Patents by Inventor Jason D. Fuhr
Jason D. Fuhr 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).
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Publication number: 20180013114Abstract: A lithium-ion battery module includes a housing having a plurality of partitions configured to define a plurality of compartments within a housing. The battery module also includes a lithium-ion cell element provided in each of the compartments of the housing. The battery module further includes a cover coupled to the housing and configured to route electrolyte into each of the compartments. The cover is also configured to seal the compartments of the housing.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 25, 2017Publication date: January 11, 2018Inventors: Jason D. Fuhr, Gary P. Houchin-Miller, Gerald K. Bowen, John P. Dinkelman, Dharmendra Patel, Alex A. Molinaroli
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Patent number: 9793585Abstract: Battery systems and modules having external thermal management systems are provided. In one embodiment, a battery module includes a housing and at least one electrochemical cell disposed within the housing. The battery module also includes a thermal interface having a first side in contact with the at least one electrochemical cell. The battery module also includes a heat sink in contact with a second side of the thermal interface. The thermal interface is adapted to enable heat transfer from the at least one electrochemical cell to the heat sink.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2015Date of Patent: October 17, 2017Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology LLCInventors: Kem M. Obasih, Robert J. Mack, Gary P. Houchin-Miller, Jason D. Fuhr, Richard M. DeKeuster
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Patent number: 9774020Abstract: A lithium-ion battery module includes a housing having a plurality of partitions configured to define a plurality of compartments within a housing. The battery module also includes a lithium-ion cell element provided in each of the compartments of the housing. The battery module further includes a cover coupled to the housing and configured to route electrolyte into each of the compartments. The cover is also configured to seal the compartments of the housing.Type: GrantFiled: February 19, 2016Date of Patent: September 26, 2017Assignee: Johnson Controls Advanced Power Solutions LLCInventors: Jason D. Fuhr, Gary P. Houchin-Miller, Gerald K. Bowen, John P. Dinkelman, Dharmendra Patel, Alex Molinaroli
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Publication number: 20170229687Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to the field of lead-acid batteries. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to handle retention features that are integrated into the packaging of lead-acid batteries. A disclosed lead-acid battery includes a battery handle assembly having a woven fabric strap with a pair of tabs, wherein each tab includes polymer overmolded about a respective end of the strap. The battery also includes a polymer packaging having a cover, wherein a top portion of the cover defines a pair of slots. Each slot is engaged with a respective tab of the battery handle assembly, and wherein each slot includes a respective retention feature that blocks the respective tab from disengaging from the slot.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 16, 2016Publication date: August 10, 2017Inventors: Nicholas E. Elison, Christopher M. Bonin, Jason D. Fuhr
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Patent number: 9705121Abstract: The present disclosure includes a battery module having a power assembly that includes a plurality of battery cells and a plurality of bus bars that electrically couples a terminal of each of the plurality of battery cells to a terminal of an adjacent battery cell of the plurality of battery cells. The battery module also includes a lead frame that includes a plurality of cell taps respectively electrically coupled to the plurality of bus bars of the power assembly, and a plurality of leads that extends from the plurality of cell taps. The lead frame also includes a plurality of broken interconnects that electrically isolates the plurality of cell taps from one another and electrically isolates the plurality of leads from one another.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 2015Date of Patent: July 11, 2017Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology CompanyInventors: Jason D. Fuhr, Joerg Birkholz, Jonathan P. Lobert, Marco Jansen, Martin Wiegmann, Richard M. DeKeuster, Robert J. Mack
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Patent number: 9577231Abstract: A lithium-ion battery module includes a housing having a plurality of partitions configured to define a plurality of compartments within a housing. The battery module also includes a lithium-ion cell element provided in each of the compartments of the housing. The battery module further includes a cover coupled to the housing and configured to route electrolyte into each of the compartments. The cover is also configured to seal the compartments of the housing.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 2015Date of Patent: February 21, 2017Assignee: Johnson Controls Advanced Power Solutions, LLCInventors: Jason D. Fuhr, Gary P. Houchin-Miller, Gerald K. Bowen, John P. Dinkelman, Dharmendra Patel, Alex Molinaroli
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Patent number: 9496539Abstract: A current collector with improved flexibility and electrical conductivity includes at least one flexible leg coupled to a central portion of the current collector. The flexible leg extends substantially orthogonally to the central portion when a force is applied to the central portion. Specifically, the at least one flexible leg extends at least 16 percent of the outer width when a 1000 Newton loading is applied between the central portion and the outer portion.Type: GrantFiled: August 9, 2012Date of Patent: November 15, 2016Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology LLCInventors: Matthew R. Tyler, Jason D. Fuhr
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Patent number: 9496557Abstract: A current collector for an electrochemical cell includes a member having an outer member and an inner member coupled to the outer member by a plurality of flexible arms configured to allow the inner member to move relative to the outer member.Type: GrantFiled: February 17, 2014Date of Patent: November 15, 2016Assignee: Johnson Controls -SAFT Advanced Power Solutions LLCInventors: Jason D. Fuhr, Gerald K. Bowen, John P. Dinkleman, Thomas J. Dougherty, Waterloo Tsutsui, Christopher M. Bonin
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Publication number: 20160268643Abstract: The present disclosure includes a battery module having a first electrochemical cell and a second electrochemical cell positioned adjacent to the first electrochemical cell. The battery module also includes a separator plate disposed between the first electrochemical cell and the second electrochemical cell. The separator plate includes a body comprising a first side and a second side opposite the first side. The first side is disposed adjacent a first face of the first electrochemical cell and includes a first indention. The first indention defines a first space between the first face of the first electrochemical cell and the first side of the separator plate. The first space is configured to enable swelling of the first electrochemical cell into the first space.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 12, 2015Publication date: September 15, 2016Inventors: Robert J. Mack, Richard M. DeKeuster, Jennifer L. Czarnecki, Jason D. Fuhr, Mark R. Johnson, Jonathan P. Lobert
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Patent number: 9413035Abstract: Provided herein are electrochemical cell element systems. One such system includes a first electrode having a desired length and an interrupted second electrode having one or more interruptions disposed between a plurality of electrode segments. The system also includes one or more separators positioned to separate the first electrode and the interrupted second electrode. The first electrode, the interrupted second electrode, and the one or more separators are wound along the length of the cell element.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2012Date of Patent: August 9, 2016Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology LLCInventors: Frederic C. Bonhomme, Jason D. Fuhr, Gary P. Houchin-Miller, John P. Dinkelman
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Publication number: 20160197320Abstract: The present disclosure includes a battery module having a group of electrically interconnected electrochemical cells, a battery module terminal configured to be coupled to a load for powering the load, and an electrical path extending between the group of electrically interconnected electrochemical cells and the battery module terminal, where the electrical path includes a bus bar bridge. The battery module also includes a housing, where the group of electrically interconnected electrochemical cells is disposed within the housing, and the housing includes a pair of extensions positioned along sides of the bus bar bridge and configured to retain the bus bar bridge and to block movement of the bus bar bridge in at least one direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 5, 2015Publication date: July 7, 2016Inventors: Robert J. Mack, Richard M. DeKeuster, Jennifer L. Czarnecki, Ken Nakayama, Matthew R. Tyler, Christopher M. Bonin, Xugang Zhang, Dale B. Trester, Jason D. Fuhr
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Publication number: 20160197329Abstract: The present disclosure includes a battery module having a stack of electrochemical cells that includes terminals, a housing that receives the stack of electrochemical cells, and a bus bar carrier disposed over the stack of electrochemical cells such that bus bars disposed on the bus bar carrier interface with the terminals of the stack of electrochemical cells. The bus bar carrier includes opposing first and second guide extensions, the stack of electrochemical cells is disposed between the opposing first and second guide extensions, and the opposing first and second guide extensions physically contact a first outer electrochemical cell and a second outer electrochemical cell, respectively, of the stack of electrochemical cells to guide the terminals of the stack of electrochemical cells toward corresponding ones of the bus bars disposed on the bus bar carrier.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 27, 2015Publication date: July 7, 2016Inventors: Robert J. Mack, Dale B. Trester, Richard M. DeKeuster, Jennifer L. Czarnecki, Jason D. Fuhr
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Publication number: 20160197331Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a battery module having a housing and a stack of battery cells disposed in a receptacle area of the housing, where each battery cell has a top having a battery cell terminal and a bottom, where the top of the battery cells face outwardly away from the receptacle area. The battery module includes an integrated sensing and bus bar subassembly positioned against the stack of battery cells and has a carrier, a bus bar integrated onto the carrier, and a biasing member integrated onto the carrier. The bus bar electrically couples battery cells in an electrical arrangement, and the biasing member is between the top of each battery cell and the carrier, where the biasing member has a first material, more compliant than a second material of the carrier, and the biasing member biases the stack of battery cells inwardly toward the housing.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 31, 2015Publication date: July 7, 2016Inventors: Robert J. Mack, Richard M. DeKeuster, Jennifer L. Czarnecki, Ken Nakayama, Matthew R. Tyler, Christopher M. Bonin, Xugang Zhang, Dale B. Trester, Jason D. Fuhr
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Publication number: 20160172643Abstract: A lithium-ion battery module includes a housing having a plurality of partitions configured to define a plurality of compartments within a housing. The battery module also includes a lithium-ion cell element provided in each of the compartments of the housing. The battery module further includes a cover coupled to the housing and configured to route electrolyte into each of the compartments. The cover is also configured to seal the compartments of the housing.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 19, 2016Publication date: June 16, 2016Inventors: Jason D. Fuhr, Gary P. Houchin-Miller, Gerald K. Bowen, John P. Dinkelman, Dharmendra Patel, Alex Molinaroli
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Patent number: 9350002Abstract: A battery module includes a plurality of electrochemical cells arranged within the battery module and a thermal management system configured to provide thermal management to the plurality of electrochemical cells. The thermal management system includes a first thermal plate provided adjacent a first side of the battery module and a second thermal plate provided adjacent a second side of the battery module opposite that of the first side of the battery module. The first thermal plate includes a series of fins that extend from a surface of the first thermal plate from the first side of the battery module to the second side of the battery module. The second thermal plate comprises a series of fins that extend from a surface of the second thermal plate from the second side of the battery module to the first side of the battery module.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2011Date of Patent: May 24, 2016Assignee: Johnson Controls—SAFT Advanced Power Solutions LLCInventors: Jason D. Fuhr, Chris Bonin
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Publication number: 20160126510Abstract: A lithium-ion battery module includes a housing having a plurality of partitions configured to define a plurality of compartments within a housing. The battery module also includes a lithium-ion cell element provided in each of the compartments of the housing. The battery module further includes a cover coupled to the housing and configured to route electrolyte into each of the compartments. The cover is also configured to seal the compartments of the housing.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 2, 2015Publication date: May 5, 2016Inventors: Jason D. Fuhr, Gary P. Houchin-Miller, Gerald K. Bowen, John P. Dinkelman, Dharmendra Patel, Alex Molinaroli
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Patent number: 9324976Abstract: An electrochemical cell includes a cell element and a current collector disposed in a housing that includes a vent. The current collector includes an outer member and an inner member coupled together by one or more flexible arms. The outer member is coupled to the cell element and the inner member is coupled to the vent, such that the flexible arms allow axial movement of the inner member with respect to the outer member when the vent moves from an undeployed position to a deployed position. The housing may include a shoulder that holds the cell element in the housing. The electrochemical cell may also include a coil plate provided at an end of the cell element. The coil plate is coupled to an edge of at least one electrode of the cell element.Type: GrantFiled: February 15, 2013Date of Patent: April 26, 2016Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology CompanyInventors: Matthew R. Tyler, Jason D. Fuhr
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Publication number: 20160093849Abstract: A battery module includes a housing including a first interior surface, a second interior surface opposite the first interior surface, and a compressed cell assembly disposed within an interior space of the housing between the first and second interior surfaces. The compressed cell assembly includes a plurality of prismatic battery cells arranged in a cell stack that includes a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and a retaining wall disposed between the first end of the cell stack and the first interior surface of the housing. The retaining wall includes a first surface in contact with the first end of the cell stack and a second surface opposite the first surface that contacts the first interior surface of the housing. The first and second interior surfaces are configured to maintain the compressed cell assembly in a compressed state having a compression force above a predetermined threshold.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 30, 2014Publication date: March 31, 2016Inventors: Richard M. DeKeuster, Jason D. Fuhr, Robert J. Mack, Jonathan P. Lobert, Jennifer L. Czarnecki
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Publication number: 20160093851Abstract: The present disclosure includes a battery module that includes a plurality of lithium ion battery cells disposed within a battery module packaging. Each of the plurality of lithium ion battery cells is individually held in place within the battery module packaging by a restraining medium. The restraining medium conformally covers a substantial portion of the surface of each of the plurality of lithium ion battery cells and prevents each of the plurality of lithium ion battery cells from expanding during operation of the battery module.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 30, 2014Publication date: March 31, 2016Inventors: Jonathan P. Lobert, Jason D. Fuhr, Robert J. Mack, Richard M. DeKeuster
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Publication number: 20160049630Abstract: The present disclosure includes a battery module having a power assembly that includes a plurality of battery cells and a plurality of bus bars that electrically couples a terminal of each of the plurality of battery cells to a terminal of an adjacent battery cell of the plurality of battery cells. The battery module also includes a lead frame that includes a plurality of cell taps respectively electrically coupled to the plurality of bus bars of the power assembly, and a plurality of leads that extends from the plurality of cell taps. The lead frame also includes a plurality of broken interconnects that electrically isolates the plurality of cell taps from one another and electrically isolates the plurality of leads from one another.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 17, 2015Publication date: February 18, 2016Inventors: Jason D. Fuhr, Joerg Birkholz, Jonathan P. Lobert, Marco Jansen, Martin Wiegmann, Richard M. DeKeuster, Robert J. Mack