Patents by Inventor William L. Martz

William L. Martz 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: 9406918
    Abstract: A battery assembly including a plurality of battery cells and at least one frame having a support feature formed thereon is disclosed. The support feature supports electrically conductive tabs of the battery cells and militates against damage to the battery assembly during a joining of one of the electrically conductive tabs with another one of the electrically conductive tabs of an adjacent battery cell or during a joining of the electrically conductive tabs of adjacent battery cells with a connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Stuart D. Barter, William L. Martz, Benjamin D. Kaufman, Michael Duffield
  • Patent number: 9065158
    Abstract: A cooling module for a battery pack assembly is disclosed. The cooling module includes a frame having a plurality of legs forming an opening through a central portion of the frame, at least one of the plurality of legs including a slot formed therethrough. A cooling fin is coupled to the frame. The cooling fin includes a corrugated plate interposed between a first plate and a second plate forming a plurality of fluid flow channels between the first plate and the second plate. The cooling modules are disposed in a stack having at least one battery cell disposed between adjacent cooling modules. The battery cell is in heat transfer communication with the cooling fin of at least one cooling module, wherein the cooling fin facilitates a transfer of heat energy between the battery cell and the flow channels formed in the cooling fin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: William L. Martz, Michael Duffield, Megan J. Quick, Stuart D. Barter, Glenn W. Skala, Steven J. Fogarassy, Eric J. Connor, Thaddeus J. Grey
  • Publication number: 20140306359
    Abstract: A fuel cell humidifier with a pleated separation layer between a wet side and a dry side is provided. The fuel cell humidifier includes an enclosure having a first inlet, first outlet, and a first gas flow region that allow flow of a first gas through the humidifier. The fuel cell humidifier also includes a second inlet and second outlet, and a second gas flow region that allow flow of a second gas through the humidifier. Characteristically, the first gas has a higher relative humidity than the second gas. A pleated diffusion medium separates the first flow region and the second flow region such that water from the first gas flows to the second gas thereby increasing the relative humidity of the second gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2013
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: William L. Martz
  • Publication number: 20140113169
    Abstract: A battery assembly including a plurality of battery cells and at least one frame having a support feature formed thereon is disclosed. The support feature supports electrically conductive tabs of the battery cells and militates against damage to the battery assembly during a joining of one of the electrically conductive tabs with another one of the electrically conductive tabs of an adjacent battery cell or during a joining of the electrically conductive tabs of adjacent battery cells with a connector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2013
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Stuart D. Barter, William L. Martz, Benjamin D. Kaufman, Michael Duffield
  • Patent number: 8673480
    Abstract: A battery assembly including a plurality of battery cells and at least one frame having a support feature formed thereon is disclosed. The support feature supports electrically conductive tabs of the battery cells and militates against damage to the battery assembly during a joining of one of the electrically conductive tabs with another one of the electrically conductive tabs of an adjacent battery cell or during a joining of the electrically conductive tabs of adjacent battery cells with a connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Stuart D. Barter, William L. Martz, Benjamin D. Kaufman, Michael Duffield
  • Patent number: 8460807
    Abstract: A battery pack is described. One embodiment of the battery pack includes a pair of end frames, the end frames having a top and a bottom and a pair of sides, the end frames having a detent on at least one of the sides of the end frames to receive a clamp; a frame positioned between the pair of end frames, the frame having a top and a bottom and a pair of sides, the frame having a ridge on at least one of the sides of the frame; a plurality of battery cells positioned in the frame and the pair of end frames, the plurality of battery cells electrically connected to each other at the top of the frame; and at least one cooling fin positioned between the battery cells. Methods of repairing battery packs are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Patrick J. Meehan, Stuart D. Barter, William L. Martz, Megan J. Quick, Rick F. Rourke, Edgar M. Storm, Derek R. Weber
  • Publication number: 20120028098
    Abstract: A battery pack is described. One embodiment of the battery pack includes a pair of end frames, the end frames having a top and a bottom and a pair of sides, the end frames having a detent on at least one of the sides of the end frames to receive a clamp; a frame positioned between the pair of end frames, the frame having a top and a bottom and a pair of sides, the frame having a ridge on at least one of the sides of the frame; a plurality of battery cells positioned in the frame and the pair of end frames, the plurality of battery cells electrically connected to each other at the top of the frame; and at least one cooling fin positioned between the battery cells. Methods of repairing battery packs are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2010
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Patrick J. Meehan, Stuart D. Barter, William L. Martz, Megan J. Quick, Rick F. Rourke, Edgar M. Storm, JR., Derek R. Weber
  • Publication number: 20120009462
    Abstract: A battery assembly including a plurality of battery cells and at least one frame having a support feature formed thereon is disclosed. The support feature supports electrically conductive tabs of the battery cells and militates against damage to the battery assembly during a joining of one of the electrically conductive tabs with another one of the electrically conductive tabs of an adjacent battery cell or during a joining of the electrically conductive tabs of adjacent battery cells with a connector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2010
    Publication date: January 12, 2012
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Stuart D. Barter, William L. Martz, Benjamin D. Kaufman, Michael Duffield
  • Publication number: 20110293982
    Abstract: A cooling module for a battery pack assembly is disclosed. The cooling module includes a frame having a plurality of legs forming an opening through a central portion of the frame, at least one of the plurality of legs including a slot formed therethrough. A cooling fin is coupled to the frame. The cooling fin includes a corrugated plate interposed between a first plate and a second plate forming a plurality of fluid flow channels between the first plate and the second plate. The cooling modules are disposed in a stack having at least one battery cell disposed between adjacent cooling modules. The battery cell is in heat transfer communication with the cooling fin of at least one cooling module, wherein the cooling fin facilitates a transfer of heat energy between the battery cell and the flow channels formed in the cooling fin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2010
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: William L. Martz, Michael Duffield, Megan J. Quick, Stuart D. Barter, Glenn W. Skala, Steven J. Fogarassy, Eric J. Connor, Thaddeus J. Grey