Patents by Inventor Yuji Okamura
Yuji Okamura 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: 11400833Abstract: A fuel cell vehicle is equipped with a fuel cell system including a gas liquid separation unit for separating gas and liquid and discharging the separated liquid. The fuel cell vehicle includes an acceleration sensor for detecting information regarding acceleration, and a control unit for estimating the discharge state of the liquid from the gas liquid separation unit based on the information regarding acceleration. Based on acceleration applied to the liquid in the gas liquid separation unit, the control unit can estimate whether the liquid is discharged from the gas liquid separation unit or the liquid is not discharged and remains as the remaining liquid in the gas liquid separation unit.Type: GrantFiled: May 1, 2020Date of Patent: August 2, 2022Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Yuji Okamura, Tetsuya Fukuda
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Patent number: 11271228Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a gas-liquid separator, a circulation flow path, a connecting flow path, and a distribution flow path. The gas-liquid separator separates fuel exhaust gas, which flows therein via a fuel exhaust gas flow path, into gas and liquid. The circulation flow path causes a gas discharge port of the gas-liquid separator and the fuel gas supply flow path to communicate with each other. The connecting flow path causes a liquid discharge port of the gas-liquid separator to communicate with the oxygen-containing gas supply flow path, via a drain valve. The distribution flow path causes the circulation flow path or a portion of the fuel gas supply flow path that is on a downstream side of a connecting section connecting to the circulation flow path to communicate with a downstream side of the drain valve of the connecting flow path via an opening and closing valve.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2018Date of Patent: March 8, 2022Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Yuji Okamura, Koichi Takaku, Koichi Kato
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Patent number: 11171346Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a gas liquid separator and a valve device. The gas liquid separator separates water from a fuel off gas discharged from a fuel cell stack. The valve device is provided in a discharge channel for discharging water separated from the gas liquid separator. The valve device includes a fluid inlet for guiding fluid at least containing water in the gas liquid separator toward the valve main body. A heating device is provided at an inner hole of the fluid inlet.Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 2019Date of Patent: November 9, 2021Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Yuji Okamura, Tetsuya Fukuda
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Patent number: 11028808Abstract: An injector device is equipped with a casing enabling hydrogen gas to flow in and flow out and a first plunger and a second plunger which are accommodated inside the casing. Further, by a drive unit, the injector device performs a first operation to integrally displace the first plunger and the second plunger and a second operation to displace the first plunger relative to the second plunger. The second plunger has a flow path allowing the hydrogen gas to flow, and the first plunger is disposed to be inserted into the flow path and is displaced relative to the second plunger to open and close the flow path.Type: GrantFiled: April 2, 2019Date of Patent: June 8, 2021Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Yuji Okamura, Kazuya Mizumoto
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Patent number: 11011767Abstract: In a fuel cell system and a method of controlling the fuel cell system, correlation temperature correlated to temperature of a fuel cell stack is obtained. Further, temperature of a heating unit provided at the bottom of a water storage area of a gas liquid separator is estimated. The presence/absence of water in the gas liquid separator is determined based on the correlation temperature of the fuel cell stack and the temperature of the heating unit.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2018Date of Patent: May 18, 2021Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Yuji Okamura, Tetsuya Fukuda
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Publication number: 20200384892Abstract: A fuel cell vehicle is equipped with a fuel cell system including a gas liquid separation unit for separating gas and liquid and discharging the separated liquid. The fuel cell vehicle includes an acceleration sensor for detecting information regarding acceleration, and a control unit for estimating the discharge state of the liquid from the gas liquid separation unit based on the information regarding acceleration. Based on acceleration applied to the liquid in the gas liquid separation unit, the control unit can estimate whether the liquid is discharged from the gas liquid separation unit or the liquid is not discharged and remains as the remaining liquid in the gas liquid separation unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 1, 2020Publication date: December 10, 2020Inventors: Yuji Okamura, Tetsuya Fukuda
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Patent number: 10862142Abstract: A flow rate adjustment structure includes: a fixed member including a fixed surface on which a fixed opening is formed; a movable member including a movable surface on which a movable opening is formed, and to be displaced relative to the fixed member; and an adjustment unit that variably adjusts an overlap area or an overlap frequency between the fixed opening and the movable opening by relatively displacing the movable surface along the fixed surface.Type: GrantFiled: November 26, 2018Date of Patent: December 8, 2020Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yuji Okamura, Hideo Numata, Makoto Hattori
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Patent number: 10644332Abstract: A gas-liquid separator includes a casing in which there are formed an inlet port to which a gas-liquid two-phase flow is supplied, and an outlet port through which a gas flow is discharged after the gas-liquid two-phase flow has been separated into a gas and a liquid. A gas-liquid separation chamber is formed in the casing by a partition wall. The inlet port opens on a surface of the partition wall in the gas-liquid separation chamber. The gas-liquid separator further includes a deflection member configured to change a flow direction of the gas-liquid two-phase flow that flows in from the inlet port, and a clearance is formed between the deflection member and an inner wall of the casing.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2018Date of Patent: May 5, 2020Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Yuji Okamura, Tetsuya Fukuda, Yoichiro Saito
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Publication number: 20190309711Abstract: An injector device is equipped with a casing enabling hydrogen gas to flow in and flow out and a first plunger and a second plunger which are accommodated inside the casing. Further, by a drive unit, the injector device performs a first operation to integrally displace the first plunger and the second plunger and a second operation to displace the first plunger relative to the second plunger. The second plunger has a flow path allowing the hydrogen gas to flow, and the first plunger is disposed to be inserted into the flow path and is displaced relative to the second plunger to open and close the flow path.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 2, 2019Publication date: October 10, 2019Inventors: Yuji Okamura, Kazuya Mizumoto
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Publication number: 20190252701Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a gas liquid separator and a valve device. The gas liquid separator separates water from a fuel off gas discharged from a fuel cell stack. The valve device is provided in a discharge channel for discharging water separated from the gas liquid separator. The valve device includes a fluid inlet for guiding fluid at least containing water in the gas liquid separator toward the valve main body. A heating device is provided at an inner hole of the fluid inlet.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 1, 2019Publication date: August 15, 2019Inventors: Yuji Okamura, Tetsuya Fukuda
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Publication number: 20190198897Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a gas-liquid separator, a circulation flow path, a connecting flow path, and a distribution flow path. The gas-liquid separator separates fuel exhaust gas, which flows therein via a fuel exhaust gas flow path, into a gas and a liquid. The circulation flow path causes a gas discharge port of the gas-liquid separator and the fuel gas supply flow path to be in communication with each other. The connecting flow path causes a liquid discharge port of the gas-liquid separator to be in communication with the oxygen-containing gas supply flow path, via a drain valve. The distribution flow path causes the fuel gas supply flow path or the circulation flow path to be in communication with the oxygen-containing gas supply flow path, via an opening and closing valve.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2018Publication date: June 27, 2019Inventors: Yuji Okamura, Koichi Takaku, Koichi Kato
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Publication number: 20190198898Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a gas-liquid separator, a circulation flow path, a connecting flow path, and a distribution flow path. The gas-liquid separator separates fuel exhaust gas, which flows therein via a fuel exhaust gas flow path, into gas and liquid. The circulation flow path causes a gas discharge port of the gas-liquid separator and the fuel gas supply flow path to communicate with each other. The connecting flow path causes a liquid discharge port of the gas-liquid separator to communicate with the oxygen-containing gas supply flow path, via a drain valve. The distribution flow path causes the circulation flow path or a portion of the fuel gas supply flow path that is on a downstream side of a connecting section connecting to the circulation flow path to communicate with a downstream side of the drain valve of the connecting flow path via an opening and closing valve.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2018Publication date: June 27, 2019Inventors: Yuji Okamura, Koichi Takaku, Koichi Kato
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Publication number: 20190165390Abstract: A flow rate adjustment structure includes: a fixed member including a fixed surface on which a fixed opening is formed; a movable member including a movable surface on which a movable opening is formed, and to be displaced relative to the fixed member; and an adjustment unit that variably adjusts an overlap area or an overlap frequency between the fixed opening and the movable opening by relatively displacing the movable surface along the fixed surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 26, 2018Publication date: May 30, 2019Inventors: Yuji OKAMURA, Hideo NUMATA, Makoto HATTORI
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Publication number: 20190157695Abstract: In a fuel cell system and a method of controlling the fuel cell system, correlation temperature correlated to temperature of a fuel cell stack is obtained. Further, temperature of a heating unit provided at the bottom of a water storage area of a gas liquid separator is estimated. The presence/absence of water in the gas liquid separator is determined based on the correlation temperature of the fuel cell stack and the temperature of the heating unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 16, 2018Publication date: May 23, 2019Inventors: Yuji Okamura, Tetsuya Fukuda
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Publication number: 20180375122Abstract: A gas-liquid separator includes a casing in which there are formed an inlet port to which a gas-liquid two-phase flow is supplied, and an outlet port through which a gas flow is discharged after the gas-liquid two-phase flow has been separated into a gas and a liquid. A gas-liquid separation chamber is formed in the casing by a partition wall. The inlet port opens on a surface of the partition wall in the gas-liquid separation chamber. The gas-liquid separator further includes a deflection member configured to change a flow direction of the gas-liquid two-phase flow that flows in from the inlet port, and a clearance is formed between the deflection member and an inner wall of the casing.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 20, 2018Publication date: December 27, 2018Inventors: Yuji Okamura, Tetsuya Fukuda, Yoichiro Saito
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Publication number: 20180375123Abstract: A gas-liquid separator includes a casing in which a first inlet port, a second inlet port, and an outlet port are formed. Inside the casing, a first gas-liquid separation chamber and a second gas-liquid separation chamber are formed by a partition wall. A gas-liquid two-phase flow that flows in from the first inlet port passes through the first gas-liquid separation chamber and is subjected to gas-liquid separation. On the other hand, a gas-liquid two-phase flow that flows in from the second inlet port passes through the second gas-liquid separation chamber and is subjected to gas-liquid separation. The gas flows after having undergone gas-liquid separation are collected together in a collection chamber, and are further discharged from the outlet port.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 20, 2018Publication date: December 27, 2018Inventors: Yuji Okamura, Tetsuya Fukuda, Yoichiro Saito
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Publication number: 20180342749Abstract: A control unit of a fuel cell system issues an instruction to open/close the drain valve after placing a drain valve provided for a gas liquid separator in an open state and discharging water from the gas liquid separator. Therefore, when the drain valve is opened/closed, the drain valve vibrates.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 16, 2018Publication date: November 29, 2018Inventors: Yuji Okamura, Koichi Takaku
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Patent number: 9478604Abstract: A semiconductor device provided with a silicon carbide semiconductor substrate, and an ohmic metal layer joined to one surface of the silicon carbide semiconductor substrate in an ohmic contact and composed of a metal material whose silicide formation free energy and carbide formation free energy respectively take negative values. The ohmic metal layer is composed of, for example, a metal material such as molybdenum, titanium, chromium, manganese, zirconium, tantalum, or tungsten.Type: GrantFiled: April 9, 2015Date of Patent: October 25, 2016Assignee: ROHM CO., LTD.Inventors: Yuji Okamura, Masashi Matsushita
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Patent number: 9340372Abstract: To provide workpiece inspection equipment that allows increasing inspection items without increasing the installation space of the inspection equipment as a whole by disposing a plurality of inspection stages around a rotating table for workpiece feeding. Workpiece inspection equipment 20 including a rotating table 21 for workpiece feeding which intermittently rotates with workpiece housing portions 22 provided at a plurality of circumferentially equally divided positions, a workpiece carry-in stage S0 and a workpiece carry-out stage S6 provided at predetermined positions separated in the circumferential direction of the rotating table 21, and a plurality of inspection stages S1 to S5 provided at predetermined circumferential positions of the rotating table between both stages S0 and S6, in which by increasing the number of workpiece housing portions 22 to be provided in the rotating table 21, the number of inspection stages can be increased without increasing the rotating table 21 in diameter.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2013Date of Patent: May 17, 2016Assignee: NITTAN VALVE CO., LTD.Inventors: Yosuke Makino, Yuji Okamura, Hiroyuki Oda
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Publication number: 20150329297Abstract: To provide workpiece inspection equipment that allows increasing inspection items without increasing the installation space of the inspection equipment as a whole by disposing a plurality of inspection stages around a rotating table for workpiece feeding. Workpiece inspection equipment 20 including a rotating table 21 for workpiece feeding which intermittently rotates with workpiece housing portions 22 provided at a plurality of circumferentially equally divided positions, a workpiece carry-in stage S0 and a workpiece carry-out stage S6 provided at predetermined positions separated in the circumferential direction of the rotating table 21, and a plurality of inspection stages S1 to S5 provided at predetermined circumferential positions of the rotating table between both stages S0 and S6, in which by increasing the number of workpiece housing portions 22 to be provided in the rotating table 21, the number of inspection stages can be increased without increasing the rotating table 21 in diameter.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 30, 2013Publication date: November 19, 2015Applicant: NITTAN VALVE CO., LTD.Inventors: Yosuke Makino, Yuji Okamura, Hiroyuki Oda