Patents by Inventor Masaru Kakinohana

Masaru Kakinohana 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).

  • Publication number: 20090064664
    Abstract: A device for cleaning exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine according to the present invention includes a device (30) for collecting particulate matter from exhaust gas in an exhaust gas passage (15), ozone feeding device (40) capable of feeding ozone to the device (30) for collecting particulate matter from upstream thereof, and an NOx catalyst (20) disposed upstream from the ozone feeding device (40), for cleaning NOx in the exhaust gas. Since NOx is preliminarily removed by the NOx catalyst (20) at apposition upstream from the ozone feeding device (40), the consumption of ozone due to the reaction with NOx is prevented, whereby it is possible to effectively use ozone for the purpose of oxidizing and removing PM in the device (30) for collecting particulate matter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2006
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hirohito Hirata, Masaru Kakinohana, Masaya Ibe, Yuji Sakakibara, Yoshihiko Itoh
  • Publication number: 20090019844
    Abstract: An exhaust gas purification system provided with a trapping device (6) arranged on an engine exhaust passage and trapping particulate matter in the exhaust gas, an ozone generator (21) for generating ozone, and an ozone adsorbent (22) able to adsorb ozone, wherein at least part of the ozone generated by said ozone generator is adsorbed by said ozone adsorbent and, when particulate matter trapped on said trapping device should be removed, ozone adsorbed on the ozone adsorbent is desorbed from the ozone adsorbent and supplied to the trapping device. Due to this, it is possible to use an ozone generator with a relatively low ozone generating ability to burn off PM trapped on a filter etc. efficiently.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2006
    Publication date: January 22, 2009
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hirohito Hirata, Masaru Kakinohana, Masaya Ibe
  • Patent number: 7299624
    Abstract: An exhaust gas purifying apparatus provided in an exhaust passage connected with an engine includes an upstream catalyst that is provided in the exhaust passage, and that removes NOx; a downstream catalyst that is provided downstream of the upstream catalyst in the exhaust passage; and a supply device that supplies an oxygen-activating component to a portion of the exhaust passage located between the upstream catalyst and the downstream catalyst. In the exhaust gas purifying apparatus, the upstream catalyst removes NOx, and then an oxygen-activating component is supplied to the exhaust gas. Further, the downstream catalyst removes a hydrocarbon compound contained in the exhaust gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hirohito Hirata, Masaru Kakinohana, Masaya Ibe
  • Patent number: 7181903
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an exhaust gas purifying apparatus comprising a plasma reactor containing at least one of a H2O adsorbent and a HC adsorbent; and a NOx adsorbent located downstream of said plasma reactor. Further, the present invention relates to an exhaust gas purifying apparatus comprising a plasma reactor containing at least one of a H2O adsorbent and a HC adsorbent, and a NOx adsorbent. Still further, the present invention relates to a method using the present apparatus. According to the present apparatus, by generating plasma in the plasma reactor, H2O trapped on the H2O adsorbent is activated to be a strong oxidant such as OH radical and O radical, and HC trapped on the HC adsorbent is activated to be radicals, lower HCs, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2007
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masanori Yamato, Masaru Kakinohana
  • Publication number: 20060225406
    Abstract: An exhaust gas purifying apparatus provided in an exhaust passage connected with an engine includes an upstream catalyst that is provided in the exhaust passage, and that removes NOx; a downstream catalyst that is provided downstream of the upstream catalyst in the exhaust passage; and a supply device that supplies an oxygen-activating component to a portion of the exhaust passage located between the upstream catalyst and the downstream catalyst. In the exhaust gas purifying apparatus, the upstream catalyst removes NOx, and then an oxygen-activating component is supplied to the exhaust gas. Further, the downstream catalyst removes a hydrocarbon compound contained in the exhaust gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2006
    Publication date: October 12, 2006
    Applicant: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hirohito Hirata, Masaru Kakinohana, Masaya Ibe
  • Publication number: 20060207428
    Abstract: A gas purifying apparatus includes an adsorption member (e.g., a honeycomb structural body) that adsorbs particulate matter contained in the gas by the action of an electric field. The apparatus also includes a supply device (e.g., an ozone generator including a discharger, a pulsed power supply, a pump, and a discharge port) that supplies a pro-oxidant to the adsorption member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2006
    Publication date: September 21, 2006
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masaya Ibe, Hirohito Hirata, Masaru Kakinohana
  • Patent number: 7047726
    Abstract: A NOx occluding and reducing catalyst 20 is provided in an exhaust gas passage of an engine to occlude the NOx in the exhaust gas of a lean air-fuel ratio. The engine is provided with an injector for directly injecting the fuel into the combustion chamber, and the fuel fed by a fuel pump into a common rail with pressure is injected. The additive containing a sulfur-solidifying agent that forms a solid sulfate upon the reaction with sulfur in the fuel due to combustion, is injected into the common rail from a tank due to a pump, and is supplied into the combustion chamber through the injector together with the fuel. When the condition of the atmosphere of the NOx occluding and reducing catalyst is the one where the NOx in the exhaust gas is little absorbed, the ECU adjusts the discharge amount of the pump, and decreases the amount of the additive injected into the common rail or interrupts the injection. This decreases the consumption of the sulfur-solidifying agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenji Katoh, Shinji Tsuji, Masaru Kakinohana
  • Publication number: 20050039441
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an exhaust gas purifying apparatus comprising; a plasma-assist PM purifying reactor; a detecting device for detecting an amount of PM accumulated in the PM purifying reactor; a power supply for the PM purifying reactor; and a controlling device for controlling the power supply on the basis of signals from the detecting device. The controlling device controls the power supply to start supplying the electric power to the PM purifying reactor, or to increase the amount of electric power which is supplied to the PM purifying reactor, when the amount of accumulated PM detected by the detecting device exceeds a predetermined amount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2004
    Publication date: February 24, 2005
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masaru Kakinohana, Jiro Tsuchiya
  • Publication number: 20040231321
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an exhaust gas purifying apparatus comprising a plasma reactor containing at least one of a H2O adsorbent and a EC adsorbent; and a NOx adsorbent located downstream of said plasma reactor. Further, the present invention relates to an exhaust gas purifying apparatus comprising a plasma reactor containing at least one of a H2O adsorbent and a HC adsorbent, and a NOx adsorbent. Still further, the present invention relates to a method using the present apparatus. According to the present apparatus, by generating plasma in the plasma reactor, H2O trapped on the H2O adsorbent is activated to be a strong oxidant such as OH radical and O radical, and HC trapped on the HC adsorbent is activated to be radicals, lower HCs, etc.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2004
    Publication date: November 25, 2004
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masanori Yamato, Masaru Kakinohana
  • Publication number: 20040141890
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an exhaust gas purifying apparatus, for trapping and burning PM, which comprises electrodes and an insulative honeycomb structure. The apparatus is characterized in that the electrodes sake an electric field in the honeycomb structure, the electric field not being parallel with the cell passages of the honeycomb structure. Further the apparatus is characterized in that the electrodes make an electric field in the honeycomb structure, and that the honeycomb structure carries at least one metal selected from the group consisting of an alkali metal and an alkali earth metal; a material that generates oxygen radical by conducting an electric current therethrough; a manganese dioxide; and/or a material having a high dielectric constant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2004
    Publication date: July 22, 2004
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hirohito Hirata, Masaru Kakinohana, Hideo Yahagi
  • Publication number: 20040065076
    Abstract: A NOx occluding and reducing catalyst 20 is provided in an exhaust gas passage of an engine to occlude the NOx in the exhaust gas of a lean air-fuel ratio. The engine is provided with an injector for directly injecting the fuel into the combustion chamber, and the fuel fed by a fuel pump into a common rail with pressure is injected. The additive containing a sulfur-solidifying agent that forms a solid sulfate upon the reaction with sulfur in the fuel due to combustion, is injected into the common rail from a tank due to a pump, and is supplied into the combustion chamber through the injector together with the fuel. When the condition of the atmosphere of the NOx occluding and reducing catalyst is the one where the NOx in the exhaust gas is little absorbed, the ECU adjusts the discharge amount of the pump, and decreases the amount of the additive injected into the common rail or interrupts the injection. This decreases the consumption of the sulfur-solidifying agent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2003
    Publication date: April 8, 2004
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kenji Katoh, Shinji Tsuji, Masaru Kakinohana