Patents by Inventor Ryota AKAIWA

Ryota AKAIWA 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: 11885512
    Abstract: A heat exchanger has first and second heat exchange units disposed one above the other. In a case where the heat exchanger functions as a condenser, refrigerant flows through the second heat exchange unit after having flowed through the first heat exchange unit. An intermediate header unit through which the first heat exchange unit and the second heat exchange unit communicate with each other causes at least a portion of refrigerant having flowed through a first heat transfer pipe group on the windward side of the first heat exchange unit to flow to a fourth heat transfer pipe group. Further, the intermediate header unit causes at least a portion of refrigerant having flowed through a second heat transfer pipe group on the leeward side of the first heat exchange unit to flow into a third heat transfer pipe group or the fourth heat transfer pipe group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ryota Akaiwa, Makoto Tanishima, Yoji Onaka, Takamasa Uemura
  • Patent number: 11713926
    Abstract: Provided is a heat exchanger, including a plurality of heat exchange members arranged in a first direction so as to be spaced apart from each other. Each of the plurality of heat exchange members includes: a heat transfer pipe extending in a second direction intersecting with the first direction; and a heat transfer plate provided to the heat transfer pipe along the second direction. The heat transfer plate includes extending portions extending away from the heat transfer pipe in a third direction intersecting with each of the first direction and the second direction. The heat transfer plate is formed separately from the heat transfer pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignees: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, The University of Tokyo
    Inventors: Yuta Komiya, Shinya Higashiiue, Tsuyoshi Maeda, Ryota Akaiwa, Shigeyoshi Matsui, Akira Ishibashi, Eiji Hihara, Chaobin Dang, Jiyang Li
  • Patent number: 11662148
    Abstract: In a heat exchanger, each of a plurality of heat exchange members includes: a flat pipe; and a heat transfer plate integrated with the flat pipe along a longitudinal direction of the flat pipe. A width direction of each of the flat pipes intersects with a direction in which the plurality of heat exchange members are arranged side by side. Each of the heat transfer plates includes an extending portion extending outward in the width direction of each of the flat pipes from at least one of one end of a corresponding one of the flat pipes in the width direction and another end of the corresponding one of the flat pipes in the width direction. Each of the flat pipes has one or more flat pipe bent portions, each forming a groove extending along the longitudinal direction of the flat pipes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignees: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, The University of Tokyo
    Inventors: Akira Ishibashi, Tsuyoshi Maeda, Shinya Higashiiue, Daisuke Ito, Shin Nakamura, Ryota Akaiwa, Akira Yatsuyanagi, Ryuichi Nagata, Eiji Hihara, Chaobin Dang, Jiyang Li
  • Patent number: 11656013
    Abstract: A distributor includes an upstream flow path and a downstream flow path. The downstream flow path has a branch portion and a bent portion. The branch portion has a first connecting portion connected to the upstream flow path to branch a refrigerant flow from the first connecting portion in a second direction intersecting a first direction. The bent portion has a second connecting portion connected to the branch portion and is located downstream of the branch portion in the refrigerant flow. The second connecting portion of the bent portion is located downstream of the first connecting portion of the branch portion in the refrigerant flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Ryota Akaiwa, Shinya Higashiiue
  • Patent number: 11629896
    Abstract: A heat exchanger includes: a plurality of flat tubes arranged in a height direction of the heat exchanger; a connection portion in which a plurality of connection spaces are provided as spaces with which ends of the plurality of flat tubes are connected; and a refrigerant distributor connected to each of the plurality of connection spaces. The flat tubes each have a first side end portion located on a windward side, a second side end portion located on a leeward side, and a plurality of refrigerant passages arranged between the first and second side end portions. Each flat tube is inclined such that in the height direction, the position of the first side end portion is lower than the position of the second side end portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Shinya Higashiiue, Ryota Akaiwa, Tsuyoshi Maeda, Atsushi Mochizuki
  • Patent number: 11629897
    Abstract: A distributor distributes fluid to plural fluid outlets, the fluid flowing from a fluid inlet. The distributor includes plural branching flow paths having an upstream branching flow path, and downstream branching flow paths located closer to the fluid outlets than is the upstream branching flow path, and an intermediate flow path provided between the upstream branching flow path and one or more of the downstream branching flow paths, the intermediate flow path connecting the upstream branching flow path and the at least one of the downstream branching flow paths. The intermediate flow path has one end connected to the upstream branching flow path at a position facing one of the ends of the upstream branching flow path and the other end connected to one or more of the downstream branching flow paths at a center of the downstream branching flow path, and causes the fluid flowing from the one end to change a flow direction of the fluid and then flow out of the other end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Shinya Higashiiue, Ryota Akaiwa, Atsushi Mochizuki
  • Publication number: 20220381515
    Abstract: A heat exchanger includes heat transfer tubes disposed in an up-down direction and a distributor distributes refrigerant to the heat transfer tubes. The distributor has a main body having a first flow passage through which refrigerant flows upward, and an insertion part disposed inside the main body. When an upper one and a lower one of two among the heat transfer tubes are a first heat transfer tube and a second heat transfer tube, respectively, the insertion part is installed between the first heat transfer tube and the second heat transfer tube. The main body has a second flow passage through which refrigerant flows upward. Refrigerant having passed through the first flow passage and the second flow passage flows through the first heat transfer tube, and refrigerant having passed through the first flow passage flows through the second heat transfer tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2019
    Publication date: December 1, 2022
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Ryota AKAIWA, Yoji ONAKA, Yohei KATO, Norihiro YONEDA, Satomi ASAI
  • Publication number: 20220316804
    Abstract: A heat exchanger includes a tubular refrigerant distributor having insertion holes spaced from each other in a first direction and into which ends of heat transfer tubes are inserted in a second direction. A first partition plate partitions the refrigerant distributor into a first space into which the ends of the heat transfer tubes are inserted and a second space, larger than the first space, into which the ends of the heat transfer tubes are not inserted; and an inflow pipe provided on a one side-surface side of the refrigerant distributor. The heat transfer tubes are located apart from the first partition plate in the first space. The first partition plate is provided with an orifice that is provided at a location corresponding to a space between adjacent ones of the heat transfer tubes, and that causes the first space and the second space to communicate with each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2019
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Yoji ONAKA, Takashi MATSUMOTO, Rihito ADACHI, Ryota AKAIWA, Takashi SEKIYA, Hayato TANIUE, Satomi ASAI
  • Patent number: 11402162
    Abstract: A distributor and a heat exchanger each include a first plate, a second plate, and a third plate. The first plate is stacked on the second plate in a stacking direction. The second plate is stacked on the third plate in the stacking direction. The first plate has a first through hole. The second plate has a first hollow portion communicating with the first through hole, a plurality of second hollow portions communicating with the first hollow portion, and a plurality of third hollow portions each communicating with one of the plurality of second hollow portions. The third plate has a plurality of second through holes each communicating with one of the plurality of third hollow portions. A first dimension L1 that is the width of the first hollow portion is larger than a second dimension L2 that is the width of each of the plurality of second hollow portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Ryota Akaiwa, Shinya Higashiiue, Atsushi Mochizuki
  • Publication number: 20220236012
    Abstract: Provided is a heat exchanger, including a plurality of heat exchange members arranged in a first direction so as to be spaced apart from each other. Each of the plurality of heat exchange members includes: a heat transfer pipe extending in a second direction intersecting with the first direction; and a heat transfer plate provided to the heat transfer pipe along the second direction. The heat transfer plate includes extending portions extending away from the heat transfer pipe in a third direction intersecting with each of the first direction and the second direction. The heat transfer plate is formed separately from the heat transfer pipe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2022
    Publication date: July 28, 2022
    Inventors: Yuta KOMIYA, Shinya HIGASHIIUE, Tsuyoshi MAEDA, Ryota AKAIWA, Shigeyoshi MATSUI, Akira ISHIBASHI, Eiji HIHARA, Chaobin DANG, Jiyang LI
  • Patent number: 11384970
    Abstract: An auxiliary heat exchange unit of a heat exchanger has a first auxiliary heat exchange region and a second auxiliary heat exchange region. A main heat exchange unit has a first main heat exchange region, a second main heat exchange region, a third main heat exchange region, and a fourth main heat exchange region. The auxiliary heat exchange unit and the main heat exchange unit are configured to cause refrigerant to flow successively through the first auxiliary heat exchange region, the second auxiliary heat exchange region, the first main heat exchange region, the second main heat exchange region, the fourth main heat exchange region, and the third main heat exchange region when the heat exchanger functions as an evaporator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Yuta Komiya, Shin Nakamura, Shinya Higashiiue, Akira Ishibashi, Tsuyoshi Maeda, Ryota Akaiwa
  • Patent number: 11262106
    Abstract: Provided is a refrigeration cycle apparatus capable of achieving an improvement in heat exchange performance during a heating operation and during a cooling operation, while suppressing increases in manufacturing cost and volume required for packaging. The outdoor heat exchanger and the outdoor heat exchanger are connected in parallel to the indoor heat exchanger via the branch portion. The flow path switching device includes a first port, a second port, and a third port. The first port is connected with a third refrigerant flow path. The second port is connected with the outdoor heat exchanger. The third port is connected with a fourth refrigerant flow path. The second port is configured to switch between a state in which the second port is connected to the first port and a state in which the second port is connected to the third port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Ryota Akaiwa, Shinya Higashiiue
  • Publication number: 20220018553
    Abstract: A heat exchanger has first and second heat exchange units disposed one above the other. In a case where the heat exchanger functions as a condenser, refrigerant flows through the second heat exchange unit after having flowed through the first heat exchange unit. An intermediate header unit through which the first heat exchange unit and the second heat exchange unit communicate with each other causes at least a portion of refrigerant having flowed through a first heat transfer pipe group on the windward side of the first heat exchange unit to flow to a fourth heat transfer pipe group. Further, the intermediate header unit causes at least a portion of refrigerant having flowed through a second heat transfer pipe group on the leeward side of the first heat exchange unit to flow into a third heat transfer pipe group or the fourth heat transfer pipe group.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2018
    Publication date: January 20, 2022
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Ryota AKAIWA, Makoto TANISHIMA, Yoji ONAKA, Takamasa UEMURA
  • Patent number: 11199344
    Abstract: A heat exchanger and an air-conditioning apparatus that exhibit high performance, and also provide reliability in strength and corrosion resistance. The heat exchanger includes a plurality of fins each including a fin collar formed in a short cylindrical shape by perforating a flat base plate, the plurality of fins being stacked by serially connecting fin collars of the respective fins, the serially connected fin collars being bonded to form a conduit line and a fin core, the conduit line including a resin layer formed on an inner surface thereof. The heat exchanger also includes a reinforcing member having a length corresponding to a length of the conduit line from one end to the other end thereof, to improve rigidity of the conduit line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kosuke Miyawaki, Takahiro Hori, Norihiro Yoneda, Susumu Yoshimura, Yoji Onaka, Takashi Matsumoto, Ryota Akaiwa, Yasuhiro Yoshida, Kazuhiro Miya
  • Patent number: 11035627
    Abstract: A distributor includes a first member having a plurality of first through holes spaced apart from each other in the first direction, a second member having a first groove facing each of the plurality of first through holes, and a third member having at least one second groove facing at least one of the plurality of first through holes. The first groove extends in the first direction. The first space inside a groove is connected to a second space inside at least one second groove through a third space inside each of the plurality of first through holes. The third space is higher in flow path resistance than the first space and the second space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Ryota Akaiwa, Shinya Higashiiue, Yuta Komiya, Tsuyoshi Maeda
  • Publication number: 20210164709
    Abstract: An auxiliary heat exchange unit of a heat exchanger has a first auxiliary heat exchange region and a second auxiliary heat exchange region. A main heat exchange unit has a first main heat exchange region, a second main heat exchange region, a third main heat exchange region, and a fourth main heat exchange region. The auxiliary heat exchange unit and the main heat exchange unit are configured to cause refrigerant to flow successively through the first auxiliary heat exchange region, the second auxiliary heat exchange region, the first main heat exchange region, the second main heat exchange region, the fourth main heat exchange region, and the third main heat exchange region when the heat exchanger functions as an evaporator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 25, 2017
    Publication date: June 3, 2021
    Inventors: Yuta KOMIYA, Shin NAKAMURA, Shinya HIGASHIIUE, Akira ISHIBASHI, Tsuyoshi MAEDA, Ryota AKAIWA
  • Publication number: 20210140692
    Abstract: A distributor includes an upstream flow path and a downstream flow path. The downstream flow path has a branch portion and a bent portion. The branch portion has a first connecting portion connected to the upstream flow path to branch a refrigerant flow from the first connecting portion in a second direction intersecting a first direction. The bent portion has a second connecting portion connected to the branch portion and is located downstream of the branch portion in the refrigerant flow. The second connecting portion of the bent portion is located downstream of the first connecting portion of the branch portion in the refrigerant flow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2018
    Publication date: May 13, 2021
    Inventors: Ryota AKAIWA, Shinya HIGASHIIUE
  • Patent number: 11002495
    Abstract: A distributor includes a first member having a plurality of first through holes spaced apart from each other in the first direction, a second member having a first groove facing each of the plurality of first through holes, and a third member having at least one second groove facing at least one of the plurality of first through holes. The first groove extends in the first direction. The first space inside a groove is connected to a second space inside at least one second groove through a third space inside each of the plurality of first through holes. The third space is higher in flow path resistance than the first space and the second space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Ryota Akaiwa, Shinya Higashiiue, Yuta Komiya, Tsuyoshi Maeda
  • Publication number: 20210018233
    Abstract: A heat exchanger includes: a plurality of flat tubes arranged in a height direction of the heat exchanger; a connection portion in which a plurality of connection spaces are provided as spaces with which ends of the plurality of flat tubes are connected; and a refrigerant distributor connected to each of the plurality of connection spaces. The flat tubes each have a first side end portion located on a windward side, a second side end portion located on a leeward side, and a plurality of refrigerant passages arranged between the first and second side end portions. Each flat tube is inclined such that in the height direction, the position of the first side end portion is lower than the position of the second side end portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2018
    Publication date: January 21, 2021
    Inventors: Shinya HIGASHIIUE, Ryota AKAIWA, Tsuyoshi MAEDA, Atsushi MOCHIZUKI
  • Publication number: 20210003353
    Abstract: A distributor and a heat exchanger each include a first plate, a second plate, and a third plate. The first plate is stacked on the second plate in a stacking direction. The second plate is stacked on the third plate in the stacking direction. The first plate has a first through hole. The second plate has a first hollow portion communicating with the first through hole, a plurality of second hollow portions communicating with the first hollow portion, and a plurality of third hollow portions each communicating with one of the plurality of second hollow portions. The third plate has a plurality of second through holes each communicating with one of the plurality of third hollow portions. A first dimension L1 that is the width of the first hollow portion is larger than a second dimension L2 that is the width of each of the plurality of second hollow portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2018
    Publication date: January 7, 2021
    Inventors: Ryota AKAIWA, Shinya HIGASHIIUE, Atsushi MOCHIZUKI