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).

  • Publication number: 20090098820
    Abstract: An air conditioning apparatus includes a casing and a dividing cosmetic panel. The casing has a suction port and a discharge port. The dividing cosmetic panel has a plurality of dividing panels and an opening/closing moveable mechanism for varying the positions of the dividing panels relative to the suction port. The opening/closing moveable mechanism switches between a state in which the dividing panels are disposed in proximity to each other, thereby blocking air flow through the suction port, and a state in which the dividing panels are separated from each other to allow ventilation through the suction port.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2007
    Publication date: April 16, 2009
    Applicant: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Tomohiro Yabu
  • Publication number: 20090095008
    Abstract: An air conditioning unit has improved visual appeal in a non-operational state, and can reduce smudging of a ceiling in an air conditioned space by discharged air. The air conditioning unit is configured to be disposed above a space to be air-conditioned. The air conditioning unit includes a case, a first moveable panel, and a moveable panel actuating mechanism. The case has at least one discharge duct on a bottom face. The first moveable panel is configured to open and close the discharge duct. The moveable panel actuating mechanism moves the first moveable panels between a first position at which at least the outside section of the discharge duct is closed off, and a second position at which the outside section of the discharge duct is opened.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2007
    Publication date: April 16, 2009
    Applicant: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Tomohiro Yabu, Tetsuya Morizane, Kaichi Tsuji
  • Publication number: 20090084127
    Abstract: In a drain water discharging method for force-feeding drain water via a drain pump, clogging of a drain piping is prevented by controlling the drain pump. An air conditioner has a drain pan for collecting drain water that is dropped from a heat exchanger, a drain pump for discharging the drain water in the drain pan, and a DC motor for driving the drain pump. The DC motor for driving the drain pump is controlled to increase its rotating speed when a rotary torque of the DC motor is increased.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2007
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Inventors: Haruo Nakata, Tomohiro Yabu
  • Publication number: 20090007578
    Abstract: To provide an air conditioning apparatus having a function for extinguishing fire when an electric component assembly ignites. An air conditioning apparatus (1) comprises a vapor compression refrigerant circuit (10) that uses carbon dioxide as a refrigerant, an electric component assembly (26, 46, 56) for controlling an operation for structural devices, and a refrigerant emission pipe (28, 48, 58) capable of emitting carbon dioxide from the refrigerant circuit (10) to the electric component assembly (26, 46, 56).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2007
    Publication date: January 8, 2009
    Applicant: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Tomohiro Yabu
  • Patent number: 7472553
    Abstract: A humidity controller apparatus (10) includes a refrigerant circuit provided with first and second heat exchangers (61, 62). An adsorbent is supported on the surface of each of the first and second heat exchangers (61, 62). The refrigerant circuit is configured to allow for switching of the circulation direction of a refrigerant by operation of a four-way selector valve. In addition, in the humidity controller apparatus (10), a switching mechanism (50) switches the distribution routes of air streams. The humidity controller apparatus (10) operates the four-way selector valve and the switching mechanism (50), whereby a first air stream is dehumidified in the heat exchanger (61) or (62), whichever is acting as an evaporator while, on the other hand, a second air stream is humidified in the heat exchanger (61) or (62), whichever is acting as a condenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2009
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shuji Ikegami, Tomohiro Yabu
  • Publication number: 20080307814
    Abstract: A refrigerant circuit (40) is provided with an outdoor heat exchanger (54), an indoor heat exchanger (55) and two adsorption heat exchangers (56, 57). The indoor heat exchanger (55) is disposed in an indoor unit (11), while the outdoor heat exchanger (54) and the two adsorption heat exchangers (56, 57) are disposed in an outdoor unit (12). Moisture in outdoor air taken in the outdoor unit (12) is adsorbed by the adsorbent in the adsorption heat exchanger (56, 57) serving as an evaporator and the air is dehumidified. The dehumidified air is cooled by the indoor heat exchanger (55) serving as an evaporator and the air is supplied to the room space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2004
    Publication date: December 18, 2008
    Inventors: Nobuki Matsui, Shuji Ikegami, Tomohiro Yabu
  • Publication number: 20080265045
    Abstract: A humidity control system (10) is constituted by a single outdoor unit (13) and two humidity control units (11, 12). The two humidity control units (11, 12) are connected to the outdoor unit (13). With switching of the position of an outdoor four-way selector valve (22) in the outdoor unit (13), the flow direction of refrigerant in humidity control circuits (30, 40) in the humidity control units (11, 12) is inverted. Out of a first adsorption heat exchanger (31, 41) and a second adsorption heat exchanger (32, 42) in each humidity control circuit (30, 40), one serving as an evaporator dehumidifies a first air and the other serving as a condenser humidifies a second air. Each humidity control unit (11, 12) performs a dehumidification operation by supplying the dehumidified first air to a room and performs a humidification operation by supplying the humidified second air to the room.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2005
    Publication date: October 30, 2008
    Inventors: Tomohiro Yabu, Ryusuke Fujiyoshi
  • Publication number: 20080223062
    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: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2006
    Publication date: September 18, 2008
    Applicant: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Tomohiro Yabu, Hiromune Matsuoka, Jun Koizumi
  • Patent number: 7412836
    Abstract: A humidity controller apparatus comprises: a first heat exchange chamber (69) for accommodating a first heat exchanger (3), an adsorbent material being supported on a surface of said first heat exchanger (3); and a second heat exchange chamber (73), formed adjacently to said first heat exchange chamber (69), for accommodating a second heat exchanger (5), an adsorbent material being supported on a surface of said second heat exchanger (5). A first air inflow passage (63) and a first air outflow passage (65) are formed along one end surface in a thickness direction in which respective one surfaces of said two heat exchange chambers (69, 73) continue and which are arranged in a superimposed manner in the thickness direction of both said heat exchange chambers (69, 73).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shuji Ikegami, Takahisa Sueoka, Tomohiro Yabu
  • Patent number: 7410533
    Abstract: In a humidity controller apparatus for removing moisture from or adding moisture to process subject air which is to be supplied to an indoor space alternately using a first adsorption element (81) and a second adsorption element (82) by switching distribution routes for the process subject air in the casing (10), a suction-side wall (12) of the casing (10) has first and second inlet openings (13, 15) which are provided side by side. The casing (10) has a filter room (44) which is in communication with the first and second inlet openings (13, 15). The filter room (44) contains an air filter (71) for filtering the process subject air. With this structure, maintenance tasks for the air filter (71) are simplified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Tomohiro Yabu
  • Patent number: 7395677
    Abstract: An air conditioning system to treat a latent heat load and a sensible heat load in a room includes a plurality of utilization units, a heat source unit, and connection pipes that connect between the units. The utilization units include adsorbent heat exchangers provided with an adsorbent on the surface of each. The utilization units are configured to alternate between an adsorption process and a regeneration process. The heat source unit includes a compression mechanism and an accumulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryusuke Fujiyoshi, Tomohiro Yabu
  • Publication number: 20080092565
    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: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2005
    Publication date: April 24, 2008
    Inventors: Tomohiro Yabu, Shuji Ikegami
  • Patent number: 7318320
    Abstract: A humidity control apparatus includes two adsorbing elements (81, 82), and performs a batch-type operation. The humidity control apparatus includes a refrigerant circuit (100). A second air for regenerating the adsorbing element (81, 82) is heated through a regenerative heat exchanger (102) of the refrigerant circuit (100). The refrigerant circuit (100) includes a first heat exchanger (103) and a second heat exchanger (104). In a dehumidification mode, the first heat exchanger (103) serves as an evaporator, and the first air to be supplied exchanges heat with the refrigerant. At this point, the second heat exchanger (104) is inactive. In a dehumidification mode, the second heat exchanger (104) serves as an evaporator, and the first air to be discharged exchanges heat with the refrigerant. At this point, the first heat exchanger (103) is inactive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomohiro Yabu, Guannan Xi
  • Publication number: 20070240864
    Abstract: An adsorption heat exchanger (20) is constituted by a fin-and-tube heat exchanger. In the adsorption heat exchanger (20), a first tube column (41), a second tube column (42) and a third tube column (43) are formed in order from upstream to downstream in air flow. The adsorption heat exchanger (20) is formed of a first column part (21) including the first tube column (41), a second column part (22) including the second tube column (42) and a third column part (23) including the third tube column (43). In the adsorption heat exchanger (20), a first adsorption layer (36) is formed on the fins (30) in the first column part (21), a second adsorption layer (37) is formed on the fins (30) in the second column part (22) and a third adsorption layer (38) is formed on the fins (30) in the third column part (23). The amount of adsorbent contained in each adsorption layer increases in order of the first adsorption layer (36), the second adsorption layer (37) and the third adsorption layer (38).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2005
    Publication date: October 18, 2007
    Applicant: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Tomohiro Yabu, Shuji Ikegami
  • Publication number: 20070214810
    Abstract: A humidity control system (10) is provided which includes a refrigerant circuit (60). The refrigerant circuit (60) includes first and second absorbent-supported heat exchangers (61, 62) and performs a refrigeration cycle by the circulation of refrigerant. In addition, in the refrigerant circuit (60), the circulation direction of refrigerant is reversible. The first and second heat exchangers (61, 62) are disposed in a main casing (11) of a main unit (90). In the main unit (90), the distribution route of air is changed such that a first air stream is passed through either one of the first and second heat exchangers (61, 61) that is functioning as an evaporator while a second air stream is passed through the other heat exchanger that is functioning as a condenser. A compressor (63) of the refrigerant circuit (60) is disposed in a compressor unit (91) of separate installation from the main unit (90).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2005
    Publication date: September 20, 2007
    Inventors: Tomohiro Yabu, Yoshinori Narikawa
  • Publication number: 20070209385
    Abstract: A humidity control system (10) is disclosed which includes a refrigerant circuit (60). The refrigerant circuit (60) includes first and second absorbent-supported heat exchangers (61, 62) and performs a refrigeration cycle by the circulation of refrigerant. In addition, in the refrigerant circuit (60), the circulation direction of refrigerant is reversible. The first and second heat exchangers (61, 62) are disposed in a casing (11). In the humidity control system (10), the distribution route of air is changed such that a first air stream is passed through either one of the first and second heat exchangers (61, 61) that is functioning as an evaporator while a second air stream is passed through the other heat exchanger that is functioning as a condenser. A compressor (63), an expansion mechanism (65), and a four-way valve (64) in the refrigerant circuit (60) are disposed together with the heat exchangers (61, 62) in the casing (11).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2005
    Publication date: September 13, 2007
    Inventors: Tomohiro Yabu, Shuji Ikegami, Yoshinori Narikawa
  • Publication number: 20070193287
    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: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2005
    Publication date: August 23, 2007
    Applicant: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi Ishida, Nobuki Matsui, Tomohiro Yabu
  • Publication number: 20070180844
    Abstract: An air conditioning system to treat a latent heat load and a sensible heat load in a room includes a plurality of utilization units, a heat source unit, and connection pipes that connect between the units. The utilization units include adsorbent heat exchangers provided with an adsorbent on the surface of each. The utilization units are configured to alternate between an adsorption process and a regeneration process. The heat source unit includes a compression mechanism and an accumulator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2005
    Publication date: August 9, 2007
    Applicant: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryusuke Fujiyoshi, Tomohiro Yabu
  • Publication number: 20070180851
    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: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2005
    Publication date: August 9, 2007
    Applicant: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryusuke Fujiyoshi, Tomohiro Yabu
  • Publication number: 20070144189
    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: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2005
    Publication date: June 28, 2007
    Applicant: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Satoshi Ishida, Nobuki Matsui, Tomohiro Yabu