Control, Collection and Use of Metal-Air Battery Pack Effluent
Granted: February 16, 2012
Application Number:
20120041628
A system and method for maintaining an ambient oxygen concentration below a preset concentration while charging a metal-air battery pack is provided, the system utilizing an on-board means for collecting and storing the oxygen-rich effluent generated during the charge cycle.
Battery Pack Configuration to Reduce Hazards Associated with Internal Short Circuits
Granted: February 9, 2012
Application Number:
20120034501
A battery pack, or battery pack module, is provided that is configured to respond to a short circuit of moderate current in a manner that minimizes the risk of an initial thermal runaway event propagating throughout the battery pack/battery pack module. In general, the battery pack/battery module allows pre-selection of which cell of the cells comprising the battery pack/battery pack module will be the last cell to respond to the short circuit. As a result, a thermal isolation barrier…
Battery Pack with Cell-Level Fusing
Granted: February 9, 2012
Application Number:
20120034497
A battery pack, or battery pack module, is provided that achieves improved battery pack performance, system reliability and system safety while impacting only a small region of the battery pack/battery module, and thus having only a minor impact on battery pack cost, complexity, weight and size. The battery pack/battery module is designed such that the fusible interconnects associated with a single battery, or a specific fusible interconnect associated with a single battery, will be the…
Method of Controlled Cell-Level Fusing Within a Battery Pack
Granted: February 9, 2012
Application Number:
20120030932
A method is provided that achieves improved battery pack performance, system reliability and system safety while impacting only a small region of the battery pack/battery module, and thus having only a minor impact on battery pack cost, complexity, weight and size. The battery pack/battery module is designed such that the fusible interconnects associated with a single battery, or a specific fusible interconnect associated with a single battery, will be the last interconnect(s) to fuse…
Charge State Indicator for an Electric Vehicle
Granted: February 2, 2012
Application Number:
20120025765
One embodiment of the present subject matter includes a battery mounted to a vehicle, with a charge state circuit located in the electric vehicle and coupled to the battery, the charge state circuit configured to provide a charge state signal indicative of the charge state of the battery. The embodiment includes a charging coupler port located proximate to a user accessible exterior of the electrical vehicle and coupled to the battery, the charging coupler port to conduct charging energy…
Method of Controlling System Temperature to Extend Battery Pack Life
Granted: January 26, 2012
Application Number:
20120021258
A method for actively cooling the battery pack of an electric vehicle after the vehicle has been turned off, thereby limiting the adverse effects of temperature on battery life, is provided. Different battery pack cooling techniques are provided, thus allowing the cooling technique used in a particular instance to be selected not only based on the thermal needs of the battery pack, but also on the thermal capacity and energy requirements of the selected approach.
BIDIRECTIONAL POLYPHASE MULTIMODE CONVERTER INCLUDING BOOST AND BUCK-BOOST MODES
Granted: January 26, 2012
Application Number:
20120019212
A charging method using a multiphase line voltage for charging an energy storage system (ESS) using a polyphase motor drive circuit communicated to a polyphase motor, the polyphase motor drive circuit including a plurality M of driver stages, one driver stage for each phase of the polyphase motor with each driver stage coupled across the energy storage system, the method including the steps of: (a) determining a charge mode responsive to a comparison of the multiphase line voltage to a…
LEAKAGE CURRENT REDUCTION IN COMBINED MOTOR DRIVE AND ENERGY STORAGE RECHARGE SYSTEM
Granted: January 26, 2012
Application Number:
20120019194
A charging method using an alternating current (AC) line voltage for conductive charging of an energy storage system (ESS) coupled to a polyphase motor drive circuit communicated to a polyphase motor, the polyphase motor drive circuit including a plurality M of driver stages, one driver stage for each phase of the polyphase motor with each driver stage coupled across the energy storage system, the method including the steps of: (a) coupling a first connector providing the line voltage to…
Method and Apparatus for Electrically Cycling a Battery Cell to Simulate an Internal Short
Granted: January 19, 2012
Application Number:
20120013341
A test apparatus and corresponding method for simulating an internal cell short and initiating thermal runaway in a battery cell is disclosed whereby the cell is internally heated through rapid charge and discharge cycles at high currents. The magnitude of the selected current may be modulated to simulate a cell short with the desired power profile without unrealistically heating neighboring cells or interfering with the thermal environment of the cell within the module.
Rotor Temperature Estimation and Motor Control Torque Limiting for Vector-Controlled AC Induction Motors
Granted: January 12, 2012
Application Number:
20120007532
A system and method including a runtime thermal model that estimates individual component temperatures, permitting the system to only limit power when necessary or desirable. A power-limiting system for a vector-controlled AC induction motor includes a torque command system for generating a torque command; a thermal protection system determining a runtime estimate for a temperature of a component of a rotational electro-magnetic component of the vector-controlled AC induction motor; and…
Thermal Management System with Dual Mode Coolant Loops
Granted: December 8, 2011
Application Number:
20110296855
A dual mode, thermal management system for use in a vehicle is provided. At a minimum, the system includes a first coolant loop in thermal communication with a battery system, a second coolant loop in thermal communication with at least one drive train component (e.g., electric motor, power electronics, inverter), and a dual mode valve system that provides means for selecting between a first mode where the two coolant loops operate in parallel, and a second mode where the two coolant…
METHODOLOGY FOR CHARGING BATTERIES SAFELY
Granted: December 8, 2011
Application Number:
20110298417
An apparatus and method for identifying a presence of a short circuit in a battery pack. A fault-detection apparatus for a charging system that rapidly charges a collection of interconnected lithium ion battery cells, the safety system includes a data-acquisition system for receiving a set of data parameters from the collection while the charging system is actively charging the collection; a monitoring system evaluating the set of data parameters to identify a set of anomalous…
Method of Operating a Recharging System Utilizing a Voltage Dividing Heater
Granted: November 3, 2011
Application Number:
20110267004
A method of charging a rechargeable battery pack installed in an electric vehicle is provided in which the charging system includes a switching circuit that is operable in at least a first mode and a second mode. In the first mode the switching circuit couples the power supply and an external power source to both a heater and the charging circuit, the heater providing a voltage divider circuit within the charging circuit. In the second mode the switching circuit couples the power supply…
Battery Cell with Center Pin Comprised of an Intumescent Material
Granted: October 27, 2011
Application Number:
20110262783
A center pin for a battery cell that is designed to improve the thermal behavior of a cell during a thermal runaway event is provided in which the center pin is comprised, at least in part, of an intumescent material. The intumescent material may be used to fill a void within the center pin, or to cover an outer surface of the center pin. When the intumescent material covers the center pin, a secondary non-intumescent material may surround the intumescent material, for example in the…
TRICKLE CHARGER FOR HIGH-ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEMS
Granted: October 20, 2011
Application Number:
20110254512
A voltage converter for charging an energy storage module from an alternating current line voltage, includes a first charging stage, coupled to the energy storage module, converting the line voltage to a first rectified direct current module charging voltage communicated to the energy storage module, the first rectified direct current module charging voltage greater than the line voltage, the first charging stage including an inductance for communicating a first charging current to the…
SELECTIVE CURE OF ADHESIVE IN MODULAR ASSEMBLIES
Granted: September 8, 2011
Application Number:
20110214808
Methods and systems for decreasing costs (expense, mass, and/or cure time) associated with use of adhesives when assembling modularized components, particularly for assemblies having many elements such as for example battery modules used in electric vehicles. The methods and systems enable use of high-wettability adhesives (defined generally in this application as low viscosity and/or low surface tension adhesives) for assembling such modularized components. A first method including (a)…
Extruded and Ribbed Thermal Interface for use with a Battery Cooling System
Granted: September 1, 2011
Application Number:
20110212356
A cooling manifold assembly for use in a battery pack thermal management system is provided. The cooling manifold assembly includes a coolant tube that is interposed between at least a first row of cells and a second row of cells, where the first and second rows of cells are adjacent and preferably offset from one another. A thermal interface layer is attached to the cooling tube, the thermal interface layer including a plurality of pliable fingers that extend away from the cooling tube…
Overmolded Thermal Interface for use with a Battery Cooling System
Granted: August 25, 2011
Application Number:
20110206969
A cooling manifold assembly for use in a battery pack thermal management system is provided. The cooling manifold assembly includes a coolant tube that is interposed between at least a first row of cells and a second row of cells, where the first and second rows of cells are adjacent and preferably offset from one another. A thermal interface layer is overmolded onto the cooling tube, the thermal interface layer including a plurality of pliable fingers that extend away from the cooling…
Dual Layer Winding Pattern and Methods of Manufacturing Same
Granted: August 18, 2011
Application Number:
20110198960
A dual-winding layer arrangement for a three-phase, four pole motor is provided as well as a method of manufacturing the same.
Manufacturing Methods for a Triple Layer Winding Pattern
Granted: August 18, 2011
Application Number:
20110197431
A method of manufacturing a triple-winding layer arrangement for a three-phase, four pole motor is provided.
