Patents by Inventor Tomohiro Yabu

Tomohiro Yabu 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: 7886556
    Abstract: An air conditioning system includes a plurality of latent heat utilization side refrigerant circuits which are connected in parallel with one another, and a plurality of sensible heat utilization side refrigerant circuits which are connected in parallel with one another. The latent heat utilization side refrigerant circuits include adsorbent heat exchangers provided with an adsorbent on the surface of each. The sensible heat utilization side refrigerant circuits respectively include air heat exchangers and are capable of exchanging heat between the refrigerant and air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryusuke Fujiyoshi, Tomohiro Yabu
  • Patent number: 7874174
    Abstract: A humidity control system during humidification operation sequentially repeats a first mode in which a second adsorption heat exchanger (82) serves as an evaporator and the remaining adsorption heat exchangers serve as evaporators, a second mode in which a third adsorption heat exchanger (83) serves as an evaporator and the remaining adsorption heat exchangers serve as evaporators and a third mode in which a first adsorption heat exchanger (81) serves as an evaporator and the remaining adsorption heat exchangers serve as evaporators. For example, during the first mode, the first adsorption heat exchanger (81) serving as an evaporator adsorbs moisture in a first air. Furthermore, in the second adsorption heat exchanger (82) serving as a condenser, the adsorbent is regenerated to humidify a second air. Furthermore, in the third adsorption heat exchanger (83) serving as an evaporator, the second air given moisture and heat in the second adsorption heat exchanger (82) is cooled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomohiro Yabu, Eisaku Okubo
  • Patent number: 7841194
    Abstract: The invention provides an air conditioner that is capable of performing optimal control in accordance with the environment of an indoor space at startup, and a method of controlling such. The air conditioner forms a refrigerant circuit having a first heat exchanger, a second heat exchanger, thermistors, humidity sensors, a temperature sensor, ventilation fans, a compressor, a casing, a control unit, and the like. The control unit is connected to the temperature sensor, the humidity sensors, a storage unit, a timer, a manual input unit, air passageway switching mechanisms, a four-way switching valve, and an expansion valve. In the stage before the air conditioner starts normal operation after startup, the control unit performs a priority control operation that prioritizes either the sensible heat process or the latent heat process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi Ishida, Nobuki Matsui, Tomohiro Yabu
  • Patent number: 7827812
    Abstract: A humidity controller (1) has a configuration composed of a cold/hot water circuit (10) through which cold/hot water circulates, an adsorption heat exchanger (20) that is provided in the cold/hot water circuit (10) and supports an adsorbent on its surface, and an air passage (30) that supplies air that has passed through the adsorption heat exchanger (20) at the time of hot water circulation to the inside of a room.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomohiro Yabu, Shuji Ikegami
  • Patent number: 7810339
    Abstract: An air conditioner has a heat exchanger, an absorbing agent, and a controller. The absorbing agent performs an absorbing operation for absorbing moisture in passing air flowing through the heat exchanger functioning as an evaporator and a regenerating operation for desorbing moisture from passing air heated by the heat exchanger functioning as a condenser. The controller performs control such that the absorbing operation and the regenerating operation are switched at a predetermined switching time interval. The controller also performs control of a capacity of a compressor and control for changing the predetermined switching time interval such that a predetermined load out of a total heat load, which is the sum of the latent heat load and the sensible heat load, is preferentially processed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi Ishida, Nobuki Matsui, Tomohiro Yabu
  • Patent number: 7810342
    Abstract: A refrigerant circuit (10) is provided with two adsorption heat exchangers (31, 32) in addition to an outdoor heat exchanger (21) and an indoor heat exchanger (22). An adsorbent is carried on the surface of each of the adsorption heat exchangers (31, 32). In the adsorption heat exchanger (31, 32) serving as an evaporator, moisture in the air is adsorbed by the adsorbent. In the adsorption heat exchanger (31, 32) serving as a condenser, moisture is desorbed from the adsorbent and then applied to the air. Then, the air dehumidified or humidified by the adsorption heat exchanger (31, 32) is supplied to a room to cope with latent heat load in the room. On the other hand, in the indoor heat exchanger (22), air is cooled or heated. Then, the air cooled or heated by the indoor heat exchanger (22) is supplied to the room to cope with sensible heat load in the room.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuki Matsui, Shuji Ikegami, Tomohiro Yabu, Satoshi Ishida, Junichi Teraki
  • Publication number: 20100251758
    Abstract: A humidity control apparatus has a refrigerant circuit 20 that has a compressor 21 and a first adsorption heat exchanger 23 and a second adsorption heat exchanger 25, each of which has an adsorbent for adsorbing the moisture of air supported thereon, and that reversibly circulates refrigerant to perform a vapor compression refrigeration cycle. The refrigerant circuit 20 is provided with a sensible heat exchanger 26 in which the refrigerant after having passed through the adsorption heat exchanger 23, 25 functioning as an evaporator exchanges heat with the air having passed through the adsorption heat exchanger 23, 25 functioning as a condenser, thereby cooling the air.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2008
    Publication date: October 7, 2010
    Inventors: Tomohiro Yabu, Yasunobu Okumura
  • Publication number: 20100224688
    Abstract: A casing includes a holding member for holding an adsorption member for adsorbing moisture, and a heating medium circuit for heating or cooling an adsorbent of the adsorption member. The holding member is configured to be drawn out of the casing, while holding the adsorption member and the heating medium circuit together.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2008
    Publication date: September 9, 2010
    Inventors: Tomohiro Yabu, Yasunobu Okumura
  • Publication number: 20100218534
    Abstract: The invention is directed to downsize a humidity adjustment unit as much as possible, thereby reducing the whole size of an air conditioner. An air conditioner (1) includes a humidity adjustment unit (2) for adjusting air humidity, and a temperature adjustment unit (8) for adjusting air temperature. The humidity adjustment unit (2) includes a humidity adjustment casing (20), first and second adsorption heat exchangers (14, 15) for adjusting the humidity of the air in the humidity adjustment casing (20), and a humidity adjustment electrical component unit (19). The temperature adjustment unit (8) includes a temperature adjustment casing (80) aligned with the humidity adjustment casing (20), and a temperature adjustment heat exchanger (94) which is contained in the temperature adjustment casing (80), and adjusts the temperature of the air.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2008
    Publication date: September 2, 2010
    Inventors: Tomohiro Yabu, Yasunobu Okumura
  • Patent number: 7730736
    Abstract: A refrigerant circuit (40) is provided with two adsorption heat exchangers (56, 57) in addition to an outdoor heat exchanger (54) and an indoor heat exchanger (55). The indoor heat exchanger (55) and the two adsorption heat exchangers (56, 57) are disposed in an indoor unit (11), while the outdoor heat exchanger (54) is disposed in an outdoor unit (12). In the adsorption heat exchanger (56, 57) serving as an evaporator, moisture in the air is adsorbed by the adsorbent. In the adsorption heat exchanger (56, 57) serving as a condenser, moisture is desorbed from the adsorbent and then applied to the air. Then, the air dehumidified or humidified by the adsorption heat exchanger (56, 57) is supplied to a room to cope with latent heat load in the room. On the other hand, in the indoor heat exchanger (55), air is cooled or heated. Then, the air cooled or heated by the indoor heat exchanger (55) is supplied to the room to cope with sensible heat load in the room.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuki Matsui, Shuji Ikegami, Tomohiro Yabu
  • Publication number: 20100015906
    Abstract: An air conditioning ventilator includes a ventilation unit, an air conditioning unit and a bypass channel. The ventilation unit has an air supply channel configured to supply air from an outdoor space to a target space, and an air supply fan configured to create a first airflow from the outdoor space to the target space within the air supply channel. The air conditioning unit has an intake channel configured to take in air from the target space, a temperature regulator configured to regulate the temperature of air that has passed through the intake channel, a discharge channel configured to discharge temperature-adjusted air that has been regulated by the temperature regulator to the target space, and an air-conditioning fan configured to create a second airflow from the intake channel to the discharge channel via the temperature regulator. The bypass channel bypassed the air supply channel and the discharge channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2008
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Applicant: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Takashi Takahashi, Tomohiro Yabu
  • Publication number: 20090308099
    Abstract: A humidity control system (10) includes a refrigerant circuit (50) in which an adsorption heat exchanger (51, 52) carrying an adsorbent thereon is connected. During a regeneration action of a humidification operation of the humidity control system (10), outdoor air passes through the adsorption heat exchanger (51, 52) from upstream towards downstream in the flow of refrigerant. Therefore, the air can be effectively increased in temperature at the air inflow end of the adsorption heat exchanger (51, 52), thereby preventing freezing of dew condensation water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2006
    Publication date: December 17, 2009
    Inventors: Nobuki Matsui, Satoshi Ishida, Tomohiro Yabu
  • Publication number: 20090288444
    Abstract: A humidity control system during humidification operation sequentially repeats a first mode in which a second adsorption heat exchanger (82) serves as an evaporator and the remaining adsorption heat exchangers serve as evaporators, a second mode in which a third adsorption heat exchanger (83) serves as an evaporator and the remaining adsorption heat exchangers serve as evaporators and a third mode in which a first adsorption heat exchanger (81) serves as an evaporator and the remaining adsorption heat exchangers serve as evaporators. For example, during the first mode, the first adsorption heat exchanger (81) serving as an evaporator adsorbs moisture in a first air. Furthermore, in the second adsorption heat exchanger (82) serving as a condenser, the adsorbent is regenerated to humidify a second air. Furthermore, in the third adsorption heat exchanger (83) serving as an evaporator, the second air given moisture and heat in the second adsorption heat exchanger (82) is cooled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2006
    Publication date: November 26, 2009
    Applicant: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Tomohiro Yabu, Eisaku Okubo
  • Patent number: 7614246
    Abstract: An air conditioning apparatus is capable of being mounted on the ceiling of an air-conditioned room. The air conditioning apparatus includes a casing in which an intake port is formed in a bottom surface, a filter provided in the intake port, a cleaning mechanism for removing dust collected by the filter from the filter, and a dust box provided at the bottom of the casing to collect dust removed by the cleaning mechanism. A nozzle insertion hole through which a nozzle of a vacuum cleaner can be inserted is formed facing downward in the dust box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomohiro Yabu, Hiromune Matsuoka, Jun Koizumi
  • Publication number: 20090267243
    Abstract: A humidifier 10 has a water circuit 20 that switches the flow of water between a first flow state, in which hot water introduced from a first inlet 21 flows through a first heat exchanger 32 and flows to a first outlet 22 and in which cold water introduced from a second inlet 23 flows through a second heat exchanger 42 and flows to a second outlet 24, and a second flow state, in which the hot water introduced from the first inlet 21 flows through the second heat exchanger 42 and flows to the first outlet 22 and in which the cold water introduced from the second inlet 23 flows through the first heat exchanger 32 and flows to the second outlet 24. The water circuit 20 has a bypass passage 36 for connecting the inlets 21, 23 to the outlets 22, 24 respectively at the time of switching the flow of water. With this, even if the respective three-way valves 31, 33, . . . cause a faulty operation, the cold water and the hot water surely flow through the bypass passage 36 and flow to the respective outlets 22, 24.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2006
    Publication date: October 29, 2009
    Inventor: Tomohiro Yabu
  • Publication number: 20090241576
    Abstract: In order to give a simple appearance design to an interior panel (10) for an air conditioner (1) of the type having a couple of juxtaposed air inlet (11) and air outlet (12) and to eliminate the need for a complicated mechanism or behavior for implementing the design, the interior panel (10) is provided with: an opening cover (15) covering the couple of air inlet (11) and air outlet (12) together; and an opening/closing mechanism for opening and closing the couple of air inlet (11) and air outlet (12) by changing the position of the opening cover (15) within a region including the couple of air inlet (11) and air outlet (12). The opening/closing mechanism is a mechanism for turning the opening cover (15) about a central axis (O) located between the couple of air inlet (11) and air outlet (12).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2006
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Inventors: Kaichi Tsuji, Tomohiro Yabu, Tetsuya Morizane
  • Publication number: 20090211284
    Abstract: An air conditioner is installable in a ceiling of an air-conditioned room and is disposed with a casing in whose top surface is formed a suction opening and in whose bottom surface are formed blowout openings, and in which is formed an air flow path that leads from the suction opening to the blowout openings, a blow fan that is disposed in the air flow path, and a heat exchanger that is disposed in the air flow path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2006
    Publication date: August 27, 2009
    Applicant: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomohiro Yabu, Hiromune Matsuoka, Norihiro Takenaka, Tetsuya Morizane
  • Patent number: 7568355
    Abstract: Disclosed is a humidity control device which is provided with an adsorptive element (81, 82) having a humidity control passageway (85) capable of adsorption of moisture from a first air stream and of release of moisture to a second air stream, and which provides an air stream, the humidity of which is conditioned in the adsorptive element (81, 82), to an indoor space. In the humidity control device, the adsorptive element (81, 82) is provided with an auxiliary passageway (86) through which a heating fluid flows when the adsorptive element (81, 82) is regenerated by releasing moisture to a second air stream from the humidity control passageway (85). As a result, during regeneration of the adsorptive element (81, 82) by releasing moisture to a second air stream, the amount of release moisture is increased, thereby enhancing the device performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Tomohiro Yabu
  • Publication number: 20090165432
    Abstract: An air conditioning apparatus is disposed above an air conditioned space. The air conditioning apparatus includes a case, a bottom surface panel, a filter, and a filter support part. The bottom surface of the case is open. The bottom surface panel covers part of the open portion of the bottom surface of the case. The filter is accommodated within the case. The filter support part detachably supports the filter such that the filter is separated upward from the bottom surface panel by a predetermined gap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2007
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Applicant: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Tomohiro Yabu, Tetsuya Morizane, Toshiyuki Nishio
  • Publication number: 20090100851
    Abstract: An indoor unit of a ceiling-embedded type or ceiling-suspended type air conditioner with an improved flexibility of the design of a bottom panel is provided. An indoor unit includes a bottom panel, an inlet disposed to the bottom panel, a movable panel that closes the inlet during non-operation, and a driving unit. The driving unit moves or rotates the movable panel. During operation, the movable panel moves or rotates and recedes above a bottom surface of the bottom panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2007
    Publication date: April 23, 2009
    Applicant: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD
    Inventors: Tomohiro Yabu, Tetsuya Morizane