Patents by Inventor Koro FUJIO
Koro FUJIO 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).
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Patent number: 11695136Abstract: The control device is configured so that when a temperature of the fuel cell at the time of start of power generation of the fuel cell is less than a standard temperature, it makes the fuel cell generate power so that the amount of heat generation of the fuel cell accompanying the power generation loss becomes a first amount of heat generation and so that when a cumulative value of current of a time period during which the fuel cell is made to generate power so that the amount of heat generation becomes the first amount of heat generation is equal to or greater than a predetermined cumulative value, it makes the fuel cell generate power so that the amount of heat generation becomes a second amount of heat generation larger than the first amount of heat generation.Type: GrantFiled: April 19, 2021Date of Patent: July 4, 2023Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Ryouichi Namba, Masahiro Ito, Koro Fujio, Hiroyuki Tsunekawa
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Patent number: 11631880Abstract: The present disclosure provides a fuel cell stack, a fuel cell system and a method for controlling a fuel cell stack, which can reduce obstruction of reactive gas fluid channels caused by freezing of retained water, while allowing size to be reduced. The fuel cell stack of the disclosure comprises water storage units that are formed between every two adjacent fuel cell unit cells, surrounded by the adjacent separators, the wall members and the gaskets, and that communicate with the reactive gas discharge manifold via the gaps of the wall members. The fuel cell system of the disclosure controls either or both the valve and compressor in a reactive gas supply channel and/or the valve in a reactive gas discharge channel, to cause liquid water retained in the water storage units to be discharged out of the fuel cell stack.Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 2021Date of Patent: April 18, 2023Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Jin Tomatsu, Koro Fujio, Hikaru Tsutsui, Masaya Kobayashi
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Patent number: 11515548Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack, a reaction gas supply portion, and a control unit. The control unit performs two stages of purging that are a first purging and a second purging in which the flow rate of the reaction gas is smaller than the flow rate of the reaction gas of the first purging, and provides a purging standby time between the first purging and the second purging, and in a case in which an operation mode of the fuel cell stack when power generation of the fuel cell stack is stopped is a high output mode in which an output is higher than the output of a normal mode, the control unit makes a purging time longer than the purging time of the first purging that is performed in the normal mode.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2021Date of Patent: November 29, 2022Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Keitaro Yamamori, Koro Fujio
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Patent number: 11417902Abstract: A controller of a fuel cell system detects catalytic layer deterioration and drainage malfunction by the following inspection process. The controller may: execute drainage of water from a fuel cell, and acquire first/second output voltages of the fuel cell when an output current density of the fuel cell is a first reference current density A1/A2 (A2>A1). When the first output voltage is lower than a first threshold voltage and the second output voltage is higher than a second threshold voltage, the controller may output a first determination signal indicating that the catalytic layer is deteriorated and the drainage is executed without malfunction. When the first output voltage is higher than the first threshold voltage and the second output voltage is lower than the second threshold voltage, the controller may output a second determination signal indicating that the catalytic layer is not deteriorated and the drainage is executed with malfunction.Type: GrantFiled: April 2, 2021Date of Patent: August 16, 2022Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Junji Nakanishi, Tomoo Yoshizumi, Koro Fujio
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Patent number: 11329300Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack, a mixed gas supply passage, and an agitation mixer. The fuel cell stack includes a plurality of fuel cells each including a power generation portion. The fuel cells are stacked. The mixed gas supply passage is configured to communicate with the fuel cell stack. The mixed gas supply passage is configured to supply a mixed gas to the fuel cell stack. The mixed gas is a mixture of a fuel gas and a fuel off-gas that has been discharged from the fuel cell stack. The agitation mixer is provided in the mixed gas supply passage. The agitation mixer is configured to apply a swirling force to the mixed gas. The agitation mixer includes a guide rib configured to guide liquid water contained in the mixed gas to a side opposite to the power generation portion-side.Type: GrantFiled: October 14, 2019Date of Patent: May 10, 2022Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Yushi Suzuki, Koro Fujio, Shuji Kurita
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Publication number: 20210376347Abstract: The control device is configured so that when a temperature of the fuel cell at the time of start of power generation of the fuel cell is less than a standard temperature, it makes the fuel cell generate power so that the amount of heat generation of the fuel cell accompanying the power generation loss becomes a first amount of heat generation and so that when a cumulative value of current of a time period during which the fuel cell is made to generate power so that the amount of heat generation becomes the first amount of heat generation is equal to or greater than a predetermined cumulative value, it makes the fuel cell generate power so that the amount of heat generation becomes a second amount of heat generation larger than the first amount of heat generation.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 19, 2021Publication date: December 2, 2021Inventors: Ryouichi NAMBA, Masahiro ITO, Koro FUJIO, Hiroyuki TSUNEKAWA
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Publication number: 20210367260Abstract: The present disclosure provides a fuel cell stack, a fuel cell system and a method for controlling a fuel cell stack, which can reduce obstruction of reactive gas fluid channels caused by freezing of retained water, while allowing size to be reduced. The fuel cell stack of the disclosure comprises water storage units that are formed between every two adjacent fuel cell unit cells, surrounded by the adjacent separators, the wall members and the gaskets, and that communicate with the reactive gas discharge manifold via the gaps of the wall members. The fuel cell system of the disclosure controls either or both the valve and compressor in a reactive gas supply channel and/or the valve in a reactive gas discharge channel, to cause liquid water retained in the water storage units to be discharged out of the fuel cell stack.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 19, 2021Publication date: November 25, 2021Inventors: Jin TOMATSU, Koro FUJIO, Hikaru TSUTSUI, Masaya KOBAYASHI
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Publication number: 20210367250Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack, a reaction gas supply portion, and a control unit. The control unit performs two stages of purging that are a first purging and a second purging in which the flow rate of the reaction gas is smaller than the flow rate of the reaction gas of the first purging, and provides a purging standby time between the first purging and the second purging, and in a case in which an operation mode of the fuel cell stack when power generation of the fuel cell stack is stopped is a high output mode in which an output is higher than the output of a normal mode, the control unit makes a purging time longer than the purging time of the first purging that is performed in the normal mode.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 29, 2021Publication date: November 25, 2021Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Keitaro YAMAMORI, Koro FUJIO
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Publication number: 20210359318Abstract: A controller of a fuel cell system detects catalytic layer deterioration and drainage malfunction by the following inspection process. The controller may: execute drainage of water from a fuel cell, and acquire first/second output voltages of the fuel cell when an output current density of the fuel cell is a first reference current density A1/A2 (A2>A1). When the first output voltage is lower than a first threshold voltage and the second output voltage is higher than a second threshold voltage, the controller may output a first determination signal indicating that the catalytic layer is deteriorated and the drainage is executed without malfunction. When the first output voltage is higher than the first threshold voltage and the second output voltage is lower than the second threshold voltage, the controller may output a second determination signal indicating that the catalytic layer is not deteriorated and the drainage is executed with malfunction.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 2, 2021Publication date: November 18, 2021Inventors: Junji NAKANISHI, Tomoo YOSHIZUMI, Koro FUJIO
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Publication number: 20200168925Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack, a mixed gas supply passage, and an agitation mixer. The fuel cell stack includes a plurality of fuel cells each including a power generation portion. The fuel cells are stacked. The mixed gas supply passage is configured to communicate with the fuel cell stack. The mixed gas supply passage is configured to supply a mixed gas to the fuel cell stack. The mixed gas is a mixture of a fuel gas and a fuel off-gas that has been discharged from the fuel cell stack. The agitation mixer is provided in the mixed gas supply passage. The agitation mixer is configured to apply a swirling force to the mixed gas. The agitation mixer includes a guide rib configured to guide liquid water contained in the mixed gas to a side opposite to the power generation portion-side.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 14, 2019Publication date: May 28, 2020Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Yushi SUZUKI, Koro FUJIO, Shuji KURITA
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Patent number: 10254347Abstract: An inspection method for inspecting a fuel cell, comprising: rising current density at a speed of a designated speed or greater, and judging whether the fuel cell is normal or abnormal by comparing a first voltage value that is the voltage value when the current density reaches a designated current density or greater with the rising step, and a second voltage value which is a judgment standard.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 2015Date of Patent: April 9, 2019Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Sho Usami, Koro Fujio, Masashi Maeda
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Publication number: 20160116541Abstract: An inspection method for inspecting a fuel cell, comprising: rising current density at a speed of a designated speed or greater, and judging whether the fuel cell is normal or abnormal by comparing a first voltage value that is the voltage value when the current density reaches a designated current density or greater with the rising step, and a second voltage value which is a judgment standard.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 20, 2015Publication date: April 28, 2016Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Sho USAMI, Koro FUJIO, Masashi MAEDA