Patents Examined by Thomas H. Parsons
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Patent number: 7858240Abstract: The present invention relates to an electrode assembly and a pouch type lithium rechargeable battery having the same, which can minimize the total volume of a battery while maximizing a distance between electrode tabs. Insulation members cover portions of electrode tabs to prevent contact of an electrode tab with another electrode tab and electrode plate with opposite polarity. The shape of the insulation member is changed to effectively increase the distance between electrode tabs and to reduce overall thickness or width of the battery.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2007Date of Patent: December 28, 2010Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.Inventor: Sang-Ho Lee
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Patent number: 7858245Abstract: An integrated fuel processor apparatus and enclosure for converting hydrocarbon fuel to a hydrogen rich gas. The integrated apparatus includes a fuel processor for producing a hydrogen-rich reformate that contains water and a combustible gas component. The fuel processor is enclosed in a gas impermeable enclosure that has a collection vessel for receiving water separated from the reformate stream. Methods for manufacturing an apparatus for separating water from a reformate stream for safe disposal and methods for separating water from a reformate stream for safe disposal are disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: June 2, 2006Date of Patent: December 28, 2010Assignee: Texaco Inc.Inventors: William Spencer Wheat, Kenneth Joseph Bunk, Ralph Stanley Worsley
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Patent number: 7858265Abstract: The present invention provides a carrier for a fuel cell including a cryogel-type carbon. A catalyst of the fuel cell includes the cryogel-type carbon and an active material. One of an anode and cathode of the fuel cell has the catalyst including cryogel-type carbon. The carrier for a fuel cell has excellent porosity, specific surface area, and density characteristics, and thus is capable of improving catalyst activity due to excellent catalyst-supporting efficiency, and thereby cell performance.Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 2008Date of Patent: December 28, 2010Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.Inventors: Chan Kwak, Alexey Alexandrovichserov, Soon-Ki Kang
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Patent number: 7855006Abstract: A fluid consuming battery (10) is provided with a fluid regulating system (50) for regulating fluid entry into the battery. The battery (10) includes a fluid consuming cell (20) having a cell housing with fluid entry ports for the passage of a fluid into the cell housing. A first fluid consuming electrode and a second electrode are disposed within the cell housing. The fluid regulating system (50) includes a valve having a moving plate (66) disposed adjacent to a fixed plate (62). The moving plate and fixed plate both have fluid entry ports (68, 64) that align in an open valve position and are misaligned in a closed valve position. The fluid regulating system (50) also includes an actuator that may include one or more shape memory alloy (SMA) components (82a, 82b) for moving the moving plate (66) relative to the fixed plate (62) to open and close the valve.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 2007Date of Patent: December 21, 2010Assignee: Eveready Battery Company, Inc.Inventors: James X. Wu, Robert M. Janmey, Richard A. Langan
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Patent number: 7855027Abstract: A fuel cell assembly includes a fuel cell, a fuel cell housing, and a diaphragm. The fuel cell housing includes an endwall and an inlet port extending through said endwall. The inlet port is for admitting a breath sample into the housing. The diaphragm is coupled within the housing such that a cavity is defined between the housing and the diaphragm. The fuel cell is positioned within the cavity and is substantially concentrically aligned with respect to the inlet port.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 2004Date of Patent: December 21, 2010Assignees: Intoximeters, Inc., Alcotek, Inc.Inventors: David J. Bayer, M. Rankine Forrester
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Patent number: 7855017Abstract: A structural battery includes an anode, cathode and electrolyte which, taken collectively, have sufficient mechanical strength to allow the battery to be used as a structural component of an article of manufacture. The combined anode, cathode and electrolyte have a stiffness between 10 MPa-1000 GPa, and in certain instances have a stiffness between 50 MPa-100 GPa. Also disclosed are solid electrolytes which may be used in structural batteries. The electrolytes are comprised of salts dissolved in a solvent such as a body of polymeric material. The electrolyte has good ionic conductivity and good mechanical properties. The solid electrolyte may be comprised of a body of uncrosslinked polymer or an at least partially crosslinked polymer such as a multifunctional polymer having segments comprised of linear resins and segments comprised of crosslinking resins. Also disclosed are methods for manufacturing the structural batteries.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 2006Date of Patent: December 21, 2010Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the ArmyInventors: James F. Snyder, Robert H. Carter, Eric D. Wetzel
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Patent number: 7838167Abstract: To provide an electrolyte polymer for fuel cells, an electrolyte membrane, a membrane/electrode assembly for fuel cells excellent in the durability. An electrolyte polymer for fuel cells made of a perfluorocarbon polymer having ion exchange groups (which may contain etheric oxygen atoms), characterized in that the value calculated by dividing an absorption area SCH derived mainly from a C—H bond in the range of from 3,100 cm?1 to 2,800 cm?1 by an absorption area SCF derived mainly from a C—F bond in the range of from 2,700 cm?1 to 2,000 cm?1, as measured by means of infrared spectrophotometry, is less than 0.005, an electrolyte membrane and a membrane/electrode assembly.Type: GrantFiled: February 16, 2007Date of Patent: November 23, 2010Assignee: Asahi Glass Company, LimitedInventors: Satoru Hommura, Tetsuji Shimohira
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Patent number: 7837744Abstract: A fluid consuming battery (10) is provided with a fluid regulating system (50) for regulating fluid entry into the battery. The battery (10) includes a fluid consuming cell (20) having a cell housing with fluid entry ports for the passage of a fluid into the cell housing. A first fluid consuming electrode and a second electrode are disposed within the cell housing. The fluid regulating system (50) includes a valve having a moving plate (66) disposed adjacent to a fixed plate (62). The moving plate and fixed plate both have fluid entry ports (68, 64) that align in an open valve position and are misaligned in a closed valve position. The fluid regulating system (50) also includes an actuator that may include one or more shape memory alloy (SMA) components (82a, 82b) for moving the moving plate (66) relative to the fixed plate (62) to open and close the valve.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 2007Date of Patent: November 23, 2010Assignee: Eveready Battery Company, Inc.Inventors: Richard A. Langan, Oliver W. Burstall
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Patent number: 7838172Abstract: A composite porous body, a gas diffusion layer member of a polymer electrolyte fuel cell, a cell member for the polymer electrolyte fuel cell, and manufacturing methods thereof are provided. The composite porous body is a metallic composite porous body in which a sheet-like metal portion composed of a composite porous body having a three-dimensional mesh structure and a resin portion extending in an in-plane direction of the metal portion are integrally formed with each other. The gas diffusion layer member of a polymer electrolyte fuel cell is composed of a composite porous body in which a sheet-like metal portion composed of a composite porous body having a three-dimensional mesh structure and a resin portion extending in an in-plane direction of the metal portion are integrally formed with each other. Also, the gas diffusion layer member of a polymer electrolyte fuel cell has a separator plate, and the conductive porous body placed on at least one surface of the separator plate.Type: GrantFiled: May 7, 2004Date of Patent: November 23, 2010Assignee: Mitsubishi Materials CorporationInventors: Masahiro Wada, Eiko Kanda, Takeshi Isobe, Komei Kato, Takumi Shibuya, Sakae Akiyama, Kazuichi Hamada
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Patent number: 7837745Abstract: A means and method for rendering high energy density cells safe in compliance with transportation requirements, with the incorporation of a cell fusible terminal which is added on or incorporated within the cell terminals to prevent over current and hazards from developing due to external short circuits. As a result, cells made in accordance with the method of the present invention can be shipped by common carriers even though they are classified as hazardous materials and can be readily used and normally discharged with such fusible link element thereon. The fusible terminal comprises a non conductive base element upon which is mounted a fusible link element and wherein the non-conductive or insulative base element comprises means for connection to a terminal of the cell or battery and to an external component.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2007Date of Patent: November 23, 2010Assignee: International Battery, Inc.Inventors: Joseph Barella, Wayne Andruk
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Patent number: 7833658Abstract: A battery for a vehicle that includes a housing comprising a top portion and a cover coupled to the top portion. The battery also includes a plurality of containers extending below the top portion and arranged in a plurality of rows, with each of the plurality of rows comprising a plurality of containers and being offset from an adjacent row. A portion of the top portion is not provided above one of the plurality of containers and includes at least one rib for providing enhanced strength for the portion of the top portion.Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 2008Date of Patent: November 16, 2010Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology CompanyInventors: Gerald A. Cummins, Jack Bruss
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Patent number: 7833649Abstract: A fluid consuming battery (10) is provided with a fluid regulating system (50) for regulating fluid entry into the battery. The battery (10) includes a fluid consuming cell (20) having a cell housing with fluid entry ports for the passage of a fluid into the cell housing. A first fluid consuming electrode and a second electrode are disposed within the cell housing. The fluid regulating system (50) includes a valve having a moving plate (66) disposed adjacent to a fixed plate (62). The moving plate and fixed plate both have fluid entry ports (68, 64) that align in an open valve position and are misaligned in a closed valve position. The fluid regulating system (50) also includes an actuator that may include one or more shape memory alloy (SMA) components (82a, 82b) for moving the moving plate (66) relative to the fixed plate (62) to open and close the valve.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 2007Date of Patent: November 16, 2010Assignee: Eveready Battery Company, Inc.Inventors: Steven D. Jones, James P. Campbell, Robert M. Janmey
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Patent number: 7833654Abstract: The invention provides an adhesive-carrying porous film for use as a battery separator, comprising: a substrate porous film, wherein when a 1 mm diameter penetrating thermomechanical analyzer probe is placed on the film under a 70 g load to measure a thickness while heating the film from room temperature at a rate of 200° C./minute to a temperature where the film thickness decreases by half when the probe was initially placed is 200° C. or more, a partially crosslinked adhesive carried on the film, the adhesive is prepared by reacting a reactive polymer having a functional group capable of reacting with an isocyanate group with a polyfunctional isocyanate so the reactive polymer is partially crosslinked, a porous film is temporarily bonded to an electrode to provide an electrode/separator laminate, the porous film in a battery functions as a separator which does not melt or break with small heat shrinkage under high temperatures.Type: GrantFiled: April 1, 2004Date of Patent: November 16, 2010Assignee: Nitto Denko CorporationInventors: Tomoaki Ichikawa, Keisuke Kii, Yoshihiro Uetani, Kazushige Yamamoto, Michio Satsuma, Mutsuko Yamaguchi
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Patent number: 7833664Abstract: A nonaqueous electrolyte battery includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode, a separator and a nonaqueous electrolyte. The negative electrode contains a negative electrode active material having a Lithium ion insertion potential of 0.4 V (vs. Li/Li+) or more. The separator is provided between the positive electrode and the negative electrode. The separator has a porosity of 50% or more and a pore diameter distribution in which a median diameter is larger than a mode diameter. The porosity and the pore diameter distribution are measured by mercury porosimetry. A surface roughness of the negative electrode is larger than the mode diameter.Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 2007Date of Patent: November 16, 2010Assignee: Kabushiki KaishaToshibaInventors: Yumi Fujita, Hiroki Inagaki, Hidesato Saruwatari, Norio Takami
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Patent number: 7833650Abstract: A fluid consuming battery (10) is provided with a fluid regulating system (50) for regulating fluid entry into the battery. The battery (10) includes a fluid consuming cell (20) having a cell housing with fluid entry ports for the passage of a fluid into the cell housing. A first fluid consuming electrode and a second electrode are disposed within the cell housing. The fluid regulating system (50) includes a valve having a moving plate (66) disposed adjacent to a fixed plate (62). The moving plate and fixed plate both have fluid entry ports (68, 64) that align in an open valve position and are misaligned in a closed valve position. The fluid regulating system (50) also includes an actuator that may include one or more shape memory alloy (SMA) components (82a, 82b) for moving the moving plate (66) relative to the fixed plate (62) to open and close the valve.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 2007Date of Patent: November 16, 2010Assignee: Eveready Battery Company, Inc.Inventors: Richard A. Langan, John C. Bailey, John M. Somerville
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Patent number: 7829227Abstract: An integrated fuel processor apparatus and enclosure for converting hydrocarbon fuel to a hydrogen rich gas. The integrated apparatus includes a fuel processor for producing a hydrogen-rich reformate that contains water and a combustible gas component. The fuel processor is enclosed in a gas impermeable enclosure that has a collection vessel for receiving water separated from the reformate stream.Type: GrantFiled: April 4, 2003Date of Patent: November 9, 2010Assignee: Texaco Inc.Inventors: William Spencer Wheat, Kenneth Joseph Bunk, Ralph Stanley Worsley
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Patent number: 7824808Abstract: The present invention relates to Lithium Metal batteries. In particular, it is related to lithium metal batteries containing a polyimide-based electrolyte. The present invention concerns a new concept of polyimide-based electrolytic component having an electrolyte comprising of at least one solvent and at least one alkali metal salt, with specific amounts of solvents, to optimize the properties of conductivity of the polyimide-based electrolyte and the mechanical properties of the polyimide-based electrolyte separator towards metallic lithium anode to prevent dendrites growths.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 2008Date of Patent: November 2, 2010Assignee: Solicore, Inc.Inventors: Allain Vallee, Dany Brouillette, James K. Pugh, Wade W. Guindy
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Patent number: 7824812Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell including at least one unit cell having an anode, an anode-side flow channel for supplying a fuel to the anode, a cathode, and a cathode-side flow channel for supplying an oxidant to the cathode. The fuel cell system further includes a gas-liquid separator for catalytically purifying the effluent from the anode and the effluent from the cathode to collect liquid. The gas-liquid separator is connected to an anode-side discharge path for the effluent and a cathode-side discharge path for the effluent, which are in fluid communication with a fuel outlet of the anode-side flow channel and an oxidant outlet of the cathode-side flow channel, respectively.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2007Date of Patent: November 2, 2010Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Hideyuki Ueda, Masahiro Takada
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Patent number: 7824805Abstract: A battery cell in an implantable medical device is presented. The battery cell includes an anode, a cathode, an insulator therebetween, and an electrolyte. The cathode includes silver vanadium oxide and fluorinated carbon (CFx). The CFx includes fluorine at greater than or equal to 61 percentage (%) by weight.Type: GrantFiled: January 17, 2007Date of Patent: November 2, 2010Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.Inventors: William G. Howard, Kaimin Chen, Gaurav Jain, Craig L. Schmidt, Erik R. Scott
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Patent number: 7816050Abstract: A fluid flow field plate for an electrochemical fuel cell that includes a planar body having a first surface, a second surface. More than one header opening extends between the first surface and the second surface to define a flowpath. At least one open flow field channel with an inlet port and an outlet port is provided in the first surface. Each outlet port is in fluid communication with one of the one header openings. At least one of the outlet port or the inlet port has a baffle extending into the flow path.Type: GrantFiled: February 16, 2007Date of Patent: October 19, 2010Assignees: Daimler AG, Ford Motor CompanyInventors: Simon Farrington, Ryan N. Mackie