Patents by Inventor Kanji Shibatani

Kanji Shibatani 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: 5330292
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a system and a method for transmitting data in a shield machine and for calculating the filling amount of a void by detecting the distance to the natural ground. The system and the method are capable of transmitting analogue signals or signals of relatively high frequencies with reliability, enabling an unskilled operator to accurately detect buried articles and accurately carry out the back-filling work. Therefore, an optical rotary joint (100) is disposed between a rotary cutter head (10) and a non-rotary shield body (2) to count time taken to detect the peak value of a reflected signal larger than a standard value or time taken to detect the zero cross position present prior to the peak value. In accordance with the counted time, the distance between the antenna and the natural ground is calculated and displayed. Then, the void volume is calculated in accordance with the distance so that a target value of the back-filling amount is set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 19, 1994
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Komatsu Seisakusho
    Inventors: Shoichi Sakanishi, Tetsuya Shinbo, Tomoyuki Abe, Yasuhiko Ichimura, Yasuo Kanemitsu, Kanji Shibatani, Masahiko Yamamoto, Hiroaki Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 5276367
    Abstract: In a measuring differential amplifier having first and second input terminals for subtracting a first signal applied to the first input terminal from a second signal applied to the second input terminal to obtain a subtraction and for outputting a signal corresponding to A times of the subtraction, a circuit for reducing an offset generated during measurement. Prior to the measurement, the second signal is applied to the first and second input terminals so that the differential amplifier outputs a voltage corresponding to A times of a difference between the second signals, i.e., A times an offset voltage. At this time, the differential amplifier is connected at its output terminal to one end of a capacitor grounded at the other end so that the voltage corresponding to A times of the offset voltage is applied to the capacitor for charging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 4, 1994
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Komatsu Seisakusho
    Inventors: Kanji Shibatani, Masao Hagiwara, Masakazu Moritoki
  • Patent number: 5208538
    Abstract: A position measuring apparatus easily and accurately detects the position of an underground excavator, such as a shield excavator, during the underground excavation, and particularly the position thereof on a horizontal plane. The position measuring apparatus comprises a transmitter (10) including at least two cable loops (10a, 10b) which generate AC magnetic fields; a receiver (30) which detects the AC magnetic fields and produces signals representative of the detected fields; and a computing unit (60) which identifies the signals with respect to the originating cable loop and which calculates the position of the underground excavator (20). The two cable loops (10a, 10b) are substantially perpendicular to each other. The receiver (30) includes two magnetic field detecting elements (S.sub.1, S.sub.2) which are substantially perpendicular to each other. The receiver (30) is rotatably driven so as to maintain the magnetic field detecting elements (S.sub.1, S.sub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1993
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Komatsu Seisakusho
    Inventors: Shoichi Sakanishi, Kanji Shibatani
  • Patent number: 5199818
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for performing measurement by a resistivity method in order to detect the thickness of a sludge layer on the outer periphery of a shield machine. A Wenner electrode row (14) on the outer periphery of the machine is used to measure reference resistivities to thereby detect certain resistivities in the depth direction of the natural ground and the sludge layer thickness. At the same time, a dipole electrode row (16) is used to measure voltage distributions in the depth direction of the natural ground and in the direction of the arrangement of the electrodes. The ratios of the values measured by the measurement dipole electrodes to those measured by the reference Wenner electrodes are calculated, and their distribution is charted. When mutually equal values in the distribution map are connected together by continuous curves, a contour-pattern image is obtained, which enables a configuration of the collapse of natural ground to be determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1993
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Komatsu Seisakusho
    Inventors: Masahiko Yamamoto, Kanji Shibatani, Hiroaki Yamaguchi, Yasuo Kanemitsu, Tetsuya Shinbo, Tomoyuki Abe, Yasuhiko Ichimura, Shoichi Sakanishi