Patents by Inventor Chitose TANAKA

Chitose TANAKA 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: 20230375195
    Abstract: A branch unit includes a first heat exchanger and a second heat exchanger, a first pump, a second pump, a plurality of first ports, a plurality of second ports, a flow path switching unit, a plurality of forward path side heaters, and a plurality of first temperature sensors. The plurality of forward path side heaters are respectively provided for a plurality of forward path side pipes through which a second heat medium is sent to the plurality of first ports. The plurality of first temperature sensors are respectively arranged, at the plurality of forward path side pipes, downstream of the plurality of forward path side heaters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2020
    Publication date: November 23, 2023
    Inventor: Chitose TANAKA
  • Patent number: 11802722
    Abstract: A refrigeration cycle apparatus includes: a first refrigerant route; and a second refrigerant route. In the first refrigerant route, refrigerant flows in order of a compressor, a first heat exchanger, a first pipe, a second heat exchanger, a low pressure receiver and the compressor. The second refrigerant route is connected to the first pipe and the low pressure receiver, the first pipe being connected to the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger in the first refrigerant route. The second refrigerant route includes an electric pump. The electric pump is configured to flow the refrigerant from the low pressure receiver to the first pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Chitose Tanaka, So Nomoto
  • Publication number: 20230251014
    Abstract: A refrigerating and air-conditioning apparatus that performs defrosting operation, the refrigerating and air-conditioning apparatus including: a refrigerant circuit in which a compressor, a first heat exchanger, an expansion device, a second heat exchanger, and a four-way valve are connected to each other by pipes to allow refrigerant to circulate through the refrigerant circuit; a temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature of the compressor; and a heat generation control unit configured to increase a temperature of the compressor when the heat generation control unit detects a decrease in a value measured by the temperature sensor in defrosting operation performed on the first heat exchanger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2020
    Publication date: August 10, 2023
    Inventors: Kazunori SAKANOBE, Kenta YUASA, Yasuhiko WADA, Chitose TANAKA
  • Patent number: 11365914
    Abstract: A refrigeration cycle apparatus includes: an outdoor unit; a branch unit connected to the outdoor unit via a first pipe and a second pipe; a first indoor unit connected to the branch unit via a third pipe and a fourth pipe; and a second indoor unit connected to the branch unit via a fifth pipe and a sixth pipe. A refrigerant circuit includes a compressor, a first heat exchanger, a second heat exchanger, a third heat exchanger, and a six-way valve. The six-way valve switches between a first state in which the first heat exchanger acts as a condenser and at least the second heat exchanger acts as an evaporator and a second state in which the first heat exchanger acts as an evaporator and at least the second heat exchanger acts as a condenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Chitose Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20210364201
    Abstract: A refrigeration cycle apparatus includes: a first refrigerant route; and a second refrigerant route. In the first refrigerant route, refrigerant flows in order of a compressor, a first heat exchanger, a first pipe, a second heat exchanger, a low pressure receiver and the compressor. The second refrigerant route is connected to the first pipe and the low pressure receiver, the first pipe being connected to the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger in the first refrigerant route. The second refrigerant route includes an electric pump. The electric pump is configured to flow the refrigerant from the low pressure receiver to the first pipe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2018
    Publication date: November 25, 2021
    Inventors: Chitose TANAKA, So NOMOTO
  • Patent number: 11175082
    Abstract: A refrigeration cycle apparatus causes refrigerant to circulate through a compressor, an indoor heat exchanger, an outdoor heat exchanger, a heat storage body, a first expansion valve, and a second expansion valve. The refrigeration cycle apparatus includes a bypass path and a first on-off valve provided in the bypass path. The bypass path branches off from a first portion that connects the indoor heat exchanger and the first expansion valve in a first refrigerant pipe, and leads to a fourth refrigerant pipe that connects a suction port of the compressor and a four-way valve. The first on-off valve is opened in a defrosting operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Chitose Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20210215406
    Abstract: An air conditioning apparatus includes a first pump and a first intermediate heat exchanger connected in series, and a second pump and a second heat intermediate exchanger connected in series. A flow path switching mechanism including at least four pairs of first and second valves. The first valves select an outflow port of one of the first and second pumps, and the second valves select an inflow port of the other of the first and second pumps. A third intermediate heat exchanger operates as an auxiliary heat exchanger, and is detachably connected to one pair of first and second valves. A pipe is detachably connected to and communicating the inflow port and the outflow port of a second pair of the pairs of the first and second valves. At least one indoor heat exchanger is connected to a third pair of the first and second valves.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2020
    Publication date: July 15, 2021
    Inventor: Chitose TANAKA
  • Patent number: 11015851
    Abstract: A refrigeration cycle device performs a heating operation and a defrosting operation. A refrigerant circulates in opposite directions in the defrosting operation and the heating operation. The refrigeration cycle device includes a compressor, a first heat exchanger and a second heat exchanger, a decompressor, and a flow path switch. In the heating operation, the refrigerant circulates in the order of the compressor, the first heat exchanger, the decompressor, and the second heat exchanger. In the defrosting operation, the refrigerant circulates in the order of the compressor, the second heat exchanger, the decompressor, and the first heat exchanger. The defrosting operation includes a first mode and a second mode. The opening of the decompressor is greater in the first mode than in the heating operation. The opening of the decompressor is less in the second mode than in the first mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Chitose Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20210063033
    Abstract: A refrigeration cycle apparatus includes: an outdoor unit; a branch unit connected to the outdoor unit via a first pipe and a second pipe; a first indoor unit connected to the branch unit via a third pipe and a fourth pipe; and a second indoor unit connected to the branch unit via a fifth pipe and a sixth pipe. A refrigerant circuit includes a compressor, a first heat exchanger, a second heat exchanger, a third heat exchanger, and a six-way valve. The six-way valve switches between a first state in which the first heat exchanger acts as a condenser and at least the second heat exchanger acts as an evaporator and a second state in which the first heat exchanger acts as an evaporator and at least the second heat exchanger acts as a condenser.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2018
    Publication date: March 4, 2021
    Inventor: Chitose TANAKA
  • Publication number: 20210048233
    Abstract: The flow path switching valve includes a valve seat which is provided with a valve chamber and first to fourth openings in communication with the valve chamber, and a valve body which is movable in the valve chamber. When the valve body is located at a first position, a first flow path which connects the first opening to the second opening and a second flow path which connects the third opening to the fourth opening and is partitioned from the first flow path are formed in the valve chamber. When the valve body is located at a second position, a third flow path which connects the second opening to the third opening and is partitioned from the first opening and the fourth opening is formed in the valve chamber, and the first opening and the fourth opening are shielded from each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2018
    Publication date: February 18, 2021
    Inventor: Chitose TANAKA
  • Patent number: 10816242
    Abstract: A refrigeration cycle apparatus includes a refrigerant circuit in which a compressor, a first heat exchanger, an expansion mechanism, and a second heat exchanger are connected by pipes. The first heat exchanger includes a first refrigerant passage and a second refrigerant passage that share a plurality of fins with each other and provided in parallel in the refrigerant circuit. The apparatus further includes a high-and-low-pressure switching mechanism which is located on an inlet side of the second refrigerant passage of the first heat exchanger in flowing of refrigerant in an operation in which the first heat exchanger functions as a condenser, and which performs switching between flow directions of the refrigerant. The apparatus further includes a refrigerant blocking mechanism located on an outlet side of the second refrigerant passage of the first heat exchanger in the flowing of the refrigerant in the operation, and which blocks the flowing of the refrigerant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Chitose Tanaka, Takuya Matsuda, Kosuke Tanaka
  • Patent number: 10775082
    Abstract: A refrigerant circuit of a refrigeration cycle apparatus has a compressor, a cooling-heating switching mechanism, a condenser, a refrigerant expansion mechanism, and an evaporator. During operation of the compressor, the refrigerant expansion mechanism opens the refrigerant circuit, a first three-way valve connects an outlet of the compressor to the condenser, and a second three-way valve connects an inlet of the compressor to the evaporator. During stop of the compressor, the refrigerant expansion mechanism closes the refrigerant circuit, the first three-way valve connects the outlet of the compressor to the evaporator, and the second three-way valve connects the inlet of the compressor to the evaporator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Chitose Tanaka, Takuya Matsuda, Kosuke Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20200124328
    Abstract: A refrigeration cycle device performs a heating operation and a defrosting operation. A refrigerant circulates in opposite directions in the defrosting operation and the heating operation. The refrigeration cycle device includes a compressor, a first heat exchanger and a second heat exchanger, a decompressor, and a flow path switch. In the heating operation, the refrigerant circulates in the order of the compressor, the first heat exchanger, the decompressor, and the second heat exchanger. In the defrosting operation, the refrigerant circulates in the order of the compressor, the second heat exchanger, the decompressor, and the first heat exchanger. The defrosting operation includes a first mode and a second mode. The opening of the decompressor is greater in the first mode than in the heating operation. The opening of the decompressor is less in the second mode than in the first mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2017
    Publication date: April 23, 2020
    Inventor: Chitose TANAKA
  • Publication number: 20200049392
    Abstract: A refrigeration cycle apparatus causes refrigerant to circulate through a compressor, an indoor heat exchanger, an outdoor heat exchanger, a heat storage body, a first expansion valve, and a second expansion valve. The refrigeration cycle apparatus includes a bypass path and a first on-off valve provided in the bypass path. The bypass path branches off from a first portion that connects the indoor heat exchanger and the first expansion valve in a first refrigerant pipe, and leads to a fourth refrigerant pipe that connects a suction port of the compressor and a four-way valve. The first on-off valve is opened in a defrosting operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2017
    Publication date: February 13, 2020
    Inventor: Chitose TANAKA
  • Publication number: 20190203989
    Abstract: A refrigerant circuit of a refrigeration cycle apparatus has a compressor, a cooling-heating switching mechanism, a condenser, a refrigerant expansion mechanism, and an evaporator. During operation of the compressor, the refrigerant expansion mechanism opens the refrigerant circuit, a first three-way valve connects an outlet of the compressor to the condenser, and a second three-way valve connects an inlet of the compressor to the evaporator. During stop of the compressor, the refrigerant expansion mechanism closes the refrigerant circuit, the first three-way valve connects the outlet of the compressor to the evaporator, and the second three-way valve connects the inlet of the compressor to the evaporator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2016
    Publication date: July 4, 2019
    Inventors: Chitose TANAKA, Takuya MATSUDA, Kosuke TANAKA
  • Publication number: 20190145669
    Abstract: A refrigeration cycle apparatus includes a refrigerant circuit in which a compressor, a first heat exchanger, an expansion mechanism, and a second heat exchanger are connected by pipes. The first heat exchanger includes a first refrigerant passage and a second refrigerant passage that share a plurality of fins with each other and provided in parallel in the refrigerant circuit. The apparatus further includes a high-and-low-pressure switching mechanism which is located on an inlet side of the second refrigerant passage of the first heat exchanger in flowing of refrigerant in an operation in which the first heat exchanger functions as a condenser, and which performs switching between flow directions of the refrigerant. The apparatus further includes a refrigerant blocking mechanism located on an outlet side of the second refrigerant passage of the first heat exchanger in the flowing of the refrigerant in the operation, and which blocks the flowing of the refrigerant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2016
    Publication date: May 16, 2019
    Inventors: Chitose TANAKA, Takuya MATSUDA, Kosuke TANAKA