Patents by Inventor Hironao Numoto

Hironao Numoto 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: 20100050704
    Abstract: An electrolytic mist generating device includes electrode parts arranged inside an electrolytic cell, a piezoelectric element that generates mist of electrolytic water, a water supply device that supplies water into the electrolytic cell, and a blowing fan that discharges the mist generated in the electrolytic cell from a mist outlet, so that both production of the electrolytic water and mist generation of the electrolytic water are performed in the electrolytic cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2007
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Fujii, Hironao Numoto, Tadashi Asami
  • Publication number: 20100037662
    Abstract: An electrolytic mist generating device includes electrode parts arranged inside an electrolytic cell, a piezoelectric element that generates mist of electrolytic water, a water supply device that supplies water into the electrolytic cell, a discharging device that discharges the mist generated in the electrolytic cell from an outlet, and a control circuit that controls steps, wherein in an electrolysis step, a voltage that does not permit the mist to be generated is applied to the piezoelectric element to generate a water column.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2007
    Publication date: February 18, 2010
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Fujii, Hironao Numoto, Tadashi Asami
  • Patent number: 6216476
    Abstract: In an apparatus having a refrigeration cycle, the refrigeration cycle is formed by annularly connecting a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device and an evaporator with one another, the apparatus uses propane, isobutane or ethane as a refrigerant, and uses refrigerating machine oil having less mutual solubility with the refrigerant, and a dryer is provided in the refrigeration cycle for absorbing water. In stead of the dryer, an additive which reacts with water may be included in said refrigerating machine oil. With this arrangement, the amount of the refrigerant can be reduced, and the long term reliability of the apparatus can be obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hironao Numoto, Kanji Haneda, Akira Fujitaka, Shigehiro Sato, Yukio Watanabe, Yuichi Yakumaru, Yoshinori Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 6196008
    Abstract: A method for taking custody of, transporting and installing an air conditioner having an outdoor unit which uses a flammable refrigerant and includes a refrigeration cycle comprising a compressor, an expansion device and an outdoor heat exchanger which are connected to one another through pipes, wherein the outdoor unit is shipped from a factory while the refrigeration cycle is evacuated to produce a vacuum, the outdoor unit is kept in custody and transported in a state in which the vacuum in the refrigeration cycle is maintained, and when the outdoor unit is installed, the flammable refrigerant is charged into the refrigeration cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Fujitaka, Yoshinori Kobayashi, Yuichi Yakumaru, Yukio Watanabe, Hironao Numoto, Shigehiro Sato, Kanji Haneda
  • Patent number: 6167719
    Abstract: In a compressor of a refrigeration cycle using an HC-based refrigerant and a lubricant having specific gravity greater than that of the HC-based refrigerant and having no or no or less mutual solubility with the HC-based refrigerant, an oil reservoir is formed on a bottom of the compressor, the oil reservoir is provided at its portion with a recess, a suction port of a lubricant suction pipe for supplying the lubricant to a compressor mechanism is provided in the recess. With this feature, it is possible to sufficiently supply the lubricant to the compressor even when the lubricant has no or less mutual solubility, so that even if the amount of the lubricant is reduced, the lubricant can be sufficiently sucked from an inlet port of a lubricant pumping pipe and supplied to the compressor mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2001
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuichi Yakumaru, Yukio Watanabe, Akira Fujitaka, Hironao Numoto, Shigehiro Sato, Kanji Haneda, Yoshinori Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 6141976
    Abstract: A manufacturing method for an air conditioner including the steps of: (a) assembling a refrigeration cycle by connecting an outdoor unit, which has a compressor containing a refrigerant and an outdoor heat exchanger to a dummy indoor unit, and a part including a moisture adsorbent, using connection piping; (b) operating the refrigeration cycle by either an intermittent heating operation or switching between cooling and heating operations to adsorb moisture contained in the refrigeration cycle using a moisture adsorbent; (c) disconnecting the part including the moisture adsorbent after adsorbing moisture from the refrigeration cycle, and (d) measuring the water content contained in the moisture adsorbent, to control the water contained in the outdoor unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2000
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hironao Numoto, Toru Yasuda, Akira Fujitaka, Hiroshi Namura
  • Patent number: 6085531
    Abstract: In a refrigeration cycle using a flammable refrigerant as a refrigerant and comprising an indoor heat exchanger, an outdoor heat exchanger, a compressor and an expansion device which are annularly connected to one another through pipes, the refrigeration cycle is provided with a gas sensor and a refrigerant discharge portion, the gas sensor monitors leakage of the refrigerant from the refrigeration cycle to outside, and after the leakage is detected by the gas sensor, the discharge portion is opened to discharge the refrigerant to outside. At that time, the gas sensor is disposed inside a room, and the discharge portion is disposed outside the room. Further, the discharge portion is provided with a fan to facilitate the dispersion of the refrigerant. Further, the discharge portion is provided with a burner portion to discharge out the refrigerant while burning the refrigerant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2000
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hironao Numoto, Jiro Suzuki, Akira Fujitaka
  • Patent number: 6082132
    Abstract: An apparatus having a refrigeration cycle using a flammable refrigerant, comprises an oil-free compressor, a condenser, an expansion device and an evaporator, wherein an amount of lubricant in the oil-free compressor is equal to or smaller than 3 cc. With this structure, the charging amount of the flammable refrigerant into the refrigeration cycle can be reduced, and the safety of the apparatus having a refrigeration cycle can be enhanced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2000
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hironao Numoto, Hitoshi Motegi, Kiyoshi Sawai
  • Patent number: 6044649
    Abstract: An air conditioner comprises a refrigeration cycle consisting of a compressor, a heat exchanger, a throttling device, a dryer provided with an adsorbent, a connection piping and a refrigerant. The refrigerant contains a hydrofluorocarbon refrigerant, the adsorbent contains a plurality of bulk particles, and the dryer includes a container, wherein the adsorbent is located within the container, having a pressing means for holding the adsorbent by pressing it. The load of the pressing means is within a range of about 0.5 kg/cm.sup.2 to about 3 kg/cm.sup.2. The container is of a cylindrical shape having a sectional area of "A", the refrigerant is at a circulation rate of "B", and the value of B/A is within a range of about 100 g/min cm.sup.2 to about 400 g/min cm.sup.2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2000
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hironao Numoto, Yukio Watanabe
  • Patent number: 6044660
    Abstract: In an apparatus having a refrigeration cycle, the refrigeration cycle is formed by annularly connecting a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device and an evaporator with one another, the apparatus uses propane, isobutane or ethane as a refrigerant, and uses refrigerating machine oil having less mutual solubility with the refrigerant, and a dryer is provided in the refrigeration cycle for absorbing water. In stead of the dryer, an additive which reacts with water may be included in said refrigerating machine oil. With this arrangement, the amount of the refrigerant can be reduced, and the long term reliability of the apparatus can be obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2000
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hironao Numoto, Kanji Haneda, Akira Fujitaka, Shigehiro Sato, Yukio Watanabe, Yuichi Yakumaru, Yoshinori Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 6006544
    Abstract: A refrigeration cycle that controls the deposit of foreign matter at inlet or outlet of a capillary tube, which forms an expansion device in the refrigeration, regardless of changeover from a cooling operation to a heating operation. In particular, in a refrigeration cycle using an alternative refrigerant, a junction is provided for joining an end of a capillary tube forming an expansion device to the piping through which the refrigerant flows. The junction has a slope defined by the inside diameter thereof, which gradually decreases from the side of the junction that joins the piping to the side of the junction that joined the capillary tube. An end portion of the capillary tube projects into the junction at the piping side. The projecting end of the capillary tube is opened obliquely to the axial line of the capillary tube. A hole is formed in the peripheral wall of the projecting end of the capillary tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1999
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukio Watanabe, Hisao Wakabayashi, Hironao Numoto, Shinji Watanabe, Akira Fujitaka, Kanji Haneda, Yoshinori Kobayashi, Yuichi Yakumaru, Narito Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 5806326
    Abstract: A refrigeration cycle that controls the deposit of foreign matter at inlet or outlet of a capillary tube, which forms an expansion device in the refrigeration, regardless of changeover from a cooling operation to a heating operation. In particular, in a refrigeration cycle using an alternative refrigerant, a junction is provided for joining an end of a capillary tube forming an expansion device to the piping through which the refrigerant flows. The junction has a slope defined by the inside diameter thereof, which gradually decreases from the side of the junction that joins the piping to the side of the junction that joined the capillary tube. An end portion of the capillary tube projects into the junction at the piping side. The projecting end of the capillary tube is opened obliquely to the axial line of the capillary tube. A hole is formed in the peripheral wall of the projecting end of the capillary tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1998
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukio Watanabe, Hisao Wakabayashi, Hironao Numoto, Shinji Watanabe, Akira Fujitaka, Kanji Haneda, Yoshinori Kobayashi, Yuichi Yakumaru, Narito Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 5552123
    Abstract: A catalyst device is used for a combustion apparatus. The catalyst device is provided with multiple gas flow channels. The gas flow channels are formed by corrugated sheets and flat sheets which are alternatively laminated. One of the sheets is a paper sheet mainly composed of inorganic heat-resistant fibers carrying catalyst metal dispersed thereon, and the other sheet is provided with a thin metal plate. Therefore, the combustion apparatus provided with the catalyst device has a shortened preheating time, produces a reaction heat which is uniform over all the catalyst layers and maintains the stabilized performance for a long time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1996
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hironao Numoto, Tetuo Terashima
  • Patent number: 5504051
    Abstract: To present a ceramic sheet with catalyst high in porosity, excellent in combustion efficiency, and easy to process into any desired shape, an inorganic oxide 4 carrying a noble metal catalyst 5 is dispersed and mixed together with ceramic fibers 1 and an inorganic binder 2, and an inorganic flocculant and an organic binder 3 possessing the flocculating effect are added to form flocs, a sheet is formed by a paper making method, and it is heated at 950.degree. C. or less, thereby obtaining a ceramic sheet carrying the noble metal catalyst in a state of being uniformly dispersed in the entire inner parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 2, 1996
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenichi Nakamura, Kunio Kimura, Hironao Numoto, Tetsuo Terashima
  • Patent number: 5492667
    Abstract: A process for producing a catalyst element including fixing a ceramic sheet to a jig or mold having a predetermined configuration, and thereafter, impregnating the ceramic sheet with a catalyst solution, drying and calcining to allow a catalyst element to retain the predetermined configuration or the catalyst element to be fixed in the mold. The catalyst element may be produced by fixing the ceramic sheet to a metallic thin plate, followed by processing into a predetermined configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 20, 1996
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hironao Numoto, Tetsuo Terashima
  • Patent number: 5385699
    Abstract: A method for producing a honeycomb shaped ceramic having a predetermined shape made of a flat honeycomb molding formed from a composition containing a heat-resistant inorganic material is disclosed. This method comprises the steps of: forming a honeycomb molding from a composition containing heat-resistant inorganic materials, a binder which is gelled when coming in contact with hot water, and a plasticizer; providing the honeycomb molding with flexibility by immersing the honeycomb molding in hot water at a temperature high enough to gel the binder; and sintering the honeycomb molding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1995
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hironao Numoto, Atsushi Nishino, Yukiyoshi Ono
  • Patent number: 5352114
    Abstract: A catalytic burning apparatus includes a mixed gas generator, a air blow fan, a subsidiary catalyst layer, a main catalyst layer, and exhaust openings. The main catalyst layer has a larger thermal capacity than that of the subsidiary catalyst layer and the mixed gas generator, the main catalyst layer, and the exhaust openings are disposed along the flow of premixed gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 4, 1994
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hironao Numoto, Tetsuo Terashima
  • Patent number: 5273692
    Abstract: A method for producing a honeycomb shaped ceramic having a predetermined shape made of a flat honeycomb molding formed from a composition containing a heat-resistant inorganic material is disclosed. This method comprises the steps of: forming a honeycomb molding from a composition containing heat-resistant inorganic materials, a binder which is gelled when coming in contact with hot water, and a plasticizer; providing the honeycomb molding with flexibility by immersing the honeycomb molding in hot water at a temperature high enough to gel the binder; and sintering the honeycomb molding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1993
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hironao Numoto, Atsushi Nishino, Yukiyoshi Ono
  • Patent number: 5195165
    Abstract: A heat generator comprising a quartz tube containing an electric resistor and a catalyst coating layer comprising at least active alumina, silica and a platinum group metal, formed on the surface of the quartz tube can heat a material to be heated and the catalyst coating layer itself because of the catalyst coating layer being provided on the surface of the quartz tube. The catalyst coating layer surrounds the quartz tube and thus efficiently absorbs heat from the electric resistor by radiation and heat conductance, whereby the catalyst coating layer can be heated to the activation temperature within a short time. Furthermore, the heat generator also heats air around the heat generator to circulate the air as a convection air stream around the heat generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1993
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukiyoshi Ono, Atsushi Nishino, Hironao Numoto
  • Patent number: 4900703
    Abstract: A ceramic having improved thermal shock resistance is produced by a method comprising firing a mixture comprising at least one compound selected from the group consisting of a sulfate, nitrate, carbonate, oxide, hydroxide, acetate and oxalate of an alkali metal or an alkaline earth metal, titanium oxide, rehydratable alumina, optionally silica and optionally a rare earth element compound at a temperature in the range of 1,000.degree. C. to 1,300.degree. C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 13, 1990
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukiyoshi Ono, Atsushi Nishino, Yasuhiro Takeuchi, Hironao Numoto