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).

  • Publication number: 20210221075
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2020
    Publication date: July 22, 2021
    Inventor: Ken HATTA
  • Publication number: 20210221071
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2020
    Publication date: July 22, 2021
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Ken Hatta
  • Publication number: 20210221076
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2020
    Publication date: July 22, 2021
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Ken Hatta
  • Patent number: 11027459
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, KOYO THERMO SYSTEMS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ken Hatta, Yasuhiro Sasaki
  • Patent number: 10926433
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Ken Hatta
  • Patent number: 10889051
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Ken Hatta
  • Patent number: 10792845
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, KOYO THERMO SYSTEMS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ken Hatta, Yasuhiro Sasaki
  • Publication number: 20200282633
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2020
    Publication date: September 10, 2020
    Inventor: Ken HATTA
  • Publication number: 20200224823
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2019
    Publication date: July 16, 2020
    Inventor: Ken HATTA
  • Patent number: 10703023
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, KOYO THERMO SYSTEMS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ken Hatta, Yasuhiro Sasaki
  • Publication number: 20200198189
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2019
    Publication date: June 25, 2020
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Ken HATTA
  • Publication number: 20190091919
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2018
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Ken HATTA
  • Publication number: 20190084249
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2018
    Publication date: March 21, 2019
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Ken HATTA
  • Publication number: 20180333900
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2018
    Publication date: November 22, 2018
    Applicants: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Koyo Thermo Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ken HATTA, Yasuhiro SASAKI
  • Publication number: 20180281240
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2018
    Publication date: October 4, 2018
    Applicants: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, KOYO THERMO SYSTEMS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ken HATTA, Yasuhiro SASAKI
  • Patent number: 10087042
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Murata Machinery, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ken Hatta, Motohiro Tanigawa, Daigoro Nakamura
  • Patent number: 9962886
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Ken Hatta
  • Patent number: 9796557
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignees: MURATA MACHINERY, LTD., TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Motohiro Tanigawa, Daigoro Nakamura, Ken Hatta
  • Patent number: 9796128
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignees: MURATA MACHINERY, LTD., TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Motohiro Tanigawa, Tadashi Uozumi, Daigoro Nakamura, Ken Hatta
  • Patent number: 9751719
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignees: MURATA MACHINERY, LTD, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Motohiro Tanigawa, Daigoro Nakamura, Tadashi Uozumi, Ken Hatta