Patents by Inventor Hiromichi Nakata
Hiromichi Nakata 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: 7422815Abstract: A separator is provided with a substrate portion having a predetermined concave-convex shape, an underlying coating layer formed on the substrate portion, a first coating layer coating the substrate portion and the underlying coating layer, and a second coating layer formed thereon. The second coating layer, which is formed from carbon materials, is sufficiently electrically conductive and protects the underlying layers. The first coating layer is formed from a low-melting-point metal subjected to a melting process. The melting process is a process of first conducting heating at such a temperature that melts the low-melting-point metal but does not melt the substrate portion and the underlying coating layer and then conducting cooling. Thus, in the first coating layer, the crystal grain size of the metal is increased and thus the grain boundary density is reduced.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 2004Date of Patent: September 9, 2008Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hiromichi Nakata, Masayoshi Yokoi, Joji Yoshimura, Kenichi Suzuki, Fumio Nonoyama
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Publication number: 20080160390Abstract: A low-cost fuel cell separator having a metallic substrate which is able to stably maintain low electric resistance (high electrical conductivity) and high corrosion resistance for a long period is provided. The separator has a metallic substrate having an oxide film forming a surface thereof and made from an oxidization of a metal of the substrate, and an electrically conductive thin film formed on a surface of the oxide film of the substrate. Due to this construction, low electric resistance (high electrical conductivity) is achieved by the electrically conductive thin film. Furthermore, even if the electrically conductive thin film has pinholes, the oxide film substantially prevents or reduces elution from the separator substrate, thereby achieving high corrosion resistance. Still further, since the oxide film is formed by oxidation of the substrate, the oxide film can be formed at a lower cost than an oxide film formed from a different metal.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 14, 2007Publication date: July 3, 2008Inventor: Hiromichi Nakata
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Patent number: 7364814Abstract: A separator of a fuel cell includes a base material and a surface treatment layer formed on the base material. The surface treatment layer includes a base material-side portion made from metal and a base material opposite-side portion made from carbon formed at an atom level or composite materials of carbon and metal or semi-metal. The surface treatment layer may further include carbon particle composite layer formed on the base material opposite-side portion formed at an atom level. In a manufacturing method of the above separator of a fuel cell, the base material opposite-side portion is formed by dry coating.Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 2003Date of Patent: April 29, 2008Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hiromichi Nakata, Masayoshi Yokoi, Kenji Shimoda, Noboru Takayanagi
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Patent number: 7358298Abstract: The present invention provides an adhesive composition containing a block copolymer, wherein the block copolymer has a polymer block (A) which is principally composed of a ?-methyl styrene unit, and a polymer block (B) which is principally composed of a conjugated diene unit and of which at least part of carbon-carbon unsaturated double bonds may be hydrogenated, and having a good holding power at high temperatures.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2004Date of Patent: April 15, 2008Assignee: Kuraray Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yoshihiro Morishita, Hiromichi Nakata, Kenichi Hamada, Kazushige Ishiura
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Patent number: 7354654Abstract: A thermoplastic polymer composition having good flexibility and excellent barrier properties with respect to gases and organic liquids, which can be adhesively bonded to a polyolefin resin, this composition comprising an ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer (A), a polymer mixture (B) composed of a block copolymer (I) mainly comprising a vinyl aromatic polymer block and a conjugated diene polymer block which may be hydrogenated, and a rubber softener (II), and a polyolefin resin (C), wherein at least part of the block copolymer (I) is modified at a modification ratio of 0.05 wt. % or higher so as to have a functional group capable of reacting with the ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer (A), wherein the ISO type A hardness of the thermoplastic polymer composition is not less than 30 and not higher than 90, and the oxygen permeation coefficient is 20,000 mL·20 ?m/m2·day·atm or less.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 2003Date of Patent: April 8, 2008Assignee: Kuraray Co., LtdInventors: Haruhisa Masuda, Hiromichi Nakata, Eiji Nakamura, Toshiyuki Zento, Isamu Okamoto, Motohiro Fukuda
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Patent number: 7052794Abstract: A separator is provided with a substrate portion having a predetermined concave-convex shape, an underlying coating layer formed on the substrate portion, a first coating layer coating the substrate portion and the underlying coating layer, and a second coating layer formed thereon. The second coating layer, which is formed from carbon materials, is sufficiently electrically conductive and protects the underlying layers. The first coating layer is formed from a low-melting-point metal subjected to a melting process. The melting process is a process of first conducting heating at such a temperature that melts the low-melting-point metal but does not melt the substrate portion and the underlying coating layer and then conducting cooling. Thus, in the first coating layer, the crystal grain size of the metal is increased and thus the grain boundary density is reduced.Type: GrantFiled: April 19, 2001Date of Patent: May 30, 2006Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hiromichi Nakata, Masayoshi Yokoi, Joji Yoshimura, Kenichi Suzuki, Fumio Nonoyama
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Publication number: 20050038198Abstract: The present invention provides an adhesive composition containing a block copolymer, wherein the block copolymer has a polymer block (A) which is principally composed of a ?-methyl styrene unit, and a polymer block (B) which is principally composed of a conjugated diene unit and of which at least part of carbon-carbon unsaturated double bonds may be hydrogenated, and having a good holding power at high temperatures.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 21, 2004Publication date: February 17, 2005Applicant: KURARAY CO., LTDInventors: Yoshihiro Morishita, Hiromichi Nakata, Kenichi Hamada, Kazushige Ishiura
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Patent number: 6806317Abstract: The present invention provides an adhesive composition containing a block copolymer, wherein the block copolymer has a polymer block (A) which is principally composed of a &agr;-methyl styrene unit, and a polymer block (B) which is principally composed of a conjugated diene unit and of which at least part of carbon-carbon unsaturated double bonds may be hydrogenated, and having a good holding power at high temperatures.Type: GrantFiled: July 17, 2002Date of Patent: October 19, 2004Assignee: Kuraray Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yoshihiro Morishita, Hiromichi Nakata, Kenichi Hamada, Kazushige Ishiura
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Publication number: 20040204530Abstract: A thermoplastic polymer composition having good flexibility and excellent barrier properties with respect to gases and organic liquids, which can be adhesively bonded to a polyolefin resin, this composition comprising an ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer (A), a polymer mixture (B) composed of a block copolymer (I) mainly comprising a vinyl aromatic polymer block and a conjugated diene polymer block which may be hydrogenated, and a rubber softener (II), and a polyolefin resin (C).Type: ApplicationFiled: December 8, 2003Publication date: October 14, 2004Applicant: KURARAY CO. LTD.Inventors: Haruhisa Masuda, Hiromichi Nakata, Eiji Nakamura, Toshiyuki Zento, Isamu Okamoto, Motohiro Fukuda
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Publication number: 20040197467Abstract: A separator is provided with a substrate portion having a predetermined concave-convex shape, an underlying coating layer formed on the substrate portion, a first coating layer coating the substrate portion and the underlying coating layer, and a second coating layer formed thereon. The second coating layer, which is formed from carbon materials, is sufficiently electrically conductive and protects the underlying layers. The first coating layer is formed from a low-melting-point metal subjected to a melting process. The melting process is a process of first conducting heating at such a temperature that melts the low-melting-point metal but does not melt the substrate portion and the underlying coating layer and then conducting cooling. Thus, in the first coating layer, the crystal grain size of the metal is increased and thus the grain boundary density is reduced.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 23, 2004Publication date: October 7, 2004Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Hiromichi Nakata, Masayoshi Yokoi, Joji Yoshimura, Kenichi Suzuki, Fumio Nonoyama
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Publication number: 20040170881Abstract: A low-cost fuel cell separator having a metallic substrate which is able to stably maintain low electric resistance (high electrical conductivity) and high corrosion resistance for a long period is provided. The separator has a metallic substrate having an oxide film forming a surface thereof and made from an oxidization of a metal of the substrate, and an electrically conductive thin film formed on a surface of the oxide film of the substrate. Due to this construction, low electric resistance (high electrical conductivity) is achieved by the electrically conductive thin film. Furthermore, even if the electrically conductive thin film has pinholes, the oxide film substantially prevents or reduces elution from the separator substrate, thereby achieving high corrosion resistance. Still further, since the oxide film is formed by oxidation of the substrate, the oxide film can be formed at a lower cost than an oxide film formed from a different metal.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 20, 2003Publication date: September 2, 2004Inventor: Hiromichi Nakata
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Patent number: 6749959Abstract: The gas separator is provided with a substrate portion having a predetermined concave-convex shape, an underlying coating layer formed on the substrate portion, a first coating layer for coating the substrate portion and the underlying coating layer, and a second coating layer formed thereon. The second coating layer is formed from a carbon material, and is sufficiently conductive. Moreover, the second coating layer protects the underlying layer. The first coating layer is formed from a noble metal. Therefore, the first coating layer coated with the second coating layer exhibits extremely high corrosion resistance. The underlying coating layer and the substrate portion are coated with the first and second coating layers, so that the progress in corrosion can be sufficiently prevented. Thus, excellent overall corrosion resistance of the separator can be realized.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2001Date of Patent: June 15, 2004Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hiromichi Nakata, Masayoshi Yokoi, Masazumi Onishi, Hideo Aihara, Masashi Murate, Yoshifumi Kaji
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Publication number: 20030228510Abstract: A separator of a fuel cell includes a base material and a surface treatment layer formed on the base material. The surface treatment layer includes a base material-side portion made from metal and a base material opposite-side portion made from carbon formed at an atom level or composite materials of carbon and metal or semi-metal. The surface treatment layer may further include carbon particle composite layer formed on the base material opposite-side portion formed at an atom level. In a manufacturing method of the above separator of a fuel cell, the base material opposite-side portion is formed by dry coating.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 3, 2003Publication date: December 11, 2003Inventors: Hiromichi Nakata, Masayoshi Yokoi, Kenji Shimoda, Noboru Takayanagi
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Publication number: 20030050395Abstract: The present invention provides an adhesive composition containing a block copolymer, wherein the block copolymer has a polymer block (A) which is principally composed of a &agr;-methyl styrene unit, and a polymer block (B) which is principally composed of a conjugated diene unit and of which at least part of carbon-carbon unsaturated double bonds may be hydrogenated, and having a good holding power at high temperatures.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 17, 2002Publication date: March 13, 2003Inventors: Yoshihiro Morishita, Hiromichi Nakata, Kenichi Hamada, Ishiura Kazushige
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Publication number: 20010033957Abstract: A separator is provided with a substrate portion having a predetermined concave-convex shape, an underlying coating layer formed on the substrate portion, a first coating layer coating the substrate portion and the underlying coating layer, and a second coating layer formed thereon. The second coating layer, which is formed from carbon materials, is sufficiently electrically conductive and protects the underlying layers. The first coating layer is formed from a low-melting-point metal subjected to a melting process. The melting process is a process of first conducting heating at such a temperature that melts the low-melting-point metal but does not melt the substrate portion and the underlying coating layer and then conducting cooling. Thus, in the first coating layer, the crystal grain size of the metal is increased and thus the grain boundary density is reduced.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 19, 2001Publication date: October 25, 2001Inventors: Hiromichi Nakata, Masayoshi Yokoi, Joji Yoshimura, Kenichi Suzuki, Fumio Nonoyama
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Publication number: 20010028974Abstract: The gas separator is provided with a substrate portion having a predetermined concave-convex shape, an underlying coating layer formed on the substrate portion, a first coating layer for coating the substrate portion and the underlying coating layer, and a second coating layer formed thereon. The second coating layer is formed from a carbon material, and is sufficiently conductive. Moreover, the second coating layer protects the underlying layer. The first coating layer is formed from a noble metal. Therefore, the first coating layer coated with the second coating layer exhibits extremely high corrosion resistance. The underlying coating layer and the substrate portion are coated with the first and second coating layers, so that the progress in corrosion can be sufficiently prevented. Thus, excellent overall corrosion resistance of the separator can be realized.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 12, 2001Publication date: October 11, 2001Inventors: Hiromichi Nakata, Masayoshi Yokoi, Masazumi Onishi, Hideo Aihara, Masashi Murate, Yoshifumi Kaji
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Patent number: 5900465Abstract: An adhesive composition suitable for a hot melt adhesive or hot melt pressure-sensitive adhesive, which comprises a block copolymer (a) and a tackifier (b), wherein said block copolymer (a) has at least one polymer block A being a hydrogenated butadiene polymer block having a 1,2-bond content of 20 mol % or less and at least one polymer block B substantially having an olefin polymer structure different from the polymer block A and having a glass transition temperature of -20.degree. C. or less and a heat of crystalline fusion of 8 cal/g or lower, and containing the polymer block A before hydrogenation in an amount of 3 to 80 wt. %.Type: GrantFiled: December 16, 1996Date of Patent: May 4, 1999Assignee: Kuraray Co., Ltd.Inventors: Makoto Nishikawa, Hideo Takamatsu, Mizuho Maeda, Hiromichi Nakata, Yoshio Hirayama
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Patent number: 5859131Abstract: A resin composition containing (A) a thermoplastic polyurethane; (B) a polymer having a hydroxyl group at the end of the molecular main chain, the main chain principally comprising a conjugated diene compound unit (I) which may or may not be hydrogenated and an aromatic vinyl compound unit (II); and (C) a polyacetal resin, at ratios of (A), (B) and (C) being 2.5 to 90% by weight, 2.5 to 90% by weight and 5 to 95% by weight, respectively, on the basis of the total weight of the (A), (B) and (C), is excellent in terms of tensile strength and tensile elongation, and impact resistance at ambient temperature and lower temperatures.Type: GrantFiled: March 21, 1997Date of Patent: January 12, 1999Assignee: Kuraray Co. Ltd.Inventors: Kazushige Ishiura, Katsunori Takamoto, Takashi Yamashita, Syuichi Kanao, Syunji Kaneda, Hiromichi Nakata
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Patent number: 5693711Abstract: There is disclosed a resin composition which comprises:(a) an .alpha.-olefin/unsaturated carboxylic acid copolymer type ionomeric resin; and(b) a block copolymer having at least one polymer block A comprising an aromatic vinyl compound and at least one polymer block B comprising a conjugated diene compound, and having a hydroxyl group at the terminal of the block copolymer, or a hydrogenated product thereof.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 1996Date of Patent: December 2, 1997Assignee: Kuraray Co., Ltd.Inventors: Isamu Akiba, Hiromichi Nakata, Shiroh Kishii, Atsushi Ohishi, Masao Ishii
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Patent number: 5571865Abstract: A thermoplastic polymer composition which comprises100 parts by weight of polypropylene (1);5 to 100 parts by weight of a hydrogenated block copolymer (2) which has at least one block A, at least one block B and at least one block C and which has a number average molecular weight of not higher than 700,000 wherein the block A consists essentially of a butadiene polymer having a number average molecular weight of 2500 to 200,000 and a vinyl bond content of not higher than 20%, the block B consists essentially of a polymer of isoprene and butadiene at a ratio by weight of 30:70 to 100:0 and has a number average molecular weight of 30,000 to 300,000 and a vinyl bond content of not higher than 20%, and the block C consists essentially of a polymer of isoprene and butadiene at a ratio by weight of 0:100 to 100:0 and has a number average molecular weight of not higher than 200,000 and a vinyl bond content of not less than 40%; and0 to 100 parts by weight of an ethylene/propylene rubber wherein the ratio of the meltType: GrantFiled: May 12, 1995Date of Patent: November 5, 1996Assignee: Kuraray Co., Ltd.Inventors: Makoto Nishikawa, Mizuho Maeda, Hiromichi Nakata, Hideo Takamatsu, Yoshio Hirayama