Patents by Inventor Hiroshi Kikawa

Hiroshi Kikawa 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: 7752908
    Abstract: In a flow sensor, detecting elements are provided at a sub-passage. A sub-passage wall contains a hole to drain accumulated liquid. A protrusion arranged close to the hole on an external surface generates dynamic pressure on the opening in response to external flow. Alternatively, a protrusion upstream from the hole on the inner wall surface produces a separation flow area for separating the flow from the internal surface near the hole, whereby pressure in the separation area is reduced and almost the same pressure differences on the internal and external surfaces openings result. This reduces leakage from the hole and changes in the distribution flow in the sub-passage between cases where the hole is blocked and not blocked, thus minimizing flow measurement errors. Structure may be provided close to the external surface hole opening to prevent a liquid film or drop from being formed on the opening by surface tension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignees: Hitachi, Ltd., Hitachi Car Engineering Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinya Igarashi, Hiroshi Kikawa, Yasuhiro Asano, Naoki Saito
  • Publication number: 20090133489
    Abstract: In a flow sensor, detecting elements are provided at a sub-passage. A sub-passage wall contains a hole to drain accumulated liquid. A protrusion arranged close to the hole on an external surface generates dynamic pressure on the opening in response to external flow. Alternatively, a protrusion upstream from the hole on the inner wall surface produces a separation flow area for separating the flow from the internal surface near the hole, whereby pressure in the separation area is reduced and almost the same pressure differences on the internal and external surfaces openings result. This reduces leakage from the hole and changes in the distribution flow in the sub-passage between cases where the hole is blocked and not blocked, thus minimizing flow measurement errors. Structure may be provided close to the external surface hole opening to prevent a liquid film or drop from being formed on the opening by surface tension.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Publication date: May 28, 2009
    Applicants: HITACHI, LTD., HITACHI CAR ENGINEERING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shinya IGARASHI, Hiroshi KIKAWA, Yasuhiro ASANO, Naoki SAITO
  • Patent number: 7467546
    Abstract: In a flow sensor, detecting elements are provided at a sub-passage. A sub-passage wall contains a hole to drain accumulated liquid. A protrusion arranged close to the hole on an external surface generates dynamic pressure on the opening in response to external flow. Alternatively, a protrusion upstream from the hole on the inner wall surface produces a separation flow area for separating the flow from the internal surface near the hole, whereby pressure in the separation area is reduced and almost the same pressure differences on the internal and external surfaces openings result. This reduces leakage from the hole and changes in the distribution flow in the sub-passage between cases where the hole is blocked and not blocked, thus minimizing flow measurement errors. Structure may be provided close to the external surface hole opening to prevent a liquid film or drop from being formed on the opening by surface tension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2008
    Assignees: Hitachi, Ltd., Hitachi Car Engineering Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinya Igarashi, Hiroshi Kikawa, Yasuhiro Asano, Naoki Saito
  • Publication number: 20060156808
    Abstract: In a flow sensor, detecting elements are provided at a sub-passage. A sub-passage wall contains a hole to drain accumulated liquid. A protrusion arranged close to the hole on an external surface generates dynamic pressure on the opening in response to external flow. Alternatively, a protrusion upstream from the hole on the inner wall surface produces a separation flow area for separating the flow from the internal surface near the hole, whereby pressure in the separation area is reduced and almost the same pressure differences on the internal and external surfaces openings result. This reduces leakage from the hole and changes in the distribution flow in the sub-passage between cases where the hole is blocked and not blocked, thus minimizing flow measurement errors. Structure may be provided close to the external surface hole opening to prevent a liquid film or drop from being formed on the opening by surface tension.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2006
    Publication date: July 20, 2006
    Applicant: HITACHI, LTD.
    Inventors: Sinya Igarashi, Hiroshi Kikawa, Yasuhiro Asano, Naoki Saito
  • Patent number: 7004022
    Abstract: The flow detecting elements are provided at the sub-passage for making the part of fluid to be measured (gas) flow. The wall of the sub-passage contains a leak hole (through hole) to drain a liquid having entered and accumulated inside the sub-passage. A protrusion for generating a dynamic pressure on the opening is arranged close to the opening of the leak hole on the external surface of the sub-passage. Alternatively, a protrusion located upstream from the leak hole is formed on the inner wall surface of the sub-passage. The former protrusion generates a dynamic pressure in response to the flow velocity of the gas flowing along the external surface of the sub-passage. The latter protrusion produces a separation flow area for separating the flow from the internal surface of the sub-passage (close to the leak hole), whereby the pressure of the separation floe area is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2006
    Assignees: Hitachi, Ltd., Hitachi Car Engineering Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sinya Igarashi, Hiroshi Kikawa, Yasuhiro Asano, Naoki Saito
  • Publication number: 20040182171
    Abstract: The flow detecting elements are provided at the sub-passage for making the part of fluid to be measured (gas) flow. The wall of the sub-passage contains a leak hole (through hole) to drain a liquid having entered and accumulated inside the sub-passage. A protrusion for generating a dynamic pressure on the opening is arranged close to the opening of the leak hole on the external surface of the sub-passage. Alternatively, a protrusion located upstream from the leak hole is formed on the inner wall surface of the sub-passage. The former protrusion generates a dynamic pressure in response to the flow velocity of the gas flowing along the external surface of the sub-passage. The latter protrusion produces a separation flow area for separating the flow from the internal surface of the sub-passage (close to the leak hole), whereby the pressure of the separation floe area is reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2004
    Publication date: September 23, 2004
    Inventors: Sinya Igarashi, Hiroshi Kikawa, Yasuhiro Asano, Naoki Saito