Patents by Inventor Motohiko Kimura

Motohiko Kimura 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: 8651597
    Abstract: A retracting device has a retracting main body including a case, a hook disposed in the case, an urging member, and a braking device including a cylinder and a piston rod; and a protruding portion engaging with and disengaging from the hook in a middle of a movement of a moving body relative to an enclosure. The hook is switched between a retracting position allowing the moving body to move in an engaged state with the protruding portion, and a standby position disallowing the moving body to move in a disengaged state. The hook is in the standby position when disengaged from the protruding portion in a state wherein the piston rod is entered with respect to the cylinder, and has reduced a protruding dimension, and is switchable to the retracting position from the standby position when the piston rod increases the protruding dimension relative to the cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Nifco Inc.
    Inventor: Motohiko Kimura
  • Patent number: 8579092
    Abstract: A damper unit which brakes the speed of movement of a moving body by using a piston damper provided with a cylinder and a piston rod which is connected to a piston inside the cylinder, is provided. The damper unit includes a case wherein the above-mentioned piston damper is disposed; a transmitting member slidably provided inside the case and transmitting an external force accompanied by the movement of the above-mentioned moving body; a link member whose one end side is attached to the above-mentioned case so as to become the rotational center, and also whose the other end side is pivotally supported by the above-mentioned transmitting member; and a connecting member connected between both ends of the link member and being in contact with or connected to either the piston rod or the cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Nifco Inc.
    Inventor: Motohiko Kimura
  • Publication number: 20130133157
    Abstract: A retracting device has a retracting main body including a case, a hook disposed in the case, an urging member, and a braking device including a cylinder and a piston rod; and a protruding portion engaging with and disengaging from the hook in a middle of a movement of a moving body relative to an enclosure. The hook is switched between a retracting position allowing the moving body to move in an engaged state with the protruding portion, and a standby position disallowing the moving body to move in a disengaged state. The hook is in the standby position when disengaged from the protruding portion in a state wherein the piston rod is entered with respect to the cylinder, and has reduced a protruding dimension, and is switchable to the retracting position from the standby position when the piston rod increases the protruding dimension relative to the cylinder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2011
    Publication date: May 30, 2013
    Applicant: NIFCO INC.
    Inventor: Motohiko Kimura
  • Publication number: 20110041284
    Abstract: A retraction mechanism includes a striker provided in either a fixed body or a movable body which is movably supported by the fixed body; a catcher provided in the other body and engaging the striker at a predetermined moved position of the movable body to be capable of engaging and disengaging; and an urging device enabling to accumulate urging forces in a moving process of the movable body. The retraction mechanism retracts the movable body by the urging forces accumulated in the urging device in a state wherein the striker and the catcher are engaged. The retraction mechanism includes a guide device controlling a relative position between the striker and the catcher, and when the striker and the catcher change the relative position, the change thereof is absorbed by the guide device, so that the engagement becomes possible.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2009
    Publication date: February 24, 2011
    Applicant: Nifco Inc.
    Inventors: Motohiko Kimura, Yohei Shimizu
  • Publication number: 20110011686
    Abstract: A damper unit which brakes the speed of movement of a moving body by using a piston damper provided with a cylinder and a piston rod which is connected to a piston inside the cylinder, is provided. The damper unit includes a case wherein the above-mentioned piston damper is disposed; a transmitting member slidably provided inside the case and transmitting an external force accompanied by the movement of the above-mentioned moving body; a link member whose one end side is attached to the above-mentioned case so as to become the rotational center, and also whose the other end side is pivotally supported by the above-mentioned transmitting member; and a connecting member connected between both ends of the link member and being in contact with or connected to either the piston rod or the cylinder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2009
    Publication date: January 20, 2011
    Applicant: NIFCO INC.
    Inventor: Motohiko Kimura
  • Patent number: 7760841
    Abstract: An operation method and apparatus in a pressure vessel of a nuclear reactor is provided. The operation apparatus including a body and a guide inserted from the upper side of the nuclear reactor to an interior of the jet pump. The operation apparatus circulate water inside the pressure vessel. The guide is positioned at the end of a body of the operation apparatus, and is inclined with respect to the center axis of the body so as to be inserted into a side opening of the jet pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Ito, Mitsuaki Shimamura, Motohiko Kimura
  • Publication number: 20100150299
    Abstract: An operation method and apparatus in a pressure vessel of a nuclear reactor is provided. The operation apparatus including a body and a guide inserted from the upper side of the nuclear reactor to an interior of the jet pump. The operation apparatus circulate water inside the pressure vessel. The guide is positioned at the end of a body of the operation apparatus, and is inclined with respect to the center axis of the body so as to be inserted into a side opening of the jet pump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2004
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Ito, Mitsuaki Shimamura, Motohiko Kimura
  • Patent number: 7270021
    Abstract: A working apparatus has: a working equipment for doing works on a structure; an operation mechanism adapted to actively move the working equipment relative to the structure; and an adhering/traveling module coupled to the operation mechanism and adapted to adhere to the structure so as to have the weight of the working apparatus borne by the structure and travel/move on the structure for positioning. With this arrangement, the working apparatus can perform accurate positioning operations in a narrow environment and complex scanning operations by means of various pieces of the working equipment such as inspection sensors, and can secure a large working area within a short period of time and reduce the overall working hours.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Mitsuaki Shimamura, Motohiko Kimura, Tomoyuki Ito, Yasuhiro Yuguchi, Toru Taguchi
  • Publication number: 20060222138
    Abstract: A working apparatus has: a working equipment for doing works on a structure; an operation mechanism adapted to actively move the working equipment relative to the structure; and an adhering/traveling module coupled to the operation mechanism and adapted to adhere to the structure so as to have the weight of the working apparatus borne by the structure and travel/move on the structure for positioning. With this arrangement, the working apparatus can perform accurate positioning operations in a narrow environment and complex scanning operations by means of various pieces of the working equipment such as inspection sensors, and can secure a large working area within a short period of time and reduce the overall working hours.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2005
    Publication date: October 5, 2006
    Inventors: Mitsuaki Shimamura, Motohiko Kimura, Tomoyuki Ito, Yasuhiro Yuguchi, Toru Taguchi
  • Patent number: 6990714
    Abstract: A modular submersible repairing system includes a working unit having a tool module capable of repairing structures in a reactor. A scanning/pitching module is capable of being selectively connected to or disconnected from the tool module, and is provided with a scanning/pitching shaft for scanning or pitching the tool module. A submersible fan module is capable of being selectively connected to or disconnected from the scanning/pitching module. A first buoyant module keeps an orientation of the tool module. A base unit includes a manipulator module internally provided with an actuator driving mechanism. An adsorbing module is capable of being detachably mounted on the manipulator module and a wall. A second buoyant module keeps the orientation of the manipulator module. The scanning/pitching module and the manipulator module are provided with a submersible connecting device capable of being operated in water for engagement and disengagement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Katsuhiko Sato, Motohiko Kimura, Hiroaki Igakura, Yutaka Togasawa, Takuya Uehara, Yasuhiro Yuguchi, Seiki Soramoto, Kenji Kurihara, Yuuji Yasuda, Katsuhiko Naruse
  • Patent number: 6881925
    Abstract: A laser emitting head for irradiating a portion to be machined with laser beams outputted from a laser unit (624) incorporates an emitting head body having a light guide member (625) in the head for guiding the laser beams; a light converging lens (677) for converging the laser beams transmitted from the light guide member in the head; a reflecting mirror (678) for irradiating the portion to be machined with the converged laser beams; mirror rotating means (684) for holding the reflecting mirror to be rotative around the optical axis of the laser beam; distance-adjustment means (674) for adjusting the relative distance between the reflecting mirror and the converging lens; and moving means (665) for moving the reflecting mirror and the converging lens such that the relative distance is maintained so that the light guide member in the head. The converging lens and the reflecting mirror can be introduced/discharged with respect to a portion to be machined and formed in a narrow gap in an incore structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2005
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Katsuhiko Sato, Motohiko Kimura, Yuji Sano, Mitsuaki Shimamura, Hiroaki Igakura, Makoto Ochiai, Naruhiko Mukai, Masaki Yoda, Yutaka Togasawa, Yasumi Kitajima, Tomoyuki Ito, Takuya Uehara, Makoto Kondo, Yoshifumi Sato
  • Publication number: 20040196949
    Abstract: A modular submersible repairing system is capable of dealing with various tasks somewhat inefficiently, though, and of being inserted and installed in a reactor instantly, and highly maneuverable. A repairing method is carried out by the modular submersible repairing system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2004
    Publication date: October 7, 2004
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Katsuhiko Sato, Motohiko Kimura, Hiroaki Igakura, Yutaka Togasawa, Takuya Uehara, Yasuhiro Yuguchi, Seiki Soramoto, Kenji Kurihara, Yuuji Yasuda, Katsuhiko Naruse
  • Patent number: 6715201
    Abstract: A modular submersible repairing system includes a working unit having a tool module capable of repairing structures in a reactor. A scanning/pitching module is capable of being selectively connected to or disconnected from the tool module, and is provided with a scanning/pitching shaft for scanning or pitching the tool module. A submersible fan module is capable of being selectively connected to or disconnected from the scanning/pitching module. A first buoyant module keeps an orientation of the tool module. A base unit includes a manipulator module internally provided with an actuator driving mechanism. An adsorbing module is capable of being detachably mounted on the manipulator module and a wall. A second buoyant module keeps the orientation of the manipulator module. The scanning/pitching module and the manipulator module are provided with a submersible connecting device capable of being operated in water for engagement and disengagement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Katsuhiko Sato, Motohiko Kimura, Hiroaki Igakura, Yutaka Togasawa, Takuya Uehara, Yasuhiro Yuguchi, Seiki Soramoto, Kenji Kurihara, Yuuji Yasuda, Katsuhiko Naruse
  • Patent number: 6528754
    Abstract: The present invention provides an underwater maintenance and repair technology of including a laser oscillator for generating a laser beam and a working head movably attached to the vicinity of a working target portion in the underwater and adapted to scan the laser beam to the working target portion, and further, independently fixing the working head to the vicinity of the working target portion, jointing an optical fiber cable to the working head by using a joint mechanism through a remote control operation, guiding a laser beam emitted from a laser oscillator via the optical fiber cable, and irradiating the laser beam from the working head to a surface of the working target portion while scanning it so as to achieve surface modification, surface working and decontamination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Satoshi Okada, Hiroaki Igakura, Motohiko Kimura, Tatsuki Ogisu, Yoshiaki Ono, Masaki Yoda
  • Publication number: 20020157228
    Abstract: A modular submersible repairing system is capable of dealing with various tasks somewhat inefficiently, though, and of being inserted and installed in a reactor instantly, and highly maneuverable. A repairing method is carried out by the modular submersible repairing system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2001
    Publication date: October 31, 2002
    Inventors: Katsuhiko Sato, Motohiko Kimura, Hiroaki Igakura, Yutaka Togasawa, Takuya Uehara, Yasuhiro Yuguchi, Seiki Soramoto, Kenji Kurihara, Yuuji Yasuda, Katsuhiko Naruse
  • Publication number: 20020134764
    Abstract: The present invention provides an underwater maintenance and repair technology of including a laser oscillator for generating a laser beam and a working head movably attached to the vicinity of a working target portion in the underwater and adapted to scan the laser beam to the working target portion, and further, independently fixing the working head to the vicinity of the working target portion, jointing an optical fiber cable to the working head by using a joint mechanism through a remote control operation, guiding a laser beam emitted from a laser oscillator via the optical fiber cable, and irradiating the laser beam from the working head to a surface of the working target portion while scanning it so as to achieve surface modification, surface working and decontamination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2001
    Publication date: September 26, 2002
    Inventors: Satoshi Okada, Hiroaki Igakura, Motohiko Kimura, Tatsuki Ogisu, Yoshiaki Ono, Masaki Yoda
  • Patent number: 6244015
    Abstract: A method of assembling a large-size plant and an assembling method for reducing a term of work are disclosed. Each of a crane operator in a crane operation room and site workers in a plant construction site is equipped with a picture I/O device and a voice I/O device. The crane operator and the site workers assemble the plant while sharing picture information of the picture I/O device and voice information of the voice I/O device with each other. A site remote control room vicinal to the plant construction site is connected via a radio transmission path to a host control center. The plant si assembled while the site workers, the crane operator room, the site remote control room and the central control room share the picture information and the voice information of their own with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Arata Ito, Shuji Hirono, Motohiko Kimura, Shigeru Kyoda, Hitoshi Sato
  • Patent number: 6163012
    Abstract: A laser maintaining and repairing apparatus including a laser oscillator 7, beam guiding apparatus 8 connected to guide a laser beam of the laser oscillator 7, and emitting head 12 for converging the laser beam from the beam guiding apparatus 8 and emitting the beam to a portion to be processed. The beam guiding apparatus 8 includes liquid-tight tubular beam guiding members 9a to 9h. The beam guiding members 9a to 9h are provided with reflecting members 13a, 13b and at least one of mechanisms 10a, 10b and 11a, 11b for providing horizontal turning, horizontal extending, vertical turning and vertical extending operations at the beam guiding members 9a to 9h. With the laser maintaining and repairing apparatus of the noted structure, a laser beam of high energy density can be utilized and processing by the laser beam can be facilitated or the applying range can be increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2000
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Engineering Corporation
    Inventors: Motohiko Kimura, Akira Sudo, Katsuhiko Sato, Yuji Sano, Masaki Yoda, Naruhiko Mukai, Seishi Shima, Muneyoshi Kikunaga
  • Patent number: 4818175
    Abstract: An expandable and contractable arm is constituted by a plurality of expandable and contractable units and connecting devices including universal joints for serially interconnecting the units into the arm. Each unit includes at least three expandable and contractable operating members in the form of link mechanisms or double thread type expandable and contractable rods, and actuating devices for equally or unequally expanding and contracting the operating members so as to increase or decrease distances between the connecting members while maintaining them in parallel or inclined with respect to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1986
    Date of Patent: April 4, 1989
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Motohiko Kimura
  • Patent number: 4712969
    Abstract: An expandable and contractable arm is constituted by a plurality of expandable and contractable units and connecting devices including universal joints for serially interconnecting the units into the arm. Each unit includes at least three expandable and contractable operating members in the form of link mechanisms or double thread type expandable and contractable rods, and actuating devices for equally or unequally expanding and contracting the operating members so as to increase or decrease distances between the connecting members while maintaining them in parallel or inclined with respect to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 1984
    Date of Patent: December 15, 1987
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Motohiko Kimura