Patents by Inventor Masanobu Wada
Masanobu Wada 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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Publication number: 20190292947Abstract: A Rankine cycle apparatus includes a pump, an evaporator, an expander, a condenser, and an internal heat exchanger. The internal heat exchanger allows heat exchange to take place between a working fluid discharged from the expander and a working fluid discharged from the pump. A temperature of the working fluid at an inlet of the expander is set so that a temperature of the working fluid at an outlet of the expander be higher than a saturation temperature on a high-pressure side of the cycle.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 14, 2019Publication date: September 26, 2019Inventors: Takumi HIKICHI, Osao KIDO, Atsuo OKAICHI, Masaya HONMA, Masanobu WADA, Osamu KOSUDA
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Patent number: 10364708Abstract: A Rankine cycle apparatus includes a pump, an evaporator, an expander, a condenser, and an internal heat exchanger. The internal heat exchanger allows heat exchange to take place between a working fluid discharged from the expander and a working fluid discharged from the pump. A temperature of the working fluid at an inlet of the expander is set so that a temperature of the working fluid at an outlet of the expander be higher than a saturation temperature on a high-pressure side of the cycle.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 2015Date of Patent: July 30, 2019Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.Inventors: Takumi Hikichi, Osao Kido, Atsuo Okaichi, Masaya Honma, Masanobu Wada, Osamu Kosuda
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Patent number: 9952002Abstract: A heat transfer fin (3) comprises a plate-like base section (4), a cylindrical collar section (5), a recessed section (7) which has a sloped surface (7a), and a flare section (6) which, when combined with another heat transfer fin (3), is in surface contact with the sloped surface (7a) of the another heat transfer fin (3). The sloped surface (7a) of the recessed section (7) and the root of the collar section (5) are connected, the connection portion where the sloped surface (7a) of the recessed section (7) and the collar section (5) are connected is bent at an acute angle, and the root of the collar section (5) reaches a position beyond a reference plane (S) which is in contact with a surface (4a) of the base section (4), the surface (4a) being located on the side opposite the flare section (6).Type: GrantFiled: April 7, 2014Date of Patent: April 24, 2018Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.Inventors: Masanobu Wada, Masaaki Nagai, Tetsuya Masuda
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Patent number: 9714586Abstract: A CHP system includes a combustor (heat source), a Rankine cycle apparatus, and a second heat exchanger. The Rankine cycle apparatus includes, as an evaporator, a first heat exchanger that absorbs thermal energy produced in the combustor. The second heat exchanger is located farther from the combustor than is the evaporator, is in direct contact with the evaporator or in indirect contact with the evaporator via a thermally-conductive member, absorbs thermal energy produced in the combustor, and transfers the thermal energy to a heat medium.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 2015Date of Patent: July 25, 2017Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.Inventors: Takumi Hikichi, Osao Kido, Atsuo Okaichi, Masaya Honma, Osamu Kosuda, Masanobu Wada
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Patent number: 9714581Abstract: A Rankine cycle apparatus (1A) of the present disclosure includes a main circuit (10), a heat exchange portion (HX), a bypass flow path (20), a flow rate-adjusting mechanism (3), and a pair of temperature sensors (7A). The main circuit (10) is formed by an expander (11), a condenser (13), a pump (14), and an evaporator (15) that are circularly connected in this order. The heat exchange portion (HX) is located in the main circuit (10) at a position between an outlet of the expander (11) and an inlet of the pump (14). The bypass flow path (20) branches from the main circuit (10) at a position between an outlet of the evaporator (15) and an inlet of the expander (11), and joins to the main circuit (10) at a position between the outlet of the expander (11) and an inlet of the heat exchange portion (HX). The flow rate-adjusting mechanism (3) adjusts the flow rate of the working fluid in the bypass flow path (20).Type: GrantFiled: January 8, 2014Date of Patent: July 25, 2017Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.Inventors: Atsuo Okaichi, Osao Kido, Takumi Hikichi, Osamu Kosuda, Masaya Honma, Masanobu Wada
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Patent number: 9695825Abstract: A rotary compressor (100A) includes a closed casing (1), a compression mechanism (48), a lower end-face plate (34), and a communication hole (50). An oil reservoir (12) is formed at the bottom of the closed casing (1). The lower end-face plate (34) divides the oil reservoir (12) into a plurality of sections (12a) and (12b) in the vertical direction. The plurality of sections of the oil reservoir (12) communicate with each other through the communication hole (50). The communication hole (50) is located on the same side as a discharge port (8b) of the compression mechanism (48) with respect to a reference plane (H1).Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 2013Date of Patent: July 4, 2017Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.Inventors: Takumi Hikichi, Kentaro Shii, Masanobu Wada, Tadayoshi Shoyama
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Patent number: 9644896Abstract: A fin-and-tube heat exchanger comprises: fins (31) which each have flat sections (35), first sloped sections (36), and second sloped sections (38); and heat transfer pipes (21). If a flat plane which is in contact, from the side opposite the crest of a ridge (34), with the upstream end and downstream end of the first sloped sections (36) in the air flow direction is a reference flat plane (H1), the angle between the reference flat plane (H1) and each of the second sloped sections (38) measured in a region upstream of a through-hole in the air flow direction is ?2, then the range of ?2 is determined by the relationship 0°<?2<tan?1[(L±?)/{(S1?D1)/2?L/tan ?1}].Type: GrantFiled: April 9, 2014Date of Patent: May 9, 2017Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.Inventors: Masaaki Nagai, Masanobu Wada
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Patent number: 9638066Abstract: A Rankine cycle apparatus includes a pump, an evaporator, an expander, and a condenser. The evaporator has a plurality of heat transfer tubes arranged in rows in a flow direction of a high-temperature fluid to be heat-exchanged with a working fluid. The heat transfer tube located in a most upstream row in the flow direction of the high-temperature fluid is defined as a most upstream heat transfer tube. For example, the most upstream heat transfer tube forms an inlet of the evaporator so that the working fluid flows into the evaporator through the inlet and first passes through the most upstream heat transfer tube.Type: GrantFiled: July 6, 2015Date of Patent: May 2, 2017Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.Inventors: Masaya Honma, Atsuo Okaichi, Osao Kido, Takumi Hikichi, Masanobu Wada, Osamu Kosuda
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Patent number: 9568004Abstract: A rotary compressor (100) includes a closed casing (1), a cylinder (15), a piston (28), a lower bearing member (7), a vane (33), a suction port (20), a discharge port (41), and a partition member (10). The partition member (10) is attached to the lower bearing member (7) so as to form a refrigerant discharge space (52) serving as a flow path of a refrigerant discharged from a discharge chamber (26b) through the discharge port (41). The lower bearing member (7) is provided with a first recess (7t) on the same side as the suction port (20) with respect to a reference plane, the reference plane being a plane including a central axis of the cylinder (15) and a center of the vane (33) when the vane (33) protrudes maximally toward the central axis of the cylinder (15). A portion of oil stored in an oil reservoir (22) flows into the first recess (7t), and thereby an oil retaining portion (53) is formed.Type: GrantFiled: November 14, 2012Date of Patent: February 14, 2017Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.Inventors: Takeshi Ogata, Yu Shiotani, Takumi Hikichi, Kentaro Shii, Tadayoshi Shoyama, Masanobu Wada, Hiroshi Hasegawa, Hirofumi Yoshida, Hiroaki Nakai, Akira Hiwata, Daisuke Funakosi, Ryuichi Ohno, Tsuyoshi Karino
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Patent number: 9512841Abstract: A rotary compressor (100) includes a closed casing (1), a cylinder (15), a piston (28), a lower bearing member (72), a vane (33), a suction port (20), a discharge port (41), and a partition member (64). The partition member (64) is attached to the lower bearing member (72) so as to form a space enclosed by the partition member (64) and the lower bearing member (72) at a position adjacent to the lower bearing member (72). A portion of an oil stored in the oil reservoir (22) flows into the enclosed space, and thereby an oil retaining portion (53) is formed. The oil retaining portion (53) is located on the same side as the suction port (20) with respect to a reference plane (H1).Type: GrantFiled: November 14, 2012Date of Patent: December 6, 2016Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.Inventors: Takeshi Ogata, Yu Shiotani, Takumi Hikichi, Kentaro Shii, Tadayoshi Shoyama, Masanobu Wada, Hiroshi Hasegawa, Hirofumi Yoshida, Hiroaki Nakai, Akira Hiwata, Daisuke Funakosi, Ryuichi Ohno, Tsuyoshi Karino
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Patent number: 9500159Abstract: An electricity generation unit 1A includes a combustor 11, a heater 13, and a Rankine cycle circuit 20. The combustor 11 combusts a solid fuel. A combustion gas generated in the combustor 11 passes through a flue 12. The heater 13 contains a heat storage material, and heats the heat storage material by allowing heat exchange to take place between the combustion gas in the flue 12 and the heat storage material. The Rankine cycle circuit 20 has an evaporator 21 that evaporates a working fluid in the Rankine cycle by allowing heat exchange to take place between the heat storage material heated in the heater 13 and the working fluid. With this configuration, stable operation of an electricity generation unit using a combustion gas of a solid fuel is achieved.Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 2013Date of Patent: November 22, 2016Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.Inventors: Atsuo Okaichi, Osao Kido, Takumi Hikichi, Masaya Honma, Masanobu Wada, Osamu Kosuda
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Publication number: 20160054065Abstract: A fin-and-tube heat exchanger comprises: fins (31) which each have flat sections (35), first sloped sections (36), and second sloped sections (38); and heat transfer pipes (21). If a flat plane which is in contact, from the side opposite the crest of a ridge (34), with the upstream end and downstream end of the first sloped sections (36) in the air flow direction is a reference flat plane (H1), the angle between the reference flat plane (H1) and each of the second sloped sections (38) measured in a region upstream of a through-hole in the air flow direction is ?2, then the range of ?2 is determined by the relationship ?°<?2<tan?1[(L±?)/{(S1?D1)/2?L/tan ?1}].Type: ApplicationFiled: April 9, 2014Publication date: February 25, 2016Inventors: Masaaki NAGAI, Masanobu WADA
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Publication number: 20160047606Abstract: A heat transfer fin (3) comprises a plate-like base section (4), a cylindrical collar section (5), a recessed section (7) which has a sloped surface (7a), and a flare section (6) which, when combined with another heat transfer fin (3), is in surface contact with the sloped surface (7a) of the another heat transfer fin (3). The sloped surface (7a) of the recessed section (7) and the root of the collar section (5) are connected, the connection portion where the sloped surface (7a) of the recessed section (7) and the collar section (5) are connected is bent at an acute angle, and the root of the collar section (5) reaches a position beyond a reference plane (S) which is in contact with a surface (4a) of the base section (4), the surface (4a) being located on the side opposite the flare section (6).Type: ApplicationFiled: April 7, 2014Publication date: February 18, 2016Inventors: Masanobu WADA, Masaaki NAGAI, Tetsuya MASUDA
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Publication number: 20150308294Abstract: A Rankine cycle apparatus includes a pump, an evaporator, an expander, and a condenser. The evaporator has a plurality of heat transfer tubes arranged in rows in a flow direction of a high-temperature fluid to be heat-exchanged with a working fluid. The heat transfer tube located in a most upstream row in the flow direction of the high-temperature fluid is defined as a most upstream heat transfer tube. For example, the most upstream heat transfer tube forms an inlet of the evaporator so that the working fluid flows into the evaporator through the inlet and first passes through the most upstream heat transfer tube.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 6, 2015Publication date: October 29, 2015Inventors: Masaya HONMA, Atsuo OKAICHI, Osao KIDO, Takumi HIKICHI, Masanobu WADA, Osamu KOSUDA
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Publication number: 20150267569Abstract: A CHP system includes a combustor (heat source), a Rankine cycle apparatus, and a second heat exchanger. The Rankine cycle apparatus includes, as an evaporator, a first heat exchanger that absorbs thermal energy produced in the combustor. The second heat exchanger is located farther from the combustor than is the evaporator, is in direct contact with the evaporator or in indirect contact with the evaporator via a thermally-conductive member, absorbs thermal energy produced in the combustor, and transfers the thermal energy to a heat medium.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 4, 2015Publication date: September 24, 2015Inventors: Takumi HIKICHI, Osao KIDO, Atsuo OKAICHI, Masaya HONMA, Osamu KOSUDA, Masanobu WADA
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Publication number: 20150267568Abstract: A Rankine cycle apparatus includes a pump, an evaporator, an expander, a condenser, and an internal heat exchanger. The internal heat exchanger allows heat exchange to take place between a working fluid discharged from the expander and a working fluid discharged from the pump. A temperature of the working fluid at an inlet of the expander is set so that a temperature of the working fluid at an outlet of the expander be higher than a saturation temperature on a high-pressure side of the cycle.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 5, 2015Publication date: September 24, 2015Inventors: Takumi HIKICHI, Osao KIDO, Atsuo OKAICHI, Masaya HONMA, Masanobu WADA, Osamu KOSUDA
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Publication number: 20150107252Abstract: A Rankine cycle apparatus (1A) of the present disclosure includes a main circuit (10), a heat exchange portion (HX), a bypass flow path (20), a flow rate-adjusting mechanism (3), and a pair of temperature sensors (7A). The main circuit (10) is formed by an expander (11), a condenser (13), a pump (14), and an evaporator (15) that are circularly connected in this order. The heat exchange portion (HX) is located in the main circuit (10) at a position between an outlet of the expander (11) and an inlet of the pump (14). The bypass flow path (20) branches from the main circuit (10) at a position between an outlet of the evaporator (15) and an inlet of the expander (11), and joins to the main circuit (10) at a position between the outlet of the expander (11) and an inlet of the heat exchange portion (HX). The flow rate-adjusting mechanism (3) adjusts the flow rate of the working fluid in the bypass flow path (20).Type: ApplicationFiled: January 8, 2014Publication date: April 23, 2015Inventors: Atsuo Okaichi, Osao Kido, Takumi Hikichi, Osamu Kosuda, Masaya Honma, Masanobu Wada
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Publication number: 20140360187Abstract: An electricity generation unit 1A includes a combustor 11, a heater 13, and a Rankine cycle circuit 20. The combustor 11 combusts a solid fuel. A combustion gas generated in the combustor 11 passes through a flue 12. The heater 13 contains a heat storage material, and heats the heat storage material by allowing heat exchange to take place between the combustion gas in the flue 12 and the heat storage material. The Rankine cycle circuit 20 has an evaporator 21 that evaporates a working fluid in the Rankine cycle by allowing heat exchange to take place between the heat storage material heated in the heater 13 and the working fluid. With this configuration, stable operation of an electricity generation unit using a combustion gas of a solid fuel is achieved.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 18, 2013Publication date: December 11, 2014Inventors: Atsuo Okaichi, Osao Kido, Takumi Hikichi, Masaya Honma, Masanobu Wada, Osamu Kosuda
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Publication number: 20140322057Abstract: A rotary compressor (100) includes a closed casing (1), a cylinder (15), a piston (28), a lower bearing member (7), a vane (33), a suction port (20), a discharge port (41), and a partition member (10). The partition member (10) is attached to the lower bearing member (7) so as to form a refrigerant discharge space (52) serving as a flow path of a refrigerant discharged from a discharge chamber (26b) through the discharge port (41). The lower bearing member (7) is provided with a first recess (7t) on the same side as the suction port (20) with respect to a reference plane, the reference plane being a plane including a central axis of the cylinder (15) and a center of the vane (33) when the vane (33) protrudes maximally toward the central axis of the cylinder (15). A portion of oil stored in an oil reservoir (22) flows into the first recess (7t), and thereby an oil retaining portion (53) is formed.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 14, 2012Publication date: October 30, 2014Inventors: Takeshi Ogata, Yu Shiotani, Takumi Hikichi, Kentaro Shii, Tadayoshi Shoyama, Masanobu Wada, Hiroshi Hasegawa, Hirofumi Yoshida, Hiroaki Nakai, Akira Hiwata, Daisuke Funakosi, Ryuichi Ohno, Tsuyoshi Karino
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Publication number: 20140301881Abstract: A rotary compressor (100) includes a closed casing (1), a cylinder (15), a piston (28), a lower bearing member (72), a vane (33), a suction port (20), a discharge port (41), and a partition member (64). The partition member (64) is attached to the lower bearing member (72) so as to form a space enclosed by the partition member (64) and the lower bearing member (72) at a position adjacent to the lower bearing member (72). A portion of an oil stored in the oil reservoir (22) flows into the enclosed space, and thereby an oil retaining portion (53) is formed. The oil retaining portion (53) is located on the same side as the suction port (20) with respect to a reference plane (H1).Type: ApplicationFiled: November 14, 2012Publication date: October 9, 2014Inventors: Takeshi Ogata, Yu Shiotani, Takumi Hikichi, Kentaro Shii, Tadayoshi Shoyama, Masanobu Wada, Hiroshi Hasegawa, Hirofumi Yoshida, Hiroaki Nakai, Akira Hiwata, Daisuke Funakosi, Ryuichi Ohno, Tsuyoshi Karino