Patents by Inventor Nobuhiko Koyama

Nobuhiko Koyama 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: 7409947
    Abstract: A fuel vapor treatment apparatus is provided with a purging passage for introducing and purging fuel vapor produced in a fuel tank to an intake system for an internal combustion engine, a volume chamber located in the purging passage for enlarging a passage volume and a pump received in the volume chamber for generating a fluid flow in the purging passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Nobuhiko Koyama
  • Patent number: 7389769
    Abstract: A fuel nature measuring device for measuring the nature of fuel stored in a fuel tank includes a measurement passage, a gas flow generator, a pressure detector, an concentration operator, a temperature detector, and a volatility calculator. The measurement passage has an orifice. The gas flow generator generates gas flow in the measurement passage. The pressure detector detects a differential pressure between opposite ends of the orifice. The concentration operator determines a concentration of evaporated fuel in the fuel tank based on the differential pressure detected when the opposite ends of the measurement passage communicate with the fuel tank and the fuel flows in the measurement passage. The temperature detector determines a temperature of the fuel in the fuel tank. The volatility calculator calculates a volatility of the fuel in the fuel tank based on the concentration of the evaporated fuel and the temperature of the fuel in the tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2008
    Assignees: Nippon Soken, Inc., Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Noriyasu Amano, Takanobu Kawano, Nobuhiko Koyama
  • Patent number: 7373929
    Abstract: A fuel nature measuring device for measuring the nature of fuel stored in a fuel tank includes a measurement passage, a gas flow generator, a pressure detector, an concentration operator, a temperature detector, and a volatility calculator. The measurement passage has an orifice. The gas flow generator generates gas flow in the measurement passage. The pressure detector detects a differential pressure between opposite ends of the orifice. The concentration operator determines a concentration of evaporated fuel in the fuel tank based on the differential pressure detected when the opposite ends of the measurement passage communicate with the fuel tank and the fuel flows in the measurement passage. The temperature detector determines a temperature of the fuel in the fuel tank. The volatility calculator calculates a volatility of the fuel in the fuel tank based on the concentration of the evaporated fuel and the temperature of the fuel in the tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignees: Nippon Soken, Inc., Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Noriyasu Amano, Takanobu Kawano, Nobuhiko Koyama
  • Patent number: 7341048
    Abstract: A concentration-detecting unit detects concentration of fuel vapor flowing in a concentration-detecting passage branched from a purge passage. The concentration-detecting passage communicates with a communicating passage of a canister. Air including the fuel vapor of which concentration is detected by a concentration-detecting unit is returned to the communicating passage of the canister. The fuel vapor is adsorbed by an absorbent accommodated in a accommodating chamber to restrict a discharge of the fuel vapor into atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2008
    Assignees: Denso Corporation, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Nobuhiko Koyama, Kenji Nagasaki, Shinsuke Kiyomiya
  • Publication number: 20070289365
    Abstract: A fuel nature measuring device for measuring the nature of fuel stored in a fuel tank includes a measurement passage, a gas flow generator, a pressure detector, an concentration operator, a temperature detector, and a volatility calculator. The measurement passage has an orifice. The gas flow generator generates gas flow in the measurement passage. The pressure detector detects a differential pressure between opposite ends of the orifice. The concentration operator determines a concentration of evaporated fuel in the fuel tank based on the differential pressure detected when the opposite ends of the measurement passage communicate with the fuel tank and the fuel flows in the measurement passage. The temperature detector determines a temperature of the fuel in the fuel tank. The volatility calculator calculates a volatility of the fuel in the fuel tank based on the concentration of the evaporated fuel and the temperature of the fuel in the tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2007
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Applicants: Nippon Soken, Inc., Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Noriyasu Amano, Takanobu Kawano, Nobuhiko Koyama
  • Publication number: 20070289366
    Abstract: A fuel nature measuring device for measuring the nature of fuel stored in a fuel tank includes a measurement passage, a gas flow generator, a pressure detector, an concentration operator, a temperature detector, and a volatility calculator. The measurement passage has an orifice. The gas flow generator generates gas flow in the measurement passage. The pressure detector detects a differential pressure between opposite ends of the orifice. The concentration operator determines a concentration of evaporated fuel in the fuel tank based on the differential pressure detected when the opposite ends of the measurement passage communicate with the fuel tank and the fuel flows in the measurement passage. The temperature detector determines a temperature of the fuel in the fuel tank. The volatility calculator calculates a volatility of the fuel in the fuel tank based on the concentration of the evaporated fuel and the temperature of the fuel in the tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2007
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Applicants: Nippon Soken, Inc., Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Noriyasu Amano, Takanobu Kawano, Nobuhiko Koyama
  • Patent number: 7272485
    Abstract: A fuel nature measuring device for measuring the nature of fuel stored in a fuel tank includes a measurement passage, a gas flow generator, a pressure detector, an concentration operator, a temperature detector, and a volatility calculator. The measurement passage has an orifice. The gas flow generator generates gas flow in the measurement passage. The pressure detector detects a differential pressure between opposite ends of the orifice. The concentration operator determines a concentration of evaporated fuel in the fuel tank based on the differential pressure detected when the opposite ends of the measurement passage communicate with the fuel tank and the fuel flows in the measurement passage. The temperature detector determines a temperature of the fuel in the fuel tank. The volatility calculator calculates a volatility of the fuel in the fuel tank based on the concentration of the evaporated fuel and the temperature of the fuel in the tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Assignees: Nippon Soken, Inc., Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Noriyasu Amano, Takanobu Kawano, Nobuhiko Koyama
  • Publication number: 20070137622
    Abstract: A fuel vapor treatment apparatus is provided with a purging passage for introducing and purging fuel vapor produced in a fuel tank to an intake system for an internal combustion engine, a volume chamber located in the purging passage for enlarging a passage volume and a pump received in the volume chamber for generating a fluid flow in the purging passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2006
    Publication date: June 21, 2007
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Nobuhiko Koyama
  • Patent number: 7219660
    Abstract: A pump generates a gas flow within a measurement passage having an orifice. A differential pressure sensor detects a pressure difference between both ends of the orifice. Switching valves are disposed in the measurement passage to create a first concentration measurement state in which the measurement passage is opened at both ends thereof and the gas flowing through the measurement passage is the atmosphere, and a second concentration measurement state in which the measurement passage is in communication at both ends thereof with a canister and the gas flowing through the measurement passage is a fuel vapor-containing air-fuel mixture provided from the canister. An ECU calculates a fuel vapor concentration by based on a pressure difference detected in the first concentration measurement state and a pressure difference detected in the second concentration measurement state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2007
    Assignees: Denso Corporation, Nippon Soken, Inc.
    Inventors: Noriyasu Amano, Takanobu Kawano, Koichi Inagaki, Nobuhiko Koyama, Masao Kano, Shinsuke Takakura, Yoshichika Yamada
  • Publication number: 20060283427
    Abstract: A concentration-detecting unit detects concentration of fuel vapor flowing in a concentration-detecting passage branched from a purge passage. The concentration-detecting passage communicates with a communicating passage of a canister. Air including the fuel vapor of which concentration is detected by a concentration-detecting unit is returned to the communicating passage of the canister. The fuel vapor is adsorbed by an absorbent accommodated in a accommodating chamber to restrict a discharge of the fuel vapor into atmosphere.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2006
    Publication date: December 21, 2006
    Applicants: DENSO CORPORATION, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Nobuhiko Koyama, Kenji Nagasaki, Shinsuke Kiyomiya
  • Publication number: 20060180127
    Abstract: A canister module includes a canister, an atmospheric passage member, and an absorbent layer. The canister accommodates an absorbent for absorbing volatile substance. The atmospheric passage member forms an atmospheric passage, which has a first end connecting with the canister. The atmospheric passage has a second end, which is an open end that opens to atmosphere. The absorbent layer is arranged along an inner wall of the atmospheric passage member substantially in a circumferential direction of the atmospheric passage member. The absorbent layer absorbs volatile substance that passes through the atmospheric passage member after passing through the canister.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2006
    Publication date: August 17, 2006
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Noboru Hirano, Nobuhiko Koyama
  • Patent number: 7008471
    Abstract: A canister is connected to a fuel tank to adsorb fuel vapor vaporized in the fuel tank and includes a canister housing and a canister main body, which is received in the canister housing and communicates with the fuel tank at one end. The canister housing includes an atmospheric port and a filter chamber, and the filter chamber receives a filter and communicates between the other end of the canister main body and the atmospheric port, which in turn communicates with the atmosphere. The filter includes an active carbon part, an atmosphere-side unwoven fabric and a tank-side unwoven fabric. The active carbon part includes active carbon granules, which adsorb fuel vapor vaporized in the fuel tank. The atmosphere-side unwoven fabric and the tank-side unwoven fabric sandwich the active carbon part therebetween in a flow direction of air, which passes through the active carbon part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2006
    Assignees: Denso Corporation, Nippon Soken, Inc.
    Inventors: Nobuhiko Koyama, Hideaki Itakura
  • Publication number: 20060042605
    Abstract: A pump generates a gas flow within a measurement passage having an orifice. A differential pressure sensor detects a pressure difference between both ends of the orifice. Switching valves are disposed in the measurement passage to create a first concentration measurement state in which the measurement passage is opened at both ends thereof and the gas flowing through the measurement passage is the atmosphere, and a second concentration measurement state in which the measurement passage is in communication at both ends thereof with a canister and the gas flowing through the measurement passage is a fuel vapor-containing air-fuel mixture provided from the canister. An ECU calculates a fuel vapor concentration by based on a pressure difference detected in the first concentration measurement state and a pressure difference detected in the second concentration measurement state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2005
    Publication date: March 2, 2006
    Applicants: Denso Corporation, Nippon Soken, Inc.
    Inventors: Noriyasu Amano, Takanobu Kawano, Koichi Inagaki, Nobuhiko Koyama, Masao Kano, Shinsuke Takakura, Yoshichika Yamada
  • Publication number: 20060031000
    Abstract: A fuel nature measuring device for measuring the nature of fuel stored in a fuel tank includes a measurement passage, a gas flow generator, a pressure detector, an concentration operator, a temperature detector, and a volatility calculator. The measurement passage has an orifice. The gas flow generator generates gas flow in the measurement passage. The pressure detector detects a differential pressure between opposite ends of the orifice. The concentration operator determines a concentration of evaporated fuel in the fuel tank based on the differential pressure detected when the opposite ends of the measurement passage communicate with the fuel tank and the fuel flows in the measurement passage. The temperature detector determines a temperature of the fuel in the fuel tank. The volatility calculator calculates a volatility of the fuel in the fuel tank based on the concentration of the evaporated fuel and the temperature of the fuel in the tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2005
    Publication date: February 9, 2006
    Applicants: NIPPON SOKEN, INC., DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Noriyasu Amano, Takanobu Kawano, Nobuhiko Koyama
  • Patent number: 6971375
    Abstract: A pump generates a gas flow within a measurement passage having an orifice. A differential pressure sensor detects a pressure difference between both ends of the orifice. Switching valves are disposed in the measurement passage to create a first concentration measurement state in which the measurement passage is opened at both ends thereof and the gas flowing through the measurement passage is the atmosphere, and a second concentration measurement state in which the measurement passage is in communication at both ends thereof with a canister and the gas flowing through the measurement passage is a fuel vapor-containing air-fuel mixture provided from the canister. An ECU calculates a fuel vapor concentration by based on a pressure difference detected in the first concentration measurement state and a pressure difference detected in the second concentration measurement state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2005
    Assignees: Denso Corporation, Nippon Soken, Inc.
    Inventors: Noriyasu Amano, Takanobu Kawano, Koichi Inagaki, Nobuhiko Koyama, Masao Kano, Shinsuke Takakura, Yoshichika Yamada
  • Publication number: 20050211228
    Abstract: A pump generates a gas flow within a measurement passage having an orifice. A differential pressure sensor detects a pressure difference between both ends of the orifice. Switching valves are disposed in the measurement passage to create a first concentration measurement state in which the measurement passage is opened at both ends thereof and the gas flowing through the measurement passage is the atmosphere, and a second concentration measurement state in which the measurement passage is in communication at both ends thereof with a canister and the gas flowing through the measurement passage is a fuel vapor-containing air-fuel mixture provided from the canister. An ECU calculates a fuel vapor concentration by based on a pressure difference detected in the first concentration measurement state and a pressure difference detected in the second concentration measurement state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2005
    Publication date: September 29, 2005
    Inventors: Noriyasu Amano, Takanobu Kawano, Koichi Inagaki, Nobuhiko Koyama, Masao Kano, Shinsuke Takakura, Yoshichika Yamada
  • Publication number: 20040231829
    Abstract: There are provided heat storage means 5 which have heat storage material 52 sealed therein and exchange heat with stored fuel F in a tank 11. AS the characteristics of saturated vapor pressure of the stored fuel F are such that rate of change of the saturated vapor pressure with respect to temperature change thereof is large in high temperature range and rate of change of the saturated vapor pressure with respect to the temperature change is small in low temperature range, the effect of the heat storage material 52 for suppressing temperature rise of the stored fuel F to thereby suppress rise of the saturated vapor pressure is larger than the effect of the heat storage material 52 for suppressing temperature drop of the stored fuel F to thereby suppress a drop of the saturated vapor pressure, so that overall effect is to suppress fuel evaporation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2004
    Publication date: November 25, 2004
    Applicants: NIPPON SOKEN, INC., DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Noriyasu Amano, Naoya Kato, Nobuhiko Koyama
  • Publication number: 20040083894
    Abstract: A canister is connected to a fuel tank to adsorb fuel vapor vaporized in the fuel tank and includes a canister housing and a canister main body, which is received in the canister housing and communicates with the fuel tank at one end. The canister housing includes an atmospheric port and a filter chamber, and the filter chamber receives a filter and communicates between the other end of the canister main body and the atmospheric port, which in turn communicates with the atmosphere. The filter includes an active carbon part, an atmosphere-side unwoven fabric and a tank-side unwoven fabric. The active carbon part includes active carbon granules, which adsorb fuel vapor vaporized in the fuel tank. The atmosphere-side unwoven fabric and the tank-side unwoven fabric sandwich the active carbon part therebetween in a flow direction of air, which passes through the active carbon part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2003
    Publication date: May 6, 2004
    Applicants: Denso Corporation, Nippon Soken, Inc.
    Inventors: Nobuhiko Koyama, Hideaki Itakura
  • Patent number: 6701902
    Abstract: A canister for a vehicular evaporative emission control system has activated carbon and heating means. The heating means heats the activated carbon particles. The activated carbon particles are characterized by the following properties. Pore volume is 0.28 ml/ml or more. Average pore radius is in a range of 10.5 Angstroms to 12.0 Angstroms. Particle diameter of the activated carbon is in a range of 1.0 mm to 1.6 mm. The activated carbon particles provide high performances on both of adsorption and desorption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignees: Denso Corporation, Nippon Soken, Inc., Kuraray Chemical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuhiko Koyama, Masao Kano, Noriyasu Amano, Hideaki Itakura, Susumu Abe
  • Patent number: 6689196
    Abstract: A fuel adsorption layer formed in a canister is partitioned into an upper adsorption layer and a lower adsorption layer by a partition plate in which a heater is embedded. The relation between a heating value of the heater and thickness X of the upper and lower adsorption layers is set so that the temperature of a part closest to the heater heating face of the fuel adsorption layer is lower than a fire point of the fuel, and the temperature of a part farthest from the heater heating face is higher than the boiling point of the fuel. With the configuration, by heating the fuel adsorption layer by the heater, the desorption performance of activated carbon is improved, and almost all of the fuel vapors adsorbed can be desorbed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignees: Nippon Soken Inc., Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Noriyasu Amano, Hideaki Itakura, Masaki Takeyama, Naoya Kato, Nobuhiko Koyama