Patents by Inventor Katsuyuki Makihara

Katsuyuki Makihara 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: 7052787
    Abstract: Proton-exchange membrane fuel-cell power generating equipment includes a heat exchanger coupled to a process burner and, therethrough, to a fan. When water needs to be heated, such as during startup, the water is circulated through the heat exchanger and the process burner is operated (ignited) to heat the water. When the water needs to be cooled, such as when a hot water reserving tank is full, the water is circulated through the heat exchanger and the fan is operated, but the process burner is not operated, to cool the water. Water is circulated through part or all of a water system to prevent freezing while the system is stopped. Optionally, the process burner is operated to heat the circulated water. The heat exchanger and other heat exchangers in the system are arranged to efficiently recover heat from burners, a fuel-cell cooling system and exothermic processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Osamu Tajima, Katsuya Oda, Tatsuji Hatayama, Ryuji Yukawa, Taketoshi Ouki, Akira Fuju, Koji Shindo, Kazuhiro Tajima, Satoshi Yamamoto, Katsuyuki Makihara, Keigo Miyai, Masataka Kadowaki, Masatoshi Ueda
  • Publication number: 20030031900
    Abstract: The present invention provides a proton-exchange membrane fuel cell power generating equipment that keeps temperature of coolant of a fuel cell in a predetermined temperature range without stop operation of the equipment even when a hot water reserving tank is filled with hot water and the hot water is not discharged to the outside, automatically prevents freezing of a water system during stop operation of the equipment, minimizes maintenance work in a cold region or in the winter season, has high reliability with equipment's service life extended, and supplies hot water heated by efficiently recovering exhaust heat from plural heat exchangers installed in the equipment to the hot water reserving tank. The power generating equipment has a line for circulating and feeding hot water A produced by exchanging heat in the heat exchanger connected to a process gas burner for burning hydrogen until the equipment becomes stable in starting operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2002
    Publication date: February 13, 2003
    Inventors: Osamu Tajima, Katsuya Oda, Tatsuji Hatayama, Ryuji Yukawa, Taketoshi Ouki, Akira Fuju, Koji Shindo, Kazuhiro Tajima, Satoshi Yamamoto, Katsuyuki Makihara, Keigo Miyai, Masataka Kadowaki, Masatoshi Ueda
  • Patent number: 6080500
    Abstract: There is provided a movable fuel cell apparatus comprising a movable housing, a power supply, and a fuel gas cylinder. The housing is divided into a front portion and a rear portion by a partition, and composed of a main housing body, a housing cover and a door. The main housing body has a front opening. The housing cover covers the upper portion of the front opening and the door is openably connected with the main housing body. The power supply included in the rear portion comprises a fuel cell for generating electric power by electrochemical reaction using fuel gas and air supplied. The fuel gas cylinder is placed removably in the front portion of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2000
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Fuju, Yosio Azegami, Nobuyoshi Nishizawa, Akio Kawakami, Katsuyuki Makihara, Taketoshi Ouki, Akira Hamada, Koji Shindo, Tatsuji Hatayama, Satoshi Yamamoto, Osamu Tajima