Patents by Inventor Kentaro KURODA

Kentaro KURODA 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: 10611212
    Abstract: A vehicle air conditioner includes: a compressor that compresses a refrigerant; a heat exchanger that performs heat exchange between the refrigerant and a heat transporting coolant; a condenser that condenses the refrigerant having a high-temperature and a high-pressure by dissipating heat thereof; an evaporator that performs heat exchange between air sent to a vehicle interior and the refrigerant having a low-temperature and a low-pressure; a refrigerant passage that flows the refrigerant therein; and an on-off valve capable of shutting off the refrigerant passage. A part of the refrigerant passage from the condenser to the compressor in the air-cooling refrigerant circuit is branched into a first passage passing through the evaporator and a second passage passing through the heat exchanger being in parallel to the evaporator. The on-off valve is disposed upstream of the heat exchanger in the second passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kentaro Kuroda, Yoshitoshi Noda
  • Publication number: 20190255910
    Abstract: A vehicle air conditioner includes: a compressor that compresses a refrigerant; a heat exchanger that performs heat exchange between the refrigerant and a heat transporting coolant; a condenser that condenses the refrigerant having a high-temperature and a high-pressure by dissipating heat thereof; an evaporator that performs heat exchange between air sent to a vehicle interior and the refrigerant having a low-temperature and a low-pressure; a refrigerant passage that flows the refrigerant therein; and an on-off valve capable of shutting off the refrigerant passage. A part of the refrigerant passage from the condenser to the compressor in the air-cooling refrigerant circuit is branched into a first passage passing through the evaporator and a second passage passing through the heat exchanger being in parallel to the evaporator. The on-off valve is disposed upstream of the heat exchanger in the second passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2017
    Publication date: August 22, 2019
    Applicant: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kentaro KURODA, Yoshitoshi NODA
  • Patent number: 10350964
    Abstract: A vehicle air conditioner includes: a coolant-path coupled with a cooling-portion of a heat-generating component of a vehicle, for circulating a coolant; and a refrigerant-path for circulating a refrigerant. The conditioner further includes: a first water-refrigerant heat exchanger for vaporizing the refrigerant by thermal-exchange between the coolant and a low-temperature and low-pressure refrigerant; a second water-refrigerant heat exchanger for condensing the refrigerant by a thermal-exchange between the coolant and a high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant; and a heater core for heating air to be blown into the vehicle's interior. The coolant-path includes: a branching-portion for causing a coolant's flow to branch off; a joining-portion for causing the branched flows to join; and first and second parts that branch off at the branching-portion and join at the joining-portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kentaro Kuroda, Yoshitoshi Noda
  • Patent number: 10317116
    Abstract: A vehicular air-conditioning device includes a first water-refrigerant heat exchanger and a second water-refrigerant heat exchanger. The first water-refrigerant heat exchanger exchanges heat between a refrigerant of low-temperature and low-pressure and a heat transfer coolant to vaporize the refrigerant. The second water-refrigerant heat exchanger exchanges heat between the refrigerant of high-temperature and high-pressure and the coolant to condense the refrigerant. The coolant circulates through one of the first water-refrigerant heat exchanger and the second water-refrigerant heat exchanger, the other of the first water-refrigerant heat exchanger and the second water-refrigerant heat exchanger, a cooling path for cooling a heat generating component of a vehicle, and a heater core for heating air supplied to a vehicle interior in this order.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kentaro Kuroda, Ichiro Tateno, Yoshitoshi Noda, Katsuji Taniguchi, Yuji Kodera
  • Patent number: 10071614
    Abstract: This vehicle air conditioner includes: a component temperature-adjustment path in which a coolant flows for performing a heat exchange with a vehicle component which needs a temperature adjustment; an engine coolant path in which an engine coolant guided from an engine cooling portion flows; a heater core. The vehicle air conditioner further includes: a first water-refrigerant heat exchanger which performs a heat exchange between a low-temperature and low-pressure refrigerant of a heat pump, the coolant fed to the component temperature-adjustment path, and the engine coolant; a second water-refrigerant heat exchanger which performs a heat exchange between a high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant of the heat pump, and the engine coolant; and a first switch which can switch between a state where the engine coolant flows to the first water-refrigerant heat exchanger and a state where the refrigerant bypasses the first water-refrigerant heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kentaro Kuroda, Yoshitoshi Noda, Katsuji Taniguchi
  • Patent number: 10059170
    Abstract: An air conditioning device for vehicle includes a first water-refrigerant heat exchanger, a second water-refrigerant heat exchanger, a first bypass passage, and a second bypass passage. The first bypass passage branches at a point of a coolant passage from a cooling portion of a heating component in the vehicle to the second water-refrigerant heat exchanger, and the first bypass passage is capable of being communicated with the coolant passage at an upstream side of the first water-refrigerant heat exchanger. The second bypass passage bran at a point of the coolant passage from a heater core to the first water-refrigerant heat exchanger, and the second bypass passage is capable of being communicated with the coolant passage at a downstream side of the first water-refrigerant heat exchanger. A part of the first bypass passage which includes a downstream end and a part of the second bypass passage which includes an upstream end are shared.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuji Kodera, Kentaro Kuroda, Katsuji Taniguchi, Yoshitoshi Noda
  • Publication number: 20180135916
    Abstract: The condenser of the heat-exchanging device is provided with a flow passage through which a high-pressure refrigerant flows. The flow passage is structured by openings formed in the plurality of plates. Inside the flow passage, an inner pipe having an outer diameter smaller than the diameter of the openings is disposed. The part inside the flow passage but outside the inner pipe serves as a passage in which the refrigerant that has flown into the condenser flows, and the part inside the inner pipe serves as a passage in which the refrigerant that has passed through the component section flows.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2018
    Publication date: May 17, 2018
    Inventors: ATSUSHI SUEYOSHI, KENTARO KURODA, YOSHITOSHI NODA
  • Patent number: 9950591
    Abstract: This vehicle air conditioner includes a first water-refrigerant heat exchanger, a second water-refrigerant heat exchanger, a heater core, a distributing unit which distributes the coolant, fed from a heat generating component of a vehicle, to a plurality of cooling path, and a junction unit which causes the coolant guided from a plurality of cooling paths to join, and feeds the coolant to the heat generating component. The first water-refrigerant heat exchanger inputs the coolant distributed by the distributing unit, through a first cooling path, and feeds the coolant to be guided to the junction unit, to a second cooling path. The second water-refrigerant heat exchanger inputs the coolant distributed by the distributing unit, through a third cooling path, and feeds the coolant to the heater core. The heater core inputs the coolant fed by the second water-refrigerant heat exchanger, and feeds the coolant to be guided to the junction unit, to a fourth cooling path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kentaro Kuroda, Yoshitoshi Noda, Katsuji Taniguchi
  • Publication number: 20170217286
    Abstract: An air-conditioning control device is provided with: a pressure acquisition unit, that acquires a detection value from a pressure sensor that detects a pressure of a refrigerant flowing through a heat, exchanger; a temperature acquisition unit that acquires a detection value from, a temperature sensor that detects a temperature of a heating medium flowing through the heat exchanger; and a determination unit that, in the case where a command is issued to cause a refrigerant to flow through an opening and closing portion in a state where the refrigerant is not flowing through, the opening and closing portion, determines whether or not the opening and closing portion is normally opened to cause the refrigerant to flow through the heat, exchanger, by using the pressure of the refrigerant detected by the pressure sensor and the temperature of the heating medium detected by the temperature sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2017
    Publication date: August 3, 2017
    Inventors: KOHEI TSUKAMOTO, KENTARO KURODA, KATSUJI TANIGUCHI, YOSHITOSHI NODA, YUJI KODERA
  • Publication number: 20170217287
    Abstract: A vehicle air conditioner includes: a coolant-path coupled with a cooling-portion of a heat-generating component of a vehicle, for circulating a coolant; and a refrigerant-path for circulating a refrigerant. The conditioner Further includes: a first water-refrigerant heat exchanger for vaporizing the refrigerant by thermal-exchange between the coolant and a low-temperature and low-pressure refrigerant; a second water-refrigerant heat exchanger for condensing the refrigerant by a thermal-exchange between the coolant and a high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant; and a heater core for heating air to be blown into the vehicle's interior. The coolant-path includes: a branching-portion for causing a coolant's flow to branch off; a joining-portion for causing the branched flows to join; and first and second parts that branch off at the branching-portion and join at the joining-portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2017
    Publication date: August 3, 2017
    Inventors: KENTARO KURODA, YOSHITOSHI NODA
  • Publication number: 20170203635
    Abstract: An air conditioning device for a vehicle includes: a water-refrigerant condenser that condenses a refrigerant at a high temperature by heat exchange with a coolant; a water-refrigerant evaporator that evaporates the refrigerant by heat exchange with the coolant; a refrigerant passage switching portion configured to switch a delivery route of the refrigerant in the water-refrigerant condenser between a first refrigerant passage leading to the water-refrigerant evaporator and a second refrigerant passage leading to a cooling evaporator that cools air to be sent into a vehicle interior; and a first water passage that delivers the coolant in the water-refrigerant condenser to a radiator that radiates heat of the coolant to outside air, wherein in a cooling mode, the delivery route of the refrigerant in the water-refrigerant condenser is switched to the first refrigerant passage, and heat transferred from air to the refrigerant by the cooling evaporator is transferred from the refrigerant to the coolant by the wat
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2017
    Publication date: July 20, 2017
    Inventors: KENTARO KURODA, YOSHITOSHI NODA
  • Publication number: 20170176065
    Abstract: A heat exchange device has a plate stack unit obtained by continuous stacking of a plurality of plates. This plate stack unit includes a condenser unit, an evaporator unit, and an internal heat exchange unit. The condenser unit is configured such that a passage for allowing a high pressure refrigerant to flow, and a passage for a heat medium for absorbing heat from the high pressure refrigerant are stacked between a set of plates among the plurality of plates. The evaporator unit is configured such that a passage for allowing a low pressure refrigerant to flow, and a passage for a heat medium for applying heat to the low pressure refrigerant are stacked between a set of plates among the plurality of plates. The internal heat exchange unit is configured such that a passage for allowing the high pressure refrigerant to flow, and a passage for allowing the low pressure refrigerant to flow are stacked between a set of plates among the plurality of plates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2017
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Inventors: KENTARO KURODA, YOSHITOSHI NODA
  • Publication number: 20170036513
    Abstract: An air conditioning device for vehicle includes a first water-refrigerant heat exchanger, a second water-refrigerant heat exchanger, a first bypass passage and a second bypass passage. The first bypass passage branches at a point of a coolant passage from a cooling portion of a heating component the vehicle to the second water-refrigerant heat exchanger, and the first bypass passage is capable of being communicated with the coolant passage at an upstream side of the first water-refrigerant heat exchanger. The second bypass passage bran at a point of the coolant passage from a heater core to the first water-refrigerant heat exchanger, and the second bypass passage is capable of being communicated with the coolant passage at a downstream side of the first water-refrigerant heat exchanger. A part of the first bypass passage which includes a downstream end and a part of the second bypass passage which includes an upstream end are shared.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2016
    Publication date: February 9, 2017
    Inventors: YUJI KODERA, KENTARO KURODA, KATSUJI TANIGUCHI, YOSHITOSHI NODA
  • Publication number: 20170038151
    Abstract: A heat exchanger includes a first stack portion and a second stack portion. The first stack portion has a plurality of plates which are stacked, and a first refrigerant passage and a first coolant passage are formed between the plurality of plates. The second stack portion has a plurality of receiver components which are stacked, and a refrigerant retaining portion leading to the first refrigerant passage is formed in the plurality of receiver components. The second stack portion is stacked on the first stack portion in the same direction as a stacking direction in which the plurality of plates are stacked.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2016
    Publication date: February 9, 2017
    Inventors: YOSHITOSHI NODA, YASUHIRO ASAIDA, HIDEAKI HAMADA, MITUHIRO IKEDA, KENTARO KURODA
  • Publication number: 20160214461
    Abstract: An air conditioning device for a vehicle includes a first water-refrigerant heat exchanger, a second water-refrigerant heat exchanger, and a first flow rate adjusting unit. The first water-refrigerant heat exchanger exchanges heat between a refrigerant of low-temperature and low-pressure in a heat pump and an engine coolant flowing in an engine coolant path to vaporize the refrigerant. The second water-refrigerant heat exchanger exchanges heat between the refrigerant of high-temperature and high-pressure and the engine coolant to condense the refrigerant. The first flow rate adjusting unit is capable of adjusting a flow rate of the engine coolant supplied to a flow path connecting with the first water-refrigerant heat exchanger, and a flow rate of the engine coolant supplied to a flow path bypassing the first water-refrigerant heat exchanger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2014
    Publication date: July 28, 2016
    Inventors: KENTARO KURODA, YUJI KODERA, KATSUJI TANIGUCHI, YOSHITOSHI NODA, ICHIRO TATENO
  • Publication number: 20160209092
    Abstract: A vehicular air-conditioning device includes a first water-refrigerant heat exchanger and a second water-refrigerant heat exchanger. The first water-refrigerant heat exchanger exchanges heat between a refrigerant of low-temperature and low-pressure and a heat transfer coolant to vaporize the refrigerant. The second water-refrigerant heat exchanger exchanges heat between the refrigerant of high-temperature and high-pressure and the coolant to condense the refrigerant. The coolant circulates through one of the first water-refrigerant heat exchanger and the second water-refrigerant heat exchanger, the other of the first water-refrigerant heat exchanger and the second water-refrigerant heat exchanger, a cooling path for cooling a heat generating component of a vehicle, and a heater core for heating air supplied to a vehicle interior in this order.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2014
    Publication date: July 21, 2016
    Inventors: KENTARO KURODA, ICHIRO TATENO, YOSHITOSHI NODA, KATSUJI TANIGUCHI, YUJI KODERA
  • Publication number: 20160159199
    Abstract: Provided is a vehicular air conditioning device which is based on a configuration adopted in a conventional vehicle including a hot-water heater, a heat-pump cooling device, and a control system, and which is capable of increasing heating performance at low cost and with a small increase in installation space. This vehicular air conditioning device is provided with: a first water refrigerant heat exchanger that vaporizes a refrigerant; a second water refrigerant heat exchanger that condenses the refrigerant; and a switching means capable of switching between a state in which the refrigerant flows in a refrigerant circuit including the second water refrigerant heat exchanger, a compressor, and the first water refrigerant heat exchanger, and a state in which the refrigerant flows in another refrigerant circuit including an evaporator, the compressor, and a condenser.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2014
    Publication date: June 9, 2016
    Inventors: Kentaro KURODA, Katsuji TANIGUCHI, Yoshitoshi NODA
  • Publication number: 20160159203
    Abstract: This vehicle air conditioner includes: a component temperature-adjustment path in which a coolant flows for performing a heat exchange with a vehicle component which needs a temperature adjustment; an engine coolant path in which an engine coolant guided from an engine cooling portion flows; a heater core. The vehicle air conditioner further includes: a first water-refrigerant heat exchanger which performs a heat exchange between a low-temperature and low-pressure refrigerant of a heat pump, the coolant fed to the component temperature-adjustment path, and the engine coolant; a second water-refrigerant heat exchanger which performs a heat exchange between a high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant of the heat pump, and the engine coolant; and a first switch which can switch between a state where the engine coolant flows to the first water-refrigerant heat exchanger and a state where the refrigerant bypasses the first water-refrigerant heat exchanger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2014
    Publication date: June 9, 2016
    Inventors: KENTARO KURODA, YOSHITOSHI NODA, KATSUJI TANIGUCHI
  • Publication number: 20160137032
    Abstract: This vehicle air conditioner includes a first water-refrigerant heat exchanger, a second water-refrigerant heat exchanger, a heater core, a distributing unit which distributes the coolant, fed from a heat generating component of a vehicle, to a plurality of cooling path, and a junction unit which causes the coolant guided from a plurality of cooling paths to join, and feeds the coolant to the heat generating component. The first water-refrigerant heat exchanger inputs the coolant distributed by the distributing unit, through a first cooling path, and feeds the coolant to be guided to the junction unit, to a second cooling path. The second water-refrigerant heat exchanger inputs the coolant distributed by the distributing unit, through a third cooling path, and feeds the coolant to the heater core. The heater core inputs the coolant fed by the second water-refrigerant heat exchanger, and feeds the coolant to be guided to the junction unit, to a fourth cooling path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2014
    Publication date: May 19, 2016
    Inventors: KENTARO KURODA, YOSHITOSHI NODA, KATSUJI TANIGUCHI
  • Publication number: 20160137031
    Abstract: This vehicle air conditioner includes a first water-refrigerant heat exchanger, a second water-refrigerant heat exchanger, a first switch which can switch between a state where a refrigerant fed from the second water-refrigerant heat exchanger is fed to an evaporator, and a state where the refrigerant is not fed to the evaporator, and a second switch which can switch between a state where the refrigerant fed from the second water-refrigerant heat exchanger is expanded and fed to the first water-refrigerant heat exchanger, and a state where the refrigerant is not fed to the first water-refrigerant exchanger. And the first water-refrigerant heat exchanger is connected to a heater core and a cooling portion of a heating component of a vehicle with a path of a coolant, and the second water-refrigerant heat exchanger is connected to the cooling portion of the heating component of the vehicle and the heater core with a path of a coolant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2014
    Publication date: May 19, 2016
    Inventors: YOSHITOSHI NODA, TOMOHIRO TERADA, KATSUJI TANIGUCHI, KENTARO KURODA