Patents by Inventor Kuroudo Maeda

Kuroudo Maeda 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: 9793554
    Abstract: A fuel cell separator in which the adhesion of a conductive coating formed on the surface of the fuel cell separator is further improved. The fuel cell separator (20) includes a metal substrate (24) molded from titanium, and a conductive coating (30) that exhibits conductivity and is formed on the surface of the metal substrate (24), wherein the conductive coating (30) contains conductive particles, and the average particle size of the conductive particles is not less than 1 nm and not more than 100 nm. The average particle size of the conductive particles is preferably not less than 1 nm and not more than 10 nm, and more preferably not less than 1 nm and not more than 5 nm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Aisin Takaoka Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kuroudo Maeda, Naotaka Aoyama, Masahiro Mizuno
  • Patent number: 8945796
    Abstract: A cell for a fuel cell, comprising a membrane electrode assembly, expanded moldings that are laminated to both surfaces of the membrane electrode assembly and form gas channels, and separators that are laminated to the gas channel structures and separate the gases between adjacent cells, wherein each of the expanded moldings comprises a gas channel substrate formed from a metal material such as a titanium material or a stainless steel, a conductive layer that is formed from a conductor such as gold on a contact portion of the gas channel substrate that contacts the membrane electrode assembly or the separator, and a hydrophilic layer that is formed from a hydrophilic material such as a titanium oxide on the gas channel surface of the gas channel substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kuroudo Maeda, Hideyo Oomori
  • Patent number: 8815471
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a fuel cell separator is provided such that the corrosion resistance can be improved. A method of manufacturing a fuel cell separator that separates adjacent cells of a fuel cell includes subjecting a separator substrate composed of a metal material to gold strike plating, thereby forming a first gold plating layer with a thickness of 10 to 200 nm. Further, thick gold plating is performed on top of the first gold plating layer formed by gold strike plating, thereby forming a second gold plating layer. A fuel cell separator manufactured by the method and a fuel cell including the fuel cell separator are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Aisin Takaoka Co., Ltd., Nippon Chemical Denshi, Inc.
    Inventors: Kuroudo Maeda, Makoto Yoshida, Masahiro Mizuno, Shinji Dewaki
  • Patent number: 8586262
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a titanium-based material includes: rolling a titanium base material via rolling oil that includes carbon to form a rolling-altered layer that includes titanium carbide on a surface of the base material; and depositing a carbon film on the surface on which the rolling-altered layer has been formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kuroudo Maeda, Takashi Iseki, Yuka Yamada, Kazuyuki Nakanishi
  • Publication number: 20120088185
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a titanium-based material includes: rolling a titanium base material via rolling oil that includes carbon to form a rolling-altered layer that includes titanium carbide on a surface of the base material; and depositing a carbon film on the surface on which the rolling-altered layer has been formed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2010
    Publication date: April 12, 2012
    Inventors: Kuroudo Maeda, Takashi Iseki, Yuka Yamada, Kazuyuki Nakanishi
  • Publication number: 20110165501
    Abstract: A fuel cell separator in which the adhesion of a conductive coating formed on the surface of the fuel cell separator is further improved. The fuel cell separator (20) includes a metal substrate (24) molded from titanium, and a conductive coating (30) that exhibits conductivity and is formed on the surface of the metal substrate (24), wherein the conductive coating (30) contains conductive particles, and the average particle size of the conductive particles is not less than 1 nm and not more than 100 nm. The average particle size of the conductive particles is preferably not less than 1 nm and not more than 10 nm, and more preferably not less than 1 nm and not more than 5 nm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2009
    Publication date: July 7, 2011
    Inventors: Kuroudo Maeda, Naotaka Aoyama, Masahiro Mizuno
  • Publication number: 20100310969
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a fuel cell separator in which the corrosion resistance can be improved. A method of manufacturing a fuel cell separator 22 that separates adjacent cells 10 of a fuel cell, the method including subjecting a separator substrate 24 composed of a metal material to gold strike plating, thereby forming a first gold plating layer with a thickness of 10 to 200 nm. An additional gold plating is preferably performed on top of the first gold plating layer formed by gold strike plating, thereby forming a second gold plating layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2008
    Publication date: December 9, 2010
    Inventors: Kuroudo Maeda, Makoto Yoshida, Masahiro Mizuno, Shinji Dewaki
  • Publication number: 20100260928
    Abstract: A method for producing a fuel cell separator which suppresses increase in an electrical conductivity of a coolant to reduce the contact resistance. A method for producing the fuel cell separator for separating gases between adjacent cells for the fuel cell which includes forming a separator substrate having projections and recesses from a metal material such as a titanium material or a stainless steal, and forming an electrical-conductive layer with an electrical conductor of gold or the like only on the projections of the separator substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2008
    Publication date: October 14, 2010
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hajime Hasegawa, Kuroudo Maeda, Takeshi Nagasawa
  • Publication number: 20100239949
    Abstract: A cell for a fuel cell, comprising a membrane electrode assembly, expanded moldings that are laminated to both surfaces of the membrane electrode assembly and form gas channels, and separators that are laminated to the gas channel structures and separate the gases between adjacent cells, wherein each of the expanded moldings comprises a gas channel substrate formed from a metal material such as a titanium material or a stainless steel, a conductive layer that is formed from a conductor such as gold on a contact portion of the gas channel substrate that contacts the membrane electrode assembly or the separator, and a hydrophilic layer that is formed from a hydrophilic material such as a titanium oxide on the gas channel surface of the gas channel substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2008
    Publication date: September 23, 2010
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kuroudo Maeda, Hideyo Oomori