Patents by Inventor Akira Iwamura
Akira Iwamura 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: 7410722Abstract: A battery pack includes a plurality of batteries (2) and a plurality of holding frames (3) each of which is capable of accommodating and holding a corresponding one of the batteries (2) with spaces (10a, 10b) provided therein and which are opened on both side faces opposed to each other to form openings. When the holding frames (3) respectively accommodating and holding the batteries (2) are arranged with their openings aligned; end plates (4a, 4b) are arranged at both ends of the holding frames (3); and the end plates (4a, 4b) and the holding frames (3) are jointed as a unit so as to form an outer case (5) that forms a cooling space (6) surrounding each battery (2), a gas-discharge passage portion (18) is provided in each holding frame (3), which seals and covers a space surrounding a gas-discharge port (8) provided in the battery (2) and has connection ports (19a, 19b) opened on both side faces of the holding frame (3).Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 2003Date of Patent: August 12, 2008Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventors: Akira Iwamura, Kenji Kimura
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Publication number: 20050130033Abstract: A battery pack includes a plurality of batteries (2) and a plurality of holding frames (3) each of which is capable of accommodating and holding a corresponding one of the batteries (2) with spaces (10a, 10b) provided therein and which are opened on both side faces opposed to each other to form openings. When the holding frames (3) respectively accommodating and holding the batteries (2) are arranged with their openings aligned; end plates (4a, 4b) are arranged at both ends of the holding frames (3); and the end plates (4a, 4b) and the holding frames (3) are jointed as a unit so as to form an outer case (5) that forms a cooling space (6) surrounding each battery (2), a gas-discharge passage portion (18) is provided in each holding frame (3), which seals and covers a space surrounding a gas-discharge port (8) provided in the battery (2) and has connection ports (19a, 19b) opened on both side faces of the holding frame (3).Type: ApplicationFiled: June 3, 2003Publication date: June 16, 2005Inventors: Akira Iwamura, Kenji Kimura
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Patent number: 6673485Abstract: A battery module is fabricated as follows. A plurality of elements for electromotive force is accommodated in a one-piece cylindrical case and is arranged in series in an axial direction of the case. The elements for electromotive force are electrically connected through an electric connector passing through a resin partition wall which separates the elements for electromotive force from one another. The both ends of the case are sealed with sealing plates.Type: GrantFiled: September 7, 2001Date of Patent: January 6, 2004Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kenji Kimura, Akira Iwamura
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Patent number: 6635380Abstract: The present invention provides a high output storage battery with a high reliability that is easy to fabricate. This storage battery comprises a plurality of monoblock containers united to each other with space provided between the adjacent monoblock containers and one common cover to seal the openings of those monoblock containers. Each monoblock container has a plurality of cell compartments separated from each other by partitions. Each of those cell compartments houses an assembly element comprising a plurality of positive electrode plates and negative electrode plates stacked with separators placed between them.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 2000Date of Patent: October 21, 2003Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kazuhiko Shimoda, Akira Iwamura, Yasuyuki Yoshihara, Ayako Hirao, Nobuyuki Takami, Kiichi Koike
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Patent number: 6440180Abstract: An enclosed storage battery having an excellent closed tightness and reliability is obtained. An annular bump is formed integrally with the upper periphery of the penetration hole of a lead-alloy bushing buried in the top of the lid for covering the jar. The leading end of the pole passing through the penetration hole of the bushing is inserted into the lower part of the annular bump. A recess is formed on the, top of the leading end of the pole so as to be easier to melt the upper portion of the pole, and by welding with the inner wall of the penetration hole of the bushing, the annular bump is later melted, and the bushing penetration hole is filled up with the fused lead.Type: GrantFiled: April 22, 1998Date of Patent: August 27, 2002Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventor: Akira Iwamura
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Patent number: 6400122Abstract: The battery holding device is structurally simplified. It is not necessary to use many parts to form the casing, and the parts used have simple shapes. Accordingly, it is very easy to finish the parts. Also, the parts can be easily assembled. The battery holding device embodying the present invention includes a pair of plate type supports having a first plate type support and a second plate type support, and a projection disposed on at least one of the first and second plate type supports. The first support and the second support are opposed to each other. The projection extends toward the opposed support. The first support and the second support are connected to each other via the projection. A pair of the plate type supports and the projection form a casing. The space is formed by an inner surface of the casing, the casing has a space formed inside the casing, and the casing catches and holds a plurality of batteries arranged in rows in the space.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 2000Date of Patent: June 4, 2002Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Inc.Inventor: Akira Iwamura
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Publication number: 20020031702Abstract: A battery module is fabricated as follows. A plurality of elements for electromotive force is accommodated in a one-piece cylindrical case and is arranged in series in an axial direction of the case. The elements for electromotive force are electrically connected through an electric connector passing through a resin partition wall which separates the elements for electromotive force from one another. The both ends of the case are sealed with sealing plates.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 7, 2001Publication date: March 14, 2002Applicant: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kenji Kimura, Akira Iwamura
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Patent number: 6312851Abstract: A sealed secondary battery assembly in which electricity-generating elements (1) are accommodated in battery cases (3) formed in rectangular tubular shape having a bottom, a plurality of cells (2a to 2j) constituted by sealing the apertures of battery cases (3) by covers (4) are arranged in series, and these are electrically connected by means of electrical connecting elements (9), wherein the battery cases (3) of the individual cells (2a to 2j) are constituted by a unitary battery case (51) and electrical connection elements (9) are arranged so as to pass through partition sections (53, 54) that define the space for the individual cells (2a to 2j), and coolant passages (55, 56) that communicate with the outside are formed in the partition sections (53, 54).Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 1999Date of Patent: November 6, 2001Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventors: Shinsuke Fukuda, Mitsugu Takaki, Kenji Sato, Akira Iwamura, Toshinobu Yokoyama
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Publication number: 20010009739Abstract: An enclosed storage battery having an excellent closed tightness and reliability is obtained. An annular bump is formed integrally with the upper periphery of the penetration hole of a lead-alloy bushing buried in the top of the lid for covering the jar. The leading end of the pole passing through the penetration hole of the bushing is inserted into the lower part of the annular bump. A recess is formed on the top of the leading end of the pole so as to be easier to melt the upper portion of the pole, and by welding with the inner wall of the penetration hole of the bushing, the annular bump is later melted, and the bushing penetration hole is filled up with the fused lead.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 22, 1998Publication date: July 26, 2001Inventor: AKIRA IWAMURA
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Patent number: 6243932Abstract: A manufacturing method for an expanded grid includes the steps of: (a) supplying a thin plate of band form from the longitudinal direction, (b) forming a plurality of intermittent cuts parallel to the edge in a first region, excluding the central portion, of the thin plate of band form, (c) bending the central portion at a desired angle, and (d) expanding and developing the cuts in the width direction, while moving sequentially in the longitudinal direction the thin plate having the first region forming the plurality of cuts and the central portion not having the cuts, in which the first track distance of the outermost side portion of the first region having the cuts developed and formed is nearly the same distance as the track distance of the central portion. The plane distortion of the grid is eliminated, the width dimension of the grid is stable, and the quality of the electrode plate using such grid is enhanced. Further, local stress concentration of the grid is suppressed.Type: GrantFiled: August 27, 1998Date of Patent: June 12, 2001Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventors: Go Kashio, Akira Iwamura
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Patent number: 6212744Abstract: The apparatus comprises a reticulating machine (39) for simultaneously producing in metal sheet (2) of strip form a plurality of slits (67) disposed in a continuous and zigzag arrangement extending in the lengthwise direction thereof, and an expanding machine (40) for expanding in the lateral direction the metal sheet (2) in which slits (67) have been formed in order to produce a lozenge-shaped mesh configuration. The expanding machine (40) comprises two endless conveyor elements (44) disposed at the two lateral edges of the metal sheet (2), chuck members (47), a plurality of which are provided in an equally-spaced arrangement to the endless conveyor elements (44), and a center guide member (91) for conveying the metal sheet (2) while guiding the transverse central portion such that it is deflected to one side in the direction of thickness of the metal sheet (2).Type: GrantFiled: August 7, 1998Date of Patent: April 10, 2001Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventors: Akira Inanobe, Yasuyuki Yoshihara, Akira Iwamura, Fumiaki Seta
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Patent number: 5189962Abstract: There is provided an axle box suspension, having an axle spring, according to the present invention, wherein an axle box body is formed by providing an axle anchor rod at one end of the axle box, and the axle anchor rod is coupled to a truck frame through means of a resilient element, so that longitudinal, lateral and vertical swivel movements between the axle and the truck frame can be achieved by deforming the resilient element and the axle anchor rod without rattling therebetween, whereby the running stability of the vehicle is greatly improved. Furthermore, since the axle box suspension does not have relatively sliding components or gaps defined therebetween, wear and a deterioration due to years of operation are effectively reduced or eliminated, whereby replacement of the components will be obviated and maintenance thereof will be much more facilitated.Type: GrantFiled: May 29, 1992Date of Patent: March 2, 1993Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Akira Iwamura, Shuji Akashi
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Patent number: 4795666Abstract: A fiber reinforced structural member comprises a shell element formed of a fiber reinforced material such as, for example, a fiber reinforced plastic, and a core element having a large joining surface fixedly joined to the inner surface of the shell element, and comprising one or a plurality of primary core elements each formed of a fiber reinforced material such as, for example, a fiber reinforced plastic, in the form of a tube or a channel, and internally filled with a filling material such as, for example, foam polyurethane. Since the shell element and the core element are joined together over the large joining area, an external force applied to the fiber reinforced structural member is distributed over the large joining surface and hence the stress in the joining surface is reduced, so that the durability and reliability of the fiber reinforced structural member is enhanced.Type: GrantFiled: May 12, 1987Date of Patent: January 3, 1989Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yukio Okada, Akira Iwamura, Shuji Akashi
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Patent number: 4505457Abstract: A height adjusting device for the truck of a railroad vehicle including spring retainer supporting members consisting of a plurality of concentric segments which are arranged around the axis of a spring retainer in symmetry with respect to the axis. Each segment has an upper surface which is so stepped that the height thereof is successively increased as the distance of the upper surface from the spring axis increases, providing thereby a plurality of horizontal supporting surfaces, and a tongue or groove for locating and fixing the segment. The spring height can easily be adjusted simply by changing the position of the segments relative to the spring retainer.Type: GrantFiled: June 2, 1982Date of Patent: March 19, 1985Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yukio Okada, Akira Iwamura