Patents by Inventor Yuichi Yagami

Yuichi Yagami 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: 11923573
    Abstract: A freight vehicle has a loading space, on which freight is loaded, rearward of a vehicle cabin in which an occupant rides. The freight vehicle includes a fuel cell mounted below the vehicle cabin and functioning as an electric power source, a storage portion disposed between the vehicle cabin and the loading space, and a tank disposed in the storage portion and stores fuel gas that is supplied to the fuel cell, and a radiator installed in the storage portion and performs heat exchange between air and a coolant that is supplied to the fuel cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, HINO MOTORS, LTD.
    Inventors: Yutaka Sawada, Yukihide Yokoyama, Yuichi Yagami
  • Publication number: 20210135255
    Abstract: A freight vehicle has a loading space, on which freight is loaded, rearward of a vehicle cabin in which an occupant rides. The freight vehicle includes a fuel cell mounted below the vehicle cabin and functioning as an electric power source, a storage portion disposed between the vehicle cabin and the loading space, and a tank disposed in the storage portion and stores fuel gas that is supplied to the fuel cell, and a radiator installed in the storage portion and performs heat exchange between air and a coolant that is supplied to the fuel cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2020
    Publication date: May 6, 2021
    Applicants: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, HINO MOTORS, LTD.
    Inventors: Yutaka SAWADA, Yukihide YOKOYAMA, Yuichi YAGAMI
  • Patent number: 10479178
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes: a fuel cell that causes electrochemical reaction of an anode gas and a cathode gas; a plurality of auxiliary machines that are used for operation of the fuel cell; and a fuel cell system case that is configured to place the fuel cell and the plurality of auxiliary machines therein, wherein, in the fuel cell system case, a surface from which a first cable harness including first electric wire used for supplying electric power to the plurality of auxiliary machines is taken out differs from a surface from which a second cable harness including second electric wire for supplying larger electric power than the electric power of the first electric wire is taken out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shuji Nagano, Yuichi Yagami
  • Patent number: 9840162
    Abstract: In order for a vehicle to which a fuel cell module is mounted to fully secure an electric connection between a vehicle body and the fuel cell module, a vehicle is provided, which includes a conductive plate-like member, constituting at least a part of a floor portion of a vehicle body of the vehicle, and having a protruded portion protruded upwardly in the gravity directions and extended from the front to the rear of the vehicle, a fuel cell module, provided downward in the gravity directions from the plate-like member, and accommodating a fuel cell, and a grounding wire, electrically connecting the fuel cell module with the plate-like member within a range when seen in the gravity direction where the protruded portion exists.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yuichi Yagami
  • Publication number: 20160141641
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes: a fuel cell that causes electrochemical reaction of an anode gas and a cathode gas; a plurality of auxiliary machines that are used for operation of the fuel cell; and a fuel cell system case that is configured to place the fuel cell and the plurality of auxiliary machines therein, wherein, in the fuel cell system case, a surface from which a first cable harness including first electric wire used for supplying electric power to the plurality of auxiliary machines is taken out differs from a surface from which a second cable harness including second electric wire for supplying larger electric power than the electric power of the first electric wire is taken out.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2015
    Publication date: May 19, 2016
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shuji NAGANO, Yuichi YAGAMI
  • Publication number: 20160141644
    Abstract: An object is to provide a technique that removes a liquid entering between an auxiliary machinery cover and a cover provided to cover the auxiliary machinery cover. A fuel cell system comprises a first cover that is configured to contain an auxiliary machine for a fuel cell, and a second cover that is configured to cover at least part of a side surface and part of a bottom surface of the first cover. The second cover has an outlet that is formed in at least part of a bottom of the second cover to allow for flow of a liquid. An upper surface of the first cover is inclined downward toward the side surface of the first cover.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2015
    Publication date: May 19, 2016
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shuji NAGANO, Yuichi YAGAMI
  • Publication number: 20160129806
    Abstract: In order for a vehicle to which a fuel cell module is mounted to fully secure an electric connection between a vehicle body and the fuel cell module, a vehicle is provided, which includes a conductive plate-like member, constituting at least a part of a floor portion of a vehicle body of the vehicle, and having a protruded portion protruded upwardly in the gravity directions and extended from the front to the rear of the vehicle, a fuel cell module, provided downward in the gravity directions from the plate-like member, and accommodating a fuel cell, and a grounding wire, electrically connecting the fuel cell module with the plate-like member within a range when seen in the gravity direction where the protruded portion exists.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2015
    Publication date: May 12, 2016
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yuichi YAGAMI
  • Patent number: 8685586
    Abstract: The separator of which the region facing the MEA is a flat includes the first electrode facing plate and the second electrode facing plate. The separator includes the reaction gas supply manifold to which the reaction gas is supplied. The first electrode facing plate includes a plurality of reaction gas supply holes formed at the end of the cell-reaction region. The intermediate plate includes a plurality of reaction gas supply path slits that forms the reaction gas supply paths, wherein each of the reaction gas supply paths has one end connected to the reaction gas supply manifold and other end connected to at least one of the plurality of reaction gas supply holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Fumihiko Inui, Seiji Sano, Takashi Kajiwara, Sho Usami, Makoto Ueno, Yuichi Yagami, Norihiko Nakamura, Hiromichi Sato, Yoshifumi Ota
  • Patent number: 8557448
    Abstract: The fuel cell of the invention includes an electrolyte assembly, and a separator having one face as a gas flow path-forming face with a gas flow path formed thereon to allow flow of a reactive gas and the other face, which is reverse to the one face, as a refrigerant flow path-forming face with a refrigerant flow path formed thereon to allow flow of a refrigerant. The gas flow path-forming face of the separator has multiple linear gas flow paths that are arranged in parallel to one another, and a gas flow path connection structure that divides the multiple linear gas flow paths into plural linear gas flow path groups and connects at least part of the plural linear gas flow path groups in series.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshinori Yamamoto, Yuichi Yagami, Jiro Aizaki, Junichi Shirahama, Sogo Goto, Tsuyoshi Takahashi, Tomokazu Hayashi
  • Patent number: 8298715
    Abstract: There is realized a structure particularly suitable for inhibiting deformation of separators having a structure where the shapes of projections and recesses are inverted from each other on the front side and the back side of each separator as in a pressed metal separator. Between adjacent separators, there is formed either a power generation region where MEAs and frame members for holding at least a part of the MEAs are inserted or a refrigerant flow region where neither the MEAs nor the frame members are inserted. A deformation inhibiting region for inhibiting deformation of each separator is formed by a projection provided on the separator. Also, a projection for inhibiting the separator from deforming at the deformation inhibiting region or nearby is formed on each frame member. The projection is projected toward the back side of the deformation inhibiting region, where the deformation inhibiting region is a recess on the back side of the separator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomokazu Hayashi, Yoshinori Yamamoto, Yuichi Yagami, Jiro Aizaki, Junichi Shirahama
  • Patent number: 8241816
    Abstract: A separator of a fuel cell stack, which has flat surfaces that face MEAs, includes a cathode-side plate, an anode-side plate and an intermediate plate. The intermediate plate has a plurality of oxidant gas supply channel openings that communicate with an oxidant gas supply manifold and oxidant gas supply holes of the cathode-side plate, and a plurality of oxidant gas exhaust channel openings that communicate with an oxidant gas exhaust manifold and oxidant gas exhaust holes of the anode-side plate. The width and spacing of the oxidant gas exhaust channel openings are set to be larger than those of the oxidant gas supply channel openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Seiji Sano, Yuichi Yagami, Takashi Kajiwara, Hiromichi Sato, Fumihiko Inui, Yoshifumi Ota, Syo Usami, Shinichi Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 8206875
    Abstract: The contraction and deformation of a seal member are inhibited. To realize this, in a separator in which the shapes of projections and recesses forming at least fluid passages are inverted from each other on the front surface and the back surface of the separator and which is provided with a manifold for supplying and discharging a fluid, the separator, when a seal member for sealing the fluid is provided along the edge side of the separator forming the contour of the manifold, a projecting section capable of functioning as a spacer between the separator and another member adjacent to the separator is provided between the seal member and the edge side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshinori Yamamoto, Yuichi Yagami, Jiro Aizaki, Junichi Shirahama
  • Publication number: 20100323270
    Abstract: A fuel cell includes: an anode-forming layer that is provided on an outer side of one surface of an electrolyte membrane and that includes an anode; a cathode provided on an outer side of another surface of the electrolyte membrane; a partition wall portion that is formed in the anode-forming layer in the thickness direction thereof, and that divides at least a surface of the anode-forming layer remote from the electrolyte membrane into blocks, and that restrains movement of a gas between adjacent blocks; and a gas introduction portion which has a gas passage portion that allows the fuel gas to pass through and which introduces the fuel gas, via the gas passage portion, into the blocks divided by the partition wall portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2008
    Publication date: December 23, 2010
    Inventors: Kazunori Shibata, Masaaki Kondo, Tomohiro Ogawa, Sogo Goto, Takashi Kajiwara, Tsutomu Shirakawa, Yuichi Yagami
  • Patent number: 7754358
    Abstract: A fuel cell (10) includes a lamination (11) of a plurality of unit cells (30), current collector plates (12, 12) arranged at both ends of the lamination (11), end plates 16, 16 respectively provided outside the current collector plates (12, 12) with 5 insulating plates (14, 14) interposed therebetween, and fastening members (18) for fastening the end plates (16, 16) in the laminating direction to apply desired pressing force to the lamination (11). A barcode (41) corresponding to particular information relating to a unit cell (30) is provided on the exposed side surface of a separator (38) of the unit cell (30). According to this fuel cell (10), the barcode 41 can be easily read requiring no disassembly of the fuel cell (10). Moreover, as the information relating to the fuel cell can be obtained from the barcode (41), the information that cannot be determined from outer appearance can be obtained, resulting in improved service operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Inagaki, Tsuyoshi Takahashi, Haruhisa Niimi, Mikio Wada, Toshiyuki Suzuki, Yixin Zeng, Kouetsu Hibino, Tsutomu Ochi, Yasuyuki Asai, Katsuhiro Kajio, Yuichi Yagami
  • Publication number: 20090286136
    Abstract: The contraction and deformation of a seal member are inhibited. To realize this, in a separator in which the shapes of projections and recesses forming at least fluid passages are inverted from each other on the front surface and the back surface of the separator and which is provided with a manifold for supplying and discharging a fluid, the separator, when a seal member for sealing the fluid is provided along the edge side of the separator forming the contour of the manifold, a projecting section capable of functioning as a spacer between the separator and another member adjacent to the separator is provided between the seal member and the edge side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2007
    Publication date: November 19, 2009
    Inventors: Yoshinori Yamamoto, Yuichi Yagami, Jiro Aizaki, Junichi Shirahama
  • Publication number: 20090269640
    Abstract: Miniaturization is achieved when a membrane-electrode assembly (MEA) is provided with a cutout, and the flow of a fluid is further smoothened. To realize this, in a separator for a fuel cell according to the present invention, a portion of the contour of a manifold formed in the separator corresponding to a cutout of the membrane-electrode assembly is formed into a shape along the cutout, and a reactant gas or a coolant is supplied or discharged through a portion formed into the shape along the cutout. The cutout is, for example, a corner cut provided in the corner of the membrane-electrode assembly and forming the membrane-electrode assembly into an asymmetric shape. A portion of the contour of the manifold facing this corner cut is preferably formed substantially in parallel with the edge of the corner cut.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2007
    Publication date: October 29, 2009
    Inventors: Yoshinori Yamamoto, Yuichi Yagami, Jiro Aizaki, Junichi Shirahama
  • Publication number: 20090017362
    Abstract: There is realized a structure particularly suitable for inhibiting deformation of separators having a structure where the shapes of projections and recesses are inverted from each other on the front side and the back side of each separator as in a pressed metal separator. Between adjacent separators, there is formed either a power generation region where MEAs and frame members for holding at least a part of the MEAs are inserted or a refrigerant flow region where neither the MEAs nor the frame members are inserted. A deformation inhibiting region for inhibiting deformation of each separator is formed by a projection provided on the separator. Also, a projection for inhibiting the separator from deforming at the deformation inhibiting region or nearby is formed on each frame member. The projection is projected toward the back side of the deformation inhibiting region, where the deformation inhibiting region is a recess on the back side of the separator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2007
    Publication date: January 15, 2009
    Inventors: Tomokazu Hayashi, Yoshinori Yamamoto, Yuichi Yagami, Jiro Aizaki, Junichi Shirahama
  • Publication number: 20090004537
    Abstract: A fuel cell is formed by alternately stacking separators and sealing gasket-combined membrane electrode assemblies. Each sealing gasket-combined membrane electrode assembly includes a membrane electrode assembly and a sealing gasket portion. One of the sealing gasket portion and the separator has a protrusion formed on each face and extending in a stacked direction in which the separators and the sealing gasket-combined membrane electrode assemblies are stacked. The other of the sealing gasket portion and the separator has a recess in which the protrusion is fitted. The protrusions formed respectively on opposed faces of the successive sealing gasket-combined membrane electrode assemblies or the successive separators are located at different positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2007
    Publication date: January 1, 2009
    Inventors: Yuichi Yagami, Naohiro Takeshita, Tsutomu Shirakawa, Kenji Tsubosaka, Hiroo Yoshikawa
  • Publication number: 20080166621
    Abstract: A separator of a fuel cell stack, which has flat surfaces that face MEAs, includes a cathode-side plate, an anode-side plate and an intermediate plate. The intermediate plate has a plurality of oxidant gas supply channel openings that communicate with an oxidant gas supply manifold and oxidant gas supply holes of the cathode-side plate, and a plurality of oxidant gas exhaust channel openings that communicate with an oxidant gas exhaust manifold and oxidant gas exhaust holes of the anode-side plate. The width and spacing of the oxidant gas exhaust channel openings are set to be larger than those of the oxidant gas supply channel openings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2006
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Seiji Sano, Yuichi Yagami, Takashi Kajiwara, Hiromichi Sato, Fumihiko Inui, Yoshifumi Ota, Syo Usami, Shinichi Matsumoto
  • Publication number: 20080152988
    Abstract: The separator of which the region facing the MEA is a flat includes the first electrode facing plate and the second electrode facing plate. The separator includes the reaction gas supply manifold to which the reaction gas is supplied. The first electrode facing plate includes a plurality of reaction gas supply holes formed at the end of the cell-reaction region. The intermediate plate includes a plurality of reaction gas supply path slits that forms the reaction gas supply paths, wherein each of the reaction gas supply paths has one end connected to the reaction gas supply manifold and other end connected to at least one of the plurality of reaction gas supply holes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2005
    Publication date: June 26, 2008
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Fumihiko Inui, Seiji Sano, Takashi Kajiwara, Sho Usami, Makoto Ueno, Yuichi Yagami, Norihiko Nakamura, Hiromichi Sato, Yoshifumi Ota