Patents by Inventor Kazunori Fukuma
Kazunori Fukuma 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: 11888189Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a membrane electrode assembly, an anode-side internal passage, a cathode-side internal passage, an oxygen supply section, and a control device. The oxygen supply section includes a gas circulation passage connected to one end side and the other end side of the cathode-side internal passage, an oxygen supply source connected to the gas circulation passage, and a gas circulation device configured to circulate and flow oxygen gas in any one of one direction and the other direction in the gas circulation passage. The control device switches a flow direction of the oxygen gas by the gas circulation device according to a distribution state of moisture on the cathode electrode of the membrane electrode assembly.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 2022Date of Patent: January 30, 2024Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventor: Kazunori Fukuma
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Publication number: 20230261231Abstract: A regenerative fuel cell system includes a supply mechanism for supplying gas generated by a pressurization apparatus to a fuel cell, and a control apparatus. The supply mechanism includes a flow regulating valve provided in a gas supply path, and a pressure sensor that detects pressure of the gas supplied to the gas supply path. When a pressurization-stop operation is started, the control apparatus adjusts the flow rate of the flow regulating valve to realize a target depressurization rate, and causes the fuel cell to generate power corresponding to the flow rate.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 9, 2023Publication date: August 17, 2023Inventors: Shoji TAKASUGI, Kazunori FUKUMA, Takumi KAWANO, Yuta HOSHI
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Publication number: 20230027958Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a membrane electrode assembly, an anode-side internal passage, a cathode-side internal passage, an oxygen supply section, and a control device. The oxygen supply section includes a gas circulation passage connected to one end side and the other end side of the cathode-side internal passage, an oxygen supply source connected to the gas circulation passage, and a gas circulation device configured to circulate and flow oxygen gas in any one of one direction and the other direction in the gas circulation passage. The control device switches a flow direction of the oxygen gas by the gas circulation device according to a distribution state of moisture on the cathode electrode of the membrane electrode assembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 1, 2022Publication date: January 26, 2023Inventor: Kazunori Fukuma
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Patent number: 9437886Abstract: An oxygen-containing gas supply device of a fuel cell system is equipped with an oxygen-containing gas supply flow passage that communicates with an oxygen-containing gas inlet of a fuel cell. An oxygen-containing gas discharge flow passage communicates with an oxygen-containing gas outlet of the fuel cell. A compressor is disposed in the oxygen-containing gas supply flow passage and a supply flow passage sealing valve is disposed downstream from the compressor in the oxygen-containing gas supply flow passage. A discharge flow passage sealing valve is disposed in the oxygen-containing gas discharge flow passage, and a discharge fluid circulation flow passage that communicates with the oxygen-containing gas discharge flow passage is disposed at a location upstream from the discharge flow passage sealing valve, while also communicating with the oxygen-containing gas supply flow passage at a location upstream from the compressor.Type: GrantFiled: April 5, 2012Date of Patent: September 6, 2016Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Kazunori Fukuma, Nobutaka Nakajima
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Patent number: 9356302Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell, a fuel-gas supply path, a fuel-gas circulation path, a first flow adjuster, an ejector, a bypass flow path, and a second flow adjuster. The fuel cell has a fuel-gas flow path and an oxidant-gas flow path. The bypass flow path connects an upstream section of the fuel-gas supply path located upstream of the first flow adjuster to a downstream section of the fuel-gas supply path located downstream of the ejector so as to cause fuel gas to bypass the first flow adjuster and the ejector. The second flow adjuster is provided in the bypass flow path to adjust a flow rate of the fuel gas by intermittently ejecting the fuel gas at a larger flow rate than the first flow adjuster.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2012Date of Patent: May 31, 2016Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Tetsuya Fukuda, Kazunori Fukuma
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Patent number: 9147897Abstract: A fuel cell system mounted in a vehicle includes a fuel cell stack, a coolant supply mechanism, and a fuel gas supply mechanism. The coolant supply mechanism includes a coolant supply pipe and a coolant discharge pipe, provided on a front side in a traveling direction of the vehicle, relative to the fuel cell stack. The fuel gas supply mechanism includes a fuel gas supply pipe, provided on a rear side in the traveling direction, relative to the fuel cell stack.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2013Date of Patent: September 29, 2015Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kazunori Fukuma, Kenji Nagumo, Takaharu Sato
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Patent number: 9017896Abstract: An fuel cell system includes a fuel cell, a fuel cell box, a ventilation device, an air intake duct, and a gas outlet pipe. The fuel cell is disposed in the fuel cell box. The ventilation device is provided to supply air to the fuel cell box. The air intake duct connects the ventilation device to the fuel cell box to supply air from the ventilation device into the fuel cell box. The gas outlet pipe is connected to the air intake duct and connects an inside space of the fuel cell box to an outside space of the fuel cell box through the air intake duct. The gas outlet pipe has an opening cross-sectional area smaller than an opening cross-sectional area of the air intake duct.Type: GrantFiled: August 2, 2012Date of Patent: April 28, 2015Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Mitsunori Matsumoto, Kazunori Fukuma
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Patent number: 8999593Abstract: An ejector apparatus for a fuel cell includes an ejector main body including an inlet port, an outlet port, a suction port, and an oxidizer-gas supply port, a first to third chambers provided in the body, a nozzle having a nozzle hole discharging the fuel gas, a diffuser mixing the fuel gas discharged from the nozzle hole and the fuel offgas exhausted from the fuel cell and returned to the suction port, a needle fixed on a side of the body and extending along an axial direction of the nozzle in a hollow portion thereof, and first and second diaphragms arranged to oppose each other, and changing an opening area in a gap between the nozzle hole and an outer peripheral face of a top end of the needle, wherein a pressure receiving area of the first diaphragm is set to be larger than that of the second diaphragm.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 2012Date of Patent: April 7, 2015Assignees: Keihin Corporation, Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Takahide Kato, Takao Ikenaga, Kazunori Fukuma
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Patent number: 8877396Abstract: A control device of a fuel cell system sets a required output of a fuel cell stack that is required according to a present power demand and predicts the required output and the current according to the temperature of the fuel cell stack from a predetermined output state map that is preset. The control device sets an operation state quantity according to the predicted current and the temperature of the fuel cell stack from a predetermined operation state quantity map that is preset. The control device includes at least one of a pressure at an air supply port of air that is supplied to the cathode electrode of the fuel cell stack, a utilization rate of the air at the cathode electrode, a flow rate of a cooling medium that cools the fuel cell stack, and humidity of the air at the air supply port as the operation state quantity.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 2012Date of Patent: November 4, 2014Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kazunori Fukuma, Yohei Hidaka
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Patent number: 8507138Abstract: An ejector for a fuel cell system of the present invention includes a nozzle having a nozzle hole for discharging hydrogen supplied via an inlet port of an ejector body, a diffuser for mixing hydrogen discharged from the nozzle hole and hydrogen off-gas discharged and returned via a circulation passage from a fuel cell, a needle displacing in the axial direction by a driving force of a solenoid, and a bearing member held in a hollow portion of the nozzle, and having a through hole that movably supports the needle in the axial direction.Type: GrantFiled: June 12, 2009Date of Patent: August 13, 2013Assignee: Keihin CorporationInventors: Kouichi Yamada, Kazunori Fukuma, Makoto Wada
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Patent number: 8415060Abstract: A fuel cell system mounted in a vehicle includes a fuel cell stack, a coolant supply mechanism, and a fuel gas supply mechanism. The coolant supply mechanism includes a coolant supply pipe and a coolant discharge pipe, provided on a front side in a traveling direction of the vehicle, relative to the fuel cell stack. The fuel gas supply mechanism includes a fuel gas supply pipe, provided on a rear side in the traveling direction, relative to the fuel cell stack.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2006Date of Patent: April 9, 2013Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kazunori Fukuma, Kenji Nagumo, Takaharu Sato
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Publication number: 20130034795Abstract: An fuel cell system includes a fuel cell, a fuel cell box, a ventilation device, an air intake duct, and a gas outlet pipe. The fuel cell is disposed in the fuel cell box. The ventilation device is provided to supply air to the fuel cell box. The air intake duct connects the ventilation device to the fuel cell box to supply air from the ventilation device into the fuel cell box. The gas outlet pipe is connected to the air intake duct and connects an inside space of the fuel cell box to an outside space of the fuel cell box through the air intake duct. The gas outlet pipe has an opening cross-sectional area smaller than an opening cross-sectional area of the air intake duct.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 2, 2012Publication date: February 7, 2013Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Mitsunori MATSUMOTO, Kazunori FUKUMA
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Patent number: 8329354Abstract: An ejector and a fuel cell system using the ejector which can improve a control of an ejection pressure of a fluid. The ejector 50 includes a body 60, a nozzle 80, a needle 70, a diffuser 90 which sucks a second fluid by a negative pressure generated by a first fluid ejected from the nozzle 80, and a first, a second and a third diaphragms 100, 110, 120 which are movable in the axial direction against the needle 70. The first diaphragm 100 and the second diaphragm 110 have the same effective area, and an effective area of the third diaphragm 120 is different from those of the first diaphragm 100 and the second diaphragm 110.Type: GrantFiled: February 16, 2010Date of Patent: December 11, 2012Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kazunori Fukuma, Satoshi Inoue
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Patent number: 8323852Abstract: An ejector comprises a body, a nozzle, a needle, a diffuser which draws in a second fluid using negative pressure caused by ejection of a first fluid from the nozzle and mixes the first and second fluids together, first and second diaphragms which allows the nozzle to shift in an axial direction with respect to the needle, and a first fluid chamber which is supplied with the first fluid. A valve in which a valve body contacts and separates from a valve seat according to the shifting action of the nozzle is formed by providing either the nozzle or the needle with the valve body and providing the other with the valve seat in the first fluid chamber. A back pressure chamber connecting to the first fluid chamber via the valve is provided between a trunk portion of the nozzle and a basal part of the needle.Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 2010Date of Patent: December 4, 2012Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kazunori Fukuma, Satoshi Inoue
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Publication number: 20120258375Abstract: An oxygen-containing gas supply device of a fuel cell system is equipped with an oxygen-containing gas supply flow passage that communicates with an oxygen-containing gas inlet of a fuel cell. An oxygen-containing gas discharge flow passage communicates with an oxygen-containing gas outlet of the fuel cell. A compressor is disposed in the oxygen-containing gas supply flow passage and a supply flow passage sealing valve is disposed downstream from the compressor in the oxygen-containing gas supply flow passage. A discharge flow passage sealing valve is disposed in the oxygen-containing gas discharge flow passage, and a discharge fluid circulation flow passage that communicates with the oxygen-containing gas discharge flow passage is disposed at a location upstream from the discharge flow passage sealing valve, while also communicating with the oxygen-containing gas supply flow passage at a location upstream from the compressor.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 5, 2012Publication date: October 11, 2012Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Kazunori FUKUMA, Nobutaka NAKAJIMA
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Publication number: 20120189927Abstract: An ejector apparatus for a fuel cell includes an ejector main body including an inlet port, an outlet port, a suction port, and an oxidizer-gas supply port, a first to third chambers provided in the body, a nozzle having a nozzle hole discharging the fuel gas, a diffuser mixing the fuel gas discharged from the nozzle hole and the fuel offgas exhausted from the fuel cell and returned to the suction port, a needle fixed on a side of the body and extending along an axial direction of the nozzle in a hollow portion thereof, and first and second diaphragms arranged to oppose each other, and changing an opening area in a gap between the nozzle hole and an outer peripheral face of a top end of the needle, wherein a pressure receiving area of the first diaphragm is set to be larger than that of the second diaphragm.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 24, 2012Publication date: July 26, 2012Applicants: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD., KEIHIN CORPORATIONInventors: Takahide KATO, Takao IKENAGA, Kazunori FUKUMA
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Patent number: 8017275Abstract: An ejector is provided with a first fluid chamber into which hydrogen gas is introduced; a rod-shaped needle; a nozzle exhausting hydrogen gas introduced into the first fluid chamber from an exhaust port; a second fluid chamber into which hydrogen off-gas is introduced; a diffuser provided at the exhaust port of the nozzle; and a third fluid chamber into which air is introduced. The first fluid chamber is provided between the second fluid chamber and the third fluid chamber. The first diaphragm 65 separates the first fluid chamber and the second fluid chamber and the second diaphragm separates the first chamber and the third fluid chamber. Then, the needle and the nozzle moves to approach each other by the pressure of air introduced into the third fluid chamber and isolate each other by the pressure of hydrogen off-gas introduced into the second fluid chamber.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 2008Date of Patent: September 13, 2011Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventor: Kazunori Fukuma
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Patent number: 7896115Abstract: A fuel cell vehicle includes: a vehicle body; a floor panel provided on the bottom of the vehicle body; a floor tunnel that is formed bulging upward in the center of the floor panel in the vehicle body width; a pair of front seats that are disposed on the floor panel, outside of the floor tunnel in the vehicle body width direction; center frames that support the floor tunnel, disposed at the center in the vehicle body width and extending along the vehicle body longitudinal direction; a sub-frame provided on the bottom of the floor panel and joined to the center frames; and a fuel cell stack mounted on the sub-frame and provided under the floor tunnel.Type: GrantFiled: July 5, 2006Date of Patent: March 1, 2011Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Tohru Ono, Takayuki Ogawa, Akira Nakashima, Shujiro Nozaki, Takashi Kato, Takaharu Sato, Kenji Nagumo, Kazunori Fukuma, Takanori Moori
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Patent number: 7824811Abstract: A fuel cell discharge-gas processing device that dilutes anode off-gas discharged from a fuel cell anode by mixing the anode off-gas with a diluent gas so as to produce a diluted gas and then discharges mixture of the anode off-gas and the diluent gas, includes: a dilution container; an anode off-gas introduction path; a diluent gas path through; a diluent gas emission hole; a mixed gas discharge hole; at least one partition panel; and a communication gas path, wherein the anode off-gas emission hole is provided so as to emit anode off-gas toward the partition panel.Type: GrantFiled: July 11, 2005Date of Patent: November 2, 2010Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hideo Numata, Akio Yamamoto, Shujiro Nozaki, Masahiro Matsutani, Kazunori Fukuma
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Publication number: 20100209819Abstract: An ejector and a fuel cell system using the ejector which can improve a control of an ejection pressure of a fluid. The ejector 50 includes a body 60, a nozzle 80, a needle 70, a diffuser 90 which sucks a second fluid by a negative pressure generated by a first fluid ejected from the nozzle 80, and a first, a second and a third diaphragms 100, 110, 120 which are movable in the axial direction against the needle 70. The first diaphragm 100 and the second diaphragm 110 have the same effective area, and an effective area of the third diaphragm 120 is different from those of the first diaphragm 100 and the second diaphragm 110.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 16, 2010Publication date: August 19, 2010Applicant: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kazunori FUKUMA, Satoshi INOUE