Patents by Inventor Kentaro Shibuya

Kentaro Shibuya 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: 11223084
    Abstract: In the present embodiment, an energy storage apparatus includes: a plurality of energy storage devices arranged in a first direction; a pair of end members disposed on both ends in the first direction of the plurality of energy storage devices; a connecting member that extends in the first direction and connects the pair of end members; and an intermediate member disposed between adjacent two of the energy storage devices, wherein the connecting member is decouplable at a position corresponding to the intermediate member in the first direction, and the intermediate member includes a first intermediate part and a second intermediate part that are separable in the first direction and are engaged with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignees: GS YUASA INTERNATIONAL LTD., HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Eiji Yuasa, Kentaro Shibuya
  • Patent number: 10516144
    Abstract: Provides is an energy storage apparatus which includes: a plurality of energy storage devices disposed in a row in a first direction, and a bus bar configured to connect external terminals of energy storage devices to each other, wherein the bus bar includes a first member having a first connection portion connected to the external terminal of one energy storage device and a first extension portion extending from the first connection portion; and a second member having a second connection portion connected to the external terminal of another energy storage device and a second extension portion extending from the second connection portion, and the first extension portion has a first conductive surface, and the second extension portion has a second conductive surface which is made to overlap with the first conductive surface in a separable manner in a state where the second conductive surface faces the first conductive surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignees: GS YUASA INTERNATIONAL LTD., HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Eiji Yuasa, Kentaro Shibuya
  • Patent number: 10388923
    Abstract: In a vehicle battery unit, since a second support plate (30B) and a second end plate (29B) of a second battery module (22B) having a plurality of battery cells (21) stacked are placed on top of a first support plate (30A) and a first end plate (29A) of a first battery module (22A) having a plurality of the battery cells (21), it is possible to prevent the weight of the second battery module (22B) from being imposed on the battery cells (21) of the first battery module (22A). Moreover, since it is not necessary to provide on the exterior of the first battery module (22A) a member for supporting the weight of the second battery module (22B), it is possible to reduce the dimensions of the first battery module (22A).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Koichi Takahashi, Eiji Koike, Daisuke Arai, Takurou Kamada, Kentaro Shibuya, Harumi Takedomi
  • Publication number: 20190198831
    Abstract: In the present embodiment, an energy storage apparatus includes: a plurality of energy storage devices arranged in a first direction; a pair of end members disposed on both ends in the first direction of the plurality of energy storage devices; a connecting member that extends in the first direction and connects the pair of end members; and an intermediate member disposed between adjacent two of the energy storage devices, wherein the connecting member is decouplable at a position corresponding to the intermediate member in the first direction, and the intermediate member includes a first intermediate part and a second intermediate part that are separable in the first direction and are engaged with each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2018
    Publication date: June 27, 2019
    Inventors: Eiji YUASA, Kentaro SHIBUYA
  • Patent number: 10290851
    Abstract: Provided is an energy storage apparatus which includes: a plurality of energy storage devices which respectively have an external terminal and are arranged in a row in a first direction; an adjacent member disposed between the energy storage devices disposed adjacently to each other in the first direction; and a bus bar which connects the external terminals of the energy storage devices disposed on both sides of the adjacent member to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignees: GS YUASA INTERNATIONAL LTD., HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Eiji Yuasa, Kentaro Shibuya
  • Patent number: 10263227
    Abstract: Provided is an energy storage apparatus which includes: an energy storage device; an opposedly facing member which opposedly faces the energy storage device in a first direction; and an adjacent member which is disposed adjacently to the energy storage device in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. The opposedly facing member and the adjacent member are engaged with each other such that the adjacent member and the opposedly facing member are relatively movable to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignees: GS YUASA INTERNATIONAL LTD., HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Eiji Yuasa, Kentaro Shibuya
  • Patent number: 9985256
    Abstract: Provided is an energy storage apparatus including an energy storage device, an opposedly facing member which opposedly faces the energy storage device in a first direction, and an adjacent member which includes a body portion disposed adjacently to the energy storage device in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, and containing a connection portion partially connected to the opposedly facing member at an end portion of the body portion in the first direction. The body portion of the adjacent member contains a cavity portion which opens at an end portion of the body portion in a direction orthogonal to the second direction and extends in the direction orthogonal to the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignees: GS YUASA INTERNATIONAL LTD., HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Eiji Yuasa, Kentaro Shibuya
  • Publication number: 20170244091
    Abstract: Provided is an energy storage apparatus which includes: a plurality of energy storage devices which respectively have an external terminal and are arranged in a row in a first direction; an adjacent member disposed between the energy storage devices disposed adjacently to each other in the first direction; and a bus bar which connects the external terminals of the energy storage devices disposed on both sides of the adjacent member to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2017
    Publication date: August 24, 2017
    Inventors: Eiji Yuasa, Kentaro Shibuya
  • Publication number: 20170244076
    Abstract: Provides is an energy storage apparatus which includes: a plurality of energy storage devices disposed in a row in a first direction, and a bus bar configured to connect external terminals of energy storage devices to each other, wherein the bus bar includes a first member having a first connection portion connected to the external terminal of one energy storage device and a first extension portion extending from the first connection portion; and a second member having a second connection portion connected to the external terminal of another energy storage device and a second extension portion extending from the second connection portion, and the first extension portion has a first conductive surface, and the second extension portion has a second conductive surface which is made to overlap with the first conductive surface in a separable manner in a state where the second conductive surface faces the first conductive surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2017
    Publication date: August 24, 2017
    Inventors: Eiji YUASA, Kentaro Shibuya
  • Publication number: 20170244075
    Abstract: Provided is an energy storage apparatus which includes: an energy storage device; an opposedly facing member which opposedly faces the energy storage device in a first direction; and an adjacent member which is disposed adjacently to the energy storage device in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. The opposedly facing member and the adjacent member are engaged with each other such that the adjacent member and the opposedly facing member are relatively movable to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2017
    Publication date: August 24, 2017
    Inventors: Eiji YUASA, Kentaro Shibuya
  • Publication number: 20170244077
    Abstract: Provided is an energy storage apparatus including an energy storage device, an opposedly facing member which opposedly faces the energy storage device in a first direction, and an adjacent member which includes a body portion disposed adjacently to the energy storage device in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, and containing a connection portion partially connected to the opposedly facing member at an end portion of the body portion in the first direction. The body portion of the adjacent member contains a cavity portion which opens at an end portion of the body portion in a direction orthogonal to the second direction and extends in the direction orthogonal to the second direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2017
    Publication date: August 24, 2017
    Inventors: Eiji YUASA, Kentaro SHIBUYA
  • Publication number: 20130330587
    Abstract: In a vehicle battery unit, since a second support plate (30B) and a second end plate (29B) of a second battery module (22B) having a plurality of battery cells (21) stacked are placed on top of a first support plate (30A) and a first end plate (29A) of a first battery module (22A) having a plurality of the battery cells (21), it is possible to prevent the weight of the second battery module (22B) from being imposed on the battery cells (21) of the first battery module (22A). Moreover, since it is not necessary to provide on the exterior of the first battery module (22A) a member for supporting the weight of the second battery module (22B), it is possible to reduce the dimensions of the first battery module (22A).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2011
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD
    Inventors: Koichi Takahashi, Eiji Koike, Daisuke Arai, Takurou Kamada, Kentaro Shibuya, Harumi Takedomi
  • Patent number: 7919203
    Abstract: A battery box structure includes a battery module, a holding frame which holds the battery module, a case which is made from expanded insulating resin and which stores the holding frame, and an elastic member secured to the holding frame and arranged between the battery module and the case, wherein the elastic member includes an upper wall and flanges extending from both side edges of the upper wall, and wherein a distance between the flanges is substantially the same as a width of a protrusion of the holding frame for securing the elastic member to the holding frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kentaro Shibuya, Hiroshi Kosaka, Keishi Kousaka, Koichi Hasegawa, Seiichi Sato
  • Patent number: 7766544
    Abstract: A temperature sensor mounting structure for a battery module that is formed by connecting single cells together in series including: a temperature-measuring device that detects the temperature of the battery module; a covering device that covers the temperature-measuring device; and movement-restricting devices that are removably engaged with the battery module and restrict the movement of the covering device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kentaro Shibuya, Naoki Maruno, Atsushi Mizutani, Toshiyuki Matsuoka
  • Patent number: 7688582
    Abstract: In a power supply unit disposed below a floor behind a seat, battery modules are disposed in a lower position, and a DC/DC converter and a motor driving inverter are disposed side by side in a vehicle width direction above the battery modules. Thus, cooling air flowing from the front side to the rear side of a vehicle body is divided into upper and lower portions to cool in parallel the DC/DC converter and the motor driving inverter on the upper side and the battery modules on the lower side. Thus, it is possible to simplify a passage of the cooling air to reduce the size of the entire power supply unit, and improve mountability of the power supply unit on the vehicle body. Also, it is possible to apply low temperature cooling air, before heat exchange, to the battery module, the DC/DC converter, and the motor driving inverter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomohiro Fukazu, Takeo Nishibori, Kentaro Shibuya, Masao Kawata, Hiroo Yamaguchi, Junya Fujisawa, Atsushi Nakano, Hiroshi Kosaka
  • Publication number: 20090022206
    Abstract: A temperature sensor mounting structure for a battery module that is formed by connecting single cells together in series including: a temperature-measuring device that detects the temperature of the battery module; a covering device that covers the temperature-measuring device; and movement-restricting devices that are removably engaged with the battery module and restrict the movement of the covering device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2006
    Publication date: January 22, 2009
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kentaro Shibuya, Naoki Maruno, Atsushi Mizutani, Toshiyuki Matsuoka
  • Publication number: 20080062622
    Abstract: In a power supply unit disposed below a floor behind a seat, battery modules are disposed in a lower position, and a DC/DC converter and a motor driving inverter are disposed side by side in a vehicle width direction above the battery modules. Thus, cooling air flowing from the front side to the rear side of a vehicle body is divided into upper and lower portions to cool in parallel the DC/DC converter 41 and the motor driving inverter on the upper side and the battery modules on the lower side. Thus, it is possible to simplify a passage of the cooling air to reduce the size of the entire power supply unit, and improve mountability of the power supply unit on the vehicle body. Also, it is possible to apply cooling air at low temperature before heat exchange to all the battery module, the DC/DC converter, and the motor driving inverter, thereby enhancing cooling effect.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2007
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tomohiro FUKAZU, Takeo NISHIBORI, Kentaro SHIBUYA, Masao KAWATA, Hiroo YAMAGUCHI, Junya FUJISAWA, Atsushi NAKANO, Hiroshi KOSAKA
  • Publication number: 20070259263
    Abstract: The battery box structure of the present invention includes: a plurality of battery modules; a pair of holding frames which hold the battery modules; and an insulator which is made from expanded insulating resin and which stores the holding frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2005
    Publication date: November 8, 2007
    Applicant: Honda Motor Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Kentaro Shibuya, Hiroshi Kosaka, Keishi Kousaka, Koichi Hasegawa, Seiichi Sato
  • Patent number: 7229320
    Abstract: A voltage detection terminal mounted to a housing plate body includes a bus bar connecting portion (4a) which is connected to a battery electrode and a bus bar (3) by bolt-nut connection, a detector connecting portion (4b) connected to voltage detector, and an interconnecting portion (4c) interconnecting the bus bar connecting portion and the detector connecting portion. A gap (c) for absorbing a length variation of a battery cell is formed between the plate body and the bus bar connecting portion, and the interconnecting portion (4c) includes a slanting portion (4c) for preventing the interconnecting portion from interference with the bus bar is formed at part of the interconnecting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignees: Yazaki Corporation, Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuaki Saito, Tomohiro Ikeda, Kentaro Shibuya, Hiroshi Kosaka, Seiichi Sato
  • Publication number: 20060183367
    Abstract: A voltage detection terminal includes a bus bar connecting portion which is connected to a battery electrode and a bus bar by bolt-nut connection, a detector connecting portion connected to voltage detector, and an interconnecting portion interconnecting the bus bar connecting portion and the detector connecting portion. A gap for absorbing a length variation of a battery cell is formed between a plate body and the bus bar connecting portion, and a slanting portion for preventing the interconnecting portion from interference with the bus bar is formed at part of the interconnecting portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2006
    Publication date: August 17, 2006
    Inventors: Kazuaki Saito, Tomohiro Ikeda, Kentaro Shibuya, Hiroshi Kosaka, Seiichi Sato