公开(公告)号：US12104258B2

公开(公告)日：2024-10-01

申请号：US17179547

申请日：2021-02-19

Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC

Inventor： Michael P. Balogh ,  Jin Liu ,  Ryan C. Sekol ,  Shaomao Xu ,  Erik D. Huemiller

IPC: B22D11/06 ,  C23C6/00 ,  H01M4/04 ,  H01M4/38 ,  H01M4/66 ,  H01M10/0525 ,  H01M10/44 ,  H01M4/1395

CPC classification number: C23C6/00 ,  H01M4/0404 ,  H01M4/0435 ,  H01M4/0485 ,  H01M4/382 ,  H01M4/667 ,  H01M10/0525 ,  H01M10/44 ,  H01M4/1395 ,  H01M2220/20

Abstract: Presented are lithium-metal electrodes for electrochemical devices, systems and methods for manufacturing lithium-metal foils, and vehicle battery packs containing battery cells with lithium-metal anodes. A method of melt spinning lithium-metal foils includes melting lithium (Li) metal stock in an actively heated vessel to form molten Li metal. Using pressurized gas, the molten Li metal is ejected through a slotted nozzle at the base of the vessel. The ejected molten Li metal is directly impinged onto an actively cooled and spinning quench wheel or a carrier sheet that is fed across a support roller underneath the vessel. The molten Li metal is cooled and solidified on the spinning wheel/carrier sheet to form a Li-metal foil. The carrier sheet may be a polymeric carrier film or a copper current collector foil. An optional protective film may be applied onto an exposed surface of the Li-metal foil opposite the carrier sheet.

公开(公告)号：US20220404186A1

公开(公告)日：2022-12-22

申请号：US17350644

申请日：2021-06-17

Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLC

Inventor： Dmitriy Bruder ,  James R. Salvador ,  Raffaello Ardanese ,  Ryan C. Sekol ,  Thomas A. Yersak ,  Sean Robert Wagner ,  Ronald M. Lesperance

IPC: G01F22/00 ,  G01B3/38 ,  G01B7/16 ,  G01B11/02 ,  G01F23/00 ,  G01N30/02 ,  G01B5/06 ,  G01N33/00 ,  G06T7/62 ,  G06K7/10 ,  H01M10/42 ,  H01M50/609 ,  H01M10/058 ,  H01M4/04 ,  H01M4/139 ,  H01M4/62

Abstract: A quality control system analyzes the quality of a battery cell, with the battery cell defining a gas pouch configured to expand from a deflated configuration to an inflated configuration when filled with a gas formed during a cell formation process. The system comprises a computational system comprising a processor and a memory and a measurement instrument in electronic communication with the computational system. The measurement instrument is arranged to measure a distance defined by the gas pouch and transmit a signal to the computational system corresponding to the distance. The computational system is arranged to analyze the distance with the processor and determine a volumetric measurement of the gas within the gas pouch and compare the volumetric measurement to a threshold in the memory to assess a quality score for the battery cell. A corresponding method analyzes the quality of the battery cell with the quality control system.

公开(公告)号：US20220271268A1

公开(公告)日：2022-08-25

申请号：US17179543

申请日：2021-02-19

Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC

Inventor： Jin Liu ,  Jiazhi Hu ,  Raffaello Ardanese ,  Ryan C. Sekol ,  Lei Wang ,  Michael P. Balogh

IPC: H01M4/04 ,  H01M10/0565 ,  H01M10/0569 ,  H01M10/0568

Abstract: A method for fabricating an anode for a lithium ion battery cell is described and includes forming a solid electrolyte interface (SEI) layer on a raw anode prior to assembly into a battery cell by applying a first SEI-generating electrolyte to the raw anode to form a first intermediate anode, applying a second SEI-generating electrolyte to the first intermediate anode to form a second intermediate anode, and applying a third SEI-generating electrolyte to the second intermediate anode to form a cell anode, wherein the cell anode includes the raw anode having the SEI layer. Thus, a cell anode is formed by sequentially applying SEI-generating electrolytes to a raw anode to form the cell anode with an SEI layer, and a lithium ion battery cell is formed by assembling the cell anode into a cell pack, with a cathode, and a separator, and adding a cell electrolyte prior to sealing.

公开(公告)号：US20220267886A1

公开(公告)日：2022-08-25

申请号：US17179547

申请日：2021-02-19

Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC

Inventor： Michael P. Balogh ,  Jin Liu ,  Ryan C. Sekol ,  Shaomao Xu ,  Erik D. Huemiller

IPC: C23C6/00 ,  H01M10/0525 ,  H01M10/44 ,  H01M4/38 ,  H01M4/66 ,  H01M4/04

Abstract: Presented are lithium-metal electrodes for electrochemical devices, systems and methods for manufacturing lithium-metal foils, and vehicle battery packs containing battery cells with lithium-metal anodes. A method of melt spinning lithium-metal foils includes melting lithium (Li) metal stock in an actively heated vessel to form molten Li metal. Using pressurized gas, the molten Li metal is ejected through a slotted nozzle at the base of the vessel. The ejected molten Li metal is directly impinged onto an actively cooled and spinning quench wheel or a carrier sheet that is fed across a support roller underneath the vessel. The molten Li metal is cooled and solidified on the spinning wheel/carrier sheet to form a Li-metal foil. The carrier sheet may be a polymeric carrier film or a copper current collector foil. An optional protective film may be applied onto an exposed surface of the Li-metal foil opposite the carrier sheet.

公开(公告)号：US11278990B2

公开(公告)日：2022-03-22

申请号：US16525738

申请日：2019-07-30

Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC

Inventor： Megan E. McGovern ,  Teresa J. Rinker ,  Ryan C. Sekol ,  Sean R. Wagner ,  Ronald M. Lesperance ,  James G. Schroth ,  Michael J. Bland ,  Diana M. Wegner

IPC: G01N21/71 ,  B23K31/12 ,  G01N21/17

Abstract: A computer software product adapted for use in a weld inspection system is executed by a processor and is stored in an electronic storage medium of the weld inspection system adapted to facilitate the inspection of a weld of a work product. The computer software product includes a first module and a combination module. The first module is configured to transform first and second raw thermal images, associated with respective first and second heat pulses of at least a portion of the work product having the weld, into respective first and second binary images. The combination module is configured to transform the first and second binary images into a combined binary image for the reduction of noise.

公开(公告)号：US20240399603A1

公开(公告)日：2024-12-05

申请号：US18327357

申请日：2023-06-01

Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC

Inventor： William Osad ,  Ryan C. Sekol ,  Nicholas P. Irish ,  Michael P. Balogh ,  Erik B. Golm

IPC: B26D7/02 ,  B26D1/00 ,  B26D1/02 ,  H01M10/42

Abstract: A system for disassembling a energy cell having a case includes a energy cell securement device arranged on a moveable table; and a cutting tool. The energy cell securement device is configured to fixedly secure the energy cell with a portion of the case exposed proximal to the cutting tool. The moveable table is configured to convey the energy cell securement device such that the cutting tool cleaves the portion of the case of the energy cell.

公开(公告)号：US20210037196A1

公开(公告)日：2021-02-04

申请号：US16525731

申请日：2019-07-30

Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC

Inventor： Megan E. McGovern ,  Teresa J. Rinker ,  Sean R. Wagner ,  Ryan C. Sekol ,  James G. Schroth ,  Michael J. Bland

IPC: H04N5/33 ,  G01N21/3563 ,  G01N21/95

Abstract: A weld inspection system is adapted to inspect a weld of a work product via thermographic technology. The weld inspection system includes a heat source assembly, a thermal imaging camera, and a controller. The heat source assembly is adapted to sequentially direct a plurality of heat pulses upon the work product from varying perspectives and within a pre-determined time period. Thea thermal imaging camera is configured to thermally image the weld over the pre-determined time period and collect thermal imaging data of heat dissipation from the work product. The thermal imaging data is associated with the weld and the plurality of heat pulses. The controller is configured to control the heat source assembly and the thermal imaging camera. The controller includes a processor configured to receive and transform the thermal imaging data into a binary image for evaluation of the weld.

公开(公告)号：US20190296316A1

公开(公告)日：2019-09-26

申请号：US15935779

申请日：2018-03-26

Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLC

Inventor： Hongliang Wang ,  Sean R. Wagner ,  Ryan C. Sekol ,  James G. Schroth

IPC: H01M2/26 ,  H01M2/20 ,  B32B15/01 ,  B23K11/00 ,  B23K11/11 ,  B23K11/36

Abstract: A stack assembly having a battery tab with a localized weld and method of making the same is disclosed. The assembly is made by a process including the steps of arranging a plurality of battery tabs into a stack assembly; providing a resistive coating on at least one of the interior surfaces and the exterior surfaces of the battery tabs; and resistive heating the stack assembly. The resistive coating is a nickel-phosphorous (Ni—P) alloy containing 5 to 7 weight percent phosphorus. Resistive heating includes reacting the Ni—P alloy with an electric current to generate concentrated heat localized between adjacent battery tabs such that the Ni—P alloy undergoes solid-state bonding with the Cu in the first batter tab.

公开(公告)号：US10305153B2

公开(公告)日：2019-05-28

申请号：US15017092

申请日：2016-02-05

Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLC

Inventor： Teresa J. Rinker ,  Debejyo Chakraborty ,  Ryan C. Sekol ,  Jeffrey A. Abell

IPC: H01M10/6556 ,  H01M10/625 ,  B60L11/18 ,  H01M10/633 ,  H01M10/6567 ,  H01M10/6553 ,  H01M10/6554

Abstract: A vehicle-battery system including a battery cell and a micro heat exchanger. The micro heat exchanger includes at least one fluid tube positioned in direct contact with the battery cell. The fluid tube comprises a heat-transfer tube section positioned between a fluid tube entrance and exit and in direct contact with the battery cell. The fluid tube is configured to receive a heat-transfer fluid, such a nanofluid, and channel the heat-transfer fluid through the heat-transfer tube section, to the fluid tube exit. The heat-transfer fluid is configured to cool or heat the battery cell when, in operation of the vehicle-battery system, the heat-transfer fluid is channeled through the heat-transfer tube section. The technology in various embodiments also includes a fluid modification device and a computerized controller for controlling the fluid modification device or other operations of the system such as pumping of the heat-transfer fluid.

公开(公告)号：US20190064277A1

公开(公告)日：2019-02-28

申请号：US15692766

申请日：2017-08-31

Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC

Inventor： Wayne Cai ,  Debejyo Chakraborty ,  Teresa J. Rinker ,  Megan E. McGovern ,  Ryan C. Sekol ,  Diana M. Wegner ,  Kevin B. Rober

IPC: G01R31/36 ,  H01M10/42 ,  H01M10/48 ,  H01M2/02

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for evaluating a battery cell. The battery cell may include a hermetically sealed outer casing, a plurality of electrically conductive components enclosed within the outer casing, an electrically conductive terminal having a proximal end that extends within the outer casing and a distal end that extends in a longitudinal direction relative to the battery cell outside the outer casing, and a solid electrical and mechanical joint formed between one or more of the electrically conductive components and the proximal end of the electrically conductive terminal. Evaluation of the battery cell may include measuring the impedance of the battery cell while applying a longitudinal pulling force or a transverse bending force to the electrically conductive terminal and the solid electrical and mechanical joint.