Patents by Inventor Andrew Robert Drews

Andrew Robert Drews has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20250253476
    Abstract: A traction battery assembly includes a plurality of battery cells disposed along an array axis, a rounded endplate at an axial end of the plurality of battery cells, and a wrap spanning the rounded endplate. A method of securing a battery array includes positioning a plurality of battery cells between along an array axis between a first rounded endplate and a second rounded endplate, and compressing the plurality of battery cells between the first and second rounded endplates by winding a wrap around the first rounded endplate, the plurality of battery cells, and the second rounded endplate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2024
    Publication date: August 7, 2025
    Inventors: Justin Purewal, Andrew Robert Drews, Matthew Denlinger, Brian Joseph Robert
  • Publication number: 20250246669
    Abstract: A battery component fabrication method includes heating at least one electrolyte layer at a pre-compression thermal chamber. After the heating at the pre-compression thermal chamber, the method compresses the at least one electrolyte layer together with an electrode to provide a multilayered structure. After the compressing, the method heats the multilayered structure at a post-compression thermal chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2024
    Publication date: July 31, 2025
    Inventors: Ali Rashti, Hyukkeun Oh, Xin Liu, Andrew Robert Drews
  • Publication number: 20250118725
    Abstract: A method includes arranging a double sided positive electrode assembly between a pair of single sided negative electrodes assemblies such that positive electrode coatings of the double sided positive electrode assembly directly contact solid electrolyte separator layers of the single sided negative electrode assemblies to form a solid state electrode assembly, and applying pressure to each of the single sided negative electrode assemblies to compress the solid state electrode assembly and establish ionic contact between the positive electrode coatings and the solid electrolyte separator layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2023
    Publication date: April 10, 2025
    Inventors: Xin Liu, Andrew Robert Drews
  • Publication number: 20240243365
    Abstract: A battery cell of a solid-state battery, such as a solid-state traction battery of an electrified vehicle, includes first and second electrodes and a solid electrolyte sandwiched between the electrodes in a stack. The first electrode overhangs the second electrode in the stack. The solid electrolyte may have a surface area that is the same as the surface area of the first electrode with the solid electrolyte together with the first electrode overhang the second electrode in the stack. The battery cell may further include a current collector having a main portion and a tab region extending therefrom. The current collector is arranged in the stack with the second electrode sandwiched between the main portion of the current collector and the solid electrolyte and with the first electrode overhanging the tab region of the current collector. An electrical insulation layer is applied to the tab region of the current collector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2023
    Publication date: July 18, 2024
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Xin Liu, Andrew Robert Drews, Christian Edward Shaffer, Hyukkeun Oh
  • Publication number: 20240243437
    Abstract: A battery cell of a solid-state battery, such as a solid-state traction battery of an electrified vehicle, includes first and second electrodes and a solid electrolyte. The solid electrolyte is assembled (e.g., laminated) to the first electrode and is sandwiched between the first electrode and the second electrode in a stack. The first and second electrodes have a same size surface, and the solid electrolyte has a surface no larger than the surface of the first electrode. An edge of the first electrode is coated with electrical insulating material. An edge of the second electrode and/or an edge of the solid electrolyte may also be coated with electrical insulating material. The first electrode may be an anode and the second electrode may be a cathode. Alternatively, the first electrode may be a cathode and the second electrode may be an anode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2023
    Publication date: July 18, 2024
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Hyukkeun Oh, Xin Liu, Andrew Robert Drews
  • Publication number: 20240072232
    Abstract: Various methods of making low-tortuosity electrodes are disclosed. In some embodiments, the low-tortuosity electrodes have a tortuosity of less than 2.0 or 1.4 and include battery-active material and solid electrolyte with the solid electrolyte having channels therein that are vertically aligned. A solid-state lithium-ion battery electrode is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2022
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Inventors: Zijie Lu, Xiaojiang Wang, Andrew Robert Drews, Brian Joseph Robert, Lingyun Liu
  • Patent number: 11682793
    Abstract: A single-ion polymer electrolyte has formula (I): R—[SO2N(M)SO2—X—]m—SO3Li (I). In formula (I), X may be an electron withdrawing group such as an aromatic group, substituted aromatic group, —(CF2)n—, —(CCl2)n—, —C6H4—, or —C6H3(NO2)—. R may be a fluorinated alkyl, LiSO3(CF2)3—, or an aromatic group, and M may be a metal cation. For the single-ion polymer electrolyte with formula (I), m may be an integer from 2 to 2000, and n may be an integer from 1 to 4.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES. LLC
    Inventors: Zijie Lu, Andrew Robert Drews, Xiaojiang Wang
  • Patent number: 11600875
    Abstract: A traction battery cell assembly including a battery cell and a cell case is provided. The cell case defines a cavity sized for receiving the battery cell and includes an inner wall, an outer wall, and a plurality of support chambers disposed between the inner wall and the outer wall. Each of the support chambers defines a polygon having multiple sides. The sides are arranged with one another to define an agent cavity to house neutralizing agent. The plurality of support chambers is arranged with the inner wall and the outer wall such that an impact to one of the walls causes a puncture to one of the sides of the support chambers releasing the neutralizing agent. Each of the support chambers may include five or more sides and adjacent sides may define an angle therebetween greater than ninety degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Brian Joseph Robert, Andrew Robert Drews, Mohan Karulkar
  • Publication number: 20230063636
    Abstract: A traction battery includes a plurality of solid-state-battery cells arranged in a stack, a pair of endplates engaging with opposing ends of the stack and configured to generate a predetermined magnitude of stack pressure in the stack, and a plate of shape-memory alloy disposed in the stack. The plate of shape-memory alloy is configured to expand or contract in thickness responsive to volume changes within the battery cells to maintain the stack pressure within a range of the predetermined magnitude.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2021
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Inventors: Asma Sharafi, Andrew Robert Drews
  • Publication number: 20230066390
    Abstract: Electrochemical systems for mitigating or reducing the release of undesirable by-products of electrochemical cells are provided. These systems may be particularly relevant to the sequestering of hydrogen sulfide gas in solid state electrochemical cells with sulfide-based electrolytes. Some of the systems include an integrated hydrogen sulfide eliminating layer or microspheres containing a hydrogen sulfide eliminating material adjacent to one or more electrochemical cells and within a containment structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2021
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Inventors: Asma Sharafi, Andrew Robert Drews, Venkataramani Anandan
  • Publication number: 20230053067
    Abstract: A solid polymer electrolyte having a reinforcing substrate, a polymer having ethylene oxide portions and hydrocarbon portions with pendent functional groups having high relative permittivity for an electrochemical cell is provided. The solid polymer electrolyte may provide good ionic conductivity at room temperature and good mechanical strength.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2021
    Publication date: February 16, 2023
    Inventors: Zijie Lu, Xiaojiang Wang, Andrew Robert Drews, Venkataramani Anandan
  • Patent number: 11069920
    Abstract: A solid-state battery comprises an anode in electrical contact with an anode current collector, including a first ionically conductive solid electrolyte material having a susceptibility to reduction in a presence of lithium metal such that, upon contact with lithium, the ionically conductive material partially reduces to a mixed ionic and electronic conductor including a partially reduced species, a cathode, and a separator positioned between and in ionic contact with the anode and cathode. The separator is formed of a second ionically conductive solid electrolyte material which is in contact with the first ionically conductive material but not susceptible to reduction in a presence of lithium metal and not soluble for the partially reduced species such that the separator has a susceptibility for migration of lithium ions from the mixed ionic and electronic conductor and impedes propagation or exchange of the partially reduced species from the mixed ionic and electronic conductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Venkataramani Anandan, Andrew Robert Drews
  • Patent number: 10971762
    Abstract: A Li-ion battery includes a cathode; an anode having a primary active material, conductive carbon, binder, and reserve material; and a separator between the cathode and anode. The reserve material has a reaction potential between a lithium reaction potential and a primary active material reaction potential. The reserve material is configured to intercalate with lithium at the reaction potential responsive to the primary active material being fully intercalated to inhibit lithium plating on the anode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Andrew Robert Drews, Venkataramani Anandan
  • Patent number: 10930978
    Abstract: A lithium ion pouch battery cell includes a rigid frame forming a skeleton of the cell and defining an aperture, an anode, a separator, and a cathode disposed within the aperture. The anode and cathode each include a current collector with an exposed tab portion, and a pair of terminals, integrated into the frame, each having an exterior portion and an interior portion bonded to one of the current collectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Andrew Robert Drews, Brian Joseph Robert, Mohan Karulkar
  • Patent number: 10903498
    Abstract: According to one or more embodiments, a lithium-ion battery includes an anode including lithium titanate (LTO) particles and solid electrolyte particles configured to form an interphase layer therebetween, a cathode including an active material, electronic conductor, and a non-solid electrolyte; and an ionically conductive and liquid-impermeable solid electrolyte separator. The solid electrolyte separator is in direct contact with and between the anode and cathode, and is configured to prevent reduction of the non-solid electrolyte by isolating the non-solid electrolyte from the LTO particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Venkataramani Anandan, Andrew Robert Drews, Daniel Murray, Matthew Denlinger
  • Patent number: 10707522
    Abstract: A method of making a solid state battery may include heating a flux sandwiched between a solid ceramic electrolyte and a group one metal. The flux may be heated such that it roughens a surface of the solid ceramic electrolyte and the group one metal melts and adheres to the surface of the solid ceramic electrolyte.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Venkataramani Anandan, Andrew Robert Drews, Mohan Karulkar
  • Patent number: 10700323
    Abstract: A battery system is disclosed. The system may include a frame surrounding a battery active region and defining a vent carried by the frame and mounted between the battery active region and coolant passage. The vent may be configured to vent gas from the battery active region to the coolant passage responsive to a pressure or temperature of the gas exceeding a predetermined threshold, and to isolate the battery active region from the coolant passage otherwise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mohan Karulkar, Andrew Robert Drews, Brian Joseph Robert
  • Patent number: 10700322
    Abstract: A plug for a fill port of a battery cell includes a body defining a channel. The plug includes a cover coupled to the body and covering the channel. The cover is configured to open in response to predetermined conditions to vent the battery cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mohan Karulkar, Brian Joseph Robert, Andrew Robert Drews
  • Patent number: 10530009
    Abstract: A method of forming a solid state battery is disclosed. In a moisture-free inert atmosphere, the method includes combining unreacted solid electrolyte precursors to form a green sheet, stacking the green sheet in between porous electrodes to form a solid state battery, and heating the battery to a melting point temperature of the precursors such that the precursors form a liquid phase penetrating pores in the electrodes to form ion conducting channels in the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Venkataramani Anandan, Andrew Robert Drews, Theodore James Miller
  • Patent number: 10476100
    Abstract: An electrode material is provided to include a Li-containing oxide of the formula of Li(NixCoyMz)O2, wherein M is an element different from Li, Ni, Co, or O, wherein x, y, and z are each independently between 0 and 1 and the sum of x, y, z is 1; and an oxygen scavenger material contacting at least a portion of the Li-containing oxide. In another embodiment, the electrode material further includes a second Li-containing oxide having the formula of Li(Nix2Coy2Mz2)O2, wherein M is an element different from Li, Ni, Co, or O, wherein x2, y2, and z2 are each independently between 0 and 1 and the sum of x2, y2, z2 is 1, wherein the oxide composite is configured as a first material layer, wherein the second Li-containing oxide is configured as a second material layer disposed next to the first material layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Chi Paik, Robert J. Kudla, Andrew Robert Drews