Patents by Inventor Osamu Sakai
Osamu Sakai 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).
-
Publication number: 20240011174Abstract: A compressor device includes: a compressor that causes, by applying a voltage between an anode and a cathode, hydrogen in an anode gas to move through an electrolyte membrane to the cathode and compresses the hydrogen; a regulator that regulates the temperature of the anode gas in the compressor; and a controller that controls the regulator to regulate the temperature of the anode gas at an outlet of the anode based on at least one of the pressure of a cathode gas or a current flowing between the anode and the cathode under the application of the voltage.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 22, 2023Publication date: January 11, 2024Inventors: TAKASHI KAKUWA, OSAMU SAKAI, HIROMI KITA
-
Publication number: 20230313788Abstract: A compression apparatus includes at least one compression unit, a voltage applier, an anode end plate provided on an anode separator located at a first end in a direction of stacking, a cathode end plate provided on a cathode separator located at a second end in the direction of stacking, a first seal material that surrounds an outer periphery of the cathode, and a second seal material that surrounds an outer periphery of a first space in which to store compressed hydrogen, the first space being provided between the cathode end plate and the cathode separator located at the second end. The compression apparatus causes, by using the voltage applier to apply a voltage, protons taken out from an anode fluid that is supplied to the anode to move to the cathode via the electrolyte membrane and produces compressed hydrogen. An area of a region surrounded by the second seal material is larger than an area of a region surrounded by the first seal material.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 18, 2023Publication date: October 5, 2023Inventors: TAKASHI KAKUWA, HIROMI KITA, OSAMU SAKAI
-
Publication number: 20230227987Abstract: A compression apparatus includes at least one compression unit, a voltage applier, an anode end plate provided on an anode separator located at a first end in a direction of stacking, a cathode end plate provided on a cathode separator located at a second end in the direction of stacking, and first and second plates provided between the cathode end plate and the cathode separator located at the second end. The compression apparatus causes, by using the voltage applier to apply a voltage, protons taken out from an anode fluid that is supplied to the anode to move to the cathode via the electrolyte membrane and produces compressed hydrogen. The first plate has formed therein a first space in which to store a cathode gas containing the compressed hydrogen. The second plate is provided with a first manifold through which the cathode gas flows and a first communicating path through which to lead, to the first space, the cathode gas having flowed in from the first manifold.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 13, 2023Publication date: July 20, 2023Inventors: TAKASHI KAKUWA, HIROMI KITA, OSAMU SAKAI
-
Publication number: 20230213027Abstract: A compression apparatus includes an electrolyte membrane, an anode provided on a first principal surface of the electrolyte membrane, a cathode provided on a second principal surface of the electrolyte membrane, an anode separator provided on the anode, a cathode separator provided on the cathode, and a voltage applier that applies a voltage between the anode and the cathode. The compression apparatus causes, by using the voltage applier to apply a voltage, protons taken out from a hydrogen-containing gas that is supplied to the anode to move to the cathode via the electrolyte membrane and produces compressed hydrogen. The anode separator has a first flow channel, provided in a principal surface thereof facing away from the anode, through which a cooling fluid flows.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 13, 2023Publication date: July 6, 2023Inventors: OSAMU SAKAI, HIROMI KITA, TAKASHI KAKUWA, TAKAYUKI NAKAUE
-
Publication number: 20210408570Abstract: A compression apparatus includes a stack of electrochemical cells each including an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte membrane interposed therebetween, a pair of insulating plates disposed at respective ends of the stack in a stacking direction, a pair of end plates disposed on outside surfaces of the respective insulating plates, and a voltage applicator that applies a voltage between the anode and the cathode. The end plate having the cathode gas channel includes a first region that includes an outer peripheral surface of the cathode gas channel and is composed of a first steel material and a second region other than the first region which is composed of a second steel material. The first steel material has higher hydrogen embrittlement resistance than the second steel material, and the second steel material has higher stiffness than the first steel material.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 10, 2021Publication date: December 30, 2021Inventors: OSAMU SAKAI, YUKIMUNE KANI, TAKASHI KAKUWA, HIROMI KITA, TOMOYA KAMATA, TAKAYUKI NAKAUE
-
Publication number: 20210399319Abstract: A compression apparatus includes a stack of electrochemical cells each including an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte membrane interposed therebetween, a pair of insulating plates disposed at respective ends of the stack in a stacking direction, a pair of first end plates disposed on outside surfaces of the respective insulating plates, and a voltage applicator that applies a voltage between the anode and the cathode. Upon the voltage applicator applying the voltage, the compression apparatus causes hydrogen included in a hydrogen-containing gas fed to the anode to move to the cathode and produces compressed hydrogen. One of the first end plates have a first channel formed therein, through which the hydrogen-containing gas fed to the anode flows, and a second channel formed therein, through which a heating medium flows. The compression apparatus further includes a heater that heats the heating medium.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 1, 2021Publication date: December 23, 2021Inventors: OSAMU SAKAI, YUKIMUNE KANI, TAKASHI KAKUWA, HIROMI KITA, TOMOYA KAMATA, TAKAYUKI NAKAUE
-
Publication number: 20210384539Abstract: A compression apparatus includes an electrolyte membrane, an anode on a principal surface of the electrolyte membrane, a cathode on another principal surface of the electrolyte membrane, an anode separator on the anode, a cathode separator on the cathode, and a voltage applicator. Upon the voltage applicator applying a voltage, protons are extracted from an anode fluid fed to the anode to move to the cathode through the electrolyte membrane and compressed hydrogen is produced. The anode separator has a fluid channel, a manifold hole, and a communicating path which are formed in an anode-side principal surface. The compression apparatus includes a face seal disposed on an outer periphery of a region of the anode-side principal surface of the anode separator which faces the anode. The face seal has a three-layer structure including a metal sheet and a pair of elastic sheets.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 26, 2021Publication date: December 9, 2021Inventors: OSAMU SAKAI, TAKASHI KAKUWA
-
Publication number: 20210376339Abstract: This invention provides an electrochemical hydrogen pump which allows reduction efficiency due to increase of contact resistances to be suppressed with a light-weight and compact structure. An electrochemical hydrogen pump (24) comprises: single battery cells (m1-m3) that each include an anode separator (7), an anode diffusion layer (5), an anode electrode layer (3), an electrolyte membrane (2), a cathode electrode layer (4), a cathode diffusion layer (6), and a cathode separator (8); and pressurization spaces that are provided in positions sandwiching the anode diffusion layer and the cathode diffusion layer therebetween. The pressurization spaces include an anode pressurization space (27) provided in an anode-side member and a cathode pressurization space (28) provided in a cathode-side member.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 1, 2019Publication date: December 2, 2021Inventors: Norihiko KAWABATA, Osamu SAKAI, Kunihiro UKAI, Takayuki NAKAUE
-
Publication number: 20210332488Abstract: A hydrogen system includes a compressor that includes an electrolyte membrane, an anode on a first primary surface of the electrolyte membrane, a cathode on a second primary surface of the electrolyte membrane, and a voltage applicator that applies a voltage between the anode and the cathode, the compressor producing compressed hydrogen by causing the voltage applicator to apply a voltage between the anode and the cathode to move hydrogen in hydrogen-containing-gas containing steam supplied to the anode to the cathode via the electrolyte membrane; a supply path through which the hydrogen-containing-gas containing steam to be supplied to the anode flows; a cooling mechanism disposed in the supply path; and a heat exchanger disposed in the supply path, the heat exchanger exchanging heat between the hydrogen-containing-gas flowing through the supply path upstream of the cooling mechanism and the hydrogen-containing-gas flowing through the supply path downstream of the cooling mechanism.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 7, 2021Publication date: October 28, 2021Inventors: OSAMU SAKAI, HIDENOBU WAKITA, ATSUO OKAICHI
-
Publication number: 20210310137Abstract: A compression apparatus includes an electrolyte membrane, an anode on a principal surface of the electrolyte membrane, a cathode on another principal surface of the electrolyte membrane, an anode separator on the anode, a cathode separator on the cathode, and a voltage applicator. Upon the voltage applicator applying a voltage between the anode and the cathode, protons are extracted from an anode fluid fed to the anode to migrate to the cathode through the electrolyte membrane and compressed hydrogen is produced. The cathode separator has a first O-ring groove formed in a cathode-side principal surface of the cathode separator to surround a region of the cathode-side principal surface which faces the cathode. The compression apparatus includes a first O-ring held by the first O-ring groove and a face seal disposed on an outer periphery of a region of an anode-side principal surface of the anode separator which faces the anode.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 14, 2021Publication date: October 7, 2021Inventors: TAKASHI KAKUWA, HIROMI KITA, OSAMU SAKAI
-
Publication number: 20210305607Abstract: The compression apparatus includes an electrolyte membrane, an anode on a principal surface of the electrolyte membrane, a cathode on another principal surface of the electrolyte membrane, an anode separator on the anode, a cathode separator on the cathode, and a voltage applicator. Upon the voltage applicator applying the voltage between the anode and the cathode, protons are extracted from an anode fluid fed onto the anode to migrate onto the cathode through the electrolyte membrane and compressed hydrogen is produced. The cathode separator has a first manifold hole and a first O-ring groove surrounding the first manifold hole. The compression apparatus includes a first O-ring held by the first O-ring groove and a face seal disposed on an outer periphery of a region of an anode-side principal surface of the anode separator which faces the anode. The first O-ring is arranged to abut against the anode-side principal surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 11, 2021Publication date: September 30, 2021Inventors: TAKASHI KAKUWA, HIROMI KITA, OSAMU SAKAI
-
Publication number: 20210284492Abstract: A method of assisting an individual using a robot concierge system including: determining that the individual is in need of assistance using a sensor system of a robot assigned to the conveyance system; and assisting the individual through the robot.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 16, 2020Publication date: September 16, 2021Inventors: Osamu Sakai, Atsushi Yamada, Hideyuki Honma, Stephen Richard Nichols, Michael P. Keenan, JR.
-
Publication number: 20210079546Abstract: A hydrogen system includes: a compressor in which protons extracted from an anode fluid supplied to an anode move to a cathode through an electrolyte membrane and compressed hydrogen is generated; and a first eliminator including: a water-permeable membrane; a cathode gas flow path through which a cathode gas discharged from the cathode of the compressor flows, the cathode gas flow path being provided on one main surface of the water-permeable membrane; and an accommodation portion provided on the other main surface of the water-permeable membrane and filled with a liquid at a pressure lower than that of the cathode gas. The first eliminator removes moisture contained in the cathode gas.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 1, 2020Publication date: March 18, 2021Inventors: HIDENOBU WAKITA, TOMOYA KAMATA, OSAMU SAKAI, KUNIHIRO UKAI, YUKIMUNE KANI, KEIICHI YAMAMOTO, MISA YOROZUYA
-
Patent number: 10811712Abstract: A hydrogen supply system includes an electrochemical hydrogen pump which includes: an electrolyte membrane; an anode provided on a first surface of the electrolyte membrane; a cathode provided on a second surface of the electrolyte membrane opposite to the first surface; and a current adjuster adjusting a current amount flowing between the anode and the cathode, and which performs a hydrogen supply operation by allowing a current to flow between the anode and the cathode using the current adjuster so as to boost the pressure of hydrogen which is supplied to an anode side at a cathode side and to supply the pressure-boosted hydrogen to a hydrogen demander; and a dew point adjuster adjusting a dew point of a mixed gas in which a hydrogen-containing gas which is discharged from the anode side and a hydrogen-containing gas which is supplied from an outside are mixed together.Type: GrantFiled: November 21, 2018Date of Patent: October 20, 2020Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.Inventors: Osamu Sakai, Kunihiro Ukai, Hidenobu Wakita
-
Patent number: 10756376Abstract: A hydrogen supply system includes: an electrochemical hydrogen pump including an electrolyte membrane, an anode and a cathode provided to a first and second main surfaces of the electrolyte membrane, respectively, an anode flow path and cathode flow path through which hydrogen flows, and a voltage applicator applying a voltage between the anode and cathode, pressurizing and sending hydrogen supplied to the anode via the anode flow path to the cathode by applying a voltage by the voltage applicator, and supplying the pressurized hydrogen in the cathode flow path to a hydrogen reservoir; a pressure adjuster adjusting a cathode flow path pressure; and a controller controlling the pressure adjuster and making the cathode flow path pressure higher than an anode flow path pressure before starting a hydrogen pressurization action for pressurizing and supplying hydrogen supplied to the anode flow path to the cathode flow path.Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 2019Date of Patent: August 25, 2020Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.Inventors: Hidenobu Wakita, Kunihiro Ukai, Osamu Sakai, Yoichiro Tsuji
-
Patent number: 10731704Abstract: The oil-impregnated sintered bearing of the present invention is an oil-impregnated sintered bearing having a Fe—Cu-based sintered body being impregnated with, a bearing hole being formed in the Fe—Cu-based sintered body and configured to be penetrated by and support a rotating shaft, in which an inner circumferential surface of the bearing hole includes a first region forming a central portion in a shaft direction, a second region from a first end portion of the first region to a first opening of the bearing hole, and a third region from a second end portion of the first region to a second opening of the bearing hole, and an area ratio of the Cu phase of the second region in a center along the shaft direction is 80% or more and 100% or less of an area ratio of the Cu phase of the third region in a center along the shaft direction.Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 2017Date of Patent: August 4, 2020Assignee: Diamet CorporationInventors: Yoshiki Tamura, Hideo Sakai, Osamu Sakai
-
Patent number: 10722841Abstract: A hydrogen supply system includes: a controller; and an electrochemical hydrogen pump including: an electrolyte membrane; a pair of electrodes provided on two surfaces of the electrolyte membrane; and a current adjuster adjusting a current flowing between the electrodes, the electrochemical hydrogen pump performs a hydrogen supply operation supplying pressure-boosted hydrogen to a hydrogen demander by allowing a current to flow between the electrodes by the current adjuster; and when a cumulative hydrogen supply amount which is supplied to the hydrogen demander from start to completion of the hydrogen supply operation to the hydrogen demander from the electrochemical hydrogen pump is smaller than a cumulative hydrogen supply amount in another hydrogen supply operation, the controller controls the current adjuster so that the current flowing between the electrodes is decreased to be smaller than that in the another hydrogen supply operation.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 2018Date of Patent: July 28, 2020Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.Inventors: Kunihiro Ukai, Osamu Sakai, Atsuo Okaichi
-
Patent number: 10712320Abstract: A flow channel structure includes a substrate including a supply flow channel that guides a measurement target liquid toward inside; a separation element accommodating unit that accommodates a separation element that separates components included in the measurement target liquid; and a detection unit that guides the measurement target liquid passing through the separation element accommodating unit, wherein measuring light for measuring information about the components is to be irradiated onto the measurement target liquid. The detection unit includes a measurement flow channel part that guides the measurement target liquid, an incident part that is provided at an end of the measurement flow channel part and that guides the measuring light toward inside the measurement flow channel part, and an emission part that is provided at the other end of the measurement flow channel part and that derives the measuring light from the measurement flow channel part.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2018Date of Patent: July 14, 2020Assignee: ALPS ALPINE CO., LTD.Inventors: Osamu Sakai, Yoshihiro Taguchi, Kenichiro Sameshima, Yoshimune Suzuki
-
Patent number: 10629926Abstract: A solid oxide fuel cell system includes: an igniting portion configured to ignite a raw material when starting up the solid oxide fuel cell system; a raw material supply portion configured to supply the raw material; a reforming air supply portion configured to supply reforming air; and an electric power generation air supply portion configured to supply electric power generation air. When starting up the solid oxide fuel cell system, the raw material supply portion supplies the raw material, and the electric power generation air supply portion supplies the electric power generation air. The igniting portion ignites the raw material. After the ignition, the reforming air supply portion supplies the reforming air. With this, the safety can be increased in consideration of characteristics in respective phases from the start-up of the solid oxide fuel cell system until the electric power generation.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2018Date of Patent: April 21, 2020Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Osamu Sakai, Tatsuo Fujita, Kunihiro Ukai, Takashi Kakuwa, Taiichiro Sakamoto, Toshiharu Ooe
-
Publication number: 20200049198Abstract: The oil-impregnated sintered bearing of the present invention is an oil-impregnated sintered bearing having a Fe—Cu-based sintered body being impregnated with, a bearing hole being formed in the Fe—Cu-based sintered body and configured to be penetrated by and support a rotating shaft, in which an inner circumferential surface of the bearing hole includes a first region forming a central portion in a shaft direction, a second region from a first end portion of the first region to a first opening of the bearing hole, and a third region from a second end portion of the first region to a second opening of the bearing hole, and an area ratio of the Cu phase of the second region in a center along the shaft direction is 80% or more and 100% or less of an area ratio of the Cu phase of the third region in a center along the shaft direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 18, 2017Publication date: February 13, 2020Applicant: Diamet CorporationInventors: Yoshiki TAMURA, Hideo SAKAI, Osamu SAKAI