Patents by Inventor Masamichi Yano

Masamichi Yano 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: 6397628
    Abstract: An expansion valve comprises an orifice 30 formed in a valve body 10 and a valve member 9 fixed to a movable member 18. Movement of a diaphragm 4 is transmitted to an actuating rod 17 via a member 16, and the actuating rod 17 actuated the movable member 18 to control the opening amount of the path between the valve member 9 and the orifice 30. An orifice member 100 affixed to the orifice 30 is made of a material harder than the valve body 10, and free from erosion or other damage by a refrigerant, which will otherwise occur at the valve opening portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: Fujikoki Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Watanabe, Masamichi Yano
  • Publication number: 20020026802
    Abstract: An expansion valve 101 comprises a substantially prismatic-shaped valve body 301 made of aluminum alloy. On the valve body 301 is formed a first passage 32 through which a liquid-phase refrigerant travels towards an evaporator, and a second passage 34 through which a gas-phase refrigerant travels from the evaporator toward a compressor. On the upper portion of the valve body 301 is mounted a power element portion 36 for driving the valve mounted in the middle of a first passage 32. On the side surfaces 301a of the valve body 301 are formed protruding portions 301c, and to the protruding portions, penetrating holes 50 for inserting the bolt for mounting the expansion valve are formed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2001
    Publication date: March 7, 2002
    Applicant: FUJIKOKI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masamichi Yano, Kazuhiko Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20020008150
    Abstract: An expansion valve comprises an orifice 30 formed in a valve body 10 and a valve member 9 fixed to a movable member 18. Movement of a diaphragm 4 is transmitted to an actuating rod 17 via a member 16, and the actuating rod 17 actuated the movable member 18 to control the opening amount of the path between the valve member 9 and the orifice 30. An orifice member 100 affixed to the orifice 30 is made of a material harder than the valve body 10, and free from erosion or other damage by a refrigerant, which will otherwise occur at the valve opening portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2001
    Publication date: January 24, 2002
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Watanabe, Masamichi Yano
  • Publication number: 20010032886
    Abstract: An expansion valve 101 comprises a substantially prismatic-shaped valve body 301 made of aluminum alloy. On the valve body 301 is formed a first passage 32 through which a liquid-phase refrigerant travels towards an evaporator, and a second passage 34 through which a gas-phase refrigerant travels from the evaporator toward a compressor. On the upper portion of the valve body 301 is mounted a power element portion 36 for driving the valve mounted in the middle of a first passage 32. On the side surfaces 301a of the valve body 301 are formed protruding portions 301c, and to the protruding portions, penetrating holes 50 for inserting the bolt for mounting the expansion valve are formed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2001
    Publication date: October 25, 2001
    Applicant: FUJIKOKI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masamichi Yano, Kazuhiko Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20010027662
    Abstract: A power element portion 36′ mounted on the upper portion of an expansion valve body comprises an upper cover 36d and a lower cover 36h, and is divided into an upper pressure chamber 36b and a lower pressure chamber 36c by a diaphragm 36a. A heat sensing drive shaft 101 is formed of a large radius portion 105 and a heat conducting shaft 103 integrally formed thereto. The stopper portion 104 contacting the lower surface of the diaphragm 36a is a member which is formed separately from the heat sensing drive shaft 101, and supported within the lower cover 36h. When the expansion valve is taken apart, the heat sensing drive shaft 101 is pulled out from the inside of the mounting seat 362 of the power element portion 36′, and the refrigerant remaining inside the upper pressure chamber 36b is taken out and collected from the side of the diaphragm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2001
    Publication date: October 11, 2001
    Applicant: FUJIKOKI CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masamichi Yano
  • Patent number: 6293472
    Abstract: A power element portion 36′ mounted on the upper portion of an expansion valve body comprises an upper cover 36d and a lower cover 36h, and is divided into an upper pressure chamber 36b and a lower pressure chamber 36c by a diaphragm 36a. A heat sensing drive shaft 101 is formed of a large radius portion 105 and a heat conducting shaft 103 integrally formed thereto. The stopper portion 104 contacting the lower surface of the diaphragm 36a is a member which is formed separately from the heat sensing drive shaft 101, and supported within the lower cover 36h. When the expansion valve is taken apart, the heat sensing drive shaft 101 is pulled out from the inside of the mounting seat 362 of the power element portion 36′, and the refrigerant remaining inside the upper pressure chamber 36b is taken out and collected from the side of the diaphragm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2001
    Assignee: Fujikoki Corporation
    Inventor: Masamichi Yano
  • Patent number: 6241157
    Abstract: An expansion valve 101 comprises a substantially prismatic-shaped valve body 301 made of aluminum alloy. On the valve body 301 is formed a first passage 32 through which a liquid-phase refrigerant travels towards an evaporator, and a second passage 34 through which a gas-phase refrigerant travels from the evaporator toward a compressor. On the upper portion of the valve body 301 is mounted a power element portion 36 for driving the valve mounted in the middle of a first passage 32. On the side surfaces 301a of the valve body 301 are formed protruding portions 301c, and to the protruding portions, penetrating holes 50 for inserting the bolt for mounting the expansion valve are formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2001
    Assignee: Fujikoki Corporation
    Inventors: Masamichi Yano, Kazuhiko Watanabe
  • Patent number: 6206294
    Abstract: An expansion valve includes a valve body, a valve, a power element, and an aluminum heat sensing shaft. The heat sensing shaft has a hole that makes the heat transfer area of the heat sensing shaft small. Consequently, in a refrigeration system the response of the expansion valve is relatively insensitive to changes in a heat load of an evaporator. Thus, unwanted hunting phenomenon in the refrigeration system is prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2001
    Assignee: Fujikoki Corporation
    Inventors: Mitsuya Fujimoto, Kazuhiko Watanabe, Masamichi Yano
  • Patent number: 6189800
    Abstract: The expansion valve of the present invention comprises of a heat sensing shaft 36f equipped to the expansion valve 10 and a diaphragm 36a contacting its surface, a large stopper portion 312 for receiving the diaphragm 36a, a large radius portion 314 movably inserted to the lower pressure activate chamber 36c and contacting the back surface of the stopper portion 312 at one end surface and the center of the other end surface formed at the projection 315, and a rod portion 316 whose one end surface fit to the projection 315 of the large radius portion 314 and the other end surface continuing from the valve means 32b, wherein a concave 317 is formed on the outer peripheral of said projection 315. This concave 317 is the fitting means for fitting the resin 101 having low heat transmission rate to the heat sensing shaft in order to prevent the occurrence of hunting phenomenon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2001
    Assignee: Fujikoki Corporation
    Inventors: Mitsuya Fujimoto, Kazuhiko Watanabe, Masamichi Yano
  • Patent number: 6164624
    Abstract: An expansion valve comprises an orifice formed in a valve body and a valve member fixed to a movable member. Movement of a diaphragm is transmitted to an actuating rod via a member and the actuating rod actuated the movable member to control the opening amount of the path between the valve member and the orifice. An orifice member affixed to the orifice is made of a material harder than the valve body, and free from erosion or other damage by a refrigerant, which will otherwise occur at the valve opening portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2000
    Assignee: Fujikoki Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Watanabe, Masamichi Yano
  • Patent number: 6145753
    Abstract: A thermal expansion valve has a valve housing, a valve, a valve controller, a rod, and a seal ring. The valve housing has a first refrigerant passage, which is adapted to pass a liquid-phase refrigerant, and a second refrigerant passage, which is adapted to communicate a gas-phase refrigerant. The valve housing has a wall that separates the first and second passages. This wall has an opening that is in fluid communication with the first and second passages. The valve controls flow of the liquid-phase refrigerant entering the first passage. The valve controller is mounted on the valve housing and has a diaphragm and first and second chambers separated by the diaphragm. The rod extends between the diaphragm and the valve and is movably displaceable through the opening in the wall to open and close the valve to control the amount of the liquid-phase refrigerant entering the first passage. The seal ring is positioned in the opening and engages the opening surface of the wall and the rod to seal the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2000
    Assignee: Fujikoki Corporation
    Inventors: Masamichi Yano, Kazuhiko Watanabe
  • Patent number: 6092733
    Abstract: A hollow extrusion device includes a piston for pushing a billet of aluminum alloy through a first molding die placed on an opposite side of the billet. The molding die may comprise any number of cavities, but preferably comprises three cavities. On a side of the first die from which the extruded billet exits, a second die is provided and forms an outer shape of the expansion valve body. Subsequent to passing through the second die, mandrels are provided which form penetrating holes in the extruded, shaped material. One mandrel forms a second path in the expansion valve body, and two other mandrel form two bolt holes in the expansion valve body. The extruded, shaped material is cut to a set length, then further processed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2000
    Assignee: Fujikoki Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Watanabe, Masamichi Yano
  • Patent number: 6056202
    Abstract: An expansion valve includes a valve body, a valve, a power element, and an aluminum heat sensing shaft. The heat sensing shaft has a hole with a bottom reaching a heat sensing portion thereof. The hole makes the heat transfer area of the heat sensing shaft small. Consequently, in a refrigeration system the response of the expansion valve is relatively insensitive to changes in a heat load of an evaporator. Thus, unwanted hunting phenomenon in the refrigeration system is prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2000
    Assignee: Fujikoki Corporation
    Inventors: Mitsuya Fujimoto, Kazuhiko Watanabe, Masamichi Yano
  • Patent number: 6012301
    Abstract: A valve body of a thermal type expansion valve comprises of a fist path 32 and a second path 34 as the valve body 30, and a rod member 316 forming a heat sensing shaft 36f is a shaft having a small diameter, and according to the displacement of the diaphragm 361 of the power element member 36, the shaft is driven back and forth crossing the path 34. The rod member 316 has an overall length whose ratio is 17 to 28 against the outer diameter size, and is formed not to buckle against the stress added in the axial direction, which contributes to the miniaturization and lighter weight of the valve as a whole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2000
    Assignee: Fujikoki Corporation
    Inventors: Mitsuya Fujimoto, Kazuhiko Watanabe, Masamichi Yano
  • Patent number: 5957376
    Abstract: The expansion valve of the present invention comprises of a heat sensing shaft 36f equipped to the expansion valve 10 and a diaphragm 36a contacting its surface, a large stopper portion 312 for receiving the diaphragm 36a, a large radius portion 314 movably inserted to the lower pressure activate chamber 36c and contacting the back surface of the stopper portion 312 at one end surface and the center of the other end surface formed at the projection 315, and a rod portion 316 whose one end surface fit to the projection 315 of the large radius portion 314 and the other end surface continuing from the valve means 32b, wherein a concave 317 is formed on the outer peripheral of said projection 315. This concave 317 is the fitting means for fitting the resin 101 having low heat transmission rate to the heat sensing shaft in order to prevent the occurrence of hunting phenomenon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Assignee: Fujikori Corporation
    Inventors: Mitsuya Fujimoto, Kazuhiko Watanabe, Masamichi Yano
  • Patent number: 5799499
    Abstract: A unit incorporating a reservoir tank and an expansion valve into a single built-in structure comprises a reservoir tank 10 sealed by a cover 20, and an expansion valve 30 fixed on the cover 20. A refrigerant pipe 40 extending through the cover 20 introduces a refrigerant from a compressor through a condenser into the reservoir tank 10. The refrigerant introduced into the expansion valve 30 through a pipe 50 increases in volume, and then enters an evaporator. After passing the evaporator, the refrigerant in the gaseous phase flows through pipe 62 into the expansion valve 30, then delivers thermal information of the refrigerant to a heat sensitive member of the expansion valve, and travels in a pipe 70 extending into and from the reservoir tank 10. While traveling along the pipe 70, the gaseous refrigerant exchanges heat with the liquid refrigerant stored in the reservoir tank, and then returns to the compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1998
    Assignee: Fujikoki Corporation
    Inventors: Masamichi Yano, Takuji Furuta
  • Patent number: 5361597
    Abstract: A thermostatic expansion valve includes a valve housing having upper and lower passages. In the lower passage a valve member urged by a spring toward a valve seat of a valve port formed therein is provided. At the top of the housing a driving unit for driving the valve member to open and close the port is attached. The unit has a housing partitioned by a diaphragm into upper and lower pressure operating chambers. A diaphragm driving fluid is filled in the upper chamber, and the lower chamber is connected to a refrigerant circulating pipe between an evaporator pressure regulator and a compressor while the upper passage to the pipe between an evaporator and the regulator and the lower passage to the pipe between the evaporator and an condenser. In the housing a valve member driving rod extends from the diaphragm to the port and crosses the upper passage. The top end of the rod is hermetically fixed to the diaphragm and the lower end abuts the valve member against the spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 8, 1994
    Assignee: Fuji Koki Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tanaka Hazime, Masamichi Yano, Tetsuro Ikoma
  • Patent number: 5297728
    Abstract: A thermal expansion valve drives a valve body in a housing through a driving member by a gas pressure of a heat sensitive working fluid sealed in a power element, neighboring the housing, by a diaphragm. The driving member holds a heat ballast at its blind hole opened to the working fluid. A diaphragm has a center opening surrounded by a tubular projection, the diaphragm side end portion of the driving member is inserted in the opening, and a diaphragm catch is fitted on the outer periphery of the projection. The catch, the extended end of the projection and the end of the driving member are airtightly welded to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 29, 1994
    Assignee: Fuji Koki Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masamichi Yano, Kazuhiko Watanabe, Tetsurou Ikoma
  • Patent number: 5228619
    Abstract: A power element-valve housing combined type thermal expansion valve has a diaphragm in an element and a driving member for driving a valve body in a housing by a diaphragm deflection. The diaphragm has a center opening surrounded by a tubular projection, the driving member has an outer flange coaxially supporting the diaphragm and a heat-balance containing blind hold opened to a heat sensitive working fluid in a sealed chamber in the element. A diaphragm catch fits on the projection's periphery and is airtightly welded with a coaxial annular ridge on a supporting surface of the flange to sandwich the diaphragm with the flange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1993
    Assignee: Fuji Koki Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masamichi Yano, Kazuhiko Watanabe, Tetsurou Ikoma, Takashi Okayama
  • Patent number: D427664
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2000
    Assignee: Fujikoki Corporation
    Inventors: Masamichi Yano, Kazuhiko Watanabe