Patents by Inventor Hirohito Hirata
Hirohito Hirata 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).
-
Publication number: 20100101420Abstract: The present invention provides an exhaust gas purifying device comprising an electrically insulated hollow cylindrical case, a cylindrical outer circumferential electrode arranged on an inner wall of the hollow cylindrical case, a bar-shaped center electrode held on a center axis of the outer circumferential electrode, and a metallic hollow cylindrical body arranged between the outer circumferential electrode and the center electrode, wherein the metallic hollow cylindrical body is electrically insulated and has a plurality of holes to permit particulate matter to pass therethrough without being accumulated.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 27, 2008Publication date: April 29, 2010Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Masaru Kakinohana, Hirohito Hirata, Akira Mizuno
-
Publication number: 20100058742Abstract: One object of the present invention is to provide an exhaust emission control apparatus for an internal combustion engine that is capable of improving the NOx purification performance. An exhaust emission control apparatus being placed in an exhaust path of an internal combustion engine, comprising: an NOx retention material; ozone injection means for injecting ozone into an exhaust gas being positioned upstream from the NOx retention material; an HC adsorbent adsorbing HC contained in the exhaust gas; and a catalyst being placed in a region where desorbed NOx and desorbed HC contact each other. The HC adsorbent is prepared so as to desorb adsorbed HC at the same time as NOx being stored in the NOx retention material is desorbed.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2007Publication date: March 11, 2010Applicant: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hirohito Hirata, Masaya Ibe, Mayuko Osaki, Masaya Kamada
-
Publication number: 20100043406Abstract: An exhaust emission control apparatus that is used with an internal combustion engine to occlude and reduce NOx without blocking the exhaust gas purification function of a catalyst. An NOx occlusion reduction type catalyst and ozone supply device are provided in an exhaust path of the internal combustion engine. The NOx occlusion reduction type catalyst includes a cell into which an exhaust gas flows. An inner surface of the cell is coated with a NOx retention layer and a catalyst layer so that the NOx retention layer and the catalyst layer are provided in the order named from the inner surface of the cell.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2007Publication date: February 25, 2010Applicant: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hirohito Hirata, Masaya Ibe, Mayuko Osaki, Masaya Kamada
-
Publication number: 20100024398Abstract: A NOx occlusion reduction type catalyst positioned in an exhaust path of an internal combustion engine, which can be used with the internal combustion engine to permit efficient use of ozone when ozone is added to an exhaust gas. A NOx oxidation gas supply device supplies air or ozone (O3) So that air or ozone (O3) mixes with an exhaust gas flowing into the NOx occlusion reduction type catalyst. The ozone supply is performed when the temperature of the NOx occlusion reduction type catalyst is lower than a temperature at which a NOx occlusion acceleration effect is produced by the air supply. After the temperature of the NOx occlusion reduction type catalyst reaches the temperature at which the NOx occlusion acceleration effect is produced by the air supply, the air supply is performed and the ozone supply is shut off.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2007Publication date: February 4, 2010Applicant: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hirohito Hirata, Masaya Ibe, Mayuko Osaki, Masaya Kamada
-
Publication number: 20090292134Abstract: An iridium-platinum complex of the following formula: wherein Cp* is a pentamethylcyclopentadienyl ligand or the like, X is a hydrogen atom, or a substituent group such as a bromine atom or an organic group disposed at a position ortho, meta or para to the phenyl group, or at a combination of the positions, and Y is a methyl group or the like.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 7, 2007Publication date: November 26, 2009Inventors: Hiroyuki Matzuzaka, Shin Takemoto, Hirohito Hirata
-
Publication number: 20090247397Abstract: A manufacture method for a metal-supported catalyst in accordance with an embodiment of the invention includes: binding a compound having a coordinatable functional group onto a catalyst support; impregnating the catalyst support to which the compound having the coordinatable functional group is bound, with a solution that contains a metal complex in which a ligand is coordinated to one catalyst metal atom or a plurality of catalyst metal atoms of the same kind, and substituting at least partially the ligand coordinated in the metal complex with the coordinatable functional group of the compound bound to the metal oxide support; and drying and firing the catalyst support impregnated with the solution.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 28, 2007Publication date: October 1, 2009Inventors: Kazushi Mashima, Masato Ohashi, Akihiro Yagyu, Hirohito Hirata
-
Publication number: 20090235648Abstract: A device for controlling an internal combustion engine comprises a device for trapping particulate matter (PM) in exhaust gas in an exhaust passage, means for supplying ozone to the particulate matter trapping device from the upstream thereof to oxidize and remove PM deposited in the device, and means for interrupting the fuel injection of the internal combustion engine upon the execution of ozone supply by the ozone supply means. It is possible to prevent components consuming ozone, such as NOx, from being contained in the exhaust gas of the internal combustion engine, whereby ozone is effectively usable.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 4, 2007Publication date: September 24, 2009Inventors: Masaru Kakinohana, Hirohito Hirata, Masaya Ibe
-
Patent number: 7582586Abstract: There is disclosed a process for producing a catalyst. The process includes the steps of: a) combining a dendrimer polymer and metal salt in solution forming a metal ion complex; b) exposing the metal ion complex to a reducing environment forming a dendrimer metal nanocomposite; c) depositing the dendrimer metal nanocomposite onto a catalyst support material; d) removing a solvent from the dendrimer metal nanocomposite forming metal clusters; and e) removing the dendrimer polymer forming a catalyst. Additionally, there is disclosed a catalyst having a catalytic metal deposited on a substrate. The catalytic metal is formed in clusters having a size of from 2 to 150 atoms. In another aspect, the clusters may have a spacing of from 2 to 100 nanometers between adjacent metal clusters. Further, in another aspect, the metal clusters which comprise the catalyst have a size distribution in which 70% of the clusters are within 0.6 nm of the average diameter and 99% of the particles are within 1.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 2006Date of Patent: September 1, 2009Assignees: Toyota Motor Corporation, Toyotal Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.Inventors: Paul T. Fanson, Hirohito Hirata, Michael D. Amiridis, Christopher T. Williams, David S. Deutsch, Attilio Siani, Shinichi Matsumoto
-
Publication number: 20090205315Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and a method for PM purification, where good PM purification performance can be achieved. The PM purification apparatus 10 of the present invention comprises (a) a honeycomb support 13 having an outer periphery-side region 13a and an inner-side region 13b, which carries a PM oxidation catalyst and in which the PM oxidation catalyst loading per unit volume of support in the outer periphery-side region 13a is greater than the PM oxidation catalyst loading per unit volume of support in the inner-side region 13b, (b) a center electrode 12 passing through the center part of the honeycomb support 13 and extending to the exhaust gas flow upstream side, and (c) an outer peripheral electrode 14 disposed on the outer periphery of the honeycomb support 13 and electrically insulated from the center electrode 12 by the honeycomb support 13. The PM purification method of the present invention can be performed using the PM purification apparatus 10 of the present invention.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 15, 2006Publication date: August 20, 2009Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Masaru Kakinohana, Hirohito Hirata, Masaya Ibe
-
Publication number: 20090120074Abstract: There is provided an exhaust purifying system for an internal combustion engine which can achieve a function of a catalyst without deteriorating a function of ozone at the time of oxidizing and removing PM by using the ozone. The exhaust purifying system for the internal combustion engine comprises a wall-flow type particulate filter (30) for collecting particulate matter in an exhaust gas inside an exhaust passage, wherein the catalyst (38) is supported only in a part of a partition wall (37) of the particulate filter defining a passage (36) on the downstream side of the partition wall (37). In consequence, when ozone is supplied, since the ozone is introduced on the upstream side of the partition wall (37) in which the PM is collected, the ozone does not contact the catalyst supported only in the part of the partition wall defining the passage (36) on the downstream side of the partition wall. Therefore, it is prevented that the ozone is decomposed, and a PM oxidation function is achieved.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 27, 2006Publication date: May 14, 2009Inventors: Hirohito Hirata, Masaru Kakinohana, Masaya Ibe
-
Publication number: 20090120070Abstract: An exhaust purifying system for an internal combustion engine is provided with a plurality of DPFs (30a and 30b) branched and connected to an exhaust passage (15) for collecting particulate matter in an exhaust gas and an ozone supplier for supplying ozone to the upstream side of each of the plurality of DPFs (30a and 30b). The system respectively changes a ratio of a supply amount of the exhaust gas and a ratio of a supply amount of the ozone between the plurality of DPFs (30a and 30b).Type: ApplicationFiled: October 17, 2006Publication date: May 14, 2009Inventors: Hirohito Hirata, Masaru Kakinohana, Masaya Ibe
-
Publication number: 20090099017Abstract: The present invention provides a metal cluster-carrying metal oxide support wherein a metal cluster obtained by use of a dendrimer is prevented from migrating to the surface of support and being sintered, and a process for production thereof. The process for producing the metal cluster-carrying metal oxide support of the present invention comprises (a) coordinating a first metal ion to a dendrimer 10, (b) reducing the first metal ion coordinated to the dendrimer to precipitate a cluster 6a of the first metal in the dendrimer, (c) further coordinating a second metal ion 8 to the dendrimer, and (d) drying and firing the solution containing this dendrimer on a metal oxide support 9, wherein the oxide of the second metal is the same as the metal oxide constituting the metal oxide support, or a metal oxide capable of forming a composite oxide with the metal oxide constituting the metal oxide support.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 11, 2006Publication date: April 16, 2009Inventor: Hirohito Hirata
-
Patent number: 7514047Abstract: The present invention relates to an exhaust gas purifying apparatus, for trapping and burning PM, which comprises electrodes and an insulative honeycomb structure. The apparatus is characterized in that the electrodes make an electric field in the honeycomb structure, the electric field not being parallel with the cell passages of the honeycomb structure. Further the apparatus is characterized in that the electrodes make an electric field in the honeycomb structure, and that the honeycomb structure carries at least one metal selected from the group consisting of an alkali metal and an alkali earth metal; a material that generates oxygen radical by conducting an electric current therethrough; a manganese dioxide; and/or a material having a high dielectric constant.Type: GrantFiled: January 9, 2004Date of Patent: April 7, 2009Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hirohito Hirata, Masaru Kakinohana, Hideo Yahagi
-
Patent number: 7510600Abstract: A gas purifying apparatus includes an adsorption member (e.g., a honeycomb structural body) that adsorbs particulate matter contained in the gas by the action of an electric field. The apparatus also includes a supply device (e.g., an ozone generator including a discharger, a pulsed power supply, a pump, and a discharge port) that supplies a pro-oxidant to the adsorption member.Type: GrantFiled: February 17, 2006Date of Patent: March 31, 2009Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Masaya Ibe, Hirohito Hirata, Masaru Kakinohana
-
Publication number: 20090064664Abstract: A device for cleaning exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine according to the present invention includes a device (30) for collecting particulate matter from exhaust gas in an exhaust gas passage (15), ozone feeding device (40) capable of feeding ozone to the device (30) for collecting particulate matter from upstream thereof, and an NOx catalyst (20) disposed upstream from the ozone feeding device (40), for cleaning NOx in the exhaust gas. Since NOx is preliminarily removed by the NOx catalyst (20) at apposition upstream from the ozone feeding device (40), the consumption of ozone due to the reaction with NOx is prevented, whereby it is possible to effectively use ozone for the purpose of oxidizing and removing PM in the device (30) for collecting particulate matter.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 15, 2006Publication date: March 12, 2009Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Hirohito Hirata, Masaru Kakinohana, Masaya Ibe, Yuji Sakakibara, Yoshihiko Itoh
-
Patent number: 7481043Abstract: The present invention provides a plasma injector wherein a reducing agent injected from an injection port (19) at the distal end portion of an injection nozzle (18) is at least partially converted into a plasma; an exhaust gas purifying system; and a method for injecting a reducing agent. Using the plasma injector, the exhaust gas purifying system, and the method for injecting a reducing gas of the present invention, it is possible to vaporize a reducing agent supplied in an injection manner and/or to provide a highly reactive reducing agent from the reducing agent.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2004Date of Patent: January 27, 2009Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hirohito Hirata, Eriko Matsumura
-
Publication number: 20090019844Abstract: An exhaust gas purification system provided with a trapping device (6) arranged on an engine exhaust passage and trapping particulate matter in the exhaust gas, an ozone generator (21) for generating ozone, and an ozone adsorbent (22) able to adsorb ozone, wherein at least part of the ozone generated by said ozone generator is adsorbed by said ozone adsorbent and, when particulate matter trapped on said trapping device should be removed, ozone adsorbed on the ozone adsorbent is desorbed from the ozone adsorbent and supplied to the trapping device. Due to this, it is possible to use an ozone generator with a relatively low ozone generating ability to burn off PM trapped on a filter etc. efficiently.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 12, 2006Publication date: January 22, 2009Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Hirohito Hirata, Masaru Kakinohana, Masaya Ibe
-
Patent number: 7475533Abstract: The present invention provides an exhaust gas purifying apparatus 10 which can effectively purify an exhaust gas with the use of a plasma. The present exhaust gas purifying apparatus 10 comprises a NOx purifying catalyst 1 disposed in an exhaust gas pipe 11 for an internal combustion engine (ENG); a plasma generator 2 for converting a gas into a plasma and supplying the plasma to the exhaust pipe at the upstream of the NOx purifying catalyst; a switching device 3 for selectively supplying one of a recirculated exhaust gas 13 and air 12 as a gas to be converted into a plasma to the plasma generator 2; and an injector 4 for adding a reducing agent to the gas 14 to be converted into a plasma or a plasma 15 converted from the gas by the plasma generator. The present invention further provides a method for controlling the exhaust gas purifying apparatus.Type: GrantFiled: November 3, 2005Date of Patent: January 13, 2009Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hirohito Hirata, Kazunobu Ishibashi
-
Patent number: 7468171Abstract: A process for decomposing nitrogen oxides includes the following steps: providing a catalyst, passing a gaseous nitrogen oxide over the catalyst and exposing the catalyst to microwave energy. The gaseous nitrogen oxide is broken down into nitrogen and oxygen molecules.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2006Date of Patent: December 23, 2008Assignees: Toyota Motor Corporation, Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., The University of ConnecticutInventors: Paul T Fanson, Hirohito Hirata, Masaya Ibe, Steven L Suib, Vinit Makwana
-
Publication number: 20080311009Abstract: The present invention provides a device and a method for supplying a fuel or a reducing agent, where a fuel or reducing agent supplied by injection can be vaporized and/or a fuel or reducing agent having high reactivity can be provided, and provides a plasma torch (30) usable therefor. The device for supplying a fuel or a reducing agent comprises a plasma torch (30) for converting a gas (23, 33) into a plasma and blowing out the plasma, and an injector (18) for injecting a fuel or a reducing agent to a region (20) where the plasma is supplied. The method comprises converting a gas (23, 33) into a plasma, blowing out the plasma, and injecting a fuel or a reducing agent to the plasma region (20).Type: ApplicationFiled: June 21, 2005Publication date: December 18, 2008Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Hirohito Hirata, Eriko Matsumura, Kazunobu Ishibashi