Patents by Inventor Kiyoshi Shibanuma

Kiyoshi Shibanuma 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).

  • Remote control apparatus for maintaining in-vessel components in a structure having an inner torus space
    Patent number: 5285484
    Abstract: A remote control apparatus for maintaining a tokamak type nuclear fusion reactor comprises a rail having a plurality of arcuated links to be extended in a circumferential direction and a plurality of joints for pivotally connecting the adjacent arcuated links, a vehicle running on the rail extended so as to form a continuous arc with its center substantially coinciding with the center of the torus space, and at least one handling device mounted on the vehicle, for handling the in-vessel components. The remote control apparatus is further provided with a rail housing device for receiving the arcuated links in a folded state when they are not in use, a rail mounting device for sending out said arcuated links in succession into the torus space, extending them so that they form a continuous arc and supporting the arcuated link on the proximal end of the rail, and a rail supporting device for supporting the central portion of the rail extended in the torus space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 8, 1994
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Shibanuma, Shin Murakami, Tadashi Munakata, Yoshinobu Ishikawa
  • Remote control apparatus for maintaining in-vessel components in a structure having an inner torus space
    Patent number: 5173248
    Abstract: A remote control apparatus for maintaining a tokamak type nuclear fusion reactor comprises a rail having a plurality of arcuated links to be extended in a circumferential direction and a plurality of joints for pivotally connecting the adjacent arcuated links, a vehicle running on the rail extended so as to form a continuous arc with its center substantially coinciding with the center of the torus space, and at least one handling device mounted on the vehicle, for handling the in-vessel components. The remote control apparatus is further provided with a rail housing device for receiving the arcuated links in a folded state when they are not in use, a rail mounting device for sending out said arcuated links in succession into the torus space, extending them so that they form a continuous arc and supporting the arcuated link on the proximal end of the rail, and a rail supporting device for supporting the central portion of the rail extended in the torus space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1992
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Shibanuma, Shin Murakami, Tadashi Munakata, Yoshinobu Ishikawa