Patents by Inventor Takahiro Yamafuji

Takahiro Yamafuji 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: 11577189
    Abstract: A liquid recovery device includes: an outer pipe that includes an introduction portion into which a gas-liquid two-phase fluid is introduced; an inner pipe disposed inside the outer pipe at a position where the introduction portion is extended to a downstream side in a flow direction of the gas-liquid two-phase fluid; a double pipe portion that includes a clearance part provided between an inner side of the outer pipe and the inner pipe at a downstream side of the outer pipe in the flow direction; a communication hole that communicates the inner side of the inner pipe with the clearance part; and a drainage portion connected to the clearance part to discharge the liquid-phase fluid flowing into an interior of the clearance part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignees: DENSO CORPORATION, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazutoshi Nishinakamura, Ryo Yoshioka, Takahiro Yamafuji
  • Patent number: 10916787
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a water supply unit configured to supply water from a first water storage unit to a second water storage unit, and a water usage unit uses water in the second water storage unit. The first and second water storage units store produced water form the fuel cell. When the amount of water stored in the first water storage unit exceeds a first predetermined value and the amount of water stored in the second water storage unit is smaller than a second predetermined value, water is supplied from the first water storage unit to the second water storage unit. When water is being used by the water usage unit, water is supplied from the first water storage unit to the second water storage unit even when the amount of water stored in the second water storage unit is not smaller than the second predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuichi Sakajo, Takashi Koyama, Ryo Yoshioka, Takahiro Yamafuji
  • Patent number: 10741857
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell, a water storage unit configured to store water recovered from the fuel cell and be able to drain the stored water, a water usage unit configured to use the water in the water storage unit, and a control unit configured to control a drain of the water from the water storage unit. The control unit is configured to, when a first predetermined time has elapsed since a last drain of the water from the water storage unit, drain the water from the water storage unit. The control unit is configured to, when it is predicted that the water in the water storage unit is used by the water usage unit within a second predetermined time shorter than the first predetermined time, not drain the water from the water storage unit even when the first predetermined time has elapsed since the drain of the water from the water storage unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuichi Sakajo, Takashi Koyama, Ryo Yoshioka, Takahiro Yamafuji
  • Publication number: 20200179849
    Abstract: A liquid recovery device includes: an outer pipe that includes an introduction portion into which a gas-liquid two-phase fluid is introduced; an inner pipe disposed inside the outer pipe at a position where the introduction portion is extended to a downstream side in a flow direction of the gas-liquid two-phase fluid; a double pipe portion that includes a clearance part provided between an inner side of the outer pipe and the inner pipe at a downstream side of the outer pipe in the flow direction; a communication hole that communicates the inner side of the inner pipe with the clearance part; and a drainage portion connected to the clearance part to discharge the liquid-phase fluid flowing into an interior of the clearance part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2020
    Publication date: June 11, 2020
    Inventors: Kazutoshi NISHINAKAMURA, Ryo YOSHIOKA, Takahiro YAMAFUJI
  • Patent number: 10518620
    Abstract: There is provided a fuel cell mounting structure including: a pair of left and right vibration-proofing members that are provided due to front side joining portions and rear side joining portions being mounted to suspension members; and a fuel cell that is supported at least by the pair of left and right vibration-proofing members, and is disposed at vehicle body upper sides of the suspension members, wherein one of the front side joining portions and the rear side joining portions are supported so as to be rotatable with a vehicle transverse direction being an axis of rotation, and another of the front side joining portions and the rear side joining portions are structured so as to break away from the suspension members, due to weak portions breaking at a time when load is inputted to the fuel cell from a vehicle body longitudinal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takahiro Yamafuji, Fumihiro Abukawa
  • Patent number: 10454117
    Abstract: There is provided a fuel cell mounting structure including (i) a fuel cell which is configured to be disposed in a vehicle where a drive motor that drives rear wheels is placed in a vehicle rear portion, the fuel cell placed on the vehicle upper side of a suspension member disposed in a vehicle front portion and connected via a plurality of anti-vibration members to the suspension member, and (ii) auxiliaries that are attached to the fuel cell in a state in which the auxiliaries do not contact the suspension member and include at least an air compressor and a pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takahiro Yamafuji
  • Publication number: 20190115605
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a water supply unit configured to supply water from a first water storage unit to a second water storage unit, and a water usage unit uses water in the second water storage unit. The first and second water storage units store produced water form the fuel cell. When the amount of water stored in the first water storage unit exceeds a first predetermined value and the amount of water stored in the second water storage unit is smaller than a second predetermined value, water is supplied from the first water storage unit to the second water storage unit. When water is being used by the water usage unit, water is supplied from the first water storage unit to the second water storage unit even when the amount of water stored in the second water storage unit is not smaller than the second predetermined value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2018
    Publication date: April 18, 2019
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuichi SAKAJO, Takashi KOYAMA, Ryo YOSHIOKA, Takahiro YAMAFUJI
  • Publication number: 20190103615
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell, a water storage unit configured to store water recovered from the fuel cell and be able to drain the stored water, a water usage unit configured to use the water in the water storage unit, and a control unit configured to control a drain of the water from the water storage unit. The control unit is configured to, when a first predetermined time has elapsed since a last drain of the water from the water storage unit, drain the water from the water storage unit. The control unit is configured to, when it is predicted that the water in the water storage unit is used by the water usage unit within a second predetermined time shorter than the first predetermined time, not drain the water from the water storage unit even when the first predetermined time has elapsed since the drain of the water from the water storage unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Publication date: April 4, 2019
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuichi SAKAJO, Takashi KOYAMA, Ryo YOSHIOKA, Takahiro YAMAFUJI
  • Publication number: 20180178641
    Abstract: There is provided a fuel cell mounting structure including: a pair of left and right vibration-proofing members that are provided due to front side joining portions and rear side joining portions being mounted to suspension members; and a fuel cell that is supported at least by the pair of left and right vibration-proofing members, and is disposed at vehicle body upper sides of the suspension members, wherein one of the front side joining portions and the rear side joining portions are supported so as to be rotatable with a vehicle transverse direction being an axis of rotation, and another of the front side joining portions and the rear side joining portions are structured so as to break away from the suspension members, due to weak portions breaking at a time when load is inputted to the fuel cell from a vehicle body longitudinal direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2017
    Publication date: June 28, 2018
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takahiro YAMAFUJI, Fumihiro ABUKAWA
  • Publication number: 20170133691
    Abstract: There is provided a fuel cell mounting structure including (i) a fuel cell which is configured to be disposed in a vehicle where a drive motor that drives rear wheels is placed in a vehicle rear portion, the fuel cell placed on the vehicle upper side of a suspension member disposed in a vehicle front portion and connected via a plurality of anti-vibration members to the suspension member, and (ii) auxiliaries that are attached to the fuel cell in a state in which the auxiliaries do not contact the suspension member and include at least an air compressor and a pump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2016
    Publication date: May 11, 2017
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takahiro YAMAFUJI
  • Patent number: 7948112
    Abstract: An electric equipment mounting structure includes: a PCU mounted inside an engine room of a hybrid vehicle; an air cleaner mounted inside the engine room of the hybrid vehicle with a distance between the PCU; and cables connected to a surface, facing the air cleaner, of the PCU.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takahiro Yamafuji
  • Publication number: 20100213760
    Abstract: A structure for mounting electrical machinery comprises a PCU (700) mounted in the engine room (2) of a hybrid vehicle (1), an air cleaner (800) mounted in the engine room (2) of the hybrid vehicle (1) at a position spaced from the PCU (700), and cables (900A, 900B, 900C) connected to connection parts (901A, 901B, 901C) positioned on the surface of the PCU (700) facing the air cleaner (800).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2007
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takahiro Yamafuji
  • Patent number: 7766113
    Abstract: A mount structure for an electric unit is a mount structure for a PCU mounted in an engine room of a hybrid vehicle. The mount structure includes a vehicle body, the PCU mounted in the engine room, an engine mounted on the vehicle body and spaced from PCU, a cable connected to the PCU and having a portion positioned between the PCU and the engine, and a wire-protecting portion positioned between the PCU and the engine and keeping the distance between the PCU and the cable and the distance between the engine and the cable at respective distances that are at least distances necessary for wiring protection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takahiro Yamafuji
  • Publication number: 20090294626
    Abstract: In an engine room accommodating an engine and a motor, an air cleaner accommodated in a resin case is disposed behind an inverter device, which has an inverter circuit for driving a motor and has a connection portion to which a power cable rising on a rear side of a vehicle is connected, with respect to the vehicle. The air cleaner is mounted in regions different from a front lower region thereof, namely, in a front upper region thereof and a rear lower region thereof to the engine room or a member mounted to the engine room. Thus, in the event of a collision of the vehicle, the power cable can be restrained from being deformed or damaged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2009
    Publication date: December 3, 2009
    Inventors: Naoki ABE, Takahiro Yamafuji
  • Patent number: 7484581
    Abstract: As a framework member 50 of a vehicle deforms, a bracket attached to the framework member 50 also deforms. An inverter 20 which is attached to the framework member 50 via a bracket 60 also deforms. Thus, following the deformation of the framework member 50 of the vehicle, the bracket 60 and the inverter 20 deform accordingly to result in a rather small amount of relative deformation among the framework member 50, the bracket 60, and the inverter 20. In addition, a high voltage line 40 attached to the bracket 60 also deforms following the deformation of the bracket 60. Therefore, even in the event of an accident, the high voltage line 40 can be secured in a space reserved between framework member 50 and inverter 20, which significantly reduces the possibility of disconnection of the high voltage line 40.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takahiro Yamafuji
  • Publication number: 20060201753
    Abstract: A mount structure for an electric unit is a mount structure for a PCU mounted in an engine room of a hybrid vehicle. The mount structure includes a vehicle body, the PCU mounted in the engine room, an engine mounted on the vehicle body and spaced from PCU, a cable connected to the PCU and having a portion positioned between the PCU and the engine, and a wire-protecting portion positioned between the PCU and the engine and keeping the distance between the PCU and the cable and the distance between the engine and the cable at respective distances that are at least distances necessary for wiring protection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2006
    Publication date: September 14, 2006
    Inventor: Takahiro Yamafuji
  • Publication number: 20050205316
    Abstract: As a framework member 50 of a vehicle deforms, a bracket attached to the framework member 50 also deforms. An inverter 20 which is attached to the framework member 50 via a bracket 60 also deforms. Thus, following the deformation of the framework member 50 of the vehicle, the bracket 60 and the inverter 20 deform accordingly to result in a rather small amount of relative deformation among the framework member 50, the bracket 60, and the inverter 20. In addition, a high voltage line 40 attached to the bracket 60 also deforms following the deformation of the bracket 60. Therefore, even in the event of an accident, the high voltage line 40 can be secured in a space reserved between framework member 50 and inverter 20, which significantly reduces the possibility of disconnection of the high voltage line 40.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2005
    Publication date: September 22, 2005
    Inventor: Takahiro Yamafuji
  • Patent number: 6488748
    Abstract: The present invention is accomplished by a canister structure for an internal combustion engine that includes a container having a gas passage therein through which gas containing evaporative fuel flows from a first end to a second end, a purge portion disposed on the container and connected to the first end through which vacuum pressure is applied into the gas passage, a charge portion disposed on the container and connected to the first end through which the gas is introduced into the gas passage, a drain portion disposed on the container and connected to the second end through which the gas passage is made open to the atmosphere, and an adsorbent material, disposed in the gas passage, to temporarily adsorb the evaporative fuel, whose specific heat on the side of the second end is made higher relative to that on the side of the first end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2002
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takahiro Yamafuji, Yuji Itakura
  • Patent number: 6354280
    Abstract: An evaporation control apparatus is provided that reliably suppresses the emission of fuel components into the atmosphere. The evaporation control apparatus has a canister 2 and a control valve 20 that are configured as a unit to be disposed within the fuel tank 1 so that the connection path between the canister 2 and the control valve 20 is completely enclosed within the fuel tank 1. Therefore, fuel components are prevented from permeating the hoses and joints connecting the canister 2 and the control valve 20. In the unlikely event that fuel components should permeate the case body 20A of the control valve 20, emission of the fuel components into the atmosphere will be suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2002
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuji Itakura, Takahiro Yamafuji, Masaya Furushou
  • Publication number: 20010020418
    Abstract: The present invention is accomplished by a canister structure for an internal combustion engine that includes a container having a gas passage therein through which gas containing evaporative fuel flows from a first end to a second end, a purge portion disposed on the container and connected to the first end through which vacuum pressure is applied into the gas passage, a charge portion disposed on the container and connected to the first end through which the gas is introduced into the gas passage, a drain portion disposed on the container and connected to the second end through which the gas passage is made open to the atmosphere, and an adsorbent material, disposed in the gas passage, to temporarily adsorb the evaporative fuel, whose specific heat on the side of the second end is made higher relative to that on the side of the first end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2000
    Publication date: September 13, 2001
    Applicant: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takahiro Yamafuji, Yuji Itakura