Patents by Inventor Steven J. Wood
Steven J. Wood 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: 8309241Abstract: A battery system to monitor temperature includes at least one cell with a temperature sensing device proximate the at least one cell. The battery system also includes a flexible member that holds the temperature sensor proximate to the at least one cell.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 2006Date of Patent: November 13, 2012Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology CompanyInventors: Steven J. Wood, Dale B. Trester
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Patent number: 8235732Abstract: A high voltage connector for a battery system includes an upper body having a first portion and a second portion. The first portion of the upper body is located internal to a battery system housing and configured to receive at least one contact from the battery system. The second portion is located external to the battery system housing and is configured to receive at least one contact from a vehicle. The high voltage connector also includes a lower body coupled to the upper body and at least one connecting member provided between the upper body and the lower body. The connecting member is configured to conductively connect the contact of the battery system to the contact of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: November 11, 2010Date of Patent: August 7, 2012Assignee: Johnson Controls—Saft Advanced Power Solutions LLCInventors: Michael P. Garascia, Anthony P. Arena, Steven J. Wood
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Publication number: 20120164508Abstract: A battery system for use in a vehicle is configured to provide at least a portion of the propulsion power for the vehicle and includes a plurality of battery modules. Each battery module includes a plurality of electrochemical cells configured to store an electrical charge. The battery system also includes a plurality of fan assemblies each having a motor and at least one fan blade. Each fan assembly is associated with one of the plurality of battery modules to regulate the temperature thereof. A first fan assembly of the plurality of fan assemblies has a different configuration than at least one of the other of the plurality of fan assemblies or is configured to provide an output that is different from an output provided by at least one of the other of the plurality of fan assemblies.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 28, 2011Publication date: June 28, 2012Inventors: Gary P. Houchin-Miller, Steven J. Wood, Thomas J. Dougherty
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Patent number: 8114540Abstract: A buss bar for connecting electrochemical cells together includes a conductive member having a first end, a second end, and an elongated body between the first end and second end. The body includes a stress relief region configured to dampen vibrational forces received by the buss bar. The buss bar also includes a voltage sense terminal coupled to the conductive member.Type: GrantFiled: August 7, 2009Date of Patent: February 14, 2012Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology, LLCInventors: Dale B. Trester, Steven J. Wood, Gary P. Houchin-Miller
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Publication number: 20110212352Abstract: A battery module includes a plurality of cells. The battery module also includes a housing configured to substantially enclose the plurality of cells. The battery module further includes a lower tray configured to receive the plurality of cells. The lower tray is located inside the housing adjacent a bottom of the housing and includes a top side and a bottom side. The top side has a plurality of sockets configured to receive the plurality of cells in a closely packed arrangement. The bottom side is configured to define a chamber between the lower tray and the bottom of the housing. The chamber is sealed off from the rest of the battery module and is configured to receive released gas from the plurality of cells.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 12, 2011Publication date: September 1, 2011Inventors: Steven J. Wood, Gary P. Houchin-Miller, Dale B. Trester
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Publication number: 20110172940Abstract: A system for assessing the accuracy of an electrochemical cell voltage measurement includes a cell discharge circuit electrically coupled to at least one electrochemical cell and configured to partially discharge the at least one cell when the cell discharge circuit is activated, and a cell measurement circuit electrically coupled to the at least one cell and to the cell discharge circuit. The cell measurement circuit is configured to measure a voltage of the at least one cell before activation of the cell discharge circuit and after activation of the cell discharge circuit. The cell measurement circuit compares the voltage before activation of the cell discharge circuit to the voltage after activation of the cell discharge circuit to detect if an error in the voltage measurement occurred.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 24, 2009Publication date: July 14, 2011Inventors: Steven J. Wood, Emmanuel Maubert, Olivier Veglio
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Patent number: 7951477Abstract: A battery module includes a plurality of cells. The battery module also includes a housing configured to substantially enclose the plurality of cells. The battery module further includes a lower tray configured to receive the plurality of cells. The lower tray is located inside the housing adjacent a bottom of the housing. The lower tray has a top side and a bottom side The top side has a plurality of sockets configured to receive the plurality of cells in a closely packed arrangement. The bottom side is configured to define a chamber between the lower tray and the bottom of the housing. The chamber is sealed off from the rest of the battery module and is configured to receive released gas from the plurality of cells.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2009Date of Patent: May 31, 2011Assignee: Johnson Controls-SAFT Advanced Power Solutions LLCInventors: Steven J. Wood, Gary P. Houchin-Miller, Dale B. Trester
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Publication number: 20110111649Abstract: A high voltage connector for a battery system includes an upper body having a first portion and a second portion. The first portion of the upper body is located internal to a battery system housing and configured to receive at least one contact from the battery system. The second portion is located external to the battery system housing and is configured to receive at least one contact from a vehicle. The high voltage connector also includes a lower body coupled to the upper body and at least one connecting member provided between the upper body and the lower body. The connecting member is configured to conductively connect the contact of the battery system to the contact of the vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 11, 2010Publication date: May 12, 2011Inventors: Michael P. Garascia, Anthony P. Arena, Steven J. Wood
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Patent number: 7871719Abstract: A battery module includes at least one electrochemical cell. The electrochemical cell includes a first terminal conductively coupled to a first electrode and a body portion configured to function as a second terminal and conductively coupled to a second electrode via a pressure relief portion. The battery module further includes an end cap comprising a conductive portion and an insulating portion, the conductive portion being conductively coupled to the body portion. The pressure relief portion is configured to separate from the body portion to a deployed position when a pressure within the body portion reaches a first predetermined level, thereby substantially breaking the conductive coupling between the body portion and the second electrode. The insulating portion substantially prevents formation of a conductive coupling between the body portion and the second electrode when the pressure relief portion is in the deployed position.Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 2008Date of Patent: January 18, 2011Assignee: Johnson Controls—SAFT Advanced Power Solutions LLCInventors: Gary P. Houchin-Miller, Dale B. Trester, Steven J. Wood
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Patent number: 7846572Abstract: A battery assembly includes a plurality of battery modules, each of the battery modules comprising a plurality of electrochemical cells having a first end comprising a terminal and a second end opposite the first end, the second end comprising an adapter having at least one aperture and arranged such that at least a portion of the adapter is provided in contact with at least a portion of a terminal of an adjacent electrochemical cell. The battery assembly also includes a device that includes at least one member aligned with apertures in a plurality of the adapters to provide a path for effluent escaping the apertures. The device is configured to route effluent from the plurality of battery modules away from the battery assembly.Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 2008Date of Patent: December 7, 2010Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology CompanyInventors: Steven J. Wood, William H. Tiedemann
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Publication number: 20100092849Abstract: A battery module includes a housing configured to receive a plurality of cells. The housing includes a first tray that includes a plurality of depressions and a second tray coupled to the first tray that includes a plurality of depressions. Each of the plurality of cells is received within a depression of at least one of the first tray and the second tray.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2007Publication date: April 15, 2010Inventors: Steven J. Wood, Gary P. Houchin-Miller, Dale B. Trester, Michael G. Andrew
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Publication number: 20100047682Abstract: A battery module includes a plurality of cells arranged in a battery pack. The battery pack includes a first tray configured to receive a first row of cells and a second row of cells. A second tray is provided over the first tray, the first row of cells, and the second row of cells. The second tray is configured to receive a third row of cells and a fourth row of cells. A third tray is provided over the second tray, the third row of cells, and the fourth row of cells. The first row of cells and the second row of cells are arranged between the first tray and the second tray and the third row of cells and the fourth row of cells are arranged between the second tray and third tray.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 20, 2009Publication date: February 25, 2010Inventors: Gary P. Houchin-Miller, Steven J. Wood, Dale B. Trester, Anthony Pacheco, Steve Esshaki
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Publication number: 20100015519Abstract: A buss bar for connecting electrochemical cells together includes a conductive member having a first end, a second end, and an elongated body between the first end and second end. The body includes a stress relief region configured to dampen vibrational forces received by the buss bar. The buss bar also includes a voltage sense terminal coupled to the conductive member.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 7, 2009Publication date: January 21, 2010Inventors: Dale B. Trester, Steven J. Wood, Gary P. Houchin-Miller
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Publication number: 20100003584Abstract: An electrochemical cell includes a can having a first end and a second end and a first element provided within the can and including an electrode. The cell also includes a first terminal integrally formed as a part of the can and extending from one of the first or second ends. The cell further includes a terminal assembly directly coupled to the first element and including a stud configured to act as a second terminal. The first end includes a boss that defines an aperture through which the stud extends, wherein the boss at least partially surrounds the stud and a bushing coupled to the stud.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 2, 2009Publication date: January 7, 2010Inventors: Thomas J. Dougherty, Steven J. Wood, John P. Dinkelman, Dale B. Trester, Gerald K. Bowen, Gary P. Houchin-Miller
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Publication number: 20090317695Abstract: A battery module that includes a plurality of electrochemical cells. Each of the electrochemical cells has a first end including at least one terminal and a second end having a vent. The plurality of electrochemical cells are arranged such that the second ends of a first set of the plurality of electrochemical cells face the second ends of a second set of the plurality of electrochemical cells. A central chamber is located between the second ends of the first set of the plurality of electrochemical cells and the second ends of the second set of the plurality of electrochemical cells. The central chamber is configured to receive gases released from the vents of the plurality of electrochemical cells.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 1, 2009Publication date: December 24, 2009Inventors: Steven J. Wood, Majid Taghikhani, Dale B. Trester, Gary P. Houchin-Miller
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Publication number: 20090274952Abstract: A battery module includes a plurality of cells. The battery module also includes a housing configured to substantially enclose the plurality of cells. The battery module further includes a lower tray configured to receive the plurality of cells. The lower tray is located inside the housing adjacent a bottom of the housing. The lower tray has a top side and a bottom side The top side has a plurality of sockets configured to receive the plurality of cells in a closely packed arrangement. The bottom side is configured to define a chamber between the lower tray and the bottom of the housing. The chamber is sealed off from the rest of the battery module and is configured to receive released gas from the plurality of cells.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 9, 2009Publication date: November 5, 2009Inventors: Steven J. Wood, Gary P. Houchin-Miller, Dale B. Trester
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Publication number: 20090208836Abstract: A battery comprising a housing having a central longitudinal axis. A cover is coupled to the housing and a first flange is integrally formed with the cover and configured to act as a first terminal for the battery. At least a portion of the first flange extends away from the housing in a direction generally perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis. Wherein the first flange is configured for electrical coupling with a terminal of an adjacent battery in a battery system. for electrical coupling with a terminal of an adjacent battery in a battery system.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 10, 2009Publication date: August 20, 2009Inventors: Jason D. Fuhr, Steven J. Wood, Dale B. Trester, Gary P. Houchin-Miller, Thomas J. Dougherty
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Publication number: 20090130545Abstract: A battery system to monitor temperature includes at least one cell with a temperature sensing device proximate the at least one cell. The battery system also includes a flexible member that holds the temperature sensor proximate to the at least one cell.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 6, 2006Publication date: May 21, 2009Inventors: Steven J. Wood, Dale B. Trester
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Publication number: 20090111015Abstract: A battery system includes a plurality of sleeves modularly coupled together by members provided on an exterior surface of the sleeves. Each of the sleeves is configured to contain an electrochemical cell and comprises an inner surface. A plurality of features extend from the inner surface to define a space between the inner surface and an electrochemical cell provided within the sleeve. An end has a plurality of apertures that are aligned with the space to allow a cooling fluid to enter the sleeve through the apertures and pass adjacent the cell via the spaces to cool the cell.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 31, 2008Publication date: April 30, 2009Inventors: Steven J. Wood, Dale B. Trester, Gary P. Houchin-Miller, Nels R. Smith
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Publication number: 20090042094Abstract: A battery module includes at least one electrochemical cell. The electrochemical cell includes a first terminal conductively coupled to a first electrode and a body portion configured to function as a second terminal and conductively coupled to a second electrode via a pressure relief portion. The battery module further includes an end cap comprising a conductive portion and an insulating portion, the conductive portion being conductively coupled to the body portion. The pressure relief portion is configured to separate from the body portion to a deployed position when a pressure within the body portion reaches a first predetermined level, thereby substantially breaking the conductive coupling between the body portion and the second electrode. The insulating portion substantially prevents formation of a conductive coupling between the body portion and the second electrode when the pressure relief portion is in the deployed position.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 15, 2008Publication date: February 12, 2009Inventors: Gary P. Houchin-Miller, Dale B. Trester, Steven J. Wood