Patents by Inventor Michio Asukabe

Michio Asukabe 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: 6827986
    Abstract: The present invention is a grafted polymer electrolyte membrane prepared by first preparing a precursor membrane comprising a polymer which is capable of being graft polymerized, exposing the surface of the precursor membrane to a plasma in an oxidative atmosphere, then graft-polymerizing a side chain polymer to the plasma treated precursor membrane and introducing a proton conductive functional group to the side chain. The resulting grafted polymer electrolyte membrane has excellent stability and performance when used in a proton-exchange membrane fuel cell or for electrolysis of water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2004
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Michio Asukabe, Michiaki Kato, Takumi Taniguchi, Yu Morimoto, Masaya Kawasumi
  • Patent number: 6355370
    Abstract: A solid polyelectrolyte fuel cell has (a) a positive electrode, (b) a negative electrode, and (c) a solid polyelectrolyte membrane containing water, between the positive electrode and the negative electrode, where the water content of portions of the solid polyelectrolyte membrane adjacent to the negative electrode is greater than the water content of portions of the solid polyelectrolyte membrane adjacent to the positive electrode. The cell outputs high voltage and has good properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2002
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Michiaki Katoh, Michio Asukabe, Chiaki Yamada, Shinji Nezu
  • Publication number: 20020001742
    Abstract: A solid polyelectrolyte fuel cell has (a) a positive electrode, (b) a negative electrode, and (c) a solid polyelectrolyte membrane containing water, between the positive electrode and the negative electrode, where the water content of portions of the solid polyelectrolyte membrane adjacent to the negative electrode is greater than the water content of portions of the solid polyelectrolyte membrane adjacent to the positive electrode. The cell outputs high voltage and has good properties.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 1998
    Publication date: January 3, 2002
    Inventors: MICHIAKI KATOH, MICHIO ASUKABE, CHIAKI YAMADA, SHINJI NEZU
  • Patent number: 6335112
    Abstract: A solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell includes a solid polymer electrolyte membrane and a fuel cell electrode. The solid polymer electrolyte membrane and/or the fuel cell electrode can contain at least one catalyst selected from oxide catalysts, macrocyclic metal complex catalysts, transition metal alloy catalysts and inorganic salt catalysts. The catalyst decomposes hydrogen peroxide formed during fuel cell operation and prevents the hydrogen peroxide from decomposing the solid polymer electrolyte membrane. As a result, a solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell is formed that is excellent in durability and available at a reduced cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2002
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Michio Asukabe, Gang Xie
  • Publication number: 20010026893
    Abstract: The present invention is a grafted polymer electrolyte membrane prepared by first preparing a precursor membrane comprising a polymer which is capable of being graft polymerized, exposing the surface of the precursor membrane to a plasma in an oxidative atmosphere, then graft-polymerizing a side chain polymer to the plasma treated precursor membrane and introducing a proton conductive functional group to the side chain. The resulting grafted polymer electrolyte membrane has excellent stability and performance when used in a proton-exchange membrane fuel cell or for electrolysis of water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2001
    Publication date: October 4, 2001
    Applicant: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Michio Asukabe, Michiaki Kato, Takumi Taniguchi, Yu Morimoto, Masaya Kawasumi
  • Patent number: 6242123
    Abstract: A solid polyelectrolyte membrane for a fuel cell, comprises a synthetic resin comprising main chains and side chains, the main chains having a copolymer structure of a first olefin hydrocarbon and an olefin perfluorocarbon, the side chains having a sulfonic acid group containing crosslinked copolymer structure of a second olefin hydrocarbon and a diolefin hydrocarbon. The solid polyelectrolyte membrane is an inexpensive, solid polyelectrolyte membrane for fuel cells, of which the water content is controlled so that it does not cause too much wetting of electrode catalysts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2001
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinji Nezu, Naoki Ito, Chiaki Yamada, Michiaki Kato, Michio Asukabe
  • Patent number: 6224994
    Abstract: A solid polyelectrolyte membrane for a fuel cell includes (a) a hydrocarbon polymer grafted fluorine polymer, which contains sulfonic acid groups, and (b) whisker fibers, fixed to the grafted fluorine polymer. The fiber may be surface-treated with a silane coupling agent which reacts with the fluorine polymer and the fibers, prior to graft-copolymerization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Michio Asukabe, Chiaki Yamada, Michiaki Katoh, Shinji Nezu