Patents by Inventor Tsuyoshi EHARA

Tsuyoshi EHARA 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).

  • Publication number: 20240194990
    Abstract: A power storage device includes a case having a metal lid with an insertion hole, a terminal member inserted through the insertion hole, and a resin member insulating between the case and the terminal member. The terminal member is made of a flat plate-shaped metal member bent to form an inner terminal part and an outer terminal part including a connection flat surface. The outer terminal part includes an outer main portion extending from an area joined to the inner terminal part to one side in a thickness direction of the inner terminal part, forming over half of the connection flat surface, and an outer protruding portion protruding on the other side in the thickness direction, forming the rest of the connection flat surface. The terminal member has a T-shaped cross-section at a portion including the joined area of the inner and outer terminal parts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2023
    Publication date: June 13, 2024
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi EHARA, Yozo UCHIDA, Yuki SATO, Syoichi TSUCHIYA, Masataka ASAI, Tsuyoshi ASANO, Masahiro UCHIMURA, Takashi TAKIMOTO, Shigeru MATSUMOTO, Yasuaki NAGANO
  • Publication number: 20240186626
    Abstract: A battery includes: an outer casing accommodating a power generating element; and a terminal member connected thereto and having a terminal surface exposed outside the outer casing. The battery further includes a conductive closing member formed with a through hole for the terminal member, and an insulating sealing resin member closing a gap between the closing member and the terminal member over the entire perimeter of the through hole. The outer surface of the sealing resin member outside the closing member is defined by an outward-facing portion connected to the terminal member and a sloped portion continuous with and more steeply sloped than the outward-facing portion to have a height from an outer surface of the closing member, smaller toward a farther side from the terminal member. Those outward-facing portion and sloped portion are provided outside an outer edge of the terminal surface over the entire perimeter thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2023
    Publication date: June 6, 2024
    Applicants: PRIMEARTH EV ENERGY CO., LTD., TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Prime Planet Energy & Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Shigeru MATSUMOTO, Yozo UCHIDA, Tsuyoshi EHARA, Yuki SATO
  • Publication number: 20240178495
    Abstract: A power storage device includes a case having a metal lid with an insertion hole, a terminal member inserted through the insertion hole, and a resin member insulating between the case and the terminal member. The lid has a surface facing outside, including a ring-shaped hole-surrounding region around the insertion hole, to which the resin member is airtightly firmly fixed, and an outer region contacting the resin member. A two-region consisting of two, the hole-surrounding region and the outer region, has a two-region length at a two-region length ratio of 3.0 or more, which is the ratio of the maximum two-region length to the minimum two-region length, and a seal length of 1.4 or less, which is the ratio of the maximum seal length to the minimum seal length of the hole-surrounding region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2023
    Publication date: May 30, 2024
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi EHARA, Yozo UCHIDA, Yuki SATO, Syoichi TSUCHIYA, Masataka ASAI, Tsuyoshi ASANO, Masahiro UCHIMURA, Takashi TAKIMOTO, Shigeru MATSUMOTO, Yasuaki NAGANO
  • Publication number: 20240170816
    Abstract: A method for producing a power storage device includes a process of insert-molding. This process is to relatively move a first mold and a second mold to press a terminal top surface of a terminal member by a top-face close-contact portion of the first mold to a second-mold side and to press a to-be-contacted portion of the terminal member by a contact portion of the second mold to a first-mold side so that a deformed portion of the terminal member is elastically deformed. A resin member is thus insert-molded while the terminal top surface is pressed and tightly contacted with the top-face contact portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2023
    Publication date: May 23, 2024
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi EHARA, Yozo UCHIDA, Yuki SATO, Syoichi TSUCHIYA, Masataka ASAI, Tsuyoshi ASANO, Masahiro UCHIMURA, Yasuaki NAGANO, Shigeru MATSUMOTO
  • Publication number: 20240170777
    Abstract: A power storage device includes a case member, a terminal member inserted in an insertion hole of the case member, and a resin member joined to the case member and the terminal member. The resin member includes, on a resin outer surface exposed on an outer side of the case member, at least any one of a recess and a projection portion increasing a creepage distance from a terminal outer surface, which is exposed on the outer side of the case member, of the terminal member to a case outer surface exposed on the outer side of the case member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2023
    Publication date: May 23, 2024
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi EHARA, Yozo UCHIDA, Yuki SATO, Syoichi TSUCHIYA, Masataka ASAI, Tsuyoshi ASANO, Masahiro UCHIMURA, Takashi TAKIMOTO, Shigeru MATSUMOTO, Yasuaki NAGANO
  • Publication number: 20240170776
    Abstract: A method for producing a power storage device includes an insert-molding step in which a resin member is formed by insert molding with a terminal member inserted in an insertion hole of a case member. This insert-molding step is performed using a molding mold that includes a top-surface contact portion which is to face and tightly contact with a terminal top surface of the terminal member, an inner annular flat portion and an outer annular flat portion to form a frame top surface of the resin member, and an annular protruding portion to form an annular groove of the resin member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2023
    Publication date: May 23, 2024
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi EHARA, Yozo UCHIDA, Yuki SATO, Syoichi TSUCHIYA, Masataka ASAI, Tsuyoshi ASANO, Masahiro UCHIMURA, Takashi TAKIMOTO, Shigeru MATSUMOTO, Yasuaki NAGANO
  • Publication number: 20240170814
    Abstract: A method for producing a power storage device includes an insert-molding step of making a resin member by insert-molding with respect to a terminal member inserted in an insertion hole of a lid. In this insert-molding step, the insertion hole of the lid is placed in front of a gate, and a molten resin is injected through the gate to flow in an opposite gate-side space in a cavity through the insertion hole, allowing the molten resin to spread over the entire cavity, to form the resin member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2023
    Publication date: May 23, 2024
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi EHARA, Yozo UCHIDA, Yuki SATO, Syoichi TSUCHIYA, Masataka ASAI, Tsuyoshi ASANO, Masahiro UCHIMURA, Shigeru MATSUMOTO, Yasuaki NAGANO
  • Publication number: 20240128493
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a joining technique capable of improving strength and reducing electrical resistance of a connecting portion that performs heterometal interjunction in a sealed battery. A mode of the sealed battery disclosed herein includes an electrode body, a battery case, a positive electrode internal terminal, a positive electrode external terminal, a negative electrode internal terminal, and a negative electrode external terminal. In the sealed battery, in a connecting portion between the negative electrode internal terminal and the negative electrode external terminal, an upper end of the negative electrode internal terminal and the negative electrode external terminal are stacked with a plated layer interposed therebetween and, at the same time, the negative electrode internal terminal and the negative electrode external terminal are joined to each other via the plated layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2023
    Publication date: April 18, 2024
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi EHARA, Yoshinori SHIBATA
  • Publication number: 20240113366
    Abstract: A method for producing a power storage device includes forming a lid, forming a lid assembly, closing, and welding. In forming a lid, there is included forming, by forging, a protruding portion between a peripheral portion and an insertion-hole surrounding portion of the lid to block scattered light of a laser beam from being irradiated to a resin member, with a distance D from an end surface of the peripheral portion to a side surface of the protruding portion falling within 0.5t (D?0.5t) relative to a thickness t of the lid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2023
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Inventors: Yuki SATO, Yozo UCHIDA, Tsuyoshi EHARA, Syoichi TSUCHIYA, Masataka ASAI, Tsuyoshi ASANO, Masahiro UCHIMURA, Shigeru MATSUMOTO, Yasuaki NAGANO
  • Publication number: 20240113368
    Abstract: A method for producing a power storage device includes closing an opening portion of a case body with a lid of a lid assembly, and laser-welding the opening portion of the case body and a peripheral portion of the lid over their entire circumference. A resin member has an outer surface including a scattered light-reached surface to which scattered light of a laser beam directly reaches, at least a part of the scattered light-reached surface including a smoothed region having a surface roughness of 0.6 ?m or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2023
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Inventors: Yuki SATO, Yozo UCHIDA, Tsuyoshi EHARA, Syoichi TSUCHIYA, Masataka ASAI, Tsuyoshi ASANO, Masahiro UCHIMURA, Shigeru MATSUMOTO, Yasuaki NAGANO
  • Publication number: 20240113367
    Abstract: A method for producing a power storage device includes placing a lid assembly that includes a lid and a terminal member integrated therewith via a resin member to close an opening portion of a case body with the lid, and laser-welding the opening portion of the case body and the peripheral portion of the lid over an entire circumference. In placing the lid assembly, a peripheral high-level region, in which a peripheral outer surface of the peripheral portion of the lid is located on the outer side relative to an opening end surface of the opening portion of the case body is provided in proximate long-side opening portions, close of the opening portion and proximate long-side peripheral portions of the peripheral portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2023
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Inventors: Yuki SATO, Yozo UCHIDA, Tsuyoshi EHARA, Syoichi TSUCHIYA, Masataka ASAI, Tsuyoshi ASANO, Masahiro UCHIMURA, Shigeru MATSUMOTO, Yasuaki NAGANO
  • Publication number: 20240079743
    Abstract: A battery terminal has a two-piece configuration of different types of conductive materials. A first piece placed outside and a second piece placed inside with including a current collecting portion are fixed in two portions of a first fixing portion and a second fixing portion. The first fixing portion is positioned between the current collecting portion and the second fixing portion in a longitudinal direction in a shape of the terminal. Leaning of the current collecting portion with respect to a center in a short-side direction and leaning of the first fixing portion with respect to a center are opposite to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2023
    Publication date: March 7, 2024
    Applicants: PRIMEARTH EV ENERGY CO., LTD., TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, PRIME PLANET ENERGY & SOLUTIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Shigeru MATSUMOTO, Yozo UCHIDA, Yuki SATO, Tsuyoshi EHARA
  • Patent number: 11908991
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a joining technique capable of improving strength and reducing electrical resistance of a connecting portion that performs heterometal interjunction in a sealed battery. A mode of the sealed battery disclosed herein includes an electrode body, a battery case, a positive electrode internal terminal, a positive electrode external terminal, a negative electrode internal terminal, and a negative electrode external terminal. In the sealed battery, in a connecting portion between the negative electrode internal terminal and the negative electrode external terminal, an upper end of the negative electrode internal terminal and the negative electrode external terminal are stacked with a plated layer interposed therebetween and, at the same time, the negative electrode internal terminal and the negative electrode external terminal are joined to each other via the plated layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Ehara, Yoshinori Shibata
  • Publication number: 20240030545
    Abstract: In a sealed battery provided with an electrode body and a battery case accommodating the electrode body, the battery case includes a case body having an opening and accommodating the electrode body, and a plate-shaped lid closing the opening of the case body. The lid includes a safety valve made of resin. The safety valve is formed with a ring-shaped groove that is recessed in a thickness direction of the lid and has a ring shape in plan view. In the safety valve, a thinnest portion having a thinnest thickness in the safety valve includes a ring-shaped thinnest portion of a ring shape in plan view including the bottom of the ring-shaped groove.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2023
    Publication date: January 25, 2024
    Inventors: Yozo UCHIDA, Tsuyoshi EHARA, Yuki SATO, Syoichi TSUCHIYA, Masataka ASAI, Tsuyoshi ASANO, Masahiro UCHIMURA
  • Publication number: 20230387516
    Abstract: In a sealed power storage device, a device case includes a resin case body with an opening and a resin lid closing the opening. The resin lid is made of electrical insulation resin. A metal terminal member is extended from inside to outside of the device case, penetrating through the resin lid. The resin lid is hermetically molded together with the metal terminal member so that the resin lid is directly joined to the outer peripheral surface of the metal terminal member without interposing another member between the resin lid and the metal terminal member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2023
    Publication date: November 30, 2023
    Inventors: Yozo UCHIDA, Tsuyoshi EHARA, Yuki SATO, Syoichi TSUCHIYA, Masataka ASAI, Tsuyoshi ASANO, Masahiro UCHIMURA, Shigeru MATSUMOTO, Yasuaki NAGANO
  • Publication number: 20230387524
    Abstract: A sealed power storage device includes a device case having a metal wall portion formed with liquid inlet, and a sealing member sealing the liquid inlet to cover the liquid inlet from above an outer surface of the metal wall portion. The sealing member is a resin sealing member made of resin. The outer surface of the metal wall portion includes an annular seal surface surrounding an opening edge of the liquid inlet. The resin sealing member includes an annular joined portion hermetically joined to the annular seal surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2023
    Publication date: November 30, 2023
    Inventors: Yuki SATO, Yozo UCHIDA, Tsuyoshi EHARA, Syoichi TSUCHIYA, Masataka ASAI, Tsuyoshi ASANO, Masahiro UCHIMURA, Shigeru MATSUMOTO, Yasuaki NAGANO
  • Publication number: 20230387541
    Abstract: In a sealed battery, a battery case includes a metal wall portion formed with a gas vent hole. Of an outer surface of the metal wall portion, a hole-surrounding annular surface surrounding an opening edge of the gas vent hole includes an annular seal surface surrounding the opening edge of the gas vent hole. A resin safety valve member covering and closing the the gas vent hole includes an annular joined portion hermetically joined to the annular seal surface. The annular joined portion of the resin safety valve breaks when the internal pressure of the battery case reaches a valve opening pressure, thereby opening the resin safety valve member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2023
    Publication date: November 30, 2023
    Inventors: Yozo UCHIDA, Tsuyoshi EHARA, Yuki SATO, Syoichi TSUCHIYA, Masataka ASAI, Tsuyoshi ASANO, Masahiro UCHIMURA, Shigeru MATSUMOTO, Yasuaki NAGANO
  • Publication number: 20230387542
    Abstract: In a sealed battery, a battery case includes a metal wall portion formed with a gas vent hole. The metal wall portion includes an annular seal surface surrounding an opening edge of the gas vent hole. A resin safety valve member closing the gas vent hole includes an annular joined portion hermetically joined to the annular seal surface and an inside portion located more inside than the annular joined portion in a radial direction. The inside portion breaks when the internal pressure of the battery case reaches a valve opening pressure, thereby opening the resin safety valve member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2023
    Publication date: November 30, 2023
    Inventors: Yozo UCHIDA, Tsuyoshi EHARA, Yuki SATO, Syoichi TSUCHIYA, Masataka ASAI, Tsuyoshi ASANO, Masahiro UCHIMURA, Shigeru MATSUMOTO, Yasuaki NAGANO
  • Publication number: 20230246312
    Abstract: In a secondary battery, a lid member and a negative terminal are integrated through a resin. The negative terminal includes a first member and a second member. A first bonded surface of a lower surface of the first member is bonded to a second bonded surface of an upper surface of the second member. The first member includes a projecting portion at an outer peripheral edge of the lower surface of the first member. The second member includes a chamfered portion at an outer peripheral edge of the upper surface of the second member. The projecting portion and the chamfered portion are combined with each other so that the projecting portion contacts the chamfered portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2022
    Publication date: August 3, 2023
    Inventors: Shigeru MATSUMOTO, Yozo UCHIDA, Yuki SATO, Tsuyoshi EHARA
  • Patent number: 11639015
    Abstract: A method for producing a secondary battery includes a space formation step and an injection molding step. In the space formation step, an outer periphery of a resin blocking portion with a quadrangular prism shape, in a terminal, is plugged to form a resin injection space around the terminal. In the injection molding step, a resin is injected into the injection space. The space formation step includes a constant-dimension pressing step and a constant-pressure pressing step. In the constant-dimension pressing step, a section between a pair of first outer peripheral surfaces of the resin blocking portion, extending parallelly to each other is pressed, whereby a distance between the first outer peripheral surfaces is brought to a predetermined distance. In the constant-pressure pressing step, a section between a pair of second outer peripheral surfaces of the resin blocking portion, extending in a direction intersecting the first outer peripheral surfaces, is pressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: PRIME PLANET ENERGY & SOLUTIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Ehara, Hideki Asadachi