Patents by Inventor Hirotoshi Kihara
Hirotoshi Kihara 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).
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Patent number: 11566797Abstract: A subcooler is made up of a plate type heat exchanger. The accumulator is located between a compressor and the subcooler in a width direction of an outdoor unit in a planar view. The subcooler overlaps with the accumulator in the width direction in the planar view. As a result, a compact heat pump can be provided when the subcooler is a plate type heat exchanger.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 2020Date of Patent: January 31, 2023Assignee: YANMAR POWER TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.Inventors: Norihiro Okuda, Terunori Aikawa, Hirotoshi Kihara
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Patent number: 10816251Abstract: An exemplary heat pump includes: a compressor configured to compress a refrigerant; a first heat exchanger configured to condense the compressed refrigerant; a flow rate adjustment valve configured to adjust a flow rate of the condensed refrigerant; an expansion valve having an adjustable opening and configured to decompress the refrigerant having passed the flow rate adjustment valve; a second heat exchanger configured to cool a temperature control target by using the refrigerant decompressed by the expansion valve; and a control device configured to control the opening of the expansion valve based on a difference between the temperature of the refrigerant flowing into the second heat exchanger and the temperature of the refrigerant flowing out from the second heat exchanger, and to control the opening of the flow rate adjustment valve based on the flow rate of the refrigerant to be supplied to the second heat exchanger.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 2016Date of Patent: October 27, 2020Assignee: YANMAR POWER TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.Inventors: Norihiro Okuda, Hirotoshi Kihara, Keisuke Ota, Terunori Aikawa
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Publication number: 20200191416Abstract: A subcooler is made up of a plate type heat exchanger. The accumulator is located between a compressor and the subcooler in a width direction of an outdoor unit in a planar view. The subcooler overlaps with the accumulator in the width direction in the planar view. As a result, a compact heat pump can be provided when the subcooler is a plate type heat exchanger.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 25, 2020Publication date: June 18, 2020Inventors: Norihiro OKUDA, Terunori AIKAWA, Hirotoshi KIHARA
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Patent number: 10641530Abstract: An exemplary heat pump (10) includes: a compressor (16A, 16B) that discharges refrigerant; an oil separator (30) that separates oil from the refrigerant discharged from the compressor; an oil return channel (80) that returns the oil separated by the oil separator to the compressor; a pressure sensor (86A, 86B) that detects a pressure in the oil return channel; a first pressure loss member (84A, 84B) and a second pressure loss member (88A, 88B) disposed in portions of the oil return channel at an oil separator side and a compressor side relative to the pressure sensor; and a control device that increases an output of the compressor in a case where a pressure detected by the pressure sensor exceeds a suction pressure of the compressor and less than a discharge pressure of the compressor.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 2016Date of Patent: May 5, 2020Assignee: YANMAR CO., LTD.Inventors: Hirotoshi Kihara, Keisuke Ota, Terunori Aikawa, Hirohiko Nobuhara, Hirotaka Nakamura
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Patent number: 10605506Abstract: A heat pump includes a control device configured to control conduction and shutting-off of electric power to a first compressor heater, and to control whether or not an alarm unit notifies an alarm. The control device causes the alarm unit to notify the alarm when the control device determines that duration of electric conduction to the first compressor heater is a predetermined period or longer. With this, it is possible to provide a heat pump that can control electric conduction to the heater to enable saving of electricity, and that can detect a problem in the controlling of the electric conduction to the heater.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 2016Date of Patent: March 31, 2020Assignee: YANMAR CO., LTD.Inventors: Hirotoshi Kihara, Keiji Sugimori, Sadanori Yasuda, Hirotaka Nakamura, Makoto Asai
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Patent number: 10591171Abstract: A subcooler is made up of a plate type heat exchanger. The accumulator is located between a compressor and the subcooler in a width direction of an outdoor unit in a planar view. The subcooler overlaps with the accumulator in the width direction in the planar view. As a result, a compact heat pump can be provided when the subcooler is a plate type heat exchanger.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 2015Date of Patent: March 17, 2020Assignee: YANMAR CO., LTD.Inventors: Norihiro Okuda, Terunori Aikawa, Hirotoshi Kihara
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Patent number: 10527327Abstract: An exemplary heat pump includes: an accumulator that separates liquid refrigerant from gas refrigerant returning to a compressor; a refrigerant suction channel connecting the compressor to the accumulator; a refrigerant return channel that returns liquid refrigerant in the accumulator to the refrigerant suction channel; a first valve disposed on the refrigerant return channel; a temperature sensor that detects a temperature of refrigerant in the refrigerant suction channel; a second valve that reduces a pressure of a part of liquid refrigerant flowing between the first and second heat exchangers; a refrigerant evaporator that gasifies, by using waste heat of an engine, the liquid refrigerant whose pressure has been reduced; a gas refrigerant supply channel through which the gasified refrigerant is supplied to the accumulator; and a control device that, while the first valve is open, controls an opening of the second valve based on the temperature detected by the temperature sensor.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 2016Date of Patent: January 7, 2020Assignee: YANMAR CO., LTD.Inventors: Hideshi Okada, Hirotoshi Kihara, Sadanori Yasuda, Keisuke Ota, Tomoya Yoshimura
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Patent number: 10273887Abstract: In a case where a control device receives a stop signal instructing stopping of an engine and the control device determines that the engine temperature is lower than a predetermined temperature based on a signal from a timer or based on a signal from a cooling water temperature sensor, an operation control is maintained until the control device determines that the engine temperature is the predetermined temperature or higher. This way, an engine is provided which is capable of restraining generation of blowby condensate water without stopping a cooling water pump during the operation of the engine.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 2016Date of Patent: April 30, 2019Assignee: YANMAR CO., LTD.Inventors: Hideshi Okada, Hirotoshi Kihara
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Publication number: 20180245526Abstract: In a case where a control device receives a stop signal instructing stopping of an engine and the control device determines that the engine temperature is lower than a predetermined temperature based on a signal from a timer or based on a signal from a cooling water temperature sensor, an operation control is maintained until the control device determines that the engine temperature is the predetermined temperature or higher. This way, an engine is provided which is capable of restraining generation of blowby condensate water without stopping a cooling water pump during the operation of the engine.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 11, 2016Publication date: August 30, 2018Applicant: Yanmar Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hideshi OKADA, Hirotoshi KIHARA
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Publication number: 20180080697Abstract: An exemplary heat pump includes: a compressor configured to compress a refrigerant; a first heat exchanger configured to condense the compressed refrigerant; a flow rate adjustment valve configured to adjust a flow rate of the condensed refrigerant; an expansion valve having an adjustable opening and configured to decompress the refrigerant having passed the flow rate adjustment valve; a second heat exchanger configured to cool a temperature control target by using the refrigerant decompressed by the expansion valve; and a control device configured to control the opening of the expansion valve based on a difference between the temperature of the refrigerant flowing into the second heat exchanger and the temperature of the refrigerant flowing out from the second heat exchanger, and to control the opening of the flow rate adjustment valve based on the flow rate of the refrigerant to be supplied to the second heat exchanger.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 11, 2016Publication date: March 22, 2018Applicant: Yanmar Co., Ltd.Inventors: Norihiro OKUDA, Hirotoshi KIHARA, Keisuke OTA, Terunori AIKAWA
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Publication number: 20180080690Abstract: An exemplary heat pump includes: an accumulator that separates liquid refrigerant from gas refrigerant returning to a compressor; a refrigerant suction channel connecting the compressor to the accumulator; a refrigerant return channel that returns liquid refrigerant in the accumulator to the refrigerant suction channel; a first valve disposed on the refrigerant return channel; a temperature sensor that detects a temperature of refrigerant in the refrigerant suction channel; a second valve that reduces a pressure of a part of liquid refrigerant flowing between the first and second heat exchangers; a refrigerant evaporator that gasifies, by using waste heat of an engine, the liquid refrigerant whose pressure has been reduced; a gas refrigerant supply channel through which the gasified refrigerant is supplied to the accumulator; and a control device that, while the first valve is open, controls an opening of the second valve based on the temperature detected by the temperature sensor.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 11, 2016Publication date: March 22, 2018Applicant: Yanmar Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hideshi OKADA, Hirotoshi KIHARA, Sadanori YASUDA, Keisuke OTA, Tomoys YOSHIMURA
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Publication number: 20180080694Abstract: A heat pump includes a control device configured to control conduction and shutting-off of electric power to a first compressor heater, and to control whether or not an alarm unit notifies an alarm. The control device causes the alarm unit to notify the alarm when the control device determines that duration of electric conduction to the first compressor heater is a predetermined period or longer. With this, it is possible to provide a heat pump that can control electric conduction to the heater to enable saving of electricity, and that can detect a problem in the controlling of the electric conduction to the heater.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 11, 2016Publication date: March 22, 2018Applicant: Yanmar Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hirotoshi KIHARA, Keiji SUGIMORI, Sadanori YASUDA, Hirotaka NAKAMURA, Makoto ASAI
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Publication number: 20180058356Abstract: In cases where a control device determines that a load is continuously less than a predetermined value for a predetermined period, the control device executes a first control to maintain the engine speed at a first rotation speed or higher, and when the control device determines that the load reached the predetermined value within the predetermined time, the control device executes a second control to maintain the engine speed at a second rotation speed or higher, which is higher than the first rotation speed. This provides a control device for an engine and an engine, which can restrain activation of an oil pressure switch attributed to an oil temperature.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 11, 2016Publication date: March 1, 2018Applicant: Yanmar Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hirotoshi KIHARA, Hirotaka NAKAMURA, Shiro TANIHARA, Kyoko HASHIMOTO, Makoto ASAI, Takafumi KUBO
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Publication number: 20180051704Abstract: An exemplary heat pump (10) includes: a compressor (16A, 16B) that discharges refrigerant; an oil separator (30) that separates oil from the refrigerant discharged from the compressor; an oil return channel (80) that returns the oil separated by the oil separator to the compressor; a pressure sensor (86A, 86B) that detects a pressure in the oil return channel; a first pressure loss member (84A, 84B) and a second pressure loss member (88A, 88B) disposed in portions of the oil return channel at an oil separator side and a compressor side relative to the pressure sensor; and a control device that increases an output of the compressor in a case where a pressure detected by the pressure sensor exceeds a suction pressure of the compressor and less than a discharge pressure of the compressor.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 11, 2016Publication date: February 22, 2018Applicant: Yanmar Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hirotoshi KIHARA, Keisuke OTA, Terunori AIKAWA, Hirohiko NOBUHARA, Hirotaka NAKAMURA
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Publication number: 20170328583Abstract: A subcooler is made up of a plate type heat exchanger. The accumulator is located between a compressor and the subcooler in a width direction of an outdoor unit in a planar view. The subcooler overlaps with the accumulator in the width direction in the planar view. As a result, a compact heat pump can be provided when the subcooler is a plate type heat exchanger.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 18, 2015Publication date: November 16, 2017Inventors: Norihiro OKUDA, Terunori AIKAWA, Hirotoshi KIHARA
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Patent number: 9790886Abstract: A gas engine 1 which operates in stoichiometric mode under high-load conditions and which operates in lean burn mode under medium- and low-load conditions includes a valve 2 which supplies the gas engine 1 with an air-fuel mixture composed of air and fuel gas. In the valve 2, a valve unit 21 for stoichiometric operation is connected in series to a valve unit 22 for lean burn operation and is also connected to a mixer 24. An opening area of the valve 2 is controlled in such a manner as to ensure a predetermined opening area for effecting stoichiometric operation, to uniformly decrease the opening area over time until a switching operation from stoichiometric operation to lean burn operation ends, to ensure a predetermined opening area for effecting lean burn operation, and to uniformly increase the opening area over time until a switching operation from lean burn operation to stoichiometric operation ends.Type: GrantFiled: October 9, 2012Date of Patent: October 17, 2017Assignee: YANMAR CO., LTD.Inventors: Toru Nakazono, Hiroyuki Otsubo, Hirotoshi Kihara
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Patent number: 9157350Abstract: To provide a configuration that can discharge condensed water remaining in an exhaust gas passage in an engine in which a catalyst is placed in the exhaust gas passage. An engine system (100) is an engine system having an engine (10) in which a catalyst (6) is placed in an exhaust gas passage (31). The engine system (100) has a determination device (81a) for determining whether or not the catalyst (6) is immersed in the condensed water condensed from exhaust gas in a cold state and remaining in the exhaust gas passage (31) when the engine (10) is started, and an operation continuing device (81b) that allows operation of the engine (10) to continue when it is determined that the catalyst (6) is immersed in the condensed water so that a discharge operation time Te exceeds a required time.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 2013Date of Patent: October 13, 2015Assignee: Yanmar Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kenichi Fukuda, Hiroki Nariyasu, Hirotoshi Kihara, Shojiro Koga
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Publication number: 20140311448Abstract: A gas engine 1 which operates in stoichiometric mode under high-load conditions and which operates in lean burn mode under medium- and low-load conditions includes a valve 2 which supplies the gas engine 1 with an air-fuel mixture composed of air and fuel gas. In the valve 2, a valve unit 21 for stoichiometric operation is connected in series to a valve unit 22 for lean burn operation and is also connected to a mixer 24. An opening area of the valve 2 is controlled in such a manner as to ensure a predetermined opening area for effecting stoichiometric operation, to uniformly decrease the opening area over time until a switching operation from stoichiometric operation to lean burn operation ends, to ensure a predetermined opening area for effecting lean burn operation, and to uniformly increase the opening area over time until a switching operation from lean burn operation to stoichiometric operation ends.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 9, 2012Publication date: October 23, 2014Applicant: YANMAR CO., LTD.Inventors: Toru Nakazono, Hiroyuki Otsubo, Hirotoshi Kihara
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Publication number: 20140083084Abstract: To provide a configuration that can discharge condensed water remaining in an exhaust gas passage in an engine in which a catalyst is placed in the exhaust gas passage. An engine system (100) is an engine system having an engine (10) in which a catalyst (6) is placed in an exhaust gas passage (31). The engine system (100) has a determination device (81a) for determining whether or not the catalyst (6) is immersed in the condensed water condensed from exhaust gas in a cold state and remaining in the exhaust gas passage (31) when the engine (10) is started, and an operation continuing device (81b) that allows operation of the engine (10) to continue when it is determined that the catalyst (6) is immersed in the condensed water so that a discharge operation time Te exceeds a required time.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 20, 2013Publication date: March 27, 2014Applicant: Yanmar Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kenichi FUKUDA, Hiroki NARIYASU, Hirotoshi KIHARA, Shojiro KOGA
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Patent number: 8360014Abstract: In the context of an enclosure-housed engine in which an engine 10 is housed within an enclosure 2, the present invention is such that arranged in an intake chamber 8A, separate from one or more chambers where a radiator 18 and the engine are disposed, there is engine intake equipment comprising an air cleaner 22 and an intake silencer 23; the constitution being such that at least one wall face of said intake chamber is subjected to a cooling airstream, intake and exhaust of which are driven by a radiator fan; and the constitution being such that the radiator fan 19 is driven, regardless of whether or not engine coolant within the radiator is circulating, when outside air temperature is greater than or equal to a prescribed temperature.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2009Date of Patent: January 29, 2013Assignee: Yanmar Co., Ltd.Inventors: Masaaki Ono, Toshiyuki Hayashi, Hirotoshi Kihara, Shojiro Matsumura