Patents by Inventor Tetsuya Ogawa
Tetsuya Ogawa 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: 8802313Abstract: A separator includes a first plate and a second plate. The separator has a first fuel gas supply unit, a second fuel gas supply unit, first sandwiching sections, second sandwiching sections, a first case unit and a second case unit. A fuel gas supply passage extends through the first fuel gas supply unit and the second fuel gas supply unit in a stacking direction. The first sandwiching sections are connected to the first fuel gas supply unit through first bridges, and the second sandwiching sections are connected to a second fuel gas supply unit through first bridges. The first sandwiching sections and the second sandwiching sections sandwich electrolyte electrode assemblies. Each of the first sandwiching sections and the second sandwiching sections sandwich electrolyte electrode assemblies. Each of the first sandwiching sections has a fuel gas inlet and each of the second sandwiching sections has an oxygen-containing gas inlet.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 2007Date of Patent: August 12, 2014Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Tetsuya Ogawa, Koji Dan
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Publication number: 20140220464Abstract: A fuel cell module includes a fuel cell stack, a partial oxidation reformer, and a heat exchanger. The heat exchanger is provided on one side of the fuel cell stack, and the partial oxidation reformer and the exhaust gas combustor are provided on the other side of the fuel cell stack. The partial oxidation reformer is provided around the exhaust gas combustor. The fuel cell module includes a first thermoelectric converter and a second thermoelectric converter for performing thermoelectric conversion based on a temperature difference between the combustion gas and the oxygen-containing gas.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 2, 2012Publication date: August 7, 2014Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventor: Tetsuya Ogawa
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Publication number: 20140205866Abstract: A fuel cell module includes a fuel cell stack, a reformer for reforming a mixed gas of a raw fuel and water vapor, an evaporator for supplying water vapor to the reformer, and a heat exchanger for raising the temperature of the oxygen-containing gas by heat exchange with a combustion gas, and an exhaust gas combustor and a start-up combustor for producing the combustion gas. The fuel cell module includes a first thermoelectric converter and a second thermoelectric converter for performing thermoelectric conversion based on a temperature difference between the combustion gas and the oxygen-containing gas.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 2, 2012Publication date: July 24, 2014Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventor: Tetsuya Ogawa
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Publication number: 20140193727Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell module for generating electrical energy by electrochemical reactions of a fuel gas and an oxygen-containing gas, and a condenser for condensing water vapor in an exhaust gas discharged from the fuel cell module by heat exchange between the exhaust gas and a coolant to collect the condensed water and supplying the collected condensed water to the fuel cell module. The condenser includes an air cooling condensing mechanism using the oxygen-containing gas as the coolant, and a water cooling condensing mechanism using the hot water stored in the hot water storage unit as the coolant. The air cooling condensing mechanism includes a thermoelectric converter for performing thermoelectric conversion by a temperature difference between the exhaust gas and the oxygen-containing gas.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 23, 2012Publication date: July 10, 2014Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventor: Tetsuya Ogawa
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Patent number: 8728673Abstract: A casing of a fuel cell system is divided into a fluid supply section, a module section, and an electrical equipment section. A detector, a fuel gas supply apparatus, an oxygen-containing gas supply apparatus, and a water supply apparatus are provided in the fluid supply section. A fuel cell module and a combustor are provided in the module section. A power converter and a control device are provided in the electrical equipment section. The module section is interposed between the fluid supply section and the electrical equipment section.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 2009Date of Patent: May 20, 2014Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Tetsuya Ogawa, Kimiko Fujisawa, Ayatoshi Yokokawa
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Patent number: 8709672Abstract: In a fuel cell stack constituting a fuel cell module, electrolyte/electrode assemblies and separators are alternately laminated. An electrolyte/electrode assembly and a terminal separator are arranged on one end of the fuel cell stack in the lamination direction in this order outwardly, and a dummy electrolyte/electrode assembly and a terminal separator are arranged on the other end of the fuel cell stack in the lamination direction in this order outwardly. The dummy electrolyte/electrode assembly is so formed as to have the same shape as the electrolyte/electrode assemblies, while having conductivity but not having a power generation function.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 2010Date of Patent: April 29, 2014Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Ayaka Nango, Tetsuya Ogawa, Tomoyoshi Kuroishi
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Publication number: 20140098407Abstract: An image reading apparatus may include a main unit and a cover unit pivotally attached to the main unit. The cover unit may include an image reading device configured to read an image of a document along a conveying path. The image reading device may include a contact image sensor, a sensor holder to hold the contact image sensor, an urging member, and a shock absorber. The contact image sensor is disposed below the conveying path. The sensor holder has an open top boxed shape and holds the contact image sensor in position inside. The urging member is disposed in an inner bottom surface of the sensor holder to urge the contact image sensor toward the conveying path. The shock absorber is disposed between a bottom surface of the contact image sensor and the inner bottom surface of the sensor holder, and is made of a porous material.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 16, 2013Publication date: April 10, 2014Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Masaru Takeuchi, Naoyuki Iwata, Takayuki Akimatsu, Tetsuya Ogawa
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Patent number: 8685577Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell module and a condenser apparatus. The condenser apparatus includes a first condenser using an oxygen-containing as a coolant, and a second condenser using hot water stored in a hot water tank as the coolant. Further, the fuel cell system includes a control device for controlling at least one of a flow rate of the exhaust gas supplied to the first condenser and a flow rate of the exhaust gas supplied to the second condenser based on at least any of a water level of the hot water in the hot water tank, a temperature of the hot water in the hot water tank, and a water level of the condensed water in the condenser apparatus.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2011Date of Patent: April 1, 2014Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yukihiko Kiyohiro, Tetsuya Ogawa, Ayatoshi Yokokawa
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Publication number: 20140087280Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell module and a control device. The control device includes a partial oxidation reformer adjuster, a combustion starter, and a power generator. Based on at least any of the reforming state in the partial oxidation reformer, the combustion state in the exhaust gas combustor and the temperature of the fuel cell stack, the partial oxidation reformer adjuster adjusts the temperature of the partial oxidation reformer, the supply amount of raw fuel, and the supply amount of oxygen-containing gas, the combustion starter starts combustion in the exhaust gas combustor, and the power generator starts power generation in the fuel cell stack.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 12, 2012Publication date: March 27, 2014Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Tetsuya Ogawa, Ayatoshi Yokokawa
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Patent number: 8679689Abstract: A casing of a fuel cell system is divided into a first fluid supply section, a second fluid supply section, a module section, and an electrical equipment section. A water supply apparatus, a fuel gas supply apparatus, and a detector are provided in the first fluid supply section. An oxygen-containing gas supply apparatus is provided in the second fluid supply section. A fuel cell module and a combustor are provided in the module section. A power converter and a control device are provided in the electrical equipment section. The module section is interposed between the first fluid supply section and the electrical equipment section. The second fluid supply section is disposed on the lower surface of the module section.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 2009Date of Patent: March 25, 2014Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Tetsuya Ogawa, Kimiko Fujisawa
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Publication number: 20140080021Abstract: A fuel cell module includes a fuel cell stack, a partial oxidation reformer for reforming a mixed gas of a raw fuel and an oxygen-containing gas, an exhaust gas combustor for combusting a fuel exhaust gas and an oxygen-containing exhaust gas discharged from the fuel cell stack thereby to produce a combustion gas, and a heat exchanger for raising the temperature of the oxygen-containing gas by heat exchange with the combustion gas. The heat exchanger is provided on one side of the fuel cell stack, and the partial oxidation reformer and the exhaust gas combustor are provided on the other side of the fuel cell stack. The partial oxidation reformer is provided so as to surround the exhaust gas combustor.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 12, 2012Publication date: March 20, 2014Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Tetsuya Ogawa, Keiji Tsukamoto
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Publication number: 20140051000Abstract: A fuel cell system control device includes a carbon amount determination unit for determining the carbon amount in fuel gas supplied to a fuel cell stack depending on required output of the stack, a temperature detector unit for detecting temperature of a steam reformer and temperature of an evaporator, an S/C determination unit for determining a range of steam/carbon ratio based on the temperature of the steam reformer, a water supply amount determination unit for determining a range of the water supply amount to the evaporator based on the carbon amount and the steam/carbon ratio, an evaporator operating state determination unit for determining whether the temperature of the evaporator is a temperature determined based on the range of the water supply amount, and a reformer control unit for controlling the steam reformer and a partial oxidation reformer based on the result of the evaporator operating state determination unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 5, 2012Publication date: February 20, 2014Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Tetsuya Ogawa, Ayatoshi Yokokawa
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Patent number: 8652700Abstract: A fuel cell comprises an electrolyte electrode assembly which includes an anode electrode, a cathode electrode, and an electrolyte; a separator which includes a sandwiching portion; a fuel gas channel which is formed at a first surface of the sandwiching portion, and is covered by the anode electrode; fuel gas outlets which are formed around the fuel gas channel; an oxygen-containing gas channel which is formed at a second surface of the sandwiching portion, and is covered by the cathode electrode; and oxygen-containing gas outlets which are formed around the oxygen-containing gas channel, in which the oxygen-containing gas outlets are formed at phases different from phases of the fuel gas outlets in a thickness direction of the separator.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 2010Date of Patent: February 18, 2014Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Tetsuya Ogawa, Ayatoshi Yokokawa
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Patent number: 8652701Abstract: The present invention provides a fuel cell in which an electrolyte electrode assembly having an electrolyte sandwiched between an anode and a cathode is provided between separators, each of the separators including: a sandwiching section which sandwiches an electrolyte electrode assembly and includes a fuel gas channel and a separately provided oxygen-containing gas channel; a bridge which is connected to the sandwiching section and includes a reactant gas supply channel; a reactant gas supply section which is connected to the bridge and includes a reactant gas supply passage; and a connecting section that connects the sandwiching section to the bridge.Type: GrantFiled: September 1, 2010Date of Patent: February 18, 2014Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Tetsuya Ogawa, Kimiko Fujisawa, Ayatoshi Yokokawa
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Publication number: 20140045085Abstract: A fuel cell module includes a fuel cell stack, a partial oxidation reformer for reforming a mixed gas of a raw fuel and an oxygen-containing gas, a steam reformer for reforming a mixed gas of the raw fuel and water vapor, an evaporator for supplying water vapor to the steam reformer, a heat exchanger for raising the temperature of the oxygen-containing gas by heat exchange with a combustion gas, and an exhaust gas combustor for producing the combustion gas. A fuel gas discharge chamber of the steam reformer is connected to a fuel gas supply passage of the fuel cell stack through a fuel gas channel, a fuel gas outlet of the partial oxidation reformer is connected to a mixed gas supply chamber of the steam reformer through a fuel gas pipe, and a water vapor pipe extending from the evaporator is merged to the fuel gas pipe.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 5, 2012Publication date: February 13, 2014Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Tetsuya Ogawa, Keiji Tsukamoto
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Publication number: 20140038071Abstract: A fuel cell module includes an oxygen-containing gas regulator valve for distributing and supplying the oxygen-containing gas to the heat exchanger and to the start-up combustor, a raw fuel regulator valve for distributing and supplying the raw fuel to the reformer and to the start-up combustor, and a control device. The control device includes an oxygen-containing gas distribution controller for controlling the oxygen-containing gas regulator valve and a raw fuel distribution controller for controlling the raw fuel regulator valve, each control thereof being performed at least based on any of the temperature of the fuel cell stack, the temperature of the reformer, and the temperature of the evaporator.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 9, 2012Publication date: February 6, 2014Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventor: Tetsuya Ogawa
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Publication number: 20140030620Abstract: A fuel cell module includes a fuel cell stack formed by stacking a plurality of fuel cells for generating electricity by electrochemical reactions of a fuel gas and an oxygen-containing gas, a reformer for reforming a mixed gas of a raw fuel and water vapor, an evaporator for supplying water vapor to the reformer, a heat exchanger for raising the temperature of the oxygen-containing gas by heat exchange with a combustion gas, an exhaust gas combustor for producing the combustion gas, and a start-up combustor for producing the combustion gas. The exhaust gas combustor is provided integrally in the heat exchanger. The start-up combustor is provided adjacent to one end of the heat exchanger.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 9, 2012Publication date: January 30, 2014Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Tetsuya Ogawa, Keiji Tsukamoto, Go Muto
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Patent number: 8610974Abstract: An image reading apparatus may include a main unit and a cover unit pivotally attached to the main unit. The cover unit may include an image reading device configured to read an image of a document along a conveying path. The image reading device may include a contact image sensor, a sensor holder to hold the contact image sensor, an urging member, and a shock absorber. The contact image sensor is disposed below the conveying path. The sensor holder has an open top boxed shape and holds the contact image sensor in position inside. The urging member is disposed in an inner bottom surface of the sensor holder to urge the contact image sensor toward the conveying path. The shock absorber is disposed between a bottom surface of the contact image sensor and the inner bottom surface of the sensor holder, and is made of a porous material.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2011Date of Patent: December 17, 2013Assignee: Brother Logyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Masaru Takeuchi, Naoyuki Iwata, Takayuki Akimatsu, Tetsuya Ogawa
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Patent number: 8603691Abstract: A casing of a fuel cell system is divided into a module area, a fluid supply area, and an electric parts area. The fluid supply area is provided on a first side surface of the module area, and an electric parts area is provided on a second side surface of the module area. A fuel cell module and a combustor are provided in the module area.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 2008Date of Patent: December 10, 2013Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Tetsuya Ogawa, Jun Yamamoto, Tomio Miyazaki, Shuji Nagatani
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Patent number: 8596637Abstract: A sheet conveying device that conveys a sheet discharged from an image forming apparatus. The sheet conveying device includes an air intake fan that takes in external air; an air exhaust fan that discharges internal air; a plurality of branched conveying paths which are branched from a conveying path within a range from a sheet entrance to a sheet exit and for which a passing time of the sheet is approximately the same; a conveyance motor that independently conveys the sheet to each one of the branched conveying paths; a conveying path switching unit that switches among the branched conveying paths; and a conveying path control unit that causes the conveying path switching unit to sequentially switch among the branched conveying paths every time the sheet is input from the image forming apparatus.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 2011Date of Patent: December 3, 2013Assignee: Ricoh Company, LimitedInventor: Tetsuya Ogawa