Patents by Inventor Kenta Mihara

Kenta Mihara 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: 11955959
    Abstract: A parallel driving device that drives parallel-connected semiconductor elements includes a control unit and a gate driving circuit. The control unit detects a temperature difference between the semiconductor elements on the basis of detected values by temperature sensors that detect temperatures of the individual semiconductor elements. The control unit generates a control signal for changing the timing at which to turn on a first semiconductor element specified from the semiconductor elements on the basis of the temperature difference. The gate driving circuit generates a first driving signal for driving the semiconductor elements, and generates a second driving signal that is the first driving signal delayed on the basis of the control signal, and applies the second driving signal to the first semiconductor element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasushi Nakayama, Yoshiko Tamada, Takayoshi Miki, Shota Morisaki, Yukio Nakashima, Kenta Uchida, Keisuke Kimura, Tomonobu Mihara
  • Patent number: 11932101
    Abstract: There is provided a valve device including: a housing; a float valve; and a pressure adjusting valve. A first valve seat is formed from a peripheral edge of a valve hole. An accommodation portion is provided in a protruding manner from a surface of a partition wall. An inner periphery of the accommodation portion is provided with a reduced diameter portion and an increased diameter portion. A height of an upper end of the reduced diameter portion is equal to or greater than a front surface of the pressure adjusting valve in a state where the pressure adjusting valve is in contact with the first valve seat. The pressure adjusting valve is configured to be beyond the upper end of the reduced diameter portion when the pressure adjusting valve is raised to a maximum due to an increase in pressure in a fuel tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: PIOLAX, INC.
    Inventors: Kenta Mihara, Kazuki Yajima
  • Publication number: 20240001759
    Abstract: There is provided a valve device for a fuel tank including: a housing; a first float valve accommodated in a first valve chamber; and a second float valve accommodated in a second valve chamber. The housing includes a housing body and a lower cap. The housing body has a housing body peripheral wall. The housing body peripheral wall has a first valve chamber forming wall that forms an outer periphery of the first valve chamber, and a second valve chamber forming wall that has a contour shape different from that of the first valve chamber forming wall and that forms an outer periphery of the second valve chamber. The lower cap has a cap peripheral wall having a shape fitting to the housing body peripheral wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2021
    Publication date: January 4, 2024
    Applicant: PIOLAX, INC.
    Inventor: Kenta MIHARA
  • Patent number: 11845332
    Abstract: There is provided a valve device, including: a housing; a float valve; and a seal member. An opening portion includes a first region, and a second region. The seal member includes a first cover portion, and a second cover portion. The second cover portion includes a support portion, a wide portion, and a narrow portion. In a state where the seal member is retained and supported by the support portion with respect to the float valve, a width of the wide portion is set such that a tip end of the second region is covered, and that the second region of the opening portion is not exposed out of the seal member even in a state where the seal member is maximally displaced in a radial direction and; or a peripheral direction of the housing with respect to the opening portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: PIOLAX, INC.
    Inventors: Kazuki Yajima, Kenta Mihara
  • Patent number: 11733718
    Abstract: There is provided a valve device, including: a housing in which, via a partition wall, a valve chamber is provided below the partition wall and a vent chamber is provided above the partition wall, and a vent hole through which the valve chamber and the vent chamber communicate with each other is provided in the partition wall; and a float valve. A valve seat is formed on a side of the valve chamber of the partition wall, and an opening is provided on an inner side of the valve seat. The opening includes a first opening and a second opening extending outward in a slit shape from an outer periphery of the first opening. A seal part having elasticity that contacts with and separates from the valve seat to close and open the first opening and the second opening, is disposed above the float valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: PIOLAX, INC.
    Inventor: Kenta Mihara
  • Publication number: 20230191903
    Abstract: There is provided a valve device, including: a housing; a float valve; and a seal member. An opening portion includes a first region, and a second region. The seal member includes a first cover portion, and a second cover portion. The second cover portion includes a support portion, a wide portion, and a narrow portion. In a state where the seal member is retained and supported by the support portion with respect to the float valve, a width of the wide portion is set such that a tip end of the second region is covered, and that the second region of the opening portion is not exposed out of the seal member even in a state where the seal member is maximally displaced in a radial direction and/or a peripheral direction of the housing with respect to the opening portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2022
    Publication date: June 22, 2023
    Applicant: PIOLAX, INC.
    Inventors: Kazuki YAJIMA, Kenta MIHARA
  • Publication number: 20230144508
    Abstract: There is provided a fill-up restriction valve including: a housing; and a float valve. The housing includes a housing body including a body-side peripheral wall, and a lower cap including a cap-side peripheral wall, the lower cap being installed to a lower side of the housing body by a joint portion. The joint portion includes an annular groove, an insertion wall portion, and an annular protrusion formed on one of the insertion wall portion and the annular groove, or an annular seal member disposed between the insertion wall portion and the annular groove. The annular protrusion or the annular seal member is configured to be in pressure-contact with the annular groove and the insertion wall portion in a state where the insertion wall portion is inserted into the annular groove.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2022
    Publication date: May 11, 2023
    Applicant: PIOLAX, INC.
    Inventors: Takuma KON, Kenta MIHARA
  • Publication number: 20230027839
    Abstract: There is provided a valve device including: a housing; a float valve; and a pressure adjusting valve. A first valve seat is formed from a peripheral edge of a valve hole. An accommodation portion is provided in a protruding manner from a surface of a partition wall. An inner periphery of the accommodation portion is provided with a reduced diameter portion and an increased diameter portion. A height of an upper end of the reduced diameter portion is equal to or greater than a front surface of the pressure adjusting valve in a state where the pressure adjusting valve is in contact with the first valve seat. The pressure adjusting valve is configured to be beyond the upper end of the reduced diameter portion when the pressure adjusting valve is raised to a maximum due to an increase in pressure in a fuel tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2020
    Publication date: January 26, 2023
    Applicant: PIOLAX, INC.
    Inventors: Kenta MIHARA, Kazuki YAJIMA
  • Patent number: 11135913
    Abstract: A valve device includes: a housing having a valve chamber and a ventilation chamber divided by a dividing wall, the dividing wall having an opening, and the housing having a discharge opening formed at a peripheral surface on the ventilation chamber side; a float valve coming into and out of contact with the opening; and a fuel vapor pipe connected with the discharge opening outside the housing. The ventilation chamber is provided with a tubular wall which communicates with the discharge opening and which extends from the discharge opening toward the inside of the ventilation chamber. The tubular wall has a surface on the dividing wall side which is provided with a ventilation hole communicating with the ventilation chamber. An end portion on the extending direction side of the tubular wall is closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: PIOLAX, INC.
    Inventor: Kenta Mihara
  • Publication number: 20210157339
    Abstract: There is provided a valve device, including: a housing in which, via a partition wall, a valve chamber is provided below the partition wall and a vent chamber is provided above the partition wall, and a vent hole through which the valve chamber and the vent chamber communicate with each other is provided in the partition wall; and a float valve. A valve seat is formed on a side of the valve chamber of the partition wall, and an opening is provided on an inner side of the valve seat. The opening includes a first opening and a second opening extending outward in a slit shape from an outer periphery of the first opening. A seal part having elasticity that contacts with and separates from the valve seat to close and open the first opening and the second opening, is disposed above the float valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2019
    Publication date: May 27, 2021
    Applicant: PIOLAX, INC.
    Inventor: Kenta MIHARA
  • Patent number: 11009147
    Abstract: There is provided a valve device for a fuel tank. A housing is provided with a valve chamber and a vent chamber defined via a partition wall. The partition wall is provided with an opening. A float valve is received in the valve chamber to be movable up and down. The float valve includes a lower member and an upper member. The upper member includes a top portion, an outside wall extending from the top portion, and an elastic engaging piece configured to engage with an engaged portion of the lower member. The elastic engaging piece extends from a location on the back surface of the top portion, which is located inward from the outside wall, and is configured to elastically return after being bent in an outward radial direction of the upper member and thus to engage with the engaged portion of the lower member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: PIOLAX, INC.
    Inventor: Kenta Mihara
  • Publication number: 20210138895
    Abstract: A valve device includes: a housing having a valve chamber and a ventilation chamber divided by a dividing wall, the dividing wall having an opening, and the housing having a discharge opening formed at a peripheral surface on the ventilation chamber side; a float valve coming into and out of contact with the opening; and a fuel vapor pipe connected with the discharge opening outside the housing. The ventilation chamber is provided with a tubular wall which communicates with the discharge opening and which extends from the discharge opening toward the inside of the ventilation chamber. The tubular wall has a surface on the dividing wall side which is provided with a ventilation hole communicating with the ventilation chamber. An end portion on the extending direction side of the tubular wall is closed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2018
    Publication date: May 13, 2021
    Inventor: Kenta MIHARA
  • Patent number: 10369882
    Abstract: A valve case mounting structure includes a mount base and a valve case. The mount base includes a valve case support portion and a retainer piece having a first engagement opening and a second engagement opening. The valve case includes an engaging projection portion, and a holder portion. When the engaging projection portion is positioned at a front end side of the first engagement opening, the retainer piece does not reach the holder portion. When the engaging projection portion is moved from the front end side of the first engagement opening toward the second engagement opening, a front end portion of the retainer piece is inserted into the holding space before becoming unable to be inserted into the holder portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: PIOLAX, INC.
    Inventor: Kenta Mihara
  • Patent number: 10267275
    Abstract: One embodiment provides a valve device for fuel tank. The valve device includes: a housing in which a valve chamber and a ventilation chamber are divided by a partition wall having a first and second openings; a vapor discharge outlet communicating with the ventilation chamber; first and second float valves vertically movably housed in the valve chamber to close the first and second openings, respectively; and a recess portion defined in a part of the ventilation chamber correspondingly with the first opening. A passage is provided to communicate the discharge outlet with the recess portion. And, a first wall portion is provided around an end of the passage on a side of the recess portion so as to block the fuel that flows out of the second opening into the first opening from heading to the third opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignees: PIOLAX, INC., YACHIYO INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kenta Mihara, Kazunari Nakaya, Masato Shinozaki, Masaru Sawano
  • Publication number: 20190113149
    Abstract: There is provided a valve device for a fuel tank. A housing is provided with a valve chamber and a vent chamber defined via a partition wall. The partition wall is provided with an opening. A float valve is received in the valve chamber to be movable up and down. The float valve includes a lower member and an upper member. The upper member includes a top portion, an outside wall extending from the top portion, and an elastic engaging piece configured to engage with an engaged portion of the lower member. The elastic engaging piece extends from a location on the back surface of the top portion, which is located inward from the outside wall, and is configured to elastically return after being bent in an outward radial direction of the upper member and thus to engage with the engaged portion of the lower member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2018
    Publication date: April 18, 2019
    Inventor: Kenta MIHARA
  • Patent number: 9981546
    Abstract: A fuel tank valve device includes a housing in which a partition wall defines a lower valve chamber and an upper ventilation chamber, and a first opening and a second opening are provided to establish a communication between the lower valve chamber and the upper ventilation chamber, a first float valve that is accommodated in a first valve chamber of the lower valve chamber so as to rise and fall and that closes the first opening when a fuel level in a fuel tank nearly reaches a set full fuel level, and a second float valve that is accommodated in a second valve chamber of the lower valve chamber so as to rise and fall and that closes the second opening when the fuel level in the fuel tank rises abnormally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignees: PIOLAX, INC., YACHIYO INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kenta Mihara, Kazunari Nakaya, Masato Shinozaki, Masaru Sawano
  • Patent number: 9903318
    Abstract: One embodiment is related to a valve apparatus to be mounted on a fuel tank. The valve apparatus including: a housing including a ventilation chamber on a bottom face of which a first opening and a second opening are provided, and a valve chamber communicating with the first opening and disposed below the ventilation chamber, and a float valve disposed in the valve chamber. The housing includes a canister-connecting pipe communicating with the second opening. A standing wall is disposed on the bottom face of the ventilation chamber between a peripheral edge portion of the first opening and a peripheral edge portion of the second opening. And, an overhang wall portion extends from a side face of the standing wall toward the first opening, as viewed from above.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: PIOLAX, INC.
    Inventor: Kenta Mihara
  • Publication number: 20170274760
    Abstract: A valve case mounting structure includes a mount base and a valve case. The mount base includes a valve case support portion and a retainer piece having a first engagement opening and a second engagement opening. The valve case includes an engaging projection portion, and a holder portion. When the engaging projection portion is positioned at a front end side of the first engagement opening, the retainer piece does not reach the holder portion. When the engaging projection portion is moved from the front end side of the first engagement opening toward the second engagement opening, a front end portion of the retainer piece is inserted into the holding space before becoming unable to be inserted into the holder portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2015
    Publication date: September 28, 2017
    Inventor: Kenta MIHARA
  • Publication number: 20170072787
    Abstract: A valve device for a fuel tank has a housing having a valve chamber which is provided below a partition wall and a ventilation chamber which is provided above the partition wall; a recess having a first opening formed in the bottom section thereof and defining a part of the ventilation chamber; and a fuel vapor discharge opening formed in the inner periphery of the recess. The partition wall has a shelf-like wall section extending from the peripheral edge of a second opening and reaching the inner periphery of the recess. The shelf-like wall section has formed therein a first groove section extending from the second opening side and connecting to the recess. A ceiling wall is disposed above the shelf-like wall section with a gap therebetween.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2014
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Applicants: PIOLAX, INC., YACHIYO INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kenta MIHARA, Kazunari NAKAYA, Masato SHINOZAKI, Masaru SAWANO
  • Patent number: 9492765
    Abstract: A valve unit includes a housing which has a partition wall in which an opening portion is formed, a float valve which is disposed within a valve chamber R1 thereof, and a check valve which is disposed within a valve chamber R2. A valve seat is provided on a lower surface side of the partition wall, and plural radially-extending thin ribs are formed therearound. Plural axially-extending check valve guide ribs are provided at predetermined circumferential intervals with in the vent chamber R2, and plural axially-extending float valve guide ribs are provided at predetermined circumferential intervals within the valve chamber R1. The thin ribs and the check valve guide ribs are formed circumferentially alternately so as not to be superposed on each other when viewed from an axial direction of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: PIOLAX, INC.
    Inventor: Kenta Mihara