Patents Examined by Mark F. Huff
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Patent number: 9680166Abstract: Techniques and implementations pertaining to an integrated gas diffusion layer with a sealing function are described. A method for making the integrated gas diffusion layer with the sealing function may involve placing a gas diffusion member inside a mold followed by injecting a sealing material into the mold. The method may also involve having the sealing material substantially covers a peripheral portion of the gas diffusion member and at least partially penetrates into a peripheral portion of the gas diffusion member. The method may further involve curing the sealing material to form a sealing member having a lip ring. A height of a portion of the mold corresponding to a non-lip ring portion of the sealing member is less than or equal to a thickness of the gas diffusion member.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2016Date of Patent: June 13, 2017Inventor: Yong Gao
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Patent number: 9680172Abstract: Flow type electrochemical cells are disclosed. The electrochemical cell has an anode half-cell, a cathode half-cell, and permeable separating layer. The half-cells are bounded by side elements. Respective porous electrodes are housed in the half-cells. The permeable separating layer is disposed between the anode half-cell and the cathode half-cell. An electrolyte region connected to an electrolyte feed and an electrolyte outflow region connected to an electrolyte drain are further provided. An electrolyte inflow region and an electrolyte outflow region are disposed on opposite sides of the porous electrodes such that inflowing electrolyte flows through the porous electrode perpendicularly to the permeable separating layer.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2013Date of Patent: June 13, 2017Assignee: ThyssenKrupp Industrial Solutions AGInventors: Gregor Damian Polcyn, Niels Bredemeyer, Christoph Roosen, Dmitri Donst, Peter Toros, Peter Woltering, Dirk Hoormann, Philipp Hofmann, Stephan Köberle, Frank Funck, Wolfram Stolp, Bernd Langanke
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Patent number: 9676640Abstract: A method of making a micro-channel electrode structure includes providing a curable layer and imprinting the curable layer to form an electrode micro-channel and a fluid micro-channel in a common step. The electrode micro-channel intersects the fluid micro-channel to form a micro-channel intersection. The curable layer is cured to form an imprinted cured layer. Both the electrode and the fluid micro-channels are filled with a developable material that is exposed with an electrode pattern including the electrode micro-channel and extending from the electrode micro-channel into the micro-channel intersection without occluding the fluid micro-channel. The exposed developable material is developed to remove the developable material from the electrode pattern and the electrode micro-channel and the micro-channel intersection corresponding to the electrode pattern are at least partly filled with a conductive material. At least a portion of the remaining developable material is removed from the fluid micro-channel.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2015Date of Patent: June 13, 2017Assignee: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANYInventors: Ronald Steven Cok, Mitchell Stewart Burberry
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Patent number: 9673452Abstract: The loss of sulfur cathode material as a result of polysulfide dissolution causes significant capacity fading in rechargeable lithium/sulfur cells. Embodiments of the invention use a chemical approach to immobilize sulfur and lithium polysulfides via the reactive functional groups on graphene oxide. This approach obtains a uniform and thin (˜tens of nanometers) sulfur coating on graphene oxide sheets by a chemical reaction-deposition strategy and a subsequent low temperature thermal treatment process. Strong interaction between graphene oxide and sulfur or polysulfides demonstrate lithium/sulfur cells with a high reversible capacity of 950-1400 mAh g?1, and stable cycling for more than 50 deep cycles at 0.1 C.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2012Date of Patent: June 6, 2017Assignee: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIAInventors: Yuegang Zhang, Elton J. Cairns, Liwen Ji, Mumin Rao
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Patent number: 9673459Abstract: A single monolithic ceramic substrate has rectangular dimensions with thermal expansion dominant along the length. An inactive ceramic portion substantially surrounds a fuel cell active portion of scalable power. The active portion comprises a plurality of three-layer active structures, each including an electrolyte disposed between a first polarity electrode and a second polarity electrode, the electrolyte layers being co-fired with the inactive ceramic portion, and a first or second gas passage respectively associated with each first and second polarity electrode. The plurality of active structures are stacked in the thickness dimension with alternating polarity such that first polarity electrodes of adjacent active structures face each other with the associated first gas passage shared therebetween and second polarity electrodes of adjacent active structures face each other with the associated second gas passage shared therebetween.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 2016Date of Patent: June 6, 2017Inventors: Alan Devoe, Lambert Devoe
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Patent number: 9666866Abstract: A method is provided for fabricating a transition metal hexacyanometallate (TMHCM) electrode with a water-soluble binder. The method initially forms an electrode mix slurry comprising TMHCF and a water-soluble binder. The electrode mix slurry is applied to a current collector, and then dehydrated to form an electrode. The electrode mix slurry may additionally comprise a carbon additive such as carbon black, carbon fiber, carbon nanotubes, graphite, or graphene. The electrode is typically formed with TMHCM greater than 50%, by weight, as compared to a combined weight of the TMHCM, carbon additive, and binder. Also provided are a TMHCM electrode made with a water-soluble binder and a battery having a TMHCM cathode that is made with a water-soluble binder.Type: GrantFiled: July 24, 2014Date of Patent: May 30, 2017Assignee: Sharp Laboratories of America, Inc.Inventors: Long Wang, Yuhao Lu, Sean Vail
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Patent number: 9666892Abstract: The cell of the present invention includes an element portion and a first layer. The element portion includes a first electrode layer, a second electrode layer and a solid electrolyte layer. The first electrode layer serves as a tubular support body. The solid electrolyte layer is located between the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer. The solid electrolyte layer contains an oxide as a primary component and a first content of a rare earth element. The solid electrolyte layer has a thickness of 30 ?m or less. The solid electrolyte layer has a region devoid of the second electrode layer. The first layer is located in the region. The first layer contains the oxide as a primary component and a second content of the rare earth element. The second content is different from the first content. The first layer has a higher strength than the solid electrolyte layer.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2014Date of Patent: May 30, 2017Assignee: KYOCERA CORPORATIONInventor: Makoto Koi
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Patent number: 9660237Abstract: The present disclosure includes a battery module having a housing that includes a lid and a battery cell with a battery cell terminal and a battery cell vent on an end of the battery cell. The battery cell vent is configured to exhaust battery cell effluent. The battery module includes a printed circuit board positioned in an immediate vent direction of the battery cell, a vent shield channel positioned between the battery cell vent and the printed circuit board along the immediate vent direction of battery cell effluent, where the vent shield plate is immediately adjacent to the printed circuit board and configured to block the effluent from contacting the printed circuit board and to redirect the battery cell effluent along a desired vent path, and a module vent fluidly coupled to the desired vent path and configured to direct the battery cell effluent out of the battery module.Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 2015Date of Patent: May 23, 2017Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology CompanyInventors: Richard M. DeKeuster, Ronald J. Dulle
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Patent number: 9660268Abstract: An alkali-ion battery is provided with a transition metal cyanometallate (TMCM) sheet cathode and a non-alkaline metal anode. The fabrication method mixes TMCM powders, conductive additives, and a polytetrafluoroethylene binder with a solution containing water, forming a wet paste. The wet paste is formed into a free-standing sheet of cathode active material, which is laminated to a cathode current collector, forming a cathode electrode. The free-standing sheet of cathode active material has a thickness typically in the range of 100 microns to 2 millimeters. The cathode electrode is assembled with a non-alkaline metal anode electrode and an ion-permeable membrane interposed between the cathode electrode and anode electrode, forming an assembly. The assembly is dried at a temperature of greater than 100 degrees C. The dried assembly is then inserted into a container (case) and electrolyte is added. Thick anodes made from free-standing sheets of active material can be similarly formed.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2015Date of Patent: May 23, 2017Assignee: Sharp Laboratories of America, Inc.Inventors: Jie Song, Yuhao Lu, Xin Zhao
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Patent number: 9660312Abstract: A metal/air battery electrochemical cell in one embodiment includes a negative electrode, a positive electrode, an oxygen supply, and a closed oxygen conducting membrane less than about 50 microns thick located between the oxygen supply and the positive electrode.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 2013Date of Patent: May 23, 2017Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventors: Timm Lohmann, John F. Christensen, Boris Kozinsky, Paul Albertus, Roel Sanchez-Carrera
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Patent number: 9660308Abstract: A thermal protection device made from a polymer material, including two separate elements, a cover and a thermal protection case. The thermal protection case includes at least two foldable portions of which the link between the two is articulated about a hinge, the case configured to switch, by folding and unfolding, from a storage position to an operating position configured, by fixing to the battery support base that maintains the shape of same, to cover a motor vehicle battery, which may be in different formats depending on characteristics of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2013Date of Patent: May 23, 2017Assignee: RENAULT s.a.s.Inventors: Fabrice Guignard, Francois Jaglin, Sebastien Cadoret
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Patent number: 9660241Abstract: A method is provided for forming a sodium-containing particle electrolyte structure. The method provides sodium-containing particles (e.g., NASICON), dispersed in a liquid phase polymer, to form a polymer film with sodium-containing particles distributed in the polymer film. The liquid phase polymer is a result of dissolving the polymer in a solvent or melting the polymer in an extrusion process. In one aspect, the method forms a plurality of polymer film layers, where each polymer film layer includes sodium-containing particles. For example, the plurality of polymer film layers may form a stack having a top layer and a bottom layer, where with percentage of sodium-containing particles in the polymer film layers increasing from the bottom layer to the top layer. In another aspect, the sodium-containing particles are coated with a dopant. A sodium-containing particle electrolyte structure and a battery made using the sodium-containing particle electrolyte structure are also presented.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 2014Date of Patent: May 23, 2017Assignee: Sharp Laboratories of America, Inc.Inventors: Long Wang, Yuhao Lu, Jong-Jan Lee, Sean Vail
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Patent number: 9660282Abstract: A control device of a fuel cell system includes an electric conductivity comparing unit for comparing the electric conductivity of the water inside the ion exchanger which is measured by the electric conductivity measuring unit with a predetermined electric conductivity range, and an ion exchange environment determining unit for arbitrarily determining whether or not air has been mixed into an ion exchanger and whether or not the ion exchange efficiency of the ion exchanger has been degraded, based on a comparison result by the electric conductivity comparing unit.Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 2014Date of Patent: May 23, 2017Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventor: Akihito Yuzuriha
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Patent number: 9650246Abstract: In various aspects, systems and methods are provided for integration of molten carbonate fuel cells with a Fischer-Tropsch synthesis process. The molten carbonate fuel cells can be integrated with a Fischer-Tropsch synthesis process in various manners, including providing synthesis gas for use in producing hydrocarbonaceous carbons. Additionally, integration of molten carbonate fuel cells with a Fischer-Tropsch synthesis process can facilitate further processing of vent streams or secondary product streams generated during the synthesis process.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 2016Date of Patent: May 16, 2017Assignee: EXXONMOBIL RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING COMPANYInventors: Paul J. Berlowitz, Timothy A. Barckholtz, Frank Hershkowitz
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Patent number: 9653735Abstract: Provided is an anode for use in electrochemical cells, wherein the anode active layer has a first layer comprising lithium metal and a multi-layer structure comprising single ion conducting layers and polymer layers in contact with the first layer comprising lithium metal or in contact with an intermediate protective layer, such as a temporary protective metal layer, on the surface of the lithium-containing first layer. Another aspect of the invention provides an anode active layer formed by the in-situ deposition of lithium vapor and a reactive gas. The anodes of the current invention are particularly useful in electrochemical cells comprising sulfur-containing cathode active materials, such as elemental sulfur.Type: GrantFiled: June 21, 2016Date of Patent: May 16, 2017Assignee: Sion Power CorporationInventors: Terje A. Skotheim, Christopher J. Sheehan, Yuriy V. Mikhaylik, John D. Affinito
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Patent number: 9653762Abstract: Provided are a battery temperature regulation system capable of efficiently heating and/or cooling a battery, and a battery temperature regulation unit suitable for use in the battery temperature regulation system. The battery temperature regulation system 10 is provided with a thermally conductive member (e.g., a heat pipe 11) thermally connected to a battery 1, a heating device (e.g., a heater 12) that heats the battery 1 via the thermally conductive member and/or a cooling device (e.g., an air conditioning apparatus) that cools the battery 1 via the thermally conductive member.Type: GrantFiled: July 4, 2011Date of Patent: May 16, 2017Assignee: FURUKAWA ELECTRIC CO., LTD.Inventors: Takahiro Shimura, Chikako Satake, Masami Ikeda
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Patent number: 9647285Abstract: As integrated fossil fuel power plant and a method of operating the power plant is provided. The integrated fossil fuel power plant includes a gas turbine arrangement and a carbonate fuel cell having an anode side and a cathode side. The operating method for the integrated fossil fuel power plant includes partially expanding combustion gases in the gas turbine arrangement so that the temperature of the partially expanded combustion gases is optimized for reaction in the cathode side of the carbonate fuel cell, and feeding the partially expanded combustion gases at the optimized temperature to the cathode side of the carbonate fuel cell for reaction in the cathode side of the carbonate fuel cell.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 2013Date of Patent: May 9, 2017Inventor: Roberto Bove
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Patent number: 9647267Abstract: A rechargeable cell comprising h combination a bipolar electrode, a zinc electrolyte, a copper electrolyte and metal-ion impermeable, polymer electrochemical membrane separator, wherein the zinc electrolyte and the copper electrolyte are separated from each other by the bipolar electrode on one side and by the membrane separator on the other side. A battery comprising at least one said rechargeable cell.Type: GrantFiled: February 17, 2014Date of Patent: May 9, 2017Assignee: CUMULUS ENERGY STORAGE LIMITEDInventors: Michael David Hurwitz, Darron Rolfe Brackenbury
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Patent number: 9647247Abstract: An encasement (20) for a battery cell (2) and for a battery system (1) wherein said encasement is in the form of a sheet and comprises a core layer (22). This core layer (22) comprises carbon nanotubes. The invention further relates to a process for producing an encasement (20) which comprises initially coating a polymer substrate with an oxide material and applying carbon nanotubes to an oxide layer thus formed.Type: GrantFiled: July 15, 2015Date of Patent: May 9, 2017Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventors: Holger Fink, Joachim Fetzer, Thomas Wöhrle, Sarmimala Hore
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Patent number: 9643354Abstract: There are provided a molding apparatus and a battery tray manufactured thereby. The molding apparatus for molding a sheet that is fed along a first plane and manufacturing a battery tray includes an upper mold configured to press at least a part of the sheet from above the first plane to below the first plane and a lower mold configured to press at least a part of the sheet from below the first plane to above the first plane. It is possible to minimize a thickness of a product in a tray in which depths of battery accommodating grooves are large and to prevent incomplete molding from being generated.Type: GrantFiled: July 17, 2015Date of Patent: May 9, 2017Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.Inventors: Jae-Ok Yi, Sung-Gen Ok