Patents by Inventor Satoshi Kawabe

Satoshi Kawabe 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: 20240109408
    Abstract: A vehicle body lower part structure includes: a side frame that connects a side sill to a battery pack that is arranged below a floor portion; and a battery frame that supports a battery within the battery pack. A first joint flange that is joined to a case bottom portion of the side frame is arranged such that a second joint flange that is joined to the case bottom portion of the battery frame overlaps an upper side in an upward-downward direction of the first joint flange.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2023
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Inventors: Yu Iemura, Ken Yasui, Masaaki Tatsuwaki, Satoru Kawabe, Satoshi Yaita
  • Publication number: 20240109594
    Abstract: A vehicle body lower part structure includes: a side frame that connects a battery pack which is arranged below a floor panel of a vehicle to a side sill which is provided at a further outer position in a vehicle width direction than the battery pack; a lower cross member that is provided within the battery pack, is arranged between batteries, and extends in the vehicle width direction; and a connection portion that is provided within the battery pack and connects the lower cross member to the floor panel. The connection portion is provided at a further outer position in the vehicle width direction than the batteries.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2023
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Inventors: Yu Iemura, Ken Yasui, Masaaki Tatsuwaki, Satoru Kawabe, Satoshi Yaita
  • Publication number: 20230411666
    Abstract: A fuel cell stack includes power generation cells stacked in a vertical direction and a discharge passage defining member extending in the vertical direction. Each of the power generation cells includes a gas hole. The gas holes of the power generation cells define a gas manifold which extends in the vertical direction and through which gas flows. Part of an upper wall surface of the gas manifold includes a water collection portion configured to collect water from the upper wall surface. The discharge passage defining member is located below the water collection portion of the gas manifold and defines a discharge passage out of which the water dropping from the water collection portion is discharged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2023
    Publication date: December 21, 2023
    Applicant: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Haruyuki AONO, Satoshi KAWABE, Takenori KOYANAGI
  • Publication number: 20230327167
    Abstract: A fuel cell stack includes a stack main body including stacked single cells, and sensing terminals made of metal. Two surfaces facing each other in any adjacent two of the single cells are respectively defined as a first facing surface and a second facing surface. The first facing surface is a surface of the first separator of one of the two single cells. The second facing surface is a surface of the second separator of the other single cell. The first facing surface is provided with at least one first engagement portion. Each sensing terminal includes a base portion, an arm portion, and at least one second engagement portion that is engaged with the at least one first engagement portion of the first facing surface. The arm portion is in contact with the second facing surface while being elastically deformed toward the first facing surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2023
    Publication date: October 12, 2023
    Applicant: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Haruyuki AONO, Satoshi KAWABE
  • Publication number: 20230307685
    Abstract: A fuel cell stack includes stacked single cells. Each single cell includes a power generating unit, a first separator, and a second separator. The first separator includes a facing surface that faces the power generating unit. The facing surface includes first groove passages. The first groove passages include first main passages and first auxiliary passages. The second separator includes a facing surface that faces the power generating unit. The facing surface includes second groove passages. The second groove passages include second main passages and second auxiliary passages. Extending portions of at least one of a set of the first auxiliary passages or a set of the second auxiliary passages include a wavy section. The wavy section intersects with one of the extending portions of the other one of the set of the first auxiliary passages and the set of the second auxiliary passages with the power generating unit in between.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2023
    Publication date: September 28, 2023
    Applicant: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Haruyuki AONO, Satoshi KAWABE
  • Publication number: 20230299309
    Abstract: A single cell for a fuel cell includes a power generating unit and two separators that hold the power generating unit in between. Each separator includes a facing surface, which faces the power generating unit. Each facing surface includes groove passages and ribs. Each of the ribs includes a top wall portion, two side wall portions, and corner portions. The top wall portion is in contact with the power generating unit. The side wall portions are located at the opposite sides of the top wall portion. Each corner portion is located between the top wall portion and one of the side wall portions. A restricting portion is provided at a section of each corner portion that faces the groove passage. The restricting portion restricts the gas diffusion layer from sinking into the groove passage. The restricting portion is a conductive porous body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2023
    Publication date: September 21, 2023
    Applicant: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Haruyuki AONO, Satoshi KAWABE
  • Publication number: 20230282841
    Abstract: A fuel cell stack includes single cells stacked in a first direction. Each single cell includes a power generating unit, a first separator, and a second separator. The first separator and the second separator hold the power generating unit between the first separator and the second separator. The first separator of each single cell includes first protrusions that protrude toward the second separator of another single cell that is adjacent in the first direction. The first protrusions are in contact with the second separator. Each of the first protrusions includes a top wall portion and two side wall portions. At least one of the two side wall portions includes a step portion having a shape of a step in the first direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2023
    Publication date: September 7, 2023
    Applicant: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Haruyuki AONO, Satoshi KAWABE, Naohiro MATSUBARA
  • Publication number: 20230268544
    Abstract: A fuel cell stack includes single cells stacked in a first direction. Each single cell includes a power generating unit, a first separator, and a second separator. The first separator and the second separator hold the power generating unit between the first separator and the second separator. The first separator of each single cell includes first protrusions. The second separator of each single cell includes second protrusions. A distal end of each second protrusion includes a depression that is located at a center in a second direction and extends in a third direction. A length of the depression in the second direction is greater than a length of the first protrusion in the second direction. A distal end of each first protrusion is located inside the depression.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2023
    Publication date: August 24, 2023
    Applicant: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Haruyuki AONO, Satoshi KAWABE, Naohiro MATSUBARA
  • Publication number: 20230118637
    Abstract: A separator for a fuel cell includes a facing surface configured to face a power generating unit of the fuel cell. Groove passages are arranged side by side in the facing surface. Reactant gas flows through the groove passages. Ribs, which are located between the groove passages and protrude toward the power generating unit, are provided on the facing surface. At least one of the ribs includes at least one protrusion that protrudes toward the power generating unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2022
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Applicant: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Haruyuki AONO, Satoshi KAWABE
  • Patent number: 11603592
    Abstract: A surface treatment agent capable of forming a hexavalent chromium-free chemical conversion coating that can provide an excellent corrosion-resistant coating on various metallic materials; a metallic material having a surface treatment coating obtained therefrom; and a method of producing the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: Nihon Parkerizing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yusuke Yamamoto, Satoshi Kawabe
  • Publication number: 20230066147
    Abstract: A separator for a fuel cell includes a contact surface. Groove passages are arranged side by side in the contact surface. The groove passages include a first groove passage and a second groove passage that are adjacent to each other in an arrangement direction of the groove passages. The contact surface includes a rib located between the first groove passage and the second groove passage. The rib includes at least one wide section. The first groove passage includes at least one first contiguous section that is adjacent to the at least one wide section. The second groove passage includes at least one second contiguous section that is adjacent to the at least one wide section. A cross-sectional flow area of the first contiguous section is less than a cross-sectional flow area of the second contiguous section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2022
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Applicant: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Haruyuki AONO, Satoshi KAWABE
  • Publication number: 20230049976
    Abstract: A separator for a fuel cell includes a facing surface configured to face a power generating unit of the fuel cell. Groove passages and ribs that protrude toward the power generating unit are provided on the facing surface. At least one of the ribs includes at least one recess in a center of the rib in an arrangement direction of the groove passages. The recess includes a bottom surface, which faces the power generating unit, and two inner side surfaces, which rise from opposite ends in the arrangement direction of the bottom surface. The two inner side surfaces are inclined such that a given point on each inner side surface separates further away from the bottom surface in the arrangement direction as that point approaches the power generating unit in a direction in which the power generating unit and the separator face each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2022
    Publication date: February 16, 2023
    Applicant: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Haruyuki AONO, Satoshi KAWABE
  • Publication number: 20220407103
    Abstract: A fuel cell stack includes a cell stack body, a terminal plate, an end plate, and an insulating plate. The terminal plate is disposed adjacent to the cell stack body in a stacking direction. The terminal plate is configured to collect current. The end plate is disposed on a side of the terminal plate opposite from the cell stack body. The insulating plate is disposed between the terminal plate and the end plate. The insulating plate is made of an electrically insulating resin material. The insulating plate integrally holds the terminal plate and the end plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2020
    Publication date: December 22, 2022
    Applicant: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Satoshi KAWABE
  • Publication number: 20220384819
    Abstract: A separator for a fuel cell includes a contact surface configured to contact a power generating unit of the fuel cell. Groove passages are arranged side by side in the contact surface. Reactant gas flows through the groove passages. At least one of the groove passages includes a wavy section that extends in a wavy shape in planar directions of the contact surface. An upstream portion and a downstream portion in a flow direction of the reactant gas in each groove passage are defined as an upstream portion and a downstream portion, respectively. A wavelength of the wavy section is smaller in the downstream portion than in the upstream portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2022
    Publication date: December 1, 2022
    Applicant: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Haruyuki AONO, Satoshi KAWABE
  • Publication number: 20220285719
    Abstract: A fuel cell stack includes a cell stack body, a terminal plate, an end plate, and a passage portion. The terminal plate is disposed to be adjacent to the cell stack body in a stacking direction and is configured to collect power. The end plate is disposed on a side of the terminal plate that is opposite to the cell stack body. The terminal plate and the end plate have a through-hole that discharges reactant gas from the cell stack body. The passage portion covers an inner peripheral surface of the through-hole. The passage portion includes a peripheral wall that is formed of a plastic having an electrical insulation property and a hydrophilic portion disposed on an inner peripheral surface of the peripheral wall and is made of a plastic having a hydrophilicity higher than that of the plastic forming the peripheral wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2020
    Publication date: September 8, 2022
    Applicant: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Satoshi KAWABE
  • Patent number: 11165071
    Abstract: A separator for a fuel cell includes a metal separator base, crest sections, and a trough sections. Regions surrounded by the respective trough sections and a corresponding electrode layer each constitute a passage that supplies oxidation gas or fuel gas to the electrode layer. A first thin film is placed over the entire surfaces of the crest sections and the trough sections that face the corresponding electrode layer. The first thin film has conductivity and a corrosion resistance higher than that of the separator base. A second thin film having conductivity is placed at least on each of the parts of the first thin film that are placed on top surfaces of the crest sections. The second thin film on the top surface of each crest section has a groove. At least one end of the groove is connected to the passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Satoshi Kawabe
  • Patent number: 11133513
    Abstract: A separator for a fuel cell includes a separator base, crest sections, and trough sections. Regions surrounded by the respective trough sections and a corresponding electrode layer each constitute a passage that supplies oxidation gas or fuel gas to the electrode layer. A thin film having conductivity is placed at least on the top surface of each crest section. The thin film on the top surface of each crest section has a groove that connects the passages on the opposite sides of the crest section to each other. Each trough section has a flow resistance increasing portion on the downstream side of the groove in the flow direction of the gas. The flow resistance increasing portion reduces the cross-sectional flow area of the passage such that the cross-sectional flow area at the flow resistance increasing portion is smaller than that at the section to which the groove is connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Satoshi Kawabe
  • Patent number: 11073055
    Abstract: An electrostatic oil mist separator for an internal combustion engine includes a positive plate and a negative plate facing each other, a filter arranged between the positive plate and the negative plate, a case having an inlet and an outlet and houses the positive plate, the negative plate, and the filter, and a voltage generator. The electrostatic oil mist separator is configured to cause blow-by gas to flow from the inlet to the outlet between the positive plate and the negative plate in a state in which the voltage generator is applying a voltage across the positive plate and the negative plate, thereby separating oil mist from the blow-by gas by electrostatic adsorption force. At least one of the positive plate and the negative plate is made of a metal plate and includes a plurality of protrusions that are formed by cutting and raising the metal plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Makoto Sazawa, Satoshi Kawabe
  • Patent number: 10923741
    Abstract: A fuel cell separator includes a separator body configured to be arranged between membrane electrode assemblies and includes recesses and projections formed in the separator body. The projections include first projections that are configured to face an electrode layer of the membrane electrode assembly. A thin film is arranged on a surface of each of the first projections. The recesses include first recesses that open in a protruding direction of the first projections. Each of the first recesses is configured to form a passage through which oxidizing gas or fuel gas is supplied to the electrode layer. A portion of each of the thin films that is in contact with the electrode layer of the membrane electrode assembly includes a groove, the groove connecting to at least one of the passages located on opposite sides of one of the first projections that includes the thin film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Satoshi Kawabe
  • Publication number: 20200362461
    Abstract: A surface treatment agent capable of forming a hexavalent chromium-free chemical conversion coating that can provide an excellent corrosion-resistant coating on various metallic materials; a metallic material having a surface treatment coating obtained therefrom; and a method of producing the same.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Publication date: November 19, 2020
    Inventors: Yusuke Yamamoto, Satoshi Kawabe