Patents by Inventor Kanae Ohkuma

Kanae Ohkuma has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11881590
    Abstract: Battery cases are formed such that a small second battery case is disposed on an upper front part of a large first battery case, the second battery case is disposed below a front part of a seat cushion of a rear seat, a recess portion extending in a fore-and-aft direction and having at least part of an exhaust passage member passing therethrough is formed in a lower face of a middle part in a vehicle width direction of the first battery case, battery modules housed in the first battery case are disposed on left and right sides of the recess portion, and a battery module housed in the second battery case is disposed so that a longitudinal direction thereof follows the vehicle width direction. Therefore, it is possible to ensure the headroom for a rear seat by disposing the rear seat at as low a position as possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kanae Ohkuma, Ryo Kitano, Ryo Fujii
  • Patent number: 11710873
    Abstract: A battery pack which is placed below a floor panel of a vehicle, includes a battery, a case for accommodating the battery, and a pressure release mechanism for releasing pressure inside the case. The pressure release mechanism includes a communication member which has one end and the other end and where the one end is connected to the case, and a gas discharge unit connected to the other end of the communication member and having a labyrinth structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Itsuki Shimazaki, Ryo Fujii, Kanae Ohkuma, Takaaki Iijima, Takahiro Takai, Yohei Azuma
  • Patent number: 11685249
    Abstract: In this battery pack arrangement structure, since a case main body of a battery case is made of a metal by die-casting, not only is it possible to reduce the number of components and the weight by forming, integrally with the case main body, a cross member protruding upward from a case bottom wall and extending in the vehicle width direction and a second fixing portion protruding outward in the vehicle width direction from a case side wall, but it is also possible to enhance the side collision resistance by increasing the strength of the case main body including the cross member and the second fixing portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kanae Ohkuma, Christopher Lang
  • Patent number: 11458829
    Abstract: A first connector on a case front wall of a battery pack is connected to a first electric motor with a first power line interposed therebetween. A second connector on a case rear wall of the battery pack is connected to a second electric motor with a second power line interposed therebetween. A fuel tank is arranged behind the battery pack. A muffler is disposed on an exhaust pipe extending from an engine toward the rear along a side surface in a vehicle width direction of the battery pack and is inclined so as to be near the fuel tank behind the battery pack. The second power line is at least partially arranged in a space surrounded by the second connector, the fuel tank, and the muffler as seen in a vertical direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kanae Ohkuma, Christopher Lang
  • Patent number: 11329346
    Abstract: A battery pack (11) in which a cell stack (15) having a plurality of rectangular cells (14) stacked is housed in an interior of a battery case (12) includes an end plate (20) disposed on one end side in a stacking direction of the cell stack (15), a wedge member (19) disposed on the side of the end plate (20) opposite to the cell stack (15), and a bolt (18) disposed in a bolt screw-in direction that is orthogonal to the stacking direction and urging the wedge member (19) toward a bottom wall (12c) of the battery case (12), and first abutment faces (19b, 20a) via which the wedge member (19) and the end plate (20) abut against each other are formed from an inclined face that is inclined toward the bolt (18) side in the bolt screw-in direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hidemi Seki, Kanae Ohkuma
  • Publication number: 20210339617
    Abstract: In this battery pack arrangement structure, since a case main body of a battery case is made of a metal by die-casting, not only is it possible to reduce the number of components and the weight by forming, integrally with the case main body, a cross member protruding upward from a case bottom wall and extending in the vehicle width direction and a second fixing portion protruding outward in the vehicle width direction from a case side wall, but it is also possible to enhance the side collision resistance by increasing the strength of the case main body including the cross member and the second fixing portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 4, 2019
    Publication date: November 4, 2021
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kanae Ohkuma, Christopher Lang
  • Patent number: 11165109
    Abstract: In a cooling structure for a battery pack, a case bottom wall of a first battery case is divided into left and right case bottom walls. A first cooling medium jacket includes left and right first cooling medium jackets formed respectively in the left and right case bottom walls. Left ends of the left first cooling medium jacket and second cooling medium jacket are made to communicate with each other via a left cooling medium passage. Right ends of the right first cooling medium jacket and second cooling medium jacket are made to communicate with each other via a right cooling medium passage. Accordingly, it is possible to simplify the structure of a cooling medium passage for supplying cooling medium to a cooling medium jacket of battery cases on two levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kanae Ohkuma
  • Publication number: 20210280939
    Abstract: A battery pack which is placed below a floor panel of a vehicle, includes a battery, a case for accommodating the battery, and a pressure release mechanism for releasing pressure inside the case. The pressure release mechanism includes a communication member which has one end and the other end and where the one end is connected to the case, and a gas discharge unit connected to the other end of the communication member and having a labyrinth structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2021
    Publication date: September 9, 2021
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Itsuki SHIMAZAKI, Ryo FUJII, Kanae OHKUMA, Takaaki IIJIMA, Takahiro TAKAI, Yohei AZUMA
  • Publication number: 20210194086
    Abstract: Battery cases are formed such that a small second battery case is disposed on an upper front part of a large first battery case, the second battery case is disposed below a front part of a seat cushion of a rear seat, a recess portion extending in a fore-and-aft direction and having at least part of an exhaust passage member passing therethrough is formed in a lower face of a middle part in a vehicle width direction of the first battery case, battery modules housed in the first battery case are disposed on left and right sides of the recess portion, and a battery module housed in the second battery case is disposed so that a longitudinal direction thereof follows the vehicle width direction. Therefore, it is possible to ensure the headroom for a rear seat by disposing the rear seat at as low a position as possible.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2019
    Publication date: June 24, 2021
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kanae Ohkuma, Ryo Kitano, Ryo Fujii
  • Patent number: 11034248
    Abstract: In a battery case fixing structure, a case side wall, facing outward in a vehicle width direction, of a battery case includes at least two fixing portions that project outward in the vehicle width direction and are fixed to a vehicle body, and a linking wall that is formed as a planar shape opposing the case side wall and links the at least two fixing portions in a fore-and-aft direction, the fixing portions and the linking wall being formed integrally with the battery case. Accordingly, it is possible to enhance the side collision resistance performance by increasing the strength of a battery case of an electric vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kanae Ohkuma
  • Publication number: 20200411819
    Abstract: A battery pack (11) in which a cell stack (15) having a plurality of rectangular cells (14) stacked is housed in an interior of a battery case (12) includes an end plate (20) disposed on one end side in a stacking direction of the cell stack (15), a wedge member (19) disposed on the side of the end plate (20) opposite to the cell stack (15), and a bolt (18) disposed in a bolt screw-in direction that is orthogonal to the stacking direction and urging the wedge member (19) toward a bottom wall (12c) of the battery case (12), and first abutment faces (19b, 20a) via which the wedge member (19) and the end plate (20) abut against each other are formed from an inclined face that is inclined toward the bolt (18) side in the bolt screw-in direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2018
    Publication date: December 31, 2020
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hidemi SEKI, Kanae OHKUMA
  • Publication number: 20200079205
    Abstract: A first connector on a case front wall of a battery pack is connected to a first electric motor with a first power line interposed therebetween. A second connector on a case rear wall of the battery pack is connected to a second electric motor with a second power line interposed therebetween. A fuel tank is arranged behind the battery pack. A muffler is disposed on an exhaust pipe extending from an engine toward the rear along a side surface in a vehicle width direction of the battery pack and is inclined so as to be near the fuel tank behind the battery pack. The second power line is at least partially arranged in a space surrounded by the second connector, the fuel tank, and the muffler as seen in a vertical direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2019
    Publication date: March 12, 2020
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kanae Ohkuma, Christopher Lang
  • Publication number: 20200076026
    Abstract: In a cooling structure for a battery pack, a case bottom wall of a first battery case is divided into left and right case bottom walls. A first cooling medium jacket includes left and right first cooling medium jackets formed respectively in the left and right case bottom walls. Left ends of the left first cooling medium jacket and second cooling medium jacket are made to communicate with each other via a left cooling medium passage. Right ends of the right first cooling medium jacket and second cooling medium jacket are made to communicate with each other via a right cooling medium passage. Accordingly, it is possible to simplify the structure of a cooling medium passage for supplying cooling medium to a cooling medium jacket of battery cases on two levels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2019
    Publication date: March 5, 2020
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kanae OHKUMA
  • Publication number: 20200076019
    Abstract: In a cooling structure for a battery pack, a recess portion recessed upward is formed in a case lower wall of a second battery case superimposed on an upper side of a first battery case. A battery is placed on an upper face of the recess portion. A cooling medium jacket is formed between a lower face of the recess portion and an upper face of the first battery case joined thereto. Accordingly, the cooling medium jacket can be formed by utilizing the existing first battery case and second battery case without adding a special member. Moreover, even if cooling medium leaks from the cooling medium jacket, there is no possibility that cooling medium will enter the interior of the first battery case or the second battery case.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2019
    Publication date: March 5, 2020
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kanae OHKUMA
  • Publication number: 20200070671
    Abstract: In a battery case fixing structure, a case side wall, facing outward in a vehicle width direction, of a battery case includes at least two fixing portions that project outward in the vehicle width direction and are fixed to a vehicle body, and a linking wall that is formed as a planar shape opposing the case side wall and links the at least two fixing portions in a fore-and-aft direction, the fixing portions and the linking wall being formed integrally with the battery case. Accordingly, it is possible to enhance the side collision resistance performance by increasing the strength of a battery case of an electric vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2019
    Publication date: March 5, 2020
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kanae OHKUMA
  • Patent number: 10020473
    Abstract: An electric storage device includes a first connection plate, a second connection plate, a fastening member, and a plurality of storage modules. The plurality of storage modules are provided between the first connection plate and the second connection plate in a stacking direction. Each of the plurality of storage modules includes a plurality of rectangular storage cells stacked in the stacking direction to provide a stack of storage cells. The plurality of storage modules are arranged next to each other in a direction that crosses the stacking direction. The plurality of storage modules are clamped between the first connection plate and the second connection plate and fastened together by the fastening member. At least one of the first connection plate and the second connection plate is fastened to the plurality of storage modules in the stacking direction by the fastening member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Nobuaki Ishibashi, Kanae Ohkuma
  • Publication number: 20180072184
    Abstract: A vehicular charging part layout structure includes a battery case provided at a lower position of a vehicle, a battery accommodated in the battery case, and an electrical power receiving device configured to receive electrical power from the outside of the vehicle, and transmit the electrical power to the battery through a charger. The battery case includes a battery accommodation portion configured to accommodate the battery, and a charger accommodation portion configured to accommodate the charger. The battery accommodation portion and the charger accommodation portion are formed integrally.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2017
    Publication date: March 15, 2018
    Inventors: Christopher Lang, Kanae Ohkuma, Yasuhisa Kume, Kenta Sugitate
  • Patent number: 9502706
    Abstract: An electric storage device includes a plurality of storage modules and a first storage-module busbar. The plurality of storage modules each include a storage-cell busbar and a plurality of storage cells. The storage-cell busbar includes a first storage-module terminal at a first end of the storage-cell busbar. The plurality of storage cells are electrically connected to each other with the storage-cell busbar. The first storage-module terminal provided in one of the plurality of storage modules is electrically connected to the first storage-module terminal provided in another of the plurality of storage modules with the first storage-module busbar. The first storage-module terminal includes a first stud bolt which extends through a bolt hole provided in the first storage-module busbar and to which a nut is fastened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Nobuaki Ishibashi, Tomomi Kurita, Kanae Ohkuma
  • Patent number: 9455095
    Abstract: An electric storage device includes at least first to third storage modules and storage-module busbars. The at least first to third storage modules each include a plurality of storage cells. The at least first to third storage modules are arranged next to each other. Storage-module terminals of the at least first to third storage modules are adjacent to each other. The storage-module terminals of the at least first to third storage modules are electrically connected to each other with the storage-module busbars. The storage-module busbars includes a long storage-module busbar and a short storage-module busbar. The long storage-module busbar is provided at a first side of the at least first to third storage modules. The short storage-module busbar is provided at a second side of the at least first to third storage modules. The long storage-module busbar is longer than the short storage-module busbar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Nobuaki Ishibashi, Kanae Ohkuma, Makoto Wada, Tomomi Kurita, Tetsuya Sugizaki
  • Patent number: 9054398
    Abstract: A cooling structure for batteries and electrical units, that cools the batteries being driving sources of a motor mounted in a vehicle capable of traveling by a driving force of the motor and electrical units for driving the motor, the cooling structure including: a plurality of battery boxes that each contain one of the batteries; cooling passages that are each formed in each of the battery boxes, through which cooling air flows; a merging part where downstream ends of the cooling passages of the battery boxes are merged with each other; and cooling portions of the electrical units, that are provided on a downstream side of the merging part, wherein the electrical units are disposed on a downstream side of the battery boxes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kanae Ohkuma, Koichi Hasegawa