Patents by Inventor Kenji Imakubo

Kenji Imakubo 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).

  • Refrigerator with switching valve switching flow of refrigerant to one of refrigerant passages
    Patent number: 6253561
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes a compressor, a condenser for liquefying a refrigerant discharged from the compressor, a plurality of refrigerant passages disposed at a downstream side of the condenser, a switching valve for switching a flow of refrigerant to one of the refrigerant passages so that the refrigerant liquefied by the condenser flows through the selected refrigerant passage, the switching valve including a valve body, and a controller for controlling the switching valve so that the switching valve performs a switching operation upon expiration of a period of time sufficient for an interior of the valve body of the switching valve to be filled with the liquid refrigerant after start of the compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2001
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Kenji Imakubo