Patents by Inventor Katsuji Taniguchi

Katsuji Taniguchi 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: 20230387505
    Abstract: A heat exchange plate includes a coolant layer, a refrigerant layer, a first end portion, and a second end portion opposite to the first end portion. The refrigerant layer includes a refrigerant input portion disposed at the first end portion, a refrigerant output portion disposed at the first end portion, a first refrigerant flow path connected to the refrigerant input portion, a second refrigerant flow path connected to the refrigerant output portion, and a connection portion connecting the first and second refrigerant flow paths. The first refrigerant flow path includes a first branch portion, a first converging portion, and a plurality of first branch flow paths connecting the first branch portion and the first converging portion, and the second refrigerant flow path includes a second branch portion, a second converging portion, and a plurality of second branch flow paths connecting the second branch portion and the second converging portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2023
    Publication date: November 30, 2023
    Applicant: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsuji TANIGUCHI, Atsushi SUEYOSHI, Yoshitoshi NODA, Yuki MAKITA
  • Publication number: 20230231228
    Abstract: A battery pack includes a battery module group including a plurality of battery modules, a coolant layer configured to allow a coolant to circulate, and a refrigerant layer configured to allow a refrigerant to circulate. The coolant layer includes a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface. The refrigerant layer includes a third surface and a fourth surface opposite to the third surface. The first surface of the coolant layer is closer to the battery module group than the second surface of the coolant layer. The third surface of the refrigerant layer is closer to the battery module group than the fourth surface of the refrigerant layer. The battery module group is arranged along the first surface of the coolant layer. At least part of the coolant layer is arranged between the refrigerant layer and the battery module group in a plan view.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2023
    Publication date: July 20, 2023
    Applicant: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Katsuji TANIGUCHI, Yuki MAKITA, Yoshitoshi NODA, Atsushi SUEYOSHI
  • Publication number: 20230021121
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a first heat exchanger plate and a second heat exchanger plate. The first heat exchanger plate includes a first coolant layer in which a coolant flows and a refrigerant layer in which a refrigerant flows, and the second heat exchanger plate includes a second coolant layer in which the coolant flows. The first coolant layer and the second coolant layer are connected to each other via a coolant layer connection passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2022
    Publication date: January 19, 2023
    Applicant: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Katsuji TANIGUCHI, Yoshitoshi NODA, Yuki MAKITA, Atsushi SUEYOSHI
  • Patent number: 10317116
    Abstract: A vehicular air-conditioning device includes a first water-refrigerant heat exchanger and a second water-refrigerant heat exchanger. The first water-refrigerant heat exchanger exchanges heat between a refrigerant of low-temperature and low-pressure and a heat transfer coolant to vaporize the refrigerant. The second water-refrigerant heat exchanger exchanges heat between the refrigerant of high-temperature and high-pressure and the coolant to condense the refrigerant. The coolant circulates through one of the first water-refrigerant heat exchanger and the second water-refrigerant heat exchanger, the other of the first water-refrigerant heat exchanger and the second water-refrigerant heat exchanger, a cooling path for cooling a heat generating component of a vehicle, and a heater core for heating air supplied to a vehicle interior in this order.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kentaro Kuroda, Ichiro Tateno, Yoshitoshi Noda, Katsuji Taniguchi, Yuji Kodera
  • Patent number: 10071614
    Abstract: This vehicle air conditioner includes: a component temperature-adjustment path in which a coolant flows for performing a heat exchange with a vehicle component which needs a temperature adjustment; an engine coolant path in which an engine coolant guided from an engine cooling portion flows; a heater core. The vehicle air conditioner further includes: a first water-refrigerant heat exchanger which performs a heat exchange between a low-temperature and low-pressure refrigerant of a heat pump, the coolant fed to the component temperature-adjustment path, and the engine coolant; a second water-refrigerant heat exchanger which performs a heat exchange between a high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant of the heat pump, and the engine coolant; and a first switch which can switch between a state where the engine coolant flows to the first water-refrigerant heat exchanger and a state where the refrigerant bypasses the first water-refrigerant heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kentaro Kuroda, Yoshitoshi Noda, Katsuji Taniguchi
  • Patent number: 10059170
    Abstract: An air conditioning device for vehicle includes a first water-refrigerant heat exchanger, a second water-refrigerant heat exchanger, a first bypass passage, and a second bypass passage. The first bypass passage branches at a point of a coolant passage from a cooling portion of a heating component in the vehicle to the second water-refrigerant heat exchanger, and the first bypass passage is capable of being communicated with the coolant passage at an upstream side of the first water-refrigerant heat exchanger. The second bypass passage bran at a point of the coolant passage from a heater core to the first water-refrigerant heat exchanger, and the second bypass passage is capable of being communicated with the coolant passage at a downstream side of the first water-refrigerant heat exchanger. A part of the first bypass passage which includes a downstream end and a part of the second bypass passage which includes an upstream end are shared.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuji Kodera, Kentaro Kuroda, Katsuji Taniguchi, Yoshitoshi Noda
  • Patent number: 9950591
    Abstract: This vehicle air conditioner includes a first water-refrigerant heat exchanger, a second water-refrigerant heat exchanger, a heater core, a distributing unit which distributes the coolant, fed from a heat generating component of a vehicle, to a plurality of cooling path, and a junction unit which causes the coolant guided from a plurality of cooling paths to join, and feeds the coolant to the heat generating component. The first water-refrigerant heat exchanger inputs the coolant distributed by the distributing unit, through a first cooling path, and feeds the coolant to be guided to the junction unit, to a second cooling path. The second water-refrigerant heat exchanger inputs the coolant distributed by the distributing unit, through a third cooling path, and feeds the coolant to the heater core. The heater core inputs the coolant fed by the second water-refrigerant heat exchanger, and feeds the coolant to be guided to the junction unit, to a fourth cooling path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kentaro Kuroda, Yoshitoshi Noda, Katsuji Taniguchi
  • Patent number: 9878591
    Abstract: An onboard air conditioning device wherein the heating capability of air conditioning is improved, and gas is prevented from flowing into the vehicle interior even in the unlikely event that gas is produced by a battery. In this device, one end of an air flow channel is connected to an air conditioning unit for blowing temperature-regulated air into a vehicle interior, and the other end opens into the vehicle interior. The air flow channel draws air into the vehicle interior from the opening, the intake air is passed through a battery and heated by heat exchange, and the air is then sent to the air conditioning unit. The air conditioning unit sends the air from the air flow channel to a sensible heat exchanger, and after this air undergoes heat exchange with air taken in from another channel, the air is exhausted out of the vehicle interior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Katsuji Taniguchi, Yoshitoshi Noda, Tomohiro Terada
  • Publication number: 20170217286
    Abstract: An air-conditioning control device is provided with: a pressure acquisition unit, that acquires a detection value from a pressure sensor that detects a pressure of a refrigerant flowing through a heat, exchanger; a temperature acquisition unit that acquires a detection value from, a temperature sensor that detects a temperature of a heating medium flowing through the heat exchanger; and a determination unit that, in the case where a command is issued to cause a refrigerant to flow through an opening and closing portion in a state where the refrigerant is not flowing through, the opening and closing portion, determines whether or not the opening and closing portion is normally opened to cause the refrigerant to flow through the heat, exchanger, by using the pressure of the refrigerant detected by the pressure sensor and the temperature of the heating medium detected by the temperature sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2017
    Publication date: August 3, 2017
    Inventors: KOHEI TSUKAMOTO, KENTARO KURODA, KATSUJI TANIGUCHI, YOSHITOSHI NODA, YUJI KODERA
  • Patent number: 9664419
    Abstract: A heat pump device for a vehicle capable of effectively utilizing the heat of structural members. This heat pump device for a vehicle comprises: an electric compressor for compressing and discharging refrigerant and a high-temperature water-refrigerant heat exchanger for conducting heat exchange between the high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant discharged by the electric compressor and a first cooling liquid which is antifreeze, the high-temperature water-refrigerant heat exchanger surrounding and being in contact with the electric compressor so as to be capable of heat exchange with the electric compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Katsuji Taniguchi, Satoshi Nakaya, Yoshitoshi Noda, Tomohiro Terada
  • Publication number: 20170036513
    Abstract: An air conditioning device for vehicle includes a first water-refrigerant heat exchanger, a second water-refrigerant heat exchanger, a first bypass passage and a second bypass passage. The first bypass passage branches at a point of a coolant passage from a cooling portion of a heating component the vehicle to the second water-refrigerant heat exchanger, and the first bypass passage is capable of being communicated with the coolant passage at an upstream side of the first water-refrigerant heat exchanger. The second bypass passage bran at a point of the coolant passage from a heater core to the first water-refrigerant heat exchanger, and the second bypass passage is capable of being communicated with the coolant passage at a downstream side of the first water-refrigerant heat exchanger. A part of the first bypass passage which includes a downstream end and a part of the second bypass passage which includes an upstream end are shared.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2016
    Publication date: February 9, 2017
    Inventors: YUJI KODERA, KENTARO KURODA, KATSUJI TANIGUCHI, YOSHITOSHI NODA
  • Publication number: 20160214461
    Abstract: An air conditioning device for a vehicle includes a first water-refrigerant heat exchanger, a second water-refrigerant heat exchanger, and a first flow rate adjusting unit. The first water-refrigerant heat exchanger exchanges heat between a refrigerant of low-temperature and low-pressure in a heat pump and an engine coolant flowing in an engine coolant path to vaporize the refrigerant. The second water-refrigerant heat exchanger exchanges heat between the refrigerant of high-temperature and high-pressure and the engine coolant to condense the refrigerant. The first flow rate adjusting unit is capable of adjusting a flow rate of the engine coolant supplied to a flow path connecting with the first water-refrigerant heat exchanger, and a flow rate of the engine coolant supplied to a flow path bypassing the first water-refrigerant heat exchanger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2014
    Publication date: July 28, 2016
    Inventors: KENTARO KURODA, YUJI KODERA, KATSUJI TANIGUCHI, YOSHITOSHI NODA, ICHIRO TATENO
  • Publication number: 20160209092
    Abstract: A vehicular air-conditioning device includes a first water-refrigerant heat exchanger and a second water-refrigerant heat exchanger. The first water-refrigerant heat exchanger exchanges heat between a refrigerant of low-temperature and low-pressure and a heat transfer coolant to vaporize the refrigerant. The second water-refrigerant heat exchanger exchanges heat between the refrigerant of high-temperature and high-pressure and the coolant to condense the refrigerant. The coolant circulates through one of the first water-refrigerant heat exchanger and the second water-refrigerant heat exchanger, the other of the first water-refrigerant heat exchanger and the second water-refrigerant heat exchanger, a cooling path for cooling a heat generating component of a vehicle, and a heater core for heating air supplied to a vehicle interior in this order.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2014
    Publication date: July 21, 2016
    Inventors: KENTARO KURODA, ICHIRO TATENO, YOSHITOSHI NODA, KATSUJI TANIGUCHI, YUJI KODERA
  • Publication number: 20160159199
    Abstract: Provided is a vehicular air conditioning device which is based on a configuration adopted in a conventional vehicle including a hot-water heater, a heat-pump cooling device, and a control system, and which is capable of increasing heating performance at low cost and with a small increase in installation space. This vehicular air conditioning device is provided with: a first water refrigerant heat exchanger that vaporizes a refrigerant; a second water refrigerant heat exchanger that condenses the refrigerant; and a switching means capable of switching between a state in which the refrigerant flows in a refrigerant circuit including the second water refrigerant heat exchanger, a compressor, and the first water refrigerant heat exchanger, and a state in which the refrigerant flows in another refrigerant circuit including an evaporator, the compressor, and a condenser.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2014
    Publication date: June 9, 2016
    Inventors: Kentaro KURODA, Katsuji TANIGUCHI, Yoshitoshi NODA
  • Publication number: 20160159203
    Abstract: This vehicle air conditioner includes: a component temperature-adjustment path in which a coolant flows for performing a heat exchange with a vehicle component which needs a temperature adjustment; an engine coolant path in which an engine coolant guided from an engine cooling portion flows; a heater core. The vehicle air conditioner further includes: a first water-refrigerant heat exchanger which performs a heat exchange between a low-temperature and low-pressure refrigerant of a heat pump, the coolant fed to the component temperature-adjustment path, and the engine coolant; a second water-refrigerant heat exchanger which performs a heat exchange between a high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant of the heat pump, and the engine coolant; and a first switch which can switch between a state where the engine coolant flows to the first water-refrigerant heat exchanger and a state where the refrigerant bypasses the first water-refrigerant heat exchanger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2014
    Publication date: June 9, 2016
    Inventors: KENTARO KURODA, YOSHITOSHI NODA, KATSUJI TANIGUCHI
  • Publication number: 20160137032
    Abstract: This vehicle air conditioner includes a first water-refrigerant heat exchanger, a second water-refrigerant heat exchanger, a heater core, a distributing unit which distributes the coolant, fed from a heat generating component of a vehicle, to a plurality of cooling path, and a junction unit which causes the coolant guided from a plurality of cooling paths to join, and feeds the coolant to the heat generating component. The first water-refrigerant heat exchanger inputs the coolant distributed by the distributing unit, through a first cooling path, and feeds the coolant to be guided to the junction unit, to a second cooling path. The second water-refrigerant heat exchanger inputs the coolant distributed by the distributing unit, through a third cooling path, and feeds the coolant to the heater core. The heater core inputs the coolant fed by the second water-refrigerant heat exchanger, and feeds the coolant to be guided to the junction unit, to a fourth cooling path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2014
    Publication date: May 19, 2016
    Inventors: KENTARO KURODA, YOSHITOSHI NODA, KATSUJI TANIGUCHI
  • Publication number: 20160137031
    Abstract: This vehicle air conditioner includes a first water-refrigerant heat exchanger, a second water-refrigerant heat exchanger, a first switch which can switch between a state where a refrigerant fed from the second water-refrigerant heat exchanger is fed to an evaporator, and a state where the refrigerant is not fed to the evaporator, and a second switch which can switch between a state where the refrigerant fed from the second water-refrigerant heat exchanger is expanded and fed to the first water-refrigerant heat exchanger, and a state where the refrigerant is not fed to the first water-refrigerant exchanger. And the first water-refrigerant heat exchanger is connected to a heater core and a cooling portion of a heating component of a vehicle with a path of a coolant, and the second water-refrigerant heat exchanger is connected to the cooling portion of the heating component of the vehicle and the heater core with a path of a coolant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2014
    Publication date: May 19, 2016
    Inventors: YOSHITOSHI NODA, TOMOHIRO TERADA, KATSUJI TANIGUCHI, KENTARO KURODA
  • Publication number: 20160129757
    Abstract: This air conditioning device for vehicle includes a first water-refrigerant heat exchanger which performs a heat exchange between a coolant and a low-temperature and low-pressure refrigerant, and vaporizes the refrigerant, a compressor which compresses the refrigerant fed from the first water-refrigerant heat exchanger, to a high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant, and discharges the refrigerant, a heater core which heats an interior of a vehicle by using heat of the high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant discharged by the compressor, a temperature sensor which detects a temperature of the coolant circulating in the first water-refrigerant heat exchanger and a cooling path of a heat generating component of the vehicle, the temperature being detected when the coolant flows in the first water-refrigerant heat exchanger, and a controller which determines whether or not to permit driving of the compressor, based on the temperature detected by the temperature sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2016
    Publication date: May 12, 2016
    Inventors: Yuji Kodera, Kentaro Kuroda, Katsuji Taniguchi, Tomohiro Terada, Yoshitoshi Noda
  • Publication number: 20160001635
    Abstract: The vehicular air conditioning device is provided with: a first water-refrigerant heat exchanger that vaporizes refrigerant by exchanging heat between the refrigerant of low temperature and low pressure in a heat pump and a cooling fluid for the heat generating component of the vehicle; and a second water-refrigerant heat exchanger that condenses the refrigerant by exchanging heat between the refrigerant of high temperature and high pressure in the heat pump and a cooling fluid for heat transport. The vehicular air conditioning device is configured such that the second water-refrigerant heat exchanger is connected, in a cooling fluid circulable manner, to a heater core for providing heat to air supplied into the cabin. The first water-refrigerant heat exchanger is connected, in a cooling fluid circulable manner, to a passageway for cooling the heat generating component without passing through the heater core.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2014
    Publication date: January 7, 2016
    Inventors: Yoshitoshi NODA, Tomohiro TERADA, Katsuji TANIGUCHI, Kentaro KURODA
  • Publication number: 20160001634
    Abstract: The vehicle air conditioning device has a first refrigeration cycle and second refrigeration cycle that have a portion of a refrigeration pathway in common, and form different heat pump cycles; a first water-refrigerant heat exchanger included in the first refrigeration cycle, exchanges heat between a low-temperature and low-pressure refrigerant and the coolant of a heat-generating member of the vehicle, and vaporizes the refrigerant; a flow rate adjustment means that adjusts the flow rate of the coolant flowing through the heat-generating member and the first water-refrigerant heat exchanger; a detection means that detects a decline in the amount of refrigerant in the first refrigeration cycle due to the inflow of the refrigerant into the second refrigeration cycle; and a control means that, when a decline in the amount of refrigerant in the first refrigeration cycle has been detected, controls the flow rate adjustment means, reducing the flow rate of the coolant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2014
    Publication date: January 7, 2016
    Inventors: Tomohiro TERADA, Yoshitoshi NODA, Katsuji TANIGUCHI, Kentaro KURODA