Patents by Inventor Fumio Tanno

Fumio Tanno 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).

  • Publication number: 20220140357
    Abstract: A fuel cell separator which is obtained by molding a composition that contains a carbonaceous material and a resin, and which is provided with a sealing part and a groove that serves as a gas flow channel on one surface or both surfaces. This fuel cell separator is configured such that the arithmetic mean heights Sa of the surface of the sealing part and the bottom surface and the peak of the groove on at least one surface are 0.50-1.60 ?m and the profile peak heights Spk thereof are 1.50 ?m or less as determined in accordance with ISO 25178-2 (2012). Consequently, this fuel cell separator has good hydrophilicity and good adhesion to a gasket.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2020
    Publication date: May 5, 2022
    Applicant: Nisshinbo Holdings Inc.
    Inventor: Fumio Tanno
  • Patent number: 11108053
    Abstract: The present invention is a resin composition for dense fuel cell separators, which contains a graphite powder and an epoxy resin component that contains a base material, a curing agent and a curing accelerator, and wherein: the graphite powder has a spring back of 20-70% and an average particle diameter d50 of 30-100 ?m; and the curing accelerator is an imidazole compound that has an aryl group in the 2-position. This resin composition for dense fuel cell separators enables the achievement of a dense separator for fuel cells, which satisfies a predetermined performance even in cases where the separator is compression molded in a short time that is less than 10 seconds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: NISSHINBO CHEMICAL INC.
    Inventors: Fumio Tanno, Yasuhito Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 10396367
    Abstract: Provided is a fuel cell separator obtained by molding a composition that contains an epoxy resin and a graphite powder, wherein: the epoxy resin contains a main resin, a curing agent, and a curing accelerator; the main resin contains a biphenyl novolak-type epoxy resin having an ICI viscosity of 0.03-0.12 Pa·s at 150° C.; and the curing agent is a novolak-type phenol resin having a weight-average molecular weight of 420-1,500 and a dispersion degree of 2.0 or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: NISSHINBO CHEMICALS INC.
    Inventor: Fumio Tanno
  • Publication number: 20190245218
    Abstract: The present invention is a resin composition for dense fuel cell separators, which contains a graphite powder and an epoxy resin component that contains a base material, a curing agent and a curing accelerator, and wherein: the graphite powder has a spring back of 20-70% and an average particle diameter d50 of 30-100 ?m; and the curing accelerator is an imidazole compound that has an aryl group in the 2-position. This resin composition for dense fuel cell separators enables the achievement of a dense separator for fuel cells, which satisfies a predetermined performance even in cases where the separator is compression molded in a short time that is less than 10 seconds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2017
    Publication date: August 8, 2019
    Applicant: Nisshinbo Chemical Inc.
    Inventors: Fumio Tanno, Yasuhito Nakagawa
  • Publication number: 20190044160
    Abstract: This porous separator for fuel cells, which is obtained by molding a composition that contains 100 parts by mass of a graphite powder having a spring back of 40-100% and 10.0-16.0 parts by mass of an epoxy resin component containing a base material, a curing agent and a curing accelerator, is capable of achieving a good balance between high gas impermeability and good water permeability without being subjected to a special hydrophilizing treatment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2017
    Publication date: February 7, 2019
    Applicant: Nisshinbo Chemical Inc.
    Inventors: Fumio Tanno, Shusuke Okamoto
  • Publication number: 20180219231
    Abstract: Provided is a fuel cell separator obtained by molding a composition that contains an epoxy resin and a graphite powder, wherein: the epoxy resin contains a main resin, a curing agent, and a curing accelerator; the main resin contains a biphenyl novolak-type epoxy resin having an ICI viscosity of 0.03-0.12 Pa·s at 150° C.; and the curing agent is a novolak-type phenol resin having a weight-average molecular weight of 420-1,500 and a dispersion degree of 2.0 or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2015
    Publication date: August 2, 2018
    Applicant: Nisshinbo Chemical Inc.
    Inventor: Fumio Tanno
  • Publication number: 20180205093
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a fuel cell separator, provided with: (A) a press molding a composition containing a graphite powder, an epoxy resin, and a phenol resin under heat in a mold to obtain a molded article having a groove that serves as a gas channel on one or both surfaces; (B) a roughening the entirety of both surfaces of the molded article; (C) forming a gasket on the peripheral edge part of the gas channel surface having the groove that serves as a gas channel in the roughened molded article; (D) irradiating the portion of the gas channel surface where the gasket is not formed, and at least the peak part and the bottom part of the groove that serves as a gas channel, with infrared laser light; and (E) rendering the entire gas channel surface hydrophilic. Decrease in hydrophilic properties due to gasket lamination is prevented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2016
    Publication date: July 19, 2018
    Applicant: Nisshinbo Chemical Inc.
    Inventor: Fumio Tanno
  • Patent number: 9768452
    Abstract: A fuel cell separator obtained by: roughening the surface of a compact formed by molding a composition containing graphite powder, an epoxy resin, and a phenol resin; treating the compact with infrared laser irradiation; and then performing a hydrophilizing treatment, wherein a fuel cell separator is provided having the characteristics that (1) the initial static contact angle is no greater than 20°, and (2) after manufacture, the static contact angle after being stored in atmospheric air for 3000 hours is no greater than 30°. This fuel cell separator has high hydrophilicity, allowing water generated during the electrical generation of the fuel cell to be easily discharged, and the hydrophilicity is maintained over a long period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: NISSHINBO CHEMICAL INC.
    Inventor: Fumio Tanno
  • Publication number: 20150340713
    Abstract: A fuel cell separator obtained by: roughening the surface of a compact formed by molding a composition containing graphite powder, an epoxy resin, and a phenol resin; treating the compact with infrared laser irradiation; and then performing a hydrophilizing treatment, wherein a fuel cell separator is provided having the characteristics that (1) the initial static contact angle is no greater than 20°, and (2) after manufacture, the static contact angle after being stored in atmospheric air for 3000 hours is no greater than 30°. This fuel cell separator has high hydrophilicity, allowing water generated during the electrical generation of the fuel cell to be easily discharged, and the hydrophilicity is maintained over a long period of time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2014
    Publication date: November 26, 2015
    Applicant: NISSHINBO CHEMICAL INC.
    Inventor: Fumio TANNO
  • Publication number: 20130171547
    Abstract: This fuel cell separator is obtained by irradiating the surface of a molded article formed by molding a composition containing graphite powder, an epoxy resin, a phenol resin, a curing accelerator, and an internal mold lubricant and is provided with the following characteristics. Accordingly, the conductivity and hydrophilicity of a fuel cell separator provided with grooves that form flow paths for gas supply and exhausting on the surface thereof can be improved, and also elutability can be reduced. Residue from laser irradiation of the surface is 5% or less by area ratio Arithmetic average roughness of surface is 0.80-1.50 ?m Surface static contact angle is 15-60° Surface contact resistance is 3-7 m?·cm2 Ion exchanged water: under a condition of separator=9:1 (mass ratio), the conductivity after the separator has been immersed in ion exchanged water at 90° C. for 168 hours is 1.2 ?S/cm or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2011
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Applicant: NISSHINBO CHEMICAL INC.
    Inventor: Fumio Tanno
  • Patent number: 8372192
    Abstract: Provided is a fuel cell separator that has excellent resistance to heat and hot water and has a glass transition temperature between 140° C. and 165° C. Said fuel cell separator is formed by curing a composition containing a graphite material and a binder component resin. The binder component resin contains a cresol novolac epoxy resin having a hydrolysable chlorine content of at most 450 ppm and an epoxy equivalent weight of 192-210 g/eq, a phenol resin having a hydroxyl equivalent weight of 103-106 g/eq, and an imidazole compound having a molecular weight between 140 and 180.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Nisshinbo Chemical Inc.
    Inventor: Fumio Tanno
  • Publication number: 20120077111
    Abstract: Provided is a fuel cell separator that has excellent resistance to heat and hot water and has a glass transition temperature between 140° C. and 165° C. Said fuel cell separator is formed by curing a composition containing a graphite material and a binder component resin. The binder component resin contains a cresol novolac epoxy resin having a hydrolysable chlorine content of at most 450 ppm and an epoxy equivalent weight of 192-210 g/eq, a phenol resin having a hydroxyl equivalent weight of 103-106 g/eq, and an imidazole compound having a molecular weight between 140 and 180.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2010
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Applicant: NISSHINBO CHEMICAL INC.
    Inventor: Fumio Tanno
  • Publication number: 20110045377
    Abstract: This invention provides a bipolar plate for a fuel cell, produced by molding a composition comprising 100 parts by mass of a porous artificial graphite material having a true density of 1.63 to 2.20 g/ml and an average particle diameter (d=50) of 20 to 100 ?m, 19 to 30 parts by mass of an epoxy resin comprising a main agent and a curing agent, and 0.1 to 1.0 part by mass of an internal release agent. The main agent is an o-cresol novolak-type epoxy resin having an epoxy equivalent of 195 to 216 g/eq and an ICI viscosity of 0.20 to 1.00 Pa·s at 150° C. The curing agent is a phenol novolak resin having a hydroxyl equivalent of 103 to 106 g/eq and an ICI viscosity of 0.03 to 0.50 Pa·s at 150° C. The average thickness of a thin wall part is 0.12 to 0.20 mm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2008
    Publication date: February 24, 2011
    Applicant: NISSINBO HOLDINGS, INC.
    Inventor: Fumio Tanno
  • Publication number: 20080050618
    Abstract: A proton exchange membrane fuel cell bipolar plate molded from a composition that includes a graphite powder, a thermosetting resin and an internal mold release agent has specific surface characteristics which endow the bipolar plate with a high hydrophilicity that enables water formed during power generation by the fuel cell to be easily removed. The bipolar plate also has a low contact resistance with electrodes in the fuel cell, and the shapes of flow channels on the bipolar plate remain intact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2007
    Publication date: February 28, 2008
    Applicant: NISSHINBO INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Fumio TANNO, Naoki SHIJI
  • Publication number: 20070111078
    Abstract: A fuel cell bipolar plate obtained by molding a composition which includes specific amounts of a porous artificial graphite material, a thermoset resin and an internal release agent has dramatically improved mechanical characteristics, including flexural strength and flexural strain. Even when given a thin-walled construction, the bipolar plate has a sufficient strength and excellent flexibility.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2006
    Publication date: May 17, 2007
    Applicant: NISSHINBO INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventor: Fumio TANNO
  • Publication number: 20060263670
    Abstract: A fuel cell bipolar plate obtained by subjecting a body shaped from a specific composition to surface roughening treatment and atmospheric pressure plasma treatment has a gas flow channel face with specific surface characteristics which endow the bipolar plate with an excellent and long-lasting hydrophilicity that enables water which forms during power generation by the fuel cell to be easily drained off, and which also provide the bipolar plate with a low contact resistance with electrodes in the fuel cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2006
    Publication date: November 23, 2006
    Applicant: NISSHINBO INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventor: Fumio Tanno
  • Patent number: 7125624
    Abstract: A fuel cell separator is molded from a resin composition containing specific amounts of graphite, thermosetting resin and internal release agent. The graphite is a synthetic graphite powder prepared by graphitizing lump coke. The thermosetting resin is a mixture of phenolic novolac, benzoxazine and polycarbodiimide resins. The molded separator does not need to be machined, has a significantly improved electrical conductivity, heat resistance and mechanical strength, and even when very thin is resistant to breakage during molding and fuel cell assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2006
    Assignee: Nisshinbo Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Fumio Tanno
  • Publication number: 20050130022
    Abstract: Fuel cell separators which are made by shaping a composition that includes a thermosetting resin, an artificial graphite with an average particle size of 20 to 70 ?m and an internal mold release agent and which have a surface with an average roughness Ra of 1.0 to 5.0 ?m are very hydrophilic, and thus facilitate the removal of water that forms during power generation by the fuel cell. Such separators also have a low contact resistance with electrodes in the fuel cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2004
    Publication date: June 16, 2005
    Inventors: Fumio Tanno, Naoki Shiji
  • Patent number: 6890678
    Abstract: A separator for fuel cell, obtained by molding a resin composition comprising 100 parts by weight of a graphite, 15 to 30 parts by weight of a bisphenol A type epoxy resin, 2 to 4 parts by weight of a phenolic resin, and 1 to 10 parts by weight of a polycarbodiimide resin, which, unlike the prior art, is superior in moldability, electrical conductivity and mechanical strength and causes no cracking during molding even when made in a small thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2005
    Assignee: Nisshinbo Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Fumio Tanno
  • Patent number: 6803139
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are an electrically conductive resinous composition composed mainly of an electrically conductive carbon powder and a binding agent, wherein said binding agent is a mixture of a thermoplastic resin and a carbodiimide compound, a fuel cell separator and a process for production thereof, and polymer electrolyte fuel cell. The present invention permits efficient mass production of fuel cell separators having high elasticity, good releasability, good dimensional accuracy, and good gas impermeability. The polymer electrolyte fuel cell, in which all or part of separators are those pertaining to the present invention, is immune to the cracking of separators at the time of assembling, decreases only a little in output after continuous operation, and exhibits good gas sealing performance and high impact resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2004
    Assignee: Nisshinbo Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Kazuo Saito, Atsushi Hagiwara, Yasuo Imashiro, Naofumi Horie, Fumio Tanno, Tsutomu Uehara