Patents by Inventor Shuji Hirakata
Shuji Hirakata 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: 9028570Abstract: An odorant addition device for adding odorant to fuel gas in a gas system that consumes the fuel gas, the device including: an addition unit for adding the odorant to fuel gas to be consumed by the gas system; an environmental condition detection unit for detecting in the gas system an environmental condition regarding diffusion of odorant in fuel gas; and an addition adjustment unit for adjusting mode of odorant addition by the addition unit based on the environmental condition detected by the environmental condition detection unit. In this way, it is possible to detect leakage of fuel gas more reliably and improve safety dramatically, in a gas system that consumes the fuel gas as fuel.Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 2008Date of Patent: May 12, 2015Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Keigo Suematsu, Makoto Ueno, Tatsuaki Yokoyama, Hiroshi Fujitani, Atsushi Matsuba, Shuji Hirakata
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Patent number: 8627841Abstract: A tank system includes a high-pressure tank, a detection unit for detecting a temperature increase in at least a portion of the high-pressure tank, a decompression unit for decompressing the high-pressure tank, and a control unit for controlling the decompression unit to decompress the high-pressure tank when a temperature increase in at least a part of the high-pressure tank is detected by the detection unit.Type: GrantFiled: July 11, 2007Date of Patent: January 14, 2014Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Shuji Hirakata
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Patent number: 8281822Abstract: An in-vehicle hydrogen storage apparatus has a hydrogen gas filling passage connected from a hydrogen gas filling port up to the storage device that stores a hydrogen gas to be supplied to a fuel cell, and an odorizing agent supplying device that supplies an odorizing agent to hydrogen gas in at least one of the inside of the storage device and the inside of the hydrogen gas filling passage.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 2007Date of Patent: October 9, 2012Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Shuji Hirakata
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Patent number: 8236073Abstract: A hydrogen supply apparatus includes a hydrogen supply path by which hydrogen released from a hydrogen tank reaches a hydrogen supply target, a branching path from the hydrogen supply path, in which a part of hydrogen released from the hydrogen tank flows, addition means for adding an odorizing agent to the hydrogen flowing in the branching path, a buffer tank storing the hydrogen to which the odorizing agent is added by the addition means, and supplying means for supplying the odorizing agent treated hydrogen in the buffer tank to the hydrogen supply path.Type: GrantFiled: August 2, 2007Date of Patent: August 7, 2012Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Shuji Hirakata
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Patent number: 8232019Abstract: The present invention provides a technology related to a fuel cell system capable of adjusting a discharge amount of an odorant discharged to an outside of a moving body according to a state of the moving body. The fuel cell system mounted to a moving body includes: a fuel cell which generates electric power by electrochemically reacting a hydrogen gas with an oxidation gas; and a adjusting portion which adjusts an amount of an odorant to be discharged to an outside of the moving body according to a state of the moving body, the odorant being included in an anode off-gas discharged from an anode side of the fuel cell.Type: GrantFiled: November 4, 2010Date of Patent: July 31, 2012Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Keigo Suematsu, Tatsuaki Yokoyama, Shuji Hirakata, Takahide Izutani, Atsushi Matsuba, Katsuhiko Oshikawa
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Patent number: 8153314Abstract: An alert method capable of preventing problems due to excessive lowering of a remaining fuel amount of a fuel cell system is provided. The alert method includes the following steps of: switching over operation/stopped states of the fuel cell system, detecting that the state of the fuel cell system is switched over to a stopped side, and communicating information related to the remaining fuel amount to a user when fuel of the fuel cell system is consumed in a state where the switch is switched over to a stopped side. According to the alert method, information related to the remaining fuel amount is communicated to the user when fuel is consumed by the fuel cell system while in a practically stopped state. Therefore, it is possible to prevent excessive lowering of the remaining fuel amount of the fuel cell system.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2003Date of Patent: April 10, 2012Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kenji Umayahara, Shuji Hirakata
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Patent number: 7923161Abstract: An ECU (114) determines a connection state between a vehicle (200) and an external power supply (300) based on a resistance detected by a resistance detector (106). When the vehicle (200) and the external power supply (300) are connected, power supply from an FC (102) to a drive motor (204) is interrupted by turning off a switch (116) to prevent wiring (105) from having breakage etc. by movement of the vehicle (200), thus inhibiting movement of the vehicle (200).Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2006Date of Patent: April 12, 2011Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Shuji Hirakata
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Publication number: 20110053028Abstract: The present invention provides a technology related to a fuel cell system capable of adjusting a discharge amount of an odorant discharged to an outside of a moving body according to a state of the moving body. The fuel cell system mounted to a moving body includes: a fuel cell which generates electric power by electrochemically reacting a hydrogen gas with an oxidation gas; and a adjusting portion which adjusts an amount of an odorant to be discharged to an outside of the moving body according to a state of the moving body, the odorant being included in an anode off-gas discharged from an anode side of the fuel cell.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 4, 2010Publication date: March 3, 2011Inventors: Keigo Suematsu, Tatsuaki Yokoyama, Shuji Hirakata, Takahide Izutani, Atsushi Matsuba, Katsuhiko Oshikawa
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Patent number: 7851097Abstract: The present invention provides a technology related to a fuel cell system capable of adjusting a discharge amount of an odorant discharged to an outside of a moving body according to a state of the moving body. The fuel cell system mounted to a moving body includes: a fuel cell which generates electric power by electrochemically reacting a hydrogen gas with an oxidation gas; and a adjusting portion which adjusts an amount of an odorant to be discharged to an outside of the moving body according to a state of the moving body, the odorant being included in an anode off-gas discharged from an anode side of the fuel cell.Type: GrantFiled: August 9, 2007Date of Patent: December 14, 2010Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Keigo Suematsu, Tatsuaki Yokoyama, Shuji Hirakata, Takahide Izutani, Atsushi Matsuba, Katsuhiko Oshikawa
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Patent number: 7794888Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a fuel cell system that is capable of sensing unintended gas leakage from a discharge control means based on odor. A fuel cell system is provided with a bypass passage 32 connecting a fuel offgas passage 30 at inlet of a odorant removal unit 40 to the fuel offgas passage 30 in the vicinity of outlet of the odorant removal unit 40, and the fuel cell system facilitates the removal of odor from the discharged fuel offgas, by closing a bypass valve 33 in conjunction with opening a purge valve 31, and suppresses the removal of odor, by opening the bypass valve 33 in conjunction with stop of discharge of fuel offgas caused by closing the purge valve 31.Type: GrantFiled: August 2, 2007Date of Patent: September 14, 2010Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Tatsuaki Yokoyama, Osamu Yumita, Masaaki Matsusue, Takahide Izutani, Keigo Suematsu, Shuji Hirakata, Hiroshi Fujitani
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Publication number: 20100101306Abstract: An odorant addition device for adding odorant to fuel gas in a gas system that consumes the fuel gas, the device including: an addition unit for adding the odorant to fuel gas to be consumed by the gas system; an environmental condition detection unit for detecting in the gas system an environmental condition regarding diffusion of odorant in fuel gas; and an addition adjustment unit for adjusting mode of odorant addition by the addition unit based on the environmental condition detected by the environmental condition detection unit. In this way, it is possible to detect leakage of fuel gas more reliably and improve safety dramatically, in a gas system that consumes the fuel gas as fuel.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 10, 2008Publication date: April 29, 2010Inventors: Keigo Suematsu, Makoto Ueno, Tatsuaki Yokoyama, Hiroshi Fujitani, Atsushi Matsuba, Shuji Hirakata
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Publication number: 20100003559Abstract: A hydrogen supply apparatus includes a hydrogen supply path by which hydrogen released from a hydrogen tank reaches a hydrogen supply target, a branching path from the hydrogen supply path, in which a part of hydrogen released from the hydrogen tank flows, addition means for adding an odorizing agent to the hydrogen flowing in the branching path, a buffer tank storing the hydrogen to which the odorizing agent is added by the addition means, and supplying means for supplying the odorizing agent treated hydrogen in the buffer tank to the hydrogen supply path.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 2, 2007Publication date: January 7, 2010Inventor: Shuji Hirakata
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Publication number: 20090317675Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a fuel cell system that is capable of sensing unintended gas leakage from a discharge control means based on odor. A fuel cell system is provided with a bypass passage 32 connecting a fuel offgas passage 30 at inlet of a odorant removal unit 40 to the fuel offgas passage 30 in the vicinity of outlet of the odorant removal unit 40, and the fuel cell system facilitates the removal of odor from the discharged fuel offgas, by closing a bypass valve 33 in conjunction with opening a purge valve 31, and suppresses the removal of odor, by opening the bypass valve 33 in conjunction with stop of discharge of fuel offgas caused by closing the purge valve 31.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 2, 2007Publication date: December 24, 2009Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Tatsuaki Yokoyama, Osamu Yumita, Masaaki Matsusue, Takahide Izutani, Keigo Suematsu, Shuji Hirakata, Hiroshi Fujitani
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Publication number: 20090308489Abstract: An in-vehicle hydrogen storage apparatus has a hydrogen gas filling passage connected from a hydrogen gas filling port up to the storage device that stores a hydrogen gas to be supplied to a fuel cell, and an odorizing agent supplying device that supplies an odorizing agent to hydrogen gas in at least one of the inside of the storage device and the inside of the hydrogen gas filling passage.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 19, 2007Publication date: December 17, 2009Inventor: Shuji Hirakata
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Publication number: 20090288713Abstract: A tank system includes a high-pressure tank, a detection unit for detecting a temperature increase in at least a portion of the high-pressure tank, a decompression unit for decompressing the high-pressure tank, and a control unit for controlling the decompression unit to decompress the high-pressure tank when a temperature increase in at least a part of the high-pressure tank is detected by the detection unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 11, 2007Publication date: November 26, 2009Inventor: Shuji Hirakata
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Publication number: 20090096464Abstract: An electrical leakage determining circuit determines the occurrence of electrical leakage at a negative electrode of a fuel cell when a potential difference V between a positive electrode of the fuel cell and ground, which is detected by a potential difference detecting circuit, exceeds a preset potential difference threshold Vth, and determines the occurrence of electrical leakage at the positive electrode of the fuel cell when an insulation resistance R between the positive electrode of the fuel cell and ground, which is detected by a resistance detection circuit, falls below a resistance threshold Rth preset to be equal to or smaller than a resistance value Rw of a coolant. Upon determination of the occurrence of electrical leakage, the electrical leakage determining circuit opens a switching contact provided on a power supply line to interrupt power supply from the fuel cell to various power consumption components.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 3, 2008Publication date: April 16, 2009Inventors: Hideyuki Tanaka, Shuji Hirakata, Tatsuaki Yokoyama
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Publication number: 20090004520Abstract: The invention provides a technique for reducing the adverse effects which can arise as a result of water freezing in the reaction gas channels of fuel cell systems. The fuel cell system comprises a fuel cell; a reaction gas channel in which flows reaction gas that is supplied to the fuel cell and that is discharged from the fuel cell; and a cooling water channel in which flows cooling water that has cooled the fuel cell. The cooling water channel is formed in such a way as to cover at least part of the reaction gas channel. This allows the reaction gas channel of the fuel cell system to be kept warm or heated by the cooling water. It is thus possible to reduce the adverse effects which can arise as a result of water freezing in the reaction gas channel in the fuel cell system.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 14, 2006Publication date: January 1, 2009Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Shuji Hirakata
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Patent number: 7438146Abstract: When a request to stop an operation of a fuel cell system is issued, a control unit stops the operation of the fuel cell system and cuts off the electrical connection between the fuel cell and a drive motor by shutting OFF a power supply relay. Where a shift position signal indicating that the shift position SP is at the P or N position is received from a shift selector and the parking brake is set, the control unit determines whether a coolant temperature Tfc detected via coolant detection sensors is at or below 20° C. If it is determined that the detected coolant temperature Tfc is at or below 20° C., the control unit commences a temperature-maintenance operation process.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 2005Date of Patent: October 21, 2008Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Shuji Hirakata, Kenji Umayahara
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Publication number: 20080226957Abstract: The present invention provides a technology related to a fuel cell system capable of adjusting a discharge amount of an odorant discharged to an outside of a moving body according to a state of the moving body. The fuel cell system mounted to a moving body includes: a fuel cell which generates electric power by electrochemically reacting a hydrogen gas with an oxidation gas; and a adjusting portion which adjusts an amount of an odorant to be discharged to an outside of the moving body according to a state of the moving body, the odorant being included in an anode off-gas discharged from an anode side of the fuel cell.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 9, 2007Publication date: September 18, 2008Inventors: Keigo Suematsu, Tatsuaki Yokoyama, Shuji Hirakata, Takahide Izutani, Atsushi Matsuba, Katsuhiko Oshikawa
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Publication number: 20080118797Abstract: An ECU (114) determines a connection state between a vehicle (200) and an external power supply (300) based on a resistance detected by a resistance detector (106). When the vehicle (200) and the external power supply (300) are connected, power supply from an FC (102) to a drive motor (204) is interrupted by turning off a switch (116) to prevent wiring (105) from having breakage etc. by movement of the vehicle (200), thus inhibiting movement of the vehicle (200).Type: ApplicationFiled: February 8, 2006Publication date: May 22, 2008Applicant: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Shuji Hirakata