Patents by Inventor Masanari Yanagisawa

Masanari Yanagisawa 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: 11196059
    Abstract: The invention relates to a fuel cell system (100) having a fuel supply unit (8) and fuel cells (1, 2) having a cathode (4, 4?) and an anode (3, 3?), wherein the cathode (4, 4?) features a cathode feed line (40), the anode (3, 3?) features an anode feed line (30), and the flow in the anode (3, 3?) is connected with the flow in the fuel supply unit (8) via the anode feed line (30), in which a reforming apparatus (13) is arranged, and having an anode exhaust line (6) provided with at least one burner apparatus (22, 23).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignees: AVL List GmbH, Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Michael Reissig, Bernd Reiter, Jörg Mathé, Thomas Krauss, Stefan Planitzer, Vincent Lawlor, Jürgen Rechberger, Masanari Yanagisawa, Shinichi Miyazaki, Hayato Chikugo, Tadaki Mano, Tatsuya Yaguchi
  • Patent number: 10998564
    Abstract: Provided is a fuel cell system including a fuel cell module that includes a fuel cell and a reformer. The fuel cell system includes: a housing including a high temperature chamber in which the fuel cell module is disposed, and a low temperature chamber in which a gas supply system configured to supply a fuel and an oxidant to the fuel cell module is disposed; and a heat insulating partition wall that partitions a section of the housing to define the high temperature chamber and the low temperature chamber and that is formed with supply passages configured to allow supply of the fuel and the oxidant to the fuel cell module by the gas supply system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Mikiya Shinohara, Masanari Yanagisawa
  • Publication number: 20200373593
    Abstract: Provided is a fuel cell system including a fuel cell module that includes a fuel cell and a reformer. The fuel cell system includes: a housing including a high temperature chamber in which the fuel cell module is disposed, and a low temperature chamber in which a gas supply system configured to supply a fuel and an oxidant to the fuel cell module is disposed; and a heat insulating partition wall that partitions a section of the housing to define the high temperature chamber and the low temperature chamber and that is formed with supply passages configured to allow supply of the fuel and the oxidant to the fuel cell module by the gas supply system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2017
    Publication date: November 26, 2020
    Applicant: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mikiya SHINOHARA, Masanari YANAGISAWA
  • Patent number: 10673079
    Abstract: A fuel cell stack includes a plurality of fuel cells stacked via separators, each one of which cells has a solid electrolyte plate interposed between an anode electrode and a cathode electrode. The separator is constituted of an uneven member that includes a first abutting portion, a second abutting portion, and a connecting portion, the first abutting portion abuts on one fuel cell of the two adjacent fuel cells, the second abutting portion abuts on the other fuel cell, and the connecting portion connects the first abutting portion to the second abutting portion. At least one abutting portion of the first abutting portion or the second abutting portion has a section modulus greater than a section modulus of the connecting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kentarou Yajima, Masanari Yanagisawa
  • Patent number: 10530003
    Abstract: A solid oxide fuel cell of the present invention includes: a fuel cell unit including a fuel electrode, a solid electrolyte and an air electrode layered in the written order; a current collection assisting layer that is layered on an air electrode side of the fuel cell unit; air channels disposed on the air electrode side; and fuel gas channels disposed on a fuel electrode side. The air channels and the fuel gas channels are defined and formed by a current collector on the current collection assisting layer and a current collector on the fuel electrode side of the fuel cell unit. The air channels and the fuel gas channels extend in the same direction that is perpendicular to the fuel cell unit layering direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kentarou Yajima, Masanari Yanagisawa
  • Publication number: 20190379069
    Abstract: The invention relates to a fuel cell system (100) having a fuel supply unit (8) and fuel cells (1, 2) having a cathode (4, 4?) and an anode (3, 3?), wherein the cathode (4, 4?) features a cathode feed line (40), the anode (3, 3?) features an anode feed line (30), and the flow in the anode (3, 3?) is connected with the flow in the fuel supply unit (8) via the anode feed line (30), in which a reforming apparatus (13) is arranged, and having an anode exhaust line (6) provided with at least one burner apparatus (22, 23).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2017
    Publication date: December 12, 2019
    Applicants: AVL List GmbH, Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Michael REISSIG, Bernd REITER, Jörg MATHÉ, Thomas KRAUSS, Stefan PLANITZER, Vincent LAWLOR, Jürgen RECHBERGER, Masanari YANAGISAWA, Shinichi MIYAZAKI, Hayato CHIKUGO, Tadaki MANO, Tatsuya YAGUCHI
  • Patent number: 10454121
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a solid oxide fuel cell configured to receive a supply of an anode gas and a cathode gas to generate electric power. The fuel cell system includes an anode discharge passage through which an anode off-gas discharged from the fuel cell flows, a cathode discharge passage through which a cathode off-gas discharged from the fuel cell flows, a joining portion where the anode discharge passage and the cathode discharge passage join. The fuel cell system further includes a gas supply unit configured to supply a fuel gas using a fuel stored in a fuel tank into the anode discharge passage during a system stop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kentarou Yajima, Masanari Yanagisawa, Susumu Maeshima
  • Publication number: 20190260039
    Abstract: A fuel cell stack includes a plurality of fuel cells stacked via separators, each one of which cells has a solid electrolyte plate interposed between an anode electrode and a cathode electrode. The separator is constituted of an uneven member that includes a first abutting portion, a second abutting portion, and a connecting portion, the first abutting portion abuts on one fuel cell of the two adjacent fuel cells, the second abutting portion abuts on the other fuel cell, and the connecting portion connects the first abutting portion to the second abutting portion. At least one abutting portion of the first abutting portion or the second abutting portion has a section modulus greater than a section modulus of the connecting portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2016
    Publication date: August 22, 2019
    Applicant: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD
    Inventors: Kentarou YAJIMA, Masanari YANAGISAWA
  • Publication number: 20190036144
    Abstract: A solid oxide fuel cell of the present invention includes: a fuel cell unit including a fuel electrode, a solid electrolyte and an air electrode layered in the written order; a current collection assisting layer that is layered on an air electrode side of the fuel cell unit; air channels disposed on the air electrode side; and fuel gas channels disposed on a fuel electrode side. The air channels and the fuel gas channels are defined and formed by a current collector on the current collection assisting layer and a current collector on the fuel electrode side of the fuel cell unit. The air channels and the fuel gas channels extend in the same direction that is perpendicular to the fuel cell unit layering direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2016
    Publication date: January 31, 2019
    Applicant: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kentarou YAJIMA, Masanari YANAGISAWA
  • Publication number: 20180358639
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a solid oxide fuel cell configured to receive a supply of an anode gas and a cathode gas to generate electric power. The fuel cell system includes an anode discharge passage through which an anode off-gas discharged from the fuel cell flows, a cathode discharge passage through which a cathode off-gas discharged from the fuel cell flows, a joining portion where the anode discharge passage and the cathode discharge passage join. The fuel cell system further includes a gas supply unit configured to supply a fuel gas using a fuel stored in a fuel tank into the anode discharge passage during a system stop.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2016
    Publication date: December 13, 2018
    Applicant: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD., IP Department
    Inventors: Kentarou YAJIMA, Masanari YANAGISAWA, Susumu MAESHIMA
  • Patent number: 8304137
    Abstract: A fuel cell housing structure includes a fuel cell, an electrically insulated housing, a vent gas intake port and a vent gas exhaust port. The electrically insulated housing contains the fuel cell. The housing is arranged to provide a space within the housing surrounding the fuel cell. At least one of the vent gas intake port and the vent gas exhaust port is fluidly connected to the space at a position above or on the same level as the fuel cell. The at least one of the vent gas intake port and the vent gas exhaust port forms at least one of: vertically extending opening that opens to the external environment, and an opening that faces the space in a direction other than a direction facing the fuel cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masanari Yanagisawa
  • Publication number: 20120183883
    Abstract: A fuel cell housing structure includes a fuel cell, an electrically insulated housing, a vent gas intake port and a vent gas exhaust port. The electrically insulated housing contains the fuel cell. The housing is arranged to provide a space within the housing surrounding the fuel cell. At least one of the vent gas intake port and the vent gas exhaust port is fluidly connected to the space at a position above or on the same level as the fuel cell. The at least one of the vent gas intake port and the vent gas exhaust port forms at least one of: vertically extending opening that opens to the external environment, and an opening that faces the space in a direction other than a direction facing the fuel cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2012
    Publication date: July 19, 2012
    Applicant: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masanari YANAGISAWA
  • Patent number: 8168336
    Abstract: A fuel cell housing structure includes a fuel cell, an electrically insulated housing and a vent gas port. The electrically insulated housing contains the fuel cell. The housing is arranged to provide a space within the housing surrounding the fuel cell. The vent gas port is provided in the housing. The vent gas port connects to the space at a position above or on a same level as the fuel cell. In the fuel cell housing structure, water entering the housing from the vent gas port is blocked from contacting the fuel cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masanari Yanagisawa
  • Patent number: 8034511
    Abstract: An insulating mount structure for a fuel cell, which includes insulating mounts (2) for mounting the fuel cell stack (1) on a grounded structure (7), and a water barrier (3) extending in a space between the fuel cell a stack (1) and the grounded structure (7), being electrically isolated from both of the fuel cell (1) and the grounded structure (7). The water barrier (3) is formed in a container shape having an opening (3a) on upper side thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masanari Yanagisawa
  • Publication number: 20100119916
    Abstract: A fuel cell housing structure includes a fuel cell, an electrically insulated housing and a vent gas port. The electrically insulated housing contains the fuel cell. The housing is arranged to provide a space within the housing surrounding the fuel cell. The vent gas port is provided in the housing. The vent gas port connects to the space at a position above or on a same level as the fuel cell. In the fuel cell housing structure, water entering the housing from the vent gas port is blocked from contacting the fuel cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2010
    Publication date: May 13, 2010
    Applicant: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masanari YANAGISAWA
  • Patent number: 7674547
    Abstract: In a fuel cell housing structure, an electrically insulated housing contains a fuel cell, and is arranged to provide a space within the housing surrounding the fuel cell. A vent gas intake port and a vent gas exhaust port are provided in the housing. At least one of the vent gas intake port or vent gas exhaust port connects to the space at a position either above or on the same level as the fuel cell. A blocking member, which is also electrically insulated from the fuel cell, blocks water, entering the housing from at least one of the ports, from contact with the fuel cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masanari Yanagisawa
  • Patent number: 7520299
    Abstract: A valve includes a valve body forming a first flow passage and a second flow passage that connects to the-first flow passage through a first opening and a seating element forming a bypass passage that connects the first flow passage and the second flow passage. The bypass passage opening has a smaller cross-sectional area than the first opening. The valve also includes a valve control element that can be repositioned to open both the first opening and the second opening, open the second opening while closing the first opening or close both the first opening and the second opening. The bypass passage may allow fluid to drain through the valve to prevent fluid from building up in the valve. If fluid becomes frozen, the valve may become stuck shut. In some embodiments, the bypass passage opens only if the temperature creates a possibility of freezing in the valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masanari Yanagisawa, Iwane Inokuchi
  • Publication number: 20060207669
    Abstract: A valve includes a valve body forming a first flow passage and a second flow passage that connects to the-first flow passage through a first opening and a seating element forming a bypass passage that connects the first flow passage and the second flow passage. The bypass passage opening has a smaller cross-sectional area than the first opening. The valve also includes a valve control element that can be repositioned to open both the first opening and the second opening, open the second opening while closing the first opening or close both the first opening and the second opening. The bypass passage may allow fluid to drain through the valve to prevent fluid from building up in the valve. If fluid becomes frozen, the valve may become stuck shut. In some embodiments, the bypass passage opens only if the temperature creates a possibility of freezing in the valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2006
    Publication date: September 21, 2006
    Applicant: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masanari Yanagisawa, Iwane Inokuchi
  • Publication number: 20060115701
    Abstract: An insulating mount structure for a fuel cell, which includes insulating mounts (2) for mounting the fuel cell stack (1) on a grounded structure (7), and a water barrier (3) extending in a space between the fuel cell a stack (1) and the grounded structure (7), being electrically isolated from both of the fuel cell (1) and the grounded structure (7). The water barrier (3) is formed in a container shape having an opening (3a) on upper side thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2004
    Publication date: June 1, 2006
    Applicant: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Masanari Yanagisawa
  • Publication number: 20050282059
    Abstract: In a fuel cell housing structure, an electrically insulated housing contains a fuel cell, and is arranged to provide a space within the housing surrounding the fuel cell. A vent gas intake port and a vent gas exhaust port are provided in the housing. At least one of the vent gas intake port or vent gas exhaust port connects to the space at a position either above or on the same level as the fuel cell. A blocking member, which is also electrically insulated from the fuel cell, blocks water, entering the housing from at least one of the ports, from contact with the fuel cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2005
    Publication date: December 22, 2005
    Applicant: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masanari Yanagisawa