Patents by Inventor Satoshi Umemura

Satoshi Umemura 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: 6638026
    Abstract: A control valve has a valve housing. A valve chamber and a pressure sensing chamber are defined in the valve housing, respectively. A pressure sensing member is located in the pressure sensing chamber. A pressure sensing rod is slidably supported by the valve housing. A valve body is accommodated in the valve chamber. An end of the pressure sensing rod is connected to the pressure sensing member and the other end of the pressure sensing rod contacts the valve body. A solenoid chamber is defined in the valve housing. A stationary iron core is located between the valve chamber and the solenoid chamber. A solenoid rod extends through and is slidably supported by the stationary iron core. An urging force applied to the pressure sensing member by an actuator through the solenoid rod corresponds to a target value of the pressure difference. The pressure sensing member moves the valve body such that the pressure difference seeks the target value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Jidoshokki
    Inventors: Ken Suitou, Kazuya Kimura, Ryo Matsubara, Satoshi Umemura, Kazuhiko Minami, Masaki Ota
  • Patent number: 6637228
    Abstract: A control valve is used for a variable displacement compressor installed in a refrigerant circuit of an air conditioner. The compressor has a control chamber and a control passage, which connects the control chamber to a pressure zone in which the pressure is different from the pressure of the control chamber. The control valve has a valve body, which is accommodated in the valve chamber for adjusting the opening size of the control passage. A pressure sensing member moves in accordance with the pressure difference between two pressure monitoring points located in the refrigerant circuit. The pressure sensing member moves the valve body such that the displacement of the compressor is varied to counter changes of the pressure difference. The force applied by an actuator corresponds to a target value of the pressure difference. The pressure sensing member moves the valve body such that the pressure difference seeks the target value. An urging member is accommodated in the valve chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Jidoshokki
    Inventors: Satoshi Umemura, Tatsuya Hirose, Kazuhiko Minami, Yuji Hashimoto, Masami Niwa, Masaki Ota
  • Patent number: 6604912
    Abstract: A control valve is used for a variable displacement compressor installed in a refrigerant circuit of a vehicle air conditioner. The control valve has a valve housing. A valve chamber is defined in the valve housing. A valve body is accommodated in the valve chamber. A pressure sensing chamber is defined in the valve housing. A pressure sensing member separates the pressure sensing chamber into a first pressure chamber and a second pressure chamber. The pressure at a first location in the refrigerant circuit is applied to the first pressure chamber. The pressure at a second location in the refrigerant circuit, which is downstream of the first location, is applied to the second pressure chamber. The pressure sensing member moves the valve body in accordance with the pressure difference between the first pressure chamber and the second pressure chamber such that the displacement of the compressor is varied to counter changes of the pressure difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2003
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Jidoshokki
    Inventors: Ken Suitou, Masaki Ota, Kazuya Kimura, Taku Adaniya, Ryo Matsubara, Satoshi Umemura, Izuru Shimizu, Naoya Yokomachi, Toshiro Fujii, Yuji Hashimoto, Masakazu Murase
  • Publication number: 20030108432
    Abstract: A variable displacement type compressor circulates a fluid in an air conditioning circuit. The compressor has a compression mechanism and a displacement control valve. The compression mechanism compresses the fluid. The displacement control valve controls discharge amount of the fluid of the compressor. In a first predetermined range of discharge pressure, suction pressure decreases at a first variation as the discharge pressure increases. In a second predetermined range of the discharge pressure that is higher than the first predetermined range, the suction pressure varies at a second variation as the discharge pressure increases. The second variation is constituted of at least one of a third variation that is smaller than the first variation and at which the suction pressure decreases as the discharge pressure increases, a fourth variation at which the suction pressure increases as the discharge pressure increases, and substantially zero.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2002
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Inventors: Masahiro Kawaguchi, Satoshi Umemura, Satoshi Koumura, Masaki Ota, Tomoji Tarutani
  • Publication number: 20030094008
    Abstract: Variable displacement compressors (101) include a displacement control valve (181) that is in communication with a drive chamber (111). The output displacement of the compressor varies in response to changes in pressure within the drive chamber. A controller (203) may control the displacement control valve so that the pressure within the drive chamber is maintained within a predetermined range. Further, the predetermined range may be determined based upon one or more factors that cause fluctuations in the pressure within the drive chamber during operation of the compressor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2002
    Publication date: May 22, 2003
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Yoshida, Masahiro Kawaguchi, Ryo Matsubara, Satoshi Umemura
  • Publication number: 20030084674
    Abstract: A variable displacement type compressor circulates a refrigerant in an air conditioning circuit. The compressor has a compression mechanism and a displacement controller. The compression mechanism compresses and discharges the refrigerant. The displacement controller controls the discharge amount of the refrigerant of the compressor. The displacement controller further includes a normal control means and a protective control means. The normal control means controls the displacement based on a cooling load. The protective control means controls the displacement based on the value in connection with the rotational speed of the compressor and the actual operating information of the compressor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2002
    Publication date: May 8, 2003
    Inventors: Masahiro Kawaguchi, Takayuki Kato, Seiji Katayama, Fuminobu Enokijima, Satoshi Umemura, Ryo Matsubara
  • Patent number: 6557837
    Abstract: A liquid-filled cylinder-shaped hydraulic vibration isolator includes a main axial fitting, an intermediate cylinder fitting, a rubber elastic body, an outer cylinder fitting, and a sealing rubber. The intermediate cylinder fitting includes a pair of ring members and a bridging member bridging the ring members. The respective ring members include a drawn major-diameter portion, positioned on an outside in the axial direction and subjected to drawing, and a minor-diameter portion disposed inside the drawn major-diameter portion by way of a stepped portion, formed as a smaller diameter than that of the drawn major-diameter portion and having a plurality of slits formed along the peripheral direction. The sealing rubber is fastened to outer peripheral surfaces of the minor-diameter portion and the bridging member so as to enclose window portions, formed in the intermediate cylinder fitting. Thus, as one of the advantages, the durability of the rubber elastic body can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: Tokai Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Satoshi Umemura
  • Publication number: 20030080483
    Abstract: A vibration isolator includes a first metallic mounting member; a metallic body member disposed away from the first metallic mounting member in the vibration input direction; an elastic body portion elastically connecting the first metallic mounting member and the metallic body member; and a second metallic mounting member. The metallic body member includes a flange portion protruding radially outward from a part of its end facing the first metallic mounting member and a first protrusion protruding radially outward from the remaining part of the end to a greater extent than does the flange portion. The opposite end of the metallic body member is plugged with a seal member to thereby form a liquid chamber within the metallic body member. The second metallic mounting member is fixedly press-fitted onto the metallic body member and includes a second protrusion. The first and second protrusions are superposed to thereby form a stopper portion. The stopper portion is covered and held by a stopper covering portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2002
    Publication date: May 1, 2003
    Applicant: Tokai Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi Umemura, Takehiro Okanaka
  • Patent number: 6547533
    Abstract: A piston type compressor has a housing, a crank chamber and a drive shaft supported by the housing. A front restriction and a rear restriction are located in the housing. The front and rear restrictions restrict axial movement of the drive shaft. The front restriction restricts forward movement of the drive shaft. The rear restriction restricts rearward axial movement of the drive shaft. A first clearance is located between the rear end of the drive shaft and the rear restriction when the drive shaft is restricted by the front restriction. A second clearance is formed between the piston and a valve plate when the drive shaft is restricted by the front restriction and when the piston is in the top dead center position. The first clearance is narrower than the second clearance. The method of assembly the piston easily sets the first clearance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyoda Jidoshokki Seisakusho
    Inventors: Masaki Ota, Kazuya Kimura, Hiroaki Kayukawa, Satoshi Umemura, Ken Suitou
  • Publication number: 20030044291
    Abstract: A first bleed passage and a second bleed passage each connect a crank chamber of a compressor with a suction chamber of the compressor. A first supply passage and a second supply passage each connect the crank chamber with a discharge chamber of the compressor. A first control valve adjusts the opening size of the first supply passage in response to the pressure in the suction chamber. A second control valve includes a ball valve and an electromagnetic actuator. The ball valve adjusts the opening size of the second supply passage and the opening size of the first bleed passage. The electromagnetic actuator moves the ball valve. The ball valve is moved to a first position and to a second position. At the first position, the ball valve closes the second supply passage and opens the first bleed passage. At the second position, the ball valve opens the second supply passage and closes the first bleed passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2002
    Publication date: March 6, 2003
    Inventors: Satoshi Umemura, Tomoji Tarutani, Tatsuya Hirose, Yuji Hashimoto, Ryo Matsubara, Masaki Ota
  • Patent number: 6524077
    Abstract: A control valve used in a variable displacement compressor includes a valve chamber, a valve body and a pressure sensing chamber. A pressure sensing ball is movably located in the pressure sensing chamber and divides the pressure sensing chamber into a first pressure chamber and a second pressure chamber. First and second pressure monitoring points are located in a refrigerant circuit. The first pressure chamber is exposed to the pressure at the first pressure monitoring point. The second pressure chamber is exposed to the pressure at the second pressure monitoring point. The ball is displaced based on the pressure difference between the first pressure chamber and the second pressure chamber. The position of the valve body is determined based on the position of the pressure sensing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2003
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyoda Jidoshokki Seisakusho
    Inventors: Ken Suitou, Kazuya Kimura, Masahiro Kawaguchi, Masaki Ota, Satoshi Umemura, Tomoji Tarutani, Norio Uemura, Kouji Watanabe, Hideki Higashidouzono, Syuji Hukunaga
  • Patent number: 6520749
    Abstract: A control valve is located in a variable displacement compressor, which is used in a refrigerant circuit. The control valve includes a pressure-sensing member. The pressure sensing member moves a valve body in accordance with the pressure difference between a first pressure monitoring point and a second pressure monitoring point, which are located in the refrigerant circuit. A first spring and a second spring urge the pressure-sensing member in one direction. The spring constant of the first spring is smaller than that of the second spring. A solenoid urges the pressure-sensing member by a force, the magnitude of which corresponds to an external command. The solenoid urges the pressure-sensing member in a direction opposite to the direction in which the springs urge the pressure-sensing member. The control valve quickly and accurately controls the displacement of the compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2003
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Jidoshokki
    Inventors: Kazuya Kimura, Satoshi Umemura, Kazuhiko Minami, Tatsuya Hirose, Taku Adaniya, Atsuhiro Suzuki
  • Patent number: 6517323
    Abstract: A displacement control mechanism used for compressor is installed in a refrigerant circuit. The compressor has a bleed passage and a supply passage. The displacement control mechanism includes a first control valve and a second control valve. The first control valve includes a first valve body and a pressure sensitive member. The first valve body adjusts the opening size of the supply passage. The pressure sensitive member moves in accordance with a pressure in the refrigerant circuit. A pressure detection region is located downstream of the first valve body. The second control valve includes a second valve body. The second valve body adjusts the opening size of the bleed passage. The second valve body moves in accordance with the pressure of the pressure detection region. When the pressure of the pressure detection region increases, the second control valve decreases the opening size of the bleed passage. This permits to start with rapid cooling performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyoda Jidoshokki Seisakusho
    Inventors: Kazuya Kimura, Satoshi Umemura, Izuru Shimizu, Taku Adaniya, Kazuhiko Minami
  • Patent number: 6517324
    Abstract: A control valve is used for a variable displacement compressor. The compressor has a crank chamber and a supply passage. The control valve includes a valve housing. A valve chamber is defined in the valve housing. A valve body is accommodated in the valve chamber for adjusting the opening size of the supply passage. A pressure sensing chamber is defined in the valve housing. A pressure sensing member separates the pressure sensing chamber into a first pressure chamber and a second pressure chamber. The pressure at a first pressure monitoring point is applied to the first pressure chamber. The pressure at a second pressure monitoring point located is applied to the second pressure chamber. The pressure sensing member moves the valve body in accordance with the pressure difference between the first pressure chamber and the second pressure chamber. The pressure sensing member is a bellows or a diaphragm, an actuator applies force to the pressure sensing member in accordance with external commands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Jidoshokki
    Inventors: Masaki Ota, Ken Suitou, Kazuya Kimura, Tatsuya Hirose, Satoshi Umemura, Yuji Hashimoto, Masami Niwa, Kazuhiko Minami
  • Publication number: 20030026708
    Abstract: A variable displacement compressor has a housing, a drive shaft, a rotor, a swash plate, a piston and a decelerating mechanism. The housing includes a cylinder bore and supports the drive shaft. The rotor is secured to the drive shaft. The swash plate is operatively connected to the rotor and the drive shaft so as to rotate therewith and varies its inclination angle relative to the drive shaft. The piston is connected to the swash plate so as to reciprocate in the cylinder bore with rotation of the swash plate. A stroke of the piston varies in accordance with the inclination angle of the swash plate. The decelerating mechanism between the rotor and the swash plate decelerates the inclination speed of the swash plate in a range from a close maximum inclination angle to the maximum inclination angle when the swash plate inclines to increase the stroke of the piston.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2002
    Publication date: February 6, 2003
    Inventors: Masaki Ota, Tomohiro Wakita, Tomoji Tarutani, Hirotaka Kurakake, Yoshinobu Ishigaki, Kazuhiro Nomura, Yoshinori Inoue, Satoshi Umemura, Kazuhiko Minami
  • Publication number: 20030021698
    Abstract: A control valve controls the displacement of a variable displacement compressor. The control valve includes a first valve body for adjusting the pressure in a crank chamber, a pressure sensing member, which is displaced in accordance with the pressure difference between two pressure points located in a refrigerant circuit to move the first valve body, an electromagnetic actuator for urging the pressure sensing member, and a second valve body, which is operably coupled to the pressure sensing member. The second valve body adjusts the opening degree of a discharge passage of the refrigerant circuit in accordance with the displacement of the pressure sensing member. Therefore, compared to a case where the first and second valve bodies are independently arranged in the compressor, the number of parts are reduced, which reduces the manufacturing cost.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2002
    Publication date: January 30, 2003
    Inventors: Satoshi Umemura, Kazuya Kimura, Ryo Matsubara, Masaki Ota
  • Publication number: 20030014990
    Abstract: A control valve includes an accommodation cylinder, a coil, a stator, a plunger, and a valve body. Electromagnetic force is generated between the stator and the plunger and the plunger moves relative to the stator. The valve body adjusts the opening degree of a valve hole. A flat surface and a peripheral wall are formed in an end of the stator. The peripheral wall has a tapered cross-section with an inclined inner surface. The inclined inner surface and the flat surface define a recess. The plunger has a frustum portion. The frustum portion includes a flat distal surface and an annular inclined surface. The taper angle of the peripheral wall is equal to or less than twenty degrees. The diameter of the flat distal surface of the frustum portion is equal to or greater than eighty percent of the largest diameter of the annular inclined surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2002
    Publication date: January 23, 2003
    Inventors: Hiroshi Fukasaku, Hirohito Hayashi, Kitaru Iwata, Satoshi Umemura, Ryo Matsubara, Taku Adaniya
  • Patent number: 6505473
    Abstract: A vehicle air conditioner including a refrigerant circuit that incorporates a variable displacement compressor driven by an engine of the vehicle. The air conditioner includes a control valve for varying the displacement of the compressor and an ECU for controlling the control valve. The control valve has a bellows, a valve body, and a coil. The ECU varies the displacement of the compressor by energizing the coil to apply a force, which counters the movement of the bellows, to the valve body to move the valve body. This alters the moved amount of the bellows. The air conditioner control unit gradually changes the force applied to the valve body by the coil to adjust the pressure difference and vary the displacement of the compressor when the engine is running at an idle speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2003
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Jidoshokki
    Inventors: Ken Suitou, Kazuya Kimura, Masahiro Kawaguchi, Ryo Matsubara, Satoshi Umemura, Kazuki Najima
  • Publication number: 20030007878
    Abstract: A control valve has a valve body for opening and closing a valve hole and a solenoid mechanism for urging the valve body by energizing a solenoid. The solenoid mechanism includes a yoke, a plunger housing, a fixed core and a plunger. The yoke accommodates the solenoid and forms a magnetic path. The plunger housing made of stainless steel connects with the yoke, and has a central axis. The fixed core connects with the yoke. The plunger is accommodated in the plunger housing and connects with the valve body. The plunger is attracted to the fixed core to move in the direction of the central axis by applying electromagnetic force from the solenoid. Black oxide treatment is performed to the yoke after the plunger housing is brazed to the yoke.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2002
    Publication date: January 9, 2003
    Inventors: Satoshi Umemura, Kazuhiko Minami, Tatsuya Hirose, Masami Niwa, Yuji Hashimoto, Masaki Ota
  • Publication number: 20020165053
    Abstract: A power transmission mechanism includes a first rotary body having an engagement recess, and a second rotary body, which is coaxial to the first rotary body, and an engagement projection. The position of at least one of the engagement recess and the engagement projection changes with respect to the associated rotary body. An elastic member elastically deforms in accordance with force based on a transmission torque during power transmission between the first rotary body and the second rotary body. The elastic deformation of the elastic member permits the position of at least one of the engagement recess and the engagement projection to be changed. Sliding of the engagement projection in the engagement recess permits relative rotation of the rotary bodies within a predetermined angle range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2001
    Publication date: November 7, 2002
    Inventors: Kazuya Kimura, Akifumi Uryu, Masahiro Kawaguchi, Satoshi Umemura, Masaki Ota, Taku Adaniya