Patents by Inventor Hideaki Tanahashi
Hideaki Tanahashi 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: 9470314Abstract: A rubber gasket for a fuel cell is interposed between a first member and a second member stacked in the fuel cell. The fuel cell includes: a seat portion arranged on a surface of the first member; and a lip portion that includes a first hill portion projecting from the seat portion toward the second member and having a curved surface with a first curvature radius and a second hill portion projecting from the first hill portion toward the second member and having a curved surface with a second curvature radius smaller than the first curvature radius, and that makes elastic contact with the second member. The seat portion includes a planar inclined surface inclined with respect to the surface direction at a connecting portion leading to a bottom of the first hill portion.Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 2015Date of Patent: October 18, 2016Assignees: SUMITOMO RIKO COMPANY LIMITED, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Hideya Kadono, Hiroki Itakura, Kenji Sato, Takuya Kurihara, Hideaki Tanahashi
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Patent number: 9437883Abstract: A manufacturing method of a fuel cell module includes: forming an outer divided body having a frame shape and formed from an uncrosslinked item of solid rubber having adhesiveness in a seal member arrangement portion of a separator to produce an outer temporary assembly, and forming an inner divided body having a frame shape and formed from an uncrosslinked item of solid rubber in a peripheral edge portion of an electrode member to produce an inner temporary assembly; fitting the inner temporary assembly into a frame of the outer temporary assembly to produce a cell assembly temporary assembly; arranging a cell assembly stack, in which a plurality of the cell assembly temporary assemblies are stacked, in a forming die; and pressurizing and heating the forming die to crosslink the uncrosslinked itemType: GrantFiled: September 15, 2015Date of Patent: September 6, 2016Assignees: SUMITOMO RIKO COMPANY LIMITED, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Hideaki Tanahashi, Shinichi Haga, Hideya Kadono, Yutaka Ishioka, Kenji Sato, Fumishige Shizuku, Hiroo Yoshikawa
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Publication number: 20160049670Abstract: A manufacturing method of a fuel cell module includes: forming an outer divided body having a frame shape and formed from an uncrosslinked item of solid rubber having adhesiveness in a seal member arrangement portion of a separator to produce an outer temporary assembly, and forming an inner divided body having a frame shape and formed from an uncrosslinked item of solid rubber in a peripheral edge portion of an electrode member to produce an inner temporary assembly; fitting the inner temporary assembly into a frame of the outer temporary assembly to produce a cell assembly temporary assembly; arranging a cell assembly stack, in which a plurality of the cell assembly temporary assemblies are stacked, in a forming die; and pressurizing and heating the forming die to crosslink the uncrosslinked itemType: ApplicationFiled: September 15, 2015Publication date: February 18, 2016Applicants: Sumitomo Riko Company Limited, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Hideaki TANAHASHI, Shinichi HAGA, Hideya KADONO, Yutaka ISHIOKA, Kenji SATO, Fumishige SHIZUKU, Hiroo YOSHIKAWA
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Publication number: 20150380694Abstract: A rubber gasket for a fuel cell is interposed between a first member and a second member stacked in the fuel cell. The fuel cell includes: a seat portion arranged on a surface of the first member; and a lip portion that includes a first hill portion projecting from the seat portion toward the second member and having a curved surface with a first curvature radius and a second hill portion projecting from the first hill portion toward the second member and having a curved surface with a second curvature radius smaller than the first curvature radius, and that makes elastic contact with the second member. The seat portion includes a planar inclined surface inclined with respect to the surface direction at a connecting portion leading to a bottom of the first hill portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 6, 2015Publication date: December 31, 2015Applicants: SUMITOMO RIKO COMPANY LIMITED, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Hideya KADONO, Hiroki ITAKURA, Kenji SATO, Takuya KURIHARA, Hideaki TANAHASHI
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Patent number: 9178242Abstract: A manufacturing method of a fuel cell module includes: forming an outer divided body having a frame shape and formed from an uncrosslinked item of solid rubber having adhesiveness in a seal member arrangement portion of a separator to produce an outer temporary assembly, and forming an inner divided body having a frame shape and formed from an uncrosslinked item of solid rubber in a peripheral edge portion of an electrode member to produce an inner temporary assembly fitting the inner temporary assembly into a frame of the outer temporary assembly to produce a cell assembly temporary assembly; arranging a cell assembly stack, in which a plurality of the cell assembly temporary assemblies are stacked, in a forming die; and pressurizing and heating the forming die to crosslink the uncrosslinked item.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2010Date of Patent: November 3, 2015Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, SUMITOMO RIKO COMPANY LIMITEDInventors: Hideaki Tanahashi, Shinichi Haga, Hideya Kadono, Yutaka Ishioka, Kenji Sato, Fumishige Shizuku, Hiroo Yoshikawa
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Patent number: 9017901Abstract: A manufacturing method of a cell assembly for a fuel cell includes: producing an electrode member, a separator, and a seal member preform, which has a frame shape and which is formed from an uncrosslinked item of solid rubber having adhesiveness, in a predetermined shape in advance; arranging the electrode member, the separator, and the seal member preform in a forming die including a pressing member, and closing the forming die while the pressing member is pressing a side of the electrode member that is opposite to the separator in the thickness direction; and pressurizing and heating the forming die to crosslink the uncrosslinked item so that the seal member seals the peripheral edge portion of the electrode member and integrates the electrode member and the separator with each other.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2010Date of Patent: April 28, 2015Assignee: Sumitomo Riko Company LimitedInventors: Hideaki Tanahashi, Shinichi Haga, Hideya Kadono, Yutaka Ishioka, Fumishige Shizuku, Kenji Sato, Hiroo Yoshikawa
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Patent number: 8974982Abstract: A fuel cell includes a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) having an electrolyte membrane and a pair of electrodes arranged on both sides of the electrolyte membrane in the thickness direction, a pair of frames having a frame shape and holding an outer periphery portion of the electrolyte membrane, a pair of gas diffusion layers arranged inside the pair of frames and on both sides of the MEA in the thickness direction, and a gasket covering at least a part of the pair of frames. The fuel cell further includes a first cross-linking adhesive member formed of rubber which includes a membrane accommodating portion having an indented shape for accommodating the outer periphery portion of the electrolyte membrane and a first intermediate portion interposed between the pair of frames and which is subjected to cross-linking adhesion with the outer periphery portion of the electrolyte membrane and the pair of frames.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2008Date of Patent: March 10, 2015Assignee: Tokai Rubber Industries, Ltd.Inventors: Hideaki Tanahashi, Yutaka Ishioka, Kazutaka Iizuka, Chisato Kato
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Patent number: 8679702Abstract: A fuel cell module includes: an electrode member having a membrane electrode assembly, which is formed from an electrolyte membrane and a pair of electrode catalyst layers that is disposed on both sides of the electrolyte membrane in the thickness direction, and having a pair of porous layers disposed on both sides of the membrane electrode assembly in the thickness direction; a separator disposed layered on the electrode member so as to contact at least one of the porous layers; and an adhesive rubber member sealing a peripheral edge portion of the electrode member, wherein the electrode member and the separator are integrated by the adhesive rubber member, and a tensile product of the adhesive rubber member is 1,500 MPa·% or more.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2009Date of Patent: March 25, 2014Assignees: Tokai Rubber Industries, Ltd., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hideaki Tanahashi, Yutaka Ishioka, Shinichi Haga, Hideya Kadono, Kenji Sato, Fumishige Shizuku
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Publication number: 20120009506Abstract: A manufacturing method of a cell assembly for a fuel cell includes: producing an electrode member, a separator, and a seal member preform, which has a frame shape and which is formed from an uncrosslinked item of solid rubber having adhesiveness, in a predetermined shape in advance; arranging the electrode member, the separator, and the seal member preform in a forming die including a pressing member, and closing the forming die while the pressing member is pressing a side of the electrode member that is opposite to the separator in the thickness direction; and pressurizing and heating the forming die to crosslink the uncrosslinked item so that the seal member seals the peripheral edge portion of the electrode member and integrates the electrode member and the separator with each other.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 29, 2010Publication date: January 12, 2012Applicant: TOKAI RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.,Inventors: Hideaki Tanahashi, Shinichi Haga, Hideya Kadono, Yutaka Ishioka, Fumishige Shizuku, Kenji Sato, Hiroo Yoshikawa
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Publication number: 20110305976Abstract: A manufacturing method of a fuel cell module includes: forming an outer divided body having a frame shape and formed from an uncrosslinked item of solid rubber having adhesiveness in a seal member arrangement portion of a separator to produce an outer temporary assembly, and forming an inner divided body having a frame shape and formed from an uncrosslinked item of solid rubber in a peripheral edge portion of an electrode member to produce an inner temporary assembly fitting the inner temporary assembly into a frame of the outer temporary assembly to produce a cell assembly temporary assembly; arranging a cell assembly stack, in which a plurality of the cell assembly temporary assemblies are stacked, in a forming die; and pressurizing and heating the forming die to crosslink the uncrosslinked item.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 29, 2010Publication date: December 15, 2011Applicants: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, TOKAI RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.Inventors: Hideaki Tanahashi, Shinichi Haga, Hideya Kadono, Yutaka Ishioka, Kenji Sato, Fumishige Shizuku, Hiroo Yoshikawa
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Patent number: 8039162Abstract: A unit cell for use in a solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell comprising: a membrane/electrode assembly including a fuel electrode and an oxidant electrode disposed on either side of a solid polymer electrolyte membrane, the assembly being sandwiched from either side by a first separator and a second separator to give a stacked construction to form therebetween a fuel gas flow passage and an oxidant gas flow passage. The solid polymer electrolyte membrane has a projecting portion projecting outwardly beyond the fuel electrode and the oxidant electrode, and the projecting portion is coated by a reinforcing resin member. Connecting grooves formed on a primary face of the separators connecting both ends of the fuel gas/oxidant gas flow passages with a fuel/oxidant gas feed/discharge ports, respectively. The reinforcing resin member is placed so as to bridge openings of the connecting grooves in order to give a tunnel construction to the connecting grooves.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2007Date of Patent: October 18, 2011Assignee: Tokai Rubber Industries, Ltd.Inventors: Yutaka Ishioka, Hideaki Tanahashi, Yasuhiko Mihara
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Publication number: 20090253014Abstract: A fuel cell module includes: an electrode member having a membrane electrode assembly, which is formed from an electrolyte membrane and a pair of electrode catalyst layers that is disposed on both sides of the electrolyte membrane in the thickness direction, and having a pair of porous layers disposed on both sides of the membrane electrode assembly in the thickness direction; a separator disposed layered on the electrode member so as to contact at least one of the porous layers; and an adhesive rubber member sealing a peripheral edge portion of the electrode member, wherein the electrode member and the separator are integrated by the adhesive rubber member, and a tensile product of the adhesive rubber member is 1,500 MPa·% or more.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 30, 2009Publication date: October 8, 2009Applicants: Tokai Rubber Industries, Ltd., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hideaki TANAHASHI, Yutaka ISHIOKA, Shinichi HAGA, Hideya KADONO, Kenji SATO, Fumishige SHIZUKU
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Publication number: 20090214917Abstract: A fuel cell includes a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) having an electrolyte membrane and a pair of electrodes arranged on both sides of the electrolyte membrane in the thickness direction, a pair of frames having a frame shape and holding an outer periphery portion of the electrolyte membrane, a pair of gas diffusion layers arranged inside the pair of frames and on both sides of the MEA in the thickness direction, and a gasket covering at least a part of the pair of frames. The fuel cell further includes a first cross-linking adhesive member formed of rubber which includes a membrane accommodating portion having an indented shape for accommodating the outer periphery portion of the electrolyte membrane and a first intermediate portion interposed between the pair of frames and which is subjected to cross-linking adhesion with the outer periphery portion of the electrolyte membrane and the pair of frames.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 28, 2008Publication date: August 27, 2009Applicant: Tokai Rubber Industries, Ltd.Inventors: Hideaki TANAHASHI, Yutaka ISHIOKA, Kazutaka IIZUKA, Chisato KATO
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Publication number: 20070287056Abstract: An adhesive sealing member having favorable creep resistance and providing excellent productivity of fuel cells, and a fuel cell using the same. The adhesive sealing member satisfies (a) a requirement that the adhesive sealing member is used in a fuel cell, (b) a requirement that the adhesive sealing member includes a thermoplastic resin as a main component, and (c) a requirement that the adhesive sealing member includes resin particles of which a heat-resisting temperature is higher than a melting point of the thermoplastic resin. A resin composing the resin particles is preferably a crosslinked acrylic polymer and/or a crosslinked styrene polymer. In the fuel cell, scaling is made by using the adhesive sealing member.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 2, 2007Publication date: December 13, 2007Applicant: TOKAI RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.Inventors: Hideaki Tanahashi, Yutaka Ishioka, Takuji Nagano
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Publication number: 20070184327Abstract: A unit cell for use in a solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell comprising: a membrane/electrode assembly including a fuel electrode and an oxidant electrode disposed on either side of a solid polymer electrolyte membrane, the assembly being sandwiched from either side by a first separator and a second separator to give a stacked construction to form therebetween a fuel gas flow passage and an oxidant gas flow passage. The solid polymer electrolyte membrane has a projecting portion projecting outwardly beyond the fuel electrode and the oxidant electrode, and the projecting portion is coated by a reinforcing resin member. Connecting grooves formed on a primary face of the separators connecting both ends of the fuel gas/oxidant gas flow passages with a fuel/oxidant gas feed/discharge ports, respectively. The reinforcing resin member is placed so as to bridge openings of the connecting grooves in order to give a tunnel construction to the connecting grooves.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 8, 2007Publication date: August 9, 2007Applicant: TOKAI RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.Inventors: Yutaka Ishioka, Hideaki Tanahashi, Yasuhiko Mihara