Patents by Inventor Toshiya Wakahoi
Toshiya Wakahoi 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: 7927759Abstract: A fuel cell stack is provided with a plurality of stacked separators. This fuel cell stack includes: terminals that extend from the separators; packing in which are formed a plurality of through holes through which the terminals are inserted; a packing casing that has a packing housing concave portion that envelops side surfaces of the packing and supports a bottom surface of the packing, and has through holes through which the terminals are inserted; and a connector housing that has a pressing surface that presses a top surface of the packing. Mountain-shaped protruding portions whose apex portions are formed by circumferential edges of apertures of the respective through holes are provided on the top surface of the packing, and the pressing surfaces of the connector housing are formed in a configuration that conforms to the side surfaces of the protruding portions. Internal surfaces of the through holes in the packing are in contact without a gap in between with external surfaces of the terminals.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 2010Date of Patent: April 19, 2011Assignee: Honda Motor Co. Ltd..Inventors: Toshiya Wakahoi, Yohei Hidaka
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Publication number: 20100304264Abstract: A fuel cell stack is provided with a plurality of stacked separators. This fuel cell stack includes: terminals that extend from the separators; packing in which are formed a plurality of through holes through which the terminals are inserted; a packing casing that has a packing housing concave portion that envelops side surfaces of the packing and supports a bottom surface of the packing, and has through holes through which the terminals are inserted; and a connector housing that has a pressing surface that presses a top surface of the packing. Mountain-shaped protruding portions whose apex portions are formed by circumferential edges of apertures of the respective through holes are provided on the top surface of the packing, and the pressing surfaces of the connector housing are formed in a configuration that conforms to the side surfaces of the protruding portions. Internal surfaces of the through holes in the packing are in contact without a gap in between with external surfaces of the terminals.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 28, 2010Publication date: December 2, 2010Applicant: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Toshiya Wakahoi, Yohei Hidaka
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Patent number: 7759014Abstract: A power generation cell includes a membrane electrode assembly, and a cathode side metal separator and an anode side metal separator sandwiching the membrane electrode assembly. A seal member covers inner surfaces of inlet through holes. The seal member includes a plurality of flow grooves and a plurality of receivers. The flow grooves guide a fuel gas from the inlet through holes to a fuel gas flow field through an inlet buffer. The receivers directly contact an anode.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 2005Date of Patent: July 20, 2010Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Toshiya Wakahoi, Hiroyuki Tanaka, Yosuke Fuji
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Patent number: 7732079Abstract: A fuel cell stack is provided with a plurality of stacked separators. This fuel cell stack includes: terminals that extend from the separators; packing in which are formed a plurality of through holes through which the terminals are inserted; a packing casing that has a packing housing concave portion that envelops side surfaces of the packing and supports a bottom surface of the packing, and has through holes through which the terminals are inserted; and a connector housing that has a pressing surface that presses a top surface of the packing. Mountain-shaped protruding portions whose apex portions are formed by circumferential edges of apertures of the respective through holes are provided on the top surface of the packing, and the pressing surfaces of the connector housing are formed in a configuration that conforms to the side surfaces of the protruding portions. Internal surfaces of the through holes in the packing are in contact without a gap in between with external surfaces of the terminals.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2005Date of Patent: June 8, 2010Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Toshiya Wakahoi, Naokazu Kawase
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Patent number: 7674550Abstract: A first seal member 50 is integrated with the surface 18a of a first metal separator 18, and is provided with a body base portion 58 having a trapezoidal-shaped cross-section and two protruded portions 60a and 60b integrated to the leading end of the body base portion 58, where said body base portion 58 is set to a height H1 for keeping a desired spring constant necessary for impact absorptions, and the protruded portions 60a and 60b are set to a height H2 for preventing the line pressure of the seal member from being abruptly changed and for keeping the strengths of the protruded portions 60a and 60b themselves.Type: GrantFiled: May 4, 2004Date of Patent: March 9, 2010Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Toshiya Wakahoi, Junichi Sato
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Patent number: 7476459Abstract: A membrane electrode assembly includes an anode, a cathode, and a solid polymer electrolyte membrane interposed between the anode and the cathode. The anode and the cathode include gas diffusion layers and electrode catalyst layers. Mixture layers are provided over predetermined areas H around surfaces of the electrode catalyst layers. The electrode catalyst layers and adhesive layers are mixed in the mixture layers, respectively.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2004Date of Patent: January 13, 2009Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Toshiya Wakahoi, Tetsuya Komori, Masaaki Nanaumi, Junichi Yano
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Patent number: 7416797Abstract: A seal space is formed between first and second metal separators of a power generation cell. A device body is disposed in the seal space. The device body includes a voltage measurement sensor and a transmission mechanism. The voltage measurement sensor measures the voltage generated during operation of the power generation cell. The transmission mechanism transmits information of the voltage measured by the voltage measurement sensor via wireless communication. The voltage measurement sensor and the transmission mechanism are embedded in an electromagnetic/heat resistant shield member, and attached to a surface of the second metal separator.Type: GrantFiled: December 29, 2004Date of Patent: August 26, 2008Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Ichiro Harada, Toshiya Wakahoi, Jun Kondo
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Patent number: 7309542Abstract: A membrane electrode assembly includes an anode, a cathode, and a solid polymer electrolyte membrane interposed between the anode and the cathode. The membrane electrode assembly has a substantially rectangular shape as a whole. Extensions extend outwardly from four corners of the membrane electrode assembly. Each of the extensions has an inclined end to have a substantially triangle shape. The membrane electrode assembly has a substantially rectangular power generation area.Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 2004Date of Patent: December 18, 2007Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Toshiya Wakahoi, Narutoshi Sugita, Shuhei Goto, Takeo Abe, Hiroyuki Shirokawa
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Publication number: 20060110651Abstract: A power generation cell includes a membrane electrode assembly, and a cathode side metal separator and an anode side metal separator sandwiching the membrane electrode assembly. A seal member covers inner surfaces of inlet through holes. The seal member includes a plurality of flow grooves and a plurality of receivers. The flow grooves guide a fuel gas from the inlet through holes to a fuel gas flow field through an inlet buffer. The receivers directly contact an anode.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 22, 2005Publication date: May 25, 2006Applicant: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Toshiya Wakahoi, Hiroyuki Tanaka, Yosuke Fujii
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Publication number: 20050213409Abstract: A fuel cell stack is provided with a plurality of stacked separators. This fuel cell stack includes: terminals that extend from the separators; packing in which are formed a plurality of through holes through which the terminals are inserted; a packing casing that has a packing housing concave portion that envelops side surfaces of the packing and supports a bottom surface of the packing, and has through holes through which the terminals are inserted; and a connector housing that has a pressing surface that presses a top surface of the packing. Mountain-shaped protruding portions whose apex portions are formed by circumferential edges of apertures of the respective through holes are provided on the top surface of the packing, and the pressing surfaces of the connector housing are formed in a configuration that conforms to the side surfaces of the protruding portions. Internal surfaces of the through holes in the packing are in contact without a gap in between with external surfaces of the terminals.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 14, 2005Publication date: September 29, 2005Inventors: Toshiya Wakahoi, Naokazu Kawase, Yohei Hidaka
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Patent number: 6949920Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell. A current density measuring apparatus is provided on a cathode side of the fuel cell. The current density measuring apparatus includes a plurality of Hall elements provided at positions corresponding to measuring positions in an electrode surface. Each of the Hall element is attached to a ferrite core fitted to a pole of a sensor mounting plate. The ferrite core and the Hall element attached to the pole make up a current sensor.Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 2003Date of Patent: September 27, 2005Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Masahiro Mohri, Yosuke Fujii, Katsumi Hayashi, Toshiya Wakahoi
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Publication number: 20050153174Abstract: A seal space is formed between first and second metal separators of a power generation cell. A device body is disposed in the seal space. The device body includes a voltage measurement sensor and a transmission mechanism. The voltage measurement sensor measures the voltage generated during operation of the power generation cell. The transmission mechanism transmits information of the voltage measured by the voltage measurement sensor via wireless communication. The voltage measurement sensor and the transmission mechanism are embedded in an electromagnetic/heat resistant shield member, and attached to a surface of the second metal separator.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 29, 2004Publication date: July 14, 2005Inventors: Ichiro Harada, Toshiya Wakahoi, Jun Kondo
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Publication number: 20050142397Abstract: A membrane electrode assembly includes an anode, a cathode, and a solid polymer electrolyte membrane interposed between the anode and the cathode. The anode and the cathode include gas diffusion layers and electrode catalyst layers. Mixture layers are provided over predetermined areas H around surfaces of the electrode catalyst layers. The electrode catalyst layers and adhesive layers are mixed in the mixture layers, respectively.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 22, 2004Publication date: June 30, 2005Inventors: Toshiya Wakahoi, Tetsuya Komori, Masaaki Nanaumi, Junichi Yano
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Publication number: 20050048342Abstract: A membrane electrode assembly includes an anode, a cathode, and a solid polymer electrolyte membrane interposed between the anode and the cathode. The membrane electrode assembly has a substantially rectangular shape as a whole. Extensions extend outwardly from four corners of the membrane electrode assembly. Each of the extensions has an inclined end to have a substantially triangle shape. The membrane electrode assembly has a substantially rectangular power generation area.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 9, 2004Publication date: March 3, 2005Applicant: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Toshiya Wakahoi, Narutoshi Sugita, Shuhei Goto, Takeo Abe, Hiroyuki Shirokawa
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Patent number: 6849355Abstract: A fuel cell stack is disclosed, which improves productivity by employing metal separators while deformation in the stacked shape can be reduced, thereby preventing the decrease of the power generating capability and the decrease of the dimensional accuracy of the fuel cell stack. The fuel cell stack comprises a plurality of stacked unit fuel cells, each comprising a membrane electrode assembly which is placed between and supported by a pair of metal separators, wherein the membrane electrode assembly has an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte membrane which is placed between the anode and the cathode; and correction plates, made of carbon or metal, for correcting deformation of the metal separators, are inserted every predetermined number of the unit fuel cells.Type: GrantFiled: November 7, 2001Date of Patent: February 1, 2005Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Toshiya Wakahoi, Junichi Sato
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Patent number: 6846590Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 18, 2001Date of Patent: January 25, 2005Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Tadashi Nishiyama, Toshiya Wakahoi, Seiji Sugiura
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Patent number: 6833210Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: November 4, 2002Date of Patent: December 21, 2004Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hideaki Kikuchi, Narutoshi Sugita, Seiji Sugiura, Hiroyuki Tanaka, Toshiya Wakahoi, Keisuke Andou
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Publication number: 20040224212Abstract: A first seal member 50 is integrated with the surface 18a of a first metal separator 18, and is provided with a body base portion 58 having a trapezoidal-shaped cross-section and two protruded portions 60a and 60b integrated to the leading end of the body base portion 58, where said body base portion 58 is set to a height H1 for keeping a desired spring constant necessary for impact absorptions, and the protruded portions 60a and 60b are set to a height H2 for preventing the line pressure of the seal member from being abruptly changed and for keeping the strengths of the protruded portions 60a and 60b themselves.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 4, 2004Publication date: November 11, 2004Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Toshiya Wakahoi, Junichi Sato
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Patent number: 6787262Abstract: A fuel cell stack for reducing the bending of the stacked body in the stacking direction is disclosed, thereby preventing the interference between the stacked body built into a vehicle and other structures in the vehicle. The fuel cell stack comprises a stacked body having stacked unit fuel cells, each being placed between separators, wherein each unit fuel cell has an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte membrane placed therebetween; fastening plates provided at either end of the stacked body; an intermediate plate provided at an intermediate position of the stacked body; and bolt members inserted through the intermediate plate in the stacking direction in a manner such that the movement of the bolt members with respect to the intermediate plate in the direction perpendicular to the stacking direction is restricted. The stacked body is fastened together by fastening the fastening plates by using the bolt members.Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 2001Date of Patent: September 7, 2004Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Toshiya Wakahoi, Noriaki Osao
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Publication number: 20040095127Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell. A current density measuring apparatus is provided on a cathode side of the fuel cell. The current density measuring apparatus includes a plurality of Hall elements provided at positions corresponding to measuring positions in an electrode surface. Each of the Hall element is attached to a ferrite core fitted to a pole of a sensor mounting plate. The ferrite core and the Hall element attached to the pole make up a current sensor.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 27, 2003Publication date: May 20, 2004Inventors: Masahiro Mohri, Yosuke Fujii, Katsumi Hayashi, Toshiya Wakahoi