Patents by Inventor Kenji Motoi

Kenji Motoi 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: 11665982
    Abstract: A superconducting wire includes a substrate and a superconducting material layer. The substrate includes a first main surface and a second main surface opposite to the first main surface. The superconducting material layer is disposed on the first main surface. Along at least a part of the superconducting wire in a direction in which the superconducting wire extends, the superconducting material layer is disposed to cover a side surface of the substrate in a width direction of the substrate and cover at least a part of the second main surface. A thickness of the superconducting material layer located on the first main surface varies along the width direction. A maximum thickness of the superconducting material layer located on the second main surface is smaller than a maximum thickness of the superconducting material layer located on the first main surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Yamaguchi, Tatsuoki Nagaishi, Masaya Konishi, Takeshi Yamana, Kenji Motoi
  • Patent number: 11631867
    Abstract: A bipolar plate is disposed between a positive electrode and a negative electrode of a redox flow battery. The bipolar plate has, in a surface of the bipolar plate facing at least one of the positive electrode and the negative electrode, a plurality of grooves through which an electrolyte flows and a ridge positioned between the adjacent grooves. The bipolar plate includes rough surfaces which are disposed in at least parts of groove inner surfaces defining the respective grooves and surface roughness of which represented by arithmetic mean roughness Ra is 0.1 ?m or larger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hayato Fujita, Kenji Motoi
  • Patent number: 11527770
    Abstract: A cell stack including; a stacked body including a plurality of cell frames each having a bipolar plate whose outer periphery is supported by a frame member; and a pair of end plates that tighten the stacked body from both sides of a stacking direction thereof, wherein an area S [cm2] of each cell frame as viewed from the stacking direction of the stacked body and a length W [mm] in the stacking direction of the stacked body satisfies a relationship 0.05?W/S?0.9.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Hayato Fujita, Kenji Motoi, Takashi Kanno, Takeshi Yamana
  • Patent number: 11522209
    Abstract: A battery according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a plurality of tanks (2) storing electrolyte containing ions of which valence is changed; a cell (1) configured to cause oxidation-reduction of the electrolyte so as to be charged or discharged; a pipe (3) connecting the plurality of tanks and the cell; and a pump (4) configured to circulate the electrolyte between the plurality of tanks and the cell through the pipe. The battery according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a container (5) housing the plurality of tanks (2), the cell (1), the pipe (3), and the pump (4). The container has a bottom (51), a side (52), and a top (53). Accordingly, the battery in an embodiment of the present invention can be installed easily and its installation area can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsuo Ikeuchi, Takeshi Yamana, Kenji Motoi
  • Publication number: 20200403262
    Abstract: A cell stack including; a stacked body including a plurality of cell frames each having a bipolar plate whose outer periphery is supported by a frame member; and a pair of end plates that tighten the stacked body from both sides of a stacking direction thereof, wherein an area S [cm2] of each cell frame as viewed from the stacking direction of the stacked body and a length W [mm] in the stacking direction of the stacked body satisfies a relationship 0.05?W/S?0.9.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2018
    Publication date: December 24, 2020
    Applicant: SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Hayato FUJITA, Kenji MOTOI, Takashi KANNO, Takeshi YAMANA
  • Publication number: 20190379062
    Abstract: A bipolar plate is disposed between a positive electrode and a negative electrode of a redox flow battery. The bipolar plate has, in a surface of the bipolar plate facing at least one of the positive electrode and the negative electrode, a plurality of grooves through which an electrolyte flows and a ridge positioned between the adjacent grooves. The bipolar plate includes rough surfaces which are disposed in at least parts of groove inner surfaces defining the respective grooves and surface roughness of which represented by arithmetic mean roughness Ra is 0.1 ?m or larger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2017
    Publication date: December 12, 2019
    Applicant: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hayato FUJITA, Kenji MOTOI
  • Patent number: 10431843
    Abstract: A frame body for a cell frame of a redox flow battery, the frame body including an outer peripheral portion, the outer peripheral portion including a thin region whose thickness gradually decreases in a direction from the center of the frame body toward the outer periphery of the frame body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideyuki Yamaguchi, Takashi Kanno, Kenji Motoi, Takeshi Yamana
  • Publication number: 20190221863
    Abstract: A bipolar plate in which an electrode of a redox flow battery is disposed. In a section perpendicular to a flat surface of the bipolar plate, a radius of curvature of a corner portion of an outer peripheral portion is from 0.1 to 4.0 mm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2017
    Publication date: July 18, 2019
    Applicants: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd., Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideyuki Yamaguchi, Kenji Motoi
  • Patent number: 10305121
    Abstract: There is provided a frame body used for a cell of a redox flow battery, that can improve heat dissipation of an electrolyte in a slit and can suppress rise of the temperature of the electrolyte. It is a frame body used for a cell of a redox flow battery, comprising: an opening formed inside the frame body; a manifold allowing an electrolyte to pass therethrough; and a slit which connects the manifold and the opening and forms a channel of the electrolyte between the manifold and the opening, the slit having a pair of sidewalls facing each other in a cross section orthogonal to a direction in which the electrolyte flows, the slit having, at at least a portion thereof in the slit's depthwise direction, a width narrowing portion allowing the sidewalls to have a spacing narrowed in the depthwise direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Kanno, Takeshi Yamana, Kenji Motoi
  • Patent number: 10305122
    Abstract: There is provided a frame body used for a cell of a redox flow battery, that can improve heat dissipation of an electrolyte in a slit and can suppress rise of the temperature of the electrolyte. It is a frame body used for a cell of a redox flow battery, comprising: an opening formed inside the frame body; a manifold allowing an electrolyte to pass therethrough; and a slit which connects the manifold and the opening and forms a channel of the electrolyte between the manifold and the opening, the slit having a pair of sidewalls facing each other in a cross section orthogonal to a direction in which the electrolyte flows, the slit having, at at least a portion thereof in the slit's depthwise direction, a width narrowing portion allowing the sidewalls to have a spacing narrowed in the depthwise direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Kanno, Takeshi Yamana, Kenji Motoi
  • Publication number: 20190140301
    Abstract: A battery according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a plurality of tanks (2) storing electrolyte containing ions of which valence is changed; a cell (1) configured to cause oxidation-reduction of the electrolyte so as to be charged or discharged; a pipe (3) connecting the plurality of tanks and the cell; and a pump (4) configured to circulate the electrolyte between the plurality of tanks and the cell through the pipe. The battery according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a container (5) housing the plurality of tanks (2), the cell (1), the pipe (3), and the pump (4). The container has a bottom (51), a side (52), and a top (53). Accordingly, the battery in an embodiment of the present invention can be installed easily and its installation area can be reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2016
    Publication date: May 9, 2019
    Inventors: Atsuo Ikeuchi, Takeshi Yamana, Kenji Motoi
  • Patent number: 10263263
    Abstract: There is provided a frame body used for a cell of a redox flow battery, that can improve heat dissipation of an electrolyte in a slit and can suppress rise of the temperature of the electrolyte. It is a frame body used for a cell of a redox flow battery, comprising: an opening formed inside the frame body; a manifold allowing an electrolyte to pass therethrough; and a slit which connects the manifold and the opening and forms a channel of the electrolyte between the manifold and the opening, the slit having a pair of sidewalls facing each other in a cross section orthogonal to a direction in which the electrolyte flows, the slit having, at at least a portion thereof in the slit's depthwise direction, a width narrowing portion allowing the sidewalls to have a spacing narrowed in the depthwise direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Kanno, Takeshi Yamana, Kenji Motoi
  • Patent number: 10224563
    Abstract: A frame body that is a part of a flat cell frame for a cell stack of a redox flow battery, and that supports, on an outer peripheral side of a bipolar plate of the cell frame, the bipolar plate, the frame body including a frame-facing surface that is to face, when a plurality of the cell frames are stacked, a frame body of another cell frame that is adjacent to the cell frame in a stacking direction, wherein the frame-facing surface has a surface roughness Ra of 0.03 ?m or more and 3.2 ?m or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hayato Fujita, Takashi Kanno, Kenji Motoi, Takeshi Yamana
  • Publication number: 20180375115
    Abstract: A bipolar plate disposed between a positive electrode and a negative electrode of a redox flow battery has, in a surface of the bipolar plate facing at least one of the positive electrode and the negative electrode, at least one groove through which an electrolyte flows. The groove has a pair of sidewalls facing each other in a cross section orthogonal to a direction in which the electrolyte flows. The groove has a narrow portion in which a distance between the sidewalls decreases in a depth direction of the groove, the narrow portion being provided in at least a part of the groove in the depth direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2016
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Inventors: Takashi Kanno, Kenji Motoi
  • Publication number: 20180337323
    Abstract: A superconducting wire includes a substrate and a superconducting material layer. The substrate includes a first main surface and a second main surface opposite to the first main surface. The superconducting material layer is disposed on the first main surface. Along at least a part of the superconducting wire in a direction in which the superconducting wire extends, the superconducting material layer is disposed to cover a side surface of the substrate in a width direction of the substrate and cover at least a part of the second main surface. A thickness of the superconducting material layer located on the first main surface varies along the width direction. A maximum thickness of the superconducting material layer located on the second main surface is smaller than a maximum thickness of the superconducting material layer located on the first main surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2015
    Publication date: November 22, 2018
    Applicant: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi YAMAGUCHI, Tatsuoki NAGAISHI, Masaya KONISHI, Takeshi YAMANA, Kenji MOTOI
  • Publication number: 20180294486
    Abstract: An introduction channel and a discharge channel are provided in each of a surface of a cell frame that faces a positive electrode and a surface of the cell frame that faces a negative electrode. The introduction channel includes an introduction rectifying groove and a plurality of introduction branch grooves. The discharge channel includes a discharge rectifying groove and a plurality of discharge branch grooves. The introduction branch grooves extend toward the discharge rectifying groove and the discharge branch grooves extend toward the introduction rectifying groove. Separation distances X between the introduction rectifying groove and the discharge branch grooves and separation distances Y between the discharge rectifying groove and the introduction branch grooves are in a range from 1 mm to 30 mm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2016
    Publication date: October 11, 2018
    Inventors: Masahiro Kuwabara, Kenji Motoi
  • Publication number: 20180248216
    Abstract: A frame body for a cell frame of a redox flow battery, the frame body including an outer peripheral portion, the outer peripheral portion including a thin region whose thickness gradually decreases in a direction from the center of the frame body toward the outer periphery of the frame body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2016
    Publication date: August 30, 2018
    Inventors: Hideyuki Yamaguchi, Takashi Kanno, Kenji Motoi, Takeshi Yamana
  • Publication number: 20180248215
    Abstract: A frame body that is a part of a flat cell frame for a cell stack of a redox flow battery, and that supports, on an outer peripheral side of a bipolar plate of the cell frame, the bipolar plate, the frame body including a frame-facing surface that is to face, when a plurality of the cell frames are stacked, a frame body of another cell frame that is adjacent to the cell frame in a stacking direction, wherein the frame-facing surface has a surface roughness Ra of 0.03 ?m or more and 3.2 ?m or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2016
    Publication date: August 30, 2018
    Inventors: Hayato Fujita, Takashi Kanno, Kenji Motoi, Takeshi Yamana
  • Patent number: 9947944
    Abstract: There is provided a frame body used for a cell of a redox flow battery, that can improve heat dissipation of an electrolyte in a slit while reducing a shunt current loss through the electrolyte, and can also suppress strain caused at a slit formation portion. It is a frame body used for a cell of a redox flow battery, comprising: an opening formed inside the frame body; a manifold allowing an electrolyte to pass therethrough; and a slit which connects the manifold and the opening and forms a channel of the electrolyte between the manifold and the opening, the slit having at least one bent portion, the at least one bent portion having a radius of curvature of 2.0 mm or more and 200 mm or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Kanno, Takeshi Yamana, Kenji Motoi
  • Publication number: 20170271691
    Abstract: There is provided a frame body used for a cell of a redox flow battery, that can improve heat dissipation of an electrolyte in a slit and can suppress rise of the temperature of the electrolyte. It is a frame body used for a cell of a redox flow battery, comprising: an opening formed inside the frame body; a manifold allowing an electrolyte to pass therethrough; and a slit which connects the manifold and the opening and forms a channel of the electrolyte between the manifold and the opening, the slit having a pair of sidewalls facing each other in a cross section orthogonal to a direction in which the electrolyte flows, the slit having, at at least a portion thereof in the slit's depthwise direction, a width narrowing portion allowing the sidewalls to have a spacing narrowed in the depthwise direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2017
    Publication date: September 21, 2017
    Inventors: Takashi Kanno, Takeshi Yamana, Kenji Motoi