Patents by Inventor Thomas J. Gadawski

Thomas J. Gadawski 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: 9105950
    Abstract: A battery system and a method for cooling the battery system are provided. The system includes an evaporative cooling member, and a battery module having a housing, a battery cell, and a solid cooling fin. The housing holds the battery cell therein. The solid cooling fin has first and second panel portions. The first panel portion is disposed against the battery cell. The second panel portion extends through the housing and is disposed on the evaporative cooling member. The solid cooling fin conducts heat energy from the battery cell to the evaporative cooling member. The evaporative cooling member receives a gaseous-liquid refrigerant and transitions the gaseous-liquid refrigerant into a gaseous refrigerant utilizing the heat energy received from the solid cooling fin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Gadawski, Satish Ketkar, Michael Nielson
  • Patent number: 8977510
    Abstract: A system and a method for determining charging and discharging power levels for a battery pack are provided. The battery pack has an enclosure holding a battery module therein. The system includes a computer that determines a temperature correlation value based on first and second temperature values associated with the battery pack. The computer determines a third temperature value indicative of a temperature level of a first battery cell disposed adjacent to the end of a housing in the battery pack based on the first temperature value and the temperature correlation value. The computer determines a desired charging power level for the battery pack based on the third temperature value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventors: Satish Ketkar, Thomas J. Gadawski, Mike Nielson
  • Patent number: 8974934
    Abstract: A battery module is provided. The battery module includes a battery cell and a heat exchanger disposed adjacent to the battery cell. The battery module further includes a cooling manifold having a tubular wall, a first fluid port, and a ring shaped member. The tubular wall defines an interior region and having first and second end portions. The first fluid port extends outwardly from an outer surface of the tubular wall and fluidly communicates with the interior region of the tubular wall. The ring shaped member is disposed on an outer surface of the first fluid port a predetermined distance from the outer surface of the tubular wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventors: Robert Merriman, Thomas J. Gadawski, Josh Payne
  • Patent number: 8940423
    Abstract: A vehicle battery pack container is provided. The container includes a base portion having an aperture extending therethrough, a peripheral wall coupled to the base portion, and a cover coupled to the peripheral wall. The container further includes a venting device having a housing and a ball disposed within an interior region of the housing. The housing is coupled to the base portion such that the venting device is in fluid communication with the aperture in the base portion. The ball seals against a sealing tab of the housing at a first operational position to prevent fluids from passing through the venting device into the container. The ball allows gases from the container to flow through the venting device when the ball is at a second operational position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventor: Thomas J. Gadawski
  • Patent number: 8920956
    Abstract: A battery system and a manifold assembly therein are provided. The assembly includes a manifold member having a tubular wall with an inner surface defining a central aperture that extends from the first end to the second end. The tubular wall further includes apertures extending therethrough. The manifold member further includes tubular port members disposed over the apertures, and a sealing member disposed on the inner surface proximate to the first end, and a male connecting portion extending from the second end. The assembly further includes a connecting fitting having a tubular coupling portion, an abutment ring, and a tubular body. The tubular coupling portion is removably coupled to the first end of the manifold member within the central aperture such that the sealing member contacts an outer surface of the tubular coupling portion and the abutment ring abuts against the first end of the manifold member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventor: Thomas J. Gadawski
  • Patent number: 8758922
    Abstract: A battery system and a manifold assembly are provided. The assembly includes a first manifold member having a first tubular wall. The first manifold member further includes a first sealing member disposed on a first inner surface proximate to the first end, and a first male connecting portion extending from the second end. The manifold assembly further includes a second manifold member having a second tubular wall. The second manifold member further includes a second sealing member disposed on a second inner surface proximate to a third end, and a second male connecting portion extending from a fourth end. The first male connecting portion of the first manifold member is configured to be removably coupled to the fourth end of the second manifold member such that the second sealing member of the second manifold member contacts an outer surface of the first male connecting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventor: Thomas J. Gadawski
  • Publication number: 20140050952
    Abstract: A battery module is provided. The battery module includes a battery cell and a heat exchanger disposed adjacent to the battery cell. The battery module further includes a cooling manifold having a tubular wall, a first fluid port, and a ring shaped member. The tubular wall defines an interior region and having first and second end portions. The first fluid port extends outwardly from an outer surface of the tubular wall and fluidly communicates with the interior region of the tubular wall. The ring shaped member is disposed on an outer surface of the first fluid port a predetermined distance from the outer surface of the tubular wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2012
    Publication date: February 20, 2014
    Applicant: LG CHEM, LTD.
    Inventors: Robert Merriman, Thomas J. Gadawski, Josh Payne
  • Publication number: 20130255293
    Abstract: A battery system and a method for cooling the battery system are provided. The system includes an evaporative cooling member, and a battery module having a housing, a battery cell, and a solid cooling fin. The housing holds the battery cell therein. The solid cooling fin has first and second panel portions. The first panel portion is disposed against the battery cell. The second panel portion extends through the housing and is disposed on the evaporative cooling member. The solid cooling fin conducts heat energy from the battery cell to the evaporative cooling member. The evaporative cooling member receives a gaseous-liquid refrigerant and transitions the gaseous-liquid refrigerant into a gaseous refrigerant utilizing the heat energy received from the solid cooling fin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2012
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: LG CHEM, LTD.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Gadawski, Satish Ketkar, Michael Nielson
  • Patent number: 8469404
    Abstract: A connecting assembly that can be coupled to a tubular wall is provided. The assembly includes a connecting fitting having a tubular coupling portion, an abutment ring, and an arcuate-shaped tubular body. The abutment ring is disposed around an outer surface of the tubular coupling portion a predetermined distance from a first end of the tubular coupling portion. An end of the tubular body is coupled to a second end of the tubular coupling portion. The assembly further includes a retaining member having a ring-shaped portion and first and second finger portions extending from the ring-shaped portion. The arcuate-shaped tubular body of the connecting fitting is received through a central aperture of the ring-shaped portion such that the ring-shaped portion is slidably disposed on the tubular body of the connecting fitting and is further slidably disposed against the abutment ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventor: Thomas J. Gadawski
  • Publication number: 20130158913
    Abstract: A system and a method for determining charging and discharging power levels for a battery pack are provided. The battery pack has an enclosure holding a battery module therein. The system includes a computer that determines a temperature correlation value based on first and second temperature values associated with the battery pack. The computer determines a third temperature value indicative of a temperature level of a first battery cell disposed adjacent to the end of a housing in the battery pack based on the first temperature value and the temperature correlation value. The computer determines a desired charging power level for the battery pack based on the third temperature value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2011
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Applicant: LG CHEM, LTD.
    Inventors: Satish Ketkar, Thomas J. Gadawski, Mike Nielson
  • Publication number: 20130157091
    Abstract: A vehicle battery pack container is provided. The container includes a base portion having an aperture extending therethrough, a peripheral wall coupled to the base portion, and a cover coupled to the peripheral wall. The container further includes a venting device having a housing and a ball disposed within an interior region of the housing. The housing is coupled to the base portion such that the venting device is in fluid communication with the aperture in the base portion. The ball seals against a sealing tab of the housing at a first operational position to prevent fluids from passing through the venting device into the container. The ball allows gases from the container to flow through the venting device when the ball is at a second operational position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2011
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Applicant: LG CHEM, LTD.
    Inventor: Thomas J. Gadawski
  • Patent number: 8399118
    Abstract: A battery module and a method for cooling the battery module are provided. The battery module includes a first battery cell and a cooling fin disposed adjacent to the first battery cell. The cooling fin has first and second headers, an extruded housing, and a flow diverter. The first and second headers are coupled to first and second ends, respectively, of the extruded housing. The extruded housing has a first plurality of flow channels and a second plurality of flow channels extending therethrough that fluidly communicate with the first and second headers. The flow diverter is disposed in the first header to induce a fluid to flow from the first header through the first plurality of flow channels in the extruded housing to the second header to extract heat energy from the first battery cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Gadawski, Josh Payne
  • Patent number: 8353315
    Abstract: An end cap for sealing an end of a tubular wall is provided. The end cap includes a circular-shaped body having an inner surface defining an aperture that extends into the circular-shaped body but not completely through the circular-shaped body. The end cap further includes a sealing member disposed on at least a portion of the inner surface of the circular-shaped body. The end cap further includes first and second finger portions extending in a first direction from the circular-shaped body that are configured to removably engage first and second notches in the tubular wall such that the inner surface contacts an outer surface of the tubular wall and the end cap is removably attached to the tubular wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventor: Thomas J. Gadawski
  • Publication number: 20120045684
    Abstract: A battery system and a manifold assembly are provided. The assembly includes a first manifold member having a first tubular wall. The first manifold member further includes a first sealing member disposed on a first inner surface proximate to the first end, and a first male connecting portion extending from the second end. The manifold assembly further includes a second manifold member having a second tubular wall. The second manifold member further includes a second sealing member disposed on a second inner surface proximate to a third end, and a second male connecting portion extending from a fourth end. The first male connecting portion of the first manifold member is configured to be removably coupled to the fourth end of the second manifold member such that the second sealing member of the second manifold member contacts an outer surface of the first male connecting portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2010
    Publication date: February 23, 2012
    Applicant: LG CHEM, LTD.
    Inventor: Thomas J. Gadawski
  • Publication number: 20120043754
    Abstract: A connecting assembly that can be coupled to a tubular wall is provided. The assembly includes a connecting fitting having a tubular coupling portion, an abutment ring, and an arcuate-shaped tubular body. The abutment ring is disposed around an outer surface of the tubular coupling portion a predetermined distance from a first end of the tubular coupling portion. An end of the tubular body is coupled to a second end of the tubular coupling portion. The assembly further includes a retaining member having a ring-shaped portion and first and second finger portions extending from the ring-shaped portion. The arcuate-shaped tubular body of the connecting fitting is received through a central aperture of the ring-shaped portion such that the ring-shaped portion is slidably disposed on the tubular body of the connecting fitting and is further slidably disposed against the abutment ring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2010
    Publication date: February 23, 2012
    Applicant: LG CHEM, LTD.
    Inventor: Thomas J. Gadawski
  • Publication number: 20120042977
    Abstract: An end cap for sealing an end of a tubular wall is provided. The end cap includes a circular-shaped body having an inner surface defining an aperture that extends into the circular-shaped body but not completely through the circular-shaped body. The end cap further includes a sealing member disposed on at least a portion of the inner surface of the circular-shaped body. The end cap further includes first and second finger portions extending in a first direction from the circular-shaped body that are configured to removably engage first and second notches in the tubular wall such that the inner surface contacts an outer surface of the tubular wall and the end cap is removably attached to the tubular wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2010
    Publication date: February 23, 2012
    Applicant: LG CHEM, LTD.
    Inventor: Thomas J. Gadawski
  • Publication number: 20120045683
    Abstract: A battery system and a manifold assembly therein are provided. The assembly includes a manifold member having a tubular wall with an inner surface defining a central aperture that extends from the first end to the second end. The tubular wall further includes apertures extending therethrough. The manifold member further includes tubular port members disposed over the apertures, and a sealing member disposed on the inner surface proximate to the first end, and a male connecting portion extending from the second end. The assembly further includes a connecting fitting having a tubular coupling portion, an abutment ring, and a tubular body. The tubular coupling portion is removably coupled to the first end of the manifold member within the central aperture such that the sealing member contacts an outer surface of the tubular coupling portion and the abutment ring abuts against the first end of the manifold member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2010
    Publication date: February 23, 2012
    Applicant: LG CHEM, LTD.
    Inventor: Thomas J. Gadawski
  • Publication number: 20110027640
    Abstract: A battery module and a method for cooling the battery module are provided. The battery module includes a first battery cell and a cooling fin disposed adjacent to the first battery cell. The cooling fin has first and second headers, an extruded housing, and a flow diverter. The first and second headers are coupled to first and second ends, respectively, of the extruded housing. The extruded housing has a first plurality of flow channels and a second plurality of flow channels extending therethrough that fluidly communicate with the first and second headers. The flow diverter is disposed in the first header to induce a fluid to flow from the first header through the first plurality of flow channels in the extruded housing to the second header to extract heat energy from the first battery cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2009
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Applicant: LG CHEM, LTD.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Gadawski, Josh Payne