Patents by Inventor Yasuhiro Yuguchi

Yasuhiro Yuguchi 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: 7720190
    Abstract: A working apparatus has: a working equipment for doing works on a structure; a folding/unfolding mechanism for conveying the working equipment to the working position in a folded state; a conveyance mechanism (such as a horizontal thruster) for conveying the working equipment and the folding/unfolding mechanism to the working position; a pressing mechanism (such as a ballast tank) for pressing the working equipment against the lower surface of the structure; and a traveling mechanism including a wheel for traveling along the lower surface of the structure and positioning the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Mitsuaki Shimamura, Takeshi Maehara, Ikuko Kameyama, Hiroyuki Adachi, Yasuhiro Yuguchi, Toru Taguchi
  • Publication number: 20080264451
    Abstract: An apparatus for processing an inside of a pipe which performs various works from an inside of a pipe, includes traveling drive units, a working device, rotation support mechanisms, a coupling mechanism, and suspension devices. The traveling drive units are inserted into the inside of the pipe, and the working device is moved in a circumferential direction along the inside of the pipe by the traveling drive units.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2008
    Publication date: October 30, 2008
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Mitsuaki SHIMAMURA, Yutaka Togasawa, Takeshi Maehara, Yasuhiro Yuguchi
  • Patent number: 7303360
    Abstract: Disclosed is a system that performs inspection and repair of an underwater structure, specifically core internals in a pressure vessel. An underwater vehicle is provided with a drive wheel, a contact force generating unit (e.g., thruster) that presses the drive wheel to a vertical wall of the underwater structure, an ascending force control unit (e.g., ballast) that controls the buoyancy of the vehicle, a guide roller that engages with and is pressed against an undersurface of the underwater structure by the ascending force controlled by the ascending force control unit. The underwater vehicle is appropriately positioned with respect to the vertical direction by the guide roller. The drive wheel is driven for rotation so that the underwater vehicle runs horizontally along the vertical wall to reach the inspection or repair site, where the inspection or repair is carried out by work tool mounted to the underwater vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Tetsuro Nakagawa, Yasuhiro Yuguchi, Koichi Soma, Hiroshi Iimori, Mitsuaki Shimamura
  • Publication number: 20070253518
    Abstract: A working apparatus has: a working equipment for doing works on a structure; a folding/unfolding mechanism for conveying the working equipment to the working position in a folded state; a conveyance mechanism (such as a horizontal thruster) for conveying the working equipment and the folding/unfolding mechanism to the working position; a pressing mechanism (such as a ballast tank) for pressing the working equipment against the lower surface of the structure; and a traveling mechanism including a wheel for traveling along the lower surface of the structure and positioning the apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2005
    Publication date: November 1, 2007
    Inventors: Mitsuaki Shimamura, Takeshi Maehara, Ikuko Kameyama, Hiroyuki Adachi, Yasuhiro Yuguchi, Toru Taguchi
  • Patent number: 7270021
    Abstract: A working apparatus has: a working equipment for doing works on a structure; an operation mechanism adapted to actively move the working equipment relative to the structure; and an adhering/traveling module coupled to the operation mechanism and adapted to adhere to the structure so as to have the weight of the working apparatus borne by the structure and travel/move on the structure for positioning. With this arrangement, the working apparatus can perform accurate positioning operations in a narrow environment and complex scanning operations by means of various pieces of the working equipment such as inspection sensors, and can secure a large working area within a short period of time and reduce the overall working hours.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Mitsuaki Shimamura, Motohiko Kimura, Tomoyuki Ito, Yasuhiro Yuguchi, Toru Taguchi
  • Publication number: 20070189858
    Abstract: Disclosed is a system that performs inspection and repair of an underwater structure, specifically core internals in a pressure vessel. An underwater vehicle Is provided with a drive wheel, a contact force generating unit (e.g., thruster) that presses the drive wheel to a vertical wall of the underwater structure, an ascending force control unit (e.g., ballast) that controls the buoyancy of the vehicle, a guide roller that engages with and Is pressed against an undersurface of the underwater structure by the ascending force controlled by the ascending force control unit. The underwater vehicle is appropriately positioned with respect to the vertical direction by the guide roller. The drive wheel Is driven for rotation so that the underwater vehicle runs horizontally along the vertical wall to reach the inspection or repair site, where the inspection or repair is carried out by work tool mounted to the underwater vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2007
    Publication date: August 16, 2007
    Inventors: Tetsuro NAKAGAWA, Yasuhiro YUGUCHI, Koichi SOMA, Hiroshi IIMORI, Mitsuaki SHIMAMURA
  • Publication number: 20070140403
    Abstract: A method for inspection and maintenance of an inside of a nuclear power reactor is provided, which can perform positioning of a remote operated vehicle relative to an inspection target surface in a nuclear power reactor in a short period of time with high accuracy, and enhance the positioning repeatability for the remote operated vehicle, thereby enabling performance of the inspection and maintenance for the inspection target surface securely and satisfactorily. For the inspection or maintenance for the inspection target surface 1a in a nuclear power reactor by using the remote operated vehicle 30, a detection mark 3 is formed in advance by providing a notching, marking, punching or engraving process to the inspection target surface 1a before performing inspection or maintenance of the inside of the nuclear power reactor by using the remote operated vehicle 30. Then, the remote operated vehicle 30 is driven to move in the nuclear power reactor filled with water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2006
    Publication date: June 21, 2007
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Yuguchi, Hiroyuki Adachi, Tetsuro Nakagawa, Satoshi Yamamoto, Hidefumi Amanai, Ken Okuda
  • Publication number: 20060222138
    Abstract: A working apparatus has: a working equipment for doing works on a structure; an operation mechanism adapted to actively move the working equipment relative to the structure; and an adhering/traveling module coupled to the operation mechanism and adapted to adhere to the structure so as to have the weight of the working apparatus borne by the structure and travel/move on the structure for positioning. With this arrangement, the working apparatus can perform accurate positioning operations in a narrow environment and complex scanning operations by means of various pieces of the working equipment such as inspection sensors, and can secure a large working area within a short period of time and reduce the overall working hours.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2005
    Publication date: October 5, 2006
    Inventors: Mitsuaki Shimamura, Motohiko Kimura, Tomoyuki Ito, Yasuhiro Yuguchi, Toru Taguchi
  • Patent number: 6990714
    Abstract: A modular submersible repairing system includes a working unit having a tool module capable of repairing structures in a reactor. A scanning/pitching module is capable of being selectively connected to or disconnected from the tool module, and is provided with a scanning/pitching shaft for scanning or pitching the tool module. A submersible fan module is capable of being selectively connected to or disconnected from the scanning/pitching module. A first buoyant module keeps an orientation of the tool module. A base unit includes a manipulator module internally provided with an actuator driving mechanism. An adsorbing module is capable of being detachably mounted on the manipulator module and a wall. A second buoyant module keeps the orientation of the manipulator module. The scanning/pitching module and the manipulator module are provided with a submersible connecting device capable of being operated in water for engagement and disengagement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Katsuhiko Sato, Motohiko Kimura, Hiroaki Igakura, Yutaka Togasawa, Takuya Uehara, Yasuhiro Yuguchi, Seiki Soramoto, Kenji Kurihara, Yuuji Yasuda, Katsuhiko Naruse
  • Publication number: 20040196949
    Abstract: A modular submersible repairing system is capable of dealing with various tasks somewhat inefficiently, though, and of being inserted and installed in a reactor instantly, and highly maneuverable. A repairing method is carried out by the modular submersible repairing system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2004
    Publication date: October 7, 2004
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Katsuhiko Sato, Motohiko Kimura, Hiroaki Igakura, Yutaka Togasawa, Takuya Uehara, Yasuhiro Yuguchi, Seiki Soramoto, Kenji Kurihara, Yuuji Yasuda, Katsuhiko Naruse
  • Patent number: 6715201
    Abstract: A modular submersible repairing system includes a working unit having a tool module capable of repairing structures in a reactor. A scanning/pitching module is capable of being selectively connected to or disconnected from the tool module, and is provided with a scanning/pitching shaft for scanning or pitching the tool module. A submersible fan module is capable of being selectively connected to or disconnected from the scanning/pitching module. A first buoyant module keeps an orientation of the tool module. A base unit includes a manipulator module internally provided with an actuator driving mechanism. An adsorbing module is capable of being detachably mounted on the manipulator module and a wall. A second buoyant module keeps the orientation of the manipulator module. The scanning/pitching module and the manipulator module are provided with a submersible connecting device capable of being operated in water for engagement and disengagement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Katsuhiko Sato, Motohiko Kimura, Hiroaki Igakura, Yutaka Togasawa, Takuya Uehara, Yasuhiro Yuguchi, Seiki Soramoto, Kenji Kurihara, Yuuji Yasuda, Katsuhiko Naruse
  • Publication number: 20020157228
    Abstract: A modular submersible repairing system is capable of dealing with various tasks somewhat inefficiently, though, and of being inserted and installed in a reactor instantly, and highly maneuverable. A repairing method is carried out by the modular submersible repairing system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2001
    Publication date: October 31, 2002
    Inventors: Katsuhiko Sato, Motohiko Kimura, Hiroaki Igakura, Yutaka Togasawa, Takuya Uehara, Yasuhiro Yuguchi, Seiki Soramoto, Kenji Kurihara, Yuuji Yasuda, Katsuhiko Naruse