Patents by Inventor Katsuhiko Makino

Katsuhiko Makino 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: 9702322
    Abstract: A vaporized fuel processing apparatus includes a case and a heating unit removably attached to the case by a twist lock structure. The case has a tank port and a purge port and contains an adsorbent therein. The tank port communicates with a fuel tank. The purge port communicates with an internal combustion engine. The heating unit has an atmospheric port and a heater. The atmospheric port is open to the atmosphere. The heater is disposed between the atmospheric port and the adsorbent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: AISAN KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Katsuhiko Makino, Osamu Fujimura
  • Patent number: 9631584
    Abstract: A heat storage member housed in a canister together with an adsorbent capable of adsorbing fuel vapor has a sealed container and a phase-change material housed in the sealed container. The phase-change material becomes semisolid gel state at the melting point of the phase-change material. The phase-change material is disposed along an entire inner surface of the sealed container such that a space capable of compensating for volume alteration of the phase-change material caused by phase-change is formed at a center of an inner space of the sealed container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: AISAN KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Katsuhiko Makino
  • Patent number: 9556830
    Abstract: A vaporized fuel processing apparatus has a casing defining an adsorption chamber therein and having a tank port, a purge port, and an atmospheric port. The tank port is connected to a fuel tank. The purge port is connected to an internal combustion engine. The atmospheric port is open to the atmosphere. A heater is disposed between the adsorption chamber and the atmospheric port and has a fin heat exchanger and a heating element. The heating element is configured to generate heat by electricity supply. The fin heat exchanger is joined to the heating element. The surface area of the fin heat exchanger between the heating element and the adsorption chamber is larger than the surface area of the fin heat exchanger between the heating element and the atmospheric port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: AISAN KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Katsuhiko Makino, Junya Kimoto
  • Patent number: 9482190
    Abstract: An evaporated fuel treating apparatus, comprising a passage allowing circulation of fluid inside, a tank port and a purge port at one end of the passage, and an atmospheric port at the other end of the passage, and provided with a plurality of adsorption chambers each filled with granular activated carbon or crushed activated carbon in the passage, and a support member set between a first adsorption chamber located closest to the atmospheric port in the plurality of adsorption chambers and a second adsorption chamber located on the tank port side of the first adsorption chamber in the plurality of adsorption chambers, to space the first and second adsorption chambers apart from each other, and at least a part of the support member can adsorb evaporated fuel components. With this configuration, evaporated fuel components escaping to the outside through the atmospheric port are reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: Aisan Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Katsuhiko Makino
  • Publication number: 20160298578
    Abstract: A fuel vapor processing apparatus may include a canister. A negative pressure applying device for applying a negative pressure to the canister may be disposed in a purge passage communicating between the canister and an intake pipe of an engine. A pressure adjusting device may be disposed in a portion of the purge passage communicating between the fuel tank and the negative pressure applying device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2016
    Publication date: October 13, 2016
    Applicant: AISAN KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Katsuhiko MAKINO, Atsushi SUGIMOTO, Keisuke WAKAMATSU
  • Publication number: 20160258389
    Abstract: A fuel vapor recovery apparatus includes an adsorbent canister capable of capturing fuel vapor, a vapor passage connecting the adsorbent canister to a fuel tank. In addition, the apparatus includes an atmospheric air passage communicating the adsorbent canister with the atmosphere, a purge passage coupling the adsorbent canister to an intake pipe of an internal combustion engine, a purge pump configured to generate a gas flow from the adsorbent canister to the intake pipe through the purge passage, and a flow control valve provided at the purge passage downstream of the purge pump in a direction of the gas flow and configured to regulate the gas flow through the purge passage. Further, the apparatus includes a decompressor configured to decrease pressure upstream of the flow control valve when the pressure upstream of the flow control valve in the direction of the gas flow is higher than the atmospheric pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2016
    Publication date: September 8, 2016
    Applicant: AISAN KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Katsuhiko MAKINO
  • Publication number: 20160258390
    Abstract: A fuel vapor recovery apparatus includes an adsorbent canister capable of capturing fuel vapor, a vapor passage connecting the adsorbent canister to a fuel tank, an atmospheric air passage communicating the adsorbent canister with the atmosphere, and a purge passage coupling the adsorbent canister to an intake pipe of an internal combustion engine. In addition, the apparatus includes a purge pump configured to generate a gas flow from the adsorbent canister to the intake pipe through the purge passage, and a flow control valve provided at the purge passage and configured to regulate the gas flow through the purge passage. Further, the apparatus includes a pressure regulator configured to make an absolute value of pressure at an outlet side of the purge pump smaller than an absolute value of pressure at an inlet side of the purge pump while the purge pump is driven.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2016
    Publication date: September 8, 2016
    Applicant: AISAN KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Katsuhiko MAKINO
  • Publication number: 20160186698
    Abstract: A fuel vapor recovery apparatus includes an adsorbent canister capable of capturing fuel vapor produced in a fuel tank, a purge passage connecting the adsorbent canister to an intake passage of an engine, and a purge pump for delivering fuel vapor from the adsorbent canister to the intake passage via the purge passage. The purge pump has a pump part and a motor part configured to drive the pump part. The fuel vapor recovery apparatus further includes a prevention mechanism for preventing liquid fuel liquefied from the fuel vapor in the purge passage from entering the motor part through the pump part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2015
    Publication date: June 30, 2016
    Applicant: AISAN KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Keisuke WAKAMATSU, Katsuhiko MAKINO, Atsushi SUGIMOTO
  • Publication number: 20160186694
    Abstract: A combination of a vaporized fuel treating device and a blow-by gas returning device for an engine having a forced induction device may include an ejector. The ejector is disposed in a bypass passage that is in communication with an intake conduit at portions positioned upstream and downstream of the forced induction device. The ejector is configured to receive a boost gas generated by the forced induction device and to generate negative pressures therein, so as to supply the generated negative pressures to a purge conduit of the vaporized fuel treating device and a blow-by gas returning conduit of the blow-by gas returning device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2015
    Publication date: June 30, 2016
    Inventors: Keisuke WAKAMATSU, Rui ONODA, Katsuhiko MAKINO
  • Publication number: 20160131052
    Abstract: A fuel vapor processing apparatus may include a canister and a purge device. The purge device may desorb fuel vapor from the canister and purge the desorbed fuel vapor to an engine. The fuel vapor processing apparatus may further include a purge control device. The purge control device may obtain a target purge quantity to be desorbed from the canister at a point of time during an operation of the engine. In addition, the purge control device may control a purge quantity during the operation of the engine such that the purge quantity reaches the target purge quantity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2015
    Publication date: May 12, 2016
    Applicant: AISAN KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Katsuhiko MAKINO
  • Publication number: 20160131090
    Abstract: A vaporized fuel processing apparatus for an engine, which includes an air supply passage equipped with a throttle valve, has an adsorbent canister and a purge passage communicating the adsorbent canister with the air supply passage of the engine. The adsorbent canister is adapted to communicate with a fuel tank. The purge passage includes a first purge passage and a second purge passage such that the first purge passage is formed in parallel with the second purge passage. The first purge passage has a first purge valve. The second purge passage has in series a second purge valve and a purge pump. The first purge passage and the second purge passage are configured such that pressure loss in the second purge passage is less than pressure loss in the first purge passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2015
    Publication date: May 12, 2016
    Applicant: AISAN KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Katsuhiko MAKINO
  • Publication number: 20160123280
    Abstract: A vaporized fuel processing apparatus for an engine, which includes an intake passage equipped with a supercharging device and a throttle valve, has an adsorbent canister and a purge passage. The adsorbent canister is adapted to communicate with a fuel tank. The purge passage communicates the adsorbent canister with the intake passage of the engine. The purge passage has in series a purge valve for controlling communication through the purge passage and a purge pump for generating gas flow from the adsorbent canister toward the intake passage. The purge passage includes a sub-passage for communicating the adsorbent canister with the intake passage without passing through the purge pump. The purge passage divides into a first passage connected to the intake passage downstream of the throttle valve and a second passage connected to the intake passage upstream of the supercharging device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2015
    Publication date: May 5, 2016
    Applicant: AISAN KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Katsuhiko MAKINO
  • Publication number: 20160084208
    Abstract: A vaporized fuel processing apparatus includes a case and a heating unit removably attached to the case by a twist lock structure. The case has a tank port and a purge port and contains an adsorbent therein. The tank port communicates with a fuel tank. The purge port communicates with an internal combustion engine. The heating unit has an atmospheric port and a heater. The atmospheric port is open to the atmosphere. The heater is disposed between the atmospheric port and the adsorbent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2015
    Publication date: March 24, 2016
    Applicant: AISAN KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Katsuhiko MAKINO, Osamu FUJIMURA
  • Publication number: 20160076490
    Abstract: A vaporized fuel processing apparatus has a casing defining an adsorption chamber therein and having a tank port, a purge port, and an atmospheric port. The tank port is connected to a fuel tank. The purge port is connected to an internal combustion engine. The atmospheric port is open to the atmosphere. A heater is disposed between the adsorption chamber and the atmospheric port and has a fin heat exchanger and a heating element. The heating element is configured to generate heat by electricity supply. The fin heat exchanger is joined to the heating element. The surface area of the fin heat exchanger between the heating element and the adsorption chamber is larger than the surface area of the fin heat exchanger between the heating element and the atmospheric port.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2015
    Publication date: March 17, 2016
    Applicant: AISAN KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Katsuhiko MAKINO, Junya KIMOTO
  • Patent number: 9115674
    Abstract: One aspect according to the present teachings includes a fuel vapor processing device including a housing having a first port for introduction of fuel vapor, a second port for introduction of negative pressure, and a third port communicating with an atmosphere. An adsorption material is disposed within the housing. In a desorption mode, fuel vapor desorbed by the adsorption material is desorbed from the adsorption material as air flows into the housing via the third port and flows out of the second port. A plurality of heaters are disposed within the housing and are arranged along a path of flow of air from the third port to the second port in the adsorption mode. A controller controls the heaters such that the heaters start to heat the adsorption material in order of the air flow direction from the third port to the second port. The controller preferably also terminates heating of the adsorption material in the same manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: AISAN KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Katsuhiko Makino, Shota Yamanaka
  • Patent number: 9100993
    Abstract: A heating device may include an electric heating element configured to generate heat, a heat radiation element, and an electrical insulation member interposed between the electric heating element and the heat radiation element. The electrical insulation member may be bonded to both of the electric heating element and the heat radiation element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: AISAN KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Katsuhiko Makino
  • Patent number: 9074561
    Abstract: A fuel vapor processing device may include a casing having an adsorption chamber defined therein, an adsorption material disposed within the adsorption chamber, a heating device capable of heating the adsorption material, and a passage member communicating between the adsorption chamber and the atmosphere. The passage member defines a flow space facing to an outer circumferential surface of the casing, so that heat can be transmitted between the adsorption chamber and the flow space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: AISAN KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Katsuhiko Makino
  • Publication number: 20150107561
    Abstract: A heat storage member housed in a canister together with an adsorbent capable of adsorbing fuel vapor has a sealed container and a phase-change material housed in the sealed container. The phase-change material becomes semisolid gel state at the melting point of the phase-change material. The phase-change material is disposed along an entire inner surface of the sealed container such that a space capable of compensating for volume alteration of the phase-change material caused by phase-change is formed at a center of an inner space of the sealed container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2014
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Applicant: AISAN KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Katsuhiko MAKINO
  • Publication number: 20150098847
    Abstract: An electric vacuum pump includes a rotary member including an armature and a commutator; a brush arranged to slide in contact with the commutator; a motor part provided with a rotary shaft integral with the rotary member; a pump part connected to the rotary shaft and configured to operate in sync with the motor part; and a bearing supporting the rotary shaft between the motor part and the pump part, the commutator and the brush being placed on a non-pump side opposite to a pump side on which the pump part is placed in an axial direction of the rotary shaft with respect to the armature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2014
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Inventors: Atsushi SUGIMOTO, Katsuhiko MAKINO, Shota YAMANAKA
  • Publication number: 20150096355
    Abstract: A failure detecting device for a fuel vapor processing system may include a leakage determination device configured to determine leakage of fuel vapor from a target region of the fuel vapor processing system. The leakage determination device may include a canister closed valve provided in an atmospheric passage connected between a canister and an atmosphere. The canister closed valve may switch between an open position and a closed upon receiving a supply of electric power, and may maintain the open position or the closed position when no electric power is received.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2014
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Applicant: AISAN KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Katsuhiko MAKINO, Mamoru YOSHIOKA, Minoru AKITA, Masanobu SHINAGAWA