Patents by Inventor Ryo Akagawa

Ryo Akagawa 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: 8603692
    Abstract: A fuel cell stack comprises a stack of three or more fuel cells, each having an assembly in which an anode electrode and a cathode electrode are respectively joined to either side of an electrolytic membrane. The anode electrode is provided nearer to one end, in the stack direction of the fuel cell, than the cathode electrode. Temperature regulating parts for regulating the temperature of the anode electrode of one fuel cell of any two adjacent fuel cells and the cathode electrode of the other fuel cell are disposed at a plurality of positions arranged in the stack direction. The provided temperature regulating parts perform temperature regulation so that the heat dissipating capability of the anode electrode is different in the stack direction from that of the cathode electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Nippon Soken, Inc.
    Inventors: Koichiro Yamashita, Junichi Shirahama, Katsuya Matsuoka, Ikuyasu Kato, Kazuo Horibe, Osamu Hamanoi, Takuya Hashimoto, Hideki Kubo, Masahiro Shiozawa, Ryo Akagawa
  • Patent number: 7758983
    Abstract: A process of disassembling a fuel cell 10 supplies a fluid to both a fuel gas conduit 6g and an oxidizing gas conduit 7g. Since outlets of the respective gas conduits 6g and 7g are shielded, the internal pressure or in-passage pressure of the respective gas conduits 6g and 7g gradually rises and eventually exceeds a specific in-passage pressure level for power generation of the fuel cell 10. The high in-passage pressure expands a gas diffusion electrode 4b of a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) 2 and a separator 6, which define the fuel gas conduit 6g, in opposite directions to make a clearance between the gas diffusion electrode 4b and the separator 6. Similarly the high in-passage pressure expands a gas diffusion electrode 5b of the MEA 2 and a separator 7, which define the oxidizing gas conduit 7g, in opposite directions to make a clearance between the gas diffusion electrode 5b and the separator 7.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroshi Suzuki, Go Tejima, Tomoaki Nakashima, Ryo Akagawa
  • Patent number: 7754371
    Abstract: Respective heaters 21 through 24 receive power supply and start heating. The heaters 21 through 24 keep heating sealing layers 8 to or over a softening temperature at which the sealing layers 8 are softened or molten. After the sealing layers 8 are softened or molten to weaken the adhesive force between a pair of separators 6 and 7, the heaters 21 through 24 are detached from a fuel cell 10. The worker then completely separates the pair of separators 6 and 7 from each other with some tool or by hand and removes an MEA 2 from the fuel cell 10.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroshi Suzuki, Nobuo Yodoshi, Go Tejima, Tomoaki Nakashima, Ryo Akagawa
  • Publication number: 20090325016
    Abstract: A fuel cell stack comprises a stack of three or more fuel cells, each having an assembly in which an anode electrode and a cathode electrode are respectively joined to either side of an electrolytic membrane. The anode electrode is provided nearer to one end, in the stack direction of the fuel cell, than the cathode electrode. Temperature regulating parts for regulating the temperature of the anode electrode of one fuel cell of any two adjacent fuel cells and the cathode electrode of the other fuel cell are disposed at a plurality of positions arranged in the stack direction. The provided temperature regulating parts perform temperature regulation so that the heat dissipating capability of the anode electrode is different in the stack direction from that of the cathode electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2007
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Applicants: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, NIPPON, INC.
    Inventors: Koichiro Yamashita, Junichi Shirahama, Katsuya Matsuoka, Ikuyasu Kato, Kazuo Horibe, Osamu Hamanoi, Takuya Hashimoto, Hideki Kubo, Masahiro Shiozawa, Ryo Akagawa
  • Publication number: 20070151088
    Abstract: Respective heaters 21 through 24 receive power supply and start heating. The heaters 21 through 24 keep heating sealing layers 8 to or over a softening temperature at which the sealing layers 8 are softened or molten. After the sealing layers 8 are softened or molten to weaken the adhesive force between a pair of separators 6 and 7, the heaters 21 through 24 are detached from a fuel cell 10. The worker then completely separates the pair of separators 6 and 7 from each other with some tool or by hand and removes an MEA 2 from the fuel cell 10.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2005
    Publication date: July 5, 2007
    Applicant: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroshi Suzuki, Nobuo Yodoshi, Go Tejima, Tomoaki Nakashima, Ryo Akagawa
  • Publication number: 20070082250
    Abstract: A process of disassembling a fuel cell 10 supplies a fluid to both a fuel gas conduit 6g and an oxidizing gas conduit 7g. Since outlets of the respective gas conduits 6g and 7g are shielded, the internal pressure or in-passage pressure of the respective gas conduits 6g and 7g gradually rises and eventually exceeds a specific in-passage pressure level for power generation of the fuel cell 10. The high in-passage pressure expands a gas diffusion electrode 4b of a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) 2 and a separator 6, which define the fuel gas conduit 6g, in opposite directions to make a clearance between the gas diffusion electrode 4b and the separator 6. Similarly the high in-passage pressure expands a gas diffusion electrode 5b of the MEA 2 and a separator 7, which define the oxidizing gas conduit 7g, in opposite directions to make a clearance between the gas diffusion electrode 5b and the separator 7.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 24, 2004
    Publication date: April 12, 2007
    Applicant: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroshi Suzuki, Go Tejima, Tomoaki Nakashima, Ryo Akagawa