Patents by Inventor Takumi Hikichi

Takumi Hikichi 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: 20150184546
    Abstract: To improve the reliability of the Rankine cycle device using a sealed-type expansion machine, the Rankine cycle device 100 according to the present disclosure comprises a pump 1, a heater 2, an expansion machine 3, a radiator 5, and a cooling path 8. The expansion machine 3 comprises an expansion mechanism 11 for extracting a power from the working fluid, an electric power generator 12, a sealed container 10 containing the expansion mechanism 11 and the electric power generator 12, a first inlet 34a, a first outlet 35a, a second inlet 30a, and a second outlet 31a. The radiator 5 is connected to the pump 1 with a flow path to cool the working fluid drained from the second outlet 31a. The cooling path 8 which connects the first outlet 35a to the second outlet 30a has a cooler 4 to cool the working fluid drained from the first outlet 35a.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2015
    Publication date: July 2, 2015
    Inventors: TAKUMI HIKICHI, OSAO KIDO, ATSUO OKAICHI, OSAMU KOSUDA
  • Publication number: 20150171679
    Abstract: A permanent magnet synchronous machine includes a rotor including a core body and an overhang protruding further in an axial direction than a core of a stator. An end surface of the core body includes an N-region disposed on a north pole and an S-region disposed on a south pole. The overhang includes first permanent magnets arranged along an outer edge of the end surface with distances therebetween and a plurality of second permanent magnets disposed on the end surface and adjacent to the first permanent magnets. The first permanent magnets include at least one of a permanent magnet comprising a north pole facing the N-region and a permanent magnet comprising a south pole facing the S-region. The second permanent magnets are provided in the configuration which causes the second permanent magnets to generate a magnetic flux extending from the S-region toward the N-region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2014
    Publication date: June 18, 2015
    Inventors: NORIYOSHI NISHIYAMA, OSAO KIDO, ATSUO OKAICHI, TAKUMI HIKICHI, YOSHIO TOMIGASHI, TETSUYA MATSUYAMA, MASAAKI KONOTO, OSAMU KOSUDA, SUBARU MATSUMOTO
  • Publication number: 20150121876
    Abstract: An exhaust heat recovery apparatus includes an exhaust heat passage through which a first heat medium holding exhaust heat flows; a second heat medium passage through which the second heat medium, of which temperature is lower than that of the first heat medium, flows; a Rankine cycle which includes a pump, an evaporator, an expander, and a condenser and causes heat exchange at the evaporator between the first heat medium flowing through the exhaust heat passage and a working fluid, so that the working fluid is evaporated, the evaporated working fluid expands at the expander, and power is generated; and an exhaust heat recovery heat exchanger which causes heat exchange between the first heat medium flowing through the exhaust heat passage and the second heat medium flowing through the second heat medium passage, so that the second heat medium is heated and exhaust heat of the first heat medium is recovered.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2014
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Inventors: ATSUO OKAICHI, OSAO KIDO, TAKUMI HIKICHI, OSAMU KOSUDA
  • Publication number: 20150107252
    Abstract: A Rankine cycle apparatus (1A) of the present disclosure includes a main circuit (10), a heat exchange portion (HX), a bypass flow path (20), a flow rate-adjusting mechanism (3), and a pair of temperature sensors (7A). The main circuit (10) is formed by an expander (11), a condenser (13), a pump (14), and an evaporator (15) that are circularly connected in this order. The heat exchange portion (HX) is located in the main circuit (10) at a position between an outlet of the expander (11) and an inlet of the pump (14). The bypass flow path (20) branches from the main circuit (10) at a position between an outlet of the evaporator (15) and an inlet of the expander (11), and joins to the main circuit (10) at a position between the outlet of the expander (11) and an inlet of the heat exchange portion (HX). The flow rate-adjusting mechanism (3) adjusts the flow rate of the working fluid in the bypass flow path (20).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2014
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Inventors: Atsuo Okaichi, Osao Kido, Takumi Hikichi, Osamu Kosuda, Masaya Honma, Masanobu Wada
  • Publication number: 20150084346
    Abstract: A power generation control system includes a converter and a controller. The converter controls a generator of a Rankine cycle system, the Rankine cycle system including an expander, the generator, which is interconnected to the expander, a pump which feeds a working fluid, and an evaporator which evaporates a working fluid. The controller causes the converter to execute, in at least one of a startup operation and a shutdown operation of the Rankine cycle system, first control in at least one of a startup operation and a shutdown operation of the Rankine cycle system such that the expander is prevented from expanding a working fluid if the working fluid at an outlet of the evaporator contains a liquid component while the pump is operating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2014
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Inventors: YOSHIO TOMIGASHI, ATSUO OKAICHI, TETSUYA MATSUYAMA, NORIYOSHI NISHIYAMA, OSAMU KOSUDA, TAKUMI HIKICHI, OSAO KIDO, MASAAKI KONOTO
  • Patent number: 8985976
    Abstract: An expander-integrated compressor (100) includes: a compression mechanism (2) for compressing a working fluid; an expansion mechanism (3) for expanding a working fluid; and a shaft (5) that couples the compression mechanism (2) and the expansion mechanism (3). The expansion mechanism (3) includes a variable vane mechanism (60). The variable vane mechanism (60) controls the movement of a first vane (48) so that the ratio of a period P2 to a period P1 (P2/P1) can be adjusted, where P1 denotes the period during which the first vane (48) is in contact with a first piston (46) in the course of one rotation of the shaft (5), and P2 denotes the period during which the first vane (48) is spaced from the first piston (46) in the course of one rotation of the shaft (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasufumi Takahashi, Atsuo Okaichi, Takeshi Ogata, Hidetoshi Taguchi, Takumi Hikichi, Masaru Matsui
  • Publication number: 20150068208
    Abstract: An air cooling unit is an air cooling unit used in a Rankine cycle system and includes an expander and a condenser. The expander recovers energy from a working fluid by expanding the working fluid. The condenser cools the working fluid using air. The air cooling unit includes a heat-transfer reducer that reduces heat transfer between the expander and an air path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2014
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Inventors: OSAMU KOSUDA, OSAO KIDO, ATSUO OKAICHI, TAKUMI HIKICHI, MASAAKI KONOTO, NORIYOSHI NISHIYAMA, YOSHIO TOMIGASHI, TETSUYA MATSUYAMA
  • Publication number: 20140360187
    Abstract: An electricity generation unit 1A includes a combustor 11, a heater 13, and a Rankine cycle circuit 20. The combustor 11 combusts a solid fuel. A combustion gas generated in the combustor 11 passes through a flue 12. The heater 13 contains a heat storage material, and heats the heat storage material by allowing heat exchange to take place between the combustion gas in the flue 12 and the heat storage material. The Rankine cycle circuit 20 has an evaporator 21 that evaporates a working fluid in the Rankine cycle by allowing heat exchange to take place between the heat storage material heated in the heater 13 and the working fluid. With this configuration, stable operation of an electricity generation unit using a combustion gas of a solid fuel is achieved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2013
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Inventors: Atsuo Okaichi, Osao Kido, Takumi Hikichi, Masaya Honma, Masanobu Wada, Osamu Kosuda
  • Publication number: 20140322057
    Abstract: A rotary compressor (100) includes a closed casing (1), a cylinder (15), a piston (28), a lower bearing member (7), a vane (33), a suction port (20), a discharge port (41), and a partition member (10). The partition member (10) is attached to the lower bearing member (7) so as to form a refrigerant discharge space (52) serving as a flow path of a refrigerant discharged from a discharge chamber (26b) through the discharge port (41). The lower bearing member (7) is provided with a first recess (7t) on the same side as the suction port (20) with respect to a reference plane, the reference plane being a plane including a central axis of the cylinder (15) and a center of the vane (33) when the vane (33) protrudes maximally toward the central axis of the cylinder (15). A portion of oil stored in an oil reservoir (22) flows into the first recess (7t), and thereby an oil retaining portion (53) is formed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2012
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Inventors: Takeshi Ogata, Yu Shiotani, Takumi Hikichi, Kentaro Shii, Tadayoshi Shoyama, Masanobu Wada, Hiroshi Hasegawa, Hirofumi Yoshida, Hiroaki Nakai, Akira Hiwata, Daisuke Funakosi, Ryuichi Ohno, Tsuyoshi Karino
  • Publication number: 20140301881
    Abstract: A rotary compressor (100) includes a closed casing (1), a cylinder (15), a piston (28), a lower bearing member (72), a vane (33), a suction port (20), a discharge port (41), and a partition member (64). The partition member (64) is attached to the lower bearing member (72) so as to form a space enclosed by the partition member (64) and the lower bearing member (72) at a position adjacent to the lower bearing member (72). A portion of an oil stored in the oil reservoir (22) flows into the enclosed space, and thereby an oil retaining portion (53) is formed. The oil retaining portion (53) is located on the same side as the suction port (20) with respect to a reference plane (H1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2012
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Inventors: Takeshi Ogata, Yu Shiotani, Takumi Hikichi, Kentaro Shii, Tadayoshi Shoyama, Masanobu Wada, Hiroshi Hasegawa, Hirofumi Yoshida, Hiroaki Nakai, Akira Hiwata, Daisuke Funakosi, Ryuichi Ohno, Tsuyoshi Karino
  • Publication number: 20140219851
    Abstract: A rotary compressor (100A) includes a closed casing (1), a compression mechanism (48), a lower end-face plate (34), and a communication hole (50). An oil reservoir (12) is formed at the bottom of the closed casing (1). The lower end-face plate (34) divides the oil reservoir (12) into a plurality of sections (12a) and (12b) in the vertical direction. The plurality of sections of the oil reservoir (12) communicate with each other through the communication hole (50). The communication hole (50) is located on the same side as a discharge port (8b) of the compression mechanism (48) with respect to a reference plane (H1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2013
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Takumi Hikichi, Kentaro Shii, Masanobu Wada, Tadayoshi Shoyama
  • Publication number: 20140193279
    Abstract: A valve device of a compressor of the present invention comprises a plate (17), a reed (21, 75), and a stopper (31), wherein the reed includes: an opening/closing section (60, 70), a fastened section (61, 71); and a joining section (62, 72), the opening/closing section, the fastened section and the joining section being arranged in a direction in which a symmetric axis extends; wherein in a portion of the joining section which is closer to the opening/closing section, a pair of portions (102, 112, 82, 86) of an outer periphery of each of one or two openings (63, 65, 73, 77) which are closest to both ends of the joining section are symmetric with respect to the symmetric axis so as to form a substantially-V-shape or substantially-U-shape, in a direction from the opening/closing section toward the fastened section; and in a portion of the joining section which is closer to the fastened section, a pair of portions (103, 113, 83, 87) of the outer periphery of each of one or two openings which are closest to the b
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2012
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takumi Hikichi, Yu Haraki
  • Publication number: 20140010685
    Abstract: The present invention includes an electric component (331), a compression component (327), a sealed container (301), a suction pipe (324) and a discharge passage (405, 425a, 425, 470, 473). The compression component includes a crankshaft (343, 709), an oil feeding mechanism (368, 431, 433, 434, 708, 712, 713), an oil feeding passage (440, 714), and a scattering suppressing section (355, 455, 458, 461, 610, 616, 619, 706, 716). The scattering suppressing section suppresses the lubricating oil from being scattered from an opening of the oil feeding passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2012
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ichiro Kita, Takumi Hikichi
  • Publication number: 20140000451
    Abstract: A reciprocating compressor of the present invention includes an electric component (6), a compression component (9), and a container (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2012
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takumi Hikichi, Ichiro Kita
  • Patent number: 8323010
    Abstract: An expander-compressor unit (200) includes a closed casing (1), a compression mechanism (2) disposed at an upper position in the closed casing (1), an expansion mechanism (3) disposed at a lower position in the closed casing (1), a shaft (5) coupling the compression mechanism (2) to the expansion mechanism (3), and an oil pump (6) disposed between the compression mechanism (2) and the expansion mechanism (3). The oil pump (6) supplies the oil held in an oil reservoir (25) to the compression mechanism (2) via a suction passage. A strainer (65) is provided to the suction passage so that the oil to be drawn into the oil pump (6) passes through the strainer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Shingo Oyagi, Takeshi Ogata, Takumi Hikichi, Masanobu Wada, Yu Shiotani
  • Patent number: 8177525
    Abstract: An expander-integrated compressor 200A includes a closed casing 1, a compression mechanism 2, an expansion mechanism 3, a shaft 5, an oil pump 6, and a heat insulating structure 30A. The oil pump 6 is disposed between the compression mechanism 1 and the expansion mechanism 3, and draws, via an oil suction port 62q, an oil held in an oil reservoir 25 to supply it to the compression mechanism 2. The heat insulating structure 30A is disposed between the oil pump 6 and the expansion mechanism 3, and limits a flow of the oil between an upper tank 25a, in which the oil suction port 62q is located, and a lower tank 25b, in which the expansion mechanism 3 is located, so as to suppress heat transfer from the oil filling the upper tank 25a to the oil filling the lower tank 25b.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Yasufumi Takahashi, Hiroshi Hasegawa, Takumi Hikichi, Takeshi Ogata
  • Patent number: 8172558
    Abstract: A rotary expander includes: a cylinder (61); a piston (62) disposed inside the cylinder (61); closing members disposed with the cylinder (61) being sandwiched therebetween; and an injection passage for introducing further a working fluid in the expansion process of the working fluid. An introduction outlet (65c) of the injection passage leading to the working chamber (69) is provided at a position located inwardly away from the inner circumferential surface (61b) of the cylinder (61), on one of the closing members, in such a manner that the injection passage and the discharge passage are not communicated with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Hasegawa, Takeshi Ogata, Takumi Hikichi, Masanobu Wada, Yasufumi Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20120017636
    Abstract: A refrigeration cycle apparatus (100) includes a first compressor (101), a second compressor (102), a radiator (4), an evaporator (6), and a pipe branching portion (30). The first compressor (101) has a first compression mechanism (1) and an expansion mechanism (5). The second compressor (102) has a second compression mechanism (2). The pipe branching portion (30) serves as a flow passage for introducing a refrigerant from the evaporator (6) to the first compression mechanism (1) and the second compression mechanism (2), respectively. The pipe branching portion (30) includes an inlet pipe (31) for receiving the refrigerant from the evaporator (6), a first branch outlet pipe (32) for introducing the refrigerant flowing into the inlet pipe (31) to the first compression mechanism (1), and a second branch outlet pipe (33) for introducing the refrigerant flowing into the inlet pipe (31) to the second compression mechanism (2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2010
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masanobu Wada, Hiroshi Hasegawa, Takumi Hikichi, Shingo Oyagi, Yu Shiotani
  • Publication number: 20120014821
    Abstract: According to the present invention, a recess (25) which is induction means is provided in a top end surface (24) of a piston (16), the recess (25) guides working fluid (3) staying near an inner peripheral surface of a compression chamber (13) from an outer peripheral edge of the top end surface (24) toward an opposite position of the top end surface (24) facing a discharge hole (19), and the recess (25) smoothens discharging motion of working fluid (3) from the discharge hole (19).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2011
    Publication date: January 19, 2012
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takumi HIKICHI, Kenji KINJO
  • Patent number: 8087260
    Abstract: A fluid machine (201) includes: a compression mechanism (2) for compressing a working fluid; an expansion mechanism (4) for expanding the working fluid and for recovering mechanical power from the expanding working fluid; a shaft (5) for coupling the compression mechanism (2) and the expansion mechanism (4) and for transferring the mechanical power recovered by the expansion mechanism (4) to the compression mechanism (2); and a closed casing (1) for accommodating the compression mechanism (2), the shaft (5) and the expansion mechanism (4), and having an internal space into which the working fluid that has been compressed by the compression mechanism (2) is discharged. A refrigerant passage space (7) through which a refrigerant to be drawn into the expansion mechanism (4) passes is formed between an expansion chamber of the expansion mechanism (4) and the internal space of the closed casing (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Takeshi Ogata, Takumi Hikichi, Atsuo Okaichi, Masaru Matsui, Hiroshi Hasegawa