Philip Morris USA Inc.

Boston-power, Inc.

Chrysalis Technologies Incorporated

Tiax LLC

Philip Morris Products S.a.

Jan-Roger Linna

John Paul Mello

Mimmo Elia

Peter Palmer

Per Onnerud

Phillip E Partin

Roberto O Pellizzari

Richard V Chamberlain, Ii

Stuart Bennett Sprague

Peter J Loftus

John Baron

Raymond G Kairawicz

Francis M Sprinkel

Yanning Song

Rajiv Gupta

Niranjan Maharajh

David Keeler

Eckart Jansen

Robert Owen Bowyer

Chad Souza

Gene Garland Faison, Jr

Chad Smutzer

Richard Stobart

Bernard J Challen

Josh Breinlinger

John Warner

Peter Loftus

Mimo Elia

A modular current interrupt device includes an electrically-conductive rupture disc, an electrically-conductive pressure disc attached to the rupture disc to form an electrical pathway. An electrically-insulating ring partitions a perimeter of the rupture disc from a perimeter of the pressure disc, and a seating element secures the electrically-insulated ring to the pressure disc. At least one of the rupture disc and electrically-insulating ring defines a conduit, whereby exposure of one side of the pressure disc to sufficient force through the conduit causes the pressure disc to separate from the rupture disc to thereby sever the electrical pathway. A low pressure current interrupt device (CID) activates at a minimal threshold internal gauge pressure in a range of, for example, between about 4 kg/cmand about 9 kg/cm. Preferably, the CID includes a pressure disc that includes a frustum having a first end and a second end, a base extending radially from a perimeter of the first end of the frustum, and an essentially planar cap sealing the second end of the frustum. The first end has a broader diameter than the second end, with a cross-section of at least one of the first and second end being non-circular.

Modular CID assembly for a lithium ion battery

A battery includes a cell casing that has recessed portion on a major surface of the casing, the recessed portion being substantially planar and bordering a remainder of the major surface at a ridge portion on each of one or two sides of the recessed portion, whereby the recessed portion, the ridge portions, and the remainder of the major surface cooperate under an increase of gauge pressure to cause a plane defined by a boundary between the ridge portions and the remainder of the major surface to move.

Prismatic storage battery or cell with flexible recessed portion

A low pressure current interrupt device (CID) activates at a minimal threshold internal gauge pressure. Preferably, the CID includes a first conductive plate and a second conductive plate in electrical communication with the first conductive plate, the electrical communication between the first and the second conductive plates being interrupted at the minimal threshold internal gauge pressure. The first conductive plate can include a frustum having a first end and a second end, a base extending radially from a perimeter of the first end of the frustum, and an essentially planar cap sealing the second end of the frustum. The first end has a broader diameter than the second end, and the second conductive plate is in electrical contact with the essentially planar cap through a weld.

CID retention device for Li-ion cell

The methods in this disclosure allow for the identification, selection, and arrangement of cells, blocks, and modules in large scale battery systems, such as electric vehicle battery systems. An example embodiment of the present invention allows for the identification of the cells, blocks, and modules with a unique identifier or associated parameter (e.g., internal resistance contributions or capacity). Additionally, to form a block, cells may be selected from a group of capacity-range sorting bins. Based on a parameter of the cell, a pseudo-number generator may be also be used to select cells from an available inventory of cells as maintained in a cell database based. Cells may also be placed in a block for uniform effective cell impedance and even cell aging while minimizing overall block capacity degradation caused by cycling. Block capacities may also be computed based on a known average temperature gradient during operation.

Large scale battery systems and method of assembly

A low pressure current interrupt device (CID) activates at a minimal threshold internal gauge pressure in a range of, for example, between about 4 kg/cmand about 9 kg/cm. Preferably, the CID includes a first conductive plate and a second conductive plate in electrical communication with the first conductive plate, the electrical communication between the first and the second conductive plates being interrupted at the minimal threshold internal gauge pressure. More preferably, the first conductive plate includes a frustum having a first end and a second end, a base extending radially from a perimeter of the first end of the frustum, and an essentially planar cap sealing the second end of the frustum. The first end has a broader diameter than the second end. More preferably, the second conductive plate is in electrical contact with the essentially planar cap through a weld. A battery, preferably a lithium-ion battery, comprises a CID as described above. A method of manufacturing such a CID comprises forming first and second conductive plates as described above, and welding the second conductive plate onto the first conductive plate while a temperature of the first conductive plate is controlled so as not to exceed the melting point of a surface of the first conductive plate opposite the weld.

A reducing agent metering system for delivering reducing agent to a lean burn internal combustion engine. The reducing agent metering system includes a metering system housing, a system for metering vaporized reducing agent to the internal combustion engine, the system positioned within the metering system housing and a system for delivering an atomized stream of liquid reducing agent to the lean burn internal combustion engine, the system positioned within the metering system housing, wherein the reducing agent metering system is operable to transition from metering vaporized reducing agent to delivering an atomized stream of liquid reducing agent to the lean burn internal combustion engine.

[object Object]

There is provided a fuel injector system for vaporizing liquid fuel and metering the vapor to an internal combustion engine of an automobile. The system has at least one fuel injector with at least one capillary flow passage with a heat source arranged along the flow passage capable of heating liquid fuel in the flow passage to a level sufficient to vaporize it, a solenoid operated metering valve located at the capillary outlet for metering vaporized fuel to the internal combustion engine, and a system for operating the metering valve while delivering the vaporized fuel at an opening and closing frequency of at least 15 Hz or more preferably at least 60 Hz independent of engine rpm. The system is expected to be useful for starting a cold engine with reduced emissions.

High frequency vaporized fuel injector

A fuel injector for vaporizing a liquid fuel for use in an internal combustion engine. The fuel injector includes a plurality of capillary flow passages, each of the plurality of capillary flow passages having an inlet end and an outlet end; a heat source arranged along each of the plurality of capillary flow passages, the heat source operable to heat the liquid fuel in each of the plurality of capillary flow passages to a level sufficient to change at least a portion thereof from the liquid state to a vapor state and deliver a stream of substantially vaporized fuel from each outlet end of the plurality of capillary flow passages; and a valve for metering substantially vaporized fuel to the internal combustion engine, the valve located proximate to each outlet end of the plurality of capillary flow passages. The fuel injector is effective in reducing cold-start and warm-up emissions of an internal combustion engine.

Multiple capillary fuel injector for an internal combustion engine

A fuel injector for delivering fuel to an internal combustion engine. The fuel injector includes a fuel injector housing, a system for metering vaporized fuel to the internal combustion engine, the system positioned within the fuel injector housing, and a system for delivering an atomized stream of liquid fuel to an internal combustion engine, the system positioned within the fuel injector housing, wherein the fuel injector is operable to transition from metering vaporized fuel to delivering an atomized stream of liquid fuel to an internal combustion engine. The system for metering vaporized fuel includes at least one capillary flow passage, the at least one capillary flow passage having an inlet end and an outlet end; a heat source arranged along the at least one capillary flow passage, the heat source operable to heat the liquid fuel in the at least one capillary flow passage to a level sufficient to change from the liquid state to a vapor state and deliver a stream of vaporized fuel from the outlet end of the at least one capillary flow passage. The system for metering vaporized fuel further includes a valve for metering vaporized fuel located downstream to the outlet end of the at least one capillary flow passage. The fuel injector is effective in reducing cold-start and warm-up emissions of an internal combustion engine.

A fuel system for use in an internal combustion engine includes a plurality of fuel injectors, each injector including at least one capillary flow passage, the at least one capillary flow passage having an inlet end and an outlet end, a heat source arranged along the at least one capillary flow passage, the heat source operable to heat a liquid fuel in the at least one capillary flow passage to a level sufficient to convert at least a portion thereof from the liquid state to a vapor state, and a valve for metering fuel to the internal combustion engine, a controller to control the power supplied to the heat source of each of the plurality of fuel injectors to achieve a predetermined target temperature, a sensor for use in determining engine air flow and a sensor for measuring a value indicative of degree of engine warm-up of the internal combustion engine.

Fuel system for an internal combustion engine and method for controlling same

A method for controlling a fuel system of an internal combustion engine. The method is employed with a fuel system having a source of alcohol-containing liquid fuel, at least one fuel injector, a heat source for heating the liquid fuel in the at least one fuel injector, the heat source capable of heating the liquid fuel to a level sufficient to convert at least a portion thereof from the liquid state to a vapor state and a metering valve operable to achieve a range of flow rates characterized by a valve open versus valve closed duty cycle. The method includes the steps of metering a predetermined amount of fuel based on engine operating conditions, controlling power supplied to the heat source of the at least one fuel injector to achieve a target temperature, determining alcohol concentration of the fuel and adjusting the power supplied to the heat source of the at least one fuel injector based on the alcohol concentration determination. A method of determining alcohol concentration and a fuel system for use in an alcohol fueled internal combustion engine is also provided.

Control method and apparatus for use in an alcohol fueled internal combustion engine

A fuel injector for vaporizing a liquid fuel for use in an internal combustion engine. The fuel injector includes at least one capillary flow passage, a heat source arranged along the at least one capillary flow passage, the heat source operable to heat the liquid fuel in the at least one capillary flow passage to a level sufficient to change at least a portion thereof from the liquid state to a vapor state and deliver a stream of substantially vaporized fuel from the outlet end of the at least one capillary flow passage; and a valve for metering fuel to the internal combustion engine, the valve located proximate to the outlet end of the at least one capillary flow passage, the valve including a low mass member for substantially occluding the stream of fuel to the internal combustion engine; wherein the low mass member for substantially occluding the stream of fuel to the internal combustion engine is formed of a material having low mass and or a low coefficient of thermal conductivity. The fuel injector is effective in reducing cold-start and warm-up emissions of an internal combustion engine.

Capillary fuel injector with metering valve for an internal combustion engine

A fuel injector for vaporizing a liquid fuel for use in an internal combustion engine. The fuel injector includes at least one capillary flow passage, the at least one capillary flow passage having an inlet end and an outlet end, a fluid control valve for placing the inlet end of the at least one capillary flow passage in fluid communication with the liquid fuel source and introducing the liquid fuel in a substantially liquid state, a heat source arranged along the at least one capillary flow passage, the heat source operable to heat the liquid fuel in the at least one capillary flow passage to a level sufficient to change at least a portion thereof from the liquid state to a vapor state and deliver a stream of substantially vaporized fuel from the outlet end of the at least one capillary flow passage and means for cleaning deposits formed during operation of the apparatus. The fuel injector is effective in reducing cold-start and warm-up emissions of an internal combustion engine. Efficient combustion is promoted by forming an aerosol of fine droplet size when the substantially vaporized fuel condenses in air.

Growing community of inventors

Boston, MA, United States of America

Jan-Roger Linna