Patents by Inventor Masao Iguchi

Masao Iguchi 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: 20130025277
    Abstract: A waste heat regeneration system includes a pump, a coolant boiler, an exhaust gas boiler, an expander, a condenser, a gas-liquid separator and a supercooler. A flow control valve maintains a temperature difference (T1-T2) at a predetermined value or less by adjusting the amount of an operating fluid which flows in a bypass flow path through the control of an opening degree based on a pressure difference (P1-P2) corresponding to the temperature difference (T1-T2) between the temperature (T1) of the operating fluid on the upstream side of the supercooler and the temperature (T2) of the operating fluid on the downstream side thereof. Accordingly, the degree of supercooling is prevented from becoming excessive and the waste heat regeneration efficiency of a Rankine cycle device can be maintained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2011
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventors: Fuminobu Enokijima, Masao Iguchi, Hidefumi Mori
  • Publication number: 20130014505
    Abstract: A waste heat regeneration system includes a pump, a coolant boiler, an exhaust gas boiler, an expander, a first condenser, a gas/liquid separator, and a supercooler. A first flow control valve adjusts the amount of an operating fluid circulating in a first bypass flow path by controlling its opening degree based on a pressure difference P1?P2 corresponding to a temperature difference T1?T2 between the temperature T1 of the operating fluid on the upstream side of the supercooler and the temperature T2 of the operating fluid on the downstream side thereof, thereby maintaining the temperature difference T1?T2 so as to be larger than or equal to a predetermined value necessary for preventing the generation of cavitation in the pump, and ensuring the degree of supercooling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2011
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventors: Fuminobu Enokijima, Hidefumi Mori, Masao Iguchi
  • Patent number: 8353692
    Abstract: A scroll type compressor has a housing, a rotary shaft, a fixed scroll member, a movable scroll member and a rotation preventing mechanism. The rotation preventing mechanism has a movable pin that is provided on the surface of movable end plate and extends toward end surface of the housing in parallel with an axis of the rotary shaft, a fixed pin that is provided on the end surface of the housing and extends toward the surface of the movable end plate in parallel with the axis of the movable pin, a rolling element that is disposed between the movable and the fixed pins, being contactable with the movable and the fixed pins and a retainer retaining the rolling element between the movable and the fixed pins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Jidoshokki
    Inventors: Hidefumi Mori, Masao Iguchi
  • Publication number: 20120304643
    Abstract: A waste heat recovery mechanism and a waste heat recovery apparatus generate electricity even when an expander, which is coupled to a combustion engine outputting rotational drive force, is locked. The waste heat recovery mechanism includes an alternator having a rotary shaft, which is coupled to and driven to rotate by a combustion engine, and an expander having an output shaft, which is coupled to the rotary shaft of the alternator. The output shaft applies a rotational drive force to the rotary shaft, thereby assisting rotation of the rotary shaft. A torque limiter is located between the rotary shaft of the alternator and the output shaft of the expander.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2012
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventors: Hidefumi MORI, Masao Iguchi, Fuminobu Enokijima
  • Publication number: 20120285170
    Abstract: The present invention provides a Rankine cycle apparatus that is mounted in a vehicle and includes a Rankine cycle circuit and a refrigeration cycle circuit. The Rankine cycle circuit and the refrigeration cycle circuit each include a condenser for cooling a corresponding type of working fluid and a receiver, which is connected to the condenser. The two condensers are arranged side by side in the upward-downward direction and each have a first end and a second end in the vehicle width direction. A first receiver, which is one of the receivers, is arranged outward of the first end in the vehicle width direction. A second receiver, which is the other one of the receivers, is located outward of the second end in the vehicle width direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2012
    Publication date: November 15, 2012
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventors: Hidefumi MORI, Masao IGUCHI, Fuminobu ENOKIJIMA
  • Patent number: 8303270
    Abstract: A motor-driven compressor includes a housing having an inlet port, a compression mechanism for compression of refrigerant introduced from an external refrigerant circuit via the inlet port into the housing, an inverter having a heat-generating component, an electric motor driven by the inverter, and a rotary shaft rotated by the electric motor thereby to drive the compression mechanism. The electric motor, the compression mechanism and the inverter are aligned in the housing in axial direction of the rotary shaft. An inlet pipe is connected to the inlet port. The housing has an outer peripheral surface in contact with the inlet pipe. The heat-generating component of the inverter is disposed adjacent to or in contact with the inlet pipe so as to be thermally coupled to the inlet pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Jidoshokki
    Inventors: Masao Iguchi, Masahiro Kawaguchi, Ken Suitou, Tatsushi Mori, Hiroshi Fukasaku
  • Publication number: 20120240575
    Abstract: When a detection value of a temperature sensor exceeds a set temperature, an ECU increases an opening of a sub-port by controlling a solenoid valve, and as a result, an intake volume of an expander increases. The ECU then adjusts the mass flow rate of a coolant flowing through a boiler so that a detection value of a pressure sensor indicates a pressure as close as possible to an upper limit pressure, on condition that an upper limit temperature is not exceeded.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2012
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventors: Hidefumi MORI, Masao IGUCHI, Fuminobu ENOKIJIMA
  • Publication number: 20120234007
    Abstract: A Rankine cycle apparatus includes a circuit having a pump for working fluid, a heat exchanger for causing heat exchange between the working fluid and fluid supplied from an exhaust heat source, and an expanding portion that expands the working fluid that has been exposed to the heat exchange to produce mechanical energy. The expanding portion includes a fixed scroll, a movable scroll that orbits with respect to the fixed scroll, and a back pressure chamber arranged at the side corresponding to a backside of the movable scroll opposite to the surface facing the fixed scroll. The Rankine cycle apparatus further includes an inlet mechanism for introducing the working fluid from a high pressure zone that extends from the outlet side of the pump to the inlet of the heat exchanger to the back pressure chamber to produce back pressure that presses the movable scroll against the fixed scroll.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2012
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventors: Fuminobu ENOKIJIMA, Masao Iguchi, Hidefumi Mori
  • Patent number: 8162626
    Abstract: A motor-driven compressor has a compression mechanism, a rotary shaft, an electric motor, a motor drive circuit, a connecting terminal and a housing assembly. The compression mechanism, the electric motor, and the motor drive circuit are disposed along the axial direction of the rotary shaft in the housing assembly having first through third housings. The first housing is used for mounting the electric motor and the compression mechanism. The second housing has a terminal mounting portion for fixing the connecting terminal. The first and second housings have fastening portions at the radially peripheral portion thereof. The third housing is joined to the second housing to form an accommodation space for accommodating the motor drive circuit. The closed casing is formed by fastening the fastening portions of the first and second housings by means of a first bolt and connecting the second housing to the open end of the first housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Jidoshokki
    Inventors: Hiroshi Fukasaku, Tatsushi Mori, Kazuo Murakami, Masao Iguchi, Masahiro Kawaguchi, Ken Suitou
  • Patent number: 8162636
    Abstract: A scroll type compressor has a fixed scroll member, a movable scroll member, an oil reservoir, a back-pressure chamber, an oil extraction passage, a flow passage, and a partition wall. The back-pressure chamber disposed behind the movable scroll member is in communication with a discharge chamber. The oil extraction passage having a regulating valve or a throttle connects the back-pressure chamber to the oil reservoir. The oil return passage and the flow passage connect the oil reservoir to a suction chamber, respectively. The flow passage introduces excess lubricating oil into the suction chamber when the level of lubricating oil in the oil reservoir becomes higher than a predetermined level. The partition wall disposed between the openings of the oil extraction passage for restricting lubricating oil from the oil extraction passage other than the excess lubricating oil collected in the oil reservoir from flowing to the flow passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Jidoshokki
    Inventors: Kenji Yokoi, Masao Iguchi, Kazuhiro Kuroki, Tatsuya Ito
  • Patent number: 8152490
    Abstract: A motor-driven compressor has a compression mechanism, a rotary shaft, an electric motor, a motor drive circuit and a housing assembly. The compression mechanism, the electric motor and the motor drive circuit are disposed along the axial direction of the rotary shaft in the housing assembly. The housing assembly has first and second housings. The first housing mounts the electric motor and the compression mechanism. The first housing has first and second mounting lugs formed integrally with the peripheral surface of the first housing. The second housing is joined to the first housing for accommodating the motor drive circuit. The second housing has a third mounting lug formed integrally with the second housing. The first through third mounting lugs are fastened to a mounting object to which the motor-driven compressor is to be mounted by means of fastening members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Jidoshokki
    Inventors: Masao Iguchi, Masahiro Kawaguchi, Ken Suitou, Hiroshi Fukasaku, Tatsushi Mori, Kazuo Murakami
  • Publication number: 20120073294
    Abstract: A Rankine cycle system mounted on a vehicle includes a Rankine cycle circuit, a pressure detector, a temperature detector and a controller. The Rankine cycle circuit includes a fluid expansion device, a fluid transferring device, first and second passages, a heater, a cooling device, a bypass passage and a flow regulating valve. The bypass passage connects the first passage and the second passage, and in which the flow regulating valve is provided for opening and closing the bypass passage. The controller is connected to the flow regulating valve for controlling an operation of the flow regulating valve and to the pressure and temperature detectors and for receiving signals of pressure and temperature from the pressure and temperature detectors, respectively. The controller controls the operation of the flow regulating valve based on a superheat degree of the working fluid calculated from the signals of the pressure and temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2011
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventors: Fuminobu ENOKIJIMA, Masao IGUCHI, Hidefumi MORI
  • Publication number: 20120073295
    Abstract: A Rankine cycle system mounted on a vehicle has a Rankine cycle circuit through which working fluid circulates, a power generator, a power storage and a controller. The Rankine cycle circuit includes a fluid expansion device, a fluid transferring device, first and second passages, a heater, a cooling device, a bypass passage and a flow regulating valve. The bypass passage connects the first passage to the second passage. The flow regulating valve is provided in the bypass passage for opening and closing the bypass passage. The power generator converts the work generated by the fluid expansion device into electric power. The controller monitors charge rate of the electric power charged in the power storage and controls an operation of the flow regulating valve based on the monitored charge rate. The controller causes the flow regulating valve to be opened when the monitored charge rate is greater than a predetermined value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2011
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventors: Fuminobu ENOKIJIMA, Masao IGUCHI, Hidefumi MORI
  • Patent number: 8118564
    Abstract: A motor-driven compressor includes a compression mechanism for compressing a refrigerant gas, an electric motor, an inverter assembly and an inverter chamber. The electric motor drives the compression mechanism. The inverter assembly converts direct-current power into polyphase alternating-current power to supply to the electric motor and controls a rotational speed of the electric motor. A substrate having an electric circuit and an electronic component connected to the substrate are provided in the inverter assembly. The inverter chamber detachably accommodates the inverter assembly. A vibration damping member is arranged in the inverter assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Jidoshokki
    Inventors: Shingo Enami, Ken Suitou, Masao Iguchi
  • Patent number: 7948627
    Abstract: A photoelectric smoke detector may detect presence of smoke by utilizing a light emitting element and a light receiving element whose optical axes intersect with each other. The photoelectric smoke detector may include a casing for storing the light emitting element and the light receiving element. Inlet and outlet ports may be respectively provided in one and the other sides of the casing, the inlet and outlet ports bringing air flow into the casing. Rectifying light blocking means may be provided contiguously with each of the inlet and outlet ports, the rectifying light blocking means preventing entry of disturbance light into an interior space and forming a flow line of smoke extending from one or the other inlet and outlet port to the other or the one inlet and outlet port such that the flow line passes through a detection area by the light emitting element and the light receiving element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Fenwal Controls of Japan, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masao Iguchi, Kanji Numao
  • Patent number: 7938633
    Abstract: An electric compressor includes an electric motor, a compression mechanism driven by the electric motor, and a housing for accommodating the electric motor and the compression mechanism. The housing is formed such that the stator is fitted thereto. The housing has a plurality of thick portions and a plurality of thin portions. The center of the thickness of each thick portion is located outside of the center of the thickness of each thin portion with respect to a radial direction of the housing. As a result, even if the housing is deformed, the fixation of the stator to the housing is reliably maintained. Further, the weight of the electric compressor is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Jidoshokki
    Inventors: Masao Iguchi, Kazuya Kimura, Akihiro Kawakami
  • Publication number: 20110088397
    Abstract: The waste heat recovery system of an engine includes a Rankine cycle, a first bypass passage, a first valve and a control unit. The Rankine cycle allows a working fluid to circulate therethrough. The Rankine cycle has a first heat exchanger, a second heat exchanger, an expander and a condenser. The first heat exchanger exchange heat between the working fluid and the engine or a first intermediate medium exchanging heat with the engine. The first bypass passage allows the working fluid to pass therethrough. One end of the first bypass passage is located at an upstream side of the condenser and the other end is located at a downstream side of the condenser. The first valve opens and closes the first bypass passage. When temperature of the engine or the first intermediate medium is lower than a first predetermined value, the control unit opens the first valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2010
    Publication date: April 21, 2011
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventors: Hidefumi MORI, Masao Iguchi, Fuminobu Enokijima, Masahiro Kawaguchi
  • Publication number: 20110088394
    Abstract: A waste heat regeneration system for a vehicle having a vehicle engine actuated by a start-stop switch includes Rankine cycle circuit, a motor generator, a by-pass circuit and a control device. The Rankine cycle circuit includes a pump, a boiler heating the heat medium by heat exchanging with waste heat generated by the vehicle engine, an expansion device and a condenser. The by-pass circuit is connected to the Rankine cycle circuit at the upstream and downstream sides of the condenser and the communication of the heat medium is openable and closable therethrough. When the start-stop switch of the vehicle engine is turned off, the control device controls the by-pass circuit to communicate the heat medium therethrough and keeps controlling of the rotational speed of the motor generator until pressure difference between the upstream and downstream of the expansion device is decreased to a predetermined level, and then stops the control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2010
    Publication date: April 21, 2011
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventors: Hidefumi MORI, Masao Iguchi, Fuminobu Enokijima, Masahiro Kawaguchi
  • Publication number: 20110083920
    Abstract: A vehicle with a Rankine cycle system and a refrigerating cycle system for air-conditioning includes a Rankine condenser forming a part of the Rankine cycle system which converts waste heat of a vehicle into power and an air-conditioning condenser forming a part of the refrigerating cycle system. The Rankine condenser and the air-conditioning condenser are disposed one above the other in the vehicle as viewed from a front of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2010
    Publication date: April 14, 2011
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventors: Hidefumi MORI, Masao Iguchi, Fuminobu Enokijima, Masahiro Kawaguchi
  • Publication number: 20100221135
    Abstract: A scroll type compressor has a housing, a rotary shaft, a fixed scroll member, a movable scroll member and a rotation preventing mechanism. The rotation preventing mechanism has a movable pin that is provided on the surface of movable end plate and extends toward end surface of the housing in parallel with an axis of the rotary shaft, a fixed pin that is provided on the end surface of the housing and extends toward the surface of the movable end plate in parallel with the axis of the movable pin, a rolling element that is disposed between the movable and the fixed pins, being contactable with the movable and the fixed pins and a retainer retaining the rolling element between the movable and the fixed pins.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2010
    Publication date: September 2, 2010
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventors: Hidefumi MORI, Masao IGUCHI