Patents by Inventor John P. Dinkelman

John P. Dinkelman 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: 10177364
    Abstract: A battery module includes a terminal block assembly having an electrical assembly and a plastic base. The electrical assembly includes a terminal post and a bus bar coupled with the terminal post. A portion of the electrical assembly is overmolded by the plastic base, and the portion includes at least part of a terminal post base that extends outward from a central axis of a post portion of the terminal post. The battery module also includes a plastic housing having a receptacle configured to receive the plastic base of the terminal block assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Richard M. DeKeuster, John P. Dinkelman
  • Publication number: 20180277820
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes a battery module having a housing with a cell receptacle region defined by walls of the housing and configured to enable passage of electrochemical cells therethrough. The battery module also includes a bus bar carrier sealed in the cell receptacle region. The bus bar carrier includes a perimeter having flexible ribs extending along at least a majority of the perimeter and configured to enable intimate contact between the walls of the housing and the perimeter of the bus bar carrier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2018
    Publication date: September 27, 2018
    Inventors: Matthew R. Tyler, Christopher M. Bonin, John P. Dinkelman, Richard M. DeKeuster, Dale B. Trester
  • Publication number: 20180190961
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a battery module that includes a stack of battery cells, where each battery cell has a terminal, and the terminal has a first alloy of a metal. The battery module has a bus bar that includes a body having a second alloy of the metal, nickel plating on at least a portion of the body, and an indentation disposed on the body, where a thickness of the nickel plating is between 0.2% and 20% of an overall thickness of the body, and a weld physically and electrically coupling the respective terminal to the bus bar. The indentation has a depth between 10% and 90% of the overall thickness, an area of the indentation is between 5% and 20% of an overall area of the body, and the nickel plating enables the weld to be stronger than a weld between the first and second alloys.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2018
    Publication date: July 5, 2018
    Inventors: Matthew R. Tyler, John P. Dinkelman
  • Patent number: 9985265
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes a battery module having a housing with a cell receptacle region defined by walls of the housing and configured to enable passage of electrochemical cells therethrough. The battery module also includes a bus bar carrier sealed in the cell receptacle region. The bus bar carrier includes a perimeter having flexible ribs extending along at least a majority of the perimeter and configured to enable intimate contact between the walls of the housing and the perimeter of the bus bar carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Matthew R. Tyler, Christopher M. Bonin, John P. Dinkelman, Richard M. DeKeuster, Dale B. Trester
  • Publication number: 20180076438
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to the field of batteries and battery modules, and more specifically, relates to a system and method for manufacturing terminal assemblies for lithium-ion battery modules. A disclosed battery module includes a terminal block assembly that is secured to a polymer housing of the battery module. The terminal block assembly includes a terminal post having a post portion and a base portion that extends outward from a central axis of the post portion. The terminal block assembly also includes a bus bar coupled to the base portion of the terminal post without welding, wherein the bus bar includes a trough disposed near the terminal post. The terminal block assembly further includes a polymer portion overmolding at least the trough of the bus bar to form a drainage channel near the terminal post.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2016
    Publication date: March 15, 2018
    Inventors: Richard M. DeKeuster, Robert J. Mack, John P. Dinkelman
  • Patent number: 9917291
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a battery module that includes a stack of battery cells, where each battery cell has a terminal, and the terminal has a first alloy of a metal. The battery module has a bus bar that includes a body having a second alloy of the metal, nickel plating on at least a portion of the body, and an indentation disposed on the body, where a thickness of the nickel plating is between 0.2% and 20% of an overall thickness of the body, and a weld physically and electrically coupling the respective terminal to the bus bar. The indentation has a depth between 10% and 90% of the overall thickness, an area of the indentation is between 5% and 20% of an overall area of the body, and the nickel plating enables the weld to be stronger than a weld between the first and second alloys.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Matthew R. Tyler, John P. Dinkelman
  • Publication number: 20180013114
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2017
    Publication date: January 11, 2018
    Inventors: Jason D. Fuhr, Gary P. Houchin-Miller, Gerald K. Bowen, John P. Dinkelman, Dharmendra Patel, Alex A. Molinaroli
  • Patent number: 9774020
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Advanced Power Solutions LLC
    Inventors: Jason D. Fuhr, Gary P. Houchin-Miller, Gerald K. Bowen, John P. Dinkelman, Dharmendra Patel, Alex Molinaroli
  • Patent number: 9660244
    Abstract: A battery module includes a housing and battery cells disposed in the housing, each of the battery cells including two terminals. The battery module also includes bus bar cell interconnects including a first material, where each bus bar cell interconnect is configured to electrically couple two adjacent battery cells via an electrical coupling with a first terminal of one of the adjacent battery cells and a second terminal of the other adjacent battery cell, where at least one of the first and second terminals includes the first material. The battery module includes welds, each weld being disposed at a corresponding welding point to directly couple one of the bus bar cell interconnects with the corresponding at least one terminal including the first material. Each welding point is accessible for welding from a position above the battery cells when the interconnects are disposed over the battery cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: John P. Dinkelman, Lisa L. Winders, Richard M. DeKeuster, Edward J. Soleski, Mikhail S. Balk
  • Patent number: 9577231
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Advanced Power Solutions, LLC
    Inventors: Jason D. Fuhr, Gary P. Houchin-Miller, Gerald K. Bowen, John P. Dinkelman, Dharmendra Patel, Alex Molinaroli
  • Publication number: 20170018755
    Abstract: A battery module includes a terminal block assembly having an electrical assembly and a plastic base. The electrical assembly includes a terminal post and a bus bar coupled with the terminal post. A portion of the electrical assembly is overmolded by the plastic base, and the portion includes at least part of a terminal post base that extends outward from a central axis of a post portion of the terminal post. The battery module also includes a plastic housing having a receptacle configured to receive the plastic base of the terminal block assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2016
    Publication date: January 19, 2017
    Inventors: Richard M. DeKeuster, John P. Dinkelman
  • Publication number: 20170012271
    Abstract: A battery module includes a housing and battery cells disposed in the housing, each of the battery cells including two terminals. The battery module also includes bus bar cell interconnects including a first material, where each bus bar cell interconnect is configured to electrically couple two adjacent battery cells via an electrical coupling with a first terminal of one of the adjacent battery cells and a second terminal of the other adjacent battery cell, where at least one of the first and second terminals includes the first material. The battery module includes welds, each weld being disposed at a corresponding welding point to directly couple one of the bus bar cell interconnects with the corresponding at least one terminal including the first material. Each welding point is accessible for welding from a position above the battery cells when the interconnects are disposed over the battery cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2016
    Publication date: January 12, 2017
    Inventors: John P. Dinkelman, Lisa L. Winders, Richard M. DeKeuster, Edward J. Soleski, Mikhail S. Balk
  • Publication number: 20160329542
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a battery module that includes a stack of battery cells, where each battery cell has a terminal, and the terminal has a first alloy of a metal. The battery module has a bus bar that includes a body having a second alloy of the metal, nickel plating on at least a portion of the body, and an indentation disposed on the body, where a thickness of the nickel plating is between 0.2% and 20% of an overall thickness of the body, and a weld physically and electrically coupling the respective terminal to the bus bar. The indentation has a depth between 10% and 90% of the overall thickness, an area of the indentation is between 5% and 20% of an overall area of the body, and the nickel plating enables the weld to be stronger than a weld between the first and second alloys.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2015
    Publication date: November 10, 2016
    Inventors: Matthew R. Tyler, John P. Dinkelman
  • Publication number: 20160301058
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes a battery module having a housing with a cell receptacle region defined by walls of the housing and configured to enable passage of electrochemical cells therethrough. The battery module also includes a bus bar carrier sealed in the cell receptacle region. The bus bar carrier includes a perimeter having flexible ribs extending along at least a majority of the perimeter and configured to enable intimate contact between the walls of the housing and the perimeter of the bus bar carrier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2015
    Publication date: October 13, 2016
    Inventors: Matthew R. Tyler, Christopher M. Bonin, John P. Dinkelman, Richard M. DeKeuster, Dale B. Trester
  • Patent number: 9440601
    Abstract: A battery module and a method of manufacture are provided. The battery module may include a printed circuit board (PCB) assembly. The PCB assembly may include a PCB designed to be disposed in a battery module for controlling operations of the battery module. The PCB may also include voltage sensing circuitry. In addition, the PCB assembly may include a bus bar cell interconnect. The bus bar cell interconnect may electrically couple batteries of the battery module. The PCB assembly may also include a voltage sense connection tab. The voltage sense connection tab may carry a voltage between a bus bar cell interconnect of the battery module and the voltage sensing circuitry on the PCB.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Edward J. Soleski, Mikhail S. Balk, Lisa L. Winders, Richard M. DeKeuster, John P. Dinkelman
  • Patent number: 9413035
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology LLC
    Inventors: Frederic C. Bonhomme, Jason D. Fuhr, Gary P. Houchin-Miller, John P. Dinkelman
  • Publication number: 20160193694
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to a welding process for a battery module. In an embodiment, a system for welding two components in a battery module includes a laser source configured to emit a laser beam onto a workpiece having a first battery module component and a second battery module component. The system also has an actuator coupled to the laser source and configured to move the laser beam along a first axis and a second axis and a controller electrically coupled to the laser source and the actuator. The controller is configured to send a signal to the laser source and the actuator to form a sinusoidal lap weld on a surface of the workpiece, such that the first battery module component is electrically coupled to the second battery module component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2015
    Publication date: July 7, 2016
    Inventor: John P. Dinkelman
  • Publication number: 20160172643
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2016
    Publication date: June 16, 2016
    Inventors: Jason D. Fuhr, Gary P. Houchin-Miller, Gerald K. Bowen, John P. Dinkelman, Dharmendra Patel, Alex Molinaroli
  • Publication number: 20160126510
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2015
    Publication date: May 5, 2016
    Inventors: Jason D. Fuhr, Gary P. Houchin-Miller, Gerald K. Bowen, John P. Dinkelman, Dharmendra Patel, Alex Molinaroli
  • Publication number: 20160064702
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a battery module that includes a housing having a first protruding shelf along a first perimeter of the housing, a second protruding shelf along a second perimeter of the housing, where the first and second protruding shelves each include an absorptive material configured to absorb a first laser emission. The battery module also includes an electronics compartment cover configured to be coupled to the housing via a first laser weld, and a cell receptacle region cover configured to be coupled to the housing via a second laser weld. The electronics compartment cover has a first transparent material configured to transmit the first laser emission toward the first protruding shelf and the cell receptacle region cover has a second transparent material configured to transmit the first laser emission or a second laser emission toward the second protruding shelf.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2015
    Publication date: March 3, 2016
    Inventors: Matthew R. Tyler, Christopher M. Bonin, John P. Dinkelman, Richard M. DeKeuster, Dale B. Trester