Patents by Inventor John D. Butine

John D. Butine 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: 8720344
    Abstract: A system includes an interior duct, a blower, a vent coupling, and a secondary duct. The interior duct is fluidly coupled with the inlet and with an energy storage device disposed in a vehicle. The blower draws cooling fluid received through the inlet and through the interior duct to cause a first portion of the cooling fluid to flow over and/or through the energy storage device. The vent coupling directs the first portion of the cooling fluid that flowed over and/or through the energy storage device into a vented area. The secondary duct directs a second portion of the cooling fluid from the interior duct into the vent coupling to mix with the first portion of the cooling fluid after the first portion of the cooling fluid flows over and/or through the energy storage device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ajith Kuttannair Kumar, John D. Butine
  • Publication number: 20120129022
    Abstract: An electrochemical device is disclosed that includes a plurality of cells that each include a face, wherein a terminal is disposed on the faces of each respective cell. A bus bar has a bus bar height and electrically couples the terminals from cell-to-cell within the electrochemical device. A plurality of sheets are disposed between the plurality of cells, the plurality of sheets are substantially the same height as the combined, height of each cell and bus bar.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2011
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Inventors: Peter KALISH, Kashyap Shah, Kristopher Frutschy, Stuart Towie, James Browell, Roger Bull, Ajith Kuttannair Kumar, Michael Patrick Marley, John D. Butine, Harold Alan Ellsworth, John L. Donner, Stephen Pelkowski, Owen Scott Quirion, Neil A. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20110308765
    Abstract: A system includes an interior duct, a blower, a vent coupling, and a secondary duct. The interior duct is fluidly coupled with the inlet and with an energy storage device disposed in a vehicle. The blower draws cooling fluid received through the inlet and through the interior duct to cause a first portion of the cooling fluid to flow over and/or through the energy storage device. The vent coupling directs the first portion of the cooling fluid that flowed over and/or through the energy storage device into a vented area. The secondary duct directs a second portion of the cooling fluid from the interior duct into the vent coupling to mix with the first portion of the cooling fluid after the first portion of the cooling fluid flows over and/or through the energy storage device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2011
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Ajith Kuttannair Kumar, John D. Butine
  • Patent number: 8006626
    Abstract: A system is provided for cooling an energy storage system of a hybrid electric vehicle. The energy storage system includes at least one energy storage device. The system includes an inlet positioned on the outer surface of the vehicle above the platform. More particularly, the system includes a cooling fluid duct in flow communication with the inlet and the at least one energy storage device. Additionally, the system includes a blower powered by a respective motor and positioned within the to draw cooling fluid into the inlet and through the cooling fluid duct to pass the cooling fluid over or through the at least one energy storage device and into a common vented area of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ajith Kuttannair Kumar, John D. Butine
  • Publication number: 20090169983
    Abstract: Batteries containing phase-changing materials are disclosed for improved heating and cooling capabilities so as to minimize unnecessary operating temperature swings, increase heating and cooling uniformity and reduce heating and cooling requirements. The phase changing materials may be disposed on containers located underneath a button sheet, above a plurality of cells, on an inner casing of the battery, and/or on a cooling plate of the battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2007
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Inventors: Ajith Kuttannair KUMAR, John D. BUTINE
  • Publication number: 20080292948
    Abstract: A battery includes a plurality of insulated cells electrically interconnected to each other and at least one liquid-circulating cooling plate to cool the battery. Batteries in accordance with the subject matters disclosed may also include a plurality of cooling plates, a plurality of cells disposed between cooling plates, a button sheet to support the cells, a plurality of insulating sheets disposed between the cells, a plurality of bus bars electrically interconnecting the plurality of cells, and means for cooling the battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2007
    Publication date: November 27, 2008
    Inventors: Ajith Kuttannair Kumar, John D. Butine
  • Publication number: 20080276631
    Abstract: A system is provided for cooling an energy storage system of a hybrid electric vehicle. The energy storage system includes at least one energy storage device. The system includes at least one inner casing configured to encapsulate at least one inner core of at least one respective energy storage device of the energy storage system. Additionally, the system includes at least one outer layer configured to surround the at least one inner casing. The system further includes an inner space positioned between the at least one inner casing and the at least one outer layer, where the inner space is configured to receive cooling fluid through at least one inlet in the outer layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2007
    Publication date: November 13, 2008
    Inventors: Ajith Kuttannair Kumar, John D. Butine
  • Publication number: 20080277101
    Abstract: A system is provided for cooling an energy storage system of a hybrid electric vehicle. The energy storage system includes at least one energy storage device. The system includes an inlet positioned on the outer surface of the vehicle above the platform. More particularly, the system includes a cooling fluid duct in flow communication with the inlet and the at least one energy storage device. Additionally, the system includes a blower powered by a respective motor and positioned within the to draw cooling fluid into the inlet and through the cooling fluid duct to pass the cooling fluid over or through the at least one energy storage device and into a common vented area of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2007
    Publication date: November 13, 2008
    Inventors: Ajith Kuttannair Kumar, John D. Butine
  • Publication number: 20080280198
    Abstract: Batteries are disclosed that include a plurality of cooling plates, a plurality of cells disposed between adjacent cooling plates, a plurality of insulating sheets disposed between adjacent cells, a plurality of bus bars interconnecting the plurality of cells, an inner casing surrounding the plurality of cooling plates, the plurality of cells, the plurality of insulating sheets, and the plurality of bus bars, an outer casing surrounding the inner casing so as to form a gap therebetween, a layer of insulating material disposed inside at least a portion of the gap, and several other structural features in different embodiments of the invention configured to prevent motion of the cells relative to one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2007
    Publication date: November 13, 2008
    Inventors: Ajith Kuttannair Kumar, Michael Patrick Marley, John D. Butine, Harold Alan Ellsworth, John L. Donner, Stephen Pelkowski