Patents by Inventor Yukihito Tanaka

Yukihito Tanaka 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: 9553324
    Abstract: A resin frame member of a resin frame equipped membrane electrode assembly includes a recess where adhesive is provided. An inner protrusion on an inner side of the recess abuts against an electrode catalyst layer protruding outward beyond a gas diffusion layer of a membrane electrode assembly. An outer protrusion on an outer side of the recess abuts against the outermost portion of a gas diffusion layer of the membrane electrode assembly such that a solid polymer electrolyte membrane is interposed between the outer protrusion and the gas diffusion layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukihito Tanaka, Naoki Mitsuta, Seiji Sugiura
  • Publication number: 20170018785
    Abstract: A resin frame equipped membrane electrode assembly includes an MEA having different sizes of components and a resin frame member. A clearance is formed between an outer end of a second gas diffusion layer and an inner expansion. The second electrode layer has a frame shaped outer marginal portion provided at the clearance. The crack density of cracks of the frame shaped outer marginal portion is 30 cracks/mm2 or less, and the interval between the cracks is 0.06 mm or more.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2016
    Publication date: January 19, 2017
    Inventors: Suguru OHMORI, Masashi SUGISHITA, Takashi KATO, Yukihito TANAKA, Seiji SUGIURA
  • Patent number: 9548502
    Abstract: A fuel cell stack includes a first power generation unit and a second power generation unit. Wave-like first fuel gas flow passages of the first power generation unit and wave-like first fuel gas flow passages of the second power generation unit are set to mutually different phases. The ends of the first fuel gas flow passages form linear flow passage grooves that linearly extend in the wavelength direction from the center of the width of the wave-form amplitude.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kentaro Ishida, Seiji Sugiura, Yoshihito Kimura, Yukihito Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20160211533
    Abstract: A fuel cell stack includes a first power generation unit and a second power generation unit. Wave-like first fuel gas flow passages of the first power generation unit and wave-like first fuel gas flow passages of the second power generation unit are set to mutually different phases. The ends of the first fuel gas flow passages form linear flow passage grooves that linearly extend in the wavelength direction from the center of the width of the wave-form amplitude.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2014
    Publication date: July 21, 2016
    Inventors: Kentaro ISHIDA, Seiji SUGIURA, Yoshihito KIMURA, Yukihito TANAKA
  • Publication number: 20160149232
    Abstract: A resin-framed membrane-electrode assembly for a fuel cell includes a stepped membrane-electrode assembly and a resin frame member. The stepped membrane-electrode assembly includes a polymer electrolyte membrane, a first electrode, and a second electrode. The resin frame member surrounds an outer perimeter of the polymer electrolyte membrane and includes an inner perimeter base end and an inner protruding portion. The inner protruding portion includes a flat surface portion which extends to face an outer perimeter surface portion of a second surface of the polymer electrolyte membrane and on which an adhesive layer is provided so that the adhesive layer lies at least between the flat surface portion and the outer perimeter surface portion. The adhesive layer has a tapered shape in which a thickness of the adhesive layer increases from a tip of the inner protruding portion toward the inner perimeter base end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2015
    Publication date: May 26, 2016
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yukihito TANAKA, Naoki MITSUTA, Seiji SUGIURA, Suguru OMORI
  • Patent number: 9331346
    Abstract: A resin frame equipped membrane electrode assembly includes a membrane electrode assembly and a resin frame member. The membrane electrode assembly includes an anode, a cathode, and a solid polymer electrolyte membrane interposed between the anode and the cathode. The resin frame member is provided around the solid polymer electrolyte membrane. The resin frame member includes an inner extension protruding toward the outer periphery of the cathode to contact the outer end of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane. The inner extension of the resin frame member includes a plurality of columnar projections formed integrally with an adhesive surface where an adhesive layer is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukihito Tanaka, Naoki Mitsuta, Masashi Sugishita
  • Patent number: 9130206
    Abstract: In a method for manufacturing a resin-framed membrane electrode assembly for a fuel cell, a membrane electrode assembly structure is held between a first framed diffusion layer and a second framed diffusion layer while the membrane electrode assembly structure is housed in a recess provided in at least one of a first resin frame component and a second resin frame component. The first resin frame component and the second resin frame component are joined to each other to integrate the first framed diffusion layer and the second framed diffusion layer. The first and second resin frame components are located outside an outer peripheral portion of the membrane electrode assembly structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Sohma, Naoki Mitsuta, Yukihito Tanaka
  • Patent number: 9065091
    Abstract: A fuel cell includes an electrolyte-electrode assembly, a frame member, a first separator, and a second separator. The frame member is provided to face a first surface of the second separator and includes a resin wall which forms a periphery of a first reactant gas passage. The resin wall has a thin-walled portion which overlaps with a cooling medium connecting portion in a stacking direction and which protrudes toward the first reactant gas passage in the stacking direction by a first dimension from a surface of the frame member. Another portion of the resin wall protrudes toward the second separator in the stacking direction by a second dimension from the surface of the frame member. The first dimension is smaller than the second dimension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kentaro Ishida, Shuhei Goto, Yukihito Tanaka, Seiji Sugiura
  • Patent number: 9012105
    Abstract: A membrane electrode assembly for a fuel cell includes a membrane electrode assembly and a resin frame member. The membrane electrode assembly includes a solid polymer electrolyte membrane, a first electrode, and a second electrode. The first electrode includes a first catalyst layer and a first gas diffusion layer. The second electrode includes a second catalyst layer and a second gas diffusion layer. The resin frame member includes an outer peripheral portion and an inner peripheral projection. A first space includes a gap between an outer peripheral end face of the second gas diffusion layer and an inner-side end face of the inner peripheral projection. A second space includes a gap between an outer peripheral end face of the first gas diffusion layer and an inner-side wall face of the outer peripheral portion. The first space has a dimension different from a dimension of the second space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoki Mitsuta, Hiroshi Sohma, Yukihito Tanaka, Yusuke Okabe, Yu Tomana
  • Publication number: 20150099208
    Abstract: A resin-framed membrane electrode assembly for a fuel cell includes a stepped membrane electrode assembly and a resin frame member. The stepped membrane electrode assembly includes a solid polymer electrolyte membrane, an anode electrode, and a cathode electrode. The resin frame member surrounds an outer periphery of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane and includes an inner protruding portion that protrudes from an inner peripheral base portion toward the cathode electrode and that has a thickness. The inner protruding portion has an adhesive application portion to which an adhesive is applied so as to surround a part of the inner protruding portion. The part is in contact with the stepped membrane electrode assembly. A thickness of a cathode diffusion layer is larger than a thickness of an anode diffusion layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2014
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Seiji SUGIURA, Yoshihito KIMURA, Naoki MITSUTA, Masashi SUGISHITA, Kenichi TANAKA, Yukihito TANAKA
  • Patent number: 8911916
    Abstract: A fuel cell includes a membrane electrode assembly, a first separator, and a second separator. The membrane electrode assembly includes a solid polymer electrolyte membrane, a first electrode, a second electrode, and a resin frame member. The membrane electrode assembly includes a power generation section and a stepped section. The power generation section is located in an interior space of the resin frame member. The solid polymer electrolyte membrane is provided between the first electrode and the second electrode in the power generation section. The stepped section is located on an outer side of the first electrode. The solid polymer electrolyte membrane is provided between the second electrode and the resin frame member in the stepped section. A magnitude of an interference in the stepped section is set to be smaller than a magnitude of an interference in the power generation section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seiji Sugiura, Hiroshi Shinkai, Kenichi Tanaka, Mihoko Kawaharada, Kenta Urata, Yukihito Tanaka, Takashi Kato
  • Patent number: 8895202
    Abstract: A resin frame equipped membrane electrode assembly includes a membrane electrode assembly and a resin frame member. The membrane electrode assembly includes a solid polymer electrolyte membrane and an anode, and a cathode sandwiching the solid polymer electrolyte membrane. The resin frame member is formed around the solid polymer electrolyte membrane. The outer end of an electrode catalyst layer of the cathode protrudes beyond the outer end of a gas diffusion layer, and the resin frame member includes an inner extension protruding toward the outer periphery of the cathode to contact the outer end of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane. The inner extension of the resin frame member has an overlapped portion overlapped with the outer end of the electrode catalyst layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukihito Tanaka, Akihiro Noda, Seiji Sugiura, Shuji Sato, Takaki Nakagawa
  • Publication number: 20140287338
    Abstract: A resin frame member of a resin frame equipped membrane electrode assembly includes a recess where adhesive is provided. An inner protrusion on an inner side of the recess abuts against an electrode catalyst layer protruding outward beyond a gas diffusion layer of a membrane electrode assembly. An outer protrusion on an outer side of the recess abuts against the outermost portion of a gas diffusion layer of the membrane electrode assembly such that a solid polymer electrolyte membrane is interposed between the outer protrusion and the gas diffusion layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2014
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yukihito TANAKA, Naoki MITSUTA, Seiji SUGIURA
  • Publication number: 20140287339
    Abstract: A fuel cell includes an electrolyte membrane electrode assembly and a resin frame member. The electrolyte membrane electrode assembly includes an electrolyte membrane, a first electrode and a second electrode. The resin frame member has a recess in which the first electrode, the electrolyte membrane, and a portion of a second electrode catalyst layer protruding from a second gas diffusion layer are disposed, and an insertion hole which is in communication with the recess and in which the second gas diffusion layer is inserted. A filling layer covering an outer edge portion of the second electrode catalyst layer and having an oxygen permeability of 2×105 ml/m2·24 hr·atm or less is formed at least in a space between an inner wall of the insertion hole and the second gas diffusion layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2014
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Naoki MITSUTA, Hiroshi SOHMA, Yukihito TANAKA
  • Publication number: 20140234749
    Abstract: An electrolyte membrane-electrode structure with a resin frame is provided with: an electrolyte membrane-electrode structure that is provided with an anode-side electrode and a cathode-side electrode, with a solid polymer electrolyte membrane being held therebetween; and a resin frame member that is arranged around the outer periphery of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane. An intermediate layer is continuously arranged: between an outer peripheral end portion of the cathode-side electrode and a first inner peripheral end portion of the resin frame member; on an outer peripheral end portion of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane, said outer peripheral end portion being exposed outside the outer peripheral end portion of the cathode-side electrode; and between an outer peripheral end portion of the anode-side electrode and a second inner peripheral end portion of the resin frame member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2012
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yukihito Tanaka, Kazuo Nunukawa, Hiroshi Sohma, Kenichi Tanaka, Naoki Mitsuta, Masashi Sugishita, Daisuke Okonogi
  • Publication number: 20140080030
    Abstract: A fuel cell includes a membrane electrode assembly interposed between a cathode-side separator and an anode-side separator. A first gas diffusion layer included in a cathode is designed to have a planar size larger than a planar size of a second gas diffusion layer included in an anode. The anode-side separator has a thin clearance part in a portion that faces an outer peripheral portion of the second gas diffusion layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2013
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Seiji SUGIURA, Yukihito TANAKA
  • Publication number: 20140017590
    Abstract: An electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly is provided with: a solid polymer electrolyte membrane; and an anode-side electrode and a cathode-side electrode that sandwich the solid polymer electrolyte membrane. The cathode-side electrode has smaller planar dimensions than the anode-side electrode. In the electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly, a resin frame member is provided around the outer periphery of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane. The resin frame member is bonded to the cathode-side electrode by having only the outer peripheral portion of the cathode-side electrode being impregnated with the inner peripheral portion of the resin frame member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2012
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masashi Sugishita, Daisuke Okonogi, Yoshihito Kimura, Yukihito Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20140011111
    Abstract: A membrane electrode assembly for a fuel cell includes a membrane electrode assembly and a resin frame member. The membrane electrode assembly includes a solid polymer electrolyte membrane, a first electrode, and a second electrode. The first electrode includes a first catalyst layer and a first gas diffusion layer. The second electrode includes a second catalyst layer and a second gas diffusion layer. The resin frame member includes an outer peripheral portion and an inner peripheral projection. A first space includes a gap between an outer peripheral end face of the second gas diffusion layer and an inner-side end face of the inner peripheral projection. A second space includes a gap between an outer peripheral end face of the first gas diffusion layer and an inner-side wall face of the outer peripheral portion. The first space has a dimension different from a dimension of the second space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2013
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Inventors: Naoki MITSUTA, Hiroshi SOHMA, Yukihito TANAKA, Yusuke OKABE, Yu TOMANA
  • Publication number: 20140004442
    Abstract: A membrane electrode assembly includes an MEA structure unit and a resin frame member. The MEA structure unit includes a cathode, an anode, and a solid polymer electrolyte membrane interposed between the cathode and the anode. The resin frame member is formed around the MEA structure unit, and joined to the MEA structure unit. An adhesive layer is provided between an outer marginal portion of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane extending outward beyond an outer end of a second gas diffusion layer and an inner extension of the resin frame member. The adhesive layer includes an overlapped portion overlapped on an outer marginal end of the second gas diffusion layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2013
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Inventors: Naoki MITSUTA, Yukihito TANAKA, Masashi SUGISHITA, Hiroshi SOHMA, Kenichi TANAKA, Masahiro FUKUTA
  • Publication number: 20130316261
    Abstract: A fuel cell includes an electrolyte-electrode assembly, a frame member, a first separator, and a second separator. The frame member is provided to face a first surface of the second separator and includes a resin wall which forms a periphery of a first reactant gas passage. The resin wall has a thin-walled portion which overlaps with a cooling medium connecting portion in a stacking direction and which protrudes toward the first reactant gas passage in the stacking direction by a first dimension from a surface of the frame member. Another portion of the resin wall protrudes toward the second separator in the stacking direction by a second dimension from the surface of the frame member. The first dimension is smaller than the second dimension.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2013
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kentaro ISHIDA, Shuhei GOTO, Yukihito TANAKA, Seiji SUGIURA