Patents by Inventor Hajime Sotokawa

Hajime Sotokawa 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: 20240003641
    Abstract: A total heat exchange element-purpose flow channel plate is formed from a resin composition having heat conductivity and moisture permeability, containing at least one base material of a first base material and a second base material, and a moisture permeable material. The first base material is a polypropylene having a long chain branched hydrocarbon structure. The second base material is a polypropylene with addition of a low-density polyethylene having a branched structure. The moisture permeable material is a block copolymer based on a polyethylene glycol as a raw material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 24, 2020
    Publication date: January 4, 2024
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hajime SOTOKAWA, Masashi FUJITA, Yuichi MATSUO, Tasuku IZUTANI
  • Publication number: 20230375282
    Abstract: Provided is a partition plate used in a ventilator that supplies air and exhausts air at the same time. The partition plate includes: a first layer including a first porous substrate having a plurality of first pores, the first layer having a first pinhole formed by at least some of the first pores; a second layer stacked on the first layer and including a second porous substrate having a plurality of second pores, the second layer having a second pinhole formed by at least some of the second pores, the second pinhole being located at a position different from a position facing the first pinhole; and a third layer stacked on the second layer and made of a water-insoluble moisture-permeable resin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2020
    Publication date: November 23, 2023
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Tasuku IZUTANI, Shinya TOKIZAKI, Takumi OHO, Hajime SOTOKAWA, Xin WANG
  • Publication number: 20230296268
    Abstract: A first passage forming member and a second passage forming member each include: a rib portion including a first wall portion constituting an end in a first direction of the first passage, a second wall portion constituting an end in the first direction of the second passage, and a third wall portion separating the first passage and the second passage adjacent to each other in a second direction from each other; a board being in contact with an end in a third direction of the rib portion, and separating a first connection passage and a second connection passage from each other; a first blocking portion installed at the end of the rib portion, to block between the first passage and the second connection passage; and a second blocking portion installed at the end of the rib portion, to block between the second passage and the first connection passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2020
    Publication date: September 21, 2023
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Tomoya WATANABE, Tsuyoshi TSUBOUCHI, Shunsaburo OKAWA, Hajime SOTOKAWA, Kimikazu HAZUMI
  • Publication number: 20230266067
    Abstract: The extending direction of a fifth rib that is one of a plurality of first ribs of a first header portion is closer to the extending direction of flow paths in a first counter-flow portion than the extending direction of a sixth rib that is a rib of the plurality of first ribs closer to a fourth edge than the fifth rib. The extending direction of a seventh rib that is one of a plurality of second ribs of a second header portion is closer to the extending direction of the flow paths in the first counter-flow portion than the extending direction of an eighth rib that is a rib of the plurality of second ribs closer to a sixth edge than the seventh rib.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2020
    Publication date: August 24, 2023
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Fumiyasu MIYAKE, Keiko SHIBATA, Hajime SOTOKAWA
  • Publication number: 20230235916
    Abstract: A total heat exchange element includes partition plates, and spacers shaped into a corrugated shape in which a plurality of apexes are connected by side walls, the partition plates and the spacers being stacked such that extending directions of the plurality of apexes intersect between the spacers adjacent to each other. A plurality of flow paths include flow paths each having a shape which is line-symmetrical with respect to a straight line extending in the stacking direction, and flow paths each having a shape which is not line-symmetrical with respect to a straight line extending in the stacking direction. The length of the side walls constituting the flow paths each having a shape which is not line-symmetrical is longer than the length of the side walls constituting the flow paths having a shape which is line-symmetrical.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2020
    Publication date: July 27, 2023
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Xin WANG, Hajime SOTOKAWA
  • Publication number: 20230221034
    Abstract: A heat exchanger that performs heat exchange between a supply air flow and an exhaust air flow includes: a heat exchange element in a prism shape; a plurality of frame bars, each of the plurality of frame bars being attached to a corresponding side of the heat exchange element, the corresponding side extending along an axial direction of the heat exchange element; and an end face plate at least partially covering an axial end face of the heat exchange element, the plurality of frame bars being joined to the end face plate. The frame bars are joined to the end face plate in such a way as to be movable in the axial direction of the heat exchange element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2020
    Publication date: July 13, 2023
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiaki HAYASHI, Hajime SOTOKAWA, Shinya MORIKAWA
  • Patent number: 11644248
    Abstract: A total heat exchange element includes partitions disposed in a state of being opposed to each other, and a spacer portion keeping a space between the partitions and forming a passage between the partitions. The spacer portion has a laminate structure in which nonwoven fabric base layers including a nonwoven fabric base material are laminated on both sides of a paper layer. A first nonwoven fabric base layer that is the nonwoven fabric base layer of the spacer portion laminated on one side of the paper layer is joined to the partition opposed to the first nonwoven fabric base layer, and a second nonwoven fabric base layer that is the nonwoven fabric base layer of the spacer portion laminated on another side thereof is joined to the partition opposed to the second nonwoven fabric base layer. The element has the above-mentioned configuration and so can improve the humidity exchange efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hajime Sotokawa, Shinya Tokizaki
  • Publication number: 20230069888
    Abstract: In a first and second corrugated portions of a first and second heat transfer plates, first front-side convex portions that are convex toward one side in a first direction and first back-side convex portions that are convex toward the opposite side in the first direction are alternately formed along a second direction. In at least one end of both ends of each of the first front-side convex portions in the second direction, a first front-side protruding portion protruding toward another first front-side convex portion is provided. The first front-side protruding portion is contactable with the second heat transfer plate. In at least one end of both ends of each of the second front-side convex portions in the second direction, a second front-side protruding portion protruding toward another second front-side convex portion is provided. The second front-side protruding portion is contactable with the first heat transfer plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2020
    Publication date: March 9, 2023
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Hajime SOTOKAWA, Xin WANG, Shunsaburo OKAWA, Satoshi WAKITA
  • Patent number: 11486650
    Abstract: A total heat exchange element includes a stacked body that is formed by alternately stacking a first layer provided with a first passage through which a first air flow passes and a second layer provided with a second passage through which a second air flow passes. The stacked body includes a partition member between the first layer and the second layer, a spacing member provided in the first layer and the second layer and maintaining a spacing between the partition members facing each other, and a latent heat shielding member provided partly on the partition member and shielding transfer of latent heat between the first air flow and the second air flow through the partition member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hajime Sotokawa, Keiji Kameishi
  • Publication number: 20210239406
    Abstract: A heat exchange element includes a stack of a plurality of flow passage plates each including a plurality of passage portions serving as flow passages, the passage portions being bonded to each other by an adhesive tape; and a gap adjustment unit having a thickness equal to or larger than a thickness of an adhesive tape and is configured to fill a gap between the flow passage plates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2018
    Publication date: August 5, 2021
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Akinori SHIMIZU, Yoshihiro HOSOKAWA, Shinya MORIKAWA, Hajime SOTOKAWA, Takahiro KAWASAKI
  • Publication number: 20210207826
    Abstract: An air-conditioning system includes: a ventilator that ventilates the inside of a room and includes an exhaust fan that sends air taken from the room to the outside, a supply fan that sends air taken from the outside into the room, and a control unit that controls a ventilation air volume of operation with the exhaust fan and the supply fan; and a human detection sensor that detects the presence or absence of a human in the room. The control unit is capable of switching the ventilation air volume to at least a first air volume and a second air volume higher than the first air volume, and sets the ventilation air volume to the first air volume when the presence of a human is not detected by the human detection sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2018
    Publication date: July 8, 2021
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Hajime SOTOKAWA, Kenta OKEYA, Masayuki KORETOMO, Keishi TSUDA, Yuta TODA
  • Publication number: 20210088286
    Abstract: A total heat exchange element includes partitions disposed in a state of being opposed to each other, and a spacer portion keeping a space between the partitions and forming a passage between the partitions. The spacer portion has a laminate structure in which nonwoven fabric base layers including a nonwoven fabric base material are laminated on both sides of a paper layer. A first nonwoven fabric base layer that is the nonwoven fabric base layer of the spacer portion laminated on one side of the paper layer is joined to the partition opposed to the first nonwoven fabric base layer, and a second nonwoven fabric base layer that is the nonwoven fabric base layer of the spacer portion laminated on another side thereof is joined to the partition opposed to the second nonwoven fabric base layer. The element has the above-mentioned configuration and so can improve the humidity exchange efficiency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2018
    Publication date: March 25, 2021
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Hajime SOTOKAWA, Shinya TOKIZAKI
  • Publication number: 20210063035
    Abstract: A heat exchange element includes a countercurrent portion including a plurality of partition plates each having a planar shape and a plurality of spacer plates each having a corrugated shape in cross section. The partition plates and spacer plates are alternately stacked such that corrugation directions of the spacer plates are aligned. A side surface of the countercurrent portion is formed by end portions defined by bending portions in each of which the partition plate and the spacer plate are overlaid. Since the heat exchange element according to the embodiment of the present disclosure is configured as described above, the heat insulation between flow paths of the heat exchange element and the outside air is improved, and heat exchange between fluid in the flow paths of the heat exchange element and the outside air is reduced. Consequently, the heat exchange element achieves improved heat exchange efficiency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2018
    Publication date: March 4, 2021
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Akinori SHIMIZU, Yasuhiro NAKAMURA, Akane NOMURA, Yoko MATSUURA, Yoshihiro HOSOKAWA, Hajime SOTOKAWA, Takahiro KAWASAKI
  • Publication number: 20200080790
    Abstract: A total heat exchange element includes a stacked body that is formed by alternately stacking a first layer provided with a first passage through which a first air flow passes and a second layer provided with a second passage through which a second air flow passes. The stacked body includes a partition member between the first layer and the second layer, a spacing member provided in the first layer and the second layer and maintaining a spacing between the partition members facing each other, and a latent heat shielding member provided partly on the partition member and shielding transfer of latent heat between the first air flow and the second air flow through the partition member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2017
    Publication date: March 12, 2020
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Hajime SOTOKAWA, Keiji KAMEISHI
  • Patent number: 10352629
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a heat exchange element in which unit constituent members, each of which includes a partition member that has a heat-transfer property and a moisture permeability and a spacing member that holds the partition member with a predetermined spacing, are stacked and in which a primary air flow that passes along an upper surface side of the partition member and a secondary air flow that passes along an undersurface side of the partition member and crosses the primary air flow exchange heat and moisture through the partition member, wherein a detachment suppressing rib is provided on the opposite side of the spacing member when viewed from the partition member at a bonded portion between the partition member and the spacing member, and the partition member is sandwiched by the spacing member and the detachment suppressing rib.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masaru Takada, Hajime Sotokawa, Yuichi Ishimaru, Takanori Imai, Mitsuhiko Ohira, Hidemoto Arai, Makoto Fukaya, Fumiaki Baba, Koji Kise, Shinya Tokizaki, Yuichi Matsuo
  • Patent number: 9903669
    Abstract: Provided is a heat exchange element that suppresses an increase in air-flow resistance by suppressing deflection of a partition member caused by a change in temperature and humidity. The unit constituent members are stacked, each of which is formed of partition members that have heat-transfer properties and moisture permeability, and spacing members that hold the partition members. A primary air flow that passes along an upper-surface side of the partition member and a secondary air flow that passes along an undersurface side of the partition member cross each other so as to exchange heat and moisture via the partition member. The spacing member includes: spacing ribs that maintain the spacing between the partition members; and deflection suppressing ribs that have a height smaller than the spacing ribs so as to suppress deflection of the partition members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuichi Ishimaru, Hajime Sotokawa, Masaru Takada, Takanori Imai, Mitsuhiko Ohira, Fumiaki Baba, Yuichi Matsuo, Shinya Tokizaki, Koji Kise, Masaru Shinozaki, Tetsuo Mitani
  • Patent number: 9863710
    Abstract: A laminated total heat exchange element that includes a plurality of laminated plates, a first spacing member forming a first flow path between the laminated plates, and a second spacing member forming a second flow path between the laminated plates, wherein the first flow path is formed to allow fluid to pass from one side to another side of the laminated total heat exchange element, the second flow path is formed to allow fluid to pass from the another side to the one side of the laminated total heat exchange element, a third flow path, which communicates with the first flow path on the one side and extends substantially parallel to a lamination direction of the laminated plates, is formed, and a fourth flow path, which communicates with the second flow path on the another side and extends substantially parallel to the lamination direction of the laminated plate, is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Koji Kise, Masaru Shinozaki, Masaru Takada, Hajime Sotokawa, Yuichi Ishimaru, Hidemoto Arai
  • Publication number: 20170227300
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a heat exchange element in which unit constituent members, each of which includes a partition member that has a heat-transfer property and a moisture permeability and a spacing member that holds the partition member with a predetermined spacing, are stacked and in which a primary air flow that passes along an upper surface side of the partition member and a secondary air flow that passes along an undersurface side of the partition member and crosses the primary air flow exchange heat and moisture through the partition member, wherein a detachment suppressing rib is provided on the opposite side of the spacing member when viewed from the partition member at a bonded portion between the partition member and the spacing member, and the partition member is sandwiched by the spacing member and the detachment suppressing rib.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2017
    Publication date: August 10, 2017
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Masaru Takada, Hajime Sotokawa, Yuichi Ishimaru, Takanori Imai, Mitsuhiko Ohira, Hidemoto Arai, Makoto Fukaya, Fumiaki Baba, Koji Kise, Shinya Tokizaki, Yuichi Matsuo
  • Patent number: 9664452
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a heat exchange element in which unit constituent members, each of which includes a partition member that has a heat-transfer property and a moisture permeability and a spacing member that holds the partition member with a predetermined spacing, are stacked and in which a primary air flow that passes along an upper surface side of the partition member and a secondary air flow that passes along an undersurface side of the partition member and crosses the primary air flow exchange heat and moisture through the partition member, wherein a detachment suppressing rib is provided on the opposite side of the spacing member when viewed from the partition member at a bonded portion between the partition member and the spacing member, and the partition member is sandwiched by the spacing member and the detachment suppressing rib.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masaru Takada, Hajime Sotokawa, Yuichi Ishimaru, Takanori Imai, Mitsuhiko Ohira, Hidemoto Arai, Makoto Fukaya, Fumiaki Baba, Koji Kise, Shinya Tokizaki, Yuichi Matsuo
  • Patent number: 9664457
    Abstract: The present invention is a total heat exchange element in which a spacing member is provided on both sides of a sheet-like partition member to form a flow path and which performs heat exchange between an airflow that flows in a flow path formed on one side of the partition member and an airflow that flows in a flow path formed on another side of the partition member via the partition member, wherein the spacing member is molded integrally with the partition member by using a resin, and the partition member is configured to include a functional layer that has heat conductivity, moisture permeability, and gas shielding property and a heat shrink layer that shrinks at a predetermined temperature or higher.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masaru Takada, Shinya Tokizaki, Hajime Sotokawa, Yuichi Ishimaru, Takanori Imai, Hidemoto Arai