Patents by Inventor Kotaro Kuzuya

Kotaro Kuzuya 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: 11906059
    Abstract: Not only a cylindrical weight is inserted with a clearance around an outside of a first axis part or a second axis part that extends opposite to the first axis part and is movable freely in an axial direction but also an annular seat surface on which the cylindrical weight is able to be seated by self-weight is provided with a governor valve. A projecting part(s) is provided with only a part in circumferential direction of one of the annular seat surface and a lower end surface of the cylindrical weight. The cylindrical weight is made sure to be supported on the annular seat surface in an inclined state from an upright posture by contact of the projecting part(s) with the other of the annular seat surface and the lower end surface of the cylindrical weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: RINNAI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Katsuya Noritake, Kotaro Kuzuya
  • Publication number: 20230323968
    Abstract: Not only a cylindrical weight is inserted with a clearance around an outside of a first axis part or a second axis part that extends opposite to the first axis part and is movable freely in an axial direction but also an annular seat surface on which the cylindrical weight is able to be seated by self-weight is provided with a governor valve. A projecting part(s) is provided with only a part in circumferential direction of one of the annular seat surface and a lower end surface of the cylindrical weight. The cylindrical weight is made sure to be supported on the annular seat surface in an inclined state from an upright posture by contact of the projecting part(s) with the other of the annular seat surface and the lower end surface of the cylindrical weight.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2023
    Publication date: October 12, 2023
    Applicant: RINNAI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Katsuya Noritake, Kotaro Kuzuya
  • Publication number: 20230115783
    Abstract: A flow regulating valve in which a needle valve body is arranged to be moved axially by a motor through a motion conversion mechanism. The motion conversion mechanism has: a guide member having formed therein axially elongated slits with which cam pins fixed to the needle valve body are slidably engaged, the guide member being coupled to the motor; and a cam body having formed spirally shaped cam parts with which the cam pins are engaged such that the cam body is prevented from rotating relative to a valve casing. The valve casing includes inside thereof a deformation-restricting element having a female type of fitting part into the inside of which the forward-direction-side end part of the cam body gets fitted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2022
    Publication date: April 13, 2023
    Applicant: RINNAI CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kotaro Kuzuya
  • Patent number: 11466790
    Abstract: An electrically operated gas flow regulating valve in which a needle valve body (2) is moved axially through a motion conversion mechanism (4) by the rotation of an electric motor (3). The motion conversion mechanism (4) includes: a guide tube (5) in which is formed axially elongated slits (51) with which cam pins (21) fixed to the needle valve (2) are slidably engaged; and a tubular cam body (6) having a spiral cam part with which the cam pins (21) are engages through elongated slits (51). In an arrangement in which one of the guide tube (5) and the cam body (6), e.g., the guide tube (5), is rotated by the electric motor (3), hysteresis is restrained from occurring. The cam part disposed in the cam body (6) is constituted by a spirally inclined sides (61) with which the cam pins (21) are brought into contact from axial one direction. A spring member (7) is disposed so as to urge the cam pins (21) in the other of the axial directions toward the spirally inclined sides (61).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: RINNAI CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kotaro Kuzuya
  • Publication number: 20220042618
    Abstract: An electrically operated gas flow regulating valve in which a needle valve body (2) is moved axially through a motion conversion mechanism (4) by the rotation of an electric motor (3). The motion conversion mechanism (4) includes: a guide tube (5) in which is formed axially elongated slits (51) with which cam pins (21) fixed to the needle valve (2) are slidably engaged; and a tubular cam body (6) having a spiral cam part with which the cam pins (21) are engages through elongated slits (51). In an arrangement in which one of the guide tube (5) and the cam body (6), e.g., the guide tube (5), is rotated by the electric motor (3), hysteresis is restrained from occurring. The cam part disposed in the cam body (6) is constituted by a spirally inclined sides (61) with which the cam pins (21) are brought into contact from axial one direction. A spring member (7) is disposed so as to urge the cam pins (21) in the other of the axial directions toward the spirally inclined sides (61).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2021
    Publication date: February 10, 2022
    Applicant: RINNAI CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kotaro Kuzuya
  • Patent number: 10859177
    Abstract: An electrically operated gas flow regulating valve causes a needle valve body to move axially by the rotation of an electric motor through a motion conversion mechanism. The mechanism includes: a rotating body rotated by the electric motor; a cylindrical cam body prevented from rotating; a cam pin which is engaged with a spiral cam groove formed in the cam body and which is fixed to the needle valve body. The cam body is divided into two parts of a forward-side half part and backward-side half part with the cam groove serving as a boundary. The backward-side half part is urged by a coil spring in the forward direction such that the cam pin is pinched between the forward-side side edge of cam groove formed in the forward-side half part and the backward-side side edge of cam groove formed in the backward-side half part, thereby restraining the occurrence of hysteresis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: RINNAI CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kotaro Kuzuya
  • Publication number: 20200232574
    Abstract: An electrically operated gas flow regulating valve causes a needle valve body to move axially by the rotation of an electric motor through a motion conversion mechanism. The mechanism includes: a rotating body rotated by the electric motor; a cylindrical cam body prevented from rotating; a cam pin which is engaged with a spiral cam groove formed in the cam body and which is fixed to the needle valve body. The cam body is divided into two parts of a forward-side half part and backward-side half part with the cam groove serving as a boundary. The backward-side half part is urged by a coil spring in the forward direction such that the cam pin is pinched between the forward-side side edge of cam groove formed in the forward-side half part and the backward-side side edge of cam groove formed in the backward-side half part, thereby restraining the occurrence of hysteresis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2019
    Publication date: July 23, 2020
    Applicant: RINNAI CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kotaro Kuzuya
  • Patent number: 10422432
    Abstract: Provided is a safety valve that can be satisfactorily closed. A safety valve includes a first valve port (13) and a first valve body (4) that are provided in a gas flow channel. The safety valve further includes an attracting part (3) that attracts the first valve body (4) by magnetic force. The safety valve further includes an electric drive mechanism (2) that moves the attracting part (3). The safety valve further includes a second valve port (14) and a second valve body (34) that are provided upstream of the first valve port (13). The second valve body (34) is provided on the attracting part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: RINNAI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kotaro Kuzuya, Yuichi Hayashi
  • Publication number: 20180252319
    Abstract: Provided is a safety valve that can be satisfactorily closed. A safety valve includes a first valve port (13) and a first valve body (4) that are provided in a gas flow channel. The safety valve further includes an attracting part (3) that attracts the first valve body (4) by magnetic force. The safety valve further includes an electric drive mechanism (2) that moves the attracting part (3). The safety valve further includes a second valve port (14) and a second valve body (34) that are provided upstream of the first valve port (13). The second valve body (34) is provided on the attracting part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2016
    Publication date: September 6, 2018
    Inventors: Kotaro Kuzuya, Yuichi Hayashi