Patents by Inventor Daisuke KANNO

Daisuke KANNO 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: 11431001
    Abstract: A fuel cell includes: a membrane electrode gas diffusion layer assembly; a frame member which surrounds the membrane electrode gas diffusion layer assembly; and a pair of separators with the frame member and the membrane electrode gas diffusion layer assembly sandwiched therebetween. The separators include a manifold hole through which a reaction gas is supplied or discharged. The frame member includes a manifold opening which communicates with the manifold hole, an in-plane opening in which the membrane electrode gas diffusion layer assembly is disposed, a gas flow path which communicates with the in-plane opening and the manifold opening, a seal portion which is welded to the separators around the gas flow path, and an accommodation portion which is provided between the seal portion and the gas flow path to accommodate a material of the frame member caused to flow by welding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Daisuke Kanno, Yoshihiro Yamagata
  • Patent number: 11063270
    Abstract: A fuel cell includes: a membrane electrode gas diffusion layer assembly; a frame member which surrounds the membrane electrode gas diffusion layer assembly; and a pair of separators with the frame member and the membrane electrode gas diffusion layer assembly sandwiched therebetween. The separators include a manifold hole through which a reaction gas is supplied or discharged. The frame member includes a manifold opening which communicates with the manifold hole, an in-plane opening in which the membrane electrode gas diffusion layer assembly is disposed, a gas flow path which communicates with the in-plane opening and the manifold opening, a seal portion which is welded to the separators around the gas flow path, and an accommodation portion which is provided between the seal portion and the gas flow path to accommodate a material of the frame member caused to flow by welding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Daisuke Kanno, Yoshihiro Yamagata
  • Publication number: 20210104754
    Abstract: A fuel cell includes: a membrane electrode gas diffusion layer assembly; a frame member which surrounds the membrane electrode gas diffusion layer assembly; and a pair of separators with the frame member and the membrane electrode gas diffusion layer assembly sandwiched therebetween. The separators include a manifold hole through which a reaction gas is supplied or discharged. The frame member includes a manifold opening which communicates with the manifold hole, an in-plane opening in which the membrane electrode gas diffusion layer assembly is disposed, a gas flow path which communicates with the in-plane opening and the manifold opening, a seal portion which is welded to the separators around the gas flow path, and an accommodation portion which is provided between the seal portion and the gas flow path to accommodate a material of the frame member caused to flow by welding.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2020
    Publication date: April 8, 2021
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Daisuke KANNO, Yoshihiro YAMAGATA
  • Patent number: 10840522
    Abstract: A fuel cell includes stacked power cells and an end cell. Each power cell includes a first plate and two first separators sandwiching the first plate. The end cell includes a second plate and two second separators sandwiching the second plate. Through holes formed in each plate and each separator form a power generating gas inlet passage extending in the power cells. The end cell has at least one of a “first structure,” in which a bottom wall of the through hole of the second plate or an upstream one of the second separators is downwardly recessed compared to corresponding portions of the power cells, and a “second structure,” in which a bottom wall of the through hole of the second plate or a downstream one of the second separators upwardly projects compared to corresponding portions of the power cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignees: TOYOTA SHATAI KABUSHIKI KAISHA, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takashi Kondo, Keiji Hashimoto, Daisuke Kanno
  • Patent number: 10790532
    Abstract: A fuel cell stack includes: a plurality of power generation cells stacked on top of each other; a dummy cell provided on at least one of both ends of the plurality of power generation cells, the dummy cell being configured not to generate electric power; and a reaction gas supply manifold extending through the plurality of power generation cells and the dummy cell. The dummy cell includes one or more dummy cell reaction gas introduction channels as a reaction gas introduction channel that introduces reaction gas from the reaction gas supply manifold to a center area of the dummy cell. At least one of the dummy cell reaction gas introduction channels is provided so as to connect to a bottom face at a lower side of the reaction gas supply manifold in a direction of gravitational force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Toyota Shatai Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Daisuke Kanno, Takenori Yamasaki, Atsushi Ida, Daisuke Hayashi, Shuji Kurita, Takashi Kondo, Keiji Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 10727523
    Abstract: A fuel cell stack includes multiple power generating units and a dummy unit, and respectively providing openings providing reactant-gas supply manifolds. Each power generating unit includes one or more first supply passages extending from the opening to a central region thereof. The dummy unit includes one or more second supply passages extending from the opening to a central region thereof, and a second supply passage port at the highest position in the vertical direction among the second supply passage ports where the second supply passages are connected to the opening is located at a lower position in the vertical direction than a first supply passage port at the highest position in the vertical direction among the first supply passage ports where the first supply passages are connected to the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Toyota Shatai Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Daisuke Kanno, Takenori Yamasaki, Atsushi Ida, Daisuke Hayashi, Shuji Kurita, Takashi Kondo, Keiji Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 10361448
    Abstract: A power generation cell of a fuel cell stack has a plurality of first introduction flow paths arranged along a direction of gravity to introduce the reaction gas to a power generation region. The dummy cell has a plurality of second introduction flow paths arranged along the direction of gravity to introduce the reaction gas to a central region. The fuel cell stack has at least one of a first configuration in which the flow path width of the second introduction flow path at a lowermost end in the direction of gravity is narrower than the average flow path width of the second introduction flow paths, and a second configuration in which the flow path width of the first introduction flow path at a lowermost end in the direction of gravity is wider than the average flow path width of the first introduction flow paths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Daisuke Hayashi, Daisuke Kanno
  • Publication number: 20190097247
    Abstract: A fuel cell includes: a membrane electrode gas diffusion layer assembly; a frame member which surrounds the membrane electrode gas diffusion layer assembly; and a pair of separators with the frame member and the membrane electrode gas diffusion layer assembly sandwiched therebetween. The separators include a manifold hole through which a reaction gas is supplied or discharged. The frame member includes a manifold opening which communicates with the manifold hole, an in-plane opening in which the membrane electrode gas diffusion layer assembly is disposed, a gas flow path which communicates with the in-plane opening and the manifold opening, a seal portion which is welded to the separators around the gas flow path, and an accommodation portion which is provided between the seal portion and the gas flow path to accommodate a material of the frame member caused to flow by welding.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2018
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Daisuke KANNO, Yoshihiro YAMAGATA
  • Patent number: 10243230
    Abstract: A fuel battery 11 includes a cell laminated body 21 including lamination of a plurality of cells 20, a current-collecting plate 22 disposed at an end of the cell laminated body 21, the current-collecting plate being made of a metal material, and an anti-rust plate 23 disposed between the cell laminated body 21 and the current-collecting plate 22, the anti-rust plate being made of a metal material that is different from the metal material of the current-collecting plate 22. The anti-rust plate 23 includes a protrusion 31, and the current-collecting plate 22 includes a fitting hole 41, into which the protrusion 31 is fitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masaya Kobayashi, Daisuke Kanno, Tomoo Yoshizumi
  • Patent number: 10164266
    Abstract: A separator to be used in a fuel cell includes a gas flow path including a plurality of gas flow path grooves that allow reactive gas to flow; a gas discharge hole used for discharging the reactive gas from the gas flow path; and an outlet flow path part positioned between the gas discharge hole and the gas flow path and used for flowing the reactive gas discharged from the gas flow path into the gas discharge hole. The plurality of gas flow path grooves includes a coupling flow path part coupled to the outlet flow path part. The coupling flow path part includes tilted gas flow path grooves tilted from a direction of gravitational force. A groove width of the tilted gas flow path groove in the coupling flow path part is set such that a force of a wall surface of the tilted gas flow path groove to retain water by means of a surface tension of the water is larger than a force applied to the water by the gravitational force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Norishige Konno, Daisuke Kanno
  • Publication number: 20180277878
    Abstract: A fuel cell stack includes multiple power generating units and a dummy unit, and respectively providing openings providing reactant-gas supply manifolds. Each power generating unit includes one or more first supply passages extending from the opening to a central region thereof. The dummy unit includes one or more second supply passages extending from the opening to a central region thereof, and a second supply passage port at the highest position in the vertical direction among the second supply passage ports where the second supply passages are connected to the opening is located at a lower position in the vertical direction than a first supply passage port at the highest position in the vertical direction among the first supply passage ports where the first supply passages are connected to the opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2018
    Publication date: September 27, 2018
    Applicants: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, TOTOYA SHATAI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Daisuke KANNO, Takenori YAMASAKI, Atsushi IDA, Daisuke HAYASHI, Shuji KURITA, Takashi KONDO, Keiji HASHIMOTO
  • Patent number: 10033051
    Abstract: Disclosed is a fuel cell stack which is able to prevent corrosion from occurring in a separator. The fuel cell stack formed by arranging a terminal on both ends of a cell stacked body in which a plurality of cells including a membrane electrode assembly and separators interposing the membrane electrode assembly therebetween is stacked, includes a rust preventive plate which is arranged between a metal separator and a positive electrode terminal on a high potential side of the cell stacked body, and includes a material more noble than that of the separator in the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Daisuke Kanno, Makoto Yoshida, Tomoo Yoshizumi, Yu Morimoto
  • Publication number: 20180183087
    Abstract: A fuel cell stack includes: a plurality of power generation cells stacked on top of each other; a dummy cell provided on at least one of both ends of the plurality of power generation cells, the dummy cell being configured not to generate electric power; and a reaction gas supply manifold extending through the plurality of power generation cells and the dummy cell. The dummy cell includes one or more dummy cell reaction gas introduction channels as a reaction gas introduction channel that introduces reaction gas from the reaction gas supply manifold to a center area of the dummy cell. At least one of the dummy cell reaction gas introduction channels is provided so as to connect to a bottom face at a lower side of the reaction gas supply manifold in a direction of gravitational force.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2017
    Publication date: June 28, 2018
    Applicants: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, TOYOTA SHATAI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Daisuke KANNO, Takenori YAMASAKI, Atsushi IDA, Daisuke HAYASHI, Shuji KURITA, Takashi KONDO, Keiji HASHIMOTO
  • Publication number: 20180166728
    Abstract: A power generation cell of a fuel cell stack has a plurality of first introduction flow paths arranged along a direction of gravity to introduce the reaction gas to a power generation region. The dummy cell has a plurality of second introduction flow paths arranged along the direction of gravity to introduce the reaction gas to a central region. The fuel cell stack has at least one of a first configuration in which the flow path width of the second introduction flow path at a lowermost end in the direction of gravity is narrower than the average flow path width of the second introduction flow paths, and a second configuration in which the flow path width of the first introduction flow path at a lowermost end in the direction of gravity is wider than the average flow path width of the first introduction flow paths.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2017
    Publication date: June 14, 2018
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Daisuke HAYASHI, Daisuke KANNO
  • Publication number: 20180145352
    Abstract: A fuel cell includes stacked power cells and an end cell. Each power cell includes a first plate and two first separators sandwiching the first plate. The end cell includes a second plate and two second separators sandwiching the second plate. Through holes formed in each plate and each separator form a power generating gas inlet passage extending in the power cells. The end cell has at least one of a “first structure,” in which a bottom wall of the through hole of the second plate or an upstream one of the second separators is downwardly recessed compared to corresponding portions of the power cells, and a “second structure,” in which a bottom wall of the through hole of the second plate or a downstream one of the second separators upwardly projects compared to corresponding portions of the power cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2017
    Publication date: May 24, 2018
    Applicants: TOYOTA SHATAI KABUSHIKI KAISHA, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takashi KONDO, Keiji HASHIMOTO, Daisuke KANNO
  • Publication number: 20160218374
    Abstract: A separator to be used in a fuel cell includes a gas flow path including a plurality of gas flow path grooves that allow reactive gas to flow; a gas discharge hole used for discharging the reactive gas from the gas flow path; and an outlet flow path part positioned between the gas discharge hole and the gas flow path and used for flowing the reactive gas discharged from the gas flow path into the gas discharge hole. The plurality of gas flow path grooves includes a coupling flow path part coupled to the outlet flow path part. The coupling flow path part includes tilted gas flow path grooves tilted from a direction of gravitational force. A groove width of the tilted gas flow path groove in the coupling flow path part is set such that a force of a wall surface of the tilted gas flow path groove to retain water by means of a surface tension of the water is larger than a force applied to the water by the gravitational force.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2014
    Publication date: July 28, 2016
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Norishige KONNO, Daisuke KANNO
  • Publication number: 20160141635
    Abstract: To achieve a flat member for fuel cells in which the grain size of titanium is optimized to suppress local elongation and to reduce the siding distance to a punching die, enabling a reduction in ablation of the punching die. The flat member for fuel cells is an expand passage 10a or a separator 10b, and punched out portions 13, 14 are formed in the flat member by, for example, punch pressing. The flat member includes titanium or an alloy of titanium, and the titanium has an average grain size of 15.9 ?m or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2015
    Publication date: May 19, 2016
    Applicants: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, TOYOTA SHATAI KABUSHIKI KAISHA, TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Daisuke KANNO, Takashi KONDOU, Yoshinori SHINOZAKI, Makoto SAZAWA, Satoshi KAWABE
  • Publication number: 20160141633
    Abstract: Disclosed is a fuel cell stack which is able to prevent corrosion from occurring in a separator. The fuel cell stack formed by arranging a terminal on both ends of a cell stacked body in which a plurality of cells including a membrane electrode assembly and separators interposing the membrane electrode assembly therebetween is stacked, includes a rust preventive plate which is arranged between a metal separator and a positive electrode terminal on a high potential side of the cell stacked body, and includes a material more noble than that of the separator in the surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2015
    Publication date: May 19, 2016
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Daisuke KANNO, Makoto YOSHIDA, Tomoo YOSHIZUMI, Yu MORIMOTO
  • Publication number: 20160133983
    Abstract: A fuel battery 11 includes a cell laminated body 21 including lamination of a plurality of cells 20, a current-collecting plate 22 disposed at an end of the cell laminated body 21, the current-collecting plate being made of a metal material, and an anti-rust plate 23 disposed between the cell laminated body 21 and the current-collecting plate 22, the anti-rust plate being made of a metal material that is different from the metal material of the current-collecting plate 22. The anti-rust plate 23 includes a protrusion 31, and the current-collecting plate 22 includes a fitting hole 41, into which the protrusion 31 is fitted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2015
    Publication date: May 12, 2016
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masaya KOBAYASHI, Daisuke KANNO, Tomoo YOSHIZUMI