Patents by Inventor Takahiro Ashida

Takahiro Ashida 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: 6159349
    Abstract: An electrolytic cell for producing a brine containing hydrogen peroxide is disclosed. Units for hydrogen peroxide production 3 and units for water electrolysis 2 are alternately arranged in the same electrolytic cell 1. Electrolysis is conducted while supplying hydrogen gas and oxygen gas generating in the respective water electrolysis units to a gas diffusion anode 11 and a gas diffusion cathode 13 of each unit for hydrogen peroxide production, to thereby obtain a brine containing hydrogen peroxide in a high concentration. Furthermore, because the anode of the hydrogen peroxide production units is a hydrogen gas diffusion anode having a reduced oxidizing ability, halogen ions contained in the seawater do not yield harmful halogenated organic substances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: Permelec Electrode Ltd.
    Inventors: Shuhei Wakita, Yoshinori Nishiki, Takayuki Shimamune, Yasuo Nakajima, Masaaki Katoh, Yoshiyuki Kawaguchi, Takahiro Ashida, Masaharu Uno
  • Patent number: 6113757
    Abstract: An electrolytic cell for producing an alkali hydroxide using a gas diffusion cathode. A moistened oxygen-containing gas is uniformly supplied to the surface of the gas diffusion cathode by means of a gas distributing mechanism, such as at least one gas diffuser pipe having a plurality of openings facing the cathode surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2000
    Assignee: Permelec Electrode Ltd.
    Inventors: Takayuki Shimamune, Masashi Tanaka, Shuhei Wakita, Takahiro Ashida, Yoshinori Nishiki
  • Patent number: 5938901
    Abstract: A gas-diffusion electrode (cathode) in contact with an ion-exchange membrane partitioning an electrolytic cell for producing caustic soda, etc., by electrolysis into an anode chamber and a cathode chamber (gas chamber). The gas-diffusion electrode is divided into plural electrode members in the horizontal direction with an interval provided between adjacent electrode members. Electrolyte guide plates may be disposed on the electrode members or between the adjacent electrode members. An aqueous caustic soda solution formed in the electrolysis smoothly is removed from the gas-diffusion electrode without clogging the electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1999
    Assignee: Permelec Electrode Ltd.
    Inventors: Takayuki Shimamune, Yoshinori Nishiki, Masashi Tanaka, Takahiro Ashida, Shuhei Wakita
  • Patent number: 5879521
    Abstract: A gas-diffusion cathode disposed in contact with an ion-exchange membrane partitioning an electrolytic cell into an anode chamber and a cathode chamber, wherein at least one guide piece is disposed in the gas-diffusion cathode and a salt water electrolytic cell using the above-described gas-diffusion cathode. By using the above-described gas-diffusion cathode for salt water electrolysis, an aqueous caustic alkali solution formed descending in the direction of gravity in the cathode changes direction of movement by contact with a guide piece, whereby the decreased electrode performance resulting from the hindrance of the supply of raw material gas and the discharge of the gas formed caused by the retention of the descending caustic alkali solution is prevented and a large-sized electrolytic cell can be used without problems generally encountered in conventional electrolytic systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignee: Permelec Electrode Ltd.
    Inventors: Takayuki Shimamune, Takahiro Ashida, Masashi Tanaka, Shuhei Wakita, Yoshinori Nishiki
  • Patent number: 5827412
    Abstract: A liquid-permeable gas-diffusion cathode adapted for caustic soda electrolysis in contact with an ion-exchange membrane partitioning an electrolytic cell into an anode chamber and a cathode gas chamber. Plural horizontal concave grooves and/or convex portions are provided in an interval with one another on the surface of the gas-diffusion cathode facing the gas chamber. Plural vertical concave grooves may also be provided in an interval on the surface of the cathode crossing the horizontal grooves and/or convex portions. Aqueous caustic soda solution thus formed flows downward along the grooves, etc., without covering other portions of the cathode surface, and is easily released therefrom without clogging perforations in the gas-diffusion layer of the cathode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1998
    Assignee: Permelec Electrode Ltd.
    Inventors: Takayuki Shimamune, Shuhei Wakita, Takahiro Ashida, Masashi Tanaka, Yoshinori Nishiki
  • Patent number: 5766429
    Abstract: An electrolytic cell for producing sodium hydroxide, etc., which is partitioned by an ion-exchange membrane into an anode chamber and a cathode chamber, wherein at least one of a anode and a cathode is closely contacted to the ion-exchange membrane to form a gas diffusion electrode, and a current supplying means having guides for removing sodium hydroxide, etc., formed at the surface of the gas diffusion electrode is disposed therein closely contacting the gas diffusion electrode.By having a current supplying means having removing guides, sodium hydroxide formed at the surface of the gas diffusion electrode is separated therefrom and removed, whereby the supply of the raw material gas and removal of the produced gas can be smoothly performed without clogging perforations of the gas diffusion electrode with the sodium hydroxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1998
    Assignee: Permelec Electrode Ltd.
    Inventors: Takayuki Shimamune, Yoshinori Nishiki, Takahiro Ashida, Yasuo Nakajima
  • Patent number: 5746896
    Abstract: A method of producing a gas diffusion electrode by forming a thin layer comprising a carbon power and a silver powder on the surface of a substrate comprising silver, copper, nickel or stainless steel and fluorinating the thin layer make the carbon water repellent.The gas diffusion electrode can be stably used for a long period of time in sodium chloride electrolysis, etc., without clogging the passage of gas and lowering the water repellency of the electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
    Assignee: Permelec Electrode Ltd.
    Inventors: Takayuki Shimamune, Yasuo Nakajima, Yoshinori Nishiki, Takahiro Ashida
  • Patent number: 5733430
    Abstract: A gas diffusion electrode is constituted by forming a porous layer comprising a super-fine particle catalyst of silver or gold and a fluorine-containing material on a substrate and connecting a gas-liquid permeable collector to the substrate.The gas diffusion electrode can be used stably as an oxygen cathode for a sodium chloride electrolysis, etc., for a long period of time without causing decreased water repellency of the fluorine-containing material in the gas diffusion electrode and without lowering the activity of the electrode substance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1998
    Assignee: Permelec Electrode Ltd.
    Inventors: Takahiro Ashida, Takayuki Shimamune, Yoshinori Nishiki
  • Patent number: 5693213
    Abstract: A salt water electrolysis process for electrolyzing an aqueous alkali chloride solution capable of preventing the deterioration of a gas diffusion cathode is disclosed. A cation-exchange membrane having closely disposed to one surface thereof an insoluble metal anode and having closely adhered or mechanically attached to the opposite surface thereof a liquid permeable gas diffusion cathode is disposed in an electrolytic cell, and electrolysis is carried out while supplying salt water to the anode chamber and an oxygen-containing gas containing water as steam or fine water droplets to the cathode chamber, and an alkali hydroxide is obtained from the cathode chamber. The water-containing gas directly reaches the gas diffusion cathode and since the alkali hydroxide and the alkali carbonate formed at the surface of the cathode are dissolved in the water in the gas and removed from the electrolytic cell, deterioration of the gas diffusion cathode can be prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 2, 1997
    Assignee: Permelec Electrode Ltd.
    Inventors: Takayuki Shimamune, Takahiro Ashida, Yoshinori Nishiki
  • Patent number: 5676808
    Abstract: An electrolytic cell for obtaining a caustic alkali by closely contacting a gas diffusion electrode comprising a gas-liquid permeable metal substrate and a gas-liquid permeable collector connected to the substrate to a cation-exchange membrane while supplying an oxygen-containing gas from the opposite side of the cation-exchange membrane. Grooves for taking out a liquid containing a caustic alkali are formed in the contact surface of the gas diffusion electrode with the cation-exchange membrane.By the formation of the grooves, clogging of the perforations of the gas diffusion electrode with the caustic alkali so formed is prevented, whereby the gas supply can be smoothly carried out and the electrolysis can be stably carried out without reducing the cell voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 14, 1997
    Assignee: Permelec Electrode Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshinori Nishiki, Takahiro Ashida, Takayuki Shimamune, Yasuo Nakajima
  • Patent number: 5584976
    Abstract: A gas diffusion electrode comprisinga porous sheet substrate, at least the surface of which is formed by silver;a reaction layer formed on a first surface of the substrate, comprising a porous silver layer and a mixed layer further comprising a hydrophilic material and a hydrophobic material, the mixed layer being formed on a surface of the porous silver layer; and,a gas diffusion layer formed on a second surface of the substrate, comprising a hydrophobic material.The gas diffusion electrode can be stably used for, e.g., sodium chloride electrolysis for extended periods of time even under severe conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 17, 1996
    Assignee: Permelec Electrode Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshinori Nishiki, Takahiro Ashida, Takayuki Shimamune, Yasuo Nakajima
  • Patent number: 5536379
    Abstract: A gas diffusion electrode comprising a water permeable gas diffusion and reaction layer and a porous and electrically conductive electrode current collector having a water repellency bonded to the gas diffusion and reaction layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 16, 1996
    Assignee: Permelec Electrode
    Inventors: Tsutomu Nonaka, Takahiro Ashida, Shuhei Wakita, Takayuki Shimamune, Yoshinori Nishiki
  • Patent number: 4543768
    Abstract: Fully automatic, swift and reliable packing of stockings or the like is carried out by combination of an upstream stockings folder assembly and a downstream stockings encloser assembly, the folder assembly folds each pair of stockings for required times each time by cooperation of a reciprocal inserter plate and a nip formed by a pair of circulating suffaces for catching the stockings, and the encloser assembly inserts the folded stockings into plastic unit envelopes, either separate or combined in a continuous band, by cooperation of an insertion guide provisionaly enterable into each unit envelope and an inserter plate for assigning the folded stockings from the insertion guide to the unit envelope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1982
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1985
    Assignee: Takatori Machinery Works Ltd.
    Inventors: Masao Nishikawa, Takahiro Ashida