Patents by Inventor Kensaku HATANAKA

Kensaku HATANAKA 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: 11512880
    Abstract: A refrigeration cycle apparatus includes a first refrigerant circuit including a first compressor, a first heat exchanger, a first refrigerant flow path of a second heat exchanger, a first expansion device, a third heat exchanger, and a second refrigerant flow path of a fourth heat exchanger, and a second refrigerant circuit including a second compressor, a fifth heat exchanger, a second expansion device, a third refrigerant flow path of the second heat exchanger, and a fourth refrigerant flow path of the fourth heat exchanger, a first refrigerant flows through, in order, the first compressor, the first heat exchanger, the first refrigerant flow path, the first expansion device, the third heat exchanger, and the second refrigerant flow path, the second refrigerant flows through, in order, the second compressor, the fifth heat exchanger, the second expansion device, the third refrigerant flow path, and the fourth refrigerant flow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Hisato Morita, Kosuke Tanaka, Kensaku Hatanaka
  • Patent number: 11293676
    Abstract: A refrigeration cycle apparatus in which a refrigerant having potential for disproportionation reaction circulates a first refrigerant flow path connected between a discharge side of the compressor and the condenser; a second refrigerant flow path connected between the condenser and the expansion valve; a third refrigerant flow path connected between the expansion valve and a suction side of the compressor; a jetting unit; a pressure measuring unit; and a temperature measuring unit. The jetting unit is configured to jet the refrigerant drawn from the second refrigerant flow path or the third refrigerant flow path to at least one of the compressor, the first refrigerant flow path and the second refrigerant flow path when at least one of a measured value of the pressure measuring unit and a measured value of the temperature measuring unit exceeds an allowed value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Takumi Nishiyama, Kosuke Tanaka, Kensaku Hatanaka
  • Patent number: 11193705
    Abstract: A first valve is connected between a compressor and a first heat exchanger. A second valve is connected between the first heat exchanger and a expansion valve. When a start condition of the heating operation is satisfied and when a specific condition is satisfied, a controller starts supplying refrigerant from the compressor to the first valve, and then, opens the first and second valves. The specific condition is a condition indicating that a first heat exchange capability of the first heat exchanger is higher than a second heat exchange capability of a second heat exchanger. When the start condition of the heating operation is satisfied and when the specific condition is not satisfied, the controller opens the first and second valves, and then starts supplying the refrigerant from the compressor to the first valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Kensaku Hatanaka
  • Patent number: 11156391
    Abstract: A refrigeration cycle apparatus includes a heat source unit configured to supply refrigerant, a first distribution unit and a second distribution unit respectively connected to the heat source unit, and a distribution pipe located between the heat source unit and the first distribution unit and the second distribution unit for distributing the refrigerant flowing from the heat source unit into the first distribution unit and the second distribution unit. Further, the first distribution unit and the second distribution unit individually include a heat exchanger configured to serve as a condenser. Further, if the refrigerant flowing through the distribution pipe is unevenly distributed into the first distribution unit and the second distribution unit, a degree of subcooling at an outlet of the heat exchanger of one of the first distribution unit and the second distribution unit of which the distributed refrigerant is of high quality is increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Kensaku Hatanaka, Yuji Motomura
  • Publication number: 20210325095
    Abstract: A refrigeration cycle apparatus according to the present invention performs cooling by circulation of refrigerant. The refrigeration cycle apparatus includes an evaporator, a condenser, a pump, a compressor, and a controller. The evaporator is arranged in a first space. The condenser is arranged in a second space. The pump is configured to compress refrigerant from the condenser and output the refrigerant to the evaporator. The compressor is configured to compress refrigerant from the evaporator and output the refrigerant to the condenser. The controller is configured to control the pump and the compressor to cool the first space. The controller is configured to turn on the pump after turn-on of the compressor while a temperature of the first space is higher than a temperature of the second space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2021
    Publication date: October 21, 2021
    Inventors: Satoru YANACHI, Yusuke SHIMAZU, Kensaku HATANAKA, Kazuhiko KAWAI, Yusuke KOYAMA, Tomohiro NAGANO
  • Patent number: 10976060
    Abstract: Provided is a heat pump hot water supply apparatus configured to directly supply water heated by a gas cooler to a utilization side. The heat pump hot water supply apparatus is configured to execute operation modes including a first operation mode and a second operation mode. The first operation mode includes causing the water heated by the gas cooler to return to a water tank as intermediate-temperature water. The second operation mode is an operation mode to be performed after the first operation mode, and includes mixing the water heated by the gas cooler and the intermediate-temperature water in the water tank, and directly supplying the mixed water to the utilization side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Kensaku Hatanaka, Toru Koide
  • Publication number: 20200326112
    Abstract: A first valve is connected between a compressor and a first heat exchanger. A second valve is connected between the first heat exchanger and a expansion valve. When a start condition of the heating operation is satisfied and when a specific condition is satisfied, a controller starts supplying refrigerant from the compressor to the first valve, and then, opens the first and second valves. The specific condition is a condition indicating that a first heat exchange capability of the first heat exchanger is higher than a second heat exchange capability of a second heat exchanger. When the start condition of the heating operation is satisfied and when the specific condition is not satisfied, the controller opens the first and second valves, and then starts supplying the refrigerant from the compressor to the first valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2017
    Publication date: October 15, 2020
    Inventor: Kensaku HATANAKA
  • Publication number: 20200049383
    Abstract: A refrigeration cycle apparatus includes a first refrigerant circuit including a first compressor, a first heat exchanger, a first refrigerant flow path of a second heat exchanger, a first expansion device, a third heat exchanger, and a second refrigerant flow path of a fourth heat exchanger, and a second refrigerant circuit including a second compressor, a fifth heat exchanger, a second expansion device, a third refrigerant flow path of the second heat exchanger, and a fourth refrigerant flow path of the fourth heat exchanger. A first refrigerant flows through, in order, the first compressor, the first heat exchanger, the first refrigerant flow path, the first expansion device, the third heat exchanger, and the second refrigerant flow path. The second refrigerant flows through, in order, of the second compressor, the fifth heat exchanger, the second expansion device, the third refrigerant flow path, and the fourth refrigerant flow path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2016
    Publication date: February 13, 2020
    Inventors: Hisato MORITA, Kosuke TANAKA, Kensaku HATANAKA
  • Publication number: 20190293333
    Abstract: A refrigeration cycle apparatus according to the present invention performs cooling by circulation of refrigerant. The refrigeration cycle apparatus includes an evaporator, a condenser, a pump, a compressor, and a control device. The evaporator is arranged in a first space. The condenser is arranged in a second space. The pump is configured to compress refrigerant from the condenser and output the refrigerant to the evaporator. The compressor is configured to compress refrigerant from the evaporator and output the refrigerant to the condenser. The control device is configured to control the pump and the compressor to cool the first space. The control device is configured to turn on the pump after turn-on of the compressor while a temperature of the first space is higher than a temperature of the second space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2016
    Publication date: September 26, 2019
    Inventors: Satoru YANACHI, Yusuke SHIMAZU, Kensaku HATANAKA, Kazuhiko KAWAI, Yusuke KOYAMA, Tomohiro NAGANO
  • Patent number: 10139125
    Abstract: An air-conditioning apparatus includes at least one system including a heat-medium conveying device, a heat-medium flow regulator, and a heat-medium flow control device, as a heat medium system capable of regulating a flow rate of a heat medium supplied to a heat source device-side heat exchanger exchanging heat between refrigerant and the heat medium. The air-conditioning apparatus switches each of a plurality of use-side heat exchangers to a cooling operation or a heating operation in accordance with a control command to perform a cooling and heating simultaneous operation. The refrigerant is caused to flow through the heat source device-side heat exchanger depending on a ratio of a total cooling capacity and a total heating capacity of the plurality of use-side heat exchangers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Koji Azuma, Hirofumi Koge, Osamu Morimoto, Kensaku Hatanaka, Kazuyoshi Shinozaki
  • Publication number: 20180328596
    Abstract: Provided is a heat pump hot water supply apparatus configured to directly supply water heated by a gas cooler to a utilization side. The heat pump hot water supply apparatus is configured to execute operation modes including a first operation mode and a second operation mode. The first operation mode includes causing the water heated by the gas cooler to return to a water tank as intermediate-temperature water. The second operation mode is an operation mode to be performed after the first operation mode, and includes mixing the water heated by the gas cooler and the intermediate-temperature water in the water tank, and directly supplying the mixed water to the utilization side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2016
    Publication date: November 15, 2018
    Inventors: Kensaku HATANAKA, Toru KOIDE
  • Publication number: 20180328637
    Abstract: A refrigeration cycle apparatus in which a refrigerant having potential for disproportionation reaction circulates a first refrigerant flow path connected between a discharge side of the compressor and the condenser; a second refrigerant flow path connected between the condenser and the expansion valve; a third refrigerant flow path connected between the expansion valve and a suction side of the compressor; a jetting unit; a pressure measuring unit; and a temperature measuring unit. The jetting unit is configured to jet the refrigerant drawn from the second refrigerant flow path or the third refrigerant flow path to at least one of the compressor, the first refrigerant flow path and the second refrigerant flow path when at least one of a measured value of the pressure measuring unit and a measured value of the temperature measuring unit exceeds an allowed value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2016
    Publication date: November 15, 2018
    Inventors: Takumi NISHIYAMA, Kosuke TANAKA, Kensaku HATANAKA
  • Patent number: 10030894
    Abstract: An air-conditioning apparatus includes a heat medium system configured to control a flow rate of the heat medium supplied to the heat source unit side heat exchanger that exchanges heat between refrigerant and the heat medium, the heat medium system having at least one system of a heat medium conveyor, a heat medium flow rate adjuster, and a heat medium flow rate control device. In the air-conditioning apparatus, the operation of each of use-side heat exchangers is changed to a cooling operation or a heating operation in accordance with a control command, and a cooling and heating concurrent operation is performed. The refrigerant is caused to flow through the heat source unit side heat exchanger in accordance with the ratio of the total cooling capacity of the use-side heat exchangers to the total heating capacity of the use-side heat exchangers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Koji Azuma, Hirofumi Koge, Osamu Morimoto, Kensaku Hatanaka, Kazuyoshi Shinozaki
  • Patent number: 9964343
    Abstract: A flow rate of circulating water to a water heat exchanger is determined by multiplying, by a rated water flow rate, a ratio of an absolute value of a difference between a total operation capacity of each of indoor side heat exchangers serving as a heating load and a total operation capacity of each of indoor side heat exchangers serving as a cooling load to a total operation capacity of the water heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Kensaku Hatanaka, Kosuke Tanaka, Koji Azuma
  • Publication number: 20180073782
    Abstract: A refrigeration cycle apparatus includes a heat source unit configured to supply refrigerant, a first distribution unit and a second distribution unit respectively connected to the heat source unit, and a distribution pipe located between the heat source unit and the first distribution unit and the second distribution unit for distributing the refrigerant flowing from the heat source unit into the first distribution unit and the second distribution unit. Further, the first distribution unit and the second distribution unit individually include a heat exchanger configured to serve as a condenser. Further, if the refrigerant flowing through the distribution pipe is unevenly distributed into the first distribution unit and the second distribution unit, a degree of subcooling at an outlet of the heat exchanger of one of the first distribution unit and the second distribution unit of which the distributed refrigerant is of high quality is increased.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2015
    Publication date: March 15, 2018
    Inventors: Kensaku HATANAKA, Yuji MOTOMURA
  • Publication number: 20170198945
    Abstract: An air-conditioning apparatus includes a heat medium system configured to control a flow rate of the heat medium supplied to the heat source unit side heat exchanger that exchanges heat between refrigerant and the heat medium, the heat medium system having at least one system of a heat medium conveyor, a heat medium flow rate adjuster, and a heat medium flow rate control device. In the air-conditioning apparatus, the operation of each of use-side heat exchangers is changed to a cooling operation or a heating operation in accordance with a control command, and a cooling and heating concurrent operation is performed. The refrigerant is caused to flow through the heat source unit side heat exchanger in accordance with the ratio of the total cooling capacity of the use-side heat exchangers to the total heating capacity of the use-side heat exchangers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2015
    Publication date: July 13, 2017
    Inventors: Koji AZUMA, Hirofumi KOGE, Osamu MORIMOTO, Kensaku HATANAKA, Kazuyoshi SHINOZAKI
  • Publication number: 20170130996
    Abstract: A flow rate of circulating water to a water heat exchanger is determined by multiplying, by a rated water flow rate, a ratio of an absolute value of a difference between a total operation capacity of each of indoor side heat exchangers serving as a heating load and a total operation capacity of each of indoor side heat exchangers serving as a cooling load to a total operation capacity of the water heat exchanger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2014
    Publication date: May 11, 2017
    Inventors: Kensaku HATANAKA, Kosuke TANAKA, Koji AZUMA
  • Publication number: 20170097177
    Abstract: An air-conditioning apparatus includes at least one system including a heat-medium conveying device, a heat-medium flow regulator, and a heat-medium flow control device, as a heat medium system capable of regulating a flow rate of a heat medium supplied to a heat source device-side heat exchanger exchanging heat between refrigerant and the heat medium. The air-conditioning apparatus switches each of a plurality of use-side heat exchangers to a cooling operation or a heating operation in accordance with a control command to perform a cooling and heating simultaneous operation. The refrigerant is caused to flow through the heat source device-side heat exchanger depending on a ratio of a total cooling capacity and a total heating capacity of the plurality of use-side heat exchangers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2015
    Publication date: April 6, 2017
    Inventors: Koji AZUMA, Hirofumi KOGE, Osamu MORIMOTO, Kensaku HATANAKA, Kazuyoshi SHINOZAKI
  • Patent number: 9605885
    Abstract: An air conditioning system includes: first and second utilization side heat exchangers and a heat source side heat exchanger respectively connected in series; a compressor connected between the first utilization side heat exchanger and the heat source side heat exchanger; an expansion valve connected between the first utilization side heat exchanger and the second utilization side heat exchanger; a pressure control device connected between the second utilization side heat exchanger and the heat source side heat exchanger; and a bypass valve connected between the expansion valve and the heat source side heat exchanger. The bypass valve provides a variable amount of liquid refrigerant flowing from the expansion valve to the heat source side heat exchanger. The pressure control device and the bypass valve cooperate with each other to keep a temperature of the compressor below a maximum allowable temperature predetermined for the compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Kensaku Hatanaka, Kazuyoshi Shinozaki, Joseph Paul Bush, Peter Christian Flynn
  • Patent number: 9482446
    Abstract: A heat pump water heater includes: a compressor; a first water-refrigerant heat exchanger; a second water-refrigerant heat exchanger; refrigerant paths capable of forming a refrigerant circuit; and water channels including a flow channel, the flow channel leading hot water that has passed through the second water-refrigerant heat exchanger to the first water-refrigerant heat exchanger. The heat pump water heater is able to perform a heating operation. In the heating operation, the hot water heated in the second water-refrigerant heat exchanger is fed to the first water-refrigerant heat exchanger and the hot water further heated in the first water-refrigerant heat exchanger is supplied to a downstream side of the water channels. The first water-refrigerant heat exchanger is able to be replaced without replacing the second water-refrigerant heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: So Nomoto, Kensaku Hatanaka, Keisuke Takayama