Patents by Inventor Nicholas R. Bratton
Nicholas R. Bratton 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: 12021208Abstract: A battery pack module includes a cooling plate having thermal breaks strategically aligned with respect to adjacent cell chambers to reduce thermal propagation from one cell chamber to an adjacent cell chamber via thermal conductance through the cooling plate.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2020Date of Patent: June 25, 2024Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Ethan T. Quy, Nicholas R. Bratton, Harikrishna Ketha
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Patent number: 11862816Abstract: A battery pack includes battery cells and an interconnect board assembly (ICBA) having a dielectric ICB and parallel busbars. A cell tab protrudes from an edge of the cells and joined to the busbars. A dielectric ICB is connected to the busbars at one distal end of the busbars. The dielectric material of the ICB is overmolded onto another distal end such that the ICB wraps around the busbars to form overmolded ends. The overmolded ends are received within a pocket of a bracket to form direct parallel cooling paths to a heat sink. A method of manufacturing the battery pack includes arranging the busbars in parallel, overmolding dielectric material onto ends of the busbars to form overmolded ends, and attaching the busbars to a plastic ICB formed from the dielectric material. The ICBA is then attached to the bracket and cells.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2020Date of Patent: January 2, 2024Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Faruk A Sohag, Ethan T. Quy, Robert J. Schoenherr, Nicholas R. Bratton
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Patent number: 11799149Abstract: An energy storage assembly includes a plurality of battery cells electrically connected to each other to form a battery pack in which the battery cells are grouped together to form a first stack of cells and a second stack of cells. The energy storage assembly also includes a first barrier disposed between the first stack of cells and the second stack of cells to reduce heat transfer between the first stack of cells and the second stack of cells. The energy storage assembly further includes a coolant plate disposed along the battery cells. The coolant plate defines a channel for guiding a fluid therethrough to thermally transfer heat away from the battery cells. The coolant plate defines a slot spaced from the channel, and the slot axially aligns with the first barrier to reduce heat transfer between the first stack of cells and the second stack of cells.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 2020Date of Patent: October 24, 2023Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Karl C. Dorgan, Anil Yadav, Yangbing Zeng, Konrad M. Brown, Anandakrishnan S, Robert J. Schoenherr, Nicholas R. Bratton
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Patent number: 11302996Abstract: Presented are integrated electrical interconnect board (ICB) assemblies for battery modules, rechargeable traction battery packs equipped with such ICB assemblies, and methods for making/using such ICB assemblies. A battery module for storing and supplying electrical energy includes multiple battery cells that are stacked in side-by-side facing relation with one another and each has a battery cell casing with an electrical terminal projecting therefrom. An electrically insulating module housing has a housing base that supports thereon the stacked battery cells. An integrated ICB assembly, which is attached to the module housing, includes a central cover in spaced facing relation to the housing base, endwalls projecting from the central cover, and multiple busbar connectors attached to the endwalls and electrically connected to the battery cells' electrical terminals.Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 2019Date of Patent: April 12, 2022Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Brittany A. Castillo, Nicholas R. Bratton, Robert J. Heydel, Igor M. Kan
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Publication number: 20220093989Abstract: A battery pack module includes a cooling plate having thermal breaks strategically aligned with respect to adjacent cell chambers to reduce thermal propagation from one cell chamber to an adjacent cell chamber via thermal conductance through the cooling plate.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 22, 2020Publication date: March 24, 2022Inventors: Ethan T. Quy, Nicholas R. Bratton, Harikrishna Ketha
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Publication number: 20220069380Abstract: An energy storage assembly includes a plurality of battery cells electrically connected to each other to form a battery pack in which the battery cells are grouped together to form a first stack of cells and a second stack of cells. The energy storage assembly also includes a first barrier disposed between the first stack of cells and the second stack of cells to reduce heat transfer between the first stack of cells and the second stack of cells. The energy storage assembly further includes a coolant plate disposed along the battery cells. The coolant plate defines a channel for guiding a fluid therethrough to thermally transfer heat away from the battery cells. The coolant plate defines a slot spaced from the channel, and the slot axially aligns with the first barrier to reduce heat transfer between the first stack of cells and the second stack of cells.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 26, 2020Publication date: March 3, 2022Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Karl C. Dorgan, Anil Yadav, Yangbing Zeng, Konrad M. Brown, Anandakrishnan S, Robert J. Schoenherr, Nicholas R. Bratton
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Publication number: 20210408514Abstract: A battery pack includes battery cells and an interconnect board assembly (ICBA) having a dielectric ICB and parallel busbars. A cell tab protrudes from an edge of the cells and joined to the busbars. A dielectric ICB is connected to the busbars at one distal end of the busbars. The dielectric material of the ICB is overmolded onto another distal end such that the ICB wraps around the busbars to form overmolded ends. The overmolded ends are received within a pocket of a bracket to form direct parallel cooling paths to a heat sink. A method of manufacturing the battery pack includes arranging the busbars in parallel, overmolding dielectric material onto ends of the busbars to form overmolded ends, and attaching the busbars to a plastic ICB formed from the dielectric material. The ICBA is then attached to the bracket and cells.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 29, 2020Publication date: December 30, 2021Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Faruk A. Sohag, Ethan T. Quy, Robert J. Schoenherr, Nicholas R. Bratton
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Publication number: 20210057708Abstract: Presented are integrated electrical interconnect board (ICB) assemblies for battery modules, rechargeable traction battery packs equipped with such ICB assemblies, and methods for making/using such ICB assemblies. A battery module for storing and supplying electrical energy includes multiple battery cells that are stacked in side-by-side facing relation with one another and each has a battery cell casing with an electrical terminal projecting therefrom. An electrically insulating module housing has a housing base that supports thereon the stacked battery cells. An integrated ICB assembly, which is attached to the module housing, includes a central cover in spaced facing relation to the housing base, endwalls projecting from the central cover, and multiple busbar connectors attached to the endwalls and electrically connected to the battery cells' electrical terminals.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 19, 2019Publication date: February 25, 2021Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Brittany A. Castillo, Nicholas R. Bratton, Robert J. Heydel, Igor M. Kan