Patents Assigned to Zexel Corporation
  • Patent number: 6799630
    Abstract: A tube for a heat exchanger which has beads (21) formed on a brazing sheet (B) for configuring a tube (2) and tops of the beads brazed with opposed portions within a tube part (20) and a method for manufacturing the tube. The tube part (20) prior to brazing is determined to have a thickness (t′) larger than a predetermined thickness (t) and compressed in a direction of its thickness when it is brazed, and the tube which has tops of the beads crushed against or lodged in opposed portions within the tube part. Also a method for manufacturing the tube which can braze the tops of the beads with the opposed portions within the tube more securely and firmly than before.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2004
    Assignee: Zexel Corporation
    Inventors: Soichi Kato, Muneo Sakurada, Shin Kurihara, Sadao Haiya, Takashi Sugita, Shoji Akiyama, Takahumi Umehara
  • Patent number: 6467170
    Abstract: A tube for a heat exchanger which is formed to have beads for dividing passages for a medium in the tube by roll forming, wherein base portions of the beads are formed to have a thickness (B) greater than a thickness of a plate material for the tube. The roll forming has a first step of sequentially bending the plate to have a depressed shape to form portions-to-be-bead which are to be intermediate forms of the beads, a second step of performing a width drawing of the portions-to-be-bead and a third step of compressing the portions-to-be-bead, after the second step, in a direction of the height of the beads, wherein a width (w′) of the depressions of the portions-to-be-bead (21a) in the first step is larger than a width (w) of depressions of beads (21) after forming, and a height (h′) of portions-to-be-bead (21b) after the second step is determined to be higher than a height (h) of the beads (21) after forming.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2002
    Assignee: Zexel Corporation
    Inventors: Soichi Kato, Muneo Sakurada, Shin Kurihara, Sadao Haiya, Takashi Sugita, Shoji Akiyama, Takahumi Umehara
  • Patent number: 6397938
    Abstract: In a heat exchanger achieving a smaller width and constituted as a two-path heat exchanger having a first path through which the coolant travels from a first tank group to a second tank group and a second path through which the coolant travels from a third tank group to a fourth tank group to improve the temperature distribution in the heat exchanger and the heat exchanging capability, the coolant flows in opposite directions in the first path and the second path, the high-temperature area in the first path and the low temperature area in the second path are aligned with each other along the direction of the airflow and the high temperature area in the second path and the low temperature area in the first path are aligned with each other along the direction of airflow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: Zexel Corporation
    Inventor: Kunihiko Nishishita
  • Patent number: 6375436
    Abstract: A hybrid compressor achieving simplification in the structure and capable of driving the compression unit with ease is provided. An electromagnetic clutch unit (40) is provided at a rotating shaft (11) projecting out on one side of a compression unit (10) and an electric motor unit (70) is provided at the rotating shaft (11) projecting out on the other side of the compression unit (10), so that an electromagnetic clutch unit (40) in the prior art can be utilized directly. At the same time, since the electric motor unit (70) is provided at the rotating shaft (11) projecting out the other side of the compression unit (10), the electromagnetic clutch unit and the electric motor unit are set at the same rotating shaft (11) and the compression unit (10) and the electric motor unit (70) are positioned next to each other to reduce the torsional torque generated at the rotating shaft (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2002
    Assignee: Zexel Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Irie, Yukio Sakurai, Yasutaka Negishi, Masahiko Tamegai
  • Patent number: 6368073
    Abstract: A swash plate compressor including a housing secured to a cylinder block having cylinder bores axially formed therethrough for receiving respective pistons therein. A swash plate is mounted on a drive shaft extending through a crankcase defined within the housing, for rotation in unison with the drive shaft. The swash plate has sliding surfaces on opposite sides thereof. A pair of shoes, each of which has a substantially semispherical shape, which slide on the sliding surfaces of the swash plate. Each piston is connected to the swash plate via a corresponding pair of the shoes, and performs a linear reciprocating motion within a corresponding cylinder bore. Guide grooves are each axially formed in an inner peripheral wall of the housing along a path of the linear reciprocating motion of the corresponding piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2002
    Assignee: Zexel Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kanai, Shunichi Furuya
  • Patent number: 6357520
    Abstract: A heat exchanger comprises a plurality of tubes layered with fins intervened between them, header pipes disposed on the end portions of the tubes, and side plates for holding the tube layer, wherein each of the side plates (8) is connected to a side plate insertion hole (10) formed on the header pipe (3) or (4) by inserting its end portion (82) into the side plate insertion hole and forming a taper on the end portion (82) of the side plate (8) to decrease a thickness toward the leading end (82a). The end portions (82) of the side plates (8) are tapered toward the leading ends to decrease a width, contact portions (81a) are formed on the side plate to contact with the outer surface of the header pipes (3), (4), and the contact portions are brazed with the outer surface of the header pipe. Further, a stopper means is formed on the end portions of the side plates to prevent the end portions of the side plates from coming out of the side plate insertion holes (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Assignee: Zexel Corporation
    Inventors: Soichi Kato, Muneo Sakurada, Shin Kurihara, Sadao Haiya, Takashi Sugita, Shoji Akiyama, Takahumi Umehara
  • Patent number: 6354368
    Abstract: The present invention provides fins utilized in an integrated heat exchanger that achieve a highly effective prevention of heat conduction, do not create any cuttings during their formation and achieve a high degree of dynamic strength and a method for manufacturing these fins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2002
    Assignees: Zexel Corporation, Toyo Radiator Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kunihiko Nishishita, Takashi Sugita
  • Patent number: 6298830
    Abstract: In order to obtain an amount of fuel injection determined by a target fuel injection amount determining unit (51) from an injector (32) supplied with high-pressure fuel from a high-pressure pump (2), there is provided a reference injection period determining unit (52) responsive to a target fuel amount signal (Qt) for determining a reference injection period (Tr) and a correction amount calculating unit (53) responsive to the reference injection period (Tr) and the rotational speed (R) of a high-pressure pump (2) for calculating a correction amount (F) for correcting the error caused by decrease in fuel pressure during the period of fuel injection, whereby an actual injection period (Ta) is determined by correcting the reference injection period (Tr) by the correction value (F). As a result, the injection pulse width can be controlled so as to precisely supply the desired amount of fuel from the injector (32).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Assignee: Zexel Corporation
    Inventor: Hiromi Kono
  • Patent number: 6295832
    Abstract: A receiver tank (2) formed into an airtight container having an inlet port (24) and an outlet port (25) for a refrigerant, wherein separates the refrigerant introduced in a gas-liquid mixture state is separated, and the separated liquid refrigerant is stored therein and discharged therefrom so to continuously supply it, and the airtight container is formed as a double tube of an inner tube (16) and an outer tube (17), which have their tops mutually communicated but their bottoms not; the inlet port is formed to communicate with the bottom portion of a passage formed between the two tubes; and the outlet port is formed at lower end portions of the inner and outer tubes to communicate with the interior of the inner tube. The structure of no communication between the outer tube and the inner tube was achieved by having a structure of fitting either of them with the other or by disposing a joint member. A structure for prevention of the inner tube from tilting is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2001
    Assignee: Zexel Corporation
    Inventors: Soichi Kato, Akihiko Takano
  • Patent number: 6289979
    Abstract: A heat exchanger that achieves a reduction in the dimensions of the header pipes, a sufficient level of strength against pressure and a structure that allows the caps to be washed thoroughly during the washing process is provided At each of the caps closing off the two ends of the cylindrical portion constituting a header pipe, a circular groove at which the circumferential edge at an end of the cylindrical portion is fitted over the entire circumference is formed to completely fit the cylindrical portion inside the cap so that the dimensions of the header pipe along the axial direction are reduced. In addition, by forming a thick portion at a closing portion, the pressure withstanding capability of the cap is improved. The cap also has a projected portion at its outer flat surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2001
    Assignee: Zexel Corporation
    Inventor: Souichi Kato
  • Patent number: 6287081
    Abstract: In order to achieve a smooth shift between two drive sources, an electromagnetic clutch is engaged, when the rotation rate of the compression unit and the engine rotation rate match, to switch from motor drive to engine drive during engine startup or engine acceleration. The motor is driven before the electromagnetic clutch is cut off to switch from engine rive to motor drive during engine stop or engine deceleration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2001
    Assignee: Zexel Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiko Tamegai, Kazuhiro Irie
  • Patent number: 6260367
    Abstract: In a freezing cycle that utilizes a supercritical fluid as its coolant and employs an internal heat exchanger that performs heat exchange on the coolant on the outlet side of a gas cooler and on the intake side of a compressor, a means for adjustment that adjusts the quantity of heat exchange performed by the internal heat exchanger (4) is provided. The means for adjustment is constituted of a bypass passage (9) that bypasses the internal heat exchanger (4) and a flow-regulating valve (10) that adjusts the coolant flow rate in the bypass passage (9). The flow-regulating valve (10) is constituted of an electromagnetic valve, the degree of openness of which is determined based upon information with respect to the cycle state, or a bellows regulating valve that operates in correspondence to the pressure on the high-pressure side. Alternatively, the means for adjustment may perform adjustment by varying the passage length over which heat exchange is performed by the internal heat exchanger (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2001
    Assignee: Zexel Corporation
    Inventors: Shunichi Furuya, Hiroshi Kanai
  • Patent number: 6250099
    Abstract: In order to achieve an improvement in the efficiency of a refrigerating cycle and achieve quick and precise response to changes in the environment or the operating state while using carbon dioxide as a coolant, the refrigerating cycle according to the present invention is provided with a first expander and a second expander and further with a vapor-liquid separator provided between the first and second expanders. The components are arranged such that pressure of a vapor-phase coolant at high pressure, compressed by a compressor and cooled by a radiator, is reduced to an intermediate pressure level in a vapor-liquid two-phase range by the first expander. Then the coolant in a condition of a vapor-liquid mix is separated into a vapor-phase coolant by the vapor-liquid separator, so that only the liquid-phase coolant is expanded by the second expander, so that the vapor-phase coolant is taken into the intake side of the compressor while maintaining the intermediate pressure level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2001
    Assignee: Zexel Corporation
    Inventors: Shunichi Furuya, Hiroshi Kanai
  • Patent number: 6250381
    Abstract: The present invention provides a radiator achieving a structure that enables integrated brazing, facilitates mounting of an automatic oil cooler and repair on areas with defective brazing and realizes good mountability and recyclability. A tank portion 4 at which tubes 2 of the radiator are inserted is constituted of a first L-shaped tank member 30 and a second L-shaped tank member 40. Prior to the process for assembling the tank portion 4, intake/outlet pipes 9 and 10 are mounted at the first L-shaped tank member 30 and an A/T oil cooler 46 is mounted at the second L-shaped tank member 40 to facilitate mounting of the A/T oil cooler 46 inside the tank portions 4. In addition, since at least the tank portion 4, the tubes 2, the fins 3 and the side plate 11 are brazed together as an integrated unit in a furnace, the production of the radiator is facilitated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2001
    Assignees: Zexel Corporation, Toyo Radiator Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kunihiko Nishishita
  • Patent number: 6227290
    Abstract: In a laminated heat exchanger with a pair of tank portions formed at one side of each tube element and intake/outlet portions for heat exchanging medium provided at one end in the direction of the lamination or in the direction running at a right angle to the direction of the lamination, a constricting portion for limiting the flow passage cross section is provided in an area in the tank portions where the flow shifts from an even-numbered pass to an odd-numbered pass in a plurality of passes. This allows the heat exchanging medium to flow in sufficient quantities into the tube elements near the outlet side of the partitioning portion, preventing inconsistency in temperature distribution. This constricting portion, which is formed in the tank group opposite the tank group where the partitioning portion is provided, is provided at the same lamination position as the partitioning portion. The constricting portion may be also formed with a plurality of holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2001
    Assignee: Zexel Corporation
    Inventors: Kunihiko Nishishita, Seiji Inoue, Kiyoshi Tanda, Hitoshi Sakata
  • Patent number: 6220342
    Abstract: In a laminated heat exchanger with a pair of tank portions formed at one side of each tube element and intake/outlet portions for heat exchanging medium provided at one end in the direction of the lamination or in the direction running at a right angle to the direction of the lamination, a constricting portion for limiting the flow passage cross section is provided in an area in the tank portions where the flow shifts from an even-numbered pass to an odd-numbered pass in a plurality of passes. This allows the heat exchanging medium to flow in sufficient quantities into the tube elements near the outlet side of the partitioning portion, thereby avoiding inconsistency in temperature distribution. This constricting portion, which is formed in the tank group opposite the tank group where the partitioning portion is provided, is provided at the same lamination position as the partitioning portion. The constricting portion may be also formed with a plurality of holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Zexel Corporation
    Inventors: Kunihiko Nishishita, Seiji Inoue, Kiyoshi Tanda, Hitoshi Sakata
  • Patent number: 6198184
    Abstract: In order to protect a brushless motor, heat generated at a switching device, in response to an abnormality, activates a protection device. The protection device includes a connecting line communicating between a source supply line and the switching device. The protection device is provided near the switching device such that it can sense heat at the switching device with a high degree of sensitivity. Thus, when excessive heat is generated at the switching device, the protection device reaches a specific temperature, whereby the source supply line becomes cut off from the switching device, thereby immediately stopping the operation of the brushless motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Zexel Corporation
    Inventors: Shinichi Ohi, Hiroshi Ohsawa, Kazuyoshi Horiuchi, Kouji Ando
  • Patent number: 6190146
    Abstract: A scroll member for scroll compressor contains a phenol aralkyl resin and a glass fiber and has feature that the dimensional change rate of the member is 0.05% or below under a chemical stability test condition conducted in an atmosphere in which a refrigerant and a refrigerating machine oil coexist at a high temperature and a high pressure, thereby making the resin scroll member practical and chemically stable. The scroll member may further contain a phenol resin and/or glass beads. The scroll member may be formed by a heat treatment having stepwise temperature increase of a molded material from an initial temperature range of 120 to 140° C. to a final temperature range of 170 to 177° C. The heat treatment can be implemented sequentially, e.g., for four hours or more at a temperature range of 120 to 140° C., for four hours or more at a temperature range of 140 to 170° C., and for four hours or more at a temperature range of 170 to 177° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2001
    Assignee: Zexel Corporation
    Inventors: Richard Paul Heggs, John Paul Frechette, Takao Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 6186710
    Abstract: In order to rotationally drive a gear material (3) when the gear material (3) is gear machined using a hob (not shown), a drive hole (34) having a circular configuration in section and extending on an axis L of the gear material (3) is formed in an end face (3e) of the gear material (3) and a shaft member (4) having a polygonal configuration is employed. The distance from an axis of this shaft body (4) to each angular portion (4a) is larger than the radius of the drive hole (34). The distance from the axis of the shaft member (4) to each side portion (4b) of the shaft member (4) is smaller than the radius of the drive hole (34). The shaft member (4) is fitted, under pressure, in the drive hole (34) and the gear member (3) is rotationally driven through this shaft member (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2001
    Assignee: Zexel Corporation
    Inventors: Jean Michel Saniez, Makoto Nishiji
  • Patent number: 6173764
    Abstract: In a heat exchanger formed by laminating tube elements alternately with fins over a plurality of levels, a plurality of beads are formed in each of tube elements provided with intake/outlet portions in the areas where the tank portions change to a passage portion. The width of these beads are set to be larger than the beads in other tube elements so as to constrict the passage cross section. In addition, the areas of the communicating holes formed in tank portions away from the intake/outlet portion through which the heat exchanging medium flows in are made smaller than the areas of the communicating holes formed in tank portions near the intake/outlet portion. The centers of the communicating holes in the tank portions further away from the intake/outlet portion are located further downward than the centers of the communicating holes in the tank portions provided closer to the intake/outlet portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2001
    Assignee: Zexel Corporation
    Inventor: Seiji Inoue