Patents Examined by Osei Amponsah
  • Patent number: 9379397
    Abstract: An air battery having a main body including a container package member, an electrolytic solution contained in the container package member, a cathode having a cathode catalyst that is in contact with the electrolytic solution, and an anode that is in contact with the electrolytic solution; a tank storing the electrolytic solution; a pump circulating the electrolytic solution between the main body and the tank; an oxygen intake incorporating oxygen into the electrolytic solution in the way of circulation of the electrolytic solution; and a pipe arrangement connecting the tank, the pump, the oxygen intake and the main body so that the electrolytic solution circulates in the order thus named, wherein the oxygen intake has an oxygen selective permeable membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: SUMITOMO CHEMICAL COMPANY, LIMITED
    Inventors: Takitaro Yamaguchi, Takashi Sanada
  • Patent number: 9368815
    Abstract: A fuel cell includes a membrane electrode assembly and a separator. The separator includes a reactant gas inlet manifold, a reactant gas outlet manifold, a reactant gas channel, an inlet connection channel, an inlet buffer portion, an outlet buffer portion, and an outlet connection channel. A pressure drop through the inlet buffer portion is less than a pressure drop through the reactant gas channel when a reactant gas flows from the reactant gas inlet manifold to the reactant gas channel. A pressure drop through the outlet buffer portion is less than a pressure drop through the outlet connection channel when the reactant gas flows from the reactant gas channel to the reactant gas outlet manifold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shuji Sato, Masahiko Sato
  • Patent number: 9365131
    Abstract: A SOFC system for producing a refined carbon dioxide product, electrical power and a compressed hydrogen product is presented. Introducing a hydrocarbon fuel and steam to the SOFC system, operating the SOFC system such that the steam-to-carbon molar ratio in the pre-reformer is in a range of from about 3:1 to about 4:1, the oxygen in the reformer combustion chamber is in excess, greater than 90% of the carbon dioxide produced during the process forms the refined carbon dioxide product are steps in the process. An alternative fueling station having a SOFC system is useful for fueling both electrical and hydrogen alternative fuel vehicles. Introducing steam and a hydrocarbon fuel, operating the alternative fueling station, coupling the alternative fuel vehicle to the alternative fueling station, introducing an amount of alternative fuel and decoupling the alternative fuel vehicle are steps in the method of use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Aqil Jamal, Thang Pham
  • Patent number: 9362585
    Abstract: A fuel cell stack includes fuel cells stacked in a stacking direction, a first end plate a second end plate, and first tightening members and second tightening members. The first tightening members couple long sides of the first end plate and long sides of the second end plate, and extend in the stacking direction. The second tightening members couple short sides of the first end plate and short sides of the second end plate, and extend in the stacking direction. Extensions are formed on both of long sides of the fuel cell, and the first tightening members have recessed portions engaged with the extensions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tadashi Nishiyama, Yusuke Nara, Kimiharu Mizusaki
  • Patent number: 9362586
    Abstract: A secondary battery and a method of manufacturing the secondary battery are disclosed. The secondary battery includes an electrode assembly including a positive electrode plate, a negative electrode plate, and a separator, wherein the positive electrode plate and the negative electrode plate are stacked with the separator disposed between, wherein the positive electrode plate includes a plurality of positive electrode non-coating portions including a plurality of first positive electrode bent portions at a first side of the electrode assembly, wherein the negative electrode plate includes a plurality of negative electrode non-coating portions including a plurality of first negative electrode bent portions at a second side of the electrode assembly; a positive electrode tab electrically connected to the positive electrode non-coating portion; and a negative electrode tab electrically connected to the negative electrode non-coating portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: SAMSUNG SDI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hyunjeong Kim, Andrey Matyushenko
  • Patent number: 9346066
    Abstract: A method of making a non-woven polymer fiber mat that includes one or more polymer fibers and particles intermingled with the one or more polymer fibers is disclosed. The method, more specifically, includes simultaneously electrospinning the one or more polymer fibers and spraying the particles onto a collection face of a collector substrate. Once formed, the non-woven polymer fiber mat may be incorporated into an electrochemical battery cell of a lithium ion battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Xiaosong Huang
  • Patent number: 9318757
    Abstract: A fuel supply unit (10) for a fuel cell system which is in particular suitable for use in an aircraft comprises a fuel tank (12) and a feed line (14), which connects the fuel tank (12) to an inlet (16) of a fuel cell (18). A tank isolation valve (28) is disposed in the feed line (14). A removal line (46) connects an outlet (20) of the fuel cell (18) to an unpressurised region of the aircraft and/or the outer atmosphere. The fuel supply unit (10) also comprises a sensor (44) for detecting an electrical voltage in the fuel cell (18) and an electronic control unit (45) which is adapted to receive signals output from the sensor (44) and which is adapted to detect a fault caused by an unintentional opening or a failure of the tank isolation valve (28) based on the sensor signals, when in a quiescent operational state of the fuel cell system electrical energy is generated by the fuel cell (18).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: Airbus Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Koenig, Ralf-Henning Stolte
  • Patent number: 9306252
    Abstract: Operating a battery assembly that includes one or more rechargeable battery cells includes: monitoring one or more operational parameters of the battery cells; and dynamically controlling pressure applied to the one or more battery cells based at least in part on one or more of the monitored operational parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: NUCLEUS SCIENTIFIC, INC.
    Inventors: Grant W. Kristofek, Serge R. Lafontaine, Ian W. Hunter
  • Patent number: 9300014
    Abstract: A rechargeable battery pack may be used with a protection circuit module in common for serial or parallel connection of unit cells. The rechargeable battery pack may include a plurality of unit cells for forming a rechargeable battery by providing an electrode assembly to a pouch, a protection circuit module electrically connected to the unit cells, and a connector connected to the protection circuit module. The protection circuit module may include a serial protection circuit for electrically connecting the unit cells in series and a parallel protection circuit for electrically connecting the unit cells in parallel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kyung-Ho Park, Seok Koh, Seok-Ryun Park
  • Patent number: 9287590
    Abstract: A non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery (100) includes: an electrode body (150) including a positive electrode plate (155), a negative electrode plate (156), and a separator (157); and a non-aqueous electrolyte contained inside the electrode body (150). The non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery (100) further includes a reservoir member (170) defining a reservoir space (S1, S2) located adjacent to an end face (150j, 150k) of the electrode body (150), the reservoir space being used to hold the non-aqueous electrolyte forced out of the electrode body (150) through the end face (150j, 150k) of the electrode body (150).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomohiro Nakano, Hideaki Fujita
  • Patent number: 9287574
    Abstract: A polymer electrolyte fuel cell according to the present invention includes: an electrolyte layer-electrode assembly (5); a first separator (6A) provided with a first reaction gas flowing region; and a second separator (6B) provided with a second reaction gas flowing region. In the first separator (6A), among one or more first turn portions (28), at least one first turn portion (28) is provided with a first recess (48) and first projections (58). In the second separator (6B), among one or more second turn portions (29), at least one second turn portion (29) is provided with a second recess (49) and second projections (59). When seen in the thickness direction of the first separator (6A), an overlap area is less than or equal to 5% of a gross area, the overlap area being a total overlap area between the first and second recesses (48, 49), the gross area being the total of the following areas: the area of all the first recesses (48); and the area of all the second recesses (49).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Shinsuke Takeguchi
  • Patent number: 9276279
    Abstract: An auxiliary power unit (APU), a method of operating an APU and a vehicle comprising the APU are provided. The APU includes a fuel processor and a fuel cell, the fuel processor being provided with steam, air and dimethyl ether (DME). In order to avoid decreased functionality of the fuel cell caused by lubricants in the DME, a heat exchanger is provided for separating lubricant from the DME.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: Volvo Lastvagnar AB
    Inventors: Lennart Andersson, Peter Jozsa
  • Patent number: 9276289
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an ambient temperature molten salt having excellent electron conductivity in addition to ion conductivity. The present invention attains the object by providing an ambient temperature molten salt including a first imidazolium salt having a cationic segment represented by the general formula (1) and an anionic segment represented by MX4 (where M is a transition metal and X is a halogen); and a second salt having a cationic segment as a monovalent cation and an anionic segment as a halogen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hirofumi Nakamoto, Fuminori Mizuno
  • Patent number: 9269971
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a flat-tubular solid oxide cell stack in which the pathway of chemical reactions is long and the temperature and flow rate of feed gas are maintained at uniform levels, thus the efficiency of electrical energy generation is increased when the cell stack is used as a fuel cell, and the purity of generated gas (hydrogen) is increased when the cell stack is used as a high-temperature electrolyzer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: KOREA INSTITUTE OF ENERGY RESEARCH
    Inventors: Doo-Won Seo, Sun-Dong Kim, In-Sub Han, Ji-Haeng Yu, Se-Young Kim, Sang-Kuk Woo
  • Patent number: 9252426
    Abstract: An electrode and electrode assembly, for example for use as an anode in a lithium-ion rechargeable cell that uses silicon or silicon-based elements of specific dimensions and geometry as its active material, is provided, as well as methods for manufacturing the same. The active silicon or silicon-based material may include fibers, sheets, flakes, tubes or ribbons, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: Nexeon Limited
    Inventor: Mino Green
  • Patent number: 9236603
    Abstract: Disclosed is a carbon material for lithium ion secondary cell having a positron lifetime of 370 picoseconds or longer, and 480 picoseconds or shorter, when measured by positron annihilation spectroscopy under conditions (A) to (E) below: (A) positron radiation source: positrons generated from electron-positron pairs using an electron accelerator; (B) gamma ray detector: a BaF2 scintillator and a photoelectron multiplier; (C) measurement temperature and atmosphere: 25° C., in vacuum; (D) annihilation ?-ray counts: 3×106 or larger; and (E) positron beam energy: 10 keV.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: SUMITOMO BAKELITE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yosuke Sawayama, Shinpei Sakasita, Tatsuro Sasaki
  • Patent number: 9225024
    Abstract: An interconnect material is formed by combining a lanthanum-doped strontium titanate with an aliovalent transition metal to form a precursor composition and sintering the precursor composition to form the interconnect material. The aliovalent transition metal can be an electron-acceptor dopant, such as manganese, cobalt, nickel or iron, or the aliovalent transition metal can be an electron-donor dopant, such as niobium or tungsten. A solid oxide fuel cell, or a strontium titanate varistor, or a strontium titanate capacitor can include the interconnect material that includes a lanthanum-doped strontium titanate that is further doped with an aliovalent transition metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: SAINT-GOBAIN CERAMICS & PLASTICS, INC.
    Inventors: Aravind Mohanram, Yeshwanth Narendar, Guangyong Lin
  • Patent number: 9219272
    Abstract: A secondary particle and a lithium battery including the same are provided wherein the secondary particle includes a plurality of primary particles and each primary particle contains n polycyclic nano-sheets disposed upon one another. The polycyclic nano-sheets include hexagonal rings of six carbon atoms linked to each other, wherein a first carbon and a second carbon have a distance therebetween of L1. L2 is a distance between a third carbon and a fourth carbon, and the arrangement of the polycyclic nano-sheets is such that L1?L2. The secondary particle is used as a negative active material in the lithium battery, and the secondary particle contains pores, thereby allowing for effective intercalating and deintercalating of the lithium ions into the secondary particle to impart improved capacity and cycle lifespan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: So-Ra Lee, Jae-Myung Kim, Kyu-Nam Joo, Tae-Sik Kim, Jong-Hee Lee, Ui-Song Do, Young-Su Kim, Beom-Kwon Kim, Deok-Hyun Kim, Gu-Hyun Chung, Chang-Su Shin, Yong-Mi Yu
  • Patent number: 9209466
    Abstract: A fuel cell system equipped with a fuel cell, a pressure control unit, and an exhaust. The pressure control unit is provided on the fuel gas flow path in which the fuel gas to be supplied to the fuel cell flows, and it is able to control the pressure of the fuel gas to be supplied to the fuel cell. The exhaust valve is provided on the fuel exhaust gas flow path in which the fuel exhaust gas exhausted from the fuel cell flows, and when the valve is opened, at least a portion of the fuel exhaust gas can be exhausted to outside the fuel exhaust gas flow path. The pressure control unit is controlled, so that before opening the exhaust valve, the pressure of the fuel gas to be supplied to the fuel cell is decreased beyond what it was up to that point. Then, when the pressure of the fuel gas to be supplied to the fuel cell is the decreased first pressure, the exhaust valve is opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Koji Katano
  • Patent number: 9174513
    Abstract: The present invention provides a heating control method for a fuel cell vehicle, in which an additional heating source is used together with a typical electric heater to reduce power consumption and increase fuel efficiency as compared to the sole use of the electric heater. For this purpose, the present invention provides a heating control method for a fuel cell vehicle which comprises an electric heater for heating air supplied to the interior of the vehicle, and a heater core provided in a coolant line for cooling a fuel cell stack and heating the air supplied to the interior of the vehicle by heat exchange with the coolant discharged from the fuel cell stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Seung Yong Lee, Chi Myung Kim, Eung Young Kim, Gi Young Nam, Sung Wook Na, Hark Koo Kim, Kwang Ok Han, Kyoon Soo Lim, Yong Sun Park