Patents by Inventor Masaaki Iwasa

Masaaki Iwasa 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: 11552377
    Abstract: Provided is a rectangular secondary battery with improved rigidity against vibrations and impacts. A rectangular secondary battery of the present invention includes: a flat-shaped electrode group; a current-collecting plate electrically connected to the electrode group; a battery case accommodating the current-collecting plate and the electrode group; a battery cover that closes an opening of the battery case; an electrode terminal penetrating through the battery cover, the electrode terminal being connected to the current-collecting plate via a connecting member; and a gasket that is inserted between the electrode terminal and the battery cover for insulating and sealing. An insulator is disposed between the current-collecting plate and the battery cover, the battery cover includes a battery cover side fixing part that fixes the insulator, and the insulator includes a current-collecting plate side fixing part that fixes the current-collecting plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: VEHICLE ENERGY JAPAN INC.
    Inventors: Kazuaki Urano, Masaaki Iwasa, Takuro Tsunaki, Sho Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 10608286
    Abstract: Provided is a secondary cell which is resistant to vibration and impact. The secondary cell includes a flat wound group supported, through an insulator, at a lid on which external terminals are arranged, and a cell case for housing the flat wound group. In the secondary cell, a flat portion of the flat wound group has a gap between the flat portion and a wide surface of the cell case, and is held on the wide surface near a cell case bottom through a holding portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Osamu Kubota, Masaaki Iwasa, Hitoshi Nishimori, Akihide Tanaka
  • Patent number: 10388939
    Abstract: Provided is a secondary battery which can more securely suppress vibrations applied to a current interrupting mechanism. A secondary battery including: a current interrupting mechanism that interrupts a current path between an external terminal and an electrode in a battery container. The current interrupting mechanism includes a collector plate that is connected to the electrode, a diaphragm that is connected to a base portion of the collector plate and disconnected from the base portion by being deformed when a pressure in the battery container is increased, and an insulating member that fixes the diaphragm and the base portion of the collector plate on the inside of the battery container. The insulating member includes a plurality of projections that protrude in a thickness direction of the base portion, and the base portion includes a plurality of notches through which the projection passes in the thickness direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuaki Urano, Keisuke Sawada, Takuro Tsunaki, Masaaki Iwasa
  • Patent number: 10147925
    Abstract: A square secondary battery includes a generating element having an electrode; a battery can holding the generating element; a battery lid that seals an opening of the battery can; an external terminal arranged on the battery lid; and a current collector connecting the electrode of the generating element to the external terminal. The external terminal has a bus bar joint to which a bus bar is connected and a current collector joint to which the current collector is connected, the bus bar joint and the current collector joint being integrally juxtaposed on the battery lid. The current collector joint has a cylindrical insertion part to be inserted into a through hole in the battery lid and also has a sealing part arranged at an outer periphery of the insertion part, the sealing part pressing down a sealing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Takuro Tsunaki, Masaaki Iwasa, Kazuaki Urano, Sho Saimaru, Sho Matsumoto
  • Publication number: 20180219262
    Abstract: Provided is a secondary cell which is resistant to vibration and impact. The secondary cell includes a flat wound group supported, through an insulator, at a lid on which external terminals are arranged, and a cell case for housing the flat wound group. In the secondary cell, a flat portion of the flat wound group has a gap between the flat portion and a wide surface of the cell case, and is held on the wide surface near a cell case bottom through a holding portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2016
    Publication date: August 2, 2018
    Inventors: Osamu KUBOTA, Masaaki IWASA, Hitoshi NISHIMORI, Akihide TANAKA
  • Patent number: 9843028
    Abstract: A secondary battery typified by a lithium-ion secondary battery includes a battery outer container in which a gas release valve and positive and negative electrode external terminals are provided, an electrode group in which positive and negative plates are stacked with a separator interposed therebetween and current collection portions are provided at both ends, and positive and negative electrode current collectors forming a current path from the current collection portions of the electrode group to the positive and negative electrode external terminals, and the cross-sectional area of a gas exhaust flow channel through which gas generated inside the electrode group is discharged from the gas release valve is set so as to increase in a downstream direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takuro Tsunaki, Masaaki Iwasa, Takashi Sasaki
  • Patent number: 9741994
    Abstract: A rectangular secondary battery includes a current breaking mechanism with improved rigidity against vibration and impact. The current breaking mechanism is interposed in the middle of a current path electrically connected between an external terminal and a wound electrode group to break the current path by the rise of battery internal pressure. The current breaking mechanism includes a connection electrode arranged inside a battery lid and electrically connected to the external terminal, and a conductive plate bonded to the connection electrode and deformed by the rise of the battery internal pressure. The connection electrode includes a tabular member having a through hole in communication with the outside of the battery opening on a planar portion. The conductive plate includes a dome-shaped diaphragm portion gradually reducing its diameter as shifting in an axial direction and a flange portion extending radially outward from an outer peripheral portion of the diaphragm portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuaki Urano, Masaaki Iwasa, Takuro Tsunaki, Sho Matsumoto
  • Publication number: 20170125778
    Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to provide a rectangular secondary battery with higher capacity. The rectangular secondary battery includes: a flat wound electrode group having a foil lamination part where foil exposure parts are laminated on both sides in the winding axis direction; a battery case where a plurality of wound electrode groups are accommodated in parallel; current collector boards, joined to the foil lamination part inside the battery case; and external terminals connected to the current collector boards and exposed outside of the battery case. At least two of the wound electrode groups have joined side lamination parts and non-joined side lamination parts made by splitting the foil lamination part into two in the thickness direction. The joined side lamination parts are being bundled and are joined to the current collector boards.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2014
    Publication date: May 4, 2017
    Inventors: Masaaki IWASA, Fujio HIRANO
  • Patent number: 9620762
    Abstract: An electrical storage element includes a power generation element that includes an electrode, a can in which the power generation element is stored, a lid that seals an opening of the can, an external terminal that is disposed on the lid, and a current collector that connects the electrode of the power generation element, and the external terminal. The external terminal includes a bus bar welding portion having a bus bar welding surface to which a bus bar is welded, and a current collector connection portion having a caulking-jig abutting surface, the current collector connection portion includes an insertion portion which is inserted into a through-hole of the lid and has a tip end which is fixed to the current collector by caulking, the bus bar welding portion and the current collector connection portion are integrally provided in parallel on the lid, and the jig abutting surface is extended from the bus bar welding surface in the same plane as the bus bar welding surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takuro Tsunaki, Masaaki Iwasa, Kazuaki Urano, Sho Saimaru, Sho Matsumoto
  • Publication number: 20170025669
    Abstract: Provided is a secondary battery which can more securely suppress vibrations applied to a current interrupting mechanism. A secondary battery including: a current interrupting mechanism that interrupts a current path between an external terminal and an electrode in a battery container. The current interrupting mechanism includes a collector plate that is connected to the electrode, a diaphragm that is connected to a base portion of the collector plate and disconnected from the base portion by being deformed when a pressure in the battery container is increased, and an insulating member that fixes the diaphragm and the base portion of the collector plate on the inside of the battery container. The insulating member includes a plurality of projections that protrude in a thickness direction of the base portion, and the base portion includes a plurality of notches through which the projection passes in the thickness direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2015
    Publication date: January 26, 2017
    Inventors: Kazuaki URANO, Keisuke SAWADA, Takuro TSUNAKI, Masaaki IWASA
  • Publication number: 20160293919
    Abstract: A secondary battery typified by a lithium-ion secondary battery includes a battery outer container in which a gas release valve and positive and negative electrode external terminals are provided, an electrode group in which positive and negative plates are stacked with a separator interposed therebetween and current collection portions are provided at both ends, and positive and negative electrode current collectors forming a current path from the current collection portions of the electrode group to the positive and negative electrode external terminals, and the cross-sectional area of a gas exhaust flow channel through which gas generated inside the electrode group is discharged from the gas release valve is set so as to increase in a downstream direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2016
    Publication date: October 6, 2016
    Applicant: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takuro TSUNAKI, Masaaki IWASA, Takashi SASAKI
  • Patent number: 9391308
    Abstract: A secondary battery typified by a lithium-ion secondary battery includes a battery outer container in which a gas release valve and positive and negative electrode external terminals are provided, an electrode group in which positive and negative plates are stacked with a separator interposed therebetween and current collection portions are provided at both ends, and positive and negative electrode current collectors forming a current path from the current collection portions of the electrode group to the positive and negative electrode external terminals, and the cross-sectional area of a gas exhaust flow channel through which gas generated inside the electrode group is discharged from the gas release valve is set so as to increase in a downstream direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takuro Tsunaki, Masaaki Iwasa, Takashi Sasaki
  • Publication number: 20150380712
    Abstract: An electrical storage element includes a power generation element that includes an electrode, a can in which the power generation element is stored, a lid that seals an opening of the can, an external terminal that is disposed on the lid, and a current collector that connects the electrode of the power generation element, and the external terminal. The external terminal includes a bus bar welding portion having a bus bar welding surface to which a bus bar is welded, and a current collector connection portion having a caulking-jig abutting surface, the current collector connection portion includes an insertion portion which is inserted into a through-hole of the lid and has a tip end which is fixed to the current collector by caulking, the bus bar welding portion and the current collector connection portion are integrally provided in parallel on the lid, and the jig abutting surface is extended from the bus bar welding surface in the same plane as the bus bar welding surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2013
    Publication date: December 31, 2015
    Inventors: Takuro TSUNAKI, Masaaki IWASA, Kazuaki URANO, Sho SAIMARU, Sho MATSUMOTO
  • Publication number: 20150295221
    Abstract: Provided is a rectangular secondary battery with improved rigidity against vibrations and impacts. A rectangular secondary battery of the present invention includes: a flat-shaped electrode group; a current-collecting plate electrically connected to the electrode group; a battery case accommodating the current-collecting plate and the electrode group; a battery cover that closes an opening of the battery case; an electrode terminal penetrating through the battery cover, the electrode terminal being connected to the current-collecting plate via a connecting member; and a gasket that is inserted between the electrode terminal and the battery cover for insulating and sealing. An insulator is disposed between the current-collecting plate and the battery cover, the battery cover includes a battery cover side fixing part that fixes the insulator, and the insulator includes a current-collecting plate side fixing part that fixes the current-collecting plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2012
    Publication date: October 15, 2015
    Applicant: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuaki Urano, Masaaki Iwasa, Takuro Tsunaki, Sho Matsumoto
  • Publication number: 20150243961
    Abstract: A rectangular secondary battery includes a current breaking mechanism with improved rigidity against vibration and impact. The current breaking mechanism is interposed in the middle of a current path electrically connected between an external terminal and a wound electrode group to break the current path by the rise of battery internal pressure. The current breaking mechanism includes a connection electrode arranged inside a battery lid and electrically connected to the external terminal, and a conductive plate bonded to the connection electrode and deformed by the rise of the battery internal pressure. The connection electrode includes a tabular member having a through hole in communication with the outside of the battery opening on a planar portion. The conductive plate includes a dome-shaped diaphragm portion gradually reducing its diameter as shifting in an axial direction and a flange portion extending radially outward from an outer peripheral portion of the diaphragm portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Publication date: August 27, 2015
    Applicant: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuaki Urano, Masaaki Iwasa, Takuro Tsunaki, Sho Matsumoto
  • Publication number: 20150207128
    Abstract: A square secondary battery includes a generating element having an electrode; a battery can holding the generating element; a battery lid that seals an opening of the battery can; an external terminal arranged on the battery lid; and a current collector connecting the electrode of the generating element to the external terminal. The external terminal has a bus bar joint to which a bus bar is connected and a current collector joint to which the current collector is connected, the bus bar joint and the current collector joint being integrally juxtaposed on the battery lid. The current collector joint has a cylindrical insertion part to be inserted into a through hole in the battery lid and also has a sealing part arranged at an outer periphery of the insertion part, the sealing part pressing down a sealing member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Publication date: July 23, 2015
    Applicant: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takuro Tsunaki, Masaaki Iwasa, Kazuaki Urano, Sho Saimaru, Sho Matsumoto
  • Publication number: 20140141293
    Abstract: A safety valve is integrally formed in a battery lid together with a peripheral wall portion by press and the like. The safety valve is formed in contact with the peripheral wall portion, at the bottom portion of the depressed portion depressed from the upper surface of the base portion of the battery lid. The upper surface of the safety valve is located below the lower surface of the base portion. When pressing force parallel to the upper surface of the battery lid is exerted on the inner peripheral surface of the peripheral wall portion while the connection tube and the like is connected, the pressing force can be supported by the entire thickness (plate thickness) of the base portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2012
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Applicant: Hitachi Vehicle Energy, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuaki Urano, Masaaki Iwasa, Takuro Tsunaki
  • Patent number: 8673470
    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: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi Vehicle Energy, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kinya Aota, Toshiro Fujita, Kouichi Kajiwara, Masaaki Iwasa
  • Publication number: 20140038003
    Abstract: A secondary battery typified by a lithium-ion secondary battery includes a battery outer container in which a gas release valve and positive and negative electrode external terminals are provided, an electrode group in which positive and negative plates are stacked with a separator interposed therebetween and current collection portions are provided at both ends, and positive and negative electrode current collectors forming a current path from the current collection portions of the electrode group to the positive and negative electrode external terminals, and the cross-sectional area of a gas exhaust flow channel through which gas generated inside the electrode group is discharged from the gas release valve is set so as to increase in a downstream direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2011
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Applicant: Hitachi Vehicle Energy Ltd
    Inventors: Takuro Tsunaki, Masaaki Iwasa, Takashi Sasaki
  • Patent number: 8426766
    Abstract: A welding method for an impeller having a plurality of blades, a disc and an exterior body including a shroud welded to the plurality of blades, comprising the steps of: a first step for forming a groove having a prescribed depth and a prescribed width toward one of the blades on a surface of the disc or the exterior body, which is opposite to a surface against the blade abuts, emitting laser light toward the bottom of the groove, and performing melt-through bead welding to bond the bottom of the groove to an end of the blade in such a way that a bead formed on the back of the disc or the shroud is curved with an inward depression; and a second step for performing overlaying welding after completion of the first step by supplying a filler metal to a molten zone while the bottom of the groove is scanned with the laser light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Hitachi Plant Technologies, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Tsukamoto, Yoshihisa Maeda, Hiromi Kobayashi, Hideto Nogiwa, Tetsuya Kuwano, Ryujiro Udo, Masaaki Iwasa