Patents by Inventor Komei Nakajima

Komei Nakajima 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: 11940190
    Abstract: A refrigeration cycle apparatus includes a compressor, a four-way valve, a first outdoor heat exchanger, a first expansion valve, and an indoor heat exchanger. The four-way valve includes a casing, a first flow channel, a second flow channel, a flow channel switching piston, and a wall portion. The flow channel switching piston is configured to slide along an inner surface to switch between passing the refrigerant through the first flow channel and passing the refrigerant through the second flow channel. The wall portion is configured to slide along the inner surface together with the flow channel switching piston and is disposed with a space between the flow channel switching piston and wall portion to cover the flow channel switching piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Komei Nakajima, Yusuke Tashiro
  • Publication number: 20230175744
    Abstract: A refrigeration cycle apparatus includes a compressor, a first heat exchanger, a decompressing device, a second heat exchanger, a first switching valve, a second switching valve, and a controller. The first switching valve is switched to one of a first state and a second state. The second switching valve is switched to one of a third state, a fourth state, and a fifth state. When switching to a second cooling operation to bring the first and second switching valves into the second and fourth states respectively, is requested during a first cooling operation to bring the first and second switching valves into the first and third states, respectively, the controller performs a first switching operation to bring the first switching valve into the second state and bring the second switching valve into the fifth state, and thereafter switches the first switching operation to the second cooling operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2020
    Publication date: June 8, 2023
    Inventor: Komei NAKAJIMA
  • Publication number: 20230131781
    Abstract: A refrigeration cycle apparatus comprises a refrigerant circuit and a refrigerant storage circuit. In the refrigerant circuit, a compressor, an outdoor heat exchanger, an expansion valve, and an indoor heat exchanger are connected together by a pipe. The pipe has a first pipe portion and a second pipe portion. The first pipe portion connects the outdoor heat exchanger to the expansion valve. The second pipe portion connects the indoor heat exchanger to the compressor. The refrigerant storage circuit has a storage container, an expander, and a valve device. The storage container stores refrigerant. The expander is located between the storage container and the second pipe. The valve device is located between the first pipe and the expander. The valve device is configured to open and close the refrigerant storage circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2020
    Publication date: April 27, 2023
    Inventor: Komei NAKAJIMA
  • Publication number: 20220214088
    Abstract: A refrigeration cycle apparatus includes a compressor, a four-way valve, a first outdoor heat exchanger, a first expansion valve, and an indoor heat exchanger. The four-way valve includes a casing, a first flow channel, a second flow channel, a flow channel switching piston, and a wall portion. The flow channel switching piston is configured to slide along an inner surface to switch between passing the refrigerant through the first flow channel and passing the refrigerant through the second flow channel. The wall portion is configured to slide along the inner surface together with the flow channel switching piston and is disposed with a space between the flow channel switching piston and wall portion to cover the flow channel switching piston.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2019
    Publication date: July 7, 2022
    Inventors: Komei NAKAJIMA, Yusuke TASHIRO
  • Patent number: 11378286
    Abstract: An outdoor unit includes a casing including an air passage, an outdoor fan disposed in the air passage, a compressor disposed in the casing, an outdoor heat exchanger disposed in the casing and including fins and a heat transfer tube connected to the fins, a control board disposed in the casing and including a control unit that controls the compressor, and a heat sink disposed in the air passage in the casing and being in contact with the control board. The heat transfer tube of the outdoor heat exchanger includes a first region in which gas refrigerant or two-phase gas-liquid refrigerant flows when the outdoor heat exchanger is used as a condenser and a second region that is located downstream of the first region in a refrigerant flow direction and in which single-phase liquid refrigerant flows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Atsushi Morita, Yusuke Tashiro, Komei Nakajima, Hiroaki Makino, Yusuke Tsuboi
  • Publication number: 20220136741
    Abstract: In a refrigeration cycle apparatus according to the present disclosure, the circulation direction of refrigerant is switched between a first circulation direction and a second circulation direction opposite to the first circulation direction. The first circulation direction is a circulation direction in order of a compressor, a first heat exchanger, a first expansion valve, a third heat exchanger, a fourth heat exchanger, a second expansion valve, and a second heat exchanger. When a circulation direction of the refrigerant is the first circulation direction, the refrigerant from the third heat exchanger exchanges heat with the refrigerant from the second heat exchanger in the fourth heat exchanger. When a circulation direction of the refrigerant is the second circulation direction, the refrigerant from the fourth heat exchanger exchanges heat with the refrigerant from the first heat exchanger in the third heat exchanger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2019
    Publication date: May 5, 2022
    Inventors: Komei NAKAJIMA, Naoki WAKUTA, Yusuke TASHIRO
  • Patent number: 11204191
    Abstract: An air-conditioning apparatus includes a first flow switching unit configured to be switched between a first state in which refrigerant communication between a compressor and a second load-side heat exchanger is blocked and a second state in which the compressor is in refrigerant communication with a first load-side heat exchanger and the second load-side heat exchanger. The air-conditioning apparatus further includes a second flow switching unit configured to be switched between a third state in which refrigerant communication between the second load-side heat exchanger and a heat-source-side heat exchanger is blocked and a fourth state in which the first load-side heat exchanger is in refrigerant communication with the second load-side heat exchanger and the heat-source-side heat exchanger. The first heat exchanger is located upstream of the second load-side heat exchanger. The second flow switching unit is located downstream of the second load-side heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Komei Nakajima, Yusuke Tashiro, Akinori Sakabe, Naoki Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 11181307
    Abstract: An air conditioner allows refrigerant to circulate therethrough. The air conditioner includes a compressor, a first heat exchanger, a first expansion valve, a second heat exchanger, and a controller. The controller changes an opening degree of the first expansion valve by a first operation amount according to a temperature difference between a target temperature and the temperature of the refrigerant discharged by the compressor. The refrigerant circulates through the compressor, the first heat exchanger, the first expansion valve, and the second heat exchanger. A first ratio when a specific condition is satisfied is larger than a second ratio when the specific condition is not satisfied. The specific condition indicates that the degree of subcooling of the refrigerant flowing between the first heat exchanger and the first expansion valve is smaller than zero. The first and second ratios are each a ratio of the first operation amount to the temperature difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Komei Nakajima, Haruo Nakano, Hideki Tsukino
  • Publication number: 20210180842
    Abstract: An air conditioner (10) includes a refrigerant circuit (13) and refrigerant. The refrigerant circuit (13) has a compressor (1), a condenser (2), a pressure-regulating valve (3), and an evaporator (4). The refrigerant is R32. The pressure-regulating valve (3) includes a flow path (33) causing the refrigerant flowing from the condenser (2) to flow to the evaporator (4), a pressure reference chamber (S2) partitioned from the flow path (33) and filled with inert gas, and a valve portion (34) disposed in the flow path (33). The pressure-regulating valve (3) is configured to adjust a degree of opening of the valve portion (34) to adjust a flow rate of the refrigerant flowing through the flow path (33). The valve portion (34) is configured to increase the degree of opening when a pressure in the flow path (33) is higher than a pressure in the pressure reference chamber (S2), and reduce the degree of opening when the pressure in the flow path (33) is lower than the pressure in the pressure reference chamber (S2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2021
    Publication date: June 17, 2021
    Inventors: Yusuke TASHIRO, Komei NAKAJIMA, Masakazu SATO, Yusuke ADACHI, Yasuhide HAYAMARU
  • Publication number: 20210172659
    Abstract: An air conditioner (10) includes a refrigerant circuit (13) and refrigerant. The refrigerant circuit (13) has a compressor (1), a condenser (2), a pressure-regulating valve (3), and an evaporator (4). The refrigerant is R32. The pressure-regulating valve (3) includes a flow path (33) causing the refrigerant flowing from the condenser (2) to flow to the evaporator (4), a pressure reference chamber (S2) partitioned from the flow path (33) and filled with inert gas, and a valve portion (34) disposed in the flow path (33). The pressure-regulating valve (3) is configured to adjust a degree of opening of the valve portion (34) to adjust a flow rate of the refrigerant flowing through the flow path (33). The valve portion (34) is configured to increase the degree of opening when a pressure in the flow path (33) is higher than a pressure in the pressure reference chamber (S2), and reduce the degree of opening when the pressure in the flow path (33) is lower than the pressure in the pressure reference chamber (S2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2021
    Publication date: June 10, 2021
    Inventors: Yusuke TASHIRO, Komei NAKAJIMA, Masakazu SATO, Yusuke ADACHI, Yasuhide HAYAMARU
  • Publication number: 20200318877
    Abstract: An air conditioner allows refrigerant to circulate therethrough. The air conditioner comprises a compressor, a first heat exchanger, a first expansion valve, a second heat exchanger, and a controller. The controller changes an opening degree of the first expansion valve by a first operation amount according to a temperature difference between a target temperature and the temperature of the refrigerant discharged by the compressor. The refrigerant circulates through the compressor, the first heat exchanger, the first expansion valve, and the second heat exchanger. A first ratio when a specific condition is satisfied is larger than a second ratio when the specific condition is not satisfied. The specific condition indicates that the degree of subcooling of the refrigerant flowing between the first heat exchanger and the first expansion valve is smaller than zero. The first and second ratios are each a ratio of the first operation amount to the temperature difference.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2017
    Publication date: October 8, 2020
    Inventors: Komei NAKAJIMA, Haruo NAKANO, Hideki TSUKINO
  • Publication number: 20200284484
    Abstract: An air-conditioning apparatus includes a refrigerant circuit including first and second load-side heat exchangers, a first flow switching unit located upstream of the second load-side heat exchanger, and a second flow switching unit located downstream of the second load-side heat exchanger, wherein the first flow switching unit is configured to be switched between a first state in which refrigerant communication between a compressor and the second load-side heat exchanger is blocked and a second state in which the compressor is in refrigerant communication with the first and second load-side heat exchangers, and the second flow switching unit is configured to be switched between a third state in which refrigerant communication between the second load-side heat exchanger and a heat-source-side heat exchanger is blocked and a fourth state in which the first load-side heat exchanger is in refrigerant communication with the second load-side heat exchanger and the heat-source-side heat exchanger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2017
    Publication date: September 10, 2020
    Inventors: Komei NAKAJIMA, Yusuke TASHIRO, Akinori SAKABE, Naoki NAKAGAWA
  • Publication number: 20200263916
    Abstract: The expansion device is configured to have a degree of opening corresponding to a fully closed state while the compressor is non-operational. The fan is configured to become non-operational when transition is made, while the compressor is non-operational, from a state in which a temperature difference between a detection temperature of the first temperature sensor and a detection temperature of the second temperature sensor is larger than a criterion value to a state in which the temperature difference is smaller than the criterion value. The fan is configured to become operational when transition is made, while the compressor is operational, from a state in which the temperature difference is smaller than a second criterion value to a state in which the temperature difference is larger than the second criterion value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2017
    Publication date: August 20, 2020
    Inventors: Komei NAKAJIMA, Masashi FUJITSUKA
  • Patent number: 10731904
    Abstract: An air conditioner includes a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve, an evaporator, and a temperature detection unit. The temperature detection unit is attached to the condenser and is configured to detect a temperature of the refrigerant in the condenser. The expansion valve is configured to be capable of adjusting a flow rate per unit time of the refrigerant flowing through the expansion valve by adjusting a degree of opening of the expansion valve. The degree of opening of the expansion valve is increased when the temperature of the refrigerant detected by the temperature detection unit rises, and the degree of opening of the expansion valve is decreased when the temperature of the refrigerant detected by the temperature detection unit falls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Komei Nakajima, Yusuke Tashiro, Yasuhide Hayamaru, Yusuke Adachi
  • Publication number: 20200096208
    Abstract: An outdoor unit includes a casing including an air passage, an outdoor fan disposed in the air passage, a compressor disposed in the casing, an outdoor heat exchanger disposed in the casing and including fins and a heat transfer tube connected to the fins, a control board disposed in the casing and including a control unit that controls the compressor, and a heat sink disposed in the air passage in the casing and being in contact with the control board. The heat transfer tube of the outdoor heat exchanger includes a first region in which gas refrigerant or two-phase gas-liquid refrigerant flows when the outdoor heat exchanger is used as a condenser and a second region that is located downstream of the first region in a refrigerant flow direction and in which single-phase liquid refrigerant flows.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2017
    Publication date: March 26, 2020
    Inventors: Atsushi MORITA, Yusuke TASHIRO, Komei NAKAJIMA, Hiroaki MAKINO, Yusuke TSUBOI
  • Publication number: 20200018530
    Abstract: An air conditioner includes a refrigerant circuit and refrigerant. The refrigerant circuit has a compressor, a condenser, a pressure-regulating valve, and an evaporator. The refrigerant is R32. The pressure-regulating valve includes a flow path causing the refrigerant flowing from the condenser to flow to the evaporator, a pressure reference chamber partitioned from the flow path and filled with inert gas, and a valve portion. The pressure-regulating valve is configured to adjust a degree of opening of the valve portion to adjust a flow rate of the refrigerant flowing through the flow path. The valve portion is configured to increase the degree of opening when a pressure in the flow path is higher than a pressure in the pressure reference chamber, and reduce the degree of opening when the pressure in the flow path is lower than the pressure in the pressure reference chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2016
    Publication date: January 16, 2020
    Inventors: Yusuke TASHIRO, Komei NAKAJIMA, Masakazu SATO, Yusuke ADACHI, Yasuhide HAYAMARU
  • Publication number: 20180347875
    Abstract: An air conditioner includes a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve, an evaporator, and a temperature detection unit. The temperature detection unit is attached to the condenser and is configured to detect a temperature of the refrigerant in the condenser. The expansion valve is configured to be capable of adjusting a flow rate per unit time of the refrigerant flowing through the expansion valve by adjusting a degree of opening of the expansion valve. The degree of opening of the expansion valve is increased when the temperature of the refrigerant detected by the temperature detection unit rises, and the degree of opening of the expansion valve is decreased when the temperature of the refrigerant detected by the temperature detection unit falls.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2015
    Publication date: December 6, 2018
    Inventors: Komei NAKAJIMA, Yusuke TASHIRO, Yasuhide HAYAMARU, Yusuke ADACHI
  • Patent number: 9863680
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a refrigerant circuit in which a compressor that compresses a refrigerant, an indoor-side heat exchanger serving as a radiator that exchanges heat between the refrigerant and a heating target, an expansion valve that decompresses the refrigerant by opening-degree adjustment, and an outdoor-side heat exchanger serving as an evaporator that exchanges heat between a heat-exchange target and the refrigerant are connected by pipes. The apparatus includes: an outdoor air temperature sensor that detects a temperature of outdoor air serving as the heat-exchange target; a discharge-side temperature sensor that detects a discharge temperature of the refrigerant discharged by the compressor; and a controller that, when the controller determines that a rotation speed of the compressor is a maximum and the temperature of the heat-exchange target is lower than a preset temperature, controls an opening degree of the expansion valve by using the discharge temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Komei Nakajima, Kosuke Tanaka, Hiroaki Makino, Kazuhide Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20150247660
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a refrigerant circuit in which a compressor that compresses a refrigerant, an indoor-side heat exchanger serving as a radiator that exchanges heat between the refrigerant and a heating target, an expansion valve that decompresses the refrigerant by opening-degree adjustment, and an outdoor-side heat exchanger serving as an evaporator that exchanges heat between a heat-exchange target and the refrigerant are connected by pipes. The apparatus includes: an outdoor air temperature sensor that detects a temperature of outdoor air serving as the heat-exchange target; a discharge-side temperature sensor that detects a discharge temperature of the refrigerant discharged by the compressor; and a controller that, when the controller determines that a rotation speed of the compressor is a maximum and the temperature of the heat-exchange target is lower than a preset temperature, controls an opening degree of the expansion valve by using the discharge temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2013
    Publication date: September 3, 2015
    Inventors: Komei Nakajima, Kosuke Tanaka, Hiroaki Makino, Kazuhide Yamamoto