrode upon charging has a maximum achieved potential of 4.3 V (vs. Li/Li+) or lower. The lithium secondary battery contains an active material including a solid solution of a lithium transition metal composite oxide having an ?-NaFeO2-type crystal structure. The solid solution has a diffraction peak observed near 20 to 30° in X-ray diffractometry using CuK? radiation for a monoclinic Li[Li1/3Mn2/3]O2-type before charge-discharge. The lithium secondary battery is charged to reach at least a region with substantially flat fluctuation of potential appearing in a positive electrode potential region exceeding 4.3 V (vs. Li/Li+) and 4.8 V (vs. Li/Li+) or lower. A dischargeable electric quantity in a potential region of 4.3 V (vs. Li/Li+) or lower is 177 mAh/g or higher.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: GS YUSA INTERNATIONAL LTD.
    Inventors: Daisuke Endo, Miki Yasutomi, Yoshihiro Katayama, Toshiyuki Nukuda