Patents by Inventor Atsushi Inaba

Atsushi Inaba 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: 20050144949
    Abstract: A waste heat recovery system of an engine has a cooling water circuit and a Rankine cycle. Cooling water is circulated between the engine and a radiator in the cooling water circuit. The Rankine cycle has a heater and an expansion device. The heater performs heat exchange between the cooling water heated by the engine and an operation fluid so as to heat the operation fluid in the Rankine cycle. The expansion device expands the heated operation fluid, so as to generate driving power. The heater is arranged in a bypass circuit so as to be in parallel with the radiator with respect to the cooling water flow. Thus, waste heat of the cooling water heated by the engine can be effectively recovered without reducing a cooling capacity of the radiator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2005
    Publication date: July 7, 2005
    Inventors: Shinichi Hamada, Minoru Sasaki, Atsushi Inaba
  • Publication number: 20050109031
    Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a rankine cycle suitable for a use for a motor vehicle. In a waste heat collecting system having the rankine cycle and a refrigerating cycle, when ECU receives an air-conditioning signal from A/C ECU, the refrigerating cycle is operated, by preceding the operation of the rankine cycle. In the case that there is no air-conditioning signal and a temperature of an engine cooling water is higher than a predetermined value, the rankine cycle is operated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2004
    Publication date: May 26, 2005
    Inventors: Atsushi Inaba, Shinichi Hamada, Shigeru Hisanaga, Tadashi Hotta
  • Publication number: 20050041830
    Abstract: A loudspeaker includes a diaphragm, an edge, and a voice coil. The diaphragm includes a groove having a concave cross section. Also, the diaphragm is in a horizontally or vertically elongated shape. The edge is coupled to an outer circumference of the diaphragm, and has a roughly half-round shaped cross section. The voice coil is bonded to the groove. The voice coil is thicker than a depth of the groove. Also, the voice coil has a cross section in which a dimension in a direction along a plane of the diaphragm is longer than a dimension in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the diaphragm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2004
    Publication date: February 24, 2005
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Takewa, Mikio Iwasa, Atsushi Inaba, Satoshi Koura
  • Publication number: 20040255586
    Abstract: A waste heat recovery system of an engine has a cooling water circuit and a Rankine cycle. Cooling water is circulated between the engine and a radiator in the cooling water circuit. The Rankine cycle has a heater and an expansion device. The heater performs heat exchange between the cooling water heated by the engine and an operation fluid so as to heat the operation fluid in the Rankine cycle. The expansion device expands the heated operation fluid, so as to generate driving power. The heater is arranged in a bypass circuit so as to be in parallel with the radiator with respect to the cooling water flow. Thus, waste heat of the cooling water heated by the engine can be effectively recovered without reducing a cooling capacity of the radiator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2004
    Publication date: December 23, 2004
    Inventors: Shinichi Hamada, Minoru Sasaki, Atsushi Inaba
  • Publication number: 20040237576
    Abstract: A radiator for a vapor-compression refrigerant cycle and a condenser for a Rankine cycle are integrated to construct a heat exchanger. The heat exchanger includes a core portion for performing a heat exchange, and is disposed to have a first function portion used as the radiator and a second function portion used as the condenser. A function ratio changing ratio includes a displacement member such as a plunger disposed in a header tank of the heat exchanger, and changes a ratio between the first function portion and the second function portion. For example, the displacement member partitions an inner space of the header tank into two space parts when both the vapor-compression refrigerant cycle and the Rankine cycle are operated, and does not partition the inner space when only one of the vapor-compression refrigerant cycle and the Rankine cycle is operated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2004
    Publication date: December 2, 2004
    Inventors: Minoru Sasaki, Atsushi Inaba, Takashi Yamanaka, Eiichi Torigoe
  • Publication number: 20040216483
    Abstract: A vapor-compression refrigerant cycle system with a refrigeration cycle and a Rankine cycle includes a compressor, a radiator, a gas-liquid separator, a decompression device and an evaporator. In the vapor-compression refrigerant cycle system, a liquid pump is disposed for supplying the liquid refrigerant in the gas-liquid separator to a heater for heating the refrigerant, a cooling means is provided for cooling the liquid refrigerant to be sucked into the liquid pump, and an energy recovery unit for expanding the refrigerant flowing out of the heater is disposed to recover thermal energy in the refrigerant from the heater. When the Rankine cycle is set so that the energy recovery unit recovers the thermal energy, the cooling means cools the liquid refrigerant to be sucked into the liquid pump. Therefore, pumping efficiency of the liquid pump can be effectively improved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2004
    Publication date: November 4, 2004
    Inventors: Atsushi Inaba, Yasushi Yamanaka, Shigeki Iwanami, Koichi Ban, Shigeru Hisanaga, Tadashi Hotta, Yukikatsu Ozaki, Kazuhide Uchida
  • Publication number: 20040187506
    Abstract: A waste heat collecting system for an internal combustion engine has an object to collect waste heat from the engine and make most use of the collected waste heat to achieve the maximum effect of improving fuel consumption ratio. The waste heat utilizing system has a waste heat collecting cycle for collecting waste heat from an internal combustion engine and having an expansion device for generating rotational driving force from the collected waste heat, a refrigerating cycle having a compressor device for compressing a refrigerant and a power transmitting means rotationally driven by a driving force generating means and operatively connected to the compressor device to rotationally drive the same. In this system, the expansion device is operatively connected to the compressor device to rotationally drive the same.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2004
    Publication date: September 30, 2004
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION/NIPPON SOKEN, INC.
    Inventors: Shigeki Iwanami, Hironori Asa, Keiichi Uno, Yasushi Suzuki, Shigeru Hisanaga, Atsushi Inaba, Koichi Ban, Takashi Yamanaka, Yasushi Yamanaka, Kazuhide Uchida, Tadashi Hotta
  • Publication number: 20040184923
    Abstract: A check valve is provided to each discharge port, which communicates between a corresponding working chamber and a high pressure chamber in an integrated compressor/expander apparatus. A valve mechanism, which is opened in a motor mode, is provided to communicate between the working chamber and the high pressure chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2004
    Publication date: September 23, 2004
    Applicants: DENSO CORPORATION, NIPPON SOKEN, INC.
    Inventors: Shigeki Iwanami, Yasushi Yamanaka, Yasushi Suzuki, Atsushi Inaba, Hironori Asa, Keiichi Uno, Kazuhide Uchida
  • Patent number: 6698236
    Abstract: A first heat exchange unit is for condensing a refrigerant discharged from a compressor. A second heat exchange unit is provided downstream from the first heat exchange unit. A gas-liquid separator, into which part of the refrigerant from the compressor and part of the refrigerant from the first exchange unit flow, is for separating the refrigerants into a gas and a liquid refrigerant to accumulate the liquid refrigerant. The gas refrigerant in the separator is lead to the second heat exchange unit. A primary refrigerant flow path, included in the first heat exchange unit, is for leading the refrigerant to the second heat exchange unit. A branch refrigerant flow path, included in the first heat exchange unit and independently partitioned from the primary refrigerant flow path, is for leading the refrigerant to the separator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Kurato Yamasaki, Shigeki Ito, Teruyuki Hotta, Atsushi Inaba, Yasushi Yamanaka
  • Publication number: 20040036277
    Abstract: A pipe joint structure capable of reducing the joint height (H) and fabrication costs has a connection flange member provided with a through hole piercing the thickness of the flange member. A polygonal enlarged recess greater than the inner diameter of the through hole is formed at one end of the through hole. Meanwhile, an annular protrusion protruding radially outward is formed near an end of a pipe having an outer diameter capable of insertion into the through hole. This annular protrusion has an outer diameter greater than the incircle diameter of the polygonal enlarged recess. The annular protrusion is press-fitted and fixed to the polygonal enlarged recess.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2003
    Publication date: February 26, 2004
    Inventors: Atsushi Inaba, Koji Sakai
  • Patent number: 6675609
    Abstract: In a refrigerant cycle system with an ejector pump, refrigerant to be introduced into a nozzle of the ejector pump is heated in a heat exchanger using waste heat from a vehicle engine as a heating source, and any one of a first mode, a second mode and a third mode can be selectively set based on a thermal load of an evaporator. In the first mode, refrigerant circulates from the evaporator toward a radiator only by the ejector pump. In the second mode, refrigerant circulate from the evaporator toward the radiator only by a compressor. Further, in the third mode, refrigerant circulates from the evaporator toward the radiator by using both the ejector pump and the compressor. Accordingly, the waste heat can be effectively recovered while a flow resistance of the refrigerant can be restricted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Hirotsugu Takeuchi, Yasushi Yamanaka, Atsushi Inaba
  • Publication number: 20030177783
    Abstract: A first heat exchange unit is for condensing a refrigerant discharged from a compressor. A second heat exchange unit is provided downstream from the first heat exchange unit. A gas-liquid separator, into which part of the refrigerant from the compressor and part of the refrigerant from the first exchange unit flow, is for separating the refrigerants into a gas and a liquid refrigerant to accumulate the liquid refrigerant. The gas refrigerant in the separator is lead to the second heat exchange unit. A primary refrigerant flow path, included in the first heat exchange unit, is for leading the refrigerant to the second heat exchange unit. A branch refrigerant flow path, included in the first heat exchange unit and independently partitioned from the primary refrigerant flow path, is for leading the refrigerant to the separator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2003
    Publication date: September 25, 2003
    Inventors: Kurato Yamasaki, Shigeki Ito, Teruyuki Hotta, Atsushi Inaba, Yasushi Yamanaka
  • Publication number: 20030140651
    Abstract: In a refrigerant cycle system with an ejector pump, refrigerant to be introduced into a nozzle of the ejector pump is heated in a heat exchanger using waste heat from a vehicle engine as a heating source, and any one of a first mode, a second mode and a third mode can be selectively set based on a thermal load of an evaporator. In the first mode, refrigerant circulates from the evaporator toward a radiator only by the ejector pump. In the second mode, refrigerant circulate from the evaporator toward the radiator only by a compressor. Further, in the third mode, refrigerant circulates from the evaporator toward the radiator by using both the ejector pump and the compressor. Accordingly, the waste heat can be effectively recovered while a flow resistance of the refrigerant can be restricted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2003
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Inventors: Hirotsugu Takeuchi, Yasushi Yamanaka, Atsushi Inaba
  • Patent number: 6427480
    Abstract: A condenser of a refrigerant cycle system includes a first heat exchange unit into which refrigerant discharged from a compressor flows, a second heat exchange unit disposed at a downstream of the first heat exchange unit in a refrigerant flow direction, and a gas-liquid separator disposed between the first and second heat exchange units in the refrigerant flow direction. In the refrigerant cycle system, at least gas refrigerant separated in the gas-liquid separator flows into the second heat exchange unit so that an amount of liquid refrigerant stored in the gas-liquid separator is changed in accordance with a super-heating degree of refrigerant discharged from the compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Shigeki Ito, Kurato Yamasaki, Teruyuki Hotta, Yasushi Yamanaka, Atsushi Inaba
  • Patent number: 6397616
    Abstract: A variable restrict valve is disposed at the upstream side of a refrigerant flow, a fixed restrictor is disposed at the downstream side of the variable restrict valve, an intermediate space is provided between the variable restrict valve and the fixed restrictor, a passage sectional area of the intermediate space is set to be larger than the fixed restrictor and passage length L of the intermediate space is set to be larger than a predetermined length required when the flow of refrigerant injected from the variable restrict valve expands more than the passage sectional area of the fixed restrictor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Kurato Yamasaki, Shigeki Ito, Teruyuki Hotta, Yasushi Yamanaka, Atsushi Inaba
  • Publication number: 20020023448
    Abstract: A condenser of a refrigerant cycle system includes a first heat exchange unit into which refrigerant discharged from a compressor flows, a second heat exchange unit disposed at a downstream of the first heat exchange unit in a refrigerant flow direction, and a gas-liquid separator disposed between the first and second heat exchange units in the refrigerant flow direction. In the refrigerant cycle system, at least gas refrigerant separated in the gas-liquid separator flows into the second heat exchange unit so that an amount of liquid refrigerant stored in the gas-liquid separator is changed in accordance with a super-heating degree of refrigerant discharged from the compressor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2001
    Publication date: February 28, 2002
    Inventors: Shigeki Ito, Kurato Yamasaki, Teruyuki Hotta, Yasushi Yamanaka, Atsushi Inaba
  • Publication number: 20010027657
    Abstract: A variable restrict valve is disposed at the upstream side of a refrigerant flow, a fixed restrictor is disposed at the downstream side of the variable restrict valve, an intermediate space is provided between the variable restrict valve and the fixed restrictor, a passage sectional area of the intermediate space is set to be larger than the fixed restrictor and passage length L of the intermediate space is set to be larger than a predetermined length required when the flow of refrigerant injected from the variable restrict valve expands more than the passage sectional area of the fixed restrictor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2001
    Publication date: October 11, 2001
    Inventors: Kurato Yamasaki, Shigeki Ito, Teruyuki Hotta, Yasushi Yamanaka, Atsushi Inaba
  • Patent number: 6188013
    Abstract: A solar cell comprising a substrate of insulating material, a bottom side electrode layer formed on one surface of the substrate, a semiconductor photoelectric conversion layer formed on the bottom side electrode layer, a transparent top side electrode layer formed on the semiconductor photoelectric conversion layer and a non-transparent electrode comprising a plurality of strips of non-transparent conductive layers disposed separately from each other on the top side transparent electrode layer. The solar cell further comprises an additional bottom side electrode layer formed on the opposite surface of the substrate and a plurality of conductive paths connecting the bottom side electrode layer to the additional bottom side electrode layer through holes or slits formed to penetrate the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2001
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Atsushi Inaba, Katsuhiko Takebe, Yamato Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 6020556
    Abstract: A solar cell comprising a substrate of insulating material, a bottom side electrode layer formed on one surface of the substrate, a semiconductor photoelectric conversion layer formed on the bottom side electrode layer, a transparent top side electrode layer formed on the semiconductor photoelectric conversion layer and a non-transparent electrode comprising a plurality of strips of non-transparent conductive layers disposed separately from each other on the top side transparent electrode layer. The solar sell further comrises an additional bottom side electrode layer formed on the opposite surface of the substrate and a plurality of conductive paths for electrically connecting the bottom the electrode layer to said additional bottom side electrode layer through holes or slits formed to penetrate the substrate. Each of the strips of the non-transparent conductive layers is located just above each of the conductive paths, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2000
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Atsushi Inaba, Yamato Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 5960898
    Abstract: A power supply unit has a capacitor unit for supplying electric power to a load. The capacitor unit has at least two blocks each having a plurality of electric double-layer capacitors connected in series. The manner of connection of the at least two blocks is changed over between series connection and parallel connection in dependence on an output required by the load. A switching regulator is connected to the electric charge-storing device. An electric vehicle having the power supply unit installed thereon is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1999
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasushi Okada, Satoshi Hiyama, Atsushi Inaba, Kouji Kawabe, Masanobu Urabe