Patents by Inventor Kazuhiro Akihama

Kazuhiro Akihama 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: 20100264315
    Abstract: This invention provides a hydrocarbon concentration measuring apparatus, which, even when the concentration and composition of hydrocarbons contained in an object gas to be measured vary, can measure the concentration of the hydrocarbons with good response and good accuracy, and a hydrocarbon measuring method. Light with a waveband including a common absorption region, which is absorbed by a single or a plurality of chemical species, is applied to the object gas by an infrared irradiation equipment. The light applied to the object gas is detected with a line sensor. The absorbance in the common absorption region of the object gas is computed with an analyzer based on the detected light. The sum of concentrations of chemical species, which absorb light in the waveband in the common absorption region, in the single or plurality of chemical species contained in the object gas, is computed with the analyzer based on the absorbance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2008
    Publication date: October 21, 2010
    Inventors: Takahiro Okada, Seiichi Matsumoto, Masahiro Yamakage, Tomoyasu Iwase, Shigenobu Tachibana, Kenji Muta, Masazumi Tanoura, Satoshi Fukada, Ichiro Awaya, Kazuhiro Akihama, Taketoshi Fujikawa, Masami Yamamoto, Ayako Ohshima
  • Patent number: 7208078
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a method and formula for producing a fuel having reduced particulate emissions from an internal combustion engine. The fuel taught herein is characterized as having a cetane number ranging from about 45 to about 65, a T95 distillation property of less than about 370° C., and having NR, AR, cetane number and T95 defined by the relation: PEI=156+Z1×(cetane#?49)+Z2×(NR?14)+Z3×(AR?25)+Z4×(T95?315° C.) Where Z1 ranges from abut 0.67 to about 1.06, Z2 ranges from about 0.9 to about 1.28, Z3 ranges from about 2.54 to about 2.80, Z4 ranges from about 0.1 to about 0.4, NR is a defined correlation of the naphthene rings content in the fuel, and AR is a defined correlation of the aromatic rings content in the fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2007
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Walter Weissman, John T. Farrell, Shizuo Sasaki, Kazuhiro Akihama, Kiyomi Nakakita
  • Patent number: 7107942
    Abstract: A fuel system for on-board vehicle fuel separation to supply engine fuel compositions formulated as a function of driving cycle conditions. The invention results in improvements in one or more of feed efficiency and combustion emissions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Assignees: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Walter Weissman, Randall D. Partridge, Bhupender S. Minhas, Guido Sartori, Takanori Ueda, Yoshihiro Iwashita, Kazuhiro Akihama, Satoshi Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 7052597
    Abstract: Tuning fuel composition delivered to a spark ignition, internal combustion engine as a function of driving cycle conditions results in improvements in one or more of fuel efficiency and combustion emissions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Assignees: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company, Toyota Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Walter Weissman, John T. Farrell, Alan M. Schilowitz, John E. Johnston, Takanori Ueda, Kazuhiro Akihama
  • Publication number: 20060090727
    Abstract: Tuning fuel composition delivered to a spark ignition, internal combustion engine as a function of driving cycle conditions results in improvements in one or more of fuel efficiency and combustion emissions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2005
    Publication date: May 4, 2006
    Inventors: Walter Weissman, John Farrell, Alan Schilowitz, John Johnston, Takanori Ueda, Kazuhiro Akihama
  • Publication number: 20050056264
    Abstract: A fuel system for on-board vehicle fuel separation to supply engine fuel compositions formulated as a function of driving cycle conditions. The invention results in improvements in one or more of feed efficiency and combustion emissions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2003
    Publication date: March 17, 2005
    Inventors: Walter Weissman, Randall Partridge, Bhupender Minhas, Guido Sartori, Takanori Ueda, Yoshihiro Iwashita, Kazuhiro Akihama, Satoshi Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 6799551
    Abstract: A state of combustion in a combustion chamber is controlled by stratifying an intake gas charge within the combustion chamber, so as to reduce amounts of harmful substances left in exhaust gas. A direct-injection type internal combustion engine in which a fuel is injected into the combustion chamber and which is arranged to stratify the intake gas charge within the combustion chamber (1) such that intake gases of different compositions exist in a central portion (13) of the combustion chamber including a position of the fuel injection, and in a peripheral portion of the combustion chamber, upon initiation of combustion of the fuel at a point of time near a terminal period of a compression stroke. The intake gases of different compositions may be intake gases having different concentrations of a specific component such as recirculated exhaust gas and the fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2004
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Chuo Kenkyusho, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kiyomi Nakakita, Takayuki Fuyuto, Kazuhisa Inagaki, Yoshihiro Hotta, Kazuhiro Akihama, Minaji Inayoshi, Ichiro Sakata
  • Patent number: 6725827
    Abstract: A fuel injector (6) and spark plug (7) are arranged in a combustion chamber (5) of an internal combustion engine. By forming by stratification a self-ignitable preliminary air-fuel mixture in the combustion chamber (5), a spatial distribution is given to the density of the preliminary air-fuel mixture in the combustion chamber (5). Part of the preliminary air-fuel mixture formed in the combustion chamber (5) is ignited by the spark plug (7) to cause combustion by flame propagation, then the remaining preliminary air-fuel mixture is successively made to self-ignite and burn with a time lag. The ignition timing is set so that the ratio of the preliminary air-fuel mixture made to burn by self-ignition becomes more than a predetermined lower limit and less than a knocking generation limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Chuo Kenkyusho
    Inventors: Takanori Ueda, Takeshi Okumura, Shigeo Furuno, Satoshi Iguchi, Kazuhiro Akihama, Masahiro Taki, Satoshi Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 6711893
    Abstract: A gasoline in a material fuel tank is separated into a high-RON fuel having a higher octane value than the material fuel and a low-RON fuel having a lower octane value than the material fuel, by a separator device equipped with a separation membrane. Using a fuel switching mechanism, one or both of the high-RON fuel and the low-RON fuel are supplied to the engine in accordance with the state of operation of the engine. As the octane value of a fuel can be changed in accordance with the engine operation state, the state of combustion in the engine improves, so that both an increase in engine output and an improvement in an exhaust property can be achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Co.
    Inventors: Takanori Ueda, Takeshi Okumura, Yoshihiro Iwashita, Kazuhiro Akihama, Masahiro Taki, Satoshi Yamazaki, Walter Weissman, Bhupender S. Minhas
  • Publication number: 20030233785
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a method and formula for producing a fuel having reduced particulate emissions from an internal combustion engine. The fuel taught herein is characterized as having a cetane number ranging from about 45 to about 65, a T95 distillation property of less than about 370° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2003
    Publication date: December 25, 2003
    Inventors: Walter Weissman, John T. Farrell, Shizuo Sasaki, Kazuhiro Akihama, Kiyomi Nakakita
  • Patent number: 6622663
    Abstract: A fuel system for on-board vehicle fuel separation to supply engine fuel compositions formulated as a function of driving cycle conditions. The invention results in improvements in one or more of feed efficiency and combustion emissions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2003
    Assignees: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Chuo Kenkyusho
    Inventors: Walter Weissman, Randall D. Partridge, Bhupender S. Minhas, Guido Sartori, Takanori Ueda, Yoshihiro Iwashita, Kazuhiro Akihama, Satoshi Yamazaki
  • Publication number: 20030089331
    Abstract: A fuel injector (6) and spark plug (7) are arranged in a combustion chamber (5) of an internal combustion engine. By forming by stratification a self-ignitable preliminary air-fuel mixture in the combustion chamber (5), a spatial distribution is given to the density of the preliminary air-fuel mixture in the combustion chamber (5). Part of the preliminary air-fuel mixture formed in the combustion chamber (5) is ignited by the spark plug (7) to cause combustion by flame propagation, then the remaining preliminary air-fuel mixture is successively made to self-ignite and burn with a time lag. The ignition timing is set so that the ratio of the preliminary air-fuel mixture made to burn by self-ignition becomes more than a predetermined lower limit and less than a knocking generation limit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2002
    Publication date: May 15, 2003
    Inventors: Takanori Ueda, Takeshi Okumura, Shigeo Furuno, Satoshi Iguchi, Kazuhiro Akihama, Masahiro Taki, Satoshi Yamazaki
  • Publication number: 20030028058
    Abstract: Tuning fuel composition delivered to a spark ignition, internal combustion engine as a function of driving cycle conditions results in improvements in one or more of fuel efficiency and combustion emissions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2001
    Publication date: February 6, 2003
    Inventors: Walter Weissman, John T. Farrell, Alan M. Schilowitz, John E. Johnston, Takanori Ueda, Kazuhiro Akihama
  • Publication number: 20030005907
    Abstract: A state of combustion in a combustion chamber is controlled by stratifying an intake gas charge within the combustion chamber, so as to reduce amounts of harmful substances left in exhaust gas. A direct-injection type internal combustion engine in which a fuel is injected into the combustion chamber and which is arranged to stratify the intake gas charge within the combustion chamber (1) such that intake gases of different compositions exist in a central portion (13) of the combustion chamber including a position of the fuel injection, and in a peripheral portion of the combustion chamber, upon initiation of combustion of the fuel at a point of time near a terminal period of a compression stroke. The intake gases of different compositions may be intake gases having different concentrations of a specific component such as recirculated exhaust gas and the fuel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2002
    Publication date: January 9, 2003
    Inventors: Kiyomi Nakakita, Takayuki Fuyuto, Kazuhisa Inagaki, Yoshihiro Hotta, Kazuhiro Akihama, Minaji Inayoshi, Ichiro Sakata
  • Publication number: 20020139111
    Abstract: A gasoline in a material fuel tank is separated into a high-RON fuel having a higher octane value than the material fuel and a low-RON fuel having a lower octane value than the material fuel, by a separator device equipped with a separation membrane. Using a fuel switching mechanism, one or both of the high-RON fuel and the low-RON fuel are supplied to the engine in accordance with the state of operation of the engine. As the octane value of a fuel can be changed in accordance with the engine operation state, the state of combustion in the engine improves, so that both an increase in engine output and an improvement in an exhaust property can be achieved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2001
    Publication date: October 3, 2002
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takanori Ueda, Takeshi Okumura, Yoshihiro Iwashita, Kazuhiro Akihama, Masahiro Taki, Satoshi Yakazaki, Walter Weissman, Bhupender S. Minhas
  • Patent number: 6206940
    Abstract: The invention is related to fuels having a high laminar flame speed and particular distillation characteristics. More particularly, the invention is directed towards fuels containing at least one species having a laminar flame speed greater than isooctane's laminar flame speed and specific distillation characteristics including T50, FBP, IBP.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2001
    Assignee: Exxon Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Walter Weissman, John E. Johnston, Anthony M. Dean, Kazuhiro Akihama, Satoshi Iguchi, Shuichi Kubo
  • Patent number: 5203929
    Abstract: An amorphous magnetic film is produced by irradiating laser beams onto a magnetic metallic target and depositing an evaporated material on a substrate. During or after the evaporation process, the film formed on the substrate is annealed at a temperature lower than a crystallization temperature. The annealing process enables elimination of stresses from the film, thereby improving soft magnetic properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1993
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Noboru Takayanagi, Kazuhiro Akihama
  • Patent number: 5128214
    Abstract: A metal target and a substrate are disposed in confronting relationship in a vacuum chamber whose interior is kept at high vacuum, and laser light is irradiated to the surface of the target to emit a high-speed evaporated material from the target. The high-speed evaporated material is then deposited on the substrate. By applying a predetermined voltage between the target and the substrate, the impact energy of the charged particles in the evaporated material on the substrate are controlled to form an amorphous metal film preferably a pure iron film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1992
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Chuo Kenkyusho
    Inventors: Noboru Takayanagi, Kazuhiro Akihama, Yoshimi Kizaki
  • Patent number: 5126165
    Abstract: For forming a metal film of a desired property on a substrate, a target and the substrate are placed in a pressure-reducing chamber, and then pulse laser is irradiated to the target. This causes the component materials, such as ions, electrons, neutral atoms, cluster, fine grains and liquid drops, of the target to be emitted from the target, and then laser induced plasma is produced. These emissions of substances have spatial and timewise distribution determined by physical and chemical states. Then, a shielding plate having an opening is placed between the target and the substrate, and from the materials, only the material emitted in a predetermined direction is selected to control the property of the film deposited on the substrate. By locating a filter between the target and the substrate to open for a predetermined period of time, only the material emitted at a predetermined velocity can be selected. Further, by applying a predetermined d.c.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1992
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Chuo Kenkyusho, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Akihama, Yoshimi Kizaki, Noboru Takayanagi