Patents by Inventor Ken Hatta
Ken Hatta 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).
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Publication number: 20210221075Abstract: Provided is a method for manufacturing a fiber reinforced resin molded article capable of distributing the pressure without concentration on the vicinity of the resin inlet and so preventing the deformation of a preform, and such a manufacturing device thereof. The method lowers a lower core as a moving core in a lower mold (first mold) (away from a preform) to let resin flow toward the lower mold (first mold). This distributes the pressure concentrated in the vicinity of the resin inlet and prevents deformation of the preform.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 8, 2020Publication date: July 22, 2021Inventor: Ken HATTA
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Publication number: 20210221071Abstract: Provided is a method for manufacturing a fiber reinforced resin molded article capable of preventing oxidation and degradation of a liner making up a preform at a high temperature, and such a manufacturing device thereof. Prior to pouring resin into a mold, the method fills inert gas (nitrogen gas, for example) into the mold. After filling inert gas (nitrogen gas, for example) into the mold, the method closes an upper mold (second mold) placed with a gap (second gap) with a preform (i.e., brings it closer to the preform).Type: ApplicationFiled: December 16, 2020Publication date: July 22, 2021Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Ken Hatta
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Publication number: 20210221076Abstract: Provided is a method for manufacturing a fiber reinforced resin molded article capable of effectively suppressing formation of a weld line, and such a manufacturing device thereof. Even with multiple gates (resin inlets), resin is poured from a second gate (second resin inlet) when resin flow is detected at the second gate (second resin inlet), and then the resin poured from a first gate (first resin inlet) and the resin poured from the second gate (second resin inlet) are made smoothly meet.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 15, 2020Publication date: July 22, 2021Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Ken Hatta
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Patent number: 11027459Abstract: Provided is a fuel tank producing apparatus capable of uniformly heating a tank container in a short period of time. The fuel tank producing apparatus includes a heat curing furnace for heating the tank container and a hot air generator for generating hot air. The heat curing furnace is internally provided with a nozzle for blowing the hot air onto the surface of the tank container, and externally provided with a rotating portion for rotating the tank container about the central axis thereof. The nozzle is located at a position displaced to the left relative to the vertical direction to the central axis of the tank container as viewed from the direction of the central axis of the tank container. The rotating portion is configured to rotate the tank container in the reverse direction of a direction in which the hot air is blown from the nozzle.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2018Date of Patent: June 8, 2021Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, KOYO THERMO SYSTEMS CO., LTD.Inventors: Ken Hatta, Yasuhiro Sasaki
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Patent number: 10926433Abstract: A method for manufacturing a high-pressure tank, capable of removing bubbles inside a carbon-fiber layer and those on an outer surface thereof without deteriorating a strength of the carbon-fiber layer, preventing a defective appearance, reducing variations in size, and thereby manufacturing a high-pressure tank having an excellent strength is provided. A method for manufacturing a high-pressure tank includes an uncured carbon-fiber layer forming step of forming an uncured carbon-fiber layer around a liner, a glass-fiber layer forming step of forming an uncured glass-fiber layer around the uncured carbon-fiber layer, a pin inserting step of inserting a tubular pin disposed therein from an uncured glass-fiber layer side to an interface of the uncured carbon-fiber layer, a gas sucking step of sucking a gas from the pin, and a thermally-curing treatment step of forming a glass-fiber layer and a carbon-fiber layer.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2019Date of Patent: February 23, 2021Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Ken Hatta
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Patent number: 10889051Abstract: A high-pressure tank fabrication method includes a pre-form fabrication step and a molding step. In the pre-form fabrication step a pre-form is fabricated by winding dry fiber bundles with different thicknesses (first fiber bundles and second fiber bundles) onto a liner in a state in which the dry fiber bundles with different thicknesses are made to be adjacent to one another. In the molding step, molding includes disposing the pre-form fabricated in the pre-form fabrication step in a mold and injecting resin.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 2018Date of Patent: January 12, 2021Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Ken Hatta
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Patent number: 10792845Abstract: A fuel tank producing apparatus that allows the thickness of a resin on the surface of a tank container to be uniform and that is capable of improving the curing quality of the tank container. The fuel tank producing apparatus includes a conveyor for conveying the tank container, a plurality of heating chambers for heating the tank container during the conveyance, a cooling furnace for cooling the tank container at a position downstream of the plurality of heating chambers in the conveying direction, a gas supplier for supplying gas to the plurality of heating chambers, a plurality of nozzles for blowing the gas supplied from the gas supplier onto the surface of the tank container in the plurality of heating chambers, and a plurality of plug heaters for heating the gas between the gas supplier and the plurality of nozzles.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2018Date of Patent: October 6, 2020Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, KOYO THERMO SYSTEMS CO., LTD.Inventors: Ken Hatta, Yasuhiro Sasaki
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Publication number: 20200282633Abstract: A manufacturing method for a high-pressure tank is a manufacturing method for a high-pressure tank including a reinforced layer formed such that an electrically conductive fiber bundle impregnated with thermosetting resin is wound around a liner. The manufacturing method includes: a step of preparing the tank in which the uncured reinforced layer is formed on the liner; a first heating step of heating the uncured reinforced layer by low-frequency induction heating so the thermosetting resin is softened; and a second heating step of, after the first heating step, heating the softened reinforced layer by high-frequency induction heating so that the softened reinforced layer is hardened.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 24, 2020Publication date: September 10, 2020Inventor: Ken HATTA
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Publication number: 20200224823Abstract: A method for producing a high-pressure tank capable of winding a reinforcing fiber bundle around a liner without deteriorating tank performance. The method for producing a high-pressure tank by winding a resin-impregnated strip-shaped reinforcing fiber bundle around a rotating liner so as to form a fiber-reinforced resin layer on the outer surface of the liner includes while winding the strip-shaped reinforcing fiber bundle around the liner, concurrently winding another bundle of fibers narrower than the strip-shaped reinforcing fiber bundle around the liner so as to cross the strip-shaped reinforcing fiber bundle.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 26, 2019Publication date: July 16, 2020Inventor: Ken HATTA
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Patent number: 10703023Abstract: Provided is a fuel tank producing apparatus capable of uniformly heating a tank container in a short period of time. The fuel tank producing apparatus includes a heat curing furnace for heating the tank container and a hot air generator for generating hot air. The heat curing furnace is internally provided with a nozzle for blowing the hot air onto the surface of the tank container, and externally provided with a rotating portion for rotating the tank container about the central axis thereof. The nozzle is located at a position displaced to the left relative to the vertical direction to the central axis of the tank container as viewed from the direction of the central axis of the tank container. The rotating portion is configured to rotate the tank container in the reverse direction of a direction in which the hot air is blown from the nozzle.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2018Date of Patent: July 7, 2020Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, KOYO THERMO SYSTEMS CO., LTD.Inventors: Ken Hatta, Yasuhiro Sasaki
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Publication number: 20200198189Abstract: A method for manufacturing a high-pressure tank, capable of removing bubbles inside a carbon-fiber layer and those on an outer surface thereof without deteriorating a strength of the carbon-fiber layer, preventing a defective appearance, reducing variations in size, and thereby manufacturing a high-pressure tank having an excellent strength is provided. A method for manufacturing a high-pressure tank includes an uncured carbon-fiber layer forming step of forming an uncured carbon-fiber layer around a liner, a glass-fiber layer forming step of forming an uncured glass-fiber layer around the uncured carbon-fiber layer, a pin inserting step of inserting a tubular pin disposed therein from an uncured glass-fiber layer side to an interface of the uncured carbon-fiber layer, a gas sucking step of sucking a gas from the pin, and a thermally-curing treatment step of forming a glass-fiber layer and a carbon-fiber layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 30, 2019Publication date: June 25, 2020Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Ken HATTA
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Publication number: 20190091919Abstract: A high-pressure tank fabrication method includes a pre-form fabrication step and a molding step. In the pre-form fabrication step a pre-form is fabricated by winding dry fiber bundles with different thicknesses (first fiber bundles and second fiber bundles) onto a liner in a state in which the dry fiber bundles with different thicknesses are made to be adjacent to one another. In the molding step, molding includes disposing the pre-form fabricated in the pre-form fabrication step in a mold and injecting resin.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 24, 2018Publication date: March 28, 2019Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Ken HATTA
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Publication number: 20190084249Abstract: A manufacturing method for a pressure tank includes disposing a preform, in which a fiber layer is formed on an outer surface of a liner that forms an internal space of a pressure tank, within a mold, and rotating the preform in a circumferential direction within the mold with a central axis of the preform as a rotation center while resin is injected toward the preform disposed within the mold from a gate.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 19, 2018Publication date: March 21, 2019Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Ken HATTA
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Publication number: 20180333900Abstract: A fuel tank producing apparatus that allows the thickness of a resin on the surface of a tank container to be uniform and that is capable of improving the curing quality of the tank container. The fuel tank producing apparatus includes a conveyor for conveying the tank container, a plurality of heating chambers for heating the tank container during the conveyance, a cooling furnace for cooling the tank container at a position downstream of the plurality of heating chambers in the conveying direction, a gas supplier for supplying gas to the plurality of heating chambers, a plurality of nozzles for blowing the gas supplied from the gas supplier onto the surface of the tank container in the plurality of heating chambers, and a plurality of plug heaters for heating the gas between the gas supplier and the plurality of nozzles.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 2, 2018Publication date: November 22, 2018Applicants: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Koyo Thermo Systems Co., Ltd.Inventors: Ken HATTA, Yasuhiro SASAKI
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Publication number: 20180281240Abstract: Provided is a fuel tank producing apparatus capable of uniformly heating a tank container in a short period of time. The fuel tank producing apparatus includes a heat curing furnace for heating the tank container and a hot air generator for generating hot air. The heat curing furnace is internally provided with a nozzle for blowing the hot air onto the surface of the tank container, and externally provided with a rotating portion for rotating the tank container about the central axis thereof. The nozzle is located at a position displaced to the left relative to the vertical direction to the central axis of the tank container as viewed from the direction of the central axis of the tank container. The rotating portion is configured to rotate the tank container in the reverse direction of a direction in which the hot air is blown from the nozzle.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 5, 2018Publication date: October 4, 2018Applicants: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, KOYO THERMO SYSTEMS CO., LTD.Inventors: Ken HATTA, Yasuhiro SASAKI
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Patent number: 10087042Abstract: In a tank manufacturing method using a helical winding device that winds fiber bundles around a mandrel, the device includes: a first guide ring having an opening to pass the mandrel therethrough and placed around the mandrel with an axial center of the mandrel being taken as a center; and a plurality of first guide portions placed in the first guide ring along a circumferential direction around the axial center and configured to supply first fiber bundles to the mandrel. The method includes: moving the mandrel relative to the first guide ring along an axial center direction along the axial center such that the mandrel passes through the opening; and winding the fiber bundles around the mandrel while relatively moving the mandrel in the moving, by the first guide portions supplying the first fiber bundles to the mandrel with the first guide portions swinging in the circumferential direction.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 2015Date of Patent: October 2, 2018Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Murata Machinery, Ltd.Inventors: Ken Hatta, Motohiro Tanigawa, Daigoro Nakamura
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Patent number: 9962886Abstract: An object is to control the position of a fiber bundle on a roller of a guide assembly in a filament winding apparatus. There is provided a filament winding apparatus that winds a fiber bundle consisting of a plurality of fibers on an outer surface of a liner and comprises a fiber feeder configured to feed the fiber bundle; and a guide assembly including a roller configured to guide the fiber bundle fed by the fiber feeder to the outer surface of the liner while making the fiber bundle in contact with the roller. The roller comprises a suction hole configured to suck the outside air and is provided in at least a surface of the roller that is to be in contact with the fiber bundle; and a suction unit configured to suck the outside air from the suction hole with such a suction force that draws the fiber bundle in contact with the roller.Type: GrantFiled: February 24, 2016Date of Patent: May 8, 2018Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Ken Hatta
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Patent number: 9796557Abstract: This bobbin unwinding device (32A (32B)) is provided with a bobbin support shaft (33) which rotatably supports a bobbin (B) around which a band-like fiber bundle (F) is wound, a fixed guide (35) which changes the running direction of the fiber bundle (F) unwound from the bobbin (B), and an auxiliary roller (34) arranged between the bobbin (B) and the fixed guide (35), wherein the fixed guide (35) is arranged such that the shaft center of the fixed guide (35) is substantially perpendicular to the shaft center of the bobbin support shaft (33), and the auxiliary roller (34) is arranged such that the shaft center of the auxiliary roller (34) is parallel or substantially parallel to the shaft center of the bobbin support shaft (33).Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 2012Date of Patent: October 24, 2017Assignees: MURATA MACHINERY, LTD., TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Motohiro Tanigawa, Daigoro Nakamura, Ken Hatta
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Patent number: 9796128Abstract: With regard to a filament winding device in which a plurality of fiber bundles are simultaneously wound around a liner, a tension detecting portion and a tension adjusting portion are miniaturized, the cost of the tension detecting portion and the tension adjusting portion is reduced, and the tension detecting portion and the tension adjusting portion are easily arranged. Provided is a filament winding device 100 that includes a tension adjusting portion 110 that collectively adjusts tension of a plurality of fiber bundles F unreeled from a plurality of bobbins B and an unreeling failure detecting portion 130 that individually detects the unreeling failure of the fiber bundles F on the bobbins B for each bobbin B.Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 2013Date of Patent: October 24, 2017Assignees: MURATA MACHINERY, LTD., TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Motohiro Tanigawa, Tadashi Uozumi, Daigoro Nakamura, Ken Hatta
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Patent number: 9751719Abstract: A filament winding device (100) comprising a liner support device (42) supporting a liner (1), and a hoop winding device (43) that winds a fiber bundle (F) on to the outer peripheral surface (1S) of the liner (1) by rotating centered around the liner (1). The filament winding device (100) is characterized by being capable of simultaneously transporting the liner (1) and the hoop winding device (43), by having the liner support device (42) and the hoop winding device (43) arranged upon a trolley (40A), and moving the trolley (40A).Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2013Date of Patent: September 5, 2017Assignees: MURATA MACHINERY, LTD, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Motohiro Tanigawa, Daigoro Nakamura, Tadashi Uozumi, Ken Hatta