Patents by Inventor Kazutoshi Wakatsuki

Kazutoshi Wakatsuki 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: 11398637
    Abstract: Provided is a fuel cell system including a fuel cell, a radiator that is provided in a circulation path of coolant that cools the fuel cell, a spray unit that sprays, toward the radiator, generated water that has been generated in and discharged from the fuel cell, and a heating unit that is provided in a supply path of the generated water from the fuel cell to the spray unit and heats the generated water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazutoshi Wakatsuki, Katsuya Komaki
  • Publication number: 20210207891
    Abstract: A water-spraying cooling device includes a spraying device for a heat exchanger that is configured to exchange heat between air flowing in a predetermined airflow direction and a heat medium conducted through an inside of the heat exchanger while the spraying device is configured to spray water to the heat exchanger from an upstream side of the heat exchanger in the predetermined airflow direction. The spraying device includes: a supply hole that is configured to supply the water to be sprayed to the heat exchanger; and a guide that extends downward from the supply hole in a gravitational direction and is configured to guide the water supplied from the supply hole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2021
    Publication date: July 8, 2021
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshihito KATA, Kazutoshi WAKATSUKI, Masakatsu TSUBOUCHI
  • Patent number: 11018354
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes: a fuel cell; an air discharge passage configured to discharge an air exhaust gas from the fuel cell; a back pressure adjusting valve provided in the air discharge passage and configured to adjust pressure of the air exhaust gas; a cooling device configured to cool the fuel cell by carrying out heat exchange using a heat medium; a water reservoir storing water; a high pressure introduction passage connecting an upstream side of the air discharge passage which is more upstream than the back pressure adjusting valve in an air flow direction to the water reservoir; and a sprinkling device configured to sprinkle the water of the water reservoir over the cooling device. The sprinkling device is configured to sprinkle the water of the water reservoir pumped by pressure of the air exhaust gas over the cooling device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takashi Koyama, Katsuya Komaki, Kazutoshi Wakatsuki
  • Patent number: 10930960
    Abstract: In fuel cell system, exhaust material M exhausted from a fuel cell stack flows through the exhaust pipe. The gas-liquid separator is provided at the exhaust pipe and separates the exhaust material M into gas and liquid. The connecting pipe is connected to an exhaust port of the gas-liquid separator. The pressure regulating valve is connected to the connecting pipe and regulates pressures of the gas such that a pressure of the gas at an upstream side is higher than atmospheric pressure. The guide pipe is connected at the downstream side of the pressure regulating valve and guides at least the gas toward the exhaust pipe. The heat exchange unit exchanges heat between the exhaust pipe and the guide pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazutoshi Wakatsuki, Katsuya Komaki
  • Patent number: 10882392
    Abstract: A pipe of a fuel cell system includes a pipe, one end side of which is connected to a fuel cell stack, and another end side of which is positioned adjacent to a vehicle structural component, through which water, and discharge air of a product that contains water vapor, which are produced by the fuel cell stack, flow; and a spray portion that is provided on the other end side of the pipe, and that sprays the water and the discharge air flowing through the pipe onto the vehicle structural component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazutoshi Wakatsuki
  • Patent number: 10865930
    Abstract: A vehicular exhaust pipe structure includes an outer pipe extending along a front-rear direction of a vehicle and an inner pipe disposed inside the outer pipe along an axial direction of the outer pipe. The inner pipe is joined to the outer pipe such that a vacuum layer is formed between the inner pipe and the outer pipe. The inner pipe includes a pseudo-cylindrical concave polyhedral shell-shaped part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kazutoshi Wakatsuki
  • Publication number: 20200083552
    Abstract: In fuel cell system, exhaust material M exhausted from a fuel cell stack flows through the exhaust pipe. The gas-liquid separator is provided at the exhaust pipe and separates the exhaust material M into gas and liquid. The connecting pipe is connected to an exhaust port of the gas-liquid separator. The pressure regulating valve is connected to the connecting pipe and regulates pressures of the gas such that a pressure of the gas at an upstream side is higher than atmospheric pressure. The guide pipe is connected at the downstream side of the pressure regulating valve and guides at least the gas toward the exhaust pipe. The heat exchange unit exchanges heat between the exhaust pipe and the guide pipe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2019
    Publication date: March 12, 2020
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazutoshi WAKATSUKI, Katsuya KOMAKI
  • Publication number: 20200067115
    Abstract: Provided is a fuel cell system including a fuel cell, a radiator that is provided in a circulation path of coolant that cools the fuel cell, a spray unit that sprays, toward the radiator, generated water that has been generated in and discharged from the fuel cell, and a heating unit that is provided in a supply path of the generated water from the fuel cell to the spray unit and heats the generated water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2019
    Publication date: February 27, 2020
    Applicant: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazutoshi Wakatsuki, Katsuya Komaki
  • Publication number: 20200044264
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes: a fuel cell; an air discharge passage configured to discharge an air exhaust gas from the fuel cell; a back pressure adjusting valve provided in the air discharge passage and configured to adjust pressure of the air exhaust gas; a cooling device configured to cool the fuel cell by carrying out heat exchange using a heat medium; a water reservoir storing water; a high pressure introduction passage connecting an upstream side of the air discharge passage which is more upstream than the back pressure adjusting valve in an air flow direction to the water reservoir; and a sprinkling device configured to sprinkle the water of the water reservoir over the cooling device. The sprinkling device is configured to sprinkle the water of the water reservoir pumped by pressure of the air exhaust gas over the cooling device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2019
    Publication date: February 6, 2020
    Inventors: Takashi KOYAMA, Katsuya KOMAKI, Kazutoshi WAKATSUKI
  • Publication number: 20200009960
    Abstract: A pipe of a fuel cell system includes a pipe, one end side of which is connected to a fuel cell stack, and another end side of which is positioned adjacent to a vehicle structural component, through which water, and discharge air of a product that contains water vapor, which are produced by the fuel cell stack, flow; and a spray portion that is provided on the other end side of the pipe, and that sprays the water and the discharge air flowing through the pipe onto the vehicle structural component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2019
    Publication date: January 9, 2020
    Inventor: Kazutoshi Wakatsuki
  • Patent number: 10065610
    Abstract: A peripheral information detection device includes a device body that is mounted with sensors each including a detection section that detects peripheral information, and a wiping mechanism that wipes off foreign objects that have adhered to locations of the device body facing the detection sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kazutoshi Wakatsuki
  • Publication number: 20180179931
    Abstract: An exhaust mechanism includes: an exhaust pipe configured to circulate exhaust gas from an engine; a first outer pipe disposed along the exhaust pipe on an outer periphery of the exhaust pipe; a second outer pipe disposed along the first outer pipe on an outer periphery of the first outer pipe; a pair of intermediate members disposed on the outer periphery of the exhaust pipe, fixed to respective inner peripheral surfaces of a first end portion and a second end portion of the first outer pipe, and being lower in thermal conductivity than the exhaust pipe. A vacuum layer is provided between the first outer pipe and the second outer pipe. At least one of the intermediate members is configured to slide in an axial direction of the exhaust pipe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2017
    Publication date: June 28, 2018
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kazutoshi WAKATSUKI
  • Publication number: 20180128415
    Abstract: A vehicular exhaust pipe structure includes an outer pipe extending along a front-rear direction of a vehicle and an inner pipe disposed inside the outer pipe along an axial direction of the outer pipe. The inner pipe is joined to the outer pipe such that a vacuum layer is formed between the inner pipe and the outer pipe. The inner pipe includes a pseudo-cylindrical concave polyhedral shell-shaped part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2017
    Publication date: May 10, 2018
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kazutoshi WAKATSUKI
  • Patent number: 9458751
    Abstract: An exhaust heat recovery control device includes a recovered heat adjusting unit configured to adjust an amount of heat recovered of exhaust gas by an exhaust heat recoverer recovering heat of exhaust gas and a control unit configured to control the recovered heat adjusting unit so as to prevent or suppress freezing in an exhaust pipe based on a traveling history of a vehicle on which the exhaust heat recovery control device is mounted when the freezing in the exhaust pipe is predicted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takato Ishihata, Yuichiro Hirata, Toshio Murata, Nakaya Takagaki, Hideyuki Komitsu, Yojiro Iriyama, Kazutoshi Wakatsuki
  • Publication number: 20160244028
    Abstract: A peripheral information detection device includes a device body that is mounted with sensors each including a detection section that detects peripheral information, and a wiping mechanism that wipes off foreign objects that have adhered to locations of the device body facing the detection sections.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2015
    Publication date: August 25, 2016
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kazutoshi WAKATSUKI
  • Publication number: 20160102770
    Abstract: A valve member 38 of a valve structure 32 is rotatably supported from an outer tube 34 by a rotation shaft 40. The rotation shaft 40 is fixed to the valve member 38 at a position inside a tangent to the outer periphery of the valve member 38 and avoiding the center point. A return spring 52 is a tension spring that causes tension force to constantly act on a link arm 54 to generate a rotation force toward the closing direction of the valve member 38.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2015
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Inventors: Kazutoshi WAKATSUKI, Nakaya TAKAGAKI, Hideyuki KOMITSU
  • Publication number: 20150218998
    Abstract: An exhaust heat recovery control device includes a recovered heat adjusting unit configured to adjust an amount of heat recovered of exhaust gas by an exhaust heat recoverer recovering heat of exhaust gas and a control unit configured to control the recovered heat adjusting unit so as to prevent or suppress freezing in an exhaust pipe based on a traveling history of a vehicle on which the exhaust heat recovery control device is mounted when the freezing in the exhaust pipe is predicted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2015
    Publication date: August 6, 2015
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takato ISHIHATA, Yuichiro HIRATA, Toshio MURATA, Nakaya TAKAGAKI, Hideyuki KOMITSU, Yojiro IRIYAMA, Kazutoshi WAKATSUKI
  • Patent number: 9004225
    Abstract: A muffler has a flattened cross-sectional shape the width of which is greater than its height. The muffler includes therein a plurality of expansion chambers. The muffler also includes an inlet pipe, an outlet pipe and first to third communication pipes, through which the expansion chambers are open to the outside. All of an opening of the inlet pipe, an opening of the outlet pipe and openings of the first to third communication pipes formed in the muffler are arranged such that they fall between a position separated away from one end of the muffler in its width direction by a ¼ length of the width of the muffler and a position separated away from the end of the muffler by a ½ length of the width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazutoshi Wakatsuki
  • Patent number: 8991553
    Abstract: A silencing apparatus for a vehicle includes: a muffler (1; 20; 30; 40) having a flattened sectional shape; an inlet pipe (7; 26; 36; 46); an outlet pipe (8; 27; 37; 47); and at least one partition plate (2, 3; 21, 22; 31, 32; 41, 42) that divides the inside of the muffler (1; 20; 30; 40) into a plurality of sound-deadening chambers. Each of the at least one partition plate (2, 3; 21, 22; 31, 32; 41, 42) has at least one communication hole. Within the muffler (1; 20; 30; 40), at least one among an opening of the inlet pipe (7; 26; 36; 46), an opening of the outlet pipe (8; 27; 37; 47), and the at least one communication hole is disposed at a position that is apart by a length equal to a half of the width of the muffler (1; 20; 30; 40) from one end of the muffler (1; 20; 30; 40) in the width direction thereof, and at least one among them is disposed at a position that is apart by a length equal to a quarter of the width from one end of the muffler (1; 20; 30; 40) in the width direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazutoshi Wakatsuki, Nakaya Takagaki, Hideyuki Komitsu
  • Publication number: 20140196980
    Abstract: A muffler has a flattened cross-sectional shape the width of which is greater than its height. The muffler includes therein a plurality of expansion chambers. The muffler also includes an inlet pipe, an outlet pipe and first to third communication pipes, through which the expansion chambers are open to the outside. All of an opening of the inlet pipe, an opening of the outlet pipe and openings of the first to third communication pipes formed in the muffler are arranged such that they fall between a position separated away from one end of the muffler in its width direction by a ¼ length of the width of the muffler and a position separated away from the end of the muffler by a ½ length of the width.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2011
    Publication date: July 17, 2014
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kazutoshi Wakatsuki