Patents by Inventor Kinya Aota

Kinya Aota 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: 8568916
    Abstract: A lithium ion secondary battery comprises a case; a positive electrode foil having a current collector foil on which a positive electrode material is coated; an negative electrode film having a current collector film on which an negative electrode material is coated; a separator sandwiched between the positive electrode film and the negative electrode film, the films and the separator being arranged in multiple layers to form a group of electrodes enclosed in the case, a positive collector disc plate connected to the positive electrode side of the group of the electrodes, and an negative collector disc plate connected to the negative electrode side of the group of the electrodes. Each of the current collector foils has a non-coated portion extended along one side of the foils, a part or the entire of the non-coated portion being exposed from a side of the separator. At least one of the collector disc plate is welded to the side of the exposed non-coated portion of the group of the electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Hitachi Vehicle Energy, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Nakai, Akinori Tada, Masatsugu Arai, Kinya Aota
  • Patent number: 8507118
    Abstract: A secondary battery includes: a jelly roll that includes a positive and a negative electrode wound via a separator; a case; a lid; and electrically conductive input/output members, wherein: the electrically conductive input/output members include, at least; a positive and a negative electrode current collector plate with one end thereof connected to the positive and the negative electrode respectively; a positive and a negative electrode external conductive member with one end thereof connected to another end of the positive and the negative electrode current collector plate respectively and another end thereof extending to an outer side of the lid; the one end of the positive and the negative electrode external conductive member are respectively swage-fused to the other end of the positive and the negative electrode current collector plate; and an oxide layer is formed at a surface of each swage-fused area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Hitachi Vehicle Energy, Ltd
    Inventors: Kinya Aota, Toshiro Fujita
  • Publication number: 20130115492
    Abstract: A sealed type battery includes: a can where an electrode winding group; a lid which has a liquid filling hole for injecting a liquid electrolyte and seals an opening of the can; and a liquid filling tap which is fitted to the liquid filling hole and seals the liquid filling hole by welding. A projection molten in welding is provided on one of the outer surface of the liquid filling tap and the outer surface of the lid connected to the liquid filling hole. The liquid filling tap is welded to the liquid filling hole using molten metal of the projection in welding as well.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2011
    Publication date: May 9, 2013
    Applicant: HITACHI VEHICLE ENERGY, LTD.
    Inventor: Kinya Aota
  • Publication number: 20120058374
    Abstract: A secondary battery includes: a jelly roll that includes a positive and a negative electrode wound via a separator; a case; a lid; and electrically conductive input/output members, wherein: the electrically conductive input/output members include, at least; a positive and a negative electrode current collector plate with one end thereof connected to the positive and the negative electrode respectively; a positive and a negative electrode external conductive member with one end thereof connected to another end of the positive and the negative electrode current collector plate respectively and another end thereof extending to an outer side of the lid; the one end of the positive and the negative electrode external conductive member are respectively swage-fused to the other end of the positive and the negative electrode current collector plate; and an oxide layer is formed at a surface of each swage-fused area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2011
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Inventors: Kinya AOTA, Toshiro FUJITA
  • Patent number: 8053105
    Abstract: The present invention provides a lithium-ion secondary battery which can suppress internal resistance to a small value. The lithium-ion secondary battery includes a winding group obtained by winding a positive electrode plate and a negative electrode plate via a separator. An end portion of a positive electrode mixture non-application portion 1 projects at an upper portion of the winding group, while an end portion of a negative electrode mixture non-application portion projects at a lower portion of the winding group. Current collecting disks 7 are disposed on both end faces of the winding group so as to face them, respectively, and materials for the current collecting disks are the same materials as those for a positive electrode current collector and a negative electrode current collector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Hitachi Vehicle Energy, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Nakai, Akinori Tada, Kinya Aota
  • Publication number: 20110195286
    Abstract: A secondary cell includes: an electrode roll in which a positive foil on which a positive-electrode material is coated and a negative foil on which a negative-electrode material is coated are winded through a separator into a flat shape around a winding core; a case in which the electrode roll is housed; a cover which seals the case; a positive terminal and a negative terminal provided on the cover; a positive electrode current collector plate that is electrically connected to the positive foil of the electrode roll and the positive terminal and held by the cover; and a negative electrode current collector plate that is electrically connected to the negative foil of the electrode roll and the negative terminal and held by the cover. The positive electrode current collector plate and the negative electrode current collector plate are each connected to the winding core.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2011
    Publication date: August 11, 2011
    Applicant: Hitachi Vehicle Energy, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kinya AOTA, Toshiro Fujita, Kouichi Kajiwara, Masaaki Iwasa
  • Publication number: 20110076535
    Abstract: In a secondary battery, for providing a structure which can enable a welding operation even when a gap is formed between a current collecting plate and a winding assembly, recessed portions are formed in a positive current collecting plate. The recessed portions are disposed opposite to the winding assembly. A laser beam is irradiated to welding protrusions located between the recessed portions to melt the welding protrusions. Here, since the end surface of a positive electrode foil is uneven in height, the positive electrode foil does not contact the positive current collecting plate necessarily. The welding operation is performed by heating, melting, and dropping the welding protrusions by the use of a YAG laser under the welding condition of a laser power of 900 W and a welding speed 2 m/min.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2010
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Inventors: Kinya Aota, Kenji Nakai, Masatsugu Arai, Akinori Tada
  • Patent number: 7896933
    Abstract: A hydrogen supplying apparatus equipped with a hydrogen separation membrane and a catalyst plate, which is made by forming a catalyst layer on a metal plate, wherein the metal material of the membrane is different in hardness from that of the catalyst plate. A method of producing the hydrogen supplying apparatus, which comprises: bonding a catalyst plate and a hydrogen separation membrane to each other, by friction-stir welding, wherein a welding tool is pressed towards only one of the membrane and catalyst plate, forming a reaction layer between the membrane and the catalyst plate by the frictional heat, and forming ripples in the welded interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Akihiro Sato, Takao Ishikawa, Kinya Aota
  • Patent number: 7867644
    Abstract: In a secondary battery, for providing a structure which can enable a welding operation even when a gap is formed between a current collecting plate and a winding assembly, recessed portions are formed in a positive current collecting plate. The recessed portions are disposed opposite to the winding assembly. A laser beam is irradiated to welding protrusions located between the recessed portions to melt the welding protrusions. Here, since the end surface of a positive electrode foil is uneven in height, the positive electrode foil does not contact the positive current collecting plate necessarily. The welding operation is performed by heating, melting, and dropping the welding protrusions by the use of a YAG laser under the welding condition of a laser power of 900 W and a welding speed 2 m/min.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Hitachi Vehicle Energy, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kinya Aota, Kenji Nakai, Masatsugu Arai, Akinori Tada
  • Publication number: 20100310929
    Abstract: A sealed battery includes a battery container. The battery container houses an electrode winding body, on which positive and negative electrode plates are wound via separators, together with a non-aqueous electrolytic solution. A positive electrode tab is bonded to a positive current collector ring arranged at an upper side of the electrode winding body. A battery lid to be a positive electrode external terminal is crimped and fixed to the battery container. The battery lid has a diaphragm in which a cleaving valve is formed. A coupling part is bonded to the diaphragm, and a stack lead with a plurality of thin plates being laminated is bonded to the coupling part. In the stack lead, a total sum t of thicknesses of the thin plates is not more than a thickness T of the coupling part. Melting from the stack lead to the coupling part by laser irradiation is optimized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2010
    Publication date: December 9, 2010
    Inventors: KENJI NAKAI, AKINORI TADA, KINYA AOTA, SHO MATSUMOTO
  • Publication number: 20100297469
    Abstract: This invention provides a configuration of a joint that allows a satisfactory welded joint to be formed with reduced deformation of the joint region when two-face structures (panels) are friction-welded end to end. The panels 31, 32 each have two substantially parallel plates 33, 34 and a third member 35 connecting the two plates 33, 34. The end portions of the plates 33, 34 of one panel 32 are friction-welded to the end portions of the plates 33, 34 of the other panel 32. At least one of the panels has a plate 36 at its end for connecting the plates 33 and 34 and has a rigidity to support a pressing force produced during the friction welding.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2010
    Publication date: November 25, 2010
    Inventors: Kinya Aota, Tsuyoshi Takenaka, Yasuo Ishimaru
  • Patent number: 7665651
    Abstract: This invention provides a configuration of a joint that allows a satisfactory welded joint to be formed with reduced deformation of the joint region when two-face structures (panels) are friction-welded end to end. The panels 31, 32 each have two substantially parallel plates 33, 34 and a third member 35 connecting the two plates 33, 34. The end portions of the plates 33, 34 of one panel 32 are friction-welded to the end portions of the plates 33, 34 of the other panel 32. At least one of the panels has a plate 36 at its end for connecting the plates 33 and 34 and has a rigidity to support a pressing force produced during the friction welding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kinya Aota, Tsuyoshi Takenaka, Yasuo Ishimaru
  • Patent number: 7661575
    Abstract: A friction stirring-welding method capable of increasing the welding strength of a lap joint. A welding tool (1) comprises a small diameter projected part (2) at the tip of a shoulder (3). The welding tool is press-fitted to the upper plate (4) of the lap joint while being rotated. By a friction stirring action, an upper plate side welding boundary surface (6) plastically flows, a surface oxidation film on a lapped surface is peeled off, and the boundary surface is activated to provide an excellent welding part. Also, since the welding tool is formed in a shape having the small diameter semispherical projected part (2) at the tip thereof, the thickness (12) of an upper plate welding part is increased, and a lap joint part with high welding strength can be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kinya Aota, Masahisa Inagaki, Satoshi Hirano, Kazutaka Okamoto
  • Patent number: 7635075
    Abstract: A problem of FSW spot-welding is that a bonding strength tends to be low, since an area of metallic bonding is limited to the neighborhood of a pin portion of the welding tool. In order to solve the problem, after a tool (1) is inserted into a member (4) to be welded, a rotation shaft of the welding tool is tilted around a predetermined point (13) as a fulcrum, and the tip portion of the welding tool (1) is swung to enlarge a plastic flow area caused by rotation of the tool. As a result, the welding strength can be increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2009
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi Hirano, Kinya Aota, Masahisa Inagaki, Kazutaka Okamoto, Tomio Odakura
  • Publication number: 20090218033
    Abstract: A friction stirring-welding method capable of increasing the welding strength of a lap joint. A welding tool (1) comprises a small diameter projected part (2) at the tip of a shoulder (3). The welding tool is press-fitted to the upper plate (4) of the lap joint while being rotated. By a friction stirring action, an upper plate side welding boundary surface (6) plastically flows, a surface oxidation film on a lapped surface is peeled off, and the boundary surface is activated to provide an excellent welding part. Also, since the welding tool is formed in a shape having the small diameter semispherical projected part (2) at the tip thereof, the thickness (12) of an upper plate welding part is increased, and a lap joint part with high welding strength can be provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2009
    Publication date: September 3, 2009
    Inventors: Kinya Aota, Masahisa Inagaki, Satoshi Hirano, Kazutaka Okamoto
  • Patent number: 7562802
    Abstract: This invention provides a configuration of a joint that allows a satisfactory welded joint to be formed with reduced deformation of the joint region when two-face structures (panels) are friction-welded end to end. The panels 31, 32 each have two substantially parallel plates 33, 34 and a third member 35 connecting the two plates 33, 34. The end portions of the plates 33, 34 of one panel 32 are friction-welded to the end portions of the plates 33, 34 of the other panel 32. At least one of the panels has a plate 36 at its end for connecting the plates 33 and 34 and has a rigidity to support a pressing force produced during the friction welding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kinya Aota, Tsuyoshi Takenaka, Yasuo Ishimaru
  • Publication number: 20090136835
    Abstract: A lithium ion secondary battery comprises a case; a positive electrode foil having a current collector foil on which a positive electrode material is coated; an negative electrode film having a current collector film on which an negative electrode material is coated; a separator sandwiched between the positive electrode film and the negative electrode film, the films and the separator being arranged in multiple layers to form a group of electrodes enclosed in the case, a positive collector disc plate connected to the positive electrode side of the group of the electrodes, and an negative collector disc plate connected to the negative electrode side of the group of the electrodes. Each of the current collector foils has a non-coated portion extended along one side of the foils, a part or the entire of the non-coated portion being exposed from a side of the separator. At least one of the collector disc plate is welded to the side of the exposed non-coated portion of the group of the electrodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2008
    Publication date: May 28, 2009
    Inventors: Kenji Nakai, Akinori Tada, Masatsugu Arai, Kinya Aota
  • Patent number: D642978
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Hitachi Vehicle Energy, Ltd
    Inventors: Yutaka Sato, Ryuji Kono, Mitsuru Koseki, Hidemasa Kawai, Hideyuki Shibanuma, Naoki Kimura, Keisuke Sawada, Fujio Hirano, Takuro Tsunaki, Takenori Ishizu, Kiyoyuki Sekine, Kinya Aota, Kouichi Kajiwara, Sho Saimaru
  • Patent number: D644176
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Hitachi Vehicle Energy, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yutaka Sato, Ryuji Kono, Mitsuru Koseki, Hidemasa Kawai, Hideyuki Shibanuma, Naoki Kimura, Keisuke Sawada, Fujio Hirano, Takuro Tsunaki, Takenori Ishizu, Kiyoyuki Sekine, Kinya Aota, Kouichi Kajiwara, Sho Saimaru
  • Patent number: D644178
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Hitachi Vehicle Energy, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yutaka Sato, Ryuji Kono, Mitsuru Koseki, Hidemasa Kawai, Hideyuki Shibanuma, Naoki Kimura, Keisuke Sawada, Fujio Hirano, Takuro Tsunaki, Takenori Ishizu, Kiyoyuki Sekine, Kinya Aota, Kouichi Kajiwara, Sho Saimaru