Patents by Inventor Yoshihiro Funayama

Yoshihiro Funayama 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: 9920405
    Abstract: A surface-treated component manufacturing method and apparatus capable of detecting an end of a steel bar. Quenching (surface treatment) is locally applied to a plurality of steel bars aligned end-to-end in an axial direction while moving the steel bars in the axial direction. Quenched portions are locally formed on each of the steel bars through a moving step, a detecting step, and a quenching step. In the detecting step, an end portion of one steel bar is displaced relative to an end portion of another steel bar with a pressure roller device, and passage of the end of the one or another steel bar is detected with a detection sensor. In the quenching step, the quenched portions are locally formed on each of the steel bars with a quenching device at a quenching timing determined on the basis of the result of detection by the detection sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryoju Obata, Yoshihiro Funayama, Tatsuya Yahagi, Masahiro Yamada
  • Patent number: 9419291
    Abstract: A moving body, such as a vehicle, having one or more fuel cells mounted thereon. The fuel cells, which power the moving body, generate electricity and release water as a by-product. Accordingly, the moving body includes a water discharge module that releases water produced by the fuel cells to the atmosphere using a water outlet. The water outlet may be located in a front section of the moving body. The moving body may further include a water tank that temporarily stores water before releasing the water to the atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Naohiro Yoshida, Toshiyuki Kondo, Masahiko Hibino, Osamu Yumita, Yoshihiro Funayama
  • Patent number: 9196914
    Abstract: A moving body, such as a vehicle, having one or more fuel cells mounted thereon. The fuel cells, which power the moving body, generate electricity and release water as a by-product. Accordingly, the moving body includes a water discharge module that releases water produced by the fuel cells to the atmosphere using a water outlet. The water outlet may be located in a front section of the moving body. The moving body may further include a water tank that temporarily stores water before releasing the water to the atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Naohiro Yoshida, Toshiyuki Kondo, Masahiko Hibino, Osamu Yumita, Yoshihiro Funayama
  • Publication number: 20150247222
    Abstract: A surface-treated component manufacturing method and apparatus capable of detecting an end of a steel bar. Quenching (surface treatment) is locally applied to a plurality of steel bars aligned end-to-end in an axial direction while moving the steel bars in the axial direction. Quenched portions are locally formed on each of the steel bars through a moving step, a detecting step, and a quenching step. In the detecting step, an end portion of one steel bar is displaced relative to an end portion of another steel bar with a pressure roller device, and passage of the end of the one or another steel bar is detected with a detection sensor. In the quenching step, the quenched portions are locally formed on each of the steel bars with a quenching device at a quenching timing determined on the basis of the result of detection by the detection sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2015
    Publication date: September 3, 2015
    Inventors: Ryoju OBATA, Yoshihiro FUNAYAMA, Tatsuya YAHAGI, Masahiro YAMADA
  • Patent number: 8965608
    Abstract: Water contained in exhaust gas discharged from a fuel cell stack is separated by a gas-liquid separator and is accumulated in a recovery tank. The procedure of the invention sets a release amount of water and selects one or multiple positions for water release, based on the driving conditions including the vehicle speed and the acceleration, the turning state, activation or non-activation of skid reduction control, the distance from any object detected by clearance sonars, a distance from a subsequent vehicle measured by an extremely high frequency radar, and the presence of raindrops detected by a raindrop detection sensor, and releases the water accumulated in the recovery tank from water outlets at the selected one or multiple positions among water outlets at multiple different locations. This arrangement ensures adequate release of the water produced by the fuel cell stack to the atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Naohiro Yoshida, Toshiyuki Kondo, Masahiko Hibino, Osamu Yumita, Yoshihiro Funayama
  • Patent number: 8942871
    Abstract: Water contained in exhaust gas discharged from a fuel cell stack is separated by a gas-liquid separator and is accumulated in a recovery tank. The procedure of the invention sets a release amount of water and selects one or multiple positions for water release, based on the driving conditions including the vehicle speed and the acceleration, the turning state, activation or non-activation of skid reduction control, the distance from any object detected by clearance sonars, a distance from a subsequent vehicle measured by an extremely high frequency radar, and the presence of raindrops detected by a raindrop detection sensor, and releases the water accumulated in the recovery tank from water outlets at the selected one or multiple positions among water outlets at multiple different locations. This arrangement ensures adequate release of the water produced by the fuel cell stack to the atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Naohiro Yoshida, Toshiyuki Kondo, Masahiko Hibino, Osamu Yumita, Yoshihiro Funayama
  • Patent number: 8851219
    Abstract: A moving body, such as a vehicle, having one or more fuel cells mounted thereon. The fuel cells, which power the moving body, generate electricity and release water as a by-product. Accordingly, the moving body includes a water discharge module that releases water produced by the fuel cells to the atmosphere using a water outlet. The water outlet may be located in a front section of the moving body. The moving body may further include a water tank that temporarily stores water before releasing the water to the atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Naohiro Yoshida, Toshiyuki Kondo, Masahiko Hibino, Osamu Yumita, Yoshihiro Funayama
  • Publication number: 20130295473
    Abstract: A moving body, such as a vehicle, having one or more fuel cells mounted thereon. The fuel cells, which power the moving body, generate electricity and release water as a by-product. Accordingly, the moving body includes a water discharge module that releases water produced by the fuel cells to the atmosphere using a water outlet. The water outlet may be located in a front section of the moving body. The moving body may further include a water tank that temporarily stores water before releasing the water to the atmosphere.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Inventors: Naohiro YOSHIDA, Toshiyuki KONDO, Masahiko HIBINO, Osamu YUMITA, Yoshihiro FUNAYAMA
  • Publication number: 20130295474
    Abstract: A moving body, such as a vehicle, having one or more fuel cells mounted thereon. The fuel cells, which power the moving body, generate electricity and release water as a by-product. Accordingly, the moving body includes a water discharge module that releases water produced by the fuel cells to the atmosphere using a water outlet. The water outlet may be located in a front section of the moving body. The moving body may further include a water tank that temporarily stores water before releasing the water to the atmosphere.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Inventors: Naohiro YOSHIDA, Toshiyuki KONDO, Masahiko HIBINO, Osamu YUMITA, Yoshihiro FUNAYAMA
  • Publication number: 20130149617
    Abstract: A moving body, such as a vehicle, having one or more fuel cells mounted thereon. The fuel cells, which power the moving body, generate electricity and release water as a by-product. Accordingly, the moving body includes a water discharge module that releases water produced by the fuel cells to the atmosphere using a water outlet. The water outlet may be located in a front section of the moving body. The moving body may further include a water tank that temporarily stores water before releasing the water to the atmosphere.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2012
    Publication date: June 13, 2013
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Naohiro YOSHIDA, Toshiyuki KONDO, Masahiko HIBINO, Osamu YUMITA, Yoshihiro FUNAYAMA
  • Publication number: 20110313606
    Abstract: Water contained in exhaust gas discharged from a fuel cell stack is separated by a gas-liquid separator and is accumulated in a recovery tank. The procedure of the invention sets a release amount of water and selects one or multiple positions for water release, based on the driving conditions including the vehicle speed and the acceleration, the turning state, activation or non-activation of skid reduction control, the distance from any object detected by clearance sonars, a distance from a subsequent vehicle measured by an extremely high frequency radar, and the presence of raindrops detected by a raindrop detection sensor, and releases the water accumulated in the recovery tank from water outlets at the selected one or multiple positions among water outlets at multiple different locations. This arrangement ensures adequate release of the water produced by the fuel cell stack to the atmosphere.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2011
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Naohiro YOSHIDA, Toshiyuki KONDO, Masahiko HIBINO, Osamu YUMITA, Yoshihiro FUNAYAMA
  • Publication number: 20110313605
    Abstract: Water contained in exhaust gas discharged from a fuel cell stack is separated by a gas-liquid separator and is accumulated in a recovery tank. The procedure of the invention sets a release amount of water and selects one or multiple positions for water release, based on the driving conditions including the vehicle speed and the acceleration, the turning state, activation or non-activation of skid reduction control, the distance from any object detected by clearance sonars, a distance from a subsequent vehicle measured by an extremely high frequency radar, and the presence of raindrops detected by a raindrop detection sensor, and releases the water accumulated in the recovery tank from water outlets at the selected one or multiple positions among water outlets at multiple different locations. This arrangement ensures adequate release of the water produced by the fuel cell stack to the atmosphere.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2011
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Naohiro YOSHIDA, Toshiyuki KONDO, Masahiko HIBINO, Osamu YUMITA, Yoshihiro FUNAYAMA
  • Patent number: 7975788
    Abstract: Water contained in exhaust gas discharged from a fuel cell stack 22 is separated by a gas-liquid separator 48 and is accumulated in a recovery tank 54. The procedure of the invention sets a release amount of water and selects one or multiple positions for water release, based on the driving conditions including the vehicle speed and the acceleration, the turning state, activation or non-activation of skid reduction control, the distance from any object detected by clearance sonars 94a through 94d, a distance from a subsequent vehicle measured by an extremely high frequency radar 92, and the presence of raindrops detected by a raindrop detection sensor, and releases the water accumulated in the recovery tank 54 from water outlets at the selected one or multiple positions among water outlets 58a through 58f at multiple different locations. This arrangement ensures adequate release of the water produced by the fuel cell stack 22 to the atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Naohiro Yoshida, Toshiyuki Kondo, Masahiko Hibino, Osamu Yumita, Yoshihiro Funayama
  • Publication number: 20100176220
    Abstract: A moving body, such as a vehicle, having one or more fuel cells mounted thereon. The fuel cells, which power the moving body, generate electricity and release water as a by-product. Accordingly, the moving body includes a water discharge module that releases water produced by the fuel cells to the atmosphere using a water outlet. The water outlet may be located in a front section of the moving body. The moving body may further include a water tank that temporarily stores water before releasing the water to the atmosphere.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2010
    Publication date: July 15, 2010
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Naohiro YOSHIDA, Toshiyuki KONDO, Masahiko HIBINO, Osamu YUMITA, Yoshihiro FUNAYAMA
  • Publication number: 20070007194
    Abstract: In a fuel cell system 20 mounted on a fuel cell vehicle of the invention, water separated by a gas-liquid separator 38 included in a hydrogen supply system and by a gas-liquid separator 48 included in an air supply discharge system 40 is temporarily accumulated in buffer tanks 62a through 62c, which are set inside a front fender or inside a front bumper of the vehicle. The accumulated water is released from water outlets 64b and 64c located forward and backward a front wheel of the vehicle having relatively little potential effects of vehicle wind or air flow caused by motion of the vehicle. For the purpose of reducing the potential effects of the vehicle wind on the released water, the fuel cell vehicle may have an air flow path that makes the released water flown obliquely backward the vehicle by the air flow or form an air curtain of exhaust gas or the air ahead of the released water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2004
    Publication date: January 11, 2007
    Inventors: Naohiro Yoshida, Toshiyuki Kondo, Masahiko Hibino, Osamu Yumita, Yoshihiro Funayama
  • Publication number: 20070000702
    Abstract: Water contained in exhaust gas discharged from a fuel cell stack 22 is separated by a gas-liquid separator 48 and is accumulated in a recovery tank 54. The procedure of the invention sets a release amount of water and selects one or multiple positions for water release, based on the driving conditions including the vehicle speed and the acceleration, the turning state, activation or non-activation of skid reduction control, the distance from any object detected by clearance sonars 94a through 94d, a distance from a subsequent vehicle measured by an extremely high frequency radar 92, and the presence of raindrops detected by a raindrop detection sensor, and releases the water accumulated in the recovery tank 54 from water outlets at the selected one or multiple positions among water outlets 58a through 58f at multiple different locations. This arrangement ensures adequate release of the water produced by the fuel cell stack 22 to the atmosphere.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2004
    Publication date: January 4, 2007
    Inventors: Naohiro Yoshida, Toshiyuki Kondo, Masahiko Hibino, Osamu Yumita, Yoshihiro Funayama
  • Patent number: 5090715
    Abstract: A movable foot rest for motorcycles, easily adjustable upwardly and downwardly, as well as forwardly and rearwardly, so as to provide optimum comfort to riders of different physiques, and under various travel conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1992
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Jun Nakajima, Yoshihiro Funayama, Kazuyoshi Otsuka