Patents Examined by Lingwen R Zeng
  • Patent number: 11038218
    Abstract: This disclosure describes various embodiments of a battery assembly for an electrified vehicle battery pack. The battery assemblies include one or more battery cells (e.g., cylindrical, prismatic, or pouch cells) and a cooling device extending at least partially through the battery cells. The cooling device is configured to either conductively or convectively cool the battery cells. In some embodiments, the cooling device is a solid rod, a hollow tube, a slab, or some combination of these features. In other embodiments, the cooling device connects to a coolant manifold configured to communicate coolant for convectively cooling the battery cells of the battery assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Allen Joseph Gilbert, Kristen S. Tamm
  • Patent number: 11031608
    Abstract: A connecting element for making electrical contact with at least one separator plate of a fuel cell stack includes a housing and a contact element which is arranged in the housing and has a contact end for making contact with the separator plate and has a connection end for connection to a continuing line. A positive z-direction is defined from the contact end in the direction of the connection end. A cutout is provided in the housing, wherein the contact element is positioned in the cutout. The contact end is arranged on a first side of the cutout. The connection end is arranged on the second side of the cutout. The contact element has an interlocking element which bears in an interlocking manner against the housing on the first side of the cutout.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Stefan Haase, Florian Kriesch
  • Patent number: 11011757
    Abstract: A separator for a fuel cell, includes: a metal plate; a first electro-conductive resin layer formed on a first surface side of the metal plate; a second electro-conductive resin layer formed on a second surface side of the metal plate opposite to the first surface side; and a flow channel in which the metal plate and the first and second electro-conductive resin layers have a wavy shape in cross section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hideaki Tanaka
  • Patent number: 11005114
    Abstract: A plant control system is equipped with a plant, an actuator that controls a state of the plant based on a command value, and an arithmetic device that calculates the command value through the use of state information indicating the state of the plant and that outputs the command value to the actuator. The arithmetic device adopts, as the command value, a value of u obtained by deleting a time differential of y from equations: dy/dt=f(y, u, d, t) and K4×dy/dt=K3×yref?K1×y+K2×(time integral of (yref?y))+K5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masahiro Okuyoshi, Tetsuya Bono, Toshihiro Egawa
  • Patent number: 10991970
    Abstract: Provided is a secondary battery manufacturing system which includes: a unit cell forming device for the forming unit cells, in which a separator, an anode cell, a separator, a cathode cell, and a separator are stacked in order, from a separator roll, an anode cell roll, and a cathode cell roll, which are rolled; an inverting device for forming inverted unit cells, in which a separator, a cathode cell, a separator, an anode cell, and a separator are stacked in order, by inverting some of two or more unit cells formed by the unit cell forming device; and a stacking device for stacking a unit cell, an anode cell, an inverted unit cell, and a cathode cell in order, in which the process of manufacturing an electrode assembly is simplified, and the defect rate of the manufactured electrode assembly is lowered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Inventor: Sora Lee
  • Patent number: 10985379
    Abstract: This invention is a method for making a bipolar plate by selecting at least one resin from the group consisting of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polyphenylsulfone, a polymer resistant to sulfuric acid, and combinations of any thereof. The method may include adding conductive fibers in an amount of from about 20% to about 50% by volume, to the bipolar plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: PIVOTAL BATTERY CORP.
    Inventors: Slobodan Pavlovic, Mohamad Zeidan
  • Patent number: 10978765
    Abstract: A battery vent cap gang includes a plurality of vent caps. A primary member is operably coupled to each of the plurality of vent caps. A first translation member is operably coupled to a first one of the plurality of vent caps and spaced from the primary member in a first direction. A second translation member is operably coupled to a second one of the plurality of the vent caps and spaced from the primary member in a second direction. An actuator is operably coupled to the primary member, the first translation member, and the second translation member to cause substantially simultaneous rotational movement of the plurality of vent caps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: DOYLE MANUFACTURING, INC.
    Inventor: Michael A. Doyle
  • Patent number: 10978736
    Abstract: A composite membrane for a secondary battery, including: a nanostructure including a cross-linked polymer including a repeating unit represented by Formula 1 and a unit derived from a crosslinking compound: wherein, in Formula 1, Ar1, R1 to R3, A, and Y? are the same as described in the specification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignees: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD., SAMSUNG SDI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hongsoo Choi, Dongjin Lee, Wonseok Chang, Dongmin Im
  • Patent number: 10971751
    Abstract: An electrode assembly includes a cell stack part having (a) a structure in which one kind of radical unit having a same number of electrodes and separators alternately disposed and integrally combined is repeatedly disposed, or (b) a structure in which at least two kinds of radical units having a same number of electrodes and separators alternately disposed and integrally combined are disposed in a predetermined order, and a fixing part extending from a top surface along a side to a bottom surface thereof for fixing the cell stack part. The one kind of radical unit has a four-layered structure in which first electrode, first separator, second electrode and second separator are sequentially stacked or a repeating structure in which the four-layered structure is repeatedly stacked, and each of the at least two kinds of radical units are stacked by ones to form the four-layered structure or the repeating structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Inventors: Ah Reum Jung, Ji Won Park, Myung Hoon Ko, Seung Ho Na, Jin Ho Ban
  • Patent number: 10971708
    Abstract: A method includes applying to a substrate a solution including a polymeric compound to form a release layer on the substrate; applying ion-conducting elements on the release layer; applying a matrix polymer on the release layer, wherein the matrix polymer surrounds at least some of the ion-conducting elements; and removing the release layer to separate the matrix polymer from the substrate such that the ion-conducting elements remain embedded in a carrier layer of the matrix polymer and form an ion-conducting membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Robert D. Miller, Young-Hye Na, Sogol Teschler, Khanh Nguyen
  • Patent number: 10964945
    Abstract: A positive electrode active material for a lithium secondary battery, which includes a lithium-containing composite metal compound in the form of secondary particles that are aggregates of primary particles capable of being doped and undoped with lithium ions, each of the secondary particles having on its surface a coating layer including a metal composite oxide including lithium and aluminum, wherein the positive electrode active material includes at least nickel and aluminum as non-lithium metals, and satisfies all of the requirements (1) to (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignees: SUMITOMO CHEMICAL COMPANY, LIMITED, TANAKA CHEMICAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keita Murakami, Yoshiaki Honda
  • Patent number: 10957889
    Abstract: A battery vent cap gang includes a plurality of vent caps. A primary member is operably coupled to each of the plurality of vent caps. A first translation member is operably coupled to a first one of the plurality of vent caps and spaced from the primary member in a first direction. A second translation member is operably coupled to a second one of the plurality of the vent caps and spaced from the primary member in a second direction. An actuator is operably coupled to the primary member, the first translation member, and the second translation member to cause substantially simultaneous rotational movement of the plurality of vent caps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Inventor: Michael A. Doyle
  • Patent number: 10957940
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate generally to electrochemical cells having semi-solid electrodes that include a gel polymer additive such that the electrodes demonstrate longer cycle life while significantly retaining the electronic performance of the electrodes and the electrochemical cells formed therefrom. In some embodiments, a semi-solid electrode can include about 20% to about 75% by volume of an active material, about 0.5% to about 25% by volume of a conductive material, and about 20% to about 70% by volume of an electrolyte. The electrolyte further includes about 0.01% to about 1.5% by weight of a polymer additive. In some embodiments, the electrolyte can include about 0.1% to about 0.7% of the polymer additive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: 24M Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Taison Tan, Naoki Ota, Jeffry Disko
  • Patent number: 10944126
    Abstract: A positive electrode for a lithium ion secondary battery, including a positive electrode current collector, a conductive layer which is disposed directly or indirectly on the positive electrode current collector, and which includes a conductive particle, a polymer particle, and a fluororesin or a resin including a structural unit derived from a nitrile group-containing monomer, and a positive electrode active material layer disposed directly or indirectly on the conductive layer, as well as a lithium ion secondary battery using the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: Showa Denko Materials Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Eisuke Haba, Masashi Aotani, Hiroki Kuzuoka
  • Patent number: 10923781
    Abstract: A recovering device includes a charging chamber configured to overcharge a nickel-metal hydride battery. The charging chamber is provided with: a first water bath; a fixing device configured to fix the nickel-metal hydride battery with a portion of a container of the nickel-metal hydride battery being immersed in the water coolant in the first water bath; a pump; a dial gauge configured to detect a deformation amount of the container of the nickel-metal hydride battery; and a collection container configured to collect the gas exhausted from the exhaust valve of the nickel-metal hydride battery and exhaust the gas to outside the recovering device. The recovering device further includes a controller configured to perform the overcharging process for the nickel-metal hydride battery. The controller is configured to halt the overcharging process when the deformation amount of the container exceeds a threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masahiko Mitsui, Junta Izumi, Kazuya Kodama, Kenji Kimura
  • Patent number: 10916811
    Abstract: Electrolytes, anode material particles and methods are provided for improving performance and enhancing the safety of lithium ion batteries. Electrolytes may comprise ionic liquid(s) as additives which protect the anode material particles and possibly bind thereto; and/or may comprise a large portion of fluoroethylene carbonate (FEC) and/or vinylene carbonate (VC) as the cyclic carbonate component, and possibly ethyl acetate (EA) and/or ethyl methyl carbonate (EMC) as the linear component; and/or may comprise composite electrolytes having solid electrolyte particles coated by flexible ionic conductive material. Ionic liquid may be used to pre-lithiate in situ the anode material particles. Disclosed electrolytes improve lithium ion conductivity, prevent electrolyte decomposition and/or prevents lithium metallization on the surface of the anode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: STOREDOT LTD.
    Inventors: Doron Burshtain, Daniel Aronov, Eran Sella
  • Patent number: 10916956
    Abstract: A battery includes an anode having an alkali metal as the active material, a cathode having, for example, iron disulfide as the active material, and an increased electrolyte volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: DURACELL U.S. OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Michael Pozin, Fred J. Berkowitz, Steven J. Specht, Yelena Kouznetsova, Bhupendra K. Patel, Yang Zhao, Haitao Chang
  • Patent number: 10903503
    Abstract: The present invention is a catalyst for a solid polymer fuel cell including: catalyst particles of platinum, cobalt and manganese; and a carbon powder carrier supporting the catalyst particles, wherein the component ratio (molar ratio) of the platinum, cobalt and manganese of the catalyst particles is of Pt:Co:Mn=1:0.06 to 0.39:0.04 to 0.33, and wherein in an X-ray diffraction analysis of the catalyst particles, the peak intensity ratio of a Co—Mn alloy appearing around 2?=27° is 0.15 or less on the basis of a main peak appearing around 2?=40°. It is particularly preferred that the catalyst have a peak ratio of a peak of a CoPt3 alloy and an MnPt3 alloy appearing around 2?=32° of 0.14 or more on the basis of a main peak.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: TANAKA KIKINZOKU KOGYO K.K.
    Inventors: Minoru Ishida, Koichi Matsutani
  • Patent number: 10892446
    Abstract: A secondary battery includes an electrode assembly, a can, a cap plate, an insulating plate, and a terminal plate. The electrode assembly is in the can. The cap plate seals an opening of the can and includes a first hole. The insulating plate is on a lower surface of the cap plate and includes a second terminal through hole. The terminal plate is on a lower surface of the insulating plate and includes a third terminal through hole and at least one protrusion adjacent the third terminal through hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jongha Lee, Junsun Yong
  • Patent number: 10886514
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a separator for a lithium secondary battery, including a porous resin comprising one or more polar functional groups selected from the group consisting of —C—F; and —C—OOH and —C?O on a surface thereof, wherein, among the polar functional groups, a molar ratio of —C—OOH and —C?O to —C—F ranges from 0.2:0.8 to 0.8:0.2, and a method of manufacturing the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: LG CHEM, LTD.
    Inventors: Sang Wook Woo, Oh Byong Chae, Hee Won Choi, Eun Kyung Kim