Patents Examined by Cynthia Lee
-
Patent number: 7785744Abstract: A water purification system includes a fuel cell stack, a steam generator, and a water purification unit. The fuel cell stack is adapted to provide heat to the steam generator and the steam generator is adapted to provide steam to the water purification unit.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2005Date of Patent: August 31, 2010Assignee: Bloom Energy CorporationInventors: K.R. Sridhar, Swaminathan Venkataraman
-
Patent number: 7771858Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, an electrochemical conversion assembly comprises a plurality of electrochemical conversion cells and a plurality of electrically conductive bipolar plates. The electrochemical conversion cells are configured to communicate with first and second reactant supplies. Adjacent ones of the electrochemical conversion cells are separated by respective ones of the plurality of bipolar plates. The bipolar plates comprise an alloy comprising Fe and Cr. Respective surface portions of the bipolar plates are provided with electrically conductive, corrosion resistant layers that are placed in contact with portions of the electrochemical conversion cells. The corrosion resistant electrically conductive layers may comprise graphitic layers characterized predominantly by sp2 hybridized carbon-carbon bonding, molybdenum doped indium oxide layers, an electrically conductive Cr+N layer, or an electrically conductive MoSi2 layer.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2005Date of Patent: August 10, 2010Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.Inventors: Michael K. Budinski, Gayatri Vyas, Augusto O. Kunrath Neto, John J. Moore
-
Patent number: 7767354Abstract: In an ECU, a coolant fan performs cooling operation such that a control DUTY value is limited by a control DUTY value according to tolerable noise level of the cooling fan based on a vehicle speed in a case in which the temperature in the high-voltage battery is lower than a predetermined limitation for highest temperature. In a case in which the temperature in the high-voltage battery is higher than the predetermined limitation for highest temperature, the cooling fan performs the cooling operation by using an energy storage device cooling operation requirement value and an IPU cooling operation requirement value such that performance in the high-voltage battery is not affected. By doing this, a temperature controlling apparatus for batteries in which it is possible to cool the battery and solve temperature difference among a plurality of batteries can be provided.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2002Date of Patent: August 3, 2010Assignees: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Keihin CorporationInventors: Mitsunobu Saito, Morio Kayano, Tomohiko Maeda, Hiroshi Murakami, Kazushi Ota
-
Patent number: 7763380Abstract: A package container for shipping and transporting small batteries, such as lithium ion rechargeable batteries, from manufacturers which meets the conditions of Container Grade II applicable to lithium batteries including a large amount of metal lithium and satisfies the requirements of ICAO/IATA Code A45. By employing a material having a bursting strength of 13.0 kgf/cm2 or more, according to a bursting strength test method regulated in JIS, in order to form an exterior container having a gross weight is 25 kg or lower and arranging the small batteries in package packs in the exterior container, the small batteries are transported safely.Type: GrantFiled: September 5, 2001Date of Patent: July 27, 2010Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Yoshinobu Morita, Yutaka Hongo
-
Patent number: 7758997Abstract: A secondary battery can prevent microscopic short circuit due to shedding of active material from an electrode and secure electric connection between the electrode and an electrode terminal. According to an example of means for preventing shedding of active material from a positive electrode 1 constituting a wound type electrode unit 7, a negative electrode side of a separator 3 is bent toward a center of the electrode unit 7. The negative electrode 2 having a flex substrate is provided with an electrode end portion 4? with almost no active material. At least a part of the electrode end portion 4? is exposed from the bent separator 3, and the exposed electrode end portion 4? is electrically connected to a battery terminal or a battery case 8 directly or via a negative electrode collector plate 6.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2005Date of Patent: July 20, 2010Assignee: M&G Eco-Battery Institute Co., Ltd.Inventors: Isao Matsumoto, Shoichi Hashimoto, Masayuki Domen
-
Patent number: 7758998Abstract: A lithium ion secondary battery includes a positive electrode capable of absorbing and desorbing lithium ion, a negative electrode capable of absorbing and desorbing lithium ion, a porous film interposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode, and a non-aqueous electrolyte: the porous film being adhered to a surface of at least one of the positive electrode and the negative electrode; the porous film including a filler and a resin binder; the resin binder content in the porous film being 1.5 to 8 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the filler; and the resin binder including an acrylonitrile unit, an acrylate unit, or a methacrylate unit.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 2007Date of Patent: July 20, 2010Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Tsumoru Ohata, Junji Nakajima, Tetsuya Hayashi, Takashi Takano, Shigeo Ikuta, Kohei Suzuki, Kouji Nishida, Masao Fukunaga, Akiko Fujino
-
Patent number: 7759016Abstract: A cell of a flat plate solid oxide fuel cell has a first electrode member of porous material having pores through which all of a fuel gas or air passes. An electrolyte film is on either a front or a back surface of the first electrode member. A second electrode member is on the electrolyte film and a separator film is on the other surface of the first electrode member. The first electrode member is either a fuel electrode or an air electrode and the second electrode member is the other. Part of the electrolyte film and/or part of the separator film form seal portions which cover side surfaces between the electrolyte film and the separator film and function as gas seal films.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2004Date of Patent: July 20, 2010Assignee: Central Research Institute of Electric Power IndustryInventor: Hibiki Itoh
-
Patent number: 7754387Abstract: A separator for alkaline batteries which is obtained by bonding 5.0 to 45.0 g/m2 of a highly hygroscopic macromolecular compound of the crosslinking type having carboxyl group to a wetlaid nonwoven fabric comprising an alkali-resistant fiber, followed by crosslinking the macromolecular compound, wherein a silicate compound is added to the highly hygroscopic macromolecular compound of the crosslinking type in an amount of 1.0×10?4 to 10 mg/cm2 per unit area of the separator. By adding the silicate compound, absorption of the electrolyte is increased, the electrolyte can be held for a long time, the electric resistance of the separator itself can be kept small, growth of dendrite can be suppressed, short circuit due to the formed dendrite can be prevented, the volume of the negative electrode material can be increased by suppressing the thickness of the separator after absorbing the electrolyte, impact of dropping can be endured, and oxidative degradation in the alkaline dry cells can be suppressed.Type: GrantFiled: June 13, 2005Date of Patent: July 13, 2010Assignees: Kuraray Co., Ltd., Panasonic CorporationInventors: Toshimitsu Harada, Hisashi Nagi, Hiroyuki Kawai, Seiji Wada, Eiji Tano
-
Patent number: 7754377Abstract: A lithium ion secondary battery includes a positive electrode capable of absorbing and desorbing lithium ion, a negative electrode capable of absorbing and desorbing lithium ion, a porous film interposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode, and a non-aqueous electrolyte: the porous film being adhered to a surface of at least one of the positive electrode and the negative electrode; the porous film including a filler and a resin binder; the resin binder content in the porous film being 1.5 to 8 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the filler; and the resin binder including an acrylonitrile unit, an acrylate unit, or a methacrylate unit.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 2007Date of Patent: July 13, 2010Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Tsumoru Ohata, Junji Nakajima, Tetsuya Hayashi, Takashi Takano, Shigeo Ikuta, Kohei Suzuki, Kouji Nishida, Masao Fukunaga, Akiko Fujino
-
Patent number: 7754370Abstract: This invention provides a fuel cell catalyst material containing catalyst particles having a composition substantially represented by ATxNu??(1) wherein A contains Pt or Pt and at least one noble metal element selected from the group consisting of Ru, Pd, Au, and Ag, T contains at least one element selected from the group consisting of Fe, Co, Ni, Sn, Mn, Cr, V, Ti, Mo, Nb, Zr, W, Ta, and Hf, and atomic ratios x and u fall within the ranges 0?x?4 and 0.005?u?1, respectively.Type: GrantFiled: August 20, 2003Date of Patent: July 13, 2010Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventors: Wu Mei, Yoshihiko Nakano
-
Patent number: 7754376Abstract: A cylindrical lithium secondary battery including a winding-type electrode assembly having a first electrode plate to which a first electrode tap is attached, a second electrode plate to which a second electrode tap is attached, and a separator interposed between the first electrode plate and the second electrode plate. A space is formed through a central longitudinal axis of the electrode assembly. The battery includes a cylindrical case adapted to receive and house the electrode assembly, the cylindrical case having a bottom surface. A first insulation plate insulating the electrode assembly from the cylindrical case is located adjacent the bottom surface and includes a recess adapted to accommodate the first electrode tap, the first electrode tap being coupled to the bottom surface The battery also includes a cap assembly located at an opposite end of the cylindrical case from the bottom surface, the cap assembly being coupled to the second electrode tap and sealing the case.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2006Date of Patent: July 13, 2010Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.Inventor: Kwansic Chun
-
Patent number: 7749657Abstract: A positive electrode material for a lithium secondary battery which is high in safety, high in capacity, excellent in rate performance and high temperature storage performance and high in charge/discharge efficiency is provided. The positive electrode material for a lithium secondary battery is obtained by adding Al to a Li—Ni—Co—Ba—O system raw material or preferably by adding Al and an amorphous phase of an oxide thereto. The positive electrode material for a lithium secondary battery is a composite oxide having a total composition represented by LiaNibCocBadAleOx or LiaNibCocBadAleMfOx where M: one or more elements selected from the group consisting of Li, Na, K, Si, Ba, B, P and Al a: 1.0 to 1.2 mol b: 0.5 to 0.95 mol c: 0.05 to 0.5 mol d: 0.0005 to 0.01 mol e: 0.01 to 0.1 mol f: 0.01 mol or less (not inclusive of 0).Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2003Date of Patent: July 6, 2010Assignee: JFE Mineral Company Ltd.Inventors: Yoshiaki Hamano, Hidefumi Konnai
-
Patent number: 7745042Abstract: A lithium ion secondary battery in which an abnormal overheat due to a short circuit of a current collecting portion of one electrode and an electrode material mixture of the other is prevented. The lithium ion secondary battery has: a positive electrode including a core material having a current collecting portion and a material mixture carrying portion and a material mixture layer carried thereon; a negative electrode including a core material having a current collecting portion and a material mixture carrying portion and a material mixture layer carried thereon; a separator and a porous electron-insulating layer including an inorganic oxide filler and a binder both interposed between the positive and negative electrodes; and a non-aqueous electrolyte. The insulating layer is carried on a region including surfaces of the positive electrode current collecting portion and material mixture layer, and/or a region including surfaces of the negative electrode current collecting portion and material mixture layer.Type: GrantFiled: December 28, 2004Date of Patent: June 29, 2010Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Akiko Fujino, Tsumoru Ohata, Tetsuya Hayashi
-
Patent number: 7740972Abstract: In order to provide a fuel cell unit, comprising a housing which limits at least one gas chamber and has a gas opening in a first housing wall and a gas opening in a second housing wall located opposite the first housing wall, the housing of which has an adequate deformation stability in relation to the sealing surface pressure required for a flat seal even at high temperatures, it is suggested that the fuel cell unit comprise at least one supporting element which is arranged between the first housing wall and the second housing wall and keeps the two housing walls at a distance from one another.Type: GrantFiled: February 17, 2005Date of Patent: June 22, 2010Assignee: ElringKlinger AGInventor: Armin Diez
-
Patent number: 7727659Abstract: In order to provide a fuel cell unit, comprising a housing which limits at least one gas chamber and has a gas opening in a first housing wall and a gas opening in a second housing wall located opposite the first housing wall, the housing of which has an adequate deformation stability in relation to the sealing surface pressure required for a flat seal even at high temperatures, it is suggested that the fuel cell unit comprise at least one supporting element which is arranged between the first housing wall and the second housing wall and keeps the two housing walls at a distance from one another.Type: GrantFiled: February 17, 2005Date of Patent: June 1, 2010Assignee: ElringKlinger AGInventor: Armin Diez
-
Patent number: 7727664Abstract: A production method for a fuel cell including an electrolyte, an anode which is provided on one of both sides of the electrolyte, a cathode which is provided on the other side of the electrolyte, and separators one of which is provided on an outer side of the anode and the other of which is provided on an outer side of the cathode. This production method includes a first process in which the anode and the cathode each of which includes at least a catalyst and an ion-exchange resin are produced; and a second process in which the electrolyte is provided between the anode and the cathode before being formed into a thin-film electrolyte. With this production method, contact resistance can be reduced without increasing the number of production processes.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2005Date of Patent: June 1, 2010Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Takumi Taniguchi, Masafumi Kobayashi
-
Patent number: 7718308Abstract: A thermal fuse includes an insulating case having a bottom and having an opening provided therein, a fusible alloy provided in the insulating case, a lead conductor having one end connected to the fusible alloy and other end led out from the insulating case through the opening of the insulating case, a flux provided on the fusible alloy, and a sealer for sealing the opening of the insulating case. The volume of a space between the fusible alloy in the insulating case and the sealer is larger than the volume of the flux. Sealing of the fuse is prevented from deteriorating, and the insulating film is prevented from damage even when the thermal fuse is used for breaking a large current at a high voltage.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2007Date of Patent: May 18, 2010Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Kenji Senda, Atsushi Kono, Tatsuya Wada
-
Patent number: 7717968Abstract: A method of the present invention is used for the high-rate deposition of materials, such as carbon, silicon, metals, metal oxides, and the like, onto a metal substrate defined by a metal tape. The particles of the material are mixed with fluid and are injected against the metal tape at high pressure and high velocity. The particles of the material form a current collection surface of the metal tape. The metal tape is used as cathode or anode combined with a separator to form a fuel cell of a secondary battery, metal-ceramic membranes, film composite metal-ceramic materials for electronic devices.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2006Date of Patent: May 18, 2010Inventors: Yevgen Kalynushkin, Peter Novak
-
Patent number: 7713646Abstract: In order to provide a fuel cell unit, comprising a housing which limits at least one gas chamber and has a gas opening in a first housing wall and a gas opening in a second housing wall located opposite the first housing wall, the housing of which has an adequate deformation stability in relation to the sealing surface pressure required for a flat seal even at high temperatures, it is suggested that the fuel cell unit comprise at least one supporting element which is arranged between the first housing wall and the second housing wall and keeps the two housing walls at a distance from one another.Type: GrantFiled: February 17, 2005Date of Patent: May 11, 2010Assignee: ElringKlinger AGInventor: Armin Diez
-
Patent number: 7709158Abstract: The present invention is directed to ambient temperature molten salts as non-aqueous electrolytes. The molten salts comprise a cation of a guanidine moiety and an anion. The guanidine cation is asymmetrically halogenated, which means that in the general formula: C(NR2)3+, one or two, but not all three, of the N atoms are bonded to R radicals that are the same for each thusly substituted N atom and the third N atom is bonded to hydrogen or two of the same R radicals, and if R radicals, they are different than the R radicals bonded to the first and second N atoms. The R radicals bonded to any one N atom is an alkyl group of from 1 to 4 carbon atoms. Either both of the hydrogen atoms or at least one of the hydrogen atoms on each of the R radicals bonded to one or two, but not three, of the N atoms are substituted with the same halogen selected from the group consisting of fluorine, chlorine, bromine, and iodine.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2006Date of Patent: May 4, 2010Assignee: Electrochem Solutions, Inc.Inventors: Carl R. Schlaikjer, Michael F. Scalise