Patents by Inventor John Melack
John Melack 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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Patent number: 10756398Abstract: A battery system includes a can with a lip around an opening. At least an interior surface of the can is anodized and the lip of the can includes a longer and shorter side. The can further includes a flange on the longer side of the lip and a plurality of layers that are inserted into the can. The plurality of layers includes a battery cell and a thermally conducting layer with a fin and the fin has a spring force that pushes the fin towards the anodized interior surface. The battery system further includes a lid that is configured to cover the opening of the can, where the flange is configured to wrap around the lid when the lid covers the opening of the can.Type: GrantFiled: June 12, 2019Date of Patent: August 25, 2020Assignee: WISK AERO LLCInventors: John Melack, Thomas P. Muniz, Colin Charles Brey
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Publication number: 20200262313Abstract: A desired departure temperature is determined for a battery, having a temperature, in a vehicle based at least in part on trip information associated with a trip. A temperature controlling system is used to bring the temperature of the battery towards the desired departure temperature, wherein the vehicle begins the trip with the battery at the desired departure temperature.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 28, 2020Publication date: August 20, 2020Inventors: Thomas P. MUNIZ, Ke ZHANG, John MELACK
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Patent number: 10741805Abstract: A first holder holds a plurality of layers associated with a battery submodule that is being assembled. A first and second pair of actuators, while the plurality of layers is held by the first holder, extend so that the first and second pair of actuators apply pressure to the plurality of layers. While the first and second pair of actuators are extended and applying pressure to the plurality of layers, the first holder retracts. A second holder holds a container associated with the battery submodule that is being assembled and extends so that the container gradually surrounds the plurality of layers. While the container gradually surrounds the plurality of layers, the first and second pair of actuators sequentially retract.Type: GrantFiled: May 30, 2019Date of Patent: August 11, 2020Assignee: WISK AERO LLCInventor: John Melack
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Patent number: 10727551Abstract: A liquid temperature controlling system is used to circulate a temperature controlled liquid between the liquid temperature controlling system and a battery to produce a temperature controlled battery. The battery and the liquid temperature controlling system are detachably coupled at least while the temperature controlled liquid is circulated. The temperature controlled liquid is removed from the temperature controlled battery. The battery and the liquid temperature controlling system are decoupled after the temperature controlled liquid is removed. A charger is used to charge the temperature controlled battery.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2019Date of Patent: July 28, 2020Assignee: WISK AERO LLCInventors: Thomas P. Muniz, John Melack
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Publication number: 20200194852Abstract: A liquid temperature controlling system is used to circulate a temperature controlled liquid between the liquid temperature controlling system and a battery to produce a temperature controlled battery. The battery and the liquid temperature controlling system are detachably coupled at least while the temperature controlled liquid is circulated. The temperature controlled liquid is removed from the temperature controlled battery. The battery and the liquid temperature controlling system are decoupled after the temperature controlled liquid is removed. A charger is used to charge the temperature controlled battery.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 29, 2019Publication date: June 18, 2020Inventors: Thomas P. MUNIZ, John MELACK
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Publication number: 20200185757Abstract: Battery assembly techniques and a corresponding system are disclosed. In various embodiments, the battery assembly techniques include compressing battery cells and inserting the battery cells in a can. Battery cells are stacked and then compressed using pneumatic cylinders that exert pressure on a first external layer of the stacked battery cells. A first portion of the stacked battery cells is released from the pneumatic cylinders while a second portion of the battery cells remains compressed. The first portion of the stacked battery cells is inserted in a can. In various embodiments, friction decreasing materials are added to the stacked battery cells to compress the stacked battery cells or ease insertion.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 12, 2020Publication date: June 11, 2020Inventors: John MELACK, Thomas P. MUNIZ, Nihal MURTHY
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Publication number: 20200176737Abstract: A battery system includes a battery cell, a thermally insulating layer, and a thermally conducting layer which includes a fin. The fin pushes against an interior surface of a case which surrounds the battery cell, the thermally insulating layer, and the thermally conducting layer. The thermally conducting layer includes a discontinuity where the discontinuity is configured to reduce a capacitance associated with the thermally conducting layer compared to when the thermally conducting layer does not include the discontinuity.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 12, 2020Publication date: June 4, 2020Inventors: John MELACK, Thomas P. MUNIZ, Nihal MURTHY, Sampson LAU
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Patent number: 10665884Abstract: A flexible fuel cell power system comprising one or more fuel cell cartridges (which contain fuel cell modules) connected to a fuel cell system is provided. The components of the flexible fuel cell power system may be placed on a shared backbone with flexible joints, and may be made of flexible materials so that the entire system can be worn by a human being.Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 2019Date of Patent: May 26, 2020Assignee: INTELLIGENT ENERGY LIMITEDInventors: Andrew Wallace, Glenn Rambach, Linna Peng, Rodney Sparks, John Melack
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Patent number: 10625870Abstract: A parachute is coupled to a rocket where the parachute is extracted by having the rocket pull on the parachute. A parachute strap couples the parachute to an aircraft where at a first point in time, a first section of the parachute strap and a second section of the parachute strap are both secured independently of each other. At a second point in time, the second section of the parachute strap is still secured while the first section of the parachute strap is released where the released first section of the parachute strap gradually becomes taut as the parachute is extracted.Type: GrantFiled: May 9, 2019Date of Patent: April 21, 2020Assignee: WISK AERO LLCInventors: John Melack, Cody Patrick Leuck, Sheldon Wong
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Patent number: 10604028Abstract: A desired departure temperature is determined for a battery, having a temperature, in a vehicle based at least in part on trip information associated with a trip. A temperature controlling system is used to bring the temperature of the battery towards the desired departure temperature, wherein the vehicle begins the trip with the battery at the desired departure temperature.Type: GrantFiled: February 15, 2019Date of Patent: March 31, 2020Assignee: WISK AERO LLCInventors: Thomas P. Muniz, Ke Zhang, John Melack
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Patent number: 10593920Abstract: A battery system includes a battery cell, a thermally insulating layer, and a thermally conducting layer which includes a fin. The fin pushes against an interior surface of a case which surrounds the battery cell, the thermally insulating layer, and the thermally conducting layer. The thermally conducting layer includes a discontinuity where the discontinuity is configured to reduce a capacitance associated with the thermally conducting layer compared to when the thermally conducting layer does not include the discontinuity.Type: GrantFiled: August 13, 2018Date of Patent: March 17, 2020Assignee: WISK AERO LLCInventors: John Melack, Thomas P. Muniz, Nihal Murthy, Sampson Lau
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Patent number: 10573920Abstract: Battery assembly techniques and a corresponding system are disclosed. In various embodiments, the battery assembly techniques include compressing battery cells and inserting the battery cells in a can. Battery cells are stacked and then compressed using pneumatic cylinders that exert pressure on a first external layer of the stacked battery cells. A first portion of the stacked battery cells is released from the pneumatic cylinders while a second portion of the battery cells remains compressed. The first portion of the stacked battery cells is inserted in a can. In various embodiments, friction decreasing materials are added to the stacked battery cells to compress the stacked battery cells or ease insertion.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2018Date of Patent: February 25, 2020Assignee: WISK AERO LLCInventors: John Melack, Thomas P. Muniz, Nihal Murthy
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Publication number: 20200052256Abstract: A battery system includes a battery cell, a thermally insulating layer, and a thermally conducting layer which includes a fin. The fin pushes against an interior surface of a case which surrounds the battery cell, the thermally insulating layer, and the thermally conducting layer. The thermally conducting layer includes a discontinuity where the discontinuity is configured to reduce a capacitance associated with the thermally conducting layer compared to when the thermally conducting layer does not include the discontinuity.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 13, 2018Publication date: February 13, 2020Inventors: John Melack, Thomas P. Muniz, Nihal Murthy, Sampson Lau
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Publication number: 20190393570Abstract: A battery system includes a can with a lip around an opening. At least an interior surface of the can is anodized and the lip of the can includes a longer and shorter side. The can further includes a flange on the longer side of the lip and a plurality of layers that are inserted into the can. The plurality of layers includes a battery cell and a thermally conducting layer with a fin and the fin has a spring force that pushes the fin towards the anodized interior surface. The battery system further includes a lid that is configured to cover the opening of the can, where the flange is configured to wrap around the lid when the lid covers the opening of the can.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 12, 2019Publication date: December 26, 2019Inventors: John Melack, Thomas P. Muniz, Colin Charles Brey
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Patent number: 10497996Abstract: A liquid temperature controlling system is used to circulate a temperature controlled liquid between the liquid temperature controlling system and a battery to produce a temperature controlled battery. The battery and the liquid temperature controlling system are detachably coupled at least while the temperature controlled liquid is circulated. The temperature controlled liquid is removed from the temperature controlled battery. The battery and the liquid temperature controlling system are decoupled after the temperature controlled liquid is removed. A charger is used to charge the temperature controlled battery.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2018Date of Patent: December 3, 2019Assignee: CORA AERO LLCInventors: Thomas P. Muniz, John Melack
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Patent number: 10355295Abstract: This disclosure is drawn to systems, devices, apparatuses, and/or methods, related to fuel cell cartridges. Specifically, the disclosed systems, devices, apparatuses, and/or methods relate to compact fuel cell cartridges for producing hydrogen gas for use by fuel cells. Some example fuel cell cartridges may include a reactor module for storing a reactant, a water module for storing water, and an interface coupling the reactor module and the water module. The interface may permit the water to flow from the water module to the reactor module such that the water mixes with the reactant in the reactor module to form a gas (e.g., hydrogen gas) that may exit through a gas outlet.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2016Date of Patent: July 16, 2019Assignee: Intelligent Energy LimitedInventors: Andrew Wallace, John Melack, Paul Getchel
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Publication number: 20190181484Abstract: A flexible fuel cell power system comprising one or more fuel cell cartridges (which contain fuel cell modules) connected to a fuel cell system is provided. The components of the flexible fuel cell power system may be placed on a shared backbone with flexible joints, and may be made of flexible materials so that the entire system can be worn by a human being.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 13, 2019Publication date: June 13, 2019Applicant: Intelligent Energy LimitedInventors: Andrew Wallace, Glenn Rambach, Linna Peng, Rodney Sparks, John Melack
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Publication number: 20190097282Abstract: An aircraft hybrid cooling system is disclosed. The aircraft hybrid cooling system includes a conduit through an aircraft that is configured to allow airflow through the conduit. The aircraft hybrid cooling system additionally includes a battery assembly positioned in the conduit, configured to provide for airflow past a battery in the battery assembly in a first mode of operation and configured to provide flow of a cooling medium past the battery in a second mode of operation. In some embodiments, the battery in the battery assembly is cooled via airflow in the event the aircraft is in flight and is cooled via an applied cooling medium in the event the aircraft is grounded.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 27, 2018Publication date: March 28, 2019Inventors: John Melack, Thomas P. Muniz, Eric Allison
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Patent number: 10218026Abstract: A flexible fuel cell power system comprising one or more fuel cell cartridges (which contain fuel cell modules) connected to a fuel cell system is provided. The components of the flexible fuel cell power system may be placed on a shared backbone with flexible joints, and may be made of flexible materials so that the entire system can be worn by a human being.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2016Date of Patent: February 26, 2019Assignee: Intelligent Energy LimitedInventors: Andrew Wallace, Glenn Rambach, Linna Peng, Rodney Sparks, John Melack
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Patent number: 10177424Abstract: An aircraft hybrid cooling system is disclosed. The aircraft hybrid cooling system includes a conduit through an aircraft that is configured to allow airflow through the conduit. The aircraft hybrid cooling system additionally includes a battery assembly positioned in the conduit, configured to provide for airflow past a battery in the battery assembly in a first mode of operation and configured to provide flow of a cooling medium past the battery in a second mode of operation. In some embodiments, the battery in the battery assembly is cooled via airflow in the event the aircraft is in flight and is cooled via an applied cooling medium in the event the aircraft is grounded.Type: GrantFiled: August 11, 2017Date of Patent: January 8, 2019Assignee: Kitty Hawk CorporationInventors: John Melack, Thomas P. Muniz, Eric Allison