Patents by Inventor Masanori Aimu

Masanori Aimu 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: 11283089
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes: a fuel cell; an oxidant gas supply unit configured to supply an oxidant gas to a cathode electrode of the fuel cell; and a gas pressure control unit configured to detect as a gas pressure sensitivity a ratio of variation in an output of the fuel cell to variation in the pressure of the oxidant gas, specify a correspondence relationship between the pressure of the oxidant gas and the output of the fuel cell on the basis of the detected gas pressure sensitivity, and control the pressure of the oxidant gas on the basis of the specified correspondence relationship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masaaki Matsusue, Masanori Aimu
  • Patent number: 10683186
    Abstract: There is provided a technique of reducing the possibility of the occurrence of wrinkles in the process of bonding strip-shaped members to each other. A long strip-shaped first member is conveyed in a longitudinal direction of the first member. A width of a long strip-shaped second member in the shorter direction of the second member is larger than a width of the first member in a shorter direction of the first member. The second member is placed such that respective ends in a shorter direction of the second member are freed. The second member is bonded to the first member being conveyed, such that the shorter direction of the first member is aligned with the shorter direction of the second member and that respective ends in the shorter direction of the first member are placed between the respective ends in the shorter direction of the second member. The second member bonded to the first member is then conveyed along with the conveyed first member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masanori Aimu, Naohiro Mitani
  • Patent number: 10647536
    Abstract: There is provided a technique of reducing the possibility of the occurrence of wrinkles in the process of bonding strip-shaped members to each other. A long strip-shaped first member is conveyed in a longitudinal direction of the first member. A width of a long strip-shaped second member in the shorter direction of the second member is larger than a width of the first member in a shorter direction of the first member. The second member is placed such that respective ends in a shorter direction of the second member are freed. The second member is bonded to the first member being conveyed, such that the shorter direction of the first member is aligned with the shorter direction of the second member and that respective ends in the shorter direction of the first member are placed between the respective ends in the shorter direction of the second member. The second member bonded to the first member is then conveyed along with the conveyed first member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Toyota Judosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masanori Aimu, Naohiro Mitani
  • Patent number: 10399314
    Abstract: Provided is a lamination device that laminates an electrolyte film and a porous film. The lamination device includes a support portion configured to support a porous film roll, in which the porous film is wound, such that the porous film roll is able to revolve, an unwinding portion configured to support an electrolyte film roll, in which the electrolyte film is wound, and unwind the electrolyte film from the electrolyte film roll, a conveying portion configured to convey the unwound electrolyte film, and a control portion configured to control the support portion, the unwinding portion, and the conveying portion. The control portion is configured to control the support portion such that the conveyed electrolyte film and the porous film roll are brought closer to one another and an outer peripheral surface of the porous film roll is pressed against one of surfaces of the electrolyte film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masanori Aimu
  • Publication number: 20190081339
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes: a fuel cell; an oxidant gas supply unit configured to supply an oxidant gas to a cathode electrode of the fuel cell; and a gas pressure control unit configured to detect as a gas pressure sensitivity a ratio of variation in an output of the fuel cell to variation in the pressure of the oxidant gas, specify a correspondence relationship between the pressure of the oxidant gas and the output of the fuel cell on the basis of the detected gas pressure sensitivity, and control the pressure of the oxidant gas on the basis of the specified correspondence relationship.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2018
    Publication date: March 14, 2019
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masaaki MATSUSUE, Masanori AIMU
  • Patent number: 10158134
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes: a fuel cell; an oxidant gas supply unit configured to supply an oxidant gas to a cathode electrode of the fuel cell; and a gas pressure control unit configured to detect as a gas pressure sensitivity a ratio of variation in an output of the fuel cell to variation in the pressure of the oxidant gas, specify a correspondence relationship between the pressure of the oxidant gas and the output of the fuel cell on the basis of the detected gas pressure sensitivity, and control the pressure of the oxidant gas on the basis of the specified correspondence relationship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masaaki Matsusue, Masanori Aimu
  • Publication number: 20180250922
    Abstract: Provided is a lamination device that laminates an electrolyte film and a porous film. The lamination device includes a support portion configured to support a porous film roll, in which the porous film is wound, such that the porous film roll is able to revolve, an unwinding portion configured to support an electrolyte film roll, in which the electrolyte film is wound, and unwind the electrolyte film from the electrolyte film roll, a conveying portion configured to convey the unwound electrolyte film, and a control portion configured to control the support portion, the unwinding portion, and the conveying portion. The control portion is configured to control the support portion such that the conveyed electrolyte film and the porous film roll are brought closer to one another and an outer peripheral surface of the porous film roll is pressed against one of surfaces of the electrolyte film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2018
    Publication date: September 6, 2018
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masanori Aimu
  • Publication number: 20180215567
    Abstract: There is provided a technique of reducing the possibility of the occurrence of wrinkles in the process of bonding strip-shaped members to each other. A long strip-shaped first member is conveyed in a longitudinal direction of the first member. A width of a long strip-shaped second member in the shorter direction of the second member is larger than a width of the first member in a shorter direction of the first member. The second member is placed such that respective ends in a shorter direction of the second member are freed. The second member is bonded to the first member being conveyed, such that the shorter direction of the first member is aligned with the shorter direction of the second member and that respective ends in the shorter direction of the first member are placed between the respective ends in the shorter direction of the second member. The second member bonded to the first member is then conveyed along with the conveyed first member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2018
    Publication date: August 2, 2018
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masanori AIMU, Naohiro MITANI
  • Patent number: 9461312
    Abstract: An electrode (31c) for fuel cell comprises: a catalyst carrier (110) that is an electrically-conductive carrier (130) with a catalyst (120) supported thereon; a first electrolyte resin (141); and a second electrolyte resin (142). The first electrolyte resin has oxygen permeability of less than 2.2×10?14 mol/(m s Pa) in an environment having temperature of 80 degrees Celsius and relative humidity of 50%. The second electrolyte resin has oxygen permeability of not less than 2.2×10?14 mol/(m s Pa) in the environment having temperature of 80 degrees Celsius and relative humidity of 50%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, E.I. DUPONT DE NEMOURS AND COMPANY
    Inventors: Masanori Aimu, Randal Lewis Perry, Mark Gerrit Roelofs, Robert Clayton Wheland, Ralph Munson Aten, Andri E. Elia
  • Patent number: 9431661
    Abstract: A cathode catalyst layer used for a polymer electrolyte fuel cell that includes an electrolyte membrane is provided. The cathode catalyst layer comprises a catalyst having weight of not greater than 0.3 mg/cm2 of a reaction surface of the cathode catalyst layer that is adjoining the electrolyte membrane; and an electrolyte resin having oxygen permeability of not less than 2.2*10?14 mol/m/s/Pa in an environment of temperature of 80 degrees Celsius and relative humidity of 50%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, E.I. DUPONT DE NEMOURS AND COMPANY
    Inventors: Nobuaki Nonoyama, Masanori Aimu, Randal Lewis Perry, Mark Gerrit Roelofs, Robert Clayton Wheland, Ralph Munson Aten
  • Publication number: 20150207159
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes: a fuel cell; an oxidant gas supply unit configured to supply an oxidant gas to a cathode electrode of the fuel cell; and a gas pressure control unit configured to detect as a gas pressure sensitivity a ratio of variation in an output of the fuel cell to variation in the pressure of the oxidant gas, specify a correspondence relationship between the pressure of the oxidant gas and the output of the fuel cell on the basis of the detected gas pressure sensitivity, and control the pressure of the oxidant gas on the basis of the specified correspondence relationship.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2013
    Publication date: July 23, 2015
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masaaki Matsusue, Masanori Aimu
  • Patent number: 8802314
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a fuel cell electrolyte membrane reinforced with a porous substrate which has excellent durability and in which the amount of cross leakage as a result of chemical deterioration of electrolyte membrane components due to the presence of peroxide and/or radicals is particularly reduced. The present invention relates to an electrolyte membrane for a fuel cell comprising a polyelectrolyte, which contains a porous substrate and a radical scavenger dispersed in the polyelectrolyte.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, W.L. Gore & Associates, Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Akita, Masanori Aimu, Tatsuya Kawahara, Takeshi Nagasawa, Toyohiro Matsuura, Takeyuki Suzuki, Hiroshi Kato, Hideki Yamada
  • Publication number: 20140154608
    Abstract: A cathode catalyst layer used for a polymer electrolyte fuel cell that includes an electrolyte membrane is provided. The cathode catalyst layer comprises a catalyst having weight of not greater than 0.3 mg/cm2 of a reaction surface of the cathode catalyst layer that is adjoining the electrolyte membrane; and an electrolyte resin having oxygen permeability of not less than 2.2*10?14 mol/m/s/Pa in an environment of temperature of 80 degrees Celsius and relative humidity of 50%.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2011
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Applicants: E. I. DU PONT DE NEMOURS AND COMPANY, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Nobuaki Nonoyama, Masanori Aimu, Randal Lewis Perry, Mark Gerrit Roelofs, Robert Clayton Wheland, Ralph Munson Aten
  • Publication number: 20130252134
    Abstract: This invention relates to solid polymer electrolyte materials for use in one or more electrode of a fuel cell. The solid polymer electrolyte materials comprise one or more ionomer which comprises polymerized units of monomers A and monomers B, wherein monomers A are perfluoro dioxole or perfluoro dioxolane monomers, and the monomers B are functionalized perfluoro olefins having fluoroalkyl sulfonyl, fluoroalkyl sulfonate or fluoroalkyl sulfonic acid pendant groups, CF2?CF(O)[CF2]nSO2X. The ionomer of the solid polymer electrolyte material has a number average molecular weight, Mn, of greater than 140,000. Specifically, the ionomers of the invention may find use in the catalyst layer of an electrode because the high molecular weight ionomers mitigate the formation of cracks in the catalyst layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2011
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Applicants: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, EI Du Pont De Nemours and Company and
    Inventors: Masayoshi Takami, Toshihiko Yoshida, Masanori Aimu, Randal Lewis Perry, Mark Gerrit Roelofs, Robert Clayton Wheland, Ralph Munson Aten
  • Publication number: 20110287335
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a fuel cell electrolyte membrane reinforced with a porous substrate which has excellent durability and in which the amount of cross leakage as a result of chemical deterioration of electrolyte membrane components due to the presence of peroxide and/or radicals is particularly reduced. The present invention relates to an electrolyte membrane for a fuel cell comprising a polyelectrolyte, which contains a porous substrate and a radical scavenger dispersed in the polyelectrolyte.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2009
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Applicants: W.L, GORE & ASSOCIATES CO., LTD., TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Akita, Masanori Aimu, Tatsuya Kawahara, Takeshi Nagasawa, Toyohiro Matsuura, Takeyuki Suzuki, Hiroshi Kato, Hideki Yamada
  • Publication number: 20090029039
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a membrane electrode assembly for a fuel cell, in which a catalyst layer is disposed between an electrolyte membrane and a gas diffusion layer, includes producing a catalyst powder that is used to form the catalyst layer; and forming the catalyst layer by unevenly depositing the catalyst powder on at least one of the electrolyte membrane and the gas diffusion layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2008
    Publication date: January 29, 2009
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masao Okumura, Masanori Aimu, Tatsuya Hatanaka
  • Patent number: 6723464
    Abstract: A membrane-electrode-assembly with a solid polymer electrolyte, wherein a laminated structure is obtained by a process in which a membrane/catalyst layer conjugate produced by bonding a first catalyst layer containing a catalyst and an ion-conducting resin to a solid polymer electrolyte membrane, and a gas diffusion layer/catalyst layer conjugate produced by forming a second catalyst layer containing a catalyst and an ion-conducting resin on one side of a gas diffusion layer consisting of a gas-permeable electroconductive sheet material are laminated at least on the anode or cathode side such that the first catalyst layer and second catalyst layer face each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Japan Gore-Tex, Inc.
    Inventors: Katsuyuki Tabata, Fusaki Fujibayashi, Masanori Aimu
  • Publication number: 20020071980
    Abstract: A membrane-electrode-assembly with a solid polymer electrolyte, wherein a laminated structure is obtained by a process in which a membrane/catalyst layer conjugate produced by bonding a first catalyst layer containing a catalyst and an ion-conducting resin to a solid polymer electrolyte membrane, and a gas diffusion layer/catalyst layer conjugate produced by forming a second catalyst layer containing a catalyst and an ion-conducting resin on one side of a gas diffusion layer consisting of a gas-permeable electroconductive sheet material are laminated at least on the anode or cathode side such that the first catalyst layer and second catalyst layer face each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2001
    Publication date: June 13, 2002
    Inventors: Katsuyuki Tabata, Fusaki Fujibayashi, Masanori Aimu