Patents by Inventor Jiro Aizaki
Jiro Aizaki 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: 8557448Abstract: The fuel cell of the invention includes an electrolyte assembly, and a separator having one face as a gas flow path-forming face with a gas flow path formed thereon to allow flow of a reactive gas and the other face, which is reverse to the one face, as a refrigerant flow path-forming face with a refrigerant flow path formed thereon to allow flow of a refrigerant. The gas flow path-forming face of the separator has multiple linear gas flow paths that are arranged in parallel to one another, and a gas flow path connection structure that divides the multiple linear gas flow paths into plural linear gas flow path groups and connects at least part of the plural linear gas flow path groups in series.Type: GrantFiled: January 12, 2006Date of Patent: October 15, 2013Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yoshinori Yamamoto, Yuichi Yagami, Jiro Aizaki, Junichi Shirahama, Sogo Goto, Tsuyoshi Takahashi, Tomokazu Hayashi
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Patent number: 8415069Abstract: A fuel cell includes a plurality of unit cells, each having a membrane electrode assembly and a separator stacked with an intervening first sealing member and the unit cells being stacked on one another with an intervening second sealing member. The first sealing member is spread on and along a surface of the separator where at least a part of the first sealing member overlaps with the second sealing member in a direction in which the unit cells are stacked, and the thickness of the first sealing member is smaller in a region where it overlaps with the second sealing member than in a region where it does not overlap with the second sealing member.Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 2006Date of Patent: April 9, 2013Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Jiro Aizaki
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Patent number: 8298715Abstract: There is realized a structure particularly suitable for inhibiting deformation of separators having a structure where the shapes of projections and recesses are inverted from each other on the front side and the back side of each separator as in a pressed metal separator. Between adjacent separators, there is formed either a power generation region where MEAs and frame members for holding at least a part of the MEAs are inserted or a refrigerant flow region where neither the MEAs nor the frame members are inserted. A deformation inhibiting region for inhibiting deformation of each separator is formed by a projection provided on the separator. Also, a projection for inhibiting the separator from deforming at the deformation inhibiting region or nearby is formed on each frame member. The projection is projected toward the back side of the deformation inhibiting region, where the deformation inhibiting region is a recess on the back side of the separator.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2007Date of Patent: October 30, 2012Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Tomokazu Hayashi, Yoshinori Yamamoto, Yuichi Yagami, Jiro Aizaki, Junichi Shirahama
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Patent number: 8206875Abstract: The contraction and deformation of a seal member are inhibited. To realize this, in a separator in which the shapes of projections and recesses forming at least fluid passages are inverted from each other on the front surface and the back surface of the separator and which is provided with a manifold for supplying and discharging a fluid, the separator, when a seal member for sealing the fluid is provided along the edge side of the separator forming the contour of the manifold, a projecting section capable of functioning as a spacer between the separator and another member adjacent to the separator is provided between the seal member and the edge side.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 2007Date of Patent: June 26, 2012Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yoshinori Yamamoto, Yuichi Yagami, Jiro Aizaki, Junichi Shirahama
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Publication number: 20090286136Abstract: The contraction and deformation of a seal member are inhibited. To realize this, in a separator in which the shapes of projections and recesses forming at least fluid passages are inverted from each other on the front surface and the back surface of the separator and which is provided with a manifold for supplying and discharging a fluid, the separator, when a seal member for sealing the fluid is provided along the edge side of the separator forming the contour of the manifold, a projecting section capable of functioning as a spacer between the separator and another member adjacent to the separator is provided between the seal member and the edge side.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 20, 2007Publication date: November 19, 2009Inventors: Yoshinori Yamamoto, Yuichi Yagami, Jiro Aizaki, Junichi Shirahama
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Publication number: 20090269640Abstract: Miniaturization is achieved when a membrane-electrode assembly (MEA) is provided with a cutout, and the flow of a fluid is further smoothened. To realize this, in a separator for a fuel cell according to the present invention, a portion of the contour of a manifold formed in the separator corresponding to a cutout of the membrane-electrode assembly is formed into a shape along the cutout, and a reactant gas or a coolant is supplied or discharged through a portion formed into the shape along the cutout. The cutout is, for example, a corner cut provided in the corner of the membrane-electrode assembly and forming the membrane-electrode assembly into an asymmetric shape. A portion of the contour of the manifold facing this corner cut is preferably formed substantially in parallel with the edge of the corner cut.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 23, 2007Publication date: October 29, 2009Inventors: Yoshinori Yamamoto, Yuichi Yagami, Jiro Aizaki, Junichi Shirahama
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Publication number: 20090017362Abstract: There is realized a structure particularly suitable for inhibiting deformation of separators having a structure where the shapes of projections and recesses are inverted from each other on the front side and the back side of each separator as in a pressed metal separator. Between adjacent separators, there is formed either a power generation region where MEAs and frame members for holding at least a part of the MEAs are inserted or a refrigerant flow region where neither the MEAs nor the frame members are inserted. A deformation inhibiting region for inhibiting deformation of each separator is formed by a projection provided on the separator. Also, a projection for inhibiting the separator from deforming at the deformation inhibiting region or nearby is formed on each frame member. The projection is projected toward the back side of the deformation inhibiting region, where the deformation inhibiting region is a recess on the back side of the separator.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 7, 2007Publication date: January 15, 2009Inventors: Tomokazu Hayashi, Yoshinori Yamamoto, Yuichi Yagami, Jiro Aizaki, Junichi Shirahama
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Publication number: 20080299442Abstract: A fuel cell includes a plurality of unit cells, each having a membrane electrode assembly and a separator stacked with an intervening first sealing member and the unit cells being stacked on one another with an intervening second sealing member. The first sealing member is spread on and along a surface of the separator where at least a part of the first sealing member overlaps with the second sealing member in a direction in which the unit cells are stacked, and the thickness of the first sealing member is smaller in a region where it overlaps with the second sealing member than in a region where it does not overlap with the second sealing member.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 29, 2006Publication date: December 4, 2008Inventor: Jiro Aizaki
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Publication number: 20070298308Abstract: The fuel cell of the invention includes an electrolyte assembly, and a separator having one face as a gas flow path-forming face with a gas flow path formed thereon to allow flow of a reactive gas and the other face, which is reverse to the one face, as a refrigerant flow path-forming face with a refrigerant flow path formed thereon to allow flow of a refrigerant. The gas flow path-forming face of the separator has multiple linear gas flow paths that are arranged in parallel to one another, and a gas flow path connection structure that divides the multiple linear gas flow paths into plural linear gas flow path groups and connects at least part of the plural linear gas flow path groups in series.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 12, 2006Publication date: December 27, 2007Inventors: Yoshinori Yamamoto, Yuichi Yagami, Jiro Aizaki, Junichi Shirahama, Sogo Goto, Tsuyoshi Takahashi, Tomokazu Hayashi
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Patent number: 7020945Abstract: A method for setting a clearance (G) between a sliding member (36) and a guide member (30) may includes the steps of determining the clearance (G), changing the clearance by utilizing a working means, and stopping the working means when the determined clearance (G) reaches a predetermined target clearance (Gt).Type: GrantFiled: October 23, 2003Date of Patent: April 4, 2006Assignee: Araco Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Jiro Aizaki
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Publication number: 20040134055Abstract: A method for setting a clearance (G) between a sliding member (36) and a guide member (30) may includes the steps of determining the clearance (G), changing the clearance by utilizing a working means, and stopping the working means when the determined clearance (G) reaches a predetermined target clearance (Gt).Type: ApplicationFiled: October 23, 2003Publication date: July 15, 2004Inventor: Jiro Aizaki
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Patent number: 6729172Abstract: Methods for manufacturing a press formed article (22) may include half die cutting a substantially flat material (1, 10) by press forming, thereby forming a first processed material (10′) having a first intermediate press formed article (16) defined therein. The half die cutting step is preferably performed while simultaneously compressing the central portion of the material in order to induce outward plastic flow within the first intermediate press formed article. These methods optionally may include pressing the first intermediate press formed article back into the first processed material, thereby forming a second processed material (10″) having a second intermediate press formed article (20), and separating the second intermediate press formed article from the second processed material, thereby forming a final processed material (10′″) and an unfinished press formed article (22′).Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2002Date of Patent: May 4, 2004Assignee: Araco Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Jiro Aizaki
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Publication number: 20030066329Abstract: Methods for manufacturing a press formed article (22) may include half die cutting a substantially flat material (1, 10) by press forming, thereby forming a first processed material (10′) having a first intermediate press formed article (16) defined therein. The half die cutting step is preferably performed while simultaneously compressing the central portion of the material in order to induce outward plastic flow within the first intermediate press formed article. These methods optionally may include pressing the first intermediate press formed article back into the first processed material, thereby forming a second processed material (10″) having a second intermediate press formed article (20), and separating the second intermediate press formed article from the second processed material, thereby forming a final processed material (10′″) and an unfinished press formed article (22′).Type: ApplicationFiled: October 8, 2002Publication date: April 10, 2003Inventor: Jiro Aizaki