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).
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Patent number: 11940190Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 16, 2019Date of Patent: March 26, 2024Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric CorporationInventors: Komei Nakajima, Yusuke Tashiro
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Publication number: 20230175744Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: July 7, 2020Publication date: June 8, 2023Inventor: Komei NAKAJIMA
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Publication number: 20230131781Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: May 11, 2020Publication date: April 27, 2023Inventor: Komei NAKAJIMA
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Publication number: 20220214088Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: July 16, 2019Publication date: July 7, 2022Inventors: Komei NAKAJIMA, Yusuke TASHIRO
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Patent number: 11378286Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 12, 2017Date of Patent: July 5, 2022Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric CorporationInventors: Atsushi Morita, Yusuke Tashiro, Komei Nakajima, Hiroaki Makino, Yusuke Tsuboi
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Publication number: 20220136741Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: April 5, 2019Publication date: May 5, 2022Inventors: Komei NAKAJIMA, Naoki WAKUTA, Yusuke TASHIRO
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Air-conditioning apparatus provided with refrigerant circuit capable of performing heating operation
Patent number: 11204191Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 18, 2017Date of Patent: December 21, 2021Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric CorporationInventors: Komei Nakajima, Yusuke Tashiro, Akinori Sakabe, Naoki Nakagawa -
Patent number: 11181307Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: November 22, 2017Date of Patent: November 23, 2021Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric CorporationInventors: Komei Nakajima, Haruo Nakano, Hideki Tsukino
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Publication number: 20210180842Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: February 22, 2021Publication date: June 17, 2021Inventors: Yusuke TASHIRO, Komei NAKAJIMA, Masakazu SATO, Yusuke ADACHI, Yasuhide HAYAMARU
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Publication number: 20210172659Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: February 22, 2021Publication date: June 10, 2021Inventors: Yusuke TASHIRO, Komei NAKAJIMA, Masakazu SATO, Yusuke ADACHI, Yasuhide HAYAMARU
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Publication number: 20200318877Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: November 22, 2017Publication date: October 8, 2020Inventors: Komei NAKAJIMA, Haruo NAKANO, Hideki TSUKINO
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Publication number: 20200284484Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: April 18, 2017Publication date: September 10, 2020Inventors: Komei NAKAJIMA, Yusuke TASHIRO, Akinori SAKABE, Naoki NAKAGAWA
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Publication number: 20200263916Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 20, 2017Publication date: August 20, 2020Inventors: Komei NAKAJIMA, Masashi FUJITSUKA
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Patent number: 10731904Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 2, 2015Date of Patent: August 4, 2020Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric CorporationInventors: Komei Nakajima, Yusuke Tashiro, Yasuhide Hayamaru, Yusuke Adachi
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Publication number: 20200096208Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 12, 2017Publication date: March 26, 2020Inventors: Atsushi MORITA, Yusuke TASHIRO, Komei NAKAJIMA, Hiroaki MAKINO, Yusuke TSUBOI
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Publication number: 20200018530Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: October 28, 2016Publication date: January 16, 2020Inventors: Yusuke TASHIRO, Komei NAKAJIMA, Masakazu SATO, Yusuke ADACHI, Yasuhide HAYAMARU
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Publication number: 20180347875Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 2, 2015Publication date: December 6, 2018Inventors: Komei NAKAJIMA, Yusuke TASHIRO, Yasuhide HAYAMARU, Yusuke ADACHI
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Patent number: 9863680Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 20, 2013Date of Patent: January 9, 2018Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric CorporationInventors: Komei Nakajima, Kosuke Tanaka, Hiroaki Makino, Kazuhide Yamamoto
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Publication number: 20150247660Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 20, 2013Publication date: September 3, 2015Inventors: Komei Nakajima, Kosuke Tanaka, Hiroaki Makino, Kazuhide Yamamoto