Patents Assigned to Hitachi Appliances, Inc.
  • Patent number: 8261570
    Abstract: An ice supplying apparatus 100, being provided in a refrigerator 1, comprises: an ice maker unit 22, which is configured to supply ice pieces produced therein to an outside of a freezer room door; an ice storage unit 110, which is configured to store the ice pieces produced by the ice maker unit; an ice discharger unit 112, which is provided within the ice storage unit to discharge the ice pieces below; and a shrinking portion 111, which is provided in the ice storage unit and defines an interior space thereof as small as it goes down, through building up a lower surface 113, among interior surfaces defining that interior space 301 of the ice storage unit 110, for supporting the ice pieces stored therein from a lower potion thereof, by a surface inclining to a horizontal direction, wherein the ice discharger unit 112 is disposed in a lower portion of the shrinking portion 111.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Hitachi Appliances, Inc.
    Inventors: Katsutoshi Shinohara, Kenji Shiono, Shintaro Yamawaki, Taichiro Yamashita, Yasuo Kurihara
  • Patent number: 8241021
    Abstract: In order to make a displacement type compressor be able to reliably start without increasing an outside diameter dimension of the compressor while using a self-start synchronous motor having high energy efficiency, the displacement type compressor according to the invention includes the self-start synchronous motor which starts as an induction-motor and performs synchronous operation by performing synchronization pull-in almost at a synchronous rotational frequency, a compression part having a compression chamber which compresses a working fluid, and a hermetic container which houses the self-start synchronous motor and the compression part. The displacement type compressor is provided with a start load reducing means which reduces a load of the compression part at startup and is placed at the compression part in the hermetic container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Hitachi Appliances, Inc.
    Inventors: Takeshi Tsuchiya, Yuuichi Yanagase, Kazuyuki Fujimura, Mutsunori Matsunaga, Shigekazu Nozawa, Kenji Tojo, Haruo Koharagi, Satoshi Kikuchi, Hirokatsu Kohsokabe
  • Patent number: 8191377
    Abstract: After a chiller unit is started, an opening command of 10 pulses is output to an electronic expansion valve, and after a predetermined period of time (at the time of starting with unload) elapses, an opening command of 100 to 150 pulses is output to open the electronic expansion valve up to a predetermined opening degree. Thereafter, a discharge side refrigerant super-heat TdSH is monitored and a closing command of 1 pulse/sec is output to the electronic expansion valve to drive the same in a closing direction in a short time until TdSH becomes 20 K. After TdSH has reached 20 K, a closing command of 1 pulse/3 sec is output to the electronic expansion valve, until TdSH becomes 25 K, to drive the electronic expansion valve 3 at a smaller speed in the closing direction than that speed in the closing direction until TdSH becomes 20 K.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Hitachi Appliances, Inc.
    Inventors: Masayuki Aiyama, Shouji Kikuchi, Kyuuhei Ishibane, Yoshikazu Ishiki, Mitsue Okamoto
  • Publication number: 20120131945
    Abstract: A self-starting type axial gap synchronous motor includes a stator in which plural small stators are arranged on the same circumference; disc-shaped rotors in each of which plural permanent magnets facing the stator are arranged on the same circumference; and a shaft coupled to the rotors. Each of the disc-shaped rotors includes a metal frame that is provided so as to surround the plural permanent magnets arranged on the same circumference, and each of the metal frames is configured using a nonmagnetic and conductive material. Accordingly, it is possible to obtain a self-starting type axial gap synchronous motor that can be started by a commercial electric power without using an inverter, and a compressor and a refrigeration cycle apparatus using the same.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2011
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Applicant: Hitachi Appliances, Inc.
    Inventors: Baiying HUANG, Ryoji Sato, Hiroyasu Yoneyama
  • Patent number: 8152502
    Abstract: A scroll compressor includes a fixed scroll, an orbiting scroll, a crankshaft rotationally supported on a frame to drive the orbiting scroll, a seal member between an orbiting scroll back surface and the frame, a back pressure chamber of discharge pressure at an inner peripheral side of the seal member, another back pressure chamber of low pressure at an outer peripheral side so that the orbiting scroll is pressed against the fixed scroll with the pressures of these back pressure chambers, and a guide ring supporting an end surface of the seal member at a side opposite to the orbiting scroll and including a guide portion guiding an inner peripheral surface of the seal member so that the seal member is brought into close contact with the orbiting scroll back surface by a wave spring through the guide ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Hitachi Appliances, Inc.
    Inventors: Satoshi Nakamura, Mutsunori Matsunaga, Takeshi Tsuchiya, Yuuichi Yanagase, Masatsugu Chikano
  • Patent number: 7902713
    Abstract: A self-starting type permanent magnet synchronous motor comprises a stator and a rotor. The rotor comprises a rotor core having a plurality of slots provided in an outer periphery thereof and a cage winding comprising conductive bars embedded in the slots and conductive end rings that short-circuit the conductive bars on both end faces of the bars in an axial direction thereof. The rotor core comprises at least one magnet insertion hole arranged on an inner peripheral side from the slots, and at least one permanent magnet embedded in the at least one magnet insertion hole. When a pole center axis is denoted as a d-axis and an axis deviating from the pole center axis by an electrical angle 90° is denoted as a q-axis, a flux content generated by the cage winding during start-up becomes maximal in the vicinity of and on one of the d-axis and the q-axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Hitachi Appliances, Inc.
    Inventors: Satoshi Kikuchi, Hiroyuki Mikami, Akeshi Takahashi, Tomio Yoshikawa, Keiji Tanaka, Masashi Miyake, Baiying Huang, Masaru Ohtahara, Kenji Tojo, Hideyuki Kumakura
  • Publication number: 20110020161
    Abstract: In order to make a displacement type compressor be able to reliably start without increasing an outside diameter dimension of the compressor while using a self-start synchronous motor having high energy efficiency, the displacement type compressor according to the invention includes the self-start synchronous motor which starts as an induction-motor and performs synchronous operation by performing synchronization pull-in almost at a synchronous rotational frequency, a compression part having a compression chamber which compresses a working fluid, and a hermetic container which houses the self-start synchronous motor and the compression part. The displacement type compressor is provided with a start load reducing means which reduces a load of the compression part at startup and is placed at the compression part in the hermetic container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2010
    Publication date: January 27, 2011
    Applicant: Hitachi Appliances, Inc.
    Inventors: Takeshi TSUCHIYA, Yuuichi Yanagase, Kazuyuki Fujimura, Mutsunori Matsunaga, Shigekazu Nozawa, Kenji Tojo, Haruo Koharagi, Satoshi Kikuchi, Hirokatsu Kohsokabe
  • Patent number: 7839663
    Abstract: A converter includes a converter circuit 1 having a plurality of bridge-connected semiconductor switching devices for converting AC power into DC power, a smoothing condenser connected in parallel to the DC side of the converter circuit and a current detector provided in a condenser circuit to control a condenser current flowing through the smoothing condenser to be a set value. The condenser current is controlled to be the set value (e.g. zero) to thereby reduce the capacity of the smoothing condenser and make the converter small.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Hitachi Appliances, Inc.
    Inventors: Takahiro Suzuki, Yoshitaka Iwaji, Tsunehiro Endo, Yasuo Notohara, Yoshiaki Kurita, Tatsuo Ando, Chikara Tanaka
  • Patent number: 7824160
    Abstract: A scroll back pressure chamber in a scroll compressor is composed of a space 111 filled with suction pressure (or intermediate pressure) and a space filled with discharge pressure, and the summation of the suction pressure (or the intermediate pressure) and the discharge pressure presses one of scrolls against the other of the scrolls. An injection hole, through which refrigerant in gas state or refrigerant in liquid state is injected into a compression chamber of the scroll compressor, is provided on a fixed scroll, and the gas refrigerant injection or the liquid refrigerant injection is selected and carried out according to an operating pressure ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Hitachi Appliances, Inc.
    Inventors: Satoshi Nakamura, Mutsunori Matsunaga, Shuji Hasegawa, Kenji Tojo
  • Patent number: 7770403
    Abstract: An air conditioning system is arranged to use a power line for communication. The air conditioning system includes one or more indoor units, one or more outdoor units, and a system controller for controlling the indoor units or outdoor units and executes communications between the indoor units and the outdoor units as overlapping a signal on the power line for supplying electric power. The outdoor units are connected with the system controller through a leased communication line. The indoor unit provides a power line communication device being connected with the power line. The outdoor unit provides a leased communication device being connected with the leased communication line. A bridge is also provided for connecting the leased communication line and the power line. The control information is exchanged mutually between the indoor units, the outdoor units and the system controller through the power line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Hitachi Appliances, Inc.
    Inventors: Yasuyuki Kojima, Noboru Akiyama, Takeshi Onaka, Tatsumi Yamauchi, Koichi Taniguchi, Koichi Tokushige, Noriyuki Bunkou, Keiji Sato
  • Patent number: 7772736
    Abstract: The inventive self-initiated permanent magnet synchronous motor has a rotor that has two-pole permanent magnets, as well as magnetic substances in a peripheral direction between the magnetic poles of the permanent magnets. The present invention provides a high-efficiency, high-torque permanent magnet synchronous motor with an improved power factor, its rotor, and a compressor using the permanent magnet synchronous motor, without a reduction in the maximum torque and an increase in costs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Hitachi Appliances, Inc.
    Inventors: Akeshi Takahashi, Haruo Koharagi, Satoshi Kikuchi, Tomio Yoshikawa, Baiying Huang
  • Patent number: 7758326
    Abstract: A scroll fluid machine comprises compression chambers defined with an orbiting scroll orbiting relative to a fixed scroll, and a back pressure chamber provided on the face opposite from a wrap of the orbiting scroll. A back pressure port is provided, which is formed in an end-plate of the orbiting scroll and connects from a compression chamber side opening opened to a compression chamber side and to a back pressure chamber side opening opened to a back pressure chamber side. The compression chamber side opening is opened and closed by an end-plate of the fixed scroll according as the orbiting motion of the orbiting scroll to perform connection and blockage of the back pressure port. The flow resistance of fluid flowing in and out between the back pressure chamber and the compression chamber is reduced and the compression efficiency and reliability are improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Hitachi Appliances, Inc.
    Inventors: Kazuyuki Fujimura, Takeshi Tsuchiya, Yuichi Yanagase, Makoto Aoki, Masashi Miyake, Mutsunori Matsunaga, Satoshi Nakamura, Masaru Ohtahara, Syuuji Hasegawa, Hiroyuki Imamura, Yoshinobu Yosuke, Kenji Tojo
  • Patent number: 7690211
    Abstract: To provide a refrigerating apparatus that can control the supercooling degree of liquid refrigerant irrespective of changes in circulating refrigerant amounts in a refrigeration cycle, a refrigerating apparatus includes a refrigeration cycle having one or more compressors or inverter compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve, and an evaporator; a liquid introduction circuit that guides decompressed refrigerant obtained by extracting one part of high pressure liquid refrigerant from the refrigeration cycle and decompressing, to a supercooling heat exchanger provided in the refrigeration cycle to perform heat transfer between the decompressed refrigerant and high pressure liquid refrigerant, and then introduces the refrigerant into refrigerant for intake into the compressors or inverter compressor or an intermediate pressure part of these compressors; a controller controlling shutdown of the compressors or driving frequencies of the inverter compressor based on suction pressure detection values with respect t
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: Hitachi Appliances, Inc.
    Inventors: Takashi Sakurai, Kazumasa Ohta
  • Patent number: 7628593
    Abstract: A horizontal type scroll compressor is provided with a support plate separating an inside of the sealed container into a first space in which the compressor mechanism portion and the electric motor portion are stored, and a second space in which the discharge pipe is provided, and a communication path communicating a bottom portion of the first space and a space above the drive shaft within the second space in a lower side of the support plate, and regulates an oil level by the communication path in the case that the oil level difference becomes large at a time of a high-speed operation. In order to stabilize the oil supply to the bearing or the like, the oil is supplied by an oil pump provided in a shaft end portion of the drive shaft close to an oil reserving chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: Hitachi Appliances, Inc.
    Inventors: Takao Mizuno, Mutsumi Otsuka, Katsuya Ohashi, Yasushi Izunaga, Mutsunori Matsunaga, Masashi Miyake, Kenji Tojo
  • Patent number: 7603872
    Abstract: A heat-pump hot water supply apparatus, for dissolving problems of delaying in heating rise-up time when re-starting, and ill influences upon starting characteristics, due to liquid refrigerant residing in an evaporator when the operation is stepped, within a heat-pump circuit thereof, comprises a heat-pump refrigerant circuit, in which a compressor, a water/refrigerant heat exchanger, a refrigerant adjusting valve, and an evaporator, in series, through refrigerant pipes, a direct hot-water supply circuit, into which is supplied hot water heated, obtained by heating water supplied from an outside via a water pipe by means the water/refrigerant heat exchanger, and a compressor operation controller means for stopping the compressor and also closing the refrigerant adjusting valve when the compressor stops the operation thereof, and for re-starting the compressor after opening the refrigerant adjusting valve when the compressor starts the operation, again, wherein the refrigerant within the evaporator is collect
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignee: Hitachi Appliances, Inc.
    Inventors: Taichi Tanaami, Masahiko Gommori, Kazuhiro Endoh, Junichi Takagi, Kouichi Fukushima
  • Patent number: 7557546
    Abstract: A unidirectional DC-DC converter which has a simple control circuit without using multiple insulated power supplies or a transformer, uses an auxiliary inductor of a comparatively small capacitance, reduces the size and weight of the converter, and has a very great capacitance without switching of supply current. For example, a unidirectional DC-DC converter equipped with main IGBT101 which supplies and shuts off current for first inductor 108a and diode 107 which discharges energy from main inductor 108a to an the output. The DC-DC converter is further equipped with auxiliary IGBT104 which applies current to back-to-back-connected diode 102 by using energy stored in auxiliary inductor 108b which is magnetically coupled with main inductor 108a. This applies current to the back-to-back-connected diode in a short period including a time period in which the first switching element is turned on and accomplishes ZVZCS.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Assignees: Hitachi, Ltd., Hitachi Appliances, Inc.
    Inventors: Junpei Uruno, Hiroyuki Shoji, Akihiko Kanouda, Yasuo Kaminaga
  • Publication number: 20090145147
    Abstract: An air conditioning system is arranged to use a power line for communication. The air conditioning system includes one or more indoor units, one or more outdoor units, and a system controller for controlling the indoor units or outdoor units and executes communications between the indoor units and the outdoor units as overlapping a signal on the power line for supplying electric power. The outdoor units are connected with the system controller through a leased communication line. The indoor unit provides a power line communication device being connected with the power line. The outdoor unit provides a leased communication device being connected with the leased communication line. A bridge is also provided for connecting the leased communication line and the power line. The control information is exchanged mutually between the indoor units, the outdoor units and the system controller through the power line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2009
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Applicant: HITACHI APPLIANCES INC.
    Inventors: Yasuyuki Kojima, Noboru Akiyama, Takeshi Onaka, Tatsumi Yamauchi, Koichi Taniguchi, Koichi Tokushige, Noriyuki Bunkou, Keiji Sato
  • Patent number: 7531934
    Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a self-start synchronous motor for preventing deterioration of permanent magnets used in a rotor, and also for enhancing the efficiency of the self-start synchronous motor, the self-start synchronous motor comprising a stator having a stator core and windings wound around the stator core, and a rotor having an outer diameter slightly smaller than an inner diameter of the stator and arranged inside of the stator. The rotor is provided with a rotor core, a plurality of conductor bars embedded in the outer peripheral portion of the rotor core over an entire periphery thereof, end rings provided on opposite end sides of the conductor bars and constituting a squirrel cage conductor in cooperation with the conductor bars, and a plurality of permanent magnets embedded in the rotor core and arranged at a position inner than that of an inner peripheral surface of the conductor bars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2009
    Assignee: Hitachi Appliances, Inc.
    Inventors: Baiying Hang, Tomio Yoshikawa, Yasuro Ohishi, Akeshi Takahashi, Haruo Koharagi
  • Patent number: 7523619
    Abstract: An air conditioning system is arranged to use a power line for communication. The air conditioning system includes one or more indoor units, one or more outdoor units, and a system controller for controlling the indoor units or outdoor units and executes communications between the indoor units and the outdoor units as overlapping a signal on the power line for supplying electric power. The outdoor units are connected with the system controller through a leased communication line. The indoor unit provides a power line communication device being connected with the power line. The outdoor unit provides a leased communication device being connected with the leased communication line. A bridge is also provided for connecting the leased communication line and the power line. The control information is exchanged mutually between the indoor units, the outdoor units and the system controller through the power line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: Hitachi Appliances, Inc.
    Inventors: Yasuyuki Kojima, Noboru Akiyama, Takeshi Onaka, Tatsumi Yamauchi, Koichi Taniguchi, Koichi Tokushige, Noriyuki Bunkou, Keiji Sato
  • Patent number: 7517576
    Abstract: The invention provides a vacuum insulation panel to which moisture and gas do not easily adsorb while it is being processed or being in storage in an unfinished state. The vacuum insulation panel includes a core provided with air circulation, a getter material which adsorbs moisture and gas from the core, an inner film bag which accommodates the core and the getter material, and an outer barrier bag which accommodates the inner film bag. The getter material is filled in an incision provided on the surface of the core. To prevent the getter material from getting out of the incision, the opening of the incision is narrowed by evacuating air from the interior of the inner film bag and, concurrently, compressing the inner film bag and the core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Hitachi Appliances, Inc.
    Inventors: Wataru Echigoya, Kuninari Araki, Tsuyoshi Kubota, Takashi Miseki