Patents by Inventor Tateki Takayama

Tateki Takayama 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: 11283086
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a gas-liquid separator and a fuel gas pump configured to return the fuel off-gas in the gas-liquid separator to the fuel cell stack. The gas-liquid separator has a first connecting portion extending upward. The fuel gas pump has an inner wall surface constituting a pump chamber, and a lower part of the inner wall surface is provided with an opening into which the first connecting portion is inserted. The lower part of the inner wall surface is inclined downward toward the opening. A tip end of the first connecting portion is disposed at a height equal to or lower than a height of an extension plane extending along the lower part of the inner wall surface. The tip end of the first connecting portion is provided with an inclined surface inclined downward toward the inner peripheral surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Kozuka, Tateki Takayama
  • Publication number: 20200388859
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a gas-liquid separator and a fuel gas pump configured to return the fuel off-gas in the gas-liquid separator to the fuel cell stack. The gas-liquid separator has a first connecting portion extending upward. The fuel gas pump has an inner wall surface constituting a pump chamber, and a lower part of the inner wall surface is provided with an opening into which the first connecting portion is inserted. The lower part of the inner wall surface is inclined downward toward the opening. A tip end of the first connecting portion is disposed at a height equal to or lower than a height of an extension plane extending along the lower part of the inner wall surface. The tip end of the first connecting portion is provided with an inclined surface inclined downward toward the inner peripheral surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2020
    Publication date: December 10, 2020
    Inventors: Tomoyuki KOZUKA, Tateki TAKAYAMA
  • Patent number: 10511045
    Abstract: A fuel cell includes a stacked body formed by stacking a plurality of unit cells, an end plate arranged on at least one end of the stacked body in a stacking direction, a fuel cell case including an opening portion and incorporating the stacked body, wherein the opening portion has a substantially polygonal outer circumference shape with a plurality of corners, and a plurality of types of fasteners with different load resistances that fix the end plate, closing the opening portion of the fuel cell case, to the fuel cell case. A fastener, of the plurality of types of fasteners, of a type with a highest load resistance is arranged at at least one of the plurality of corners of the opening portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Makoto Takeyama, Tateki Takayama
  • Patent number: 10270105
    Abstract: In order to improve a power density of a fuel cell and prevent a generation of a poor insulation, an insulator is provided, which is disposed between a current collector disposed in contact with one end of a stacked body having a plurality of stacked unit cells in stacking directions, and an end member disposed outside from the current collector in the stacking directions, and includes a plurality of insulator members, each having a sheet-like planar portion. The plurality of insulator members which are stacked onto each other by the planar portions thereof are disposed oppose to the current collector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yutaka Hotta, Tateki Takayama, Makoto Takeyama
  • Patent number: 10236520
    Abstract: A gas-liquid separator includes a gas-liquid separator forming portion that is provided in an end plate, and a cover member. The gas-liquid separator forming portion includes a first inner wall portion that serves as a flow path for an off-gas and forms a part of an accumulating portion, the first inner wall portion having a shape recessed in a thickness direction of the end plate. The cover member includes a second inner wall portion that has a shape recessed in a thickness direction of the cover member, the second inner wall portion being disposed to face the first inner wall portion in a stack direction and forming the accumulating portion together with the first inner wall portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yutaka Hotta, Michitaro Itoga, Tateki Takayama
  • Patent number: 10044052
    Abstract: The gas liquid separator comprises a gas liquid separator-forming portion formed in an end plate of a fuel cell to have an opening at an end face of the end plate and that constitutes part of the gas liquid separator; and a cover member located to cover the opening and is combined with the gas liquid separator-forming portion to constitute the gas liquid separator. The gas liquid separator-forming portion includes a first inner wall portion provided to serve as a flow path of the off-gas and form part of a reservoir and that is configured to include an off-gas outlet, to be connected with the opening and to be formed concave in a thickness direction of the end plate; and a surrounding portion protruded from the first inner wall portion along a first direction from the gas liquid separator-forming portion toward the cover member to surround the off-gas outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yutaka Hotta, Michitaro Itoga, Tateki Takayama
  • Patent number: 10014549
    Abstract: A fuel cell system mounted on a vehicle, includes: a fuel cell configured to cause electrochemical reaction between an anode gas and a cathode gas to proceed; and a fuel cell casing that is configured to place the fuel cell therein, wherein the fuel cell casing has a bottom face that is formed in an approximately rectangular shape, the fuel cell casing is positioned such that longitudinal sides of the approximately rectangular shape are parallel to a left-right direction of the vehicle, and the bottom face has a rib that is extended only in a front-back direction of the vehicle is provided on the bottom face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroaki Nishiumi, Tateki Takayama, Toshiyuki Tonuma
  • Patent number: 9991525
    Abstract: An end plate includes a first surface including a heat generator contact region set such that a heat generator contacts the heat generator contact region, the heat generator being included in a fuel cell system that includes the fuel cell; and a second surface opposite to the first surface, the second surface including a cooling medium flow path through which a cooling medium flows, and at least one flow path rib portion provided inside the cooling medium flow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Makoto Takeyama, Tateki Takayama
  • Patent number: 9985300
    Abstract: In order to prevent a reduction in workability when inserting an insulator, the insulator is to be disposed between a stacked body having a cell stack including a plurality of stacked unit cells and an end member to be disposed outward from the cell stack in stacking directions of the plurality of unit cells, and a covering to be disposed so as to separate in a perpendicular direction to the stacking directions from a side face of the stacked body parallel to the stacking directions. In a state where an end portion of the end member in the perpendicular direction is closer to the covering than an end portion of the cell stack in the perpendicular direction, and the insulator is disposed between the stacked body and the covering, the insulator includes a planar portion for covering at least a part of the side face, and a protruded portion disposed in the planar portion and protruded toward one or more unit cells near the end member among the plurality of unit cells constituting the cell stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yutaka Hotta, Hiroaki Nishiumi, Tateki Takayama
  • Patent number: 9923227
    Abstract: A fuel cell end plate that is provided at an end portion of a fuel cell includes a through-hole which penetrates the end plate and through which at least one of a fuel gas, an oxygen containing gas and cooling water fed to the fuel cell is distributed and a seal which covers an inner circumferential surface of the through-hole and a circumferential edge surface around the through-hole. The cutting processing mark of a corner portion connected from the inner circumferential surface of the through-hole to the circumferential edge surface is a processing mark in which a curved surface processing mark that is formed with a curved surface from any one of the inner circumferential surface and the circumferential edge surface toward the side of the other surface and a linear processing mark that is formed from the curved surface processing mark to the other surface and that is a straight line in a cross section in an axial direction of the through-hole are continuous.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Makoto Takeyama, Tateki Takayama
  • Patent number: 9905879
    Abstract: A fuel cell device includes a fuel cell body, a case and a pin having one end contacting a part of the fuel cell body. A through hole is formed in the case. The through hole penetrates the case from the outside to the inside. The pin is inserted in the through hole and provided with a sealing member formed on at least a part of an outer circumferential surface. The through hole has a constant inner diameter from a position inside the case to a border with the outside. In the through hole, an inner diameter between a portion of the constant inner diameter and the border with the outside is larger than the constant inner diameter. The pin has an opposite end located inside the through hole in a portion from an end of the portion of the constant inner diameter to the border with the outside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Makoto Takeyama, Tateki Takayama
  • Publication number: 20160141701
    Abstract: A fuel cell device includes a fuel cell body, a case and a pin having one end contacting a part of the fuel cell body. A through hole is formed in the case. The through hole penetrates the case from the outside to the inside. The pin is inserted in the through hole and provided with a sealing member formed on at least a part of an outer circumferential surface. The through hole has a constant inner diameter from a position inside the case to a border with the outside. In the through hole, an inner diameter between a portion of the constant inner diameter and the border with the outside is larger than the constant inner diameter. The pin has an opposite end located inside the through hole in a portion from an end of the portion of the constant inner diameter to the border with the outside.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2015
    Publication date: May 19, 2016
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Makoto TAKEYAMA, Tateki TAKAYAMA
  • Publication number: 20160141693
    Abstract: The gas liquid separator comprises a gas liquid separator-forming portion formed in an end plate of a fuel cell to have an opening at an end face of the end plate and that constitutes part of the gas liquid separator; and a cover member located to cover the opening and is combined with the gas liquid separator-forming portion to constitute the gas liquid separator. The gas liquid separator-forming portion includes a first inner wall portion provided to serve as a flow path of the off-gas and form part of a reservoir and that is configured to include an off-gas outlet, to be connected with the opening and to be formed concave in a thickness direction of the end plate; and a surrounding portion protruded from the first inner wall portion along a first direction from the gas liquid separator-forming portion toward the cover member to surround the off-gas outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2015
    Publication date: May 19, 2016
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yutaka HOTTA, Michitaro Itoga, Tateki Takayama
  • Publication number: 20160141658
    Abstract: A gas-liquid separator includes a gas-liquid separator forming portion that is provided in an end plate, and a cover member. The gas-liquid separator forming portion includes a first inner wall portion that serves as a flow path for an off-gas and forms a part of an accumulating portion, the first inner wall portion having a shape recessed in a thickness direction of the end plate. The cover member includes a second inner wall portion that has a shape recessed in a thickness direction of the cover member, the second inner wall portion being disposed to face the first inner wall portion in a stack direction and forming the accumulating portion together with the first inner wall portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2015
    Publication date: May 19, 2016
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yutaka HOTTA, Michitaro ITOGA, Tateki TAKAYAMA
  • Publication number: 20160141640
    Abstract: A fuel cell system mounted on a vehicle, includes: a fuel cell configured to cause electrochemical reaction between an anode gas and a cathode gas to proceed; and a fuel cell casing that is configured to place the fuel cell therein, wherein the fuel cell casing has a bottom face that is formed in an approximately rectangular shape, the fuel cell casing is positioned such that longitudinal sides of the approximately rectangular shape are parallel to a left-right direction of the vehicle, and the bottom face has a rib that is extended only in a front-back direction of the vehicle is provided on the bottom face.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2015
    Publication date: May 19, 2016
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroaki NISHIUMI, Tateki TAKAYAMA, Toshiyuki TONUMA
  • Publication number: 20160133984
    Abstract: A fuel cell includes a stacked body formed by stacking a plurality of unit cells, an end plate arranged on at least one end of the stacked body in a stacking direction, a fuel cell case including an opening portion and incorporating the stacked body, wherein the opening portion has a substantially polygonal outer circumference shape with a plurality of corners, and a plurality of types of fasteners with different load resistances that fix the end plate, closing the opening portion of the fuel cell case, to the fuel cell case. A fastener, of the plurality of types of fasteners, of a type with a highest load resistance is arranged at at least one of the plurality of corners of the opening portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2015
    Publication date: May 12, 2016
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Makoto TAKEYAMA, Tateki TAKAYAMA
  • Publication number: 20160133952
    Abstract: A fuel cell end plate that is provided at an end portion of a fuel cell includes a through-hole which penetrates the end plate and through which at least one of a fuel gas, an oxygen containing gas and cooling water fed to the fuel cell is distributed and a seal which covers an inner circumferential surface of the through-hole and a circumferential edge surface around the through-hole. The cutting processing mark of a corner portion connected from the inner circumferential surface of the through-hole to the circumferential edge surface is a processing mark in which a curved surface processing mark that is formed with a curved surface from any one of the inner circumferential surface and the circumferential edge surface toward the side of the other surface and a linear processing mark that is formed from the curved surface processing mark to the other surface and that is a straight line in a cross section in an axial direction of the through-hole are continuous.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2015
    Publication date: May 12, 2016
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Makoto TAKEYAMA, Tateki TAKAYAMA
  • Publication number: 20160133951
    Abstract: In order to improve a power density of a fuel cell and prevent a generation of a poor insulation, an insulator is provided, which is disposed between a current collector disposed in contact with one end of a stacked body having a plurality of stacked unit cells in stacking directions, and an end member disposed outside from the current collector in the stacking directions, and includes a plurality of insulator members, each having a sheet-like planar portion. The plurality of insulator members which are stacked onto each other by the planar portions thereof are disposed oppose to the current collector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2015
    Publication date: May 12, 2016
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yutaka Hotta, Tateki Takayama, Makoto Takeyama
  • Publication number: 20160133953
    Abstract: An end plate includes a first surface including a heat generator contact region set such that a heat generator contacts the heat generator contact region, the heat generator being included in a fuel cell system that includes the fuel cell; and a second surface opposite to the first surface, the second surface including a cooling medium flow path through which a cooling medium flows, and at least one flow path rib portion provided inside the cooling medium flow path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2015
    Publication date: May 12, 2016
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Makoto TAKEYAMA, Tateki TAKAYAMA
  • Publication number: 20160126563
    Abstract: In order to prevent a reduction in workability when inserting an insulator, the insulator is to be disposed between a stacked body having a cell stack including a plurality of stacked unit cells and an end member to be disposed outward from the cell stack in stacking directions of the plurality of unit cells, and a covering to be disposed so as to separate in a perpendicular direction to the stacking directions from a side face of the stacked body parallel to the stacking directions. In a state where an end portion of the end member in the perpendicular direction is closer to the covering than an end portion of the cell stack in the perpendicular direction, and the insulator is disposed between the stacked body and the covering, the insulator includes a planar portion for covering at least a part of the side face, and a protruded portion disposed in the planar portion and protruded toward one or more unit cells near the end member among the plurality of unit cells constituting the cell stack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2015
    Publication date: May 5, 2016
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yutaka HOTTA, Hiroaki NISHIUMI, Tateki TAKAYAMA