Patents by Inventor Tsutomu Iwaki
Tsutomu Iwaki 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: 5468309Abstract: A hydrogen storage alloy electrode comprising a hydrogen storage alloy having a major phase of C15 (MgCu.sub.2) type Laves phase with a composition expressed as ZrMn.sub.w M.sub.x Cr.sub.y Ni.sub.z (where M is one or more elements selected from V and Mo), or its hydride. In this formula, one composition range is 0.6.ltoreq.w.ltoreq.0.8, 0.1.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.0.3, 0<y.ltoreq.0.2, and 1.2.ltoreq.z.ltoreq.1.5, and the other composition range is 0.6.ltoreq.w.ltoreq.0.8, 0.1.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.0.3, 0<y.ltoreq.0.2, and 0.8.ltoreq.z.ltoreq.1.2.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 1993Date of Patent: November 21, 1995Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hajime Seri, Yasuharu Yamamura, Yoichiro Tsuji, Yoshio Moriwaki, Tsutomu Iwaki
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Patent number: 5281390Abstract: In the method of the present invention for producing a hydrogen-storing alloy, part or whole of single substance of Zr as a starting material is replaced with a ferrozirconium or a zircalloy. This method enables production of a hydrogen-storing alloy at reduced material and production costs and with high efficiency and safety of work. The alloy produced by this method has high homogeneity with no segregation. It is thus possible to obtain a hydrogen-storing alloy superior in hydrogen-storing characteristics such as hydrogen storage capacity, reaction speed, and electrode reaction efficiency in an electrolyte. It is also possible to obtain, by using this alloy, a nickel-hydrogen storage battery having a large storage capacity and capable of performing quick charging and discharging, while exhibiting longer life and higher economy.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 1992Date of Patent: January 25, 1994Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventors: Takaharu Gamo, Yoshio Moriwaki, Tsutomu Iwaki, Akemi Shintani
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Patent number: 5268143Abstract: In the method of the present invention for producing a hydrogen-storing alloy, part or whole of single substance of Zr as a starting material is replaced with a ferrozirconium or a zircalloy. This method enables production of a hydrogen-storing alloy at reduced material and production costs and with high efficiency and safety of work. The alloy produced by this method has high homogeneity with no segregation. It is thus possible to obtain a hydrogen-storing alloy superior in hydrogen-storing characteristics such as hydrogen storage capacity, reaction speed, and electrode reaction efficiency in an electrolyte. It is also possible to obtain, by using this alloy, a nickel-hydrogen storage battery having a large storage capacity and capable of performing quick charging and discharging, while exhibiting longer life and higher economy.Type: GrantFiled: November 25, 1991Date of Patent: December 7, 1993Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventors: Takaharu Gamo, Yoshio Moriwaki, Tsutomu Iwaki, Akemi Shintani
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Patent number: 5205985Abstract: A hydrogen storage alloy preferably used for electrodes in an alkaline storage battery is provided. The alloy is of the general formula ZrMn.sub.w V.sub.x M.sub.y Ni.sub.z which comprises C15-type Laves phases having a crystal structure similar to that of MgCu.sub.2 as a main alloy phase, where M is an element selected from the group consisting of Fe and Co; w, x, y, and z are respectively the mole ratios of Mn, V, M and Ni to Zr; the conditions 0.4.ltoreq.w.ltoreq.0.8, 0.1.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.0.3, 0.ltoreq.y.ltoreq.0.2, 1.0.ltoreq.z.ltoreq.1.5 and 2.0.ltoreq.w+x+y+z.ltoreq.2.4 are satisfied.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 1992Date of Patent: April 27, 1993Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hajime Seri, Yoshio Moriwaki, Yasuharu Yamamura, Yoichiro Tsuji, Tsutomu Iwaki
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Patent number: 5149383Abstract: The present invention provides a hydrogen storage alloy electrode made of a pentanary or higher multi-component hydrogen storage alloy or a hydride thereof where the alloy comprises at least Zr, Mn, Cr, Ni, and M where M is one or more elements selected from V an Mo, and a major component of the alloy phase is C.sub.15 (MgCu.sub.2) type Laves phase. This hydrogen storage alloy electrode may be enhanced in its performance by subjecting the alloy after the production thereof to a homogenizing heat-treatment at a temperature of 900.degree. to 1300.degree. C. in vacuum or in an inert gaseous atmosphere.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 1991Date of Patent: September 22, 1992Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hajime Seri, Yoshio Moriwaki, Akemi Shintani, Tsutomu Iwaki
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Patent number: 5131920Abstract: The invention relates to a new method of manufacturing a sealed rechargeable alkaline battery including metal oxides as positive electrode active materials and a hydrogen absorbing alloy as a negative electrode material. The basic principle of the method is that, instead of the conventional electrochemical formation, the property of a hydrogen absorbing alloy is utilized to cause the negative electrode to absorb hydrogen to thereby achieve precharged portions within the negative electrode having a relatively larger capacity as compared with the positive electrode. Regardless of the kind of positive electrode, the method of the invention insures a broad freedom in the capacity appropriation between the positive and negative electrodes.Type: GrantFiled: June 11, 1991Date of Patent: July 21, 1992Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yoshio Moriwaki, Hajime Seri, Akemi Shintani, Tsutomu Iwaki, Yoshinori Toyoguchi
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Patent number: 4997729Abstract: An anode for high temperature fuel cell containing metal hydrides or hydrogen absorbing alloys at least in part of the anode material of high temperature fuel cell operating while consuming a gas containing hydrogen, or a gas substantially containing hydrogen, as the fuel. In particular, at least in part of the anode for molten carbonate fuel cell, either metal hydrides or hydrogen absorbing alloys is used, and the performance of the anode is enhanced, and it contributes to extension of the life of the anode.Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 1988Date of Patent: March 5, 1991Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kazuhito Hatoh, Junji Niikura, Hisaaki Gyoten, Noboru Taniguchi, Takaharu Gamo, Yoshio Moriwaki, Tsutomu Iwaki
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Patent number: 4946646Abstract: A hydrogen storage electrode comprising a body of an alloy of the general formula, AB.sub.a, or a hydride thereof, in which A represents at least one element selected from the group consisting of Zr, Ti, Hf, Ta, Y, Ca, Mg, La, Ce, Pr, Mm, Nb, Nd, Mo, Al and Si, B represents at least one element selected from Ni, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Cu, Zn, Al, Si, Nb, Mo, W, Mg, Ca, Y, Ta, Pd, Ag, Au, Cd, In, Sn, Bi, La, Ce, Mm where Mm is a mixture of rare earth elements, Pr, Nd, Th and Sm provided that A and B are different from each other, and a is a value of from 1.0 to 2.5. The alloy has an alloy phase which is substantially a Laves phase of an intermetallic compound of A and B, and has a crystal structure of a hexegonally symmetric C14 type having crystal lattice constants, a and c, of from 4.8 to 5.2 angstroms and from 7.9 to 8.3 angstroms, respectively, and/or a cubically symmetric C15 type having a crystal lattice constant of from 6.92 to 7.70 angstroms.Type: GrantFiled: May 16, 1988Date of Patent: August 7, 1990Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventors: Takaharu Gamo, Yoshio Moriwaki, Tsutomu Iwaki
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Patent number: 4444727Abstract: A hydrogen gas purification apparatus which includes at least one set of two hydrogen purification containers coupled to each other for heat exchanging therebetween, each of the hydrogen purification containers containing a hydrogen absorbing alloy. The hydrogen gas purification apparatus is so arranged as to cause hydrogen gas to be selectively desorbed from and absorbed into the hydrogen absorbing alloy by the amount of heat produced when the hydrogen gas is selectively absorbed into and desorbed from the hydrogen absorbing alloy.Type: GrantFiled: June 21, 1982Date of Patent: April 24, 1984Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. Ltd.Inventors: Nobuyuki Yanagihara, Takaharu Gamo, Yoshio Moriwaki, Tsutomu Iwaki
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Patent number: 4370163Abstract: A hydrogen storage Ti-Fe alloy of the general formula, Ti.sub.1-x A.sub.x Fe.sub.y-z B.sub.z, in which A is Zr, Hf or a mixture thereof, B is a member selected from Cr, Cu, Co, Mo, V, Ni, Nb, Mn and a mixture thereof, and x, y and z are values of certain ranges, respectively. The alloy is predominantly comprised of an effective alloy phase of CsCl type body-centered cubic crystals. The alloy of the formula where z=O is within the scope of the invention. A process for making an alloy of this type is also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: September 4, 1980Date of Patent: January 25, 1983Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company, LimitedInventors: Yoshio Moriwaki, Takaharu Gamou, Nobuyuki Yanagihara, Toshio Yamashita, Tsutomu Iwaki
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Patent number: 4304270Abstract: Softening and separation of an active material in flat-type pasted positive plates are prevented by a simple process with an inexpensive material so that the life may be comparable with that of clad type positive plates. Finely divided, corrosion inhibitive, thermoplastic resin powder is sprayed or otherwise applied over a pasted positive plate and heated and melted to form thin porous layers over the major surfaces of the positive plate. According to another aspect of the invention, the same resin powder is melted and bonded within the positive plate so that porous layers may be formed within the plate in addition to the porous layers on the major surfaces.Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 1979Date of Patent: December 8, 1981Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventors: Tsutomu Iwaki, Yoshihiro Kobayashi
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Patent number: 4251603Abstract: A battery electrode comprises a plaque made of a sponge-like porous metal matrix having a multiplicity of cells connected with each other three-dimensionally, wherein the sectional area of the gratings making up the sponge-like metal porous plaque decreases continuously along the thickness of the plaque from the surface toward the central part and an active material is impregnated in the porous plaque.Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 1980Date of Patent: February 17, 1981Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventors: Isao Matsumoto, Tsutomu Iwaki, Nobuyuki Yanagihara
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Patent number: 4217939Abstract: An improved method of mass producing a battery electrode made of porous metal having uniformly impregnated therein a large amount of active material which comprises applying to the outer surface of a porous metal having continuously interlinked pore portions an active material in paste form and scrubbing the outer surface of the porous metal with a scrubber while agitating the active material disposed below the porous metal by means of a stirrer.Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 1978Date of Patent: August 19, 1980Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventors: Nobuyuki Yanagihara, Isao Matsumoto, Mamoru Ishitobi, Tsutomu Iwaki
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Patent number: 4001040Abstract: A fuel cell is constructed in such a manner that a porous film which is electrolyte-resistant and inactive to fuel is allowed to adhere to one surface of a fuel electrode and an electrolyte containing hydrazine fuel supplied to the cell and passing through said porous film and fuel electrode reaches the side of an oxidation electrode. In such fuel cell, self-decomposition of fuel due to direct contact with the fuel electrode occurs in a small degree and utilization efficiency of fuel is high. Furthermore, such fuel cell can be operated with an electrolyte containing fuel in a high concentration.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 1973Date of Patent: January 4, 1977Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventors: Masataro Fukuda, Tsutomu Iwaki, Yoshihiro Kobayashi
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Patent number: 3981749Abstract: This specification discloses a gas diffusion electrode for a battery, wherein a layer which is formed of a binding agent and substance such as graphite, nickel oxide, aluminum oxide or the like so as to represent no catalytic action with respect to a fuel is provided on the electrolyte side of a high-porosity sintered member of which the constituent is nickel, thereby preventing a decrease in the electrode potential due to the active fuel and in the utilization rate of such fuel, while at the same time restraining permeation of a gas supplied to the electrode into the electrolyte and leakage of such electrolyte into the gas.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 1973Date of Patent: September 21, 1976Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventors: Masataro Fukuda, Tsutomu Iwaki, Hiroshi Kawano