Patents by Inventor Hirokazu Fujino

Hirokazu Fujino 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: 11913729
    Abstract: A heat exchanger includes: refrigerant channels that extend in a first direction, are disposed along a second direction intersecting with the first direction, and are disposed along a third direction intersecting with the first direction and the second direction; and heat transfer tubes defining the refrigerant channels. One or both of a size of an outer edge and a size of an inner edge of the heat transfer tubes are different between a first position and a second position in the first direction. Outer surfaces of the heat transfer tubes each include a protrusion that protrudes in a direction intersecting with the first direction, and is in contact with an outer surface of one of the heat transfer tubes adjacent thereto in the second direction. The protrusion includes a concave portion extending along the third direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Tooru Andou, Tomohiro Nagano, Hirokazu Fujino, Yoshiyuki Matsumoto
  • Publication number: 20240027104
    Abstract: A refrigeration cycle apparatus includes a first refrigerant circuit and a second refrigerant circuit so as to improve the efficiency of operations. A first refrigerant circuit using a first refrigerant having a pressure of 1.2 MPa or less at 30° C. and a second refrigerant circuit using a second refrigerant having a pressure of 1.5 MPa or more at 30° C. are provided, and a dual cycle operation in which the first refrigerant circuit and the second refrigerant circuit are simultaneously operated to exchange heat between the first refrigerant and the second refrigerant and a single cycle operation in which the first refrigerant circuit is operated without operating the second refrigerant circuit to perform a cooling operation or heating operation are enabled in a switchable manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2023
    Publication date: January 25, 2024
    Applicant: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroki IKARASHI, Atsushi YOSHIMI, Takuro YAMADA, Eiji KUMAKURA, Ikuhiro IWATA, Ryuhei KAJI, Takeru MIYAZAKI, Hiroki UEDA, Masaki TANAKA, Masaki NAKAYAMA, Hideho SAKAGUCHI, Osamu TANAKA, Hirokazu FUJINO
  • Publication number: 20240027105
    Abstract: A refrigeration cycle apparatus efficiently performs a cooling operation and a heating operation using a low-pressure refrigerant and a high-pressure refrigerant. A refrigeration cycle apparatus using a first refrigerant having 1 MPa or less at 30° C. and a second refrigerant having 1.5 MPa or more at 30° C. performs a heating operation by performing a two-stage refrigeration cycle including a use-side refrigeration cycle using the first refrigerant and a heat-source-side refrigeration cycle using the second refrigerant, and performs a cooling operation by performing a single-stage refrigeration cycle using the first refrigerant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2023
    Publication date: January 25, 2024
    Applicant: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Atsushi YOSHIMI, Takuro YAMADA, Eiji KUMAKURA, Ikuhiro IWATA, Takeru MIYAZAKI, Hiroki UEDA, Masaki TANAKA, Masaki NAKAYAMA, Osamu TANAKA, Hirokazu FUJINO, Ryuhei KAJI
  • Patent number: 11859882
    Abstract: A refrigeration cycle apparatus uses a sensor that measures temperature of a plurality of refrigerant pipes in a contactless manner. A refrigeration cycle apparatus includes a refrigerant circuit in which a compressor, a heat-source-side heat exchanger, an expansion mechanism, and a use-side heat exchanger are connected in sequence. The refrigeration cycle apparatus includes a temperature detector that detects temperatures at a plurality of points in a contactless manner, and a heat-source-side controller. At least one heat-source-side heat exchanger and the use-side heat exchanger includes a plurality of refrigerant pipes through which refrigerant to be heat-exchanged flows, and a flow rate adjuster. The flow rate adjuster adjusts flow rate of the refrigerant flowing through each of the plurality of refrigerant pipes. The temperature detector detects respective temperatures of the plurality of refrigerant pipes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryuhei Kaji, Hirokazu Fujino, Kazuhiro Furusho
  • Patent number: 11828477
    Abstract: A heat exchanger includes: a surface with a water-repellent coating. The surface has a surface structure that includes protrusions. Condensed water droplets, each having a droplet diameter that allows a subcooled state to be maintained even under a predetermined freezing condition, combine with one other on the surface and generate an energy. The surface structure uses the energy to remove the combined condensed water droplets from the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Tomohiro Nagano, Hirokazu Fujino, Kaori Yoshida, Isao Fujinami, Deb Kumar Mondal, Hiroki Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 11815316
    Abstract: A heat exchanger includes: a first layer including first flow channels that are microchannels and arranged to extend side by side; and a second layer that is laminated on the first layer and that includes second flow channels that are microchannels and arranged to extend side by side. A first one end-side collective flow channel is in fluid communication with first ends of the first flow channels. A first other end-side collective flow channel is in fluid communication with second ends of the first flow channels. A second one end-side collective flow channel is in fluid communication with first ends of the second flow channels. A second other end-side collective flow channel is in fluid communication with second ends of the second flow channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Yutaka Shibata, Tomoki Hirokawa, Hirokazu Fujino
  • Patent number: 11698228
    Abstract: A shell-and-plate heat exchanger includes: a shell forming an internal space; and a plate stack, disposed in the internal space, including heat transfer plates that are stacked and joined together. The shell-and-plate heat exchanger is configured to allow a refrigerant that has flowed into the internal space to evaporate. The plate stack forms: refrigerant channels that communicate with the internal space and through which a refrigerant flows; and heating medium channels that are blocked from the internal space and through which a heating medium flows. Each of the refrigerant channels is adjacent to an associated one of the heating medium channels with one of the heat transfer plates interposed therebetween. The shell-and-plate heat exchanger further includes one or more supply structures that supply the refrigerant to the refrigerant channels such that the refrigerant flows downward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Mitsuharu Numata, Kou Terai, Yutaka Shibata, Hirokazu Fujino
  • Publication number: 20230168043
    Abstract: A heat exchanger includes: refrigerant channels that extend in a first direction, are disposed along a second direction intersecting with the first direction, and are disposed along a third direction intersecting with the first direction and the second direction; and heat transfer tubes defining the refrigerant channels. One or both of a size of an outer edge and a size of an inner edge of the heat transfer tubes are different between a first position and a second position in the first direction. Outer surfaces of the heat transfer tubes each include a protrusion that protrudes in a direction intersecting with the first direction, and is in contact with an outer surface of one of the heat transfer tubes adjacent thereto in the second direction. The protrusion includes a concave portion extending along the third direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2023
    Publication date: June 1, 2023
    Applicant: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Tooru Andou, Tomohiro Nagano, Hirokazu Fujino, Yoshiyuki Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 11619427
    Abstract: A heat exchanger includes: first layers each including first flow channels that are microchannels; and second layers each including second flow channels that are microchannels. The first layers and the second layers constitute a lamination. Heat is exchanged by performing either of: liquid evaporation in the first flow channels and gas condensation in the second flow channels, or liquid evaporation in the second flow channels and gas condensation in the first flow channels. The lamination includes: a first liquid transport pore that is in fluid communication with the first flow channels; and a second liquid transport pore that is in fluid communication with the second flow channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Yutaka Shibata, Mitsuharu Numata, Tomoki Hirokawa, Hirokazu Fujino
  • Publication number: 20230063016
    Abstract: A heat exchanger includes: a water-repellent coating film on part of a surface of the heat exchanger. The surface on which the water-repellent coating film is disposed includes a surface structure including protrusions. D/L<0.36, D/L>0.4×(L/H), D<200, L?D<1000, H>700, 0>1.28×D×10?2+2.77 ×(L?D)×10?3?1.1×D2×10?5?5.3×(L?D)2×10?7?9.8×D×(L?D)×10?6?2.0, and 90°<?<120°, where L is an average pitch of the protrusions in nm, D is an average diameter of the protrusions in nm, H is an average height of the protrusions in nm, and ? is a contact angle of water on a smooth plane of the water-repellent coating film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2022
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Applicant: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Debukuma-ru Mondaru, Tomohiro Nagano, Hirokazu Fujino, Ken Satou, Kiyotaka Toyoyama, Takuya Ukai
  • Publication number: 20230020557
    Abstract: A refrigeration cycle apparatus uses a sensor that measures temperature of a plurality of refrigerant pipes in a contactless manner. A refrigeration cycle apparatus includes a refrigerant circuit in which a compressor, a heat-source-side heat exchanger, an expansion mechanism, and a use-side heat exchanger are connected in sequence. The refrigeration cycle apparatus includes a temperature detector that detects temperatures at a plurality of points in a contactless manner, and a heat-source-side controller. At least one heat-source-side heat exchanger and the use-side heat exchanger includes a plurality of refrigerant pipes through which refrigerant to be heat-exchanged flows, and a flow rate adjuster. The flow rate adjuster adjusts flow rate of the refrigerant flowing through each of the plurality of refrigerant pipes. The temperature detector detects respective temperatures of the plurality of refrigerant pipes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2022
    Publication date: January 19, 2023
    Applicant: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Ryuhei KAJI, Hirokazu FUJINO, Kazuhiro FURUSHO
  • Patent number: 11549733
    Abstract: A heat exchanger includes heat transfer tubes and a header that forms a refrigerant flow path. The header includes: a first member that includes a first plate-shaped portion; a second member that includes a second plate-shaped portion; a third member that includes a third plate-shaped portion positioned between the first plate-shaped portion and the second plate-shaped portion in a first direction that is a direction in which the first plate-shaped portion and the second plate-shaped portion are arranged; a fourth member that includes a fourth plate-shaped portion positioned between the first plate-shaped portion and the second plate-shaped portion in the first direction and a second opening that constitutes a part of the refrigerant flow path, where a second is along a longitudinal direction of the second opening; and a fifth member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Tomoki Hirokawa, Tooru Andou, Yoshiyuki Matsumoto, Hideyuki Kusaka, Hirokazu Fujino, Kouju Yamada
  • Publication number: 20220381487
    Abstract: A heat exchanger includes: first layers each including first flow channels that are microchannels; and second layers each including second flow channels that are microchannels. The first layers and the second layers constitute a lamination. Heat is exchanged by performing either of: liquid evaporation in the first flow channels and gas condensation in the second flow channels, or liquid evaporation in the second flow channels and gas condensation in the first flow channels. The lamination includes: a first liquid transport pore that is in fluid communication with the first flow channels; and a second liquid transport pore that is in fluid communication with the second flow channels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2022
    Publication date: December 1, 2022
    Applicant: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Yutaka Shibata, Mitsuharu Numata, Tomoki Hirokawa, Hirokazu Fujino
  • Publication number: 20220381519
    Abstract: A heat exchanger includes: a first layer including first flow channels that are microchannels and arranged to extend side by side; and a second layer that is laminated on the first layer and that includes second flow channels that are microchannels and arranged to extend side by side. A first one end-side collective flow channel is in fluid communication with first ends of the first flow channels. A first other end-side collective flow channel is in fluid communication with second ends of the first flow channels. A second one end-side collective flow channel is in fluid communication with first ends of the second flow channels. A second other end-side collective flow channel is in fluid communication with second ends of the second flow channels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2022
    Publication date: December 1, 2022
    Applicant: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Yutaka Shibata, Tomoki Hirokawa, Hirokazu Fujino
  • Publication number: 20220341675
    Abstract: A shell-and-plate heat exchanger includes: a shell forming an internal space; and a plate stack, disposed in the internal space, including heat transfer plates that are stacked and joined together. The shell-and-plate heat exchanger is configured to allow a refrigerant that has flowed into the internal space to evaporate. The plate stack forms: refrigerant channels that communicate with the internal space and through which a refrigerant flows; and heating medium channels that are blocked from the internal space and through which a heating medium flows. Each of the refrigerant channels is adjacent to an associated one of the heating medium channels with one of the heat transfer plates interposed therebetween. The shell-and-plate heat exchanger further includes one or more supply structures that supply the refrigerant to the refrigerant channels such that the refrigerant flows downward.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2022
    Publication date: October 27, 2022
    Applicant: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Mitsuharu Numata, Kou Terai, Yutaka Shibata, Hirokazu Fujino
  • Publication number: 20220341674
    Abstract: A shell-and-plate heat exchanger includes: a shell that forms an internal space and includes a refrigerant outlet at a top of the shell; and a plate stack disposed in the internal space and that includes heat transfer plates that are stacked and joined together. The shell-and-plate heat exchanger is configured to allow a refrigerant that has flowed into the internal space to evaporate. The refrigerant outlet emits a gas refrigerant out of the internal space through the refrigerant outlet. The plate stack forms: refrigerant channels that communicate with the internal space and through which a refrigerant flows; and heating medium channels that are blocked from the internal space and through which a heating medium flows. Each of the refrigerant channels is adjacent to an associated one of the heating medium channels with one of the heat transfer plates interposed therebetween.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2022
    Publication date: October 27, 2022
    Applicant: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Mitsuharu Numata, Yutaka Shibata, Kou Terai, Hirokazu Fujino
  • Publication number: 20220333872
    Abstract: A shell and plate heat exchanger includes a shell forming an internal space, and a plate stack housed in the internal space. A plurality of refrigerant channels communicate with the internal space, and a plurality of heating medium channels are blocked from the internal space. Each of the refrigerant channels is adjacent to an associated one of the heating medium channels with heat transfer plate interposed between. Each of the heat transfer plates includes a first communication hole that communicates with the heating medium channels to introduce the heating medium, a second communication hole formed below the first communication hole that communicates with the heating medium channels to emit the heating medium, and a guide crossing between the first and second communication holes to guide the heating medium that has flowed into the heating medium channels from the first communication hole toward side portions of the heat transfer plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2022
    Publication date: October 20, 2022
    Inventors: Mitsuharu NUMATA, Kou TERAI, Yutaka SHIBATA, Hirokazu FUJINO
  • Publication number: 20220178595
    Abstract: A liquid refrigerant distributor is used for a falling liquid film evaporator. The liquid refrigerant distributor includes a gas-liquid two-phase pipe through which a gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant flows, and a first refrigerant tub including a liquid reservoir section into which the gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant flows from the gas-liquid two-phase pipe. The first refrigerant tub further includes a droplet collector configured to collect droplets contained in a gas refrigerant separated by the liquid reservoir section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2022
    Publication date: June 9, 2022
    Applicant: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Kou TERAI, Mitsuharu NUMATA, Yutaka SHIBATA, Hirokazu FUJINO
  • Publication number: 20220120481
    Abstract: A heat exchanger includes heat transfer tubes and a header that forms a refrigerant flow path. The header includes: a first member that includes a first plate-shaped portion; a second member that includes a second plate-shaped portion; a third member that includes a third plate-shaped portion positioned between the first plate-shaped portion and the second plate-shaped portion in a first direction that is a direction in which the first plate-shaped portion and the second plate-shaped portion are arranged; a fourth member that includes a fourth plate-shaped portion positioned between the first plate-shaped portion and the second plate-shaped portion in the first direction and a second opening that constitutes a part of the refrigerant flow path, where a second is along a longitudinal direction of the second opening; and a fifth member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2021
    Publication date: April 21, 2022
    Applicant: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Tomoki Hirokawa, Tooru Andou, Yoshiyuki Matsumoto, Hideyuki Kusaka, Hirokazu Fujino, Kouju Yamada
  • Patent number: 11137698
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, a rotatable developer carrying member, a rotatable toner supplying member, and a toner accommodating unit. A developing unit including the developer carrying member and the toner accommodating unit are capable of being independently exchanged. The image forming apparatus further includes a current detector and a controller configured to execute a process for notifying information on a lifetime of the developing unit, on the basis of a detection result of the current detector at predetermined timing after use of a fresh toner accommodating unit is started.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yosuke Kishi, Hirokazu Fujino, Masaki Hirose