Patents by Inventor Atsutoshi Muto

Atsutoshi Muto 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: 9169826
    Abstract: To effectively perform lightning protection in a blade for wind power generation and to prevent the blade from being damaged when arresting lightning. The lightning protection structure of the blade for wind power generation includes a conductive lightning receptor 1 attached to a part of the blade for wind power generation, and a ceramic member 10 interposed between at least surface-layer portions of the lightning receptor 1 and the blade 5. Therefore, an electric field is likely to concentrate at an interface between the ceramic member 10 having excellent heat resistance and the lightning receptor 1, so that it is possible to effectively prevent the blade 5 from being damaged due to a concentration of the electric field at the interface of the blade 5 attached with the lightning receptor 1 when arresting the lightning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: THE JAPAN STEEL WORKS LTD.
    Inventor: Atsutoshi Muto
  • Patent number: 9136685
    Abstract: A blade for wind power generation includes a lightning receptor configured to form a part of the surface of the blade, and a lightning receiving protrusion that protrudes outward from the surface of the lightning receptor. The lightning receiving protrusion is provided to a surface boundary between the blade and the lightning receptor. The surface boundary configured to protect against the lightning is positioned within a radius of a circle, which is centered on a tip of the lightning receiving protrusion and which has a radius of twice the length of the lightning receiving protrusion. A point where electric field concentration on the surface of the lightning receptor is greatest is moved from the boundary to the tip of the lightning receiving protrusion, so as to significantly reduce a possibility of blade damage associated with lightning striking the boundary when being stroke by the lightning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: THE JAPAN STEEL WORKS, LTD.
    Inventors: Jun Suzuki, Atsutoshi Muto
  • Publication number: 20130098651
    Abstract: A blade for wind power generation includes a lightning receptor configured to form a part of the surface of the blade, and a lightning receiving protrusion that protrudes outward from the surface of the lightning receptor. The lightning receiving protrusion is provided to a surface boundary between the blade and the lightning receptor. The surface boundary configured to protect against the lightning is positioned within a radius of a circle, which is centered on a tip of the lightning receiving protrusion and which has a radius of twice the length of the lightning receiving protrusion. A point where electric field concentration on the surface of the lightning receptor is greatest is moved from the boundary to the tip of the lightning receiving protrusion, so as to significantly reduce a possibility of blade damage associated with lightning striking the boundary when being stroke by the lightning.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2011
    Publication date: April 25, 2013
    Applicant: THE JAPAN STEEL WORKS, LTD.
    Inventors: Jun Suzuki, Atsutoshi Muto
  • Publication number: 20120301300
    Abstract: To effectively perform lightning protection in a blade for wind power generation and to prevent the blade from being damaged when arresting lightning. The lightning protection structure of the blade for wind power generation includes a conductive lightning receptor 1 attached to a part of the blade for wind power generation, and a ceramic member 10 interposed between at least surface-layer portions of the lightning receptor 1 and the blade 5. Therefore, an electric field is likely to concentrate at an interface between the ceramic member 10 having excellent heat resistance and the lightning receptor 1, so that it is possible to effectively prevent the blade 5 from being damaged due to a concentration of the electric field at the interface of the blade 5 attached with the lightning receptor 1 when arresting the lightning.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2011
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Applicant: THE JAPAN STEEL WORKS, LTD.
    Inventor: Atsutoshi Muto