Patents by Inventor Seiji Sugiura

Seiji Sugiura 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: 11870114
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a plurality of fuel cell stacks, an anode pipeline, a cathode pipeline, an anode discharge valve, a cathode supply valve, a cathode discharge valve, an anode pressure sensor, a cathode pressure sensor, and a control device. The control device determines whether a cross leak that is permeation abnormality of fuel gas or oxidant gas between an anode and a cathode on the basis of a pressure difference, which is difference between a pressure of the fuel gas and a pressure of the oxidant gas detected by the anode pressure sensor and the cathode pressure sensor in a stopped state of electric power generation of the plurality of fuel cell stacks, or a change in the pressure difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Seiji Sugiura
  • Patent number: 11831052
    Abstract: An electric power supply system of an embodiment includes a plurality of fuel cell systems having fuel cell stacks, a controller configured to control to perform stable output electric generation in one fuel cell system having one fuel cell stack, in which a degraded state of an electrode is relatively large, among the plurality of fuel cell stacks, and to perform transient response electric generation in other fuel cell system having other fuel cell stack, in which a degraded state of an electrode is relatively small, and a cell voltage sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ryo Jimba, Seiji Sugiura
  • Publication number: 20220320564
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a plurality of fuel cell stacks, and a supply pipeline and a discharge pipeline that are connected to a supply channel and a discharge channel of each of the fuel cell stacks. A fluid sequentially supplied to the plurality of fuel cells in a stacking direction flows through the supply channel. A fluid sequentially discharged from the plurality of fuel cells in the stacking direction flows through the discharge channel A flowing direction of the fluid in the supply channel is a direction from a first end plate toward a second end plate. A flowing direction of the fluid in the discharge channel is a direction from the first end plate toward the second end plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2022
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Inventors: Naoki Tanaka, Seiji Sugiura
  • Publication number: 20220311041
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a first fuel cell stack, a second fuel cell stack, a supply pipeline having a branching portion, a discharge pipeline having a merging portion, a first branching pipeline, a second branching pipeline, a first merging pipeline and a second merging pipeline. Sizes of cross sections of flows of the respective pipelines are the same. A length of the first branching pipeline connected to the branching portion and the first fuel cell stack is shorter than a length of the second branching pipeline connected to the branching portion and the second fuel cell stack. A length of the first merging pipeline connected to the merging portion and the first fuel cell stack is greater than a length of the second merging pipeline connected to the merging portion and the second fuel cell stack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2022
    Publication date: September 29, 2022
    Inventor: Seiji Sugiura
  • Publication number: 20220311034
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a first fuel cell having an electrode area made of first electrode material, and a second fuel cell having an electrode area made of second electrode material having low durability against output voltage variation in comparison with the first electrode material. The fuel cell system is configured to supply electrical power to a motor generator. The fuel cell system includes a required electrical power acquisition unit configured to obtain required electrical power of the motor generator, and a control unit configured to control the second fuel cell in a manner that a variation of output electrical power of the second fuel cell becomes not more than a predetermined limit variation, and control the first fuel cell in accordance with the required electrical power and output electrical power of the second fuel cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2022
    Publication date: September 29, 2022
    Inventors: Yutaka CHIBA, Seiji SUGIURA
  • Publication number: 20220302483
    Abstract: An electric power supply system of an embodiment includes a plurality of fuel cell systems having fuel cell stacks, a controller configured to control to perform stable output electric generation in one fuel cell system having one fuel cell stack, in which a degraded state of an electrode is relatively large, among the plurality of fuel cell stacks, and to perform transient response electric generation in other fuel cell system having other fuel cell stack, in which a degraded state of an electrode is relatively small, and a cell voltage sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2022
    Publication date: September 22, 2022
    Inventors: Ryo Jimba, Seiji Sugiura
  • Publication number: 20220302484
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a plurality of fuel cell stacks, an anode pipeline, a cathode pipeline, an anode discharge valve, a cathode supply valve, a cathode discharge valve, an anode pressure sensor, a cathode pressure sensor, and a control device. The control device determines whether a cross leak that is permeation abnormality of fuel gas or oxidant gas between an anode and a cathode on the basis of a pressure difference, which is difference between a pressure of the fuel gas and a pressure of the oxidant gas detected by the anode pressure sensor and the cathode pressure sensor in a stopped state of electric power generation of the plurality of fuel cell stacks, or a change in the pressure difference.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2022
    Publication date: September 22, 2022
    Inventor: Seiji Sugiura
  • Patent number: 11318704
    Abstract: A vehicle interior material that is manufactured at by bonding a base member and a surface member with each other without using an adhesive agent or an adhesive film, that is light in weight and that has adhesive strength and abrasion resistance. The base member includes a natural fiber or a glass fiber and a first thermoplastic resin fiber and has a density of 0.2 to 0.7 g/cm3 The surface member includes a second thermoplastic resin fiber and a low melting point resin fiber and that has a weight per unit area of 50 to 500 g/m2. The surface member is laid on a surface of the base member. An entangled layer where the second thermoplastic resin fiber enters texture of the base member to be entangled with the first thermoplastic resin fiber is provided at an interface between the base member and the surface member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignees: TAKEHIRO CO., LTD., TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koji Inoue, Seiji Sugiura, Madoka Doi, Hideki Kawashiri, Tokuyoshi Shimizu
  • Patent number: 11316178
    Abstract: A checking method of a resin-framed membrane electrode assembly includes checking whether there is breakage in one of short sides of a first rectangular peripheral shape of a clearance provided in the resin-framed membrane electrode assembly without checking whether there is breakage in any other part of the clearance, the resin-framed membrane assembly including a solid polymer electrolyte membrane, a gas diffusion layer provided on the solid polymer electrolyte membrane, and a resin frame member that has a second rectangular peripheral shape and surrounds the solid polymer electrolyte membrane and the gas diffusion layer to provide the clearance between the resin frame member and the gas diffusion layer, the solid polymer electrolyte membrane being made from a solid polymer electrolyte membrane roll in which a solid polymer electrolyte membrane sheet is wound in a winding direction, long sides of the rectangular peripheral shape extending in the winding direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Suguru Ohmori, Masashi Sugishita, Seiji Sugiura
  • Patent number: 11158868
    Abstract: A plurality of anode wavy portions provided in an anode separator of a fuel cell have wavy patterns in the same phase, and are arranged in an amplitude direction of the anode wavy portions at a first pitch. A plurality of cathode wavy portions provided in a cathode separator have wavy patterns in the same phase but in reverse phase with respect to the anode wavy portions, and are arranged in an amplitude direction of the cathode wavy portions at a second pitch. The first pitch and the second pitch have different sizes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kentaro Ishida, Seiji Sugiura, Hiroshi Morikawa
  • Publication number: 20210143451
    Abstract: A plurality of anode wavy portions provided in an anode separator of a fuel cell have wavy patterns in the same phase, and are arranged in an amplitude direction of the anode wavy portions at a first pitch. A plurality of cathode wavy portions provided in a cathode separator have wavy patterns in the same phase but in reverse phase with respect to the anode wavy portions, and are arranged in an amplitude direction of the cathode wavy portions at a second pitch. The first pitch and the second pitch have different sizes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2019
    Publication date: May 13, 2021
    Inventors: Kentaro ISHIDA, Seiji SUGIURA, Hiroshi MORIKAWA
  • Patent number: 10559835
    Abstract: A resin-framed membrane-electrode assembly for a fuel cell includes a stepped membrane-electrode assembly and a resin frame member. The stepped membrane-electrode assembly includes a polymer electrolyte membrane, a first electrode, and a second electrode. The resin frame member surrounds an outer perimeter of the polymer electrolyte membrane and includes an inner perimeter base end and an inner protruding portion. The inner protruding portion includes a flat surface portion which extends to face an outer perimeter surface portion of a second surface of the polymer electrolyte membrane and on which an adhesive layer is provided so that the adhesive layer lies at least between the flat surface portion and the outer perimeter surface portion. The adhesive layer has a tapered shape in which a thickness of the adhesive layer increases from a tip of the inner protruding portion toward the inner perimeter base end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yukihito Tanaka, Naoki Mitsuta, Seiji Sugiura, Suguru Omori
  • Patent number: 10497946
    Abstract: A first sealing member includes a first flat sealing portion facing a first electrode, a second flat sealing portion, and a first protruding sealing portion. The second flat sealing portion is opposite to the first electrode in the stacking direction. The first protruding sealing portion protrudes from the second flat sealing portion in the stacking direction and includes a crossing portion at which the first protruding sealing portion diverges. A second sealing member includes a third flat sealing portion facing a second electrode, a second protruding sealing portion, and a block-shaped seal. The second protruding sealing portion protrudes from the third flat sealing portion in the stacking direction. The block-shaped seal is disposed in a region corresponding to the crossing portion viewed in a stacking direction and protruding from the third flat sealing portion apart from the second protruding sealing portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shuhei Goto, Seiji Sugiura, Kentaro Ishida
  • Patent number: 10476086
    Abstract: A resin-framed stepped membrane electrode assembly for a fuel cell, includes a stepped membrane electrode assembly and a resin frame member. The resin frame member surrounds a membrane outer periphery end of a solid polymer electrolyte membrane and includes an inner protruding portion protruding from the membrane outer periphery end toward a second electrode and is joined to the stepped membrane electrode assembly with an adhesive. The inner protruding portion includes a bank portion, a groove portion, and a ledge portion. The roughness of the bank surface is smaller than a roughness of the groove surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Eri Terada, Kazuo Nunokawa, Satoru Terada, Masaki Tani, Shintaro Tanaka, Seiji Sugiura
  • Publication number: 20190273270
    Abstract: A checking method of a resin-framed membrane electrode assembly includes checking whether there is breakage in one of short sides of a first rectangular peripheral shape of a clearance provided in the resin-framed membrane electrode assembly without checking whether there is breakage in any other part of the clearance, the resin-framed membrane assembly including a solid polymer electrolyte membrane, a gas diffusion layer provided on the solid polymer electrolyte membrane, and a resin frame member that has a second rectangular peripheral shape and surrounds the solid polymer electrolyte membrane and the gas diffusion layer to provide the clearance between the resin frame member and the gas diffusion layer, the solid polymer electrolyte membrane being made from a solid polymer electrolyte membrane roll in which a solid polymer electrolyte membrane sheet is wound in a winding direction, long sides of the rectangular peripheral shape extending in the winding direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2019
    Publication date: September 5, 2019
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Suguru OHMORI, Masashi SUGISHITA, Seiji SUGIURA
  • Patent number: 10381661
    Abstract: A resin frame equipped membrane electrode assembly includes an MEA having different sizes of components and a resin frame member. A clearance is formed between an outer end of a second gas diffusion layer and an inner expansion. The second electrode layer has a frame shaped outer marginal portion provided at the clearance. The crack density of cracks of the frame shaped outer marginal portion is 30 cracks/mm2 or less, and the interval between the cracks is 0.06 mm or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Suguru Ohmori, Masashi Sugishita, Takashi Kato, Yukihito Tanaka, Seiji Sugiura
  • Publication number: 20190232607
    Abstract: A vehicle interior material that is manufactured at by bonding a base member and a surface member with each other without using an adhesive agent or an adhesive film, that is light in weight and that has adhesive strength and abrasion resistance. The base member includes a natural fiber or a glass fiber and a first thermoplastic resin fiber and has a density of 0.2 to 0.7 g/cm3 The surface member includes a second thermoplastic resin fiber and a low melting point resin fiber and that has a weight per unit area of 50 to 500 g/m2. The surface member is laid on a surface of the base member. An entangled layer where the second thermoplastic resin fiber enters texture of the base member to be entangled with the first thermoplastic resin fiber is provided at an interface between the base member and the surface member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2019
    Publication date: August 1, 2019
    Inventors: Koji INOUE, Seiji SUGIURA, Madoka DOI, Hideki KAWASHIRI, Tokuyoshi SHIMIZU
  • Patent number: 10141592
    Abstract: A resin-framed membrane electrode assembly for a fuel cell includes a stepped membrane electrode assembly and a resin frame member. The stepped membrane electrode assembly includes a solid polymer electrolyte membrane, an anode electrode, and a cathode electrode. The resin frame member surrounds an outer periphery of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane and includes an inner protruding portion that protrudes from an inner peripheral base portion toward the cathode electrode and that has a thickness. The inner protruding portion has an adhesive application portion to which an adhesive is applied so as to surround a part of the inner protruding portion. The part is in contact with the stepped membrane electrode assembly. A thickness of a cathode diffusion layer is larger than a thickness of an anode diffusion layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Seiji Sugiura, Yoshihito Kimura, Naoki Mitsuta, Masashi Sugishita, Kenichi Tanaka, Yukihito Tanaka
  • Patent number: 10056619
    Abstract: A membrane electrode assembly with protective film includes a MEA and protective films. The MEA includes a cathode, an anode, and a solid polymer electrolyte membrane interposed between the cathode and the anode. The protective films are joined on the outer end of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane. The membrane electrode assembly has a power generation area and an edge-vicinity area. Recesses for receiving the edge-vicinity area including outer ends of the cathode and the anode are formed in outer portions of a cathode-side separator and an anode-side separator which contact the MEA.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seiji Sugiura, Hiroshi Shinkai, Kenichi Tanaka, Mihoko Kawaharada, Kenta Urata, Yukihito Tanaka, Takashi Kato
  • Patent number: 10003098
    Abstract: A fuel cell includes a membrane electrode assembly and separators, an inner sealing member and an outer sealing member, a coolant channel, a base seal, an inner protrusion and an outer protrusion, and a middle protrusion. The membrane electrode assembly and the separators are stacked in a stacking direction. The inner sealing member and the outer sealing member are disposed between a first separator and a second separator. The base seal is disposed on at least one of separator surfaces between the second separator and a third separator. The inner protrusion and the outer protrusion are provided on the base seal so as to respectively overlap the inner sealing member and the outer sealing member when viewed in the stacking direction and so as to protrude between the second separator and the third separator in the stacking direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kentaro Ishida, Seiji Sugiura