Patents by Inventor Dell A. Crouch

Dell A. Crouch 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: 5578915
    Abstract: A battery pack comprising a plurality of series arranged module has a state-of-charge and capacity associated therewith that are determined through dynamic operation thereof including both charge and discharge cycling. Amp*hour integration techniques are used to update state-of-charge until one of the plurality of modules is deeply discharged, at which time state-of-charge is updated in accordance with measured dynamic battery parameters of the deeply discharged module and capacity is updated in accordance with the newly calculated state-of-charge thereby accounting for capacity loss throughout the pack's cycle life. Alternatively, amp*hour integration techniques are used only at relatively high states of charge and dynamic parameter techniques are employed thereafter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 26, 1996
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Dell A. Crouch, Jr., Tracy F. Strickland
  • Patent number: 5561360
    Abstract: A two part battery recharge method first introduces stepped charge current to the battery to restore a majority of energy to a deeply discharged battery. Thereafter, relatively low frequency periodic charge currents and discharge currents interspersed with relaxation periods are introduced to the battery to effectuate efficient energy restoral and increased cycle life of the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1996
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: John L. Ayres, Richard M. Bendert, Dell A. Crouch, Jr.
  • Patent number: 3960597
    Abstract: High temperature secondary cells having a molten salt or fused salt electrolyte are fabricated in ambient atmosphere. Such cells typically have an electrolyte, a positive reactant or a negative reactant which are capable of reacting with moisture or oxygen contained in the atmosphere. The ingredients or materials comprising the positive and negative reactants and the electrolyte are processed in a state in which they do not react significantly with moisture or oxygen in the ambient atmosphere. Thereafter, they are electrically charged in the positive reactant compartment of a cell container at the operating temperature of the cell whereby the negative reactant of the cell is provided in the negative reactant compartment of the cell container and a positive reactant-electrolyte melt is provided in the positive reactant compartment of the cell container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1975
    Date of Patent: June 1, 1976
    Assignee: ESB Incorporated
    Inventors: John Werth, Dell A. Crouch, Jack C. Sklarchuk