Patents by Inventor Matthew A. Nubbe

Matthew A. Nubbe 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: 9923252
    Abstract: An apparatus including a battery pack comprising a plurality of individual batteries arranged around a battery cavity such that each individual battery is in thermal contact with at least one neighboring individual battery. A variable-conductance heat pipe (VCHP) having an evaporator end and a condenser end, is positioned so that at least part of the evaporator end being positioned in the battery cavity and in thermal contact with each of the plurality of individual batteries. The apparatus includes a thermally insulating cover having an inside and an outside, wherein the battery pack and the part of the VCHP evaporator end in the battery cavity are positioned inside the thermally insulating cover and at least part of the condenser end of the VCHP is outside the thermally insulating cover, and wherein the VCHP is substantially the only thermal path between the battery pack and the outside. Other implementations are disclosed and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: X Development LLC
    Inventor: Matthew A. Nubbe
  • Patent number: 9845158
    Abstract: A battery containment pod including a body formed of a lightweight material. The body has an aerodynamic exterior shape and an interior cavity formed in the lightweight material, the size and shape of the interior cavity designed to accommodate one or more battery packs. A smooth exterior coating covers the exterior shape of the body, and an attachment structure formed in or on the body allows the body to be coupled to a flight vehicle. Other implementations are disclosed and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: X Development LLC
    Inventors: Kyle A. Liske, Matthew A. Nubbe
  • Patent number: 9786883
    Abstract: A battery containment mesh includes a plurality of loops and a plurality of joiners that interconnect the loops into a net sized to surround a battery pack including a plurality of battery cells. The loops and the joiners are fabricated of heat resistant materials capable of maintaining physical integrity in an event of combustion of the battery pack such that the battery containment mesh can carry a weight of the battery pack after the event of combustion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: X Development LLC
    Inventors: Matthew A. Nubbe, Kyle A. Liske
  • Patent number: 9755284
    Abstract: A heat battery pack system includes a battery pack including a plurality of battery cells electrically interconnected to each other, a binding coupled to mechanically hold the battery cells physically together, and a heater system coupled to the battery pack to heat the battery cells. The heater system includes a heating element interweaved between the battery cells of the battery pack and a heating controller electrically coupled to the heating element to drive current through the heating element and provide heat to the battery cells of the battery pack. The weaving of the heating element between the battery cells provides fixed mechanical support to the heating element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: X Development LLC
    Inventor: Matthew A. Nubbe
  • Patent number: 9691926
    Abstract: A solar panel includes a plurality of solar cells, a bypass diode unit, and a heat spreader. The bypass diode unit includes a bypass diode coupled in an electrical shunting configuration across at least a first solar cell of the plurality of solar cells to bypass current around at least the first solar cell in an event of failure of the first solar cell. The heat spreader is disposed over a portion of one or more of the solar cells. The bypass diode unit is disposed on a first side of the heat spreader with the bypass diode in thermal contact with the heat spreader. A second side of the heat spreader is mounted in thermal contact with the one or more of the solar cells to dissipate heat generated in the bypass diode to the one or more of the solar cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: X Development LLC
    Inventors: Clinton L. Whetsel, Matthew A. Nubbe
  • Publication number: 20160181676
    Abstract: An apparatus including a battery pack comprising a plurality of individual batteries arranged around a battery cavity such that each individual battery is in thermal contact with at least one neighboring individual battery. A variable-conductance heat pipe (VCHP) having an evaporator end and a condenser end, is positioned so that at least part of the evaporator end being positioned in the battery cavity and in thermal contact with each of the plurality of individual batteries. The apparatus includes a thermally insulating cover having an inside and an outside, wherein the battery pack and the part of the VCHP evaporator end in the battery cavity are positioned inside the thermally insulating cover and at least part of the condenser end of the VCHP is outside the thermally insulating cover, and wherein the VCHP is substantially the only thermal path between the battery pack and the outside. Other implementations are disclosed and claimed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2015
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Inventor: Matthew A. Nubbe
  • Publication number: 20160107756
    Abstract: A battery containment pod including a body formed of a lightweight material. The body has an aerodynamic exterior shape and an interior cavity formed in the lightweight material, the size and shape of the interior cavity designed to accommodate one or more battery packs. A smooth exterior coating covers the exterior shape of the body, and an attachment structure formed in or on the body allows the body to be coupled to a flight vehicle. Other implementations are disclosed and claimed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2014
    Publication date: April 21, 2016
    Inventors: Kyle Liske, Matthew A. Nubbe
  • Publication number: 20160099363
    Abstract: A solar panel includes a plurality of solar cells, a bypass diode unit, and a heat spreader. The bypass diode unit includes a bypass diode coupled in an electrical shunting configuration across at least a first solar cell of the plurality of solar cells to bypass current around at least the first solar cell in an event of failure of the first solar cell. The heat spreader is disposed over a portion of one or more of the solar cells. The bypass diode unit is disposed on a first side of the heat spreader with the bypass diode in thermal contact with the heat spreader. A second side of the heat spreader is mounted in thermal contact with the one or more of the solar cells to dissipate heat generated in the bypass diode to the one or more of the solar cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2014
    Publication date: April 7, 2016
    Inventors: Clinton L. Whetsel, Matthew A. Nubbe
  • Publication number: 20160072161
    Abstract: A heat battery pack system includes a battery pack including a plurality of battery cells electrically interconnected to each other, a binding coupled to mechanically hold the battery cells physically together, and a heater system coupled to the battery pack to heat the battery cells. The heater system includes a heating element interweaved between the battery cells of the battery pack and a heating controller electrically coupled to the heating element to drive current through the heating element and provide heat to the battery cells of the battery pack. The weaving of the heating element between the battery cells provides fixed mechanical support to the heating element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2014
    Publication date: March 10, 2016
    Inventor: Matthew A. Nubbe
  • Publication number: 20160064710
    Abstract: A battery containment mesh includes a plurality of loops and a plurality of joiners that interconnect the loops into a net sized to surround a battery pack including a plurality of battery cells. The loops and the joiners are fabricated of heat resistant materials capable of maintaining physical integrity in an event of combustion of the battery pack such that the battery containment mesh can carry a weight of the battery pack after the event of combustion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2014
    Publication date: March 3, 2016
    Inventors: Matthew A. Nubbe, Kyle A. Liske