Patents by Inventor Benjamin G. Wroblewski

Benjamin G. Wroblewski 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).

  • Patent number: 11916251
    Abstract: A multi-cell rechargeable energy storage system (RESS) includes a plurality of battery cells organized into battery modules and a first enclosure configured to house the battery modules. The RESS also includes a first vent arranged on the first enclosure and configured to direct air from inside the first enclosure to an environment external to the first enclosure. The RESS additionally includes a second vent arranged on the first enclosure and configured to direct air into the first enclosure from the environment external to the first enclosure. The RESS further includes a phase-change material (PCM) device arranged on the second vent and configured to melt in response to at least one of the battery modules experiencing a thermal runaway event. In combination with the first vent, the PCM generates crossflow ventilation through the first enclosure to cool the battery modules therein and mitigate thermal runaway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Benjamin G. Wroblewski, Jordan Mullins, Brian Carrier
  • Publication number: 20240063499
    Abstract: Presented are pressure burst covers with electrical interlocks for battery vents, methods for making/using such covers, and motor vehicles equipped with such covers for detecting thermal events in lithium-class batteries. A battery assembly includes an electrochemical battery cell housed inside a battery container. The battery container includes a fluid port that evacuates therethrough cell-generated gases. A pressure burst cap is movably attached to the battery container to selectively transition from a closed position, whereat the cap covers the port, to an open position, whereat the cap partially or fully uncovers the port. An electrical interlock circuit, which is connected to a controller, includes a circuit lead that is attached to the pressure burst cap and battery container. The circuit lead holds the cap in the closed position and fails at a preset rupture force to create an open circuit signal within the electrical interlock circuit indicative of a thermal event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2022
    Publication date: February 22, 2024
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Benjamin G. Wroblewski
  • Publication number: 20240047818
    Abstract: A multi-cell rechargeable energy storage system (RESS) includes a plurality of battery cells organized into battery modules and a first enclosure configured to house the battery modules. The RESS also includes a first vent arranged on the first enclosure and configured to direct air from inside the first enclosure to an environment external to the first enclosure. The RESS additionally includes a second vent arranged on the first enclosure and configured to direct air into the first enclosure from the environment external to the first enclosure. The RESS further includes a phase-change material (PCM) device arranged on the second vent and configured to melt in response to at least one of the battery modules experiencing a thermal runaway event. In combination with the first vent, the PCM generates crossflow ventilation through the first enclosure to cool the battery modules therein and mitigate thermal runaway.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2022
    Publication date: February 8, 2024
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Benjamin G. Wroblewski, Jordan Mullins, Brian Carrier
  • Patent number: 11387505
    Abstract: A battery pack thermal management system can include a battery pack including a plurality of battery modules encased within a battery case, a coolant line having an inlet and an outlet each penetrating a perimeter of the battery case and at least one thermally activated valve. The at least one thermally activated valve can be configured to spray coolant onto one or more battery modules responsive to a temperature within the battery pack exceeding a temperature threshold. The temperature threshold can be defined based on the temperature of a thermal event occurring within the battery pack which exceeds a normal operating temperature of the battery pack. The coolant line within the battery pack is biased towards the perimeter of the battery case. The battery pack can power a battery electric or hybrid electric vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Ryan P. Hickey, Cody Demara, Pushpendra Chauhan, Benjamin G. Wroblewski
  • Publication number: 20220102780
    Abstract: A battery pack thermal management system can include a battery pack including a plurality of battery modules encased within a battery case, a coolant line having an inlet and an outlet each penetrating a perimeter of the battery case and at least one thermally activated valve. The at least one thermally activated valve can be configured to spray coolant onto one or more battery modules responsive to a temperature within the battery pack exceeding a temperature threshold. The temperature threshold can be defined based on the temperature of a thermal event occurring within the battery pack which exceeds a normal operating temperature of the battery pack. The coolant line within the battery pack is biased towards the perimeter of the battery case. The battery pack can power a battery electric or hybrid electric vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Publication date: March 31, 2022
    Inventors: Ryan P. Hickey, Cody Demara, Pushpendra Chauhan, Benjamin G. Wroblewski
  • Patent number: 11156665
    Abstract: A battery control system includes T contactor paths connected in parallel between a battery and a load, where T is an integer greater than one. Each of the T contactor paths includes a first contactor and a second contactor connected in series with the first contactor. Each of the T contactor paths includes at least one of a first voltage sensor configured to sense a first voltage between the first contactor and the second contactor; and a current sensor configured to sense current flowing through the first contactor and the second contactor. A second voltage sensor is configured to sense a second voltage at one end of the T contactor paths. A third voltage sensor is configured to sense a third voltage at an opposite end of the T contactor paths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Dave G. Rich, Jonathan O. Conell, Robert A. De Stefano, Saad Hasan, Benjamin G. Wroblewski, Lyall K. Winger
  • Patent number: 10996278
    Abstract: A battery switch testing system that includes a memory configured to may include one or more executable instructions and a controller configured to execute the executable instructions, where the executable instructions enable the controller to: (a) monitor current discharge from a first battery; after (a), (b) when the current discharge from the first battery falls below a threshold value, open an internally integrated first battery switch of the first battery; after (b), (c) close the first battery switch; after (c), (d) monitor current discharge from a second battery; after (d), (e) when the current discharge from the second battery falls below a threshold value, open an internally integrated second battery switch of the second battery; and after (e), (f) close the second battery switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Jonathan O. Conell, Robert A. De Stefano, Dave G. Rich, Benjamin G. Wroblewski, Saad Hasan
  • Publication number: 20200386817
    Abstract: A battery switch testing system that includes a memory configured to may include one or more executable instructions and a controller configured to execute the executable instructions, where the executable instructions enable the controller to: (a) monitor current discharge from a first battery; after (a), (b) when the current discharge from the first battery falls below a threshold value, open an internally integrated first battery switch of the first battery; after (b), (c) close the first battery switch; after (c), (d) monitor current discharge from a second battery; after (d), (e) when the current discharge from the second battery falls below a threshold value, open an internally integrated second battery switch of the second battery; and after (e), (f) close the second battery switch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2020
    Publication date: December 10, 2020
    Inventors: Jonathan O. Conell, Robert A. De Stefano, Dave G. Rich, Benjamin G. Wroblewski, Saad Hasan
  • Patent number: 10838008
    Abstract: One general aspect includes a battery switch testing method, the method implemented in a system including first and second batteries and a controller, the method including: (a) monitoring, via the controller, electrical properties of the first battery; (b) when the electrical properties of the first battery falls below a threshold value, via the controller, opening a switch of the first battery; (c) closing, via the controller, the first battery switch; (d) monitoring, via the controller, electrical properties of the second battery; (e) when the electrical properties of the second battery falls below a threshold value, via the controller, opening a switch of the second battery; and (f) closing, via the controller, the second battery switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Jonathan O. Conell, Robert A. De Stefano, Dave G. Rich, Benjamin G. Wroblewski, Saad Hasan
  • Publication number: 20200150182
    Abstract: A battery control system includes T contactor paths connected in parallel between a battery and a load, where T is an integer greater than one. Each of the T contactor paths includes a first contactor and a second contactor connected in series with the first contactor. Each of the T contactor paths includes at least one of a first voltage sensor configured to sense a first voltage between the first contactor and the second contactor; and a current sensor configured to sense current flowing through the first contactor and the second contactor. A second voltage sensor is configured to sense a second voltage at one end of the T contactor paths. A third voltage sensor is configured to sense a third voltage at an opposite end of the T contactor paths.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2018
    Publication date: May 14, 2020
    Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Dave G. RICH, Jonathan O. CONELL, Robert A. DE STEFANO, Saad HASAN, Benjamin G. WROBLEWSKI, Lyall K. WINGER
  • Publication number: 20200018796
    Abstract: One general aspect includes a battery switch testing method, the method implemented in a system including first and second batteries and a controller, the method including: (a) monitoring, via the controller, electrical properties of the first battery; (b) when the electrical properties of the first battery falls below a threshold value, via the controller, opening a switch of the first battery; (c) closing, via the controller, the first battery switch; (d) monitoring, via the controller, electrical properties of the second battery; (e) when the electrical properties of the second battery falls below a threshold value, via the controller, opening a switch of the second battery; and (f) closing, via the controller, the second battery switch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2018
    Publication date: January 16, 2020
    Inventors: Jonathan O. Conell, Robert A. De Stefano, Dave G. Rich, Benjamin G. Wroblewski, Saad Hasan