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公开(公告)号：US11710879B2
公开(公告)日：2023-07-25
申请号：US17228868
申请日：2021-04-13
Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
Inventor： Chih-chang Chen , Teresa J. Rinker , Hongliang Wang , Eric G. Hartnagle
IPC: B23K20/00 , H01M50/536 , B23K20/10 , B23K26/70 , B23K26/24 , B23K101/36
CPC classification number: H01M50/536 , B23K20/10 , B23K26/24 , B23K26/702 , B23K2101/36
Abstract: A method and associated device for joining a battery cell tab to a plurality of foils associated with a plurality of electrodes of a battery cell are described. This includes arranging the plurality of foils in a stack, and joining, via a first joining device, the plurality of foils, wherein the first joining device defines a joining region. A portion of the battery cell tab is arranged on the plurality of foils, and joined, via a second joining device, to the plurality of foils. The second joining device generates a weld joint that is encompassed within the joining region defined by the first joining device. In doing so, weld quality and strength of internal welds in a battery cell may be improved by reducing the occurrence of porosities and cracks in the foil/tab weld joints.
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公开(公告)号：US20220131126A1
公开(公告)日：2022-04-28
申请号：US17082618
申请日：2020-10-28
Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
Inventor： Xingcheng Xiao , Hongliang Wang , Meinan He
Abstract: Presented are electrochemical devices with copper-free electrodes, methods for making/using such devices, and lithium alloy-based electrode tabs and current collectors for rechargeable lithium-class battery cells. A method of manufacturing copper-free electrodes includes feeding an aluminum workpiece, such as a strip of aluminum sheet metal, into a masking device. The masking device then applies a series of dielectric masks, such as strips of epoxy resin or dielectric tape, onto discrete areas of the workpiece to form a masked aluminum workpiece with masked areas interleaved with unmasked areas. The masked workpiece is then fed into an electrolytic anodizing solution, such as sulfuric acid, to form an anodized aluminum workpiece with anodized surface sections on the unmasked areas interleaved with un-anodized surface sections underneath the dielectric masks of the masked areas. The dielectric masks are removed to reveal the un-anodized surface sections, and the anodized aluminum workpiece is segmented into multiple copper-free electrodes.
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公开(公告)号：US11031586B2
公开(公告)日：2021-06-08
申请号：US16221874
申请日：2018-12-17
Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
Inventor： Shuru Chen , Hongliang Wang , Fang Dai , Meinan He , Mei Cai
IPC: H01M4/1393 , H01M4/1397 , H01M4/136 , H01M4/62 , H01M4/133 , H01M4/02
Abstract: Methods for manufacturing sulfur electrodes include providing an electrode, wherein the electrode includes a current collector having a first surface, and a sulfur-based host material applied to the first surface of the current collector, wherein the sulfur-based host material comprises one or more sulfur compounds, one or more electrically conductive carbon materials, and one or more binders. The methods further include forming a plurality of channels within the sulfur-based host material using a laser or electron beam, wherein the plurality of channels define a plurality of host material columns, each column having one or more exterior surfaces contiguous which one or more of the channels which extend outward from the first surface of the current collector. Each of the one or more exterior surfaces can define a heat affected zone comprising a higher concentration of sulfur than the host material column prior to forming the plurality of channels.
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公开(公告)号：US10576565B2
公开(公告)日：2020-03-03
申请号：US15273923
申请日：2016-09-23
Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
Inventor： James G. Schroth , Thomas A. Perry , Hongliang Wang , Chen Zhou
IPC: B23K26/211 , B23K1/00 , B23K1/18 , B23K1/005 , B23K101/32 , B23K103/12
Abstract: A method of forming a weld interface between a first workpiece and a second workpiece includes arranging a reactive braze material at a first joining surface of the first workpiece. The reactive material is selected to react upon being heated to a temperature below the solidus temperature of the first and second workpieces to form a liquid-containing reaction product. Furthermore, an assembly is prepared of the first workpiece and the second workpiece with the first joining surface of the first workpiece and a second joining surface of the second workpiece separated by the reactive material. The second workpiece is then heated with a first laser beam following a first path and with a second laser beam following a second path.
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公开(公告)号：US20190036429A1
公开(公告)日：2019-01-31
申请号：US15659003
申请日：2017-07-25
Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
Inventor： Hongliang Wang , Chen Zhou , Xingcheng Xiao
IPC: H02K15/02 , B23K26/00 , B23K26/352 , C23C4/12
Abstract: Methods of manufacturing electrically conductive copper components for electric devices and method of joining electrically conductive copper components are provided. Each of the electrically conductive copper components are manufactured to include a preexisting coating of joining material located on or adjacent to a joining surface thereof.
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公开(公告)号：US20180287139A1
公开(公告)日：2018-10-04
申请号：US15475737
申请日：2017-03-31
Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
Inventor： Xingcheng Xiao , Hongliang Wang , Qinglin Zhang , Mark W. Verbrugge
IPC: H01M4/1395 , H01M4/134 , H01M10/0525 , H01M4/38 , H01M4/04 , B23K26/362
Abstract: A high performance electrode for an electrochemical cell including electroactive materials having a large charge capacity and that undergo substantial volumetric expansion and contraction during cycling of the electrochemical cell and a method for making the high performance electrode are provided. The electroactive material of the high performance electrode may have a thickness greater than or equal to about 1 μm. Methods of forming the high performance electrodes includes patterning the electroactive material to form a plurality of void spaces using a high-speed process selected from the group consisting of: laser ablation, electron beam machining, ion beam milling, roll forming, embossing, lithography, and combinations thereof. The plurality of void spaces accommodates the volumetric expansion and contraction to minimize cracking and damage to the electrode during cycling of the electrochemical cell.
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公开(公告)号：US11618103B2
公开(公告)日：2023-04-04
申请号：US17085162
申请日：2020-10-30
Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
Inventor： Teresa J. Rinker , Hongliang Wang , Chih-Chang Chen , Erik B. Golm
IPC: B23K26/244 , B23K26/70 , B23K101/36
Abstract: A method and fixture for welding a battery foil-tab assembly is disclosed. The fixture includes a first clamp member having a first clamping surface defining an opening extending into the first clamp member and a second clamp member having a protrusion surrounding a weld slot. The opening of the first clamp member is configured to receive a portion of the protrusion with the battery foil-tab assembly disposed therebetween. The second clamp member is moveable toward the first clamp member to align the weld slot of the second clamp member with the opening of the first clamp member, thereby causing the protrusion to cooperate with the opening of the first clamp to deflect a portion of the battery foil-tab assembly out of a plane parallel with the battery foil-tab assembly. A laser beam is directed at the out of plane portion to laser weld the battery foil-tab assembly.
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公开(公告)号：US20210031297A1
公开(公告)日：2021-02-04
申请号：US16529313
申请日：2019-08-01
Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
Inventor： Hongliang Wang , John S. Agapiou , John D. Campbell , Hui-Ping Wang
Abstract: A system and method for inspecting and laser welding a workpiece at an area of interest on the workpiece includes a first camera configured to view the area of interest along a first line of sight, a second camera configured to view the area of interest along a second line of sight different from the first line of sight, a laser welding scan head configured to laser weld the workpiece at the area of interest, and a control system configured to receive input from each of the first and second cameras, determine one or more alignment measurements based on the received input, and select a weld schedule from a plurality of weld schedules based on the one or more alignment measurements.
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公开(公告)号：US20200020907A1
公开(公告)日：2020-01-16
申请号：US16033891
申请日：2018-07-12
Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
Inventor： Hongliang Wang , Brian J. Koch , Michael P. Balogh , Sean R. Wagner
IPC: H01M2/14 , H01M2/16 , H01M10/0525 , B23K26/38
Abstract: A method of forming a separator for a lithium-ion battery includes arranging a polymer film in contact with a sacrificial layer to form a cutting stack. The method includes disposing the cutting stack between a first vitreous substrate and a second vitreous substrate. The method includes applying an infrared laser to the cutting stack through the first vitreous substrate to generate heat at the sacrificial layer. The method also includes transferring heat from the sacrificial layer to the polymer film to thereby cut out a portion of the polymer film and form the separator. A method of cutting a polymer film and a cutting system are also explained.
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公开(公告)号：US10532420B2
公开(公告)日：2020-01-14
申请号：US15702255
申请日：2017-09-12
Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
Inventor： James G. Schroth , Thomas A. Perry , Hongliang Wang
Abstract: A method of joining together adjacent overlapping copper workpieces by way of resistance spot welding involves providing a workpiece stack-up that includes a first copper workpiece and a second copper workpiece that lies adjacent to the first copper workpiece. The faying surface of the first copper workpiece includes a projection that ascends beyond a surrounding base surface of the faying surface and makes contact, either directly or indirectly, with an opposed faying surface of the second copper workpiece. Once provided, a compressive force is applied against the first and second copper workpieces and an electric current is passed momentarily through the first and second copper workpieces. The electric current initially flows through the projection to generate and concentrate heat within the projection prior to the projection collapsing. This concentrated heat surge allows a metallurgical joint to be established between the first and second copper workpieces.
