Patents by Inventor Shinichi Chikura
Shinichi Chikura 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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Patent number: 10717049Abstract: A membrane element includes a central pipe having, in its outer periphery, holes; a membrane wound body in which a membrane member is wound on the central pipe; end members arranged, respectively, at both ends of the membrane wound body; and an exterior member fitted to at least an outer periphery of the membrane wound body. In this element, the exterior member includes a fiber reinforced resin having a reinforcing fiber wound on the outer periphery of the membrane wound body; the end members each includes flexible portions extended from a main body toward the membrane wound body; and the reinforcing fiber is wound also onto an outer periphery of the flexible portions in a state that the flexible portions are deformed toward an outer peripheral surface of the membrane wound body.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2016Date of Patent: July 21, 2020Assignee: NITTO DENKO CORPORATIONInventors: Hideki Matsuda, Shinichi Chikura, Yasuhiro Uda
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Publication number: 20190009220Abstract: A membrane element includes a central pipe having, in its outer periphery, holes; a membrane wound body in which a membrane member is wound on the central pipe; end members arranged, respectively, at both ends of the membrane wound body; and an exterior member fitted to at least an outer periphery of the membrane wound body. In this element, the exterior member includes a fiber reinforced resin having a reinforcing fiber wound on the outer periphery of the membrane wound body; the end members each includes flexible portions extended from a main body toward the membrane wound body; and the reinforcing fiber is wound also onto an outer periphery of the flexible portions in a state that the flexible portions are deformed toward an outer peripheral surface of the membrane wound body.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2016Publication date: January 10, 2019Applicant: NITTO DENKO CORPORATIONInventors: Hideki MATSUDA, Shinichi CHIKURA, Yasuhiro UDA
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Patent number: 9914077Abstract: An end member (3A) for a spiral separation membrane element includes: an inner annular portion (31); an outer annular portion (32) surrounding the inner annular portion (31) at a distance from the inner annular portion (31); a plurality of connecting portions (33) connecting the inner annular portion (31) and the outer annular portion (32); and a shield plate (34) disposed between at least one pair of the connecting portions (33) and forming an opening (41) between the shield plate (34) and the outer annular portion (32). According to this configuration, a radially outwardly spreading flow is formed by the shield plate (34), and therefore suspended solids in a feed liquid can be effectively directed to the peripheral region.Type: GrantFiled: August 10, 2012Date of Patent: March 13, 2018Assignee: NITTO DENKO CORPORATIONInventors: Shinichi Chikura, Yasuhiro Uda, Toshimitsu Hamada
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Patent number: 9604179Abstract: A spiral membrane element that can reduce the dimension increase in the length direction is provided. Also, a method for producing a spiral membrane element is provided having a step of forming a fiber reinforced resin layer having a reinforcing fiber layer and a strengthening fiber layer. The spiral membrane element is provided with a cylindrical wound body in which a separation membrane, a feed-side channel material, and a permeate-side channel material in a laminated state are wound in a spiral form around a center tube having a hole, and a sealing part for preventing feed-side fluid and permeate-side fluid from being mixed with each other, wherein a fiber reinforced resin layer having a reinforcing fiber layer and a strengthening fiber layer enclosed and buried with the same resin is provided on an outer circumferential side of the cylindrical wound body.Type: GrantFiled: June 11, 2008Date of Patent: March 28, 2017Assignee: NITTO DENKO CORPORATIONInventors: Shinichi Chikura, Yuuji Nishida, Yasuhiro Uda
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Patent number: 9504963Abstract: A spiral separation membrane element (1A) includes: a wound body (3) including a separation membrane; a core tube (2) that penetrates the wound body (3) along the central axis of the wound body (3); and a joining portion (4) that joins the wound body (3) to the core tube (2) at at least one end face (3a) of the wound body (3). The joining portion (4) has a holding portion (41) disposed inwardly of the end face (3a) of the wound body (3) and an extending portion (42) formed integrally with the holding portion (41). The spiral separation membrane element (1A) further includes a restraining member (5A) that secures the extending portion (42) to the core tube (2).Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2011Date of Patent: November 29, 2016Assignee: NITTO DENKO CORPORATIONInventors: Shinichi Chikura, Toshimitsu Hamada, Yasuhiro Uda, Kazuhito Yoshida
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Patent number: 9061247Abstract: A separation membrane module (1A) includes: a tubular pressure container (7); a plurality of separation membrane elements (2) inserted in the pressure container (7) and each having a first end member (3) and a second end member (4); and a sealing member (5A) mounted on one of or both the first end member (3) and the second end member (4) that are adjacent to each other. In a normal condition, the sealing member (5A) is located radially inward of a maximum diameter portion of the first end member (3) and/or the second end member (4) on which the sealing member (5A) is mounted. The sealing member (5A) is deformed due to contact between the adjacent separation membrane elements (2) or due to supply of a pressurized liquid into the pressure container (7), and comes into close contact with an inner circumferential face (7a) of the pressure container (7).Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 2011Date of Patent: June 23, 2015Assignee: Nitto Denko CorporationInventors: Shinichi Chikura, Toshimitsu Hamada, Yasuhiro Uda, Hideyuki Yamane, Kazuhito Yoshida, Masashi Beppu, Masakatsu Takata
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Publication number: 20140183126Abstract: An end member (3A) for a spiral separation membrane element includes: an inner annular portion (31); an outer annular portion (32) surrounding the inner annular portion (31) at a distance from the inner annular portion (31); a plurality of connecting portions (33) connecting the inner annular portion (31) and the outer annular portion (32); and a shield plate (34) disposed between at least one pair of the connecting portions (33) and forming an opening (41) between the shield plate (34) and the outer annular portion (32). According to this configuration, a radially outwardly spreading flow is formed by the shield plate (34), and therefore suspended solids in a feed liquid can be effectively directed to the peripheral region.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 10, 2012Publication date: July 3, 2014Applicant: NITTO DENKO CORPORATIONInventors: Shinichi CHikura, Yasuhiro Uda, Toshimitsu Hamada
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Publication number: 20130299416Abstract: A spiral separation membrane element (1A) includes: a wound body (3) including a separation membrane; a core tube (2) that penetrates the wound body (3) along the central axis of the wound body (3); and a joining portion (4) that joins the wound body (3) to the core tube (2) at at least one end face (3a) of the wound body (3). The joining portion (4) has a holding portion (41) disposed inwardly of the end face (3a) of the wound body (3) and an extending portion (42) formed integrally with the holding portion (41). The spiral separation membrane element (1A) further includes a restraining member (5A) that secures the extending portion (42) to the core tube (2).Type: ApplicationFiled: December 22, 2011Publication date: November 14, 2013Applicant: NITTO DENKO CORPORATIONInventors: Shinichi Chikura, Toshimitsu Hamada, Yasuhiro Uda, Kazuhito Yoshida
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Patent number: 8568589Abstract: Provided are a connection member capable of preventing leakage from a supply side to a permeating side from occurring by a simple means; and a separation membrane module using the connection member. The connection member (20) is used to connect in series a plurality of separation membrane elements equipped with end surface holding members (36) and to install the separation membrane elements in a pressure-resistant vessel (38). The connection member (20) is characterized in that, when the separation membrane elements are connected to each other, the connection member is engaged with respective grooves (36b) of the end surface holding members (36) adjacent to each other.Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 2009Date of Patent: October 29, 2013Assignee: Nitto Denko CorporationInventors: Yasuhiro Uda, Toshimitsu Hamada, Masashi Beppu, Shinichi Chikura, Nobuharu Tahara, Masakatsu Takata
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Publication number: 20130220915Abstract: Provided is a separation membrane element used under a high-temperature environment, in which the stress acting on a portion for fixing between a fluid collecting tube and a separation membrane is reduced and a deformation caused by receiving a long time thermal history can be prevented, and also provided is a fluid collecting tube used for the separation membrane element. The separation membrane element has a fluid collecting tube (10), a separation membrane, and fixing portions (4) provided at at least two places and fixing between the fluid collecting tube (10) and the separation membrane. The separation membrane element has at least one elastic portion in the fluid collecting tube (10) between the fixing portions (4).Type: ApplicationFiled: September 27, 2011Publication date: August 29, 2013Applicant: NITTO DENKO CORPORATIONInventors: Shinichi Chikura, Toshimitsu Hamada
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Publication number: 20130186819Abstract: A separation membrane module (1A) includes: a tubular pressure container (7); a plurality of separation membrane elements (2) inserted in the pressure container (7) and each having a first end member (3) and a second end member (4); and a sealing member (5A) mounted on one of or both the first end member (3) and the second end member (4) that are adjacent to each other. In a normal condition, the sealing member (5A) is located radially inward of a maximum diameter portion of the first end member (3) and/or the second end member (4) on which the sealing member (5A) is mounted. The sealing member (5A) is deformed due to contact between the adjacent separation membrane elements (2) or due to supply of a pressurized liquid into the pressure container (7), and comes into close contact with an inner circumferential face (7a) of the pressure container (7).Type: ApplicationFiled: September 13, 2011Publication date: July 25, 2013Applicant: NITTO DENKO CORPORATIONInventors: Shinichi Chikura, Toshimitsu Hamada, Yasuhiro Uda, Hideyuki Yamane, Kazuhito Yoshida, Masashi Beppu, Masakatsu Takata
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Publication number: 20130087499Abstract: The spiral separation membrane element of the present invention includes: a perforated hollow tube (1) having a plurality of perforations (2) leading from an outer peripheral surface to an inner peripheral surface thereof; and a stack that includes a separation membrane and a passage member and that is wound around the perforated hollow tube (1). A bottomed recessed portion (3) is provided in a region covered by the stack on the outer peripheral surface of the perforated hollow tube (1). According to the present invention, permeated liquid flows into the bottomed recessed portion (3). Since the permeated liquid can flow smoothly in the bottomed recessed portion (3), the resistance to the permeated liquid can be reduced. As a result, the pressure loss can be reduced and the amount of the permeated liquid can be increased.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 17, 2011Publication date: April 11, 2013Applicant: NITTO DENKO CORPORATIONInventors: Yasuhiro Uda, Toshimitsu Hamada, Shinichi Chikura
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Patent number: 8361318Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a spiral separation membrane element that can reduce the pressure loss of a feed-side channel and be much less vulnerable to the problem of inhibition or blockage of the flow in the feed-side channel. The spiral separation membrane element includes one or more separation membranes, one or more feed-side channel components, one or more permeation-side channel components, and a perforated hollow core tube around which the separation membranes, the feed-side channel components and the permeation-side channel components are wrapped, wherein the feed-side channel component is a net formed by fusion bonding.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2009Date of Patent: January 29, 2013Assignee: Nitto Denko CorporationInventors: Shinichi Chikura, Satoru Ishihara, Mitsuaki Hirokawa, Yasuhiro Uda
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Patent number: 8303815Abstract: A spiral-type separation membrane element is provided that can reduce the pressure loss without changing the outer diameter and the inner diameter of the water-collecting tube. In a spiral-type separation membrane element in which a separation membrane, a feed-side flow passageway member, and a permeate-side flow passageway member are wound in a spiral form around a porous water-collecting tube in a laminated state, the feed-side flow passageway member includes a net-constituting thread in a direction tilted relative to a feed solution flow direction; the net-constituting thread has a cross-sectional part such that a thread diameter X in a direction parallel to a feed solution flow plane is larger than a thread diameter Y in a direction perpendicular to the feed solution flow plane; and a central part between intersection parts of the net-constituting thread is made to have a thread diameter Y smaller than that of an intersection part.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 2006Date of Patent: November 6, 2012Assignee: Nitto Denko CorporationInventors: Masashi Beppu, Shinichi Chikura
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Publication number: 20110266210Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a spiral membrane element that can form a uniform fiber reinforcement layer on an outer circumferential surface by a simple process without a great change in the materials, as well as a process for producing the same. The spiral membrane element of the present invention is a spiral membrane element which is provided with a cylindrical roll R in which a separation membrane, a feed-side flow passageway member, and a permeate-side flow passageway member 3 are spirally wound in a laminate state around a perforated center tube 5 and in which a sealing part for preventing mixing of feed-side fluid and permeate-side fluid is disposed, wherein at least one sheet of the permeate-side flow passageway member 3 has a fiber cloth 23a extended or connected to the outer circumferential side, and the fiber cloth 23a is wound around an outer circumference of said cylindrical roll R, impregnated with a resin and hardened to thereby form a fiber reinforcement layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 12, 2011Publication date: November 3, 2011Inventors: Shinichi CHIKURA, Katsumi ISHII, Hideki MATSUDA, Masashi BEPPU, Hiroki FUJIOKA, Yasuhiro UDA
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Patent number: 8034241Abstract: A spiral membrane module where membrane elements are easily connected to each other and the connection thereof is prevented from being loosened. The spiral membrane elements (20) are each formed in multiple layers by winding membranes and channel materials around a center tube (3) having holes and are received in a pressure vessel (10) such that they are connected in series with connection mechanisms (J) placed between the membrane elements (20). Each connection mechanism (J) has a movable member (M) installed at either the upstream side end part or the downstream side end part of each membrane element (20) and having an engagement part (9d) engageable with the other of the upstream side end or the downstream side end. The movable member (M) has a contact part (9c) coming into contact with the inner wall (10a) of the pressure vessel (10) and locking the engagement by the engagement part (9d).Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2006Date of Patent: October 11, 2011Assignees: Nitto Denko Corporation, National University Corporation Kyoto Institute of TechnologyInventors: Masashi Beppu, Yasuhiro Uda, Shinichi Chikura, Kentaro Yamamoto
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Patent number: 7998348Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a spiral membrane element that can form a uniform fiber reinforcement layer on an outer circumferential surface by a simple process without a great change in the materials, as well as a process for producing the same. The spiral membrane element of the present invention is a spiral membrane element which is provided with a cylindrical roll R in which a separation membrane, a feed-side flow passageway member, and a permeate-side flow passageway member 3 are spirally wound in a laminate state around a perforated center tube 5 and in which a sealing part for preventing mixing of feed-side fluid and permeate-side fluid is disposed, wherein at least one sheet of the permeate-side flow passageway member 3 has a fiber cloth 23a extended or connected to the outer circumferential side, and the fiber cloth 23a is wound around an outer circumference of said cylindrical roll R, impregnated with a resin and hardened to thereby form a fiber reinforcement layer.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2007Date of Patent: August 16, 2011Assignee: Nitto Denko CorporationInventors: Shinichi Chikura, Katsumi Ishii, Hideki Matsuda, Masashi Beppu, Hiroki Fujioka, Yasuhiro Uda
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Patent number: 7910000Abstract: A seal ring holder for membrane elements which is capable of attaining an increase in the area of membranes packed per element; and a membrane element using the seal ring holder, are provided.Type: GrantFiled: April 3, 2009Date of Patent: March 22, 2011Assignee: Nitto Denko CorporationInventors: Shinichi Chikura, Yasuhiro Uda
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Patent number: 7867394Abstract: A membrane element sealing material holding member comprising a central opening for insertion of a center tube of spiral membrane element, peripheral orifice for flowing of a raw liquid into a membrane end portion of membrane element and outer circumferential part for holding of circular sealing material, wherein the central opening has inner circumferential surface of cylindrical form with a diameter larger than the outer diameter of the inserted center tube, and wherein at three or more positions on the inner circumferential surface, there is provided projection that has sloping face on its side of center tube insertion and is deformable at the time of insertion of center tube with an outer diameter larger than that of incircle.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 2007Date of Patent: January 11, 2011Assignee: Nitto Denko CorporationInventors: Yasuhiro Uda, Masashi Beppu, Hiroki Fujioka, Yuuji Nishida, Shinichi Chikura, Hideki Matsuda, Katsumi Ishii
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Publication number: 20110000844Abstract: Provided are a connection member capable of preventing leakage from a supply side to a permeating side from occurring by a simple means; and a separation membrane module using the connection member. The connection member (20) is used to connect in series a plurality of separation membrane elements equipped with end surface holding members (36) and to install the separation membrane elements in a pressure-resistant vessel (38). The connection member (20) is characterized in that, when the separation membrane elements are connected to each other, the connection member is engaged with respective grooves (36b) of the end surface holding members (36) adjacent to each other.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 20, 2009Publication date: January 6, 2011Inventors: Yasuhiro Uda, Toshimitsu Hamada, Masashi Beppu, Shinichi Chikura, Nobuharu Tahara, Masakatsu Takata