Patents by Inventor Akira Makihara

Akira Makihara 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: 11913684
    Abstract: A fluid circulation circuit includes a flow passage switching valve. The flow passage switching valve includes a body and a switcher. The body includes a first inlet, a second inlet, and outlets including a first outlet. The switcher is capable of switching a passage configuration to a state in which a fluid that has flowed in from the first inlet flows out of either one of the outlets and a state in which the fluid that has flowed in from the second inlet flows out of either one of the outlets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masamichi Makihara, Yoshiki Katoh, Takahiro Maeda, Kuniyoshi Tanioka, Akira Higuchi, Takehito Mizunuma, Takuya Hamada
  • Patent number: 7025870
    Abstract: A method for analyzing the oxygen concentration of a gas with an oxygen concentration analyzer of such a type that a probe sensor, when supplied with a gas to be analyzed, produces an electrical output which is proportional to the concentration of oxygen in the gas, comprising the steps of preparing a first gas mixture in which an oxygen-free gas and a sample gas are mixed at a certain flow ratio and a second gas mixture in which the oxygen-free gas and the sample gas are mixed at a different flow ratio than in the first gas mixture, passing the first gas mixture and the second gas mixture asynchronously into the probe sensor, and comparing the electrical outputs from the sensor for the first gas mixture and the second gas mixture, as well as the proportions of the flow of the sample gas in the first gas mixture and the second gas mixture to thereby calculate the oxygen concentration in the sample gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: Osaka Sanso Kogyo Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Makihara, Yoshiro Matsumoto, Ken Ohmae
  • Publication number: 20030101795
    Abstract: A method for analyzing the oxygen concentration of a gas with an oxygen concentration analyzer of such a type that a probe sensor, when supplied with a gas to be analyzed, produces an electrical output which is proportional to the concentration of oxygen in the gas, comprising the steps of preparing a first gas mixture in which an oxygen-free gas and a sample gas are mixed at a certain flow ratio and a second gas mixture in which the oxygen-free gas and the sample gas are mixed at a different flow ratio than in the first gas mixture, passing the first gas mixture and the second gas mixture asynchronously into the probe sensor, and comparing the electrical outputs from the sensor for the first gas mixture and the second gas mixture, as well as the proportions of the flow of the sample gas in the first gas mixture and the second gas mixture to thereby calculate the oxygen concentration in the sample gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2002
    Publication date: June 5, 2003
    Inventors: Akira Makihara, Yoshiro Matsumoto, Ken Ohmae
  • Patent number: 5971609
    Abstract: A method of determining the dew point or frost point of a gas containing a very small amount of water uses an optical dew point meter having a reflector mirror the temperature of which can be varied from room temperature to any point of -80.degree. C. or below, a device for contacting the reflector mirror with the gas to be measured, a light source for irradiating the reflector mirror with focused rays of light, and a detector for detecting the change in scattered light and/or reflected light due to the dew and/or frost condensed on the reflector mirror. The method gradually reduces the temperature of the reflector mirror, either before or while the reflector mirror and the gas contact, thereby condensing dew and/or frost on the reflector mirror. Following formation of dew and/or frost on the reflector mirror, the intensity of scattered light or reflected light is adjusted from a maximum value to a constant level, at a controlled temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1999
    Assignee: Osaka Sanso Kogyo Ltd.
    Inventors: Takahiko Kijima, Akira Makihara, Hiroshi Nakamura, Shigeru Kikuchi, Shigeki Hayashi
  • Patent number: 5615954
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for determining the frost point of a gas containing a very small amount of water. The apparatus comprises (I) compartment A made of a good heat conductor; (II) an inlet for the gas to be measured, which inlet is provided on compartment A; and (III) a heater for adjusting the temperature in compartment A, and a temperature sensor. The apparatus further comprises (IV) compartment B which is adjacent to compartment A. At least part of compartment B is made of a poor heat conductor. Further, the apparatus comprises (V) a hole at the interface between compartments A and B and (VI) a reflector mirror having a temperature sensor. The reflector mirror is provided on compartment B in such a way as to cover the hole is connected thermally to a freeze source in such a way that the temperature of the reflector mirror can be varied from room temperature to at least -80.degree. C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 1, 1997
    Assignee: Osaka Sanso Kogyo Ltd.
    Inventors: Junichi Nishizawa, Takahiko Kijima, Edward F. Ezell, Akira Makihara
  • Patent number: 5482371
    Abstract: A method of determining the dew point of a gas containing a very small amount of water using (1) a reflector mirror the temperature of which can be varied from room temperature down to at least -80.degree. C.; (2) a source of condensed rays of light for irradiating the reflector mirror; and (3) a light recovering device that detects changes in scattered light due to condensation on the reflector mirror by exposing the mirror to the gas. The method comprises cooling the mirror and detecting the temperature at which the scattered light has a maximum intensity; slowly raising the temperature and detecting the temperature at which the scattered light has a minimum intensity and repeating the cycle until the temperature at which the intensity is a maximum and the temperature at which the intensity is a minimum are almost the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 9, 1996
    Assignee: Osaka Sanso Kogyo Ltd.
    Inventors: Junichi Nishizawa, Takahiko Kijima, Edward F. Ezell, Akira Makihara
  • Patent number: 5470154
    Abstract: A method of cleaning a reflector mirror in an optical dew point meter that measures the dew point or frost point of a sample gas by a process including the steps of bringing the sample gas into contact with the reflector mirror whose temperature is variable, projecting condensed rays of light or laser light onto said reflector mirror, and detecting the change in the intensity of scattered light and/or reflected light on account of the dew or frost formed on said reflector mirror, characterized by bringing a CO.sub.2 gas or a CO.sub.2 containing gas into contact with the reflector while the latter is in a cooled state, thereby condensing CO.sub.2 on the surface of the reflector mirror, and the subsequent step of heating the reflector mirror to vaporize the CO.sub.2 is dischosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 28, 1995
    Assignee: Osaka Sanso Kogyo Ltd.
    Inventors: Juinchi Nishizawa, Takahiko Kijima, Edward F. Ezell, Akira Makihara
  • Patent number: 4960568
    Abstract: An improved oxygen analyzer device is disclosed which comprises a gas flow passage having inlet and exhaust ports, an oxygen concentration detector in proximity to the exhaust port and first and second parallel intermediate flow passages, one of which contains a purifier to remove oxygen from the gas flowing therethrough. The device is characterized by the use of metal, diaphram-type, three-way valves in the branch-off and junction points between the intermediate flow passages. The valves eliminate dead space in conventional devices that extends both the calibration and analysis time of such devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 2, 1990
    Assignee: Osaka Sanso Kogyo Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiro Matsumoto, Akira Makihara