Patents by Inventor Hiroyuki Okano
Hiroyuki Okano 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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Publication number: 20240093922Abstract: An open-close valve unit includes a block body, a first open-close valve, and a second open-close valve. The block body includes a first main flow path and a second main flow path. The first main flow path has a first opening and a second opening. The second main flow path has a third opening and a fourth opening. The first open-close valve includes a first valve body movable to open and close the first main flow path. The second open-close valve includes a second valve body movable to open and close the second main flow path. The first open-close valve is in an open state when in an energized state. When the first open-close valve is in the energized state, the second open-close valve is in a de-energized state, and placed in an open state by a dynamic pressure of the fluid flowing in the second main flow path.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 8, 2021Publication date: March 21, 2024Inventors: Shota KUMOKAWA, Katsuhiro ISHIMURA, Hiroyuki OKANO
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Publication number: 20240092130Abstract: A front suspension device comprises a suspension arm, one end of which has a front-wheel support portion to support a front wheel of a vehicle and the other end of which is positioned on an inward side, in a vehicle width direction, of the front-wheel support portion and has a vehicle-body attachment portion to be attached to a vehicle-body member of the vehicle and a damper supported at a damper support portion which is provided at a portion of the suspension arm which is positioned in the vicinity of the front-wheel support portion at a lower portion thereof and connected to the vehicle-body member at an upper portion thereof. The damper support portion of the suspension arm has a breakage ease portion to cause breakage of the suspension arm.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 23, 2023Publication date: March 21, 2024Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATIONInventors: Shohei YOSHIDA, Koshi TAKAHASHI, Hiroyuki TAKAHASHI, Kota OKANO, Yosuke SAWADA, Hiromasa HONJI, Kosuke MUKAIGAWA, Ichiro TANABE, Ryota HANATE
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Patent number: 11913664Abstract: An air-conditioning apparatus including heat source apparatuses each including a compressor and an accumulator includes: a refrigerant amount calculation unit that calculates an amount of the refrigerant accumulated in the accumulator in one of the heat source apparatuses that is to be controlled; a refrigerant differential amount calculation unit configured to calculate, when the number of the heat source apparatuses is two, a differential amount between the calculated amount and an amount of the refrigerant in the accumulator in the other heat source apparatus, and calculate, when the number of the heat source apparatuses is three or more, a differential amount between the calculated amount of the refrigerant and an average amount of amounts of the refrigerant accumulated in the accumulators in the heat source apparatuses; and a liquid equalization control unit that controls the heat source apparatus to be controlled, based on the calculated differential amount.Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 2019Date of Patent: February 27, 2024Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric CorporationInventors: Hiroaki Asanuma, Hiroyuki Okano
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Patent number: 11802725Abstract: The air-conditioning apparatus includes the plurality of heat source apparatuses; a plurality of indoor units each including an indoor heat exchanger and each configured to perform one of cooling and heating operations; a relay device connected to the heat source apparatuses by a high pressure pipe and a low pressure pipe and configured to distribute refrigerant flowing therein from the heat source apparatuses to the plurality of indoor units; and a controller configured to control operations of the heat source apparatuses. The relay device includes a relay device temperature detecting unit configured to detect a temperature of the refrigerant flowing through the bypass pipe. During the heating main operation, the controller changes an opening degree of each of the outdoor side expansion devices based on the temperature detected by the relay device temperature detecting unit.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2017Date of Patent: October 31, 2023Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric CorporationInventor: Hiroyuki Okano
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Publication number: 20230236051Abstract: The present invention provides a thermal flow meter that includes a sensor flow path along which flows a fluid being measured, an upstream-side electrical resistance element provided on the sensor flow path, a downstream-side electrical resistance element provided downstream of the upstream-side electrical resistance element, a sensor output generator that, based on respective voltages that are output in accordance with changes in the upstream-side and downstream-side electrical resistance elements, generates a sensor output in accordance with the flow rate of the fluid being measured, a slope effect estimator that, based on at least a Prandtl number of the fluid being measured, estimates a slope effect that is generated in the sensor output in accordance with an attitude of the sensor flow path, and a flow rate calculator that corrects the slope effect from the sensor output, and calculates the flow rate of the fluid being measured.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 11, 2020Publication date: July 27, 2023Inventors: Hidetoshi EMURA, Hiroyuki OKANO
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Patent number: 11644354Abstract: In order to provide a correction device that enables the accuracy of the linearity between sensor output values and flow rate values in a flow rate sensor, there are provided a sensitivity correction function storage unit that stores a sensitivity correction function in which at least a portion of sensitivity correction values are set to different values in accordance with the sensor output values output from a flow rate sensor in an initial state in which the sensitivity coefficient is set to an initial value, a sensitivity setting unit that sets the sensitivity coefficient based on the initial values and on the sensitivity correction function, and then adjusts the sensitivity of the flow rate sensor, and a coefficient calculation unit that calculates a post-correction flow rate characteristic function based on function correction values that are decided in accordance with the flow rate values output post sensitivity correction.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2020Date of Patent: May 9, 2023Assignee: HORIBA STEC, Co., Ltd.Inventor: Hiroyuki Okano
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Patent number: 11592193Abstract: A header includes a plurality of branch tubes and a header manifold. If refrigerant flowing into the header manifold forms a pattern of annular flow or churn flow, tips of the branch tubes inserted into the header manifold pass through a liquid-phase portion having a thickness ? [m] and reach a gas-phase portion. The thickness ? [m] of the liquid-phase portion is defined as ?=G×(1?x)×D/(4?L×ULS), where G is a flow speed [kg/(m2 s)] of the refrigerant, x is a quality of the refrigerant, D is an inside diameter [m] of the header manifold, ?L is a liquid density [kg/m3] of the refrigerant, ULS is a reference apparent liquid speed [m/s] that is a maximum value within a range of variation in an apparent gas speed of the refrigerant flowing into a flow space of the header manifold. The reference apparent liquid speed ULS [m/s] is defined as G(1?x)/?L.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2021Date of Patent: February 28, 2023Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATIONInventors: Yoji Onaka, Takashi Matsumoto, Kosuke Miyawaki, Hiroyuki Okano, Takanori Koike, Takeshi Hatomura, Osamu Morimoto
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Patent number: 11543185Abstract: The air-conditioning apparatus includes a heat exchanger including a plurality of heat transfer tubes and a header manifold an axial fan and a refrigerant circuit. When the distance from the center of the flow space in the horizontal plane is represented on a scale of 0 to 100%, where 0% represents the center of the flow space and 100% is the position of the wall surface of the header manifold, among the plurality of branch tubes located within a height range that allows the blade to rotate, the majority of the branch tubes located at or below the height of the boss are connected to the header manifold such that their distal ends are positioned at 0 to 50% of the distance from the center, and the majority of the branch tubes located above the height of the boss are connected to the header manifold such that their distal ends are positioned at more than 50% of the distance from the center.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 2017Date of Patent: January 3, 2023Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATIONInventors: Yoji Onaka, Takashi Matsumoto, Kosuke Miyawaki, Hiroyuki Okano, Takanori Koike, Osamu Morimoto
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Publication number: 20220325928Abstract: An air-conditioning apparatus includes a compressor, an indoor heat exchanger, a first outdoor heat exchanger and a second outdoor heat exchanger, a valve between the second outdoor heat exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger switching between an opened state and a closed state, a temperature sensor detecting a temperature of refrigerant that flows into the second outdoor heat exchanger and liquefies, and a condensing-temperature detection device, wherein during first cooling operation in which the first outdoor heat exchanger functions as a condenser, the indoor heat exchanger functions as an evaporator, and the valve is in the closed state, when a comparative temperature becomes equal to or higher than a prescribed temperature, the air-conditioning apparatus switches to second cooling operation in which the valve is brought into the opened state, the comparative temperature being a value obtained by subtracting a temperature detected by the temperature sensor from the condensing temperature.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 13, 2019Publication date: October 13, 2022Inventors: Kazuhisa IWASAKI, Hiroyuki OKANO
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Publication number: 20220325932Abstract: A liquid level detector includes: a vertically-mounted accumulator configured to store refrigerant; a heater configured to heat the accumulator; a temperature detector configured to detect a surface temperature of the accumulator; a pressure detector configured to detect a pressure of the refrigerant in the accumulator; and a controller configured to detect a position of a liquid surface of the refrigerant in the accumulator based on a surface temperature of the accumulator detected by the temperature detector when the accumulator is heated by the heater, and a pressure of the refrigerant in the accumulator detected by the pressure detector.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 18, 2019Publication date: October 13, 2022Inventors: Hiroki MARUYAMA, Takuya MATSUDA, Hiroyuki OKANO, Naomichi TAMURA
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Publication number: 20220205687Abstract: An air-conditioning apparatus includes an outdoor unit and a relay unit. The outdoor unit includes a compressor compressing and discharging refrigerant and a heat-source-side heat exchanger performing heat exchange between the refrigerant and outside air. The relay unit and the outdoor unit form a refrigerant circuit. The outdoor unit includes first and flow switching devices each switching an associated flow passage for the refrigerant between a plurality of flow passages, according to an operation mode. An outflow pipe and an inflow pipe through which refrigerant flows from the outdoor unit to the relay unit and from the relay unit into the outdoor unit, respectively, are between the outdoor unit and the relay unit. The first flow switching device is connected to the compressor, the second flow switching device, and the outflow pipe. The second flow switching device is connected to the first flow switching device and the inflow pipe.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 25, 2019Publication date: June 30, 2022Inventors: Takeshi HATOMURA, Satoru YANACHI, Takuya MATSUDA, Hiroyuki OKANO
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Publication number: 20220205662Abstract: An air-conditioning apparatus includes a refrigerant circuit in which a compressor, a refrigerant flow switching device, a heat source side heat exchanger, an expansion device, a heat medium heat exchanger, and an accumulator are connected, a heat medium circuit in which a pump, the heat medium heat exchanger, a heat medium flow control device, and a load side heat exchanger are connected, at least one or more bypass pipes provided in the refrigerant circuit so that the refrigerant discharged from the compressor bypasses at least either one of the heat source side heat exchanger and the heat medium heat exchanger, a bypass opening and closing device provided at the bypass pipe, and a controller configured to control the bypass opening and closing device to carry out a start-up control function of causing low-pressure gas refrigerant with a high degree of superheat to flow into the accumulator.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 25, 2019Publication date: June 30, 2022Inventors: Katsuhiro ISHIMURA, Naofumi TAKENAKA, Yuji MOTOMURA, Hiroyuki OKANO, Naomichi TAMURA
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Patent number: 11371755Abstract: An air-conditioning apparatus that includes a compressor, a flow switching device, an outdoor heat exchange unit, an expansion section and an indoor heat exchanger, which are connected by pipes, in which the outdoor heat exchange unit includes a first outdoor heat exchanger, a first flow rate control device, a second outdoor heat exchanger, a second flow rate control device, a bypass pipe, the second outdoor heat exchanger, the second flow rate control device, a third flow rate control device, and a flow control device.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2017Date of Patent: June 28, 2022Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric CorporationInventors: Hiroki Maruyama, Osamu Morimoto, Hiroyuki Okano, Naofumi Takenaka
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Publication number: 20220178579Abstract: An air-conditioning apparatus including heat source apparatuses each including a compressor and an accumulator includes: a refrigerant amount calculation unit that calculates an amount of the refrigerant accumulated in the accumulator in one of the heat source apparatuses that is to be controlled; a refrigerant differential amount calculation unit configured to calculate, when the number of the heat source apparatuses is two, a differential amount between the calculated amount and an amount of the refrigerant in the accumulator in the other heat source apparatus, and calculate, when the number of the heat source apparatuses is three or more, a differential amount between the calculated amount of the refrigerant and an average amount of amounts of the refrigerant accumulated in the accumulators in the heat source apparatuses; and a liquid equalization control unit that controls the heat source apparatus to be controlled, based on the calculated differential amount.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 3, 2019Publication date: June 9, 2022Inventors: Hiroaki ASANUMA, Hiroyuki OKANO
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Patent number: 11326787Abstract: A refrigerant distributor branches refrigerant flowing in a refrigerant circuit into three, and includes a first bifurcate flow divider including a first pipe portion forming one inflow port, a second pipe portion and a third pipe portion forming two outflow ports communicating with the inflow port of the first pipe portion, and a second bifurcate flow divider including a fourth pipe portion forming one inflow port, and a fifth pipe portion and a sixth pipe portion forming two outflow ports communicating with the inflow port of the fourth pipe portion. The outflow port of the third pipe portion and the inflow port of the fourth pipe portion communicate with each other, and an angle ? formed by a first plane passing through the first bifurcate flow divider and a second plane passing through the second bifurcate flow divider is between 60 and 120 degrees.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2017Date of Patent: May 10, 2022Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATIONInventors: Kosuke Miyawaki, Yoji Onaka, Osamu Morimoto, Hiroyuki Okano, Takanori Koike, Hiroki Maruyama
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Patent number: 11320175Abstract: In a refrigerant circuit of an air conditioning device, an upper heat source side heat exchanger having a large heat load and a lower heat source side heat exchanger having a small heat load are connected in parallel between an expansion device and a suction side of a compressor. Additionally, the refrigerant circuit of the air conditioning device is provided with a branch circuit configured to distribute refrigerant to each of the upper heat source side heat exchanger and the lower heat source side heat exchanger, and the branch circuit is configured to supply the upper heat source side heat exchanger with refrigerant of lower quality than that of the refrigerant supplied to the lower heat source side heat exchanger.Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 2015Date of Patent: May 3, 2022Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATIONInventors: Takashi Matsumoto, Yoji Onaka, Hiroyuki Okano
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Publication number: 20220128279Abstract: A heat exchanger includes a plurality of heat transfer tubes, a liquid header distributor, and a gas header distributor. The heat transfer tubes include U-shaped bent portions. The heat exchanger includes a heat exchanger core. A relationship between the liquid header distributor and the plurality of heat transfer tubes is established such that 9?? is satisfied, where Lh [m] is the length of the liquid header distributor, Lb [m] is the length of the shortest one of the heat transfer tubes, and ? is the ratio of the length Lb of the shortest heat transfer tube to the length Lh of the liquid header distributor and is expressed by ?=Lb/Lh.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 21, 2019Publication date: April 28, 2022Applicant: Mitsubishi Electric CorporationInventors: Rihito ADACHI, Yoji ONAKA, Takashi MATSUMOTO, Hiroyuki OKANO, Takeshi HATOMURA, Kazuki OKOCHI
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Patent number: 11187447Abstract: A refrigeration cycle apparatus includes a refrigerant circuit, through which refrigerant is circulated, including a compressor, a heat source side heat exchanger, a first expansion device, and a load side heat exchanger, a controller controlling the refrigerant circuit, and a bypass pipe that branches off from a high-pressure pipe extending from the compressor to the first expansion device and that is connected to a low-pressure pipe on a suction side of the compressor. The apparatus further includes a precooling heat exchanger that is provided in the bypass pipe and that cools the refrigerant diverted to the bypass pipe, a second expansion device that is provided in the bypass pipe and that reduces a pressure of the refrigerant cooled by the precooling heat exchanger, and a refrigerant cooler that is provided in the bypass pipe and that cools the controller with the refrigerant reduced in pressure by the second expansion device.Type: GrantFiled: January 27, 2016Date of Patent: November 30, 2021Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric CorporationInventors: Takanori Koike, Osamu Morimoto, Kazuyoshi Shinozaki, Hiroyuki Okano
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Patent number: 11175172Abstract: A liquid level detection device detecting a liquid level of a liquid in a container includes a heater configured to heat the container, a plurality of temperature sensors provided at different heights of the container, and configured to detect a surface temperature of the container, and a controller configured to detect the liquid level of the liquid in the container, based on the surface temperature of the container detected by the plurality of temperature sensors when the heater is caused to heat.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2018Date of Patent: November 16, 2021Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric CorporationInventors: Hiroaki Asanuma, Hiroyuki Okano, Kazuki Okochi, Hiroki Maruyama
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Patent number: 11156412Abstract: A heat exchanger includes first and second headers connected to end portions of heat transfer tubes. The second header includes a header pipe defining a flow space that communicates with the heat transfer tubes and, when the heat exchanger acts as an evaporator, allows refrigerant in a two-phase gas-liquid state to pass through the flow space into the heat transfer tubes. A bypass pipe is disposed between an entrance portion and the first header. The entrance portion has an entrance distance L between a connection end portion connected to a refrigerant pipe and a central axis of the bypass pipe. The entrance distance L of the entrance portion satisfies L?5di, where di is an inner diameter of a flow space of the header pipe on an orthogonal plane orthogonal to a direction of refrigerant flow. The bypass pipe is inserted in the flow space of the entrance portion.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 2017Date of Patent: October 26, 2021Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATIONInventors: Yoji Onaka, Takashi Matsumoto, Kosuke Miyawaki, Hiroyuki Okano, Takanori Koike, Takeshi Hatomura, Osamu Morimoto