Patents by Inventor Chihiro Uchimura

Chihiro Uchimura 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: 20240044453
    Abstract: A tank includes a liner, a neck that has a communicating orifice, a metal cylindrical member that is inserted into a lower end portion of the communicating orifice, and a valve that is inserted into the communicating orifice, wherein a lower end portion of the valve is inserted into the metal cylindrical member. The liner includes a wrap-around portion that wraps around to inside of the communicating orifice, and to contact with an outer circumferential face of the metal cylindrical member. A first O-ring is disposed in a circumferential direction between an inner circumferential face of the wrap-around portion and the outer circumferential face of the metal cylindrical member. A second O-ring is disposed in the circumferential direction between an inner circumferential face of the metal cylindrical member and an outer circumferential face of the lower end portion of the valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2023
    Publication date: February 8, 2024
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masayoshi TAKAMI, Chihiro UCHIMURA, Akira NOUMURA, Shinichi NOMURA
  • Publication number: 20230070235
    Abstract: A high-pressure tank comprising: a resin liner for a high-pressure tank including at least one opening portion; an aluminum mouth portion attached to the opening portion; and a reinforcement layer formed on an outer surface of the liner, wherein an aluminum oxide coating is formed on a surface of the aluminum mouth portion, the aluminum oxide coating includes a porous surface layer in which columns with an average height of 10 to 100 nm are arranged in a dispersed state, an average value of a percentages of the protruding portion area of the columns in randomly sampled 400 nm square visual fields of the porous surface layer is 5.0 to 26.0%, and an average value of the numbers of the columns in randomly sampled 400 nm square visual fields of the porous surface layer is 500 to 2000.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2022
    Publication date: March 9, 2023
    Applicants: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA CHUO KENKYUSHO, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuhiko UMEMOTO, Kumi AMANO, Tomoyuki KINJO, Hiroaki YONEYAMA, Kazuki FUJII, Masayoshi TAKAMI, Chihiro UCHIMURA
  • Patent number: 10957927
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a supply channel having first channels respectively connected with tanks, and a second channel merged with each of the first channels; first on-off valves of the first channels; a second on-off valve of the second channel; and a controller configured to control opening and closing of the first on-off valves and the second on-off valve. In a state where the second on-off valve is closed, the controller supplies first electric power used for opening the first on-off valve against a first differential pressure to at least one first on-off valve, and supplies second electric power, smaller than the first electric power and used for opening the first on-off valves against a second differential pressure smaller than the first differential pressure, to the first on-off valves other than the at least one first on-off valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Chihiro Uchimura, Yukihide Yokoyama, Takayoshi Hamano
  • Publication number: 20200266467
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a supply channel having first channels respectively connected with tanks, and a second channel merged with each of the first channels; first on-off valves of the first channels; a second on-off valve of the second channel; and a controller configured to control opening and closing of the first on-off valves and the second on-off valve. In a state where the second on-off valve is closed, the controller supplies first electric power used for opening the first on-off valve against a first differential pressure to at least one first on-off valve, and supplies second electric power, smaller than the first electric power and used for opening the first on-off valves against a second differential pressure smaller than the first differential pressure, to the first on-off valves other than the at least one first on-off valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2020
    Publication date: August 20, 2020
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Chihiro UCHIMURA, Yukihide YOKOYAMA, Takayoshi HAMANO
  • Patent number: 10680262
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a supply channel having first channels respectively connected with tanks, and a second channel merged with each of the first channels; first on-off valves of the first channels; a second on-off valve of the second channel; and a controller configured to control opening and closing of the first on-off valves and the second on-off valve. In a state where the second on-off valve is closed, the controller supplies first electric power used for opening the first on-off valve against a first differential pressure to at least one first on-off valve, and supplies second electric power, smaller than the first electric power and used for opening the first on-off valves against a second differential pressure smaller than the first differential pressure, to the first on-off valves other than the at least one first on-off valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Chihiro Uchimura, Yukihide Yokoyama, Takayoshi Hamano
  • Publication number: 20190157694
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a supply channel having first channels respectively connected with tanks, and a second channel merged with each of the first channels; first on-off valves of the first channels; a second on-off valve of the second channel; and a controller configured to control opening and closing of the first on-off valves and the second on-off valve. In a state where the second on-off valve is closed, the controller supplies first electric power used for opening the first on-off valve against a first differential pressure to at least one first on-off valve, and supplies second electric power, smaller than the first electric power and used for opening the first on-off valves against a second differential pressure smaller than the first differential pressure, to the first on-off valves other than the at least one first on-off valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2018
    Publication date: May 23, 2019
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Chihiro UCHIMURA, Yukihide YOKOYAMA, Takayoshi HAMANO
  • Publication number: 20170276248
    Abstract: A seal body that is used for gas seal includes a seal main body in which a recessed groove is formed by arranging a pair of lips so that the lips face each other; an elastic body that is inserted in the recessed groove and expands the lips; and a rigid body that is installed in the elastic body, and restricts deformation of the elastic body, due to narrowing of the recessed groove, within an elastic deformation range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2017
    Publication date: September 28, 2017
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Chihiro UCHIMURA, Sogo GOTO, Akira YAMASHITA, Shusuke INAGI
  • Patent number: 8931754
    Abstract: A safety valve includes a cylinder having an open end and a plug for closing the open end with a hermetic seal. The interior of the cylinder communicates with a high-pressure gas passage. The cylinder is deformed as a function of gas pressure in the high-pressure gas passage to widen the open end. This allows gas in the high-pressure gas passage to escape and thus prevents the gas pressure from increasing beyond an acceptable level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignees: Jtekt Corporation, Toyooki Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshinori Imoto, Hiroaki Suzuki, Kazushi Numazaki, Chihiro Uchimura, Akira Yamashita, Tsukuo Ishitoya, Noritaka Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20140367924
    Abstract: A seal body that is used for gas seal includes a seal main body in which a recessed groove is formed by arranging a pair of lips so that the lips face each other; an elastic body that is inserted in the recessed groove and expands the lips; and a rigid body that is installed in the elastic body, and restricts deformation of the elastic body, due to narrowing of the recessed groove, within an elastic deformation range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2014
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Inventors: Chihiro UCHIMURA, Sogo GOTO, Akira YAMASHITA, Shusuke INAGI
  • Patent number: 8534327
    Abstract: A gas charging apparatus includes a gas supply source; a fuel gas charging line L connected to the gas supply source, to charge a fuel gas into gas tanks, respectively; a temperature information acquiring section which acquires temperature information in the gas tanks; a pressure information acquiring section which acquires pressure information in the gas tanks; a relation data acquiring section which acquires correspondence relation data indicating a correspondence relation between a temperature and a pressure in the corresponding gas tank; a temperature difference calculating section which calculates a temperature difference between the gas tank having the highest internal temperature and the gas tank having the lowest internal temperature among the plurality of gas tanks; and a control section which performs control so as to stop the charging of the fuel gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shusuke Inagi, Natsuru Miyazaki, Chihiro Uchimura, Akira Yamashita
  • Patent number: 8464818
    Abstract: This invention provides a fuel system and a vehicle that can improve the ease of leak checking. The fuel system includes: a plurality of fuel storages; filling piping that connects the fuel storages to a filling port in parallel; and supply piping that connects the fuel storages to a fuel supply destination in parallel. An integral manifold is formed by integrating a filling manifold part disposed at a branching point of pipes of the filling piping and a supply manifold part disposed at a branching point of pipes of the supply piping with each other. The integral manifold has a leak checking port configured to allow introduction of a fluid for leak checking into the filling piping and the supply piping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Chihiro Uchimura, Takehisa Tsubokawa
  • Publication number: 20120216910
    Abstract: There is disclosed a gas charging apparatus including a gas supply source 10; a fuel gas charging line L connected to the gas supply source 10, to charge a fuel gas into gas tanks, respectively; a temperature information acquiring section 48 which acquires temperature information in the gas tanks; a pressure information acquiring section 49 which acquires pressure information in the gas tanks; a relation data acquiring section 47 which acquires correspondence relation data indicating a correspondence relation between a temperature and a pressure in the corresponding gas tank, in a case where a beforehand acquired state of charge of the gas tank becomes a target state of charge; a temperature difference calculating section 52 which calculates, in accordance with the temperature information, a temperature difference between the gas tank having the highest internal temperature and the gas tank having the lowest internal temperature among the plurality of gas tanks; and a control section 55 which performs control
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Inventors: Shusuke Inagi, Natsuru Miyazaki, Chihiro Uchimura, Akira Yamashita
  • Publication number: 20120080625
    Abstract: A safety valve includes a cylinder having an open end and a plug for closing the open end with a hermetic seal. The interior of the cylinder communicates with a high-pressure gas passage. The cylinder is deformed as a function of gas pressure in the high-pressure gas passage to widen the open end. This allows gas in the high-pressure gas passage to escape and thus prevents the gas pressure from increasing beyond an acceptable level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2011
    Publication date: April 5, 2012
    Applicants: TOYOOKI KOGYO CO., LTD., JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshinori Imoto, Hiroaki Suzuki, Kazushi Numazaki, Chihiro Uchimura, Akira Yamashita, Tsukuo Ishitoya, Noritaka Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20110233218
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a high-pressure tank configured so as to suppress accumulation of gas in a space between a valve and a mouthpiece while achieving low cost. To this end, the high-pressure tank according to the present invention includes the mouthpiece and the valve installed on the mouthpiece, and is formed with: a communicating hole that communicatively connects spaces which are formed between the mouthpiece and the valve, and in the valve, respectively, and in which gas having permeated from the tank side may potentially accumulate; and a gas venting hole that connects either of the spaces to the outside of the tank. The communicating hole is preferably provided closer to a center of the tank than to a screw portion of the valve. In addition, preferably a gas venting hole is formed so as to extend from the space formed between the mouthpiece and the valve in a direction that intersects a contact surface between the mouthpiece and the valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2008
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Chihiro Uchimura
  • Publication number: 20110174562
    Abstract: This invention provides a fuel system and a vehicle that can improve the ease of leak checking. The fuel system includes: a plurality of fuel storages; filling piping that connects the fuel storages to a filling port in parallel; and supply piping that connects the fuel storages to a fuel supply destination in parallel. An integral manifold is formed by integrating a filling manifold part disposed at a branching point of pipes of the filling piping and a supply manifold part disposed at a branching point of pipes of the supply piping with each other. The integral manifold has a leak checking port configured to allow introduction of a fluid for leak checking into the filling piping and the supply piping.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2009
    Publication date: July 21, 2011
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Chihiro Uchimura, Takehisa Tsubokawa
  • Patent number: 7971852
    Abstract: Disclosed is a seal structure of a high-pressure tank capable of properly securing seal efficiency. The seal structure of the high-pressure tank includes a plurality of seal members that have mutually different seal properties and that are installed between a ferrule of the high-pressure tank and a valve body attached to the ferrule. One of the plurality of seal members has low temperature resistance, and the other has high temperature resistance. A first seal member is an O-ring formed of butyl rubber or silicone. A second seal member is an O-ring formed of EPDM. Furthermore, the two O-rings are different in gas permeability from each other. This seal structure can be applied between the ferrule and the valve body, in addition, between the ferrule and a liner, between the ferrule and a shell, and between the valve body and the shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hirokazu Otsubo, Chihiro Uchimura, Nobuo Kobayashi, Nobuyuki Ogami, Akira Yamashita
  • Publication number: 20100206402
    Abstract: A valve device of a high-pressure tank for a vehicle has a valve box that is attached to the high-pressure tank and that houses a gas inlet opening, a gas outlet opening, a flow path connecting the gas inlet opening, the gas outlet opening and the high-pressure tank, and a valve disposed on the flow path. The gas inlet opening, the gas outlet opening, at least a portion of the flow path, and the valve are provided on a plane that intersects perpendicularly with an axis direction of the high-pressure tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2010
    Publication date: August 19, 2010
    Inventors: Chihiro Uchimura, Takehisa Tsubokawa, Hiroaki Suzuki, Munetoshi Kuroyanagi, Toshikatsu Kubo
  • Publication number: 20080111322
    Abstract: Disclosed is a seal structure of a high-pressure tank capable of properly securing seal efficiency. The seal structure of the high-pressure tank includes a plurality of seal members that have mutually different seal properties and that are installed between a ferrule of the high-pressure tank and a valve body attached to the ferrule. One of the plurality of seal members has low temperature resistance, and the other has high temperature resistance. A first seal member is an O-ring formed of butyl rubber or silicone. A second seal member is an O-ring formed of EPDM. Furthermore, the two O-rings are different in gas permeability from each other. This seal structure can be applied between the ferrule and the valve body, in addition, between the ferrule and a liner, between the ferrule and a shell, and between the valve body and the shell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2006
    Publication date: May 15, 2008
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hirokazu Otsubo, Chihiro Uchimura, Nobuo Kobayashi, Nobuyuki Ogami, Akira Yamashita