Patents Examined by Osei Amponsah
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Patent number: 9379397Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 3, 2011Date of Patent: June 28, 2016Assignee: SUMITOMO CHEMICAL COMPANY, LIMITEDInventors: Takitaro Yamaguchi, Takashi Sanada
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Patent number: 9368815Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: January 24, 2013Date of Patent: June 14, 2016Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Shuji Sato, Masahiko Sato
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Patent number: 9365131Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: November 21, 2012Date of Patent: June 14, 2016Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil CompanyInventors: Aqil Jamal, Thang Pham
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Patent number: 9362585Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 4, 2013Date of Patent: June 7, 2016Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Tadashi Nishiyama, Yusuke Nara, Kimiharu Mizusaki
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Patent number: 9362586Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 7, 2010Date of Patent: June 7, 2016Assignee: SAMSUNG SDI CO., LTD.Inventors: Hyunjeong Kim, Andrey Matyushenko
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Patent number: 9346066Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 5, 2012Date of Patent: May 24, 2016Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventor: Xiaosong Huang
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Patent number: 9318757Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 14, 2007Date of Patent: April 19, 2016Assignee: Airbus Deutschland GmbHInventors: Michael Koenig, Ralf-Henning Stolte
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Patent number: 9306252Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 11, 2012Date of Patent: April 5, 2016Assignee: NUCLEUS SCIENTIFIC, INC.Inventors: Grant W. Kristofek, Serge R. Lafontaine, Ian W. Hunter
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Patent number: 9300014Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 13, 2012Date of Patent: March 29, 2016Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kyung-Ho Park, Seok Koh, Seok-Ryun Park
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Patent number: 9287590Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 5, 2010Date of Patent: March 15, 2016Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Tomohiro Nakano, Hideaki Fujita
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Patent number: 9287574Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 2, 2012Date of Patent: March 15, 2016Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.Inventor: Shinsuke Takeguchi
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Patent number: 9276279Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 24, 2007Date of Patent: March 1, 2016Assignee: Volvo Lastvagnar ABInventors: Lennart Andersson, Peter Jozsa
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Patent number: 9276289Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 22, 2010Date of Patent: March 1, 2016Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Hirofumi Nakamoto, Fuminori Mizuno
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Patent number: 9269971Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: January 14, 2013Date of Patent: February 23, 2016Assignee: KOREA INSTITUTE OF ENERGY RESEARCHInventors: Doo-Won Seo, Sun-Dong Kim, In-Sub Han, Ji-Haeng Yu, Se-Young Kim, Sang-Kuk Woo
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Patent number: 9252426Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: May 9, 2008Date of Patent: February 2, 2016Assignee: Nexeon LimitedInventor: Mino Green
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Patent number: 9236603Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 19, 2010Date of Patent: January 12, 2016Assignee: SUMITOMO BAKELITE CO., LTD.Inventors: Yosuke Sawayama, Shinpei Sakasita, Tatsuro Sasaki
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Patent number: 9225024Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 17, 2009Date of Patent: December 29, 2015Assignee: SAINT-GOBAIN CERAMICS & PLASTICS, INC.Inventors: Aravind Mohanram, Yeshwanth Narendar, Guangyong Lin
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Patent number: 9219272Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 27, 2010Date of Patent: December 22, 2015Assignee: 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
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Patent number: 9209466Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 3, 2010Date of Patent: December 8, 2015Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Koji Katano
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Patent number: 9174513Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 28, 2011Date of Patent: November 3, 2015Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors CorporationInventors: 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