Patents by Inventor W. Porter Harris

W. Porter Harris 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: 11967688
    Abstract: Provided are systems for vehicle energy storage having parallel cooling comprising a plurality of modules. Each module may comprise two half modules coupled together. Each half module can include a plurality of battery cells. A current carrier of each half module may be electrically coupled to the cells. The cells may be disposed between the current carrier and a plate. Each half module can have the cells, current carrier, and blast plate disposed in an enclosure. The enclosure can have a coolant sub-system for circulating coolant in parallel to the plurality of cells such that each of the battery cells is at approximately the same predetermined temperature. The modules may be disposed in a tray. A coolant system may be provided for circulating coolant across the plurality of modules in parallel such that each of the modules can be maintained at approximately the same predetermined temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: Faraday & Future Inc.
    Inventors: W. Porter Harris, Blake Rosengren, Nicholas John Sampson
  • Patent number: 11862774
    Abstract: Exemplary systems and methods enable efficient and reliable positioning, assembly, retention, interconnection, and management of battery cells in battery packs, for example battery packs utilized in electric vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: MULLEN AUTOMOTIVE, INC.
    Inventors: W. Porter Harris, Kenneth Kawanishi, W. Hunter Greene, Robert Wesley Thibault, Arun Gunasekaran
  • Patent number: 11742536
    Abstract: Provided are systems for vehicle energy storage having parallel cooling comprising a plurality of modules. Each module may comprise two half modules coupled together. Each half module can include a plurality of battery cells. A current carrier of each half module may be electrically coupled to the cells. The cells may be disposed between the current carrier and a plate. Each half module can have the cells, current carrier, and blast plate disposed in an enclosure. The enclosure can have a coolant sub-system for circulating coolant in parallel to the plurality of cells such that each of the battery cells is at approximately the same predetermined temperature. The modules may be disposed in a tray. A coolant system may be provided for circulating coolant across the plurality of modules in parallel such that each of the modules can be maintained at approximately the same predetermined temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Faraday & Future Inc.
    Inventors: W. Porter Harris, Blake Robert Rosengren, Nicholas John Sampson, Travis David Cournoyer, Phillip John Weicker
  • Patent number: 11677109
    Abstract: Thermal management systems for batteries utilize vapor chambers having wicking components therein. An exemplary thermal management system includes a vapor chamber containing a working fluid and wicking components. A plurality of battery cells are disposed at least partially in the vapor chamber. A cold plate is coupled to the vapor chamber, and a heat pump is coupled to the cold plate. A capillary tube may be utilized to facilitate movement of vapor and working fluid in the thermal management system. Via use of exemplary systems, improved thermal management for batteries is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Romeo Systems Technology, LLC
    Inventors: W. Porter Harris, Qian Wang, Berton Vite, W. Hunter Greene
  • Publication number: 20230074724
    Abstract: A cold plate for a battery may comprise channels that extend from a first end of the plate to a second end of the plate or from a first side of the plate to a second side of the plate, the channels are located in parallel with each other and between the top surface and the bottom surface. The channels may be separated from each other by walls. The plate may be milled to form a first manifold on each end. The plate may also be milled to form notches in the surface(s) over the manifold. A port for the inlet and a port for the outlet of a working fluid may be inserted into the notches. The plate may have end caps, and the end caps and the ports may be welded or brazed to form a sealed enclosure. In various embodiment, the plate is an extruded plate, a cast plate, or a stamped/formed plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2022
    Publication date: March 9, 2023
    Applicant: Romeo Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: W. Porter Harris, Umran Ashraf, Robert Wesley Thibault, Nick Certo, Prahit Dubey, Karlo Galvan
  • Publication number: 20230033985
    Abstract: Exemplary systems and methods enable efficient and reliable positioning, assembly, retention, interconnection, and management of battery cells in battery packs, for example battery packs utilized in electric vehicles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2022
    Publication date: February 2, 2023
    Applicant: ROMEO SYSTEMS TECHNOLOGY, LLC
    Inventors: W. Porter Harris, Kenneth Kawanishi, W. Hunter Greene, Robert Wesley Thibault, Arun Gunasekaran
  • Patent number: 11557800
    Abstract: A cold plate for a battery may comprise channels that extend from a first end of the plate to a second end of the plate or from a first side of the plate to a second side of the plate, the channels are located in parallel with each other and between the top surface and the bottom surface. The channels may be separated from each other by walls. The plate may be milled to form a first manifold on each end. The plate may also be milled to form notches in the surface(s) over the manifold. A port for the inlet and a port for the outlet of a working fluid may be inserted into the notches. The plate may have end caps, and the end caps and the ports may be welded or brazed to form a sealed enclosure. In various embodiment, the plate is an extruded plate, a cast plate, or a stamped/formed plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: ROMEO SYSTEMS TECHNOLOGY, LLC
    Inventors: W. Porter Harris, Umran Ashraf, Robert Wesley Thibault, Nick Certo, Prahit Dubey, Karlo Galvan
  • Publication number: 20220393492
    Abstract: A system for battery management, such as a kiosk, can include a plurality of battery holders. Each battery holder can have a lock that retains or releases a battery pack that is held in the respective battery holder. For each battery holder, a bidirectional inverter can have an alternating current (AC) stage that is electrically coupled to an AC bus, and a direct current (DC) stage that is electrically coupled to the battery pack in the respective one of the plurality of battery holders. Other aspects are described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2022
    Publication date: December 8, 2022
    Inventors: W. Porter Harris, Nader Lotfy
  • Patent number: 11509022
    Abstract: Exemplary systems and methods enable efficient and reliable positioning, assembly, retention, interconnection, and management of battery cells in battery packs, for example battery packs utilized in electric vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: Romeo Systems Technology, LLC
    Inventors: W. Porter Harris, Kenneth Kawanishi, W. Hunter Greene, Robert Wesley Thibault, Arun Gunasekaran
  • Publication number: 20220302561
    Abstract: A battery holder may include a negative electric terminal that includes a first coiled spring, a positive electric terminal that includes second coiled spring, and a pin that aligns mating of the negative connector and the positive connector. Other aspects are described and claimed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2022
    Publication date: September 22, 2022
    Inventor: W. Porter Harris
  • Publication number: 20220302521
    Abstract: A battery module includes a thermal conductive housing. A plurality of cells are arranged within the housing. An electrically insulated bottom cell holder is located between the plurality of cells and the housing. The bottom cell holder has a network of positions in which each of the plurality of cells are inserted and held. Each of the positions has an offsetting member that creates a space between the plurality of cells and a first side of the housing. A thermal adhesive occupies the space, thereby fixing each of the plurality of cells to the housing. Other aspects are described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2022
    Publication date: September 22, 2022
    Inventor: W. Porter Harris
  • Publication number: 20220247014
    Abstract: Thermal management systems for batteries utilize vapor chambers having wicking components therein. An exemplary thermal management system includes a vapor chamber containing a working fluid and wicking components. A plurality of battery cells are disposed at least partially in the vapor chamber. A cold plate is coupled to the vapor chamber, and a heat pump is coupled to the cold plate. A capillary tube may be utilized to facilitate movement of vapor and working fluid in the thermal management system. Via use of exemplary systems, improved thermal management for batteries is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2021
    Publication date: August 4, 2022
    Applicant: Romeo Systems Technology, LLC
    Inventors: W. Porter Harris, Qian Wang, Berton Vite, W. Hunter Greene
  • Publication number: 20210359359
    Abstract: Provided are battery modules. Each module may comprise an enclosure having a base, the base having a plurality of first holes disposed therein, the enclosure including a coolant input port, a coolant output port; the enclosure having a coolant sub-system for circulating coolant being directed into the enclosure through the coolant input port and the plurality of first holes and out of the enclosure through the coolant output port; a center divider affixed to the enclosure; a module cover coupled to the enclosure at an opposite end of the module from the center divider; a retainer disposed within the enclosure and configured to support a plurality of cells; a current carrier disposed between the module cover and the retainer; and the plurality of cells disposed between the current carrier and the center divider, the cells being coupled to and supported by the retainer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2021
    Publication date: November 18, 2021
    Inventors: W. Porter Harris, Blake Rosengren, Nicholas John Sampson
  • Patent number: 11108100
    Abstract: Provided are battery modules. Each module may comprise an enclosure having a base, the base having a plurality of first holes disposed therein, the enclosure including a coolant input port, a coolant output port; the enclosure having a coolant sub-system for circulating coolant being directed into the enclosure through the coolant input port and the plurality of first holes and out of the enclosure through the coolant output port; a center divider affixed to the enclosure; a module cover coupled to the enclosure at an opposite end of the module from the center divider; a retainer disposed within the enclosure and configured to support a plurality of cells; a current carrier disposed between the module cover and the retainer; and the plurality of cells disposed between the current carrier and the center divider, the cells being coupled to and supported by the retainer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: Faraday & Future Inc.
    Inventors: W. Porter Harris, Blake Rosengren, Nicholas John Sampson
  • Publication number: 20210184287
    Abstract: Provided are systems for vehicle energy storage having parallel cooling comprising a plurality of modules. Each module may comprise two half modules coupled together. Each half module can include a plurality of battery cells. A current carrier of each half module may be electrically coupled to the cells. The cells may be disposed between the current carrier and a plate. Each half module can have the cells, current carrier, and blast plate disposed in an enclosure. The enclosure can have a coolant sub-system for circulating coolant in parallel to the plurality of cells such that each of the battery cells is at approximately the same predetermined temperature. The modules may be disposed in a tray. A coolant system may be provided for circulating coolant across the plurality of modules in parallel such that each of the modules can be maintained at approximately the same predetermined temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2020
    Publication date: June 17, 2021
    Inventors: W. Porter Harris, Blake Rosengren, Nicholas John Sampson
  • Patent number: 10998590
    Abstract: Thermal management systems for batteries utilize vapor chambers having wicking components therein. An exemplary thermal management system includes a vapor chamber containing a working fluid and wicking components. A plurality of battery cells are disposed at least partially in the vapor chamber. A cold plate is coupled to the vapor chamber, and a heat pump is coupled to the cold plate. A capillary tube may be utilized to facilitate movement of vapor and working fluid in the thermal management system. Via use of exemplary systems, improved thermal management for batteries is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: ROMEO SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: W. Porter Harris, Qian Wang, Berton Vite, W. Hunter Greene
  • Publication number: 20210098833
    Abstract: Modular battery pack can have lithium-ion based battery cells and a wireless transmitter and receiver. The modular battery pack is configured to communicate with other modular battery packs. The modular battery packs are configured to connect as nodes that form a mesh communication network to provide a redundant communication path to a remote system from any of the modular battery packs. The remote system can gather data from each of the modular battery packs through the network and communicate with a remote system. Other aspects are described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2020
    Publication date: April 1, 2021
    Inventor: W. Porter Harris
  • Publication number: 20210043992
    Abstract: A battery cell is made more thermally efficient with the addition of an integrated vapor chamber that extends out from the cell and into an external heat exchange interface. The integrated vapor chamber can contain a working fluid which undergoes phase changes between liquid and vapor phases when there is a temperature differential between the interior and exterior of the cell. The integrated vapor chamber can include a wicking material to transfer the working fluid to the exterior wall of the vapor chamber. The integrated vapor chamber allows for both heating and cooling of the battery cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2020
    Publication date: February 11, 2021
    Inventors: W. Porter Harris, William Hunter Greene, Qian Wang, Wesley Thibault, Berton Vite
  • Patent number: 10826140
    Abstract: Provided are systems for vehicle energy storage having parallel cooling comprising a plurality of modules. Each module may comprise two half modules coupled together. Each half module can include a plurality of battery cells. A current carrier of each half module may be electrically coupled to the cells. The cells may be disposed between the current carrier and a plate. Each half module can have the cells, current carrier, and blast plate disposed in an enclosure. The enclosure can have a coolant sub-system for circulating coolant in parallel to the plurality of cells such that each of the battery cells is at approximately the same predetermined temperature. The modules may be disposed in a tray. A coolant system may be provided for circulating coolant across the plurality of modules in parallel such that each of the modules can be maintained at approximately the same predetermined temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: Faraday & Future Inc.
    Inventors: W. Porter Harris, Blake Rosengren, Nicholas John Sampson
  • Patent number: 10826042
    Abstract: Provided are current carriers for vehicle energy-storage systems comprising: a positive power plane; a negative power plane; a dielectric isolation layer disposed between the positive power plane and the negative power plane; a plurality of positive contacts formed in the positive power plane, the positive contacts being for electrical coupling to a respective cathode terminal of each battery cell of a plurality of battery cells; and a plurality of negative contacts formed in the negative power plane, the negative contacts being for electrical coupling to a respective anode terminal of each battery cell of the plurality of battery cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: Faraday & Future Inc.
    Inventors: W. Porter Harris, Blake Rosengren, Nicholas John Sampson