Patents by Inventor Masaaki Kawakubo
Masaaki Kawakubo 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: 11656014Abstract: A heat exchanger includes a heat exchanging portion, a reservoir that performs gas-liquid separation on a gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant that flows out from the heat exchanging portion into a gas-phase refrigerant and a liquid-phase refrigerant and stores the liquid-phase refrigerant, and an inflow passage that allows the gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant flowing out from the heat exchanging portion to flow into the reservoir. The inflow passage is connected so as to be in communication with an inlet port of the reservoir which is disposed above a liquid surface of the liquid-phase refrigerant stored in the reservoir.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2020Date of Patent: May 23, 2023Assignee: DENSO CORPORATIONInventors: Ryohei Sugimura, Masaaki Kawakubo, Daiki Kato, Hiroshi Mieda, Tetsuya Ito
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Patent number: 11391499Abstract: In a heat pump cycle device, a flow passage switching portion includes a flow passage switching valve body configured to open and close a cooling side flow passage. A refrigerant circulation circuit includes a low-pressure flow passage through which a low-pressure refrigerant decompressed by a first decompressor flows toward a compressor in a heating mode, and a pre-evaporator flow passage provided between the flow passage switching valve body and a refrigerant inlet of an evaporator. The flow passage switching portion causes a pre-evaporator flow passage to communicate with the low-pressure flow passage while bypassing the evaporator when a refrigerant pressure in the low-pressure flow passage is lower than a refrigerant pressure in the pre-evaporator flow passage, in the heating mode.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 2020Date of Patent: July 19, 2022Assignee: DENSO CORPORATIONInventors: Daiki Kato, Masaaki Kawakubo, Tetsuya Ito, Yasuhiro Kawase, Ryohei Sugimura, Hiroshi Mieda
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Publication number: 20220034561Abstract: A refrigeration cycle device includes a refrigerant circuit switching device. The refrigerant circuit switching device is configured to switch among at least a first circuit and a second circuit. The first circuit conducts refrigerant, which is outputted from a heat releasing device, to a liquid storage and conducts the refrigerant, which is outputted from the liquid storage, to a first depressurizing device and conducts the refrigerant, which is depressurized by the first depressurizing device, to an external heat exchanger. The second circuit conducts the refrigerant, which is outputted from the external heat exchanger, to the liquid storage and conducts the refrigerant, which is outputted from the liquid storage, to a second depressurizing device and conducts the refrigerant, which is depressurized by the second depressurizing device, to an evaporating device.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 14, 2021Publication date: February 3, 2022Inventors: Yuuji SUWA, Etsuhisa YAMADA, Masao YASUNO, Daiki KATOU, Masaaki KAWAKUBO, Atsushi INABA, Yuuichi KAMI
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Patent number: 11225125Abstract: An integrated valve includes a body portion, a flow rate adjustment valve body, a flow passage switching valve body, and a shaft member. The body portion has formed therein a plurality of passages. The flow rate adjustment valve body is provided inside the body portion that adjusts a flow rate of fluid. The flow passage switching valve body is provided inside the body portion configured to switch a flow path of the predetermined fluid in the fluid circulation circuit, the flow passage switching valve body being switchable between distinct communication states. The shaft member is provided inside the body portion that interlocks the flow rate adjustment valve body and the flow passage switching valve body.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 2020Date of Patent: January 18, 2022Assignee: DENSO CORPORATIONInventors: Tetsuya Ito, Masaaki Kawakubo, Daiki Kato, Ryohei Sugimura, Yasuhiro Kawase
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Patent number: 11179999Abstract: A heat pump system includes a compressor that compresses and discharges a refrigerant, a decompressor that decompresses the refrigerant, an outdoor unit that exchanges heat between the refrigerant and an outside air, an evaporator that evaporates the refrigerant, a condenser that condenses the refrigerant, an internal heat exchanger, an accumulator that separates the refrigerant into a gas refrigerant and a liquid refrigerant, and a flow pathway changing portion. The internal heat exchanger includes a high-pressure passage through which a high-pressure refrigerant flows, and a low-pressure passage through which a low-pressure refrigerant flows, the internal heat exchanger exchanging heat between the refrigerant flowing through the high-pressure passage and the refrigerant flowing through the low-pressure passage. The flow pathway changing portion that switches between a cooling pathway and a heating pathway. According to this heat pump system, a cooling capacity and a heating capacity can be improved.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2016Date of Patent: November 23, 2021Assignee: DENSO CORPORATIONInventors: Hiroshi Mieda, Ryohei Sugimura, Masaaki Kawakubo, Yuichi Kami
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Patent number: 11143443Abstract: A heat exchanger includes: a heat exchanging portion configured to exchange heat between a refrigerant flowing through therein and air; a liquid reservoir configured to separate a gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant flowing out of the heat exchanging portion into a gas-phase refrigerant and a liquid-phase refrigerant, the liquid reservoir storing the liquid-phase refrigerant; and a refrigerant adjustment portion configured to adjust a flow state of the refrigerant flowing into the refrigerant adjustment portion through a refrigerant passage of the refrigeration cycle, supply the refrigerant to the heat exchanging portion and adjust an outflow state and an outflow destination of the refrigerant flowing out of the heat exchanging portion or the liquid reservoir. At least a part of the refrigerant adjustment portion is inserted into the liquid reservoir.Type: GrantFiled: April 3, 2017Date of Patent: October 12, 2021Assignee: DENSO CORPORATIONInventors: Ryohei Sugimura, Hiroshi Mieda, Masaaki Kawakubo, Daiki Kato, Tetsuya Ito
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Publication number: 20210063067Abstract: A heat exchanger includes a heat exchanging portion, a reservoir that performs gas-liquid separation on a gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant that flows out from the heat exchanging portion into a gas-phase refrigerant and a liquid-phase refrigerant and stores the liquid-phase refrigerant, and an inflow passage that allows the gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant flowing out from the heat exchanging portion to flow into the reservoir. The inflow passage is connected so as to be in communication with an inlet port of the reservoir which is disposed above a liquid surface of the liquid-phase refrigerant stored in the reservoir.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 16, 2020Publication date: March 4, 2021Inventors: Ryohei SUGIMURA, Masaaki KAWAKUBO, Daiki KATO, Hiroshi MIEDA, Tetsuya ITO
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Patent number: 10913332Abstract: In a heat exchange unit, a shutter device is disposed on a vehicle front side with respect to a coolant heat exchanger to open and close a passage for traveling air directed toward the coolant heat exchanger. A blower is switchable between a first blowing state in which air flows from the vehicle front side to the vehicle rear side and a second blowing state in which air flows from the vehicle rear side to the vehicle front side. In a case where a switch that makes a vehicle travelable is in an on state, a control unit switches the blower to the second blowing state, while an open degree of the shutter device is set at a closing side from a maximum open degree of the shutter device when a temperature of the engine coolant is equal to or lower than a predetermined temperature determination value.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 2017Date of Patent: February 9, 2021Assignee: DENSO CORPORATIONInventors: Go Sato, Takashi Yasuda, Koichi Harada, Ken Muto, Masaaki Kawakubo, Nobukazu Kuribayashi, Hiroyuki Sakane
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Patent number: 10899196Abstract: A refrigeration cycle device includes an exterior heat exchanger that includes a core portion including a stack of a plurality of tubes. The core portion has a first core portion, a second core portion and a third core portion each of which includes a tube group of the plurality of tubes. A flow direction of a refrigerant flowing through the second core portion in a heating operation is opposite to that in a cooling operation. Flow directions of the refrigerant flowing through the first core portion and the third core portion in the heating operation are same as those in the cooling operation.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2018Date of Patent: January 26, 2021Assignee: DENSO CORPORATIONInventor: Masaaki Kawakubo
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Patent number: 10845124Abstract: A heat exchanger includes a liquid reservoir configured to separate a gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant flowing out of an upstream heat exchanging portion into a gas-phase refrigerant and a liquid-phase refrigerant, and a refrigerant adjustment portion configured to adjust an outflow state and an outflow destination of the refrigerant flowing out of a downstream heat exchanging portion or the liquid reservoir. The liquid reservoir includes a liquid reserving portion configured to store the liquid-phase refrigerant and a gas reserving portion configured to store the gas-phase refrigerant. The refrigerant adjustment portion faces the liquid reserving portion across the gas reserving portion.Type: GrantFiled: April 3, 2017Date of Patent: November 24, 2020Assignee: DENSO CORPORATIONInventors: Ryohei Sugimura, Hiroshi Mieda, Masaaki Kawakubo, Daiki Kato, Tetsuya Ito
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Publication number: 20200232726Abstract: A heat exchanger has an inflow port through which refrigerant flows, a cooling outflow port through which the refrigerant flows out during a cooling operation, and a heating outflow port through which the refrigerant flows out during a heating operation. A distance between the inflow port and the heating outflow port is shorter than a distance between the inflow port and the cooling outflow port.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 6, 2020Publication date: July 23, 2020Inventors: Ryohei SUGIMURA, Masaaki KAWAKUBO, Daiki KATO, Tetsuya ITO, Hiroshi MIEDA
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Publication number: 20200158382Abstract: In a heat pump cycle device, a flow passage switching portion includes a flow passage switching valve body configured to open and close a cooling side flow passage. A refrigerant circulation circuit includes a low-pressure flow passage through which a low-pressure refrigerant decompressed by a first decompressor flows toward a compressor in a heating mode, and a pre-evaporator flow passage provided between the flow passage switching valve body and a refrigerant inlet of an evaporator. The flow passage switching portion causes a pre-evaporator flow passage to communicate with the low-pressure flow passage while bypassing the evaporator when a refrigerant pressure in the low-pressure flow passage is lower than a refrigerant pressure in the pre-evaporator flow passage, in the heating mode.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 28, 2020Publication date: May 21, 2020Inventors: Daiki KATO, Masaaki KAWAKUBO, Tetsuya ITO, Yasuhiro KAWASE, Ryohei SUGIMURA, Hiroshi MIEDA
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Publication number: 20200156444Abstract: An integrated valve includes a body portion, a flow rate adjustment valve body, a flow passage switching valve body, and a shaft member. The body portion has formed therein a plurality of passages. The flow rate adjustment valve body is provided inside the body portion that adjusts a flow rate of fluid. The flow passage switching valve body is provided inside the body portion configured to switch a flow path of the predetermined fluid in the fluid circulation circuit, the flow passage switching valve body being switchable between distinct communication states. The shaft member is provided inside the body portion that interlocks the flow rate adjustment valve body and the flow passage switching valve body.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 28, 2020Publication date: May 21, 2020Inventors: Tetsuya ITO, Masaaki KAWAKUBO, Daiki KATO, Ryohei SUGIMURA, Yasuhiro KAWASE
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Patent number: 10520231Abstract: A first valve member switches between a first communication state, in which a first inlet passage communicates with a first outlet passage and a second inlet passage is closed, and a second communication state, in which the second inlet passage communicates with the first outlet passage and the first inlet passage is closed. A second valve member switches between an opening state and a throttle state in which a smaller volume of a fluid flows from the third inlet passage to the second outlet passage as compared to the opening state. A valve driving member switches between a first operation state, in which the first valve member sets the first communication state and the second valve member sets the opening state, and a second operation state, in which the first valve member sets the second communication state and the second valve member sets the throttle state.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2016Date of Patent: December 31, 2019Assignee: DENSO CORPORATIONInventors: Tetsuya Itou, Masaaki Kawakubo
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Patent number: 10451317Abstract: A refrigeration cycle device is configured to be selectively switchable between an air-cooling first refrigerant circuit that causes refrigerant to flow out of a liquid-phase refrigerant outlet of a gas-liquid separator, and an air-heating second refrigerant circuit that causes the refrigerant to flow out of a gas-phase refrigerant outlet of the gas-liquid separator. In the refrigeration cycle device, an oil separator is disposed in a refrigerant passage that leads from a heat dissipation device to a first expansion valve. Thus, when the first refrigerant circuit is configured in the refrigeration cycle device, the refrigerant passing through the oil separator is in a single gas phase or in an almost gas phase, so that oil can be easily separated from the refrigerant. Furthermore, when the refrigerant circulates through the first refrigerant circuit, oil can be retained at a position other than the gas-liquid separator.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 2015Date of Patent: October 22, 2019Assignee: DENSO CORPORATIONInventor: Masaaki Kawakubo
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Patent number: 10391839Abstract: A refrigeration cycle device includes a pre-evaporator decompression unit that decompresses refrigerant which flowed out from an exterior heat exchanger, and an evaporator passage that guides the refrigerant which flowed out from the exterior heat exchanger to a suction port of a compressor while passing through a pre-evaporator decompression unit and an evaporator. Further, the refrigeration cycle device includes a bypass passage that guides the refrigerant which flowed out from the exterior heat exchanger to the suction port of the compressor while bypassing the pre-evaporator decompression unit and the evaporator, a pre-exterior device switching unit, and a passage switching unit that opens and closes the bypass passage. Further, the pre-exterior device switching unit and the passage switching unit form a coupled valve where the pre-exterior device switching unit and the passage switching unit are mechanically coupled.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2016Date of Patent: August 27, 2019Assignee: DENSO CORPORATIONInventors: Masaaki Kawakubo, Tetsuya Itou, Satoshi Itoh
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Publication number: 20190135084Abstract: In a heat exchange unit, a shutter device is disposed on a vehicle front side with respect to a coolant heat exchanger to open and close a passage for traveling air directed toward the coolant heat exchanger. A blower is switchable between a first blowing state in which air flows from the vehicle front side to the vehicle rear side and a second blowing state in which air flows from the vehicle rear side to the vehicle front side. In a case where a switch that makes a vehicle travelable is in an on state, a control unit switches the blower to the second blowing state, while an open degree of the shutter device is set at a closing side from a maximum open degree of the shutter device when a temperature of the engine coolant is equal to or lower than a predetermined temperature determination value.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 2, 2017Publication date: May 9, 2019Inventors: Go SATO, Takashi YASUDA, Koichi HARADA, Ken MUTO, Masaaki KAWAKUBO, Nobukazu KURIBAYASHI, Hiroyuki SAKANE
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Publication number: 20190128575Abstract: A heat exchanger includes: a heat exchanging portion configured to exchange heat between a refrigerant flowing through therein and air; a liquid reservoir configured to separate a gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant flowing out of the heat exchanging portion into a gas-phase refrigerant and a liquid-phase refrigerant, the liquid reservoir storing the liquid-phase refrigerant; and a refrigerant adjustment portion configured to adjust a flow state of the refrigerant flowing into the refrigerant adjustment portion through a refrigerant passage of the refrigeration cycle, supply the refrigerant to the heat exchanging portion and adjust an outflow state and an outflow destination of the refrigerant flowing out of the heat exchanging portion or the liquid reservoir. At least a part of the refrigerant adjustment portion is inserted into the liquid reservoir.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 3, 2017Publication date: May 2, 2019Applicant: Denso CorporationInventors: Ryohei SUGIMURA, Hiroshi MIEDA, Masaaki KAWAKUBO, Daiki KATO, Tetsuya ITO
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Publication number: 20190128577Abstract: A heat exchanger includes a heat exchanging portion, a reservoir that performs gas-liquid separation on a gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant that flows out from the heat exchanging portion into a gas-phase refrigerant and a liquid-phase refrigerant and stores the liquid-phase refrigerant, and an inflow passage that allows the gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant flowing out from the heat exchanging portion to flow into the reservoir. The inflow passage is connected so as to be in communication with an inlet port of the reservoir which is disposed above a liquid surface of the liquid-phase refrigerant stored in the reservoir.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 3, 2017Publication date: May 2, 2019Inventors: Ryohei SUGIMURA, Masaaki KAWAKUBO, Daiki KATO, Hiroshi MIEDA, Tetsuya ITO
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Publication number: 20190118615Abstract: A refrigeration cycle device includes an exterior heat exchanger that includes a core portion including a stack of a plurality of tubes. The core portion has a first core portion, a second core portion and a third core portion each of which includes a tube group of the plurality of tubes. A flow direction of a refrigerant flowing through the second core portion in a heating operation is opposite to that in a cooling operation. Flow directions of the refrigerant flowing through the first core portion and the third core portion in the heating operation are same as those in the cooling operation.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 18, 2018Publication date: April 25, 2019Inventor: Masaaki KAWAKUBO