Patents by Inventor Etsuya Ikeda

Etsuya Ikeda 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: 10186715
    Abstract: A metal plate-bonded single fuel cell unit according to one aspect of the present invention includes a single cell element having a solid electrolyte and fuel and air electrodes disposed on opposite sides of the solid electrolyte and a metal plate bonded by a brazing material to the single cell element. The metal plate contains Ti and Al and has an Al—Ti-containing oxide layer present on a surface of the metal plate, an Al oxide film present on a surface of the Al—Ti-containing oxide layer and a Ti-containing phase apart from a part of a surface of the Al oxide film in contact with the brazing material while being present on a remaining part of the surface of the Al oxide film. The metal plate-bonded single fuel cell unit has a Ti reaction phase formed at an interface between the solid electrolyte and the brazing material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yasuo Okuyama, Makoto Kuribayashi, Etsuya Ikeda
  • Patent number: 10164286
    Abstract: A separator-fitted single fuel cell having a single fuel cell, a plate-shaped metallic separator that includes a through hole, and a joint portion that joins the single fuel cell to the metallic separator and is made of a brazing material containing Ag. The joint portion includes a protruding portion that protrudes from a gap between the single fuel cell and the first main surface of the metallic separator toward the through hole. The protruding portion is lower than the second main surface as viewed from the single fuel cell. The single fuel cell includes a sealing portion that is disposed along the entire circumference of the through hole of the metallic separator, covers the protruding portion and a part of the second main surface, and is made of a sealing material containing glass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Makoto Kuribayashi, Yasuo Okuyama, Etsuya Ikeda
  • Patent number: 10122023
    Abstract: A fuel cell with separator includes a fuel cell body having a cathode, an anode, and a solid electrolyte layer disposed between the cathode and the anode; a plate-like metal separator having first and second main surfaces and an opening which opens at the first and second main surfaces; a joint formed of an Ag-containing brazing filler metal and adapted to join the fuel cell body and the first main surface of the metal separator; and a seal formed of a glass-containing sealing material and disposed closer to the opening than is the joint, the seal being located between the first main surface and the fuel cell body and extending along the entire perimeter of the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Makoto Kuribayashi, Etsuya Ikeda, Wataru Matsutani, Yosuke Yatsuya, Masaaki Murase
  • Patent number: 9728797
    Abstract: A fuel battery and a fuel cell stack, the fuel battery including: a fuel cell that generates electric power through a power generating reaction of reactant gases and includes a solid electrolyte layer having a first main surface and a second main surface, a first electrode disposed on the first main surface and serving as one of a cathode and an anode, and a second electrode disposed on the second main surface and serving as the other one of the cathode and the anode; an interconnector disposed so as to face the first electrode; and a current collecting member that electrically connects the first electrode to the interconnector. The first electrode includes: an inner portion connected to the current collecting member; and an outer portion disposed outward of the current collecting member and having a height larger than the height of the inner portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Makoto Kuribayashi, Hayato Katsuda, Etsuya Ikeda
  • Publication number: 20160359175
    Abstract: A metal plate-bonded single fuel cell unit according to one aspect of the present invention includes a single cell element having a solid electrolyte and fuel and air electrodes disposed on opposite sides of the solid electrolyte and a metal plate bonded by a brazing material to the single cell element. The metal plate contains Ti and Al and has an Al-Ti-containing oxide layer present on a surface of the metal plate, an Al oxide film present on a surface of the Al-Ti-containing oxide layer and a Ti-containing phase apart from a part of a surface of the Al oxide film in contact with the brazing material while being present on a remaining part of the surface of the Al oxide film. The metal plate-bonded single fuel cell unit has a Ti reaction phase formed at an interface between the solid electrolyte and the brazing material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2014
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Applicant: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yasuo OKUYAMA, Makoto KURIBAYASHI, Etsuya IKEDA
  • Publication number: 20160276680
    Abstract: A separator-fitted single fuel cell having a single fuel cell, a plate-shaped metallic separator that includes a through hole, and a joint portion that joins the single fuel cell to the metallic separator and is made of a brazing material containing Ag. The joint portion includes a protruding portion that protrudes from a gap between the single fuel cell and the first main surface of the metallic separator toward the through hole. The protruding portion is lower than the second main surface as viewed from the single fuel cell. The single fuel cell includes a sealing portion that is disposed along the entire circumference of the through hole of the metallic separator, covers the protruding portion and a part of the second main surface, and is made of a sealing material containing glass.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2014
    Publication date: September 22, 2016
    Applicant: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Makoto KURIBAYASHI, Yasuo OKUYAMA, Etsuya IKEDA
  • Publication number: 20160226085
    Abstract: A fuel battery and a fuel cell stack, the fuel battery including: a fuel cell that generates electric power through a power generating reaction of reactant gases and includes a solid electrolyte layer having a first main surface and a second main surface, a first electrode disposed on the first main surface and serving as one of a cathode and an anode, and a second electrode disposed on the second main surface and serving as the other one of the cathode and the anode; an interconnector disposed so as to face the first electrode; and a current collecting member that electrically connects the first electrode to the interconnector. The first electrode includes: an inner portion connected to the current collecting member; and an outer portion disposed outward of the current collecting member and having a height larger than the height of the inner portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2014
    Publication date: August 4, 2016
    Applicant: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Makoto KURIBAYASHI, Hayato KATSUDA, Etsuya IKEDA
  • Publication number: 20150318563
    Abstract: A fuel cell with separator includes a fuel cell body having a cathode, an anode, and a solid electrolyte layer disposed between the cathode and the anode; a plate-like metal separator having first and second main surfaces and an opening which opens at the first and second main surfaces; a joint formed of an Ag-containing brazing filler metal and adapted to join the fuel cell body and the first main surface of the metal separator; and a seal formed of a glass-containing sealing material and disposed closer to the opening than is the joint, the seal being located between the first main surface and the fuel cell body and extending along the entire perimeter of the opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2013
    Publication date: November 5, 2015
    Applicant: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Makoto KURIBAYASHI, Etsuya IKEDA, Wataru MATSUTANI, Yosuke YATSUYA, Masaaki MURASE
  • Patent number: 7875832
    Abstract: A ceramic heater, heat exchange unit, and warm water washing toilet seat are provided having excellent temperature rise characteristics and a shortened heating time to reach a predetermined water temperature. A ceramic heater having a pattern watt density of 50 W/cm2 and above, and a surface watt density of 25 W/cm2 and above has a short start-up time and excellent temperature rise characteristics. Further, the thickness of a core is reduced to between 0.5 mm and 1.9 mm (circular tube thickness is between 1 mm and 2.4 mm), which enables efficient transfer of heat from the ceramic heater to water flowing in the circular tube. Accordingly, a gap between a heat exchanger and the ceramic heater is not necessarily narrowed, such that air bubbles are not likely trapped and breakage of the ceramic heater by thermal shock can be suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Etsuya Ikeda, Katsuhiko Horii
  • Publication number: 20090020518
    Abstract: A ceramic heater, a heat exchange unit, and a warm water washing toilet seat are provided which have excellent temperature rise characteristics and can reduce the time required to reach a predetermined water temperature. A ceramic heater (5) has a pattern watt density of 50 W/cm2 and above, and a surface watt density of 25 W/cm2 and above. Accordingly, the ceramic heater (5) has a short start-up time and excellent temperature rise characteristics. Further, the thickness of a core is reduced to between 0.5 mm and 1.9 mm (accordingly, circular tube thickness is between 1 mm and 2.4 mm), and this enables heat from the ceramic heater (5) can be efficiently transmitted to water that flows in the circular tube, making the ceramic heater (5) excellent in temperature rise characteristics. Accordingly, a gap between a heat exchanger (3) and the ceramic heater (5) is not necessary to be excessively narrowed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2005
    Publication date: January 22, 2009
    Applicant: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Etsuya Ikeda, Katsuhiko Horii