Patents by Inventor Haruyuki Nakanishi

Haruyuki Nakanishi 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: 7887973
    Abstract: A cell module includes a cell module body having a tube-shape. The cell module body includes a tube-shaped inner electrode and a tube-shaped outer electrode. The inner electrode is within the outer electrode. The inner electrode forms a hollow portion. The cell module also includes a water permeable hollow body arranged within the hollow portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Haruyuki Nakanishi
  • Patent number: 7887962
    Abstract: A fuel cell system and its control method capable of removing condensed water only from a place where flooding is generated, without deteriorating an electrolyte membrane. The electrolyte membrane (10) which is a solid high-molecular membrane is sandwiched by an anode (12) and a cathode (14) and these are sandwiched by collectors (16). Furthermore, these are sandwiched by separators (18), thereby constituting a fuel cell (30). Heating means is arranged on the separator (18) and its switch (20) is turned ON when the moisture for hydration of the electrolyte membrane (10) is condensed, so that current is supplied to the heating means from a power source (22) so as to evaporate the condensed water. This rapidly eliminates flooding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Haruyuki Nakanishi
  • Publication number: 20110008694
    Abstract: A hydrogen generator that can be operated in a broad temperature range is disclosed, which comprises a first ammonia conversion part having a hydrogen-generating material which reacts with ammonia in a first temperature range so as to generate hydrogen; a second ammonia conversion part having an ammonia-decomposing catalyst which decomposes ammonia into hydrogen and nitrogen in a second temperature range; an ammonia supply part which supplies ammonia; and an ammonia supply passage which supplies ammonia from said ammonia supply part to the first and second ammonia conversion parts. The first temperature range includes temperatures lower than the second temperature range, and hydrogen is generated from ammonia by selectively using the first and second ammonia conversion parts. An ammonia-burning internal combustion engine and a fuel cell having the hydrogen generator are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2009
    Publication date: January 13, 2011
    Inventors: Kyoichi Tange, Norihiko Nakamura, Haruyuki Nakanishi, Hidekazu Arikawa
  • Patent number: 7858244
    Abstract: A fuel cell that uses alcohol as a fuel and including an electrolyte, and an anode and a cathode that are disposed across the electrolyte. The anode of the fuel cell contains a first particle that catalyzes the degradation of alcohol, and a second particle that catalyzes the degradation of aldehyde.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Haruyuki Nakanishi, Yusuke Kuzushima
  • Patent number: 7838064
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a tube-type fuel cell by which a tube-type fuel cell with good adhesion can be produced without blocking a gas flow channel in its inner current collector. The method for manufacturing a tube-type fuel cell may include a filling step of providing a columnar-shaped inner current collector having a gas flow channel on its outer peripheral face and filling the gas flow channel with a removable substance to form a removable portion. Also a functional layer forming step of forming a functional layer on at least the removable portion and a removing step of removing the removable portion after the functional layer forming step may be used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Haruyuki Nakanishi, Shigeaki Murata, Masahiro Imanishi, Yoshihisa Tamura
  • Patent number: 7820316
    Abstract: A membrane electrode assembly includes a fluorine-based ion exchange resin membrane, a diffusion layer and a catalyst layer that supports a battery reaction. The catalyst layer is formed from Pt-carrying carbon nanotubes that is oriented on the fluorine-based ion exchange resin membrane, and non-Pt-carrying carbon nanotubes that is oriented on the diffusion layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Haruyuki Nakanishi
  • Publication number: 20100260655
    Abstract: An ammonia synthesis apparatus includes: a first gas channel; a second gas channel disposed outside the first gas channel; a third gas channel disposed outside the second gas channel; an air supply unit that supplies air to the second or third gas channel; a water supply unit that supplies water to the first gas channel; and a heat supply unit that supplies heat to the first gas channel. A metal or a metal oxide that reduces water to produce hydrogen is placed in the first gas channel. An ammonia synthesis catalyst is placed in the second gas channel located downstream of the downstream end portion of the first gas channel. The second and third gas channels are at least partially partitioned by an oxygen permeation membrane, or a nitrogen permeation membrane, so that oxygen is supplied to the third gas channel, and nitrogen is supplied to the second gas channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2010
    Publication date: October 14, 2010
    Applicants: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, HITACHI ZOSEN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Haruyuki NAKANISHI, Norihiko NAKAMURA, Hidekazu ARIKAWA, Susumu HIKAZUDANI, Sadao ARAKI, Chikashi INAZUMI
  • Publication number: 20100227255
    Abstract: A cell module for a fuel cell according to embodiments of the invention includes a hollow-core electrolyte membrane; and two electrodes one of which is arranged on the inner face of the hollow-core electrolyte membrane and the other of which is arranged on the outer face of the hollow-core electrolyte membrane. At least one of the two electrodes includes nano-columnar bodies, which are oriented toward the hollow-core electrolyte membrane, and on which electrode catalysts are supported.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2006
    Publication date: September 9, 2010
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Haruyuki Nakanishi, Shigeaki Murata, Nobuhira Abe
  • Publication number: 20100210742
    Abstract: Provided is a microphase-separated structure membrane including a block copolymer in which a hydrophilic polymer component and a hydrophobic polymer component are coupled to each other via a structural unit having a reactive group, an electron acceptor or electron donor, or a dye. In the microphase-separated structure membrane, a cylinder structure composed of the hydrophilic polymer component lies in a matrix composed of the hydrophobic polymer component and is oriented in the direction perpendicular to the membrane surface, and the structural unit having a reactive group, an electron acceptor or electron donor, or a dye lies between the matrix and the cylinder structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2008
    Publication date: August 19, 2010
    Applicants: TOKYO INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tomokazu Iyoda, Sadayuki Asaoka, Yukimitsu Suzuki, Haruyuki Nakanishi, Shinichi Matsumoto, Hidekazu Arikawa
  • Publication number: 20100196801
    Abstract: An alkaline fuel cell electrode catalyst includes a first catalyst particle that contains at least one of iron (Fe), cobalt (Co) and nickel (Ni), a second catalyst particle that contains at least one of platinum (Pt) and ruthenium (Ru), and a carrier for supporting the first catalyst particle and the second catalyst particle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2008
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Haruyuki Nakanishi, Yusuke Kuzushima
  • Patent number: 7754366
    Abstract: A tubular fuel cell module is provided with a tubular cell of a tubular fuel cell, and a heat transfer pipe through which a heating/cooling medium flows to selectively heat and cool the tubular fuel cell. The heat transfer pipe includes a first straight portion, a second straight portion, and a bent portion that connects the first straight portion with the second straight portion. At least a portion of the tubular cell is arranged on at least one of the first straight portion and the second straight portion. As a result, the reliability of a seal of the tubular fuel cell module is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Haruyuki Nakanishi, Shigeaki Murata, Masahiro Imanishi, Yoshihisa Tamura
  • Publication number: 20100159365
    Abstract: In an alkaline fuel cell, an electrode catalyst includes a magnetic material, and catalyst particles supported on the magnetic material. Besides, the alkaline fuel cell includes an electrode that has the function of allowing negative ions to permeate through the electrolyte, and an anode electrode and a cathode electrode respectively disposed on the both sides of the electrode, and at least the cathode electrode of the both electrodes is the electrode catalyst.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2008
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Haruyuki Nakanishi, Yusuke Kuzushima
  • Publication number: 20100151363
    Abstract: In a fuel cell that includes an electrolyte (10), and an anode (20) and a cathode (30) which constitute a pair of electrodes that are arranged sandwiching the electrolyte (10), the cathode (30) includes catalyst particles (24) and trapping particles (38). The catalyst particles (24) operate as catalysts for a reaction that creates hydroxide ions from oxygen, and the trapping particles (38) trap hydrogen peroxide ions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2008
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Inventors: Haruyuki Nakanishi, Yusuke Kuzushima
  • Publication number: 20100151362
    Abstract: There are provided carbon particles supporting thereon fine particles of a perovskite type composite oxide, which can be used as a substitute for the existing platinum-supporting carbon particles or platinum metal particles commonly used in electrocatalysts for fuel cells, and which are significantly reduced in the amount of platinum to be used in comparison with the existing platinum-supporting carbon particles, and a process for manufacturing the same carbon particles. The fine particles of a perovskite type composite metal oxide which contains a noble metal element in its crystal lattice and has an average crystallite size of from 1 to 20 nm are supported on carbon particles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2006
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Inventors: Yuko Sawaki, Mikio Kishimoto, Haruyuki Nakanishi, Masahiro Imanishi
  • Publication number: 20100119893
    Abstract: An alkaline fuel cell having an electrolyte, and anode and cathode electrodes disposed on two sides of the electrolyte is provided. A fuel cell system has this fuel cell, a discharge passageway that is connected to a discharge opening of the fuel cell and that discharges from the fuel cell an exhaust fuel containing unreacted fuel, and a circulation passageway that is connected to an introduction opening for introducing the fuel into the fuel cell and that circulates and supplies the exhaust fuel to the fuel cell. The fuel cell system further includes fuel/water separation means linked to the discharge passageway and the circulation passageway and disposed between the discharge and circulation passageways. The means separates and removes water from the exhaust fuel flowing in from the discharge passageway, and then causes a concentrated fuel from which water has been separated and removed to flow into the circulation passageway.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2008
    Publication date: May 13, 2010
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Haruyuki Nakanishi, Yusuke Kuzushima
  • Publication number: 20100092826
    Abstract: A fuel cell has an electrolyte, an anode provided on one side of the electrolyte and a cathode provided on the other side of the electrolyte, and a fuel passage which is formed so as to contact the anode and through which fuel flows. A substance having an ion-conducting property is mixed in with the fuel that flows through the fuel passage. For example, fuel is supplied to the fuel passage from a fuel supply apparatus, while a substance having an ion-conducting property is supplied to the fuel passage from an ion-conducting substance supply apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2008
    Publication date: April 15, 2010
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Haruyuki Nakanishi, Yusuke Kuzushima, Norihiko Nakamura, Shinichi Matsumoto, Hidekazu Arikawa, Kazuya Uchisasai
  • Publication number: 20100075201
    Abstract: In a fuel cell including an electrolyte membrane and a pair of electrodes disposed on both sides of the electrolyte membrane, at least one of the electrodes has an electrically conductive nanocolumn that is oriented with an inclination of 60° or less with respect to a planar direction of the electrolyte membrane, a catalyst supported on the electrically conductive nanocolumn, and an electrolyte resin coating the electrically conductive nanocolumn.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2007
    Publication date: March 25, 2010
    Inventors: Haruyuki Nakanishi, Chikashi Inazumi, Yuki Sairyo, Momoyo Sawai, Kenji Yoshikawa, Tomoya Yamashita
  • Publication number: 20100055526
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a fuel cell that uses alcohol as a fuel and including an electrolyte, and an anode (20) and a cathode (30) that are disposed across the electrolyte (10). The anode of the fuel cell contains a first particle (24, 26) that catalyzes the degradation of alcohol, and a second particle (28) that catalyzes the degradation of aldehyde.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2008
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Haruyuki Nakanishi, Yusuke Kuzushima
  • Patent number: 7666540
    Abstract: The voltage application unit first applies voltages (+,+,0,?,?,0) respectively to the electrostatic delivery electrodes 37 belonging to the phase ‘a’, the phase ‘b’, the phase ‘c’, the phase ‘d’, the phase ‘e’, and the phase ‘f’, and then successively applies voltages (0,+,+,0,?,?), voltages (?,0,+,+,0,?), voltages (?,?,0,+,+,0), voltages (0,?,?,0,+,+), and voltages (+,0,?,?,0,+). The voltage application unit repeats this cycle multiple times to apply the voltages to the phase ‘a’ through the phase ‘f’. The water droplets flocculated in the oxidizing gas conduits 36 are charged by electrostatic induction and travel in the direction from the inlet to the outlet of the oxidizing gas conduits 36 while being repelled or attracted by the electrostatic delivery electrodes 37 in the vicinity of the water droplets in the course of the positive-negative variation of the voltage in the cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Haruyuki Nakanishi, Keiichi Nakata, Masafumi Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 7641996
    Abstract: A fuel cell capable of improving heat exchange efficiency with respect to tubular fuel cells is provided. A fuel cell includes a hollow electrolyte membrane, hollow electrodes arranged on an inside and an outside of the electrolyte membrane, respectively, and an internal charge collector arranged inside of the electrolyte membrane and the electrodes, wherein the internal charge collector is hollow and made of a nonporous member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masahiro Imanishi, Haruyuki Nakanishi, Shigeaki Murata, Yoshihisa Tamura