Patents by Inventor Takeou Okanishi
Takeou Okanishi 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).
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Patent number: 10326148Abstract: A fuel cell gas diffusion layer includes a porous member containing electrically-conductive particles and polymeric resin as major components, and a plurality of holes extending from a main surface of the fuel cell gas diffusion layer are formed.Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 2013Date of Patent: June 18, 2019Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.Inventors: Takeou Okanishi, Hiroshi Ishikawa, Keiichi Yamamoto, Tsutomu Kawashima, Yasushi Sugawara, Yoichiro Tsuji, Norihisa Yoshimoto, Miyuki Yoshimoto
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Patent number: 9472821Abstract: An operation method of a polymer electrolyte fuel cell system including an anode (3) supplied with a fuel gas containing hydrogen, a cathode (4) supplied with an oxidizing gas containing oxygen, and a polymer electrolyte membrane (5) sandwiched between the anode (3) and the cathode (4), comprises supplying to the anode (3) the fuel gas humidified with a higher level than the oxidizing gas to cause the anode (3) to have a humidified state with a higher level than the cathode (4), in start-up of the polymer electrolyte fuel cell system.Type: GrantFiled: October 24, 2011Date of Patent: October 18, 2016Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hideo Kasahara, Hiroshi Ishikawa, Takeou Okanishi, Yoichiro Tsuji
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Patent number: 8980500Abstract: A polymer electrolyte fuel cell of the present invention includes a membrane-electrode assembly (5) and separators (6A, 6B). A plurality of reactant gas channels are formed on a main surface of at least one of the separator (6A, 6B) and a gas diffusion layer (3A, 3B). In a case where among the plurality of reactant gas channels, a reactant gas channel overlapping the peripheral portion of the electrode (4A, 4B) twice is defined as a first reactant gas channel, and a reactant gas channel formed to overlap the peripheral portion of the electrode (4A, 4B) and formed such that the length of a portion overlapping the peripheral portion is longer than a predetermined length is defined as a second reactant gas channel, the second reactant gas channel is formed such that the flow rate of a reactant gas flowing therethrough is lower than that of the reactant gas flowing through the first reactant gas channel or the second reactant gas channel does not exist.Type: GrantFiled: February 2, 2011Date of Patent: March 17, 2015Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.Inventors: Shinsuke Takeguchi, Takeou Okanishi, Yoichiro Tsuji
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Publication number: 20140329167Abstract: A fuel cell gas diffusion layer includes a porous member containing electrically-conductive particles and polymeric resin as major components, and a plurality of holes extending from a main surface of the fuel cell gas diffusion layer are formed.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 18, 2013Publication date: November 6, 2014Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATIONInventors: Takeou Okanishi, Hiroshi Ishikawa, Keiichi Yamamoto, Tsutomu Kawashima, Yasushi Sugawara, Yoichiro Tsuji, Norihisa Yoshimoto, Miyuki Yoshimoto
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Patent number: 8846269Abstract: A polymer electrolyte fuel cell of the present invention comprises a membrane-electrode assembly (5), a first separator (6a), and a second separator (6b); the first separator (6a) having a groove-shaped first reaction gas channel (8) on one main surface of the first separator (6a) which contacts the first electrode (4a) such that a plurality of straight-line-shaped first rib portions (11) run along each other; the second electrode (4b) having a groove-shaped second reaction gas channel (9) on one main surface of the second electrode (4b) which contacts the second separator (6b) such that a plurality of straight-line-shaped second rib portions (12) run along each other; a ratio of a first reaction gas channel width of at least an upstream portion (18b) of the first reaction gas channel (8) with respect to a second rib portion (12) is greater than 0 and not greater than 1.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2011Date of Patent: September 30, 2014Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Takeou Okanishi, Naotsugu Koashi, Yoichiro Tsuji
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Patent number: 8691471Abstract: A polymer electrolyte fuel cell of the present invention includes a membrane electrode assembly (5) having a pair of electrodes (4a, 4b) sandwiching a portion of a polymer electrolyte membrane (1) which is inward relative to a peripheral portion thereof, a first separator (6a), and a second separator (6b), the first separator (6a) is provided with a first reaction gas channel (8) on one main surface, the second separator (6b) is provided with a second reaction gas channel (9) on one main surface such that the second reaction gas channel (9) has a second rib portion (12), the first reaction gas channel (8) is formed such that a ratio of a first reaction gas channel width of an upstream portion (18b) to the second rib portion (12) is set larger than a ratio of a first reaction gas channel width of a downstream portion (18c) to the second rib portion (12), and the ratio of the first reaction gas channel width of the upstream portion (18b) to the second rib portion (12) is a predetermined ratio.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2009Date of Patent: April 8, 2014Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Takeou Okanishi, Naotsugu Koashi, Shinsuke Takeguchi, Yoichiro Tsuji
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Patent number: 8663872Abstract: A membrane-membrane reinforcing member assembly (1) of the present invention includes: a polymer electrolyte membrane (10) having a pair of first main surface (F1) and second main surface (F2) which face each other and each has a substantially rectangular shape; a pair of first membrane reinforcing members 22 and 24 which are disposed on portions, respectively, extending along a pair of opposed sides of four sides of the first main surface (F1), each has a main surface smaller than the first main surface (F1) and each has a film shape; and a pair of second membrane reinforcing members (26) and (28) which are disposed on portions, respectively, extending along a pair of opposed sides of four sides of the second main surface (F2), each has a main surface smaller than the second main surface (F2) and each has a film shape, wherein the pair of first membrane reinforcing members (22) and (24) and the pair of second membrane reinforcing members (26) and (28) are disposed so as to extend along four sides as a whole,Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 2006Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Takeou Okanishi, Yoshihiro Hori, Kazuhito Hatoh
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Patent number: 8597851Abstract: A polymer electrolyte fuel cell of the present invention includes: a membrane-electrode assembly having a polymer electrolyte membrane and a pair of electrodes; a first separator having one main surface on which a first reactant gas channel is formed so as to bend; and a second separator having one main surface on which a second reactant gas channel is formed so as to bend. The first reactant gas channel is formed such that a first particular portion of the first reactant gas channel is smaller in width than each of a portion located upstream of the first particular portion and a portion located downstream of the first particular portion, the first particular portion being within a region of the electrode and including a portion where the first reactant gas channel extending from an upstream end thereof first separates from the second reactant gas channel.Type: GrantFiled: November 26, 2010Date of Patent: December 3, 2013Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Takeou Okanishi, Naotsugu Koashi, Miho Gemba, Yoichiro Tsuji
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Publication number: 20130164640Abstract: An operation method of a polymer electrolyte fuel cell system including an anode (3) supplied with a fuel gas containing hydrogen, a cathode (4) supplied with an oxidizing gas containing oxygen, and a polymer electrolyte membrane (5) sandwiched between the anode (3) and the cathode (4), comprises supplying to the anode (3) the fuel gas humidified with a higher level than the oxidizing gas to cause the anode (3) to have a humidified state with a higher level than the cathode (4), in start-up of the polymer electrolyte fuel cell system.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 24, 2011Publication date: June 27, 2013Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATIONInventors: Hideo Kasahara, Hiroshi Ishikawa, Takeou Okanishi, Yoichiro Tsuji
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Publication number: 20130101917Abstract: A polymer electrolyte fuel cell includes: a sealing structure (9) including a substantially rectangular ring-shaped first gasket portion (9a) and a substantially rectangular ring-shaped second gasket portion (9b), the first gasket portion (9a) being positioned outward of a peripheral portion of a first gas diffusion layer (5) and between a first separator (7) and a first catalyst layer (2) positioned at a peripheral portion of a polymer electrolyte membrane 1, the second gasket portion (9b) being positioned outward of the peripheral portion of the polymer electrolyte membrane (1) and between the first separator (7) and a second separator (8); and at least the first catalyst layer (2), a second catalyst layer (3), and a swellable resin portion (II) formed of a swellable resin whose volume expands when water is added thereto, the swellable resin portion (11) being positioned between the first gasket portion (9a) and the first catalyst layer (2) positioned at the peripheral portion of the polymer electrolyte memType: ApplicationFiled: April 4, 2012Publication date: April 25, 2013Applicant: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Takeou Okanishi, Masaki Yamauchi, Yasushi Sugawara, Yoichiro Tsuji
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Publication number: 20120258380Abstract: A polymer electrolyte fuel cell of the present invention includes a membrane-electrode assembly (5) and separators (6A, 6B). A plurality of reactant gas channels are formed on a main surface of at least one of the separator (6A, 6B) and a gas diffusion layer (3A, 3B). In a case where among the plurality of reactant gas channels, a reactant gas channel overlapping the peripheral portion of the electrode (4A, 4B) twice is defined as a first reactant gas channel, and a reactant gas channel formed to overlap the peripheral portion of the electrode (4A, 4B) and formed such that the length of a portion overlapping the peripheral portion is longer than a predetermined length is defined as a second reactant gas channel, the second reactant gas channel is formed such that the flow rate of a reactant gas flowing therethrough is lower than that of the reactant gas flowing through the first reactant gas channel or the second reactant gas channel does not exist.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 2, 2011Publication date: October 11, 2012Inventors: Shinsuke Takeguchi, Takeou Okanishi, Yoichiro Tsuji
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Patent number: 8192893Abstract: A membrane-membrane reinforcing member assembly includes: a polymer electrolyte membrane (1) having a substantially square shape; a pair of membrane-like first membrane reinforcing members (10a) disposed on one main surface of the polymer electrolyte membrane (1) so as to extend along a pair of opposed sides, respectively, of four sides of said one main surface; and a pair of membrane-like second membrane reinforcing members (10b) disposed on another main surface of the polymer electrolyte membrane (1) so as to extend along a pair of opposed sides, respectively, of four sides of said another main surface, wherein: portions of the polymer electrolyte membrane (1) at which portions the first membrane reinforcing members (10a, 10a) and the second membrane reinforcing members (10b, 10b) are disposed are concave; and the first membrane reinforcing members (10a, 10a) and the second membrane reinforcing members (10b, 10b) are disposed such that main surfaces thereof are exposed, and the first membrane reinforcing meType: GrantFiled: November 6, 2007Date of Patent: June 5, 2012Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Atsushi Nogi, Takeou Okanishi, Yoichiro Tsuji, Aoi Muta, Haruhiko Shintani, Yasuo Takebe
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Patent number: 8192895Abstract: A membrane-membrane reinforcing member assembly includes: a polymer electrolyte membrane (1) having a substantially quadrilateral shape; a membrane-like first membrane reinforcing member (10a) disposed on a first main surface (F10) of the polymer electrolyte membrane (1) to bend at a substantially right angle at a corner of the polymer electrolyte membrane (1) and extend along sides forming the corner; and a membrane-like second membrane reinforcing member (10b) disposed on a second main surface (F20) of the polymer electrolyte membrane (1) to bend at a substantially right angle at a corner of the polymer electrolyte membrane (1) and extend along sides forming the corner, and the first membrane reinforcing member (10a) and the second membrane reinforcing member (10b) are disposed to extend along four sides of the polymer electrolyte membrane (1) as a whole.Type: GrantFiled: January 15, 2008Date of Patent: June 5, 2012Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Aoi Muta, Takeou Okanishi, Atsushi Nogi, Yoichiro Tsuji
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Patent number: 8182958Abstract: A membrane membrane-reinforcement-member assembly, membrane catalyst-layer assembly, membrane electrode assembly, and polymer electrolyte fuel cell are provided, which are so configured as to ensure sufficient durability and a cost reduction in unit cells and be suited for mass production. To this end, a membrane membrane-reinforcement-member assembly (20) of a membrane catalyst-layer assembly (30) provided in an MEA (5) of a cell (100) has a polymer electrolyte membrane (1), a pair of first membrane reinforcement members (10a) and a pair of second membrane reinforcement members (10b) which members (10a), (10b) are embedded in the polymer electrolyte membrane (1) such that their main surfaces are not exposed therefrom. The first and second membrane reinforcement members (10a), (10b) are embedded in a parallelogrammatic fashion so as to overlap each other in the four corners of the polymer electrolyte membrane (1) when viewed in a thickness direction of the polymer electrolyte membrane.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2008Date of Patent: May 22, 2012Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Takeou Okanishi, Atsushi Nogi, Yoichiro Tsuji
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Patent number: 8129073Abstract: A catalyst-coated membrane that includes an anode catalyst layer, a cathode catalyst layer, and a hydrogen ion conductive polymer electrolyte membrane interposed between the anode catalyst layer and the cathode catalyst layer, a peripheral area of at least one of the anode catalyst layer and the cathode catalyst layer is provided with a decrease portion in which the mass of the electrode catalyst per unit area of the catalyst layer decreases from the inner side toward the outer side.Type: GrantFiled: November 24, 2006Date of Patent: March 6, 2012Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Mikiko Yoshimura, Yoshihiro Hori, Takeou Okanishi, Masaki Yamauchi
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Publication number: 20120040268Abstract: A polymer electrolyte fuel cell of the present invention comprises a membrane-electrode assembly (5), a first separator (6a), and a second separator (6b); the first separator (6a) having a groove-shaped first reaction gas channel (8) on one main surface of the first separator (6a) which contacts the first electrode (4a) such that a plurality of straight-line-shaped first rib portions (11) run along each other; the second electrode (4b) having a groove-shaped second reaction gas channel (9) on one main surface of the second electrode (4b) which contacts the second separator (6b) such that a plurality of straight-line-shaped second rib portions (12) run along each other; a ratio of a first reaction gas channel width of at least an upstream portion (18b) of the first reaction gas channel (8) with respect to a second rib portion (12) is greater than 0 and not greater than 1.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2011Publication date: February 16, 2012Inventors: Takeou Okanishi, Naotsugu Koashi, Yoichiro Tsuji
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Patent number: 8097112Abstract: A method for manufacturing a membrane-electrode assembly of the present invention includes: a reinforcing member disposing step of disposing a reinforcing member (104A, 104B), whose frame portion is formed to surround an opening of the reinforcing member, on a polymer electrolyte membrane (102) such that the frame portion covers a peripheral portion of at least one surface of the polymer electrolyte membrane; a catalyst layer applying step of applying a coating of a catalyst layer (109A, 109B) on at least an entire surface of the polymer electrolyte membrane (102) which surface is exposed from the opening of the reinforcing member (104A, 104B); and a gas diffusion layer disposing step of disposing a gas diffusion layer (114A, 114B) such that the gas diffusion layer covers the catalyst layer (109A, 109B).Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2006Date of Patent: January 17, 2012Assignees: Panasonic Corporation, Asahi Glass Company, LimitedInventors: Yoshihiro Hori, Mikiko Yoshimura, Takeou Okanishi, Kazuhito Hatoh
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Publication number: 20110281191Abstract: A polymer electrolyte fuel cell of the present invention includes: a membrane-electrode assembly (5) having a polymer electrolyte membrane (1) and a pair of electrodes (4A and 4B); a first separator (6A) having one main surface on which a groove-like first reactant gas channel (8) is formed so as to bend; and a second separator (6B) having one main surface on which a groove-like second reactant gas channel (9) is formed so as to bend.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 26, 2010Publication date: November 17, 2011Inventors: Takeou Okanishi, Naotsugu Koashi, Miho Gemba, Yoichiro Tsuji
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Publication number: 20110165493Abstract: A polymer electrolyte fuel cell of the present invention includes a membrane electrode assembly (5) having a pair of electrodes (4a, 4b) sandwiching a portion of a polymer electrolyte membrane (1) which is inward relative to a peripheral portion thereof, a first separator (6a), and a second separator (6b), the first separator (6a) is provided with a first reaction gas channel (8) on one main surface, the second separator (6b) is provided with a second reaction gas channel (9) on one main surface such that the second reaction gas channel (9) has a second rib portion (12), the first reaction gas channel (8) is formed such that a ratio of a first reaction gas channel width of an upstream portion (18b) to the second rib portion (12) is set larger than a ratio of a first reaction gas channel width of a downstream portion (18c) to the second rib portion (12), and the ratio of the first reaction gas channel width of the upstream portion (18b) to the second rib portion (12) is a predetermined ratio.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 11, 2009Publication date: July 7, 2011Inventors: Takeou Okanishi, Naotsugu Koashi, Shinsuke Takeguchi, Yoichiro Tsuji
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Publication number: 20100075187Abstract: A membrane-membrane reinforcing member assembly includes: a polymer electrolyte membrane (1) having a substantially quadrilateral shape; a membrane-like first membrane reinforcing member (10a) disposed on a first main surface (F10) of the polymer electrolyte membrane (1) to bend at a substantially right angle at a corner of the polymer electrolyte membrane (1) and extend along sides forming the corner; and a membrane-like second membrane reinforcing member (10b) disposed on a second main surface (F20) of the polymer electrolyte membrane (1) to bend at a substantially right angle at a corner of the polymer electrolyte membrane (1) and extend along sides forming the corner, and the first membrane reinforcing member (10a) and the second membrane reinforcing member (10b) are disposed to extend along four sides of the polymer electrolyte membrane (1) as a whole.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 15, 2008Publication date: March 25, 2010Inventors: Aoi Muta, Takeou Okanishi, Atsushi Nogi, Yoichiro Tsuji