Patents by Inventor Tsutomu Seki

Tsutomu Seki 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: 7033641
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a gas separating unit which comprises laminating a metal plate on a material capable of separating a hydrogen gas (palladium alloy foil) by cladding, etching selectively a central portion of a cut clad plate (K) using an etching solution, to thereby expose an underlying palladium alloy foil layer, and providing a metal supporting plate on the other side of the palladium alloy foil layer. The method allows the manufacture of a gas separating unit having an enhanced effective area of a material capable of separating a hydrogen gas and is excellent in the handlability of a material capable of separating a hydrogen gas during manufacturing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: Toyo Kohan Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kinji Saijo, Shinji Ohsawa, Hiroaki Okamoto, Kazuo Yoshida, Tsutomu Seki
  • Publication number: 20050076779
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a gas separating unit which comprises laminating a metal plate on a material capable separating a hydrogen gas (palladium alloy foil) by cladding, etching selectively a central portion of a cut clad plate (K) using an etching solution, to thereby expose an underlying palladium alloy foil layer, and providing a metal supporting plate on the other side of the palladium alloy foil layer. The method allows the manufacture of a gas separating unit having an enhanced effective area of a material capable of separating a hydrogen gas and is excellent in the handlability of a material capable of separating a hydrogen gas during manufacturing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2001
    Publication date: April 14, 2005
    Inventors: Kinji Saijo, Shinji Ohsawa, Hiroaki Okamoto, Kazuo Yoshida, Tsutomu Seki
  • Patent number: 6773472
    Abstract: A ferritic stainless steel sheet containing 16-25 mass % of Cr and Ti and/or Nb at a ratio of (C+N)×8 or more is used as a substrate for formation of a hydrogen-permeating membrane exposed to a high-temperature atmosphere of 600-900° C., while another ferritic stainless steel sheet containing Cr up to 15 mass % is used as a substrate for formation of a hydrogen-permeating membrane exposed to a high-temperature atmosphere of 450-600° C. The stainless steel sheet is formed to a perforated body 3a with holes for passage of gas. A hydrogen-permeating membrane 3b is fixed to on an external surface of the perforated body 3a to build up a hydrogen-separating pipe 3. A plurality of the hydrogen-separators 3 are inserted into a cavity between inner and outer walls of a double-pipe 2 filled with a catalyst 4. Hydrocarbon gas fed through a nozzle 7 is decomposed with combustion heat of a fuel F fed into an inner space of the double-pipe 2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Assignees: Nisshin Steel Co., Ltd., Tokyo Gas Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Manabu Oku, Kouichi Kawatani, Takeshi Utsunomiya, Tsutomu Seki
  • Patent number: 6527832
    Abstract: The new hydrogen-recovering device 10 has a box-shaped frame 11 made of stainless steel having a takeout pipe 12 attached to its one side. A plurality of spacers 13 are arranged inside the box-shaped frame 11 along a lengthwise direction of the device 10. A perforated metal plate 14 is fixed to each surface of the box-shaped frame 11, and a hydrogen-permeating membrane 16 cladded with a membrane holder 15 is further fixed to the perforated metal plate 14. Hydrogen gas as a decomposition product of hydrocarbon selectively passes through the hydrogen-permeating membrane 16 and flows through the takeout pipe 12 to the outside. A tubular device, which has the structure that a hydrogen-permeable membrane is fixed to a perforated metal plate wound around a tubular frame, is also proposed. The device 10 is light and strong, so that it is installed in a gas-reforming plant without use of a fixing jig.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Assignees: Nisshin Steel Co., Ltd., Tokyo Gas Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Manabu Oku, Kouichi Kawatani, Takeshi Utsunomiya, Tsutomu Seki
  • Publication number: 20020029521
    Abstract: A ferritic stainless steel sheet containing 16-25 mass % of Cr and Ti and/or Nb at a ratio of (C+N)×8 or more is used as a substrate for formation of a hydrogen-permeating membrane exposed to a high-temperature atmosphere of 600-900° C., while another ferritic stainless steel sheet containing Cr up to 15 mass % is used as a substrate for formation of a hydrogen-permeating membrane exposed to a high-temperature atmosphere of 450-600° C. The stainless steel sheet is formed to a perforated body 3a with holes for passage of gas. A hydrogen-permeating membrane 3b is fixed to on an external surface of the perforated body 3a to build up a hydrogen-separating pipe 3. A plurality of the hydrogen-separators 3 are inserted into a cavity between inner and outer walls of a double-pipe 2 filled with a catalyst 4. Hydrocarbon gas fed through a nozzle 7 is decomposed with combustion heat of a fuel F fed into an inner space of the double-pipe 2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2001
    Publication date: March 14, 2002
    Applicant: NISSHIN STEEL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Manabu Oku, Kouichi Kawatani, Takeshi Utsunomiya, Tsutomu Seki
  • Publication number: 20020011152
    Abstract: The new hydrogen-recovering device 10 has a box-shaped frame 11 made of stainless steel having a takeout pipe 12 attached to its one side. A plurality of spacers 13 are arranged inside the box-shaped frame 11 along a lengthwise direction of the device 10. A perforated metal plate 14 is fixed to each surface of the boxy-shaped frame 11, and a hydrogen-permeating membrane 16 cladded with a membrane holder 15 is further fixed to the perforated metal plate 14. Hydrogen gas as a decomposition product of hydrocarbon selectively passes through the hydrogen-permeating membrane 16 and flows through the takeout pipe 12 to the outside. A tubular device, which has the structure that a hydrogen-permeable membrane is fixed to a perforated metal plate wound around a tubular frame, is also proposed. The device 10 is light and strong, so that it is installed in a gas-reforming plant without use of a fixing jig.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2001
    Publication date: January 31, 2002
    Applicant: NISSHIN STEEL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Manabu Oku, Kouichi Kawatani, Takeshi Utsunomiya, Tsutomu Seki