Patents by Inventor Naoki Kurata

Naoki Kurata 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: 8404119
    Abstract: A method of membrane separation and membrane separation apparatus, with which not only a supply liquid can be evaluated but also the problems, such as scale, occurring on reverse osmosis membrane can be monitored in a highly straightforward fashion. There is provided a membrane separation apparatus equipped with reverse osmosis membrane module (3) so as to be adapted for feeding of a supply liquid and obtaining of a permeated liquid and a concentrated liquid, characterized by comprising a feeding-side membrane separation means (10) which includes a separation membrane (11) of which the membrane face (11a) can be monitored and guides the supply liquid so as to separate the membrane, and a concentrating-side membrane separation means (20) which includes a separation membrane (21) of which the membrane face (21a) can be monitored and guides the concentrated liquid so as to separate the membrane separation thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Nitto Denko Corporation
    Inventors: Masashi Echizen, Takuji Shintani, Naoki Kurata, Kouji Maruyama
  • Patent number: 8256398
    Abstract: A high-pressure pump (50) is provided which is drivingly connected to an engine output shaft (1) and delivers fuel to an injector (4) through a delivery pipe (5) based on the rotation of the output shaft (1). The high-pressure pump (50) includes an electromagnetic valve (50b) that adjusts, based on the engine operating state, a fuel delivery amount within an adjustable range that changes according to a rotation speed of the engine output shaft (1). When an abnormality is detected in the electromagnetic valve (50b), the rotation speed of the engine output shaft (1) is restricted to equal to or less than a reference engine speed (NT).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tatsuhiko Akita, Naoki Kurata
  • Publication number: 20110168623
    Abstract: A feed side passage material is provided in which sufficient antibacterial activity is obtained even in the spaces among constituent yarns and which hence can effectively prevent biofouling. Also provided is a spiral separation-membrane element employing the feed side passage material. The feed side passage material, which is for use in a spiral separation-membrane element, is a feed side passage material in a net form constituted of yarns (1 and 2) containing a chlorophenol compound antibacterial. The spiral separation-membrane element comprises a perforated hollow core tube and, wound therearound, one or more separation membranes, one or more feed side passage materials, and one or more permeate side passage materials. The element is characterized in that the feed side passage materials each is said feed side passage material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2009
    Publication date: July 14, 2011
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Uda, Naoki Kurata, Yuuji Yamashiro, Kouji Maruyama, Takahisa Konishi
  • Patent number: 7934490
    Abstract: An engine ECU stores a map in which three regions, that is, a high-temperature region, a low-temperature region, and a region therebetween, are prescribed. The pre-feed time T set when the present condition falls in the region is the longest. An engine ECU executes a program that includes the step of detecting an engine cooling water temperature THW when the start-up of the engine is requested, the step of executing the pre-feed until the fuel pressure P becomes equal to or greater than a fuel pressure threshold value P(TH), and the step of starting the cranking when the fuel pressure P becomes equal to or greater than the fuel pressure threshold value P(TH). Thus, the bad start-up caused by fuel vapor is avoided without operating the fuel pump unnecessarily for a long time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Naoki Kurata, Tatsuhiko Akita
  • Publication number: 20100320143
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a process for producing, easily and at a low cost, a composite semipermeable membrane having excellent contamination resistance, especially microbial contamination resistance, and a composite semipermeable membrane produced by the process. The process for producing a composite semipermeable membrane of the present invention comprises forming a skin layer including a polyamide resin obtained by a reaction between a polyfunctional amine component and a polyfunctional acid halide component on the surface of a porous support; forming a polymer layer (A) including a silver salt compound on the skin layer directly or through other layers; and reducing the silver salt compound to precipitate metal silver in the polymer layer (A) and/or on the surface thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2008
    Publication date: December 23, 2010
    Applicant: NITTO DENKO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takahisa Konishi, Naoki Kurata, Kouji Maruyama, Yasuhiro Uda, Yuuji Yamashiro, Chiaki Harada
  • Patent number: 7789071
    Abstract: A pulsation damper is provided between and in series with a low pressure fuel system pipe and a high pressure pump of a fuel supply system. During startup of an engine, low pressure fuel supplied via the low pressure fuel system pipe is injected from an intake passage fuel injector. When the fuel pressure is equal to or less than a fuel pressure at which good startability can be maintained, the pulsation damper closes off communication between the high pressure fuel system pipe and the low pressure fuel system pipe using the spring force of a spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tatsuhiko Akita, Mitsuto Sakai, Naoki Kurata
  • Publication number: 20100178489
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a composite semipermeable membrane having an excellent resistance property to contamination, particularly an excellent resistance property to microbial contamination, and a water treatment method using the composite semipermeable membrane. The present invention relates to a composite semipermeable membrane comprising a skin layer formed on the surface of a porous support and containing a polyamide-based resin obtained by reacting a polyfunctional amine component with a polyfunctional acid halide component, wherein an antibacterial layer containing a silver-based antibacterial agent and a polymer component is formed on the skin layer directly or with other layer interposed therebetween, and the weight ratio between the silver-based antibacterial agent and the polymer component in the antibacterial layer is 55:45 to 95:5 (silver-based antibacterial agent:polymer component).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2008
    Publication date: July 15, 2010
    Inventors: Shinya Nishiyama, Naoki Kurata, Takahisa Konishi, Yuuji Yamashiro, Kouji Maruyama, Yasuhiro Uda, Chiaki Harada
  • Publication number: 20100173083
    Abstract: The present invention aims at providing a composite semipermeable membrane excellent in water permeability and salt-blocking rate, and including an extremely small amount of unreacted polyfunctional amine components in the membrane, and at providing a process for producing the composite semipermeable membrane. A composite semipermeable membrane having a skin layer formed on the surface of a porous support, the skin layer comprising a polyamide resin obtained by interfacial polymerization of a polyfunctional amine component and a polyfunctional acid halide component, wherein the content of an unreacted polyfunctional amine component is 200 mg/m2 or less after formation of the skin layer and before a membrane washing treatment, and the content of the unreacted polyfunctional amine component after the membrane washing treatment is 20 mg/m2 or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2010
    Publication date: July 8, 2010
    Inventors: Tomomi Ohara, Chiaki Harada, Tetsuo Inoue, Naoki Kurata, Takahisa Konishi, Takashi Kamada, Hironobu Machinaga
  • Publication number: 20100163004
    Abstract: An engine ECU stores a map in which three regions, that is, a high-temperature region (1), a low-temperature region (3), and a region (2) therebetween, are prescribed. The pre-feed time T set when the present condition falls in the region (2) is the longest. An engine ECU executes a program that includes the step (S400) of detecting an engine cooling water temperature THW (S200) when the start-up of the engine is requested (YES in S100), the step (S600) of executing the pre-feed until the fuel pressure P becomes equal to or greater than a fuel pressure threshold value P(TH), and the step (S700) of starting the cranking when the fuel pressure P becomes equal to or greater than the fuel pressure threshold value P(TH) (YES in S600). Thus, the bad start-up caused by fuel vapor is avoided without operating the fuel pump unnecessarily for a long time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2007
    Publication date: July 1, 2010
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Naoki Kurata, Tatsuhiko Akita
  • Publication number: 20100126935
    Abstract: A method of membrane separation and membrane separation apparatus, with which not only a supply liquid can be evaluated but also the problems, such as scale, occurring on reverse osmosis membrane can be monitored in a highly straightforward fashion. There is provided a membrane separation apparatus equipped with reverse osmosis membrane module (3) so as to be adapted for feeding of a supply liquid and obtaining of a permeated liquid and a concentrated liquid, characterized by comprising a feeding-side membrane separation means (10) which includes a separation membrane (11) of which the membrane face (11a) can be monitored and guides the supply liquid so as to separate the membrane, and a concentrating-side membrane separation means (20) which includes a separation membrane (21) of which the membrane face (21a) can be monitored and guides the concentrated liquid so as to separate the membrane separation thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2008
    Publication date: May 27, 2010
    Inventors: Masashi Echizen, Takuji Shintani, Naoki Kurata, Kouji Maruyama
  • Patent number: 7698054
    Abstract: An engine ECU stores a map in which a region at high temperature and high pressure, a region at low temperature and low pressure, and a region provided therebetween are defined by the relationship between the temperature and pressure of fuel and the saturation fuel vapor pressure of the fuel. The engine ECU executes a program including the following steps: when start-up of the engine is requested, detecting the engine cooling water temperature and the fuel pressure; if the detection results fall into the region, setting a pre-feed time; pre-feeding until the fuel pressure reaches a desired fuel pressure threshold; and when the fuel pressure reaches the fuel pressure threshold, starting cranking. In this way, start-up failure due to fuel vapor can be avoided without unnecessarily actuating a fuel pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tatsuhiko Akita, Mitsuto Sakai, Naoki Kurata
  • Publication number: 20090235901
    Abstract: A pulsation damper is provided between and in series with a low pressure fuel system pipe and a high pressure pump of a fuel supply system. During startup of an engine, low pressure fuel supplied via the low pressure fuel system pipe is injected from an intake passage fuel injector. When the fuel pressure is equal to or less than a fuel pressure at which good startability can be maintained, the pulsation damper closes off communication between the high pressure fuel system pipe and the low pressure fuel system pipe using the spring force of a spring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2007
    Publication date: September 24, 2009
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tatsuhiko Akita, Mitsuto Sakai, Naoki Kurata
  • Publication number: 20090183711
    Abstract: A high-pressure pump (50) is provided which is drivingly connected to an engine output shaft (1) and delivers fuel to an injector (4) through a delivery pipe (5) based on the rotation of the output shaft (1). The high-pressure pump (50) includes an electromagnetic valve (50b) that adjusts, based on the engine operating state, a fuel delivery amount within an adjustable range that changes according to a rotation speed of the engine output shaft (1). When an abnormality is detected in the electromagnetic valve (50b), the rotation speed of the engine output shaft (1) is restricted to equal to or less than a reference engine speed (NT).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2007
    Publication date: July 23, 2009
    Applicant: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tatsuhiko Akita, Naoki Kurata
  • Publication number: 20090177372
    Abstract: An engine ECU stores a map in which a region at high temperature and high pressure, a region at low temperature and low pressure, and a region provided therebetween are defined by the relationship between the temperature and pressure of fuel and the saturation fuel vapor pressure of the fuel. The engine ECU executes a program including the following steps: when start-up of the engine is requested, detecting the engine cooling water temperature and the fuel pressure; if the detection results fall into the region, setting a pre-feed time; pre-feeding until the fuel pressure reaches a desired fuel pressure threshold; and when the fuel pressure reaches the fuel pressure threshold, starting cranking. In this way, start-up failure due to fuel vapor can be avoided without unnecessarily actuating a fuel pump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2007
    Publication date: July 9, 2009
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tatsuhiko Akita, Mitsuto Sakai, Naoki Kurata
  • Publication number: 20080277334
    Abstract: The present invention aims at providing a composite semipermeable membrane excellent in water permeability and salt-blocking rate, a smaller content of unreacted polyfunctional amine components in the membrane, the composite semipermeable membrane avoiding the necessity of a membrane washing treatment, and the present invention also aims at providing a process for producing the composite semipermeable membrane. A composite semipermeable membrane having a skin layer, formed on a surface of a porous support, including a polyamide resin obtained by an interfacial polymerization of a polyfunctional amine component and a polyfunctional acid halide component, wherein the content of the unreacted polyfunctional amine component is 200 mg/m2 or less without removing by washing of an unreacted polyfunctional amine component after formation of the skin layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2005
    Publication date: November 13, 2008
    Applicant: NITTO DENKO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomomi Ohara, Chiaki Harada, Tetsuo Inoue, Naoki Kurata, Takahisa Konishi, Takashi Kamada
  • Publication number: 20080257818
    Abstract: The present invention aims at providing a composite semipermeable membrane having outstanding water permeability and salt-blocking rate, and extremely small amount of unreacted polyfunctional amine components in the porous support, and at providing a process for producing the composite semipermeable membrane. A composite semipermeable membrane having a skin layer formed on the surface of a porous support, the skin layer comprising a polyamide resin obtained by interfacial polymerization of a polyfunctional amine component and a polyfunctional acid halide component, wherein the porous support has a microporous layer on a base material, and the content of an unreacted polyfunctional amine component in the base material after a membrane washing treatment is 0.5 mg/m2 or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2005
    Publication date: October 23, 2008
    Applicant: NITTO DENKO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takahisa Konishi, Tomomi Ohara, Chiaki Harada, Tetsuo Inoue, Naoki Kurata, Takashi Kamada, Hironobu Machinaga
  • Patent number: 7389766
    Abstract: The engine ECU executes a program including the step of detecting an engine coolant temperature, the step of detecting an engine speed and an engine load, the step of estimating a temperature at a tip end of an in-cylinder injector based on the engine coolant temperature, the engine speed and the engine load, and, when the temperature at the tip end is greater than a guaranteed temperature, the step of calculating a drive duty of a high-pressure fuel pump that ensures a decrease of the temperature at the tip end of the in-cylinder injector to the guaranteed temperature, and the step of controlling the high-pressure fuel pump using the drive duty.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2008
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tatsuhiko Akita, Naoki Kurata, Daichi Yamazaki, Mitsuto Sakai
  • Patent number: 7380539
    Abstract: The engine ECU executes a program including the step of detecting an engine coolant temperature, the step of detecting an engine speed and an engine load, the step of estimating a temperature at a tip end of an in-cylinder injector based on the engine coolant temperature, the engine speed and the engine load, and, when the temperature at the tip end is greater than a guaranteed temperature, the step of calculating a drive duty of a high-pressure fuel pump that ensures a decrease of the temperature at the tip end of the in-cylinder injector to the guaranteed temperature, and the step of controlling the high-pressure fuel pump using the drive duty.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tatsuhiko Akita, Naoki Kurata, Daichi Yamazaki, Mitsuto Sakai
  • Patent number: 7353798
    Abstract: A low-pressure delivery pipe provided with intake manifold injectors, a fuel pressure regulator, a high-pressure fuel pump, a high-pressure delivery pipe provided with in-cylinder injectors, and an electromagnetic relief valve are connected in series at the downstream of a low-pressure fuel pump that discharges a fuel within a fuel tank at a prescribed pressure. Since the low-pressure delivery pipe is arranged downstream of the low-pressure fuel pump, the fuel pressure within the low-pressure delivery pipe is lowered upon stop of vehicle operation, in response to stop of the low-pressure fuel pump. The fuel pressure within the high-pressure delivery pipe is also lowered in response to stop of the low-pressure fuel pump, by opening the electromagnetic relief valve upon stop of vehicle operation. Thus, oil tightness of the injectors during the stop of vehicle operation is ensured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuyuki Tokuda, Naoki Kurata, Katsuhiko Yamaguchi, Toshio Inoue, Naoto Suzuki, Mamoru Tomatsuri, Keiko Hasegawa, Keita Fukui
  • Patent number: 7341043
    Abstract: A fuel supply system according to the present invention includes a first delivery pipe for intake passage injection and a second delivery pipe for cylinder injection. The second delivery pipe is provided with a relief valve. A fuel discharge section of the relief valve is connected to the first delivery pipe via a relief passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2008
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Naoki Kurata, Mitsuto Sakai