Patents by Inventor William Q. Walker

William Q. Walker 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).

  • Systems and methods for measuring a heat response of a battery cell in thermal runaway
    Patent number: 11201358
    Abstract: A system for measuring a heat response of a cell during a thermal runaway event includes a housing. An insulation is positioned within the housing. A calorimeter is positioned within the insulation and the housing. The calorimeter is configured to have the cell positioned therein. The calorimeter is configured to measure a temperature increase of the cell, one or more components of the calorimeter, or a combination thereof during the thermal runaway event of the cell. A total energy yield of the thermal runaway event is configured to be determined based at least partially upon the temperature increase. A ratio is configured to be determined based at least partially upon the temperature increase. The ratio includes energy released through a casing of the cell during the thermal runaway event vs. energy released through ejecta material from the cell during the thermal runaway event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Eric C Dimpault-Darcy, John J. Darst, William Q. Walker, Steven L. Rickman, Natalie N. Anderson, Christiaan Khurana, Bruce L. Drolen, Gary Bayles, Zoran Bilc