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).

  • Publication number: 20040038103
    Abstract: A cell assembly is formed by stacking a first fuel cell and a second fuel cell together. The first fuel cell has a first membrane electrode assembly, and the second fuel cell has a second membrane electrode assembly. In the cell assembly, oxygen-containing gas flow fields of the first and second separators are connected in series, and fuel gas flow fields of the first and second separators are connected in series. Coolant flow fields are formed on opposite sides of the cell assembly, respectively, for supplying a coolant straight in one direction through the coolant flow fields.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2003
    Publication date: February 26, 2004
    Applicant: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshinori Wariishi, Hideaki Kikuchi, Yuichiro Kosaka, Yosuke Fujii, Masahiro Ise, Seiji Sugiura
  • Publication number: 20030219644
    Abstract: A fuel cell stack includes a stacked body, a negative and positive terminal plates stacked on opposite ends of the stacked body, insulators disposed outside the terminal plates, and the end plates disposed outside the end plates. The insulator includes a first insulator plate, a second insulator plate, and a third insulator plate. Bypass passages are formed on the first insulator plate and the third insulator plate for discharging water in an oxygen-containing gas and water in a fuel gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2003
    Publication date: November 27, 2003
    Inventors: Shigeru Inai, Masahiko Sato, Seiji Sugiura, Shuhei Goto
  • Publication number: 20030129466
    Abstract: A fuel cell is provided that is reduced in both size and weight while securing a sealed state of respective flow passages by respective sealing members between separators and an electrode assembly. In this fuel cell, there are provided in each of the separators communication ports for reaction gases and cooling medium that are provided outward from gas sealing members, and communication paths that detour around the gas sealing members in the thickness direction of the separators and connect the reaction gas communication ports with gas flow passages. A cooling surface sealing member that seals off the cooling medium flow passage from the reaction gas communication ports is placed at a position shifted from the communication paths towards the communication holes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 24, 2002
    Publication date: July 10, 2003
    Applicant: HONDA GIKEN KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Narutoshi Sugita, Seiji Sugiura, Masajiro Inoue, Hideaki Kikuchi
  • Publication number: 20030087140
    Abstract: A fuel cell that is small and light has separators having communication ports for reaction gases and cooling medium that are provided on an outer side of gas sealing members so as to penetrate each of the separators, and communication paths that detour around the gas sealing members in the thickness direction of the separators and connect the reaction gas communication ports with reaction gas flow passages. Furthermore, support members are provided to support the portions of the separators at which the gas sealing members and the cooling surface sealing member are disposed so as to be offset with respect to each other as viewed in the stacking direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2002
    Publication date: May 8, 2003
    Applicant: HONDA GIKEN KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hideaki Kikuchi, Narutoshi Sugita, Seiji Sugiura, Hiroyuki Tanaka, Toshiya Wakahoi, Keisuke Andou
  • Publication number: 20030068541
    Abstract: A unit cell has a membrane electrode assembly. The membrane electrode assembly includes a cathode, and an anode, and a solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell interposed between the cathode and the anode. The membrane electrode assembly is interposed between a first separator and a second separator. A thin cooling plate is interposed between the second separator and another first separator. A first coolant flow passage and a second coolant flow passage are formed on both surfaces of the cooling plate. The coolant flows along one surface of the cooling plate, and turns back at an end of the cooling plate to flow along the other surface of the cooling plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2002
    Publication date: April 10, 2003
    Applicant: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Seiji Sugiura, Masaharu Suzuki, Tetsuya Koido, Yoshinori Wariishi, Yosuke Fujii, Takaki Nakagawa
  • Publication number: 20030064277
    Abstract: A first membrane electrode assembly is interposed between a first separator and a second separator. A second membrane electrode assembly is interposed between the second separator and another first separator. The second separator includes a first separator plate, a second separator plate, and a leaf spring interposed between the first separator plate and the second separator plate. Each of the first separator plate and the second separator plate has an embossed section made up of first protrusions protruding toward the leaf spring and first recesses spaced from the leaf spring. The first protrusions of the embossed section in one separator plate are in alignment with the first recesses of the embossed section in the other separator plate, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2002
    Publication date: April 3, 2003
    Applicant: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Seiji Sugiura, Hiroyuki Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20030054216
    Abstract: There is provided a fuel cell that is reduced in both size and weight while securing a sealed state of respective communication paths by respective sealing members between separators and an electrode assembly. In this fuel cell there are provided in each one of separators communication ports for reaction gases and cooling medium that are provided on an outer side of gas sealing members, and communication paths that detour around the gas sealing members in the thickness direction of the separators and connect the reaction gas communication ports with gas communication paths. A cooling surface sealing member that seals off the cooling medium communication path from the reaction gas communication holes is placed at a position shifted from the communication paths towards the communication holes. A convex portion is provided between the reaction gas communication path and the communications ports of one separator, while a concave portion that receives the convex portion is provided in the other separator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2002
    Publication date: March 20, 2003
    Applicant: HONDA GIKEN KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Narutoshi Sugita, Seiji Sugiura
  • Publication number: 20030054224
    Abstract: An intermediate plate is interposed between first and second sub-stacks. The intermediate plate has, defined in a surface thereof, an oxygen-containing gas mixing passage interconnecting an oxygen-containing gas outlet in the first sub-stack which is located upstream and an oxygen-containing gas inlet in the second sub-stack which is located downstream. In the first and second sub-stacks, an oxygen-containing gas is supplied from the oxygen-containing gas inlet and discharged to the oxygen-containing gas outlet at all times.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2002
    Publication date: March 20, 2003
    Applicant: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshinori Wariishi, Masaharu Suzuki, Hideaki Kikuchi, Narutoshi Sugita, Ichiro Baba, Ken Takahashi, Seiji Sugiura, Yosuke Fujii, Daisuke Wachi
  • Publication number: 20030054223
    Abstract: A cell assembly is formed by stacking a first cell and a second cell. In the cell assembly, oxygen-containing gas flow passages are connected in series by an intermediate oxygen-containing gas flow passage, and fuel gas flow passages are connected in series by an intermediate fuel gas flow passage. An additional oxygen-containing gas is supplied to an oxygen-containing gas passage which includes the intermediate oxygen-containing gas flow passage. An additional fuel gas is supplied to a fuel gas passage which includes the intermediate fuel gas flow passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2002
    Publication date: March 20, 2003
    Applicant: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ichiro Baba, Yosuke Fujii, Ken Takahashi, Daisuke Wachi, Hiromichi Yoshida, Takaki Nakagawa, Yoshinori Wariishi, Masaharu Suzuki, Seiji Sugiura, Narutoshi Sugita, Hideaki Kikuchi
  • Publication number: 20030049507
    Abstract: A fuel cell is reduced in size and weight while the respective communication passages are reliably sealed by the respective sealing members between separators and an electrode assembly. Separators of a fuel cell is provided with communication holes for a reaction gas and cooling medium provided in the outer side of gas sealing members, and with a communication passage that detours around the gas sealing members in the thickness direction of the separators and connects gas communication passages with the reaction gas communication hole. A cooling surface sealing member that seals off the cooling medium communication passage from the reaction gas communication hole is located at a position that is shifted from the communicating passage towards the communication hole side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2002
    Publication date: March 13, 2003
    Applicant: HONDA GIKEN KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Narutoshi Sugita, Seiji Sugiura
  • Publication number: 20030049515
    Abstract: A cell assembly has reactant gas passages connected in series in first and second unit cells, and oxygen-containing gas inlets, intermediate oxygen-containing gas inlets, oxygen-containing gas outlets, intermediate oxygen-containing gas outlets which are defined in the first and second unit cells. The oxygen-containing gas inlets and the intermediate oxygen-containing gas inlets are disposed upwardly of the oxygen-containing gas outlets and the intermediate oxygen-containing gas outlets. The oxygen-containing gas outlets and the intermediate oxygen-containing gas outlets are disposed at least partly below electric energy generating surfaces of the first and second unit cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2002
    Publication date: March 13, 2003
    Applicant: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshinori Wariishi, Narutoshi Sugita, Masaharu Suzuki, Seiji Sugiura, Daisuke Wachi, Yosuke Fujii
  • Publication number: 20020187386
    Abstract: A first unit cell of a fuel cell stack has a first joint body sandwiched between a first separator and a second separator. The second separator has a first metal sheet having a region where grooves and ridges alternate with each other and a second metal sheet having a region where grooves and ridges alternate with each other, and a leaf spring interposed between the first and second metal sheets. The leaf spring is held against crests of the ridges of the first and second metal sheets. The grooves of the first metal sheet face the ridges of the second metal sheet across the leaf spring, and the ridges of the first metal sheet face the grooves of the second metal sheet across the leaf spring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2002
    Publication date: December 12, 2002
    Applicant: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Seiji Sugiura, Naoyuki Enjoji, Hideaki Kikuchi, Narutoshi Sugita, Yoshinori Wariishi
  • Publication number: 20020146601
    Abstract: A cell assembly includes a first unit cell and a second unit cell stacked to each other. The first unit cell includes a first unified body, and the second unit cell includes a second unified body. In the cell assembly, oxidizing gas passages and fuel gas passages are provided in parallel along the first and second unit cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2002
    Publication date: October 10, 2002
    Applicant: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Seiji Sugiura, Yoshinori Wariishi, Naoyuki Enjoji, Narutoshi Sugita
  • Publication number: 20020146612
    Abstract: A cell assembly is formed by stacking a first unit cell and a second unit cell to each other. The first unit cell includes a first unified body, and the second unit cell includes a second unified body. In the cell assembly, the first and second unit cells have structures different from each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2002
    Publication date: October 10, 2002
    Applicant: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Seiji Sugiura, Yoshinori Wariishi, Naoyuki Enjoji, Narutoshi Sugita
  • Publication number: 20020142209
    Abstract: A cell stack, in which a plurality of cell units are stacked, is accommodated in a case which has a bottom plate, a first side plate, a second side plate, and a ceiling plate. End plates are arranged at both open ends of the case. The case and the end plates are connected to one another by a hinge mechanism in which pins are engaged into through-holes of tab sections to provide a fuel cell stack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2002
    Publication date: October 3, 2002
    Applicant: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideaki Kikuchi, Seiji Sugiura, Yoshinori Wariishi
  • Publication number: 20020058177
    Abstract: A fuel cell stack is disclosed, so as to prevent the corrosion of the power output terminal plate due to coolant and the occurrence of electric short circuits through the coolant, and to improve the flexibility of selection of the coolant. The fuel cell stack has unit fuel cells, each comprising an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte which is placed between the anode and the cathode, wherein the unit fuel cells are stacked via separators. A pair of power output terminal plates are provided, one attached to each end face of the stacked unit fuel cells. A coolant supply and drainage passage and a gas supply and exhaust passage are formed through the stacked unit fuel cells and the power output terminal plates in the stacking direction, and the edge of each passage through the power output terminal plates is covered with a grommet having an insulating capability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2001
    Publication date: May 16, 2002
    Applicant: HONDA GIKEN KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tadashi Nishiyama, Toshiya Wakahoi, Seiji Sugiura
  • Publication number: 20020031697
    Abstract: A fuel cell stack capable of giving improved impact resistance and vibration resistance without causing the space occupied by the fuel cell stack to be increased. In a fuel cell stack for mounting in a vehicle in which a plurality of fuel cell units, each of which is formed by interposing a solid polymer electrolyte membrane between an anode electrode and a cathode electrode, are stacked in a horizontal direction with separators placed between each, mounting members used for installation are provided at backup plates that are outside fastening structure portions that are provided at both ends along the direction in which the fuel cell units are stacked, and an intermediate supporting member used for installation is additionally provided at an intermediate portion along the direction in which the fuel cell units are stacked.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2001
    Publication date: March 14, 2002
    Applicant: HONDA GIKEN KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Narutoshi Sugita, Tadashi Nishiyama, Ken Takahashi, Seiji Sugiura