Temperature Control Patents (Class 429/62)
  • Patent number: 11502354
    Abstract: Energy storage systems, battery cells, and batteries of the present technology may include a heat exchanger or fluid delivery structure that may transfer heat from a battery cell or cell block to a heat exchange fluid. The heat exchanger or fluid delivery structure may substantially maintain an interfacial temperature during a temperature increase from the battery cell or cell block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Inventors: Ghyrn E. Loveness, Abraham B. Caulk, Edward P. Yankoski, Zhongying Shi, Kenneth S. Smith, Mujeeb I. Ijaz, Luke A. Wilhelm, Jonathan L. Hall
  • Patent number: 11502351
    Abstract: A battery pack having at least one cell module that is connected between a plurality of pack terminals, the battery pack including: at least one thermoelectric element disposed at each of the at least one cell modules; a thermoelectric element power supply circuit configured to supply a driving voltage to the at least one thermoelectric element; and a controller configured to control the thermoelectric element power supply circuit to transfer a first voltage that is supplied for driving the thermoelectric element from a charger as the driving voltage for the at least one thermoelectric element when a temperature of the at least one cell module is out of a first range in a charging mode, the first voltage being different from a second voltage that is a charging voltage supplied to the battery pack from the charger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kum-Yul Hwang, Woongbin Kim, Junseop Kim, Kwan Il Oh
  • Patent number: 11502325
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a battery stack assembly includes a plurality of sleeves, a plurality of battery cells, and one or more retention bands. The plurality of sleeves is arranged in a stack along a common plane, each of the plurality of sleeves including a slot. The plurality of battery cells are positioned within the plurality of sleeves such that at least a portion of each battery cell is accessible when positioned within a dedicated sleeve. The one or more retention bands extend through each of the slots formed in the plurality of sleeves, wherein the one or more retention bands facilitate application of compression across the stack, and release of compression allows a chosen cell to be withdrawn from the dedicated sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Lincoln Morfin, Jordan S. Guttrich
  • Patent number: 11485417
    Abstract: A vehicle body lower structure may comprise: a rocker arranged at a lower lateral part of a vehicle body; a power supply package arranged under a floor panel of the vehicle; a first energy absorbing member fixed to a lateral side of the power supply package; and a second energy absorbing member being adjacent to the first energy absorbing member in a vehicle-width direction of the vehicle body, the second energy absorbing member being located outside the first energy absorbing member in the vehicle-width direction of the vehicle body. The first energy absorbing member may include a first protrusion protruding outward in the vehicle-width direction, the second energy absorbing member may include a second protrusion protruding inward in the vehicle-width direction, and the first protrusion and the second protrusion may overlap each other as seen along an up-down direction and are fixed together to the rocker by a bolt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takuya Hirota
  • Patent number: 11486934
    Abstract: A method, a device and a system for recovering recoverable faded capacity of a battery. The method includes determining the recoverable faded capacity of the battery, determining a corresponding lower limit of a battery parameter according to the recoverable faded capacity of the battery, and instructing a discharging device to discharge the battery to the corresponding lower limit of the battery parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited
    Inventors: Shenzhi Tang, Mingshu Du, Shichao Li, Jian Ruan
  • Patent number: 11476520
    Abstract: A battery pack includes a plurality of cells, a refrigerant pipe, a plurality of cooling members, and a restraining unit. Each of the cooling members includes a plate-shaped portion interposed between the cells, and a contact portion jutting out from between the cells and contacting the refrigerant pipe. The restraining unit includes a pair of restraining members and a support member supporting the pair of restraining members, the pair of restraining members restraining opposite ends of the plurality of cells arranged with the plurality of cooling members interposed. The cooling members include one or more first cooling members and one or more second cooling members, the one or more second cooling members having a heat capacity higher than the one or more first cooling members and having a greater contact area with the refrigerant pipe than the one or more first cooling members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Rika Shimazaki
  • Patent number: 11472276
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method (100) for determining the flow direction (R) of a coolant (M). The coolant (M) flows past at least two adjacent components (K1, K2) one after the other in order to cool the components (K1, K2). The method has the following steps: ascertaining a first temperature (110) which is paired with the first component (K1) of the at least two adjacent components; ascertaining a second temperature (115) which is paired with the second component (K2) of the at least two adjacent components; ascertaining the difference (120) between the ascertained temperatures; and determining the flow direction (190) of the coolant on the basis of the ascertained difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Manuel Warwel
  • Patent number: 11466656
    Abstract: A power management system for a vehicle includes a first battery monitoring module configured to monitor a first state of charge (SOC) of a first battery of the vehicle. The first battery has a first nominal voltage. A second battery monitoring module is configured to monitor a second SOC of a second battery of the vehicle. The second battery has a second nominal voltage that is greater than the first nominal voltage. A control module is configured to selectively apply power to a heater of the second battery based on an estimated value of the second SOC of the second battery at a next startup of an engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Gentherm Incorporated
    Inventors: Michael Peter Ciaccio, Timothy Hughes
  • Patent number: 11462786
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods and systems for regulating the temperature of energy storage devices and cables. Systems for regulating the temperature of energy storage devices and cables may include one or more of a cooling unit, isolating unit, evaporator, and microchannel evaporators. Systems may further comprise condensers and one or more fluid flow lines. During use, liquid coolant may be directed to the cooling unit, isolating unit, evaporator, or microchannel evaporators, which may be in thermal communication with the energy storage device or cable. Thermal energy may transfer from the energy storage device or cable to the liquid coolant and the liquid coolant may undergo phase transition to a vapor coolant. The vapor coolant may be directed to the condenser and undergo another phase transition to regenerate the liquid coolant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: ZUTA-CAR LTD.
    Inventor: Nahshon Eadelson
  • Patent number: 11444346
    Abstract: A battery thermal management system includes a battery pack, a heat exchanger in fluid communication with the battery pack, a pump interposed between the heat exchanger and the battery pack to cause a heat exchange fluid to flow in a coolant loop between the heat exchanger and the battery pack. A heat capacitor is disposed downstream from the battery pack with respect to a direction of a flow of the heat exchange fluid through the coolant loop and upstream from the heat exchanger in the direction of the flow of the heat exchange fluid through the coolant loop. A valve is disposed in the coolant loop upstream from the heat capacitor in the direction of the flow of the coolant through the coolant loop. The valve controls at least a portion of the flow of the coolant through at least one of the heat capacitor and the heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: HANON SYSTEMS
    Inventors: L'uboslav Kollár, Guillaume Hébert
  • Patent number: 11437659
    Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a method and apparatus of managing battery. The method includes: obtaining a first and second state parameters; determining whether a first and second batteries meet a predetermined first paralleling condition, if yes, powering on a current-limiting module, powering on the bidirectional DC/DC converter being and delayingly powering off the current-limiting module; obtaining a third and fourth state parameters; determining whether the first and second batteries meet a predetermined second paralleling condition, if yes, powering on the paralleling switch and delayingly powering off the bidirectional DC/DC converter. The present disclosure can output a voltage under relatively safe conditions and achieve power supply safety.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: SHENZHEN HELLO TECH ENERGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Zhongwei Sun, Xuhe Liu, Hong Chen, Wei Bai, Yanqiu Chu
  • Patent number: 11431066
    Abstract: A drain system is described for allowing fluid to drain from a battery pack while maintaining structural integrity of the battery pack. A frame of the battery pack is comprised of several retaining members in which valves are disposed to allow fluid to exit the battery pack. The valves are positioned such that forces normally experienced while driving a vehicle, such as acceleration, deceleration, and turning forces, cause the fluid to flow toward and through the valves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: Rivian IP Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Nathaniel C. Wynn, Vignesh Sekar, Kyle Butterfield, Tyler Collins
  • Patent number: 11428602
    Abstract: A method of detecting a leakage of a coolant in a battery cooling device for a vehicle includes: receiving, by a controller, a first pressure value from a first pressure sensor configured to detect a pressure in a coolant pipe; and determining, by the controller, whether the coolant leaks in the coolant pipe based on the first pressure value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Gun Goo Lee
  • Patent number: 11387522
    Abstract: The present application relates to a multilayer separator and a device using the same. Specifically, the present application provides a multilayer separator comprising at least one first porous substrate and at least one second porous substrate, wherein the peeling strength between the first porous substrate and the second porous substrate is in a range of 2 N/m to 50 N/m, and the first porous substrate has an obturator temperature of lower than 135° C. The multilayer separator provided by the present application can effectively guarantee the safety and electrochemical performance of the electrochemical device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: NINGDE AMPEREX TECHNOLOGY LIMITED
    Inventor: DongYang Guo
  • Patent number: 11387524
    Abstract: A device for interconnecting battery elements has at least one electrically conductive strip with at least one contact area for a battery element, and at least one permanent magnet, which magnet is associated with the contact area and configured to apply the contact area to a terminal of a battery element by magnetic interaction with the battery element. The contact area of the strip has a stamped relief in the strip, the stamped relief forming a receptacle for a magnet. The magnet is housed within the receptacle for a magnet. Also disclosed is a battery of accumulators provided with the interconnection device. It is applicable to batteries for supplying power to handheld power tools, in particular.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Inventor: Roger Pellenc
  • Patent number: 11362375
    Abstract: The present application relates to a safety prevention and control system and control method of a power battery pack for an electric vehicle. The safety prevention and control system of a power battery pack includes a signal acquisition device, a main controller, and a step-by-step prevention and control execution device. The main controller includes a fault diagnosis device, a cell thermal runaway determination device and a battery pack thermal runaway propagation determination device, which are respectively electrically connected to the step-by-step prevention and control execution device to send different control instructions to the step-by-step prevention and control execution device. The step-by-step prevention and control execution device can execute prevention and control actions of different levels according to the different control instructions sent by the fault diagnosis device, the cell thermal runaway determination device and the battery pack thermal runaway propagation determination device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Tsinghua University
    Inventors: Xuning Feng, Xiangming He, Li Wang, Minggao Ouyang, Languang Lu, Siqi Zheng, Gan Zhang, Yue Pan
  • Patent number: 11355825
    Abstract: A battery pack and a method for manufacturing the same, and more particularly, a battery pack in which a heat dissipation member is attached to a protection element assembly to reduce heat generated from the battery pack when being discharged and a method for manufacturing the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: LG Energy Solution, Ltd.
    Inventors: Jin Oh Yang, Seog Jin Yoon
  • Patent number: 11342626
    Abstract: A battery pack includes stacked battery cells housed between a first case and a second case. The battery cells each include an electrode tab protruding from a first outer surface. The first case and the second case are divided so as to sandwich the battery cells from a side surface of the electrode tab. The first case includes a housing portion configured to house at least a portion of the electrode tab and an abutting portion capable of abutting the side surface of the electrode tab of each battery cell when the electrode tab is inserted in the housing portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: Marelli Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Motohashi, Takayuki Hirase
  • Patent number: 11318861
    Abstract: A coolant system for an electric vehicle having first and second heat generating components includes a fluid circuit that circulates a coolant therethrough and a coolant assembly. The coolant assembly decreases the temperature of a portion of the coolant to a first temperature and supplies the portion of coolant to the first heat generating component via a first supply branch of the fluid circuit, and decreases the temperature of a remaining portion of the coolant to a second temperature and supplies the remaining portion of coolant to the second heat generating component via a second supply branch of the fluid circuit. The system includes a first pump unit, arranged downstream of the coolant assembly in the first supply branch, that directs the portion of coolant to the first heat generating component, and a second pump unit that directs the remaining portion of coolant to the second heat generating component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: Volvo Construction Equipment AB
    Inventors: Joakim Unnebäck, Erik Carldén
  • Patent number: 11292363
    Abstract: A charging system is installed outside an electric vehicle to charge an in-vehicle battery mounted in the electric vehicle. The charging system includes a charger that supplies electricity to the in-vehicle battery, an external cooling device that cools the in-vehicle battery, and an off-vehicle controller that controls driving of the charger and the external cooling device. The external cooling device has an external channel which is provided inside the charging system and through which an external refrigerant flows, cooling mechanisms that include at least a compressor and cool the external refrigerant, and a heat exchanger that exchanges heat between the cooled external refrigerant and an internal refrigerant that flows inside the electric vehicle to cool the in-vehicle battery or outside air that is sent to the electric vehicle to cool the in-vehicle battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takayuki Shimauchi, Makoto Mimoto, Kunihiko Jinno
  • Patent number: 11283116
    Abstract: The embodiments of the present disclosure disclose a battery heating system and method, and relate to the field of batteries. The battery heating system may include: a temperature sampling module configured to collect a target sampling temperature; a control module configured to control a heating module to enter a first heating mode when the target sampling temperature is not lower than a preset expected heating temperature; the heating module configured to enter the first heating mode to intermittently heat the battery module set by using a first portion of external electric energy, so as to maintain the target sampling temperature at the preset expected heating temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited
    Inventors: Yu Liu, Jinglin Li, Qiandeng Li
  • Patent number: 11283121
    Abstract: A battery pack for a vehicle electrical system includes a casing for receiving one or more battery modules. The battery modules are insertable into a casing of the battery pack. Additionally, the battery modules may include cooling plate to cool the battery module and provide coolant to another battery module in response to a triggering event. Additionally, the battery modules may include a top cover with a frangible insulating material to further thermally insulate one battery module from another battery module and allow gasses and active material to escape the battery module in response to a triggering event. The battery pack may additionally be configured with vents for venting the gases and active material, such as those generated by a battery module in a thermal runaway event. Additionally, the battery modules may include a heat shield to direct vented gases and active material away from a cabin of a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: Zoox, Inc.
    Inventors: Moritz Boecker, Justin Michael Russell, Robert Alan Ng
  • Patent number: 11276894
    Abstract: A secondary battery includes a housing member having a bent portion defining an open end, a battery element, a lid member which extends in a cross direction crossing a housing direction of the battery element to the housing member to close the open end of the housing member and has a bottom surface facing the battery element, a top surface opposite to the bottom surface, and a side surface coupled to the bottom surface and the top surface, and a sealing member interposed between the bent portion and the lid member. The bent portion includes a specific bent portion bent along each of the side surface and the top surface of the lid member. A bending ratio R1 (=(L1/D1)×100%) is 10% or more and 13% or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kunio Sodeyama
  • Patent number: 11264682
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a pouch-shaped secondary battery including a battery case, an electrode assembly having a structure in which a positive electrode and a negative electrode are stacked in the state in which a separator is interposed therebetween, an electrode lead having an asymmetrical notch formed in a first surface of the electrode lead, the electrode lead being electrically connected to electrode tabs of the electrode assembly, the asymmetrical notch being configured to induce the rupture of the electrode lead, a lead film attached to the first surface and a second surface of the electrode lead, the lead film adhering the electrode lead to the battery case, the lead film including a first lead film located between the electrode assembly and the asymmetrical notch, and a second lead film located between the asymmetrical notch and a portion of the electrode lead that protrudes out of the battery case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Inventors: Jong Pil Park, Kyoung Ho Kim, Min Woo Lee, Sang Hun Kim, Yong Kim
  • Patent number: 11258136
    Abstract: A porous insulator is provided. The porous insulator comprises a porous structure comprising a polymer compound having communicating pores, and a solid having a melting point or glass transition temperature lower than that of the polymer compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Miku Ohkimoto, Hideo Yanagita, Keigo Takauji, Masahiro Masuzawa, Yuu Zama, Okitoshi Kimura, Hiromitsu Kawase
  • Patent number: 11247583
    Abstract: This disclosure details thermal management systems for thermally managing electrified vehicle battery packs. An exemplary battery thermal management system may monitor the availability and effectiveness of a radiator for thermally managing a battery pack. A control unit may be configured to actuate a valve from an open position to a closed position that prevents the flow of the coolant to the radiator when a coolant temperature of the coolant exceeds a modified ambient temperature. The modified ambient temperature may be derived as a function of a vehicle speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Mary Bellino, Nicholas David Moore, Joseph George, Jordan Mazaira
  • Patent number: 11217842
    Abstract: A power storage device according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes: a casing including a bottom wall and a top wall opposite to the bottom wall; a storage battery; an electrical unit; and a cooling unit. The storage battery is disposed in the casing and separated from the bottom wall. The electrical unit is disposed in the casing and located closer to the top wall than the storage battery is. A first fan is disposed between the storage battery and the electrical unit and configured to direct air from the storage battery toward the electrical unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuo Akita, Mitsuyasu Ueda, Naoki Ayai
  • Patent number: 11215667
    Abstract: An interval observer based on an equivalent circuit-thermal model for lithium-ion batteries is presented. State of charge-temperature-dependent parameters are considered as unknown but bounded uncertainties in a single cell model. A parallel and a series arrangement of five cells are used for observer design, where cell heterogeneity is accounted for through the uncertainty bounding functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignees: TOTAL S.A., University of California—Berkeley, Université Libre de Bruxelles
    Inventors: Dong Zhang, Preet Gill, Scott Moura, Luis Couto, Sebastien Benjamin, Wente Zeng
  • Patent number: 11211652
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present application provide a protective device for cell including a first conductive component and a second conductive component that are disposed oppositely and spaced apart. A switching unit disposed between the first conductive component and the second conductive component is configured to disconnect the first conductive component from the second conductive component based on a predetermined temperature of the cell. The purpose of the present application is to provide a protection device for cell to timely cut off the internal circuit of the cell when the internal temperature of the cell is high.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: NINGDE AMPEREX TECHNOLOGY LIMITED
    Inventors: Sen Lin, Peipei Guo, Ping He, Qingshan Wen
  • Patent number: 11189893
    Abstract: The present invention provides a battery module, including a plurality of battery cells, a plurality of conductive sheets, and at least one plastic protective layer, wherein each conductive sheet is connected in series or in parallel with a plurality of battery cells. The plastic protective layer is formed on the partial surface of the conductive sheet by injection molding to prevent the electrolyte leaked from the defective battery cell from contacting the conductive sheet, causing rise in temperature of the battery cell and causes melt or explosion of the battery cell, which is helpful to improve the safety of the battery module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: STL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Cooper Chang
  • Patent number: 11165091
    Abstract: A battery system includes a positive electrode having a first material arranged to undergo chemical reaction during charging and/or discharging of the battery, a negative electrode having a second material arranged to undergo chemical reaction during charging and/or discharging of the battery, a separator disposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode; and an electrolyte having a charge carrier, wherein the charge carrier is arranged to facilitate the chemical reaction of the first material during charging and/or discharging of the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: City University of Hong Kong
    Inventors: Yau Wai Denis Yu, Huimin Wang
  • Patent number: 11148655
    Abstract: A temperature control apparatus of a vehicle according to the invention stops activating a heat pump and supplies heat exchanging liquid from an engine passage to a battery passage when a warming of the battery is requested and a temperature of the heat exchanging liquid flowing out of the engine passage is equal to or lower than a permitted upper limit temperature. On the other hand, the apparatus activates the heat pump to cool the heat exchanging liquid and supplies the cooled heat exchanging liquid from the engine passage to the battery passage when the warming of the battery is requested and the temperature of the heat exchanging liquid flowing out of the engine passage is higher than the permitted upper limit temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoichi Ogura, Kunihiko Hayashi, Yuji Miyoshi, Masatoshi Yano, Yu Ofune
  • Patent number: 11144738
    Abstract: A DC energy storage module has a plurality of DC energy storage devices electrically connected in series; and a passive or active radio frequency identification tag, or near field communication device located within the energy storage module; wherein the tag or device is configured to be activated from an inactive mode to an active mode in response to an electromagnetic field generated by a transmitter within range of the tag or device; and wherein the tag or device is configured to receive a location dependent identifier from the transmitter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: SIEMENS ENERGY AS
    Inventor: Ivar Haakon Lysfjord
  • Patent number: 11139533
    Abstract: A polyolefin micro-porous film containing a polypropylene resin, in which a meltdown temperature of the polyolefin micro-porous film is 195° C. to 230° C. A weight-average molecular weight of the polypropylene resin is 500,000 to 800,000. Furthermore, a molecular weight distribution of the polypropylene resin is 7.5 to 16.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: Ube Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Toru Kidosaki, Ryo Sakimoto, Kenji Kawabata
  • Patent number: 11127996
    Abstract: A fireproof battery module including a plurality of battery cells and at least one fireproof layer. The battery cells are electrically connected to one another. The at least one fireproof layer is located between two of the plurality of battery cells that are adjacent to each other. The fireproof layer includes a heat absorbing part and a heat insulation part that are connected to each other. The heat absorbing part includes a vaporizable material and a thermal conductivity of the heat insulation part is lower than a thermal conductivity of the heat absorbing part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Sheng-Fa Yeh, Deng-Tswen Shieh, Chein-Chung Sun, Tsung Hsiung Wang, Shiow Huey Jang Suen, Shih-Ming Chen
  • Patent number: 11114702
    Abstract: In accordance with at least selected aspects, objects or embodiments, optimized, novel or improved membranes, battery separators, batteries, and/or systems and/or related methods of manufacture, use and/or optimization are provided. In accordance with at least selected embodiments, the present invention is related to novel or improved battery separators that prevent dendrite growth, prevent internal shorts due to dendrite growth, or both, batteries incorporating such separators, systems incorporating such batteries, and/or related methods of manufacture, use and/or optimization thereof. In accordance with at least certain embodiments, the present invention is related to novel or improved ultra thin or super thin membranes or battery separators, and/or lithium primary batteries, cells or packs incorporating such separators, and/or systems incorporating such batteries, cells or packs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: Celgard, LLC
    Inventors: Paul M. Halmo, Xiaomin Zhang, Paul D. Vido, Zhengming Zhang, Lie Shi, Daniel R. Alexander, Jill V. Watson
  • Patent number: 11108103
    Abstract: A thermal management system for an on-vehicle battery includes a battery, a first thermal element, a second thermal element, a battery mounting bracket, and a vehicle body structural element. The battery mounting bracket includes a first portion attached to the vehicle body structural element, and a second portion attached to the first thermal element. The first thermal element is attached to the first end portion of the battery, and the second thermal element is attached to at least one of the second end portion, the first and second side portions, the top portion or the bottom portion of the battery. The first thermal element is composed from a first phase-change material having a first phase-change temperature and the second thermal element is composed from a second phase-change material having a second phase-change temperature, wherein the first phase-change temperature is greater than the second phase-change temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Raviraj U. Nayak, Derek W. Fultz, Robert D. Drexler
  • Patent number: 11108075
    Abstract: Various arrangements of pressurized battery modules are detailed herein. Such a pressurized battery module may include a sealed battery module housing. The pressurized battery module may include multiple pouch cells. Each pouch cell may be located within the sealed battery module housing. The pressurized battery module may further include an insulative oil that is pressurized within the sealed housing. This insulative oil may exert pressure on an external surface of each pouch cell within the pressurized battery module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: TeraWatt Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Ken Ogata, Yang Yang, Hajime Hoshi, Ying Liu
  • Patent number: 11094994
    Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a battery module and a battery pack. The battery module comprises a plurality of battery cells and a fireproof member, wherein each of the plurality of battery cells is provided with a vent, and the vent faces the fireproof member; wherein the fireproof member includes a fireproof member body and a first extension connected to an upper end of the fireproof member; and/or a second extension connected to a lower end of the fireproof member. When thermal runaway occurs to the battery cells, flames and high temperature particles ejected out of the vent are blocked by the fireproof member body and the first extension and/or the second extension, thus preventing the ejected flames and high temperature particles from burning neighboring battery cells, and preventing the battery cells that has undergone thermal runaway from inducing thermal runaway of the neighboring battery cells opposite to the vents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: CONTEMPORARY AMPEREX TECHNOLOGY CO., LIMITED
    Inventors: Xingdi Chen, Kaijie You, Yu Tang, Ziyuan Li, Yuepan Hou, Jun Ma
  • Patent number: 11088418
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a battery module, including: a plurality of batteries that is stacked; an end plate disposed at an end of the plurality of batteries in a direction, along which the plurality of batteries are stacked; an electric insulation component disposed between the end plate and a battery of the plurality of batteries adjacent to the end plate, the electric insulation component comprising at least one mounting portion; and at least one heat insulation component disposed below the end plate and connected to a bottom of the end plate. Each of the at least one heat insulation component is detachably connected to a corresponding one of the at least one mounting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: CONTEMPORARY AMPEREX TECHNOLOGY CO., LIMITED
    Inventors: Sien Chen, Shoujiang Xu, Chunyan Feng
  • Patent number: 11088381
    Abstract: A cell unit CU includes a cell structure 1, a metal support plate 2 disposed on one side surface of the cell structure 1, and a frame 3 holding an outer peripheral part of the support plate 2. The cell structure 1 has a lamination of an anode electrode layer 4, an electrolyte layer 5, and a cathode electrode layer 6, in this order. The frame 3 includes a displacement guide 7 at least on one side surface of the frame 3. The displacement guide 7 has a coefficient of thermal expansion that is different from that of the frame 3 and is configured to make the frame 3 curve so that the cell structure 1 is concaved in accompany with thermal expansion. In the cell unit CU, a risk of concentration of tensile stress on the electrolyte layer 5 at the time of thermal expansion during operation is removed without reducing the strength of the frame 3, whereby occurrence of a crack and the like in the electrolyte layer 5 can be prevented beforehand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Haruhiko Shibayama, Yosuke Fukuyama
  • Patent number: 11052776
    Abstract: A vehicle charging station according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a cooling system configured to communicate a cooling airflow to a portion of a thermal management system located onboard an electrified vehicle, the cooling system including a fan and a chiller assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Erik J. Christen, Matthew Fleming, Ray C. Siciak
  • Patent number: 11024871
    Abstract: Provided is a battery module for a secondary battery. The battery module includes a busbar for a connection of electrode tabs. According to exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, in a battery module for a secondary battery, a thickness of a welded portion may be reduced while maintaining a total cross-sectional area of a busbar when electrode tabs of each of secondary batteries are connected in series or in parallel by a laser welding. Thus, the battery module may have an enhanced welding quality, and also may have an effect of being applicable to a high-capacity battery or a battery that is used for a long period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: SK INNOVATION CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ji Hoon Lim, Kwan Yong Kim, Tae Gu Lee, Jae Il Hwang
  • Patent number: 11024894
    Abstract: A method of recharging an energy storage system for a vehicle, the energy storage system operable in a charging mode and a discharging mode includes balancing a discharging mode waste power and a discharging mode removal power to independently maintain the energy storage system near a discharging design temperature during the discharging mode; receiving an off-board cooling flow into an on-board cooling architecture of the energy storage system during charging mode, wherein the on-board cooling architecture comprises a network of on-board passages proximate to at least portions of the energy storage system; and distributing the off-board cooling flow to maintain the energy storage system near a peak charging design temperature through a balance of a charging mode waste power and a charging mode removal power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Neil Terwilliger
  • Patent number: 11021070
    Abstract: A battery pack includes a plurality of stacked single battery cells, a case for housing the plurality of stacked single battery cells, and a vehicle body fastening member for fastening the case to a vehicle body frame, wherein the vehicle body fastening member is provided separately from case, is connected to at least one of two side wall parts opposing each other in a width direction of the case by a hooking structure facing an upper surface and a lower surface of the side wall part, and is provided independently at a plurality of arbitrary positions along a length direction of the case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kyosuke Miyoshi
  • Patent number: 11024923
    Abstract: The present disclosure is related to electrochemical cells and associated methods. According to certain embodiments, the electrochemical cells comprise an electronically insulating region. In some embodiments, the electronically insulating region can be mechanically compliant. In some embodiments, the insulating region may comprise multiple layers (e.g., mechanically separable layers). The use of such arrangements can, according to certain embodiments, reduce the degree to which the electronically insulating region is breached by lithium dendrite growth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: Sion Power Corporation
    Inventors: Zhaohui Liao, Chariclea Scordilis-Kelley, Tracy Earl Kelley, Clellie Winter, Michael G. Laramie
  • Patent number: 10991999
    Abstract: An energy storage system for a motor vehicle including an electric energy storage device and a housing-like carrier element for the energy storage device. A liquid heat-conducting medium is arranged in an intermediate space between the carrier element and the energy storage device by which the energy storage device is thermally coupled to the carrier element. A sealing element is provided extending between the carrier element and the energy storage device, which prevents the heat-conducting medium from flowing out from the intermediate space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Erdal Acikgoez, Mario Boehme
  • Patent number: 10991996
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a battery heat exchange system which comprises a liquid feeding mechanism, a heat exchange mechanism and a liquid draining mechanism. The liquid feeding mechanism provides a circulating liquid. The heat exchange mechanism is connected with the liquid feeding mechanism and comprises a plurality of heat exchange units and a plurality of connecting units; each heat exchange unit is used to heat or cool a corresponding battery module, and the plurality of connecting units are used to connect the heat exchange units together in series-parallel. The liquid draining mechanism is connected with the heat exchange mechanism, and the circulating liquid provided by the liquid feeding mechanism flows through the heat exchange mechanism and then is drained from the liquid draining mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: CONTEMPORARY AMPEREX TECHNOLOGY CO., LIMITED
    Inventors: Xiaoteng Huang, Yanlong Gu, Ruobo You
  • Patent number: 10966746
    Abstract: A removable component configured for insertion into an internal compartment of a surgical instrument is provided including a housing defining first and second ends, a grasping member, and a biasing member. The grasping member is operably coupled to the housing at the second end thereof and is movable relative to the housing between a presented position, wherein at least a portion of the grasping member is spaced-apart from the second end of the housing, and a stored position, wherein the grasping member is approximated relative to the second end of the housing. The biasing member is disposed between the grasping member and the second end of the housing and is configured to bias the grasping member towards the presented position. Systems including a surgical instrument and such a removable component and methods of assembling a surgical instrument using the same are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Jason L. Craig, Scott N. Lacosta, Kenneth E. Netzel, Clifford D. Owens, James R. Fagan
  • Patent number: 10950909
    Abstract: A device temperature regulator is provided with a gas passage part that guides a gaseous working fluid evaporated in a device heat exchanger to a condenser, and a liquid passage part that guides a liquid working fluid condensed in the condenser to the device heat exchanger. The device temperature regulator is provided with a supply amount regulator that increases or decreases a supply amount of the liquid working fluid supplied to the device heat exchanger. The supply amount regulator decreases the supply amount of the liquid working fluid to the device heat exchanger such that a liquid surface is formed in a state where the gaseous working fluid is positioned at a lower side lower than a heat exchanging portion exchanging heat with a temperature regulation target device in the device heat exchanger, when a condition for keeping the temperature regulation target device at a temperature is satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Koji Miura, Takashi Yamanaka, Yasumitsu Omi, Yoshiki Kato, Masayuki Takeuchi, Takeshi Yoshinori