Patents by Inventor Shigeto Hirai
Shigeto Hirai 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).
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Patent number: 10907668Abstract: A flow damper including a cylindrical vortex chamber, a small flow-rate pipe connected to a peripheral plate of the vortex chamber along a tangential direction, a large flow-rate pipe connected to the peripheral plate with a predetermined angle with respect to the small flow-rate pipe, an outlet pipe connected to an outlet formed in a central part of the vortex chamber, and a pressure equalization pipe with respective ends being connected to the peripheral plate on opposite sides of the outlet and at positions closer to a connection portion between the small flow-rate pipe and the large flow-rate pipe than positions facing each other, putting the outlet therebetween. The pressure equalization pipe is arranged with at least a part thereof is located at a higher position than a top plate of the vortex chamber, and an outgassing hole is provided at an uppermost part of the pressure equalization pipe.Type: GrantFiled: January 27, 2017Date of Patent: February 2, 2021Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.Inventors: Masamichi Iino, Shigeto Hirai, Taiki Asahara, Takafumi Ogino, Akira Kirita, Akihiro Toda, Hideyuki Sakata, Yutaka Tanaka, Setsuo Tokunaga, Takashi Nakahara, Takanori Okazaki
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Patent number: 10900508Abstract: To include a cylindrical vortex chamber 35, a small flow-rate pipe 37 connected to a peripheral plate 35C of the vortex chamber 35 along a tangential direction thereof, a large flow-rate pipe 36 connected to the peripheral plate 35C with a predetermined angle with respect to the small flow-rate pipe 37, an outlet pipe connected to an outlet 39 formed in a central part of the vortex chamber 35, and a straightening plate 50 that is arranged in a part between the outlet 39 and the peripheral plate 35C of the vortex chamber 35, and when jets flow into the vortex chamber 35 from the small flow-rate pipe 37 and the large flow-rate pipe 36, straightens impinging jets from the small flow-rate pipe 37 and from the large flow-rate pipe 36 having flowed into the vortex chamber 35 toward the outlet 39.Type: GrantFiled: January 27, 2017Date of Patent: January 26, 2021Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.Inventors: Hideyuki Sakata, Shigeto Hirai, Taiki Asahara, Takafumi Ogino, Akira Kirita, Akihiro Toda, Masamichi Iino, Toshihiro Sato, Yutaka Tanaka, Takanori Okazaki, Takashi Nakahara
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Publication number: 20180358137Abstract: A flow damper including a cylindrical vortex chamber, a small flow-rate pipe connected to a peripheral plate of the vortex chamber along a tangential direction, a large flow-rate pipe connected to the peripheral plate with a predetermined angle with respect to the small flow-rate pipe, an outlet pipe connected to an outlet formed in a central part of the vortex chamber, and a pressure equalization pipe with respective ends being connected to the peripheral plate on opposite sides of the outlet and at positions closer to a connection portion between the small flow-rate pipe and the large flow-rate pipe than positions facing each other, putting the outlet therebetween. The pressure equalization pipe is arranged with at least a part thereof is located at a higher position than a top plate of the vortex chamber, and an outgassing hole is provided at an uppermost part of the pressure equalization pipe.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 27, 2017Publication date: December 13, 2018Applicant: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.Inventors: Masamichi Iino, Shigeto Hirai, Taiki Asahara, Takafumi Ogino, Akira Kirita, Akihiro Toda, Hideyuki Sakata, Yutaka Tanaka, Setsuo Tokunaga, Takashi Nakahara, Takanori Okazaki
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Publication number: 20180218795Abstract: To include a cylindrical vortex chamber 35, a small flow-rate pipe 37 connected to a peripheral plate 35C of the vortex chamber 35 along a tangential direction thereof, a large flow-rate pipe 36 connected to the peripheral plate 35C with a predetermined angle with respect to the small flow-rate pipe 37, an outlet pipe connected to an outlet 39 formed in a central part of the vortex chamber 35, and a straightening plate 50 that is arranged in a part between the outlet 39 and the peripheral plate 35C of the vortex chamber 35, and when jets flow into the vortex chamber 35 from the small flow-rate pipe 37 and the large flow-rate pipe 36, straightens impinging jets from the small flow-rate pipe 37 and from the large flow-rate pipe 36 having flowed into the vortex chamber 35 toward the outlet 39.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 27, 2017Publication date: August 2, 2018Applicant: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.Inventors: Hideyuki Sakata, Shigeto Hirai, Taiki Asahara, Takafumi Ogino, Akira Kirita, Akihiro Toda, Masamichi Iino, Toshihiro Sato, Yutaka Tanaka, Takanori Okazaki, Takashi Nakahara
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Patent number: 8698342Abstract: A wind turbine generating apparatus includes a rotor head that rotates upon receiving outside wind on a wind turbine blade, a generator that generates electricity, and a nacelle interior air passage through which outside air flows isolatedly from an interior space of the nacelle.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 2011Date of Patent: April 15, 2014Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.Inventors: Shigeto Hirai, Shinsuke Sato, Tatsuo Ishiguro
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Patent number: 8694268Abstract: An object is to suppress reduction of energy production as much as possible while ensuring an expected lifetime. There is provided a device of adjusting a curtailment strategy for a wind turbine, the device including: a fatigue equivalent load calculation unit that calculates a fatigue equivalent load for evaluating a fatigue damage of the wind turbine in a predetermined time period by using load data of the wind turbine; and a setting value update unit that compares the fatigue equivalent load with a reference load determined by an expected lifetime of the wind turbine, and, when a difference between the fatigue equivalent load and the reference load exceeds a predetermined threshold value, updates the condition setting value for the curtailment that is currently employed according to the difference.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2009Date of Patent: April 8, 2014Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.Inventors: Kai Karikomi, Shigeto Hirai, Yoshiyuki Hayashi
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Patent number: 8585358Abstract: Provided is a wind turbine generator in which the intake air temperature of an air-cooled heat exchanger disposed in a nacelle is decreased to allow efficient heat exchange. A wind turbine generator that generates electric power in such a manner that a rotor head that rotates when receiving wind power drives a generator installed inside a nacelle, the nacelle being installed at the upper end of a tower that is vertically erected on a foundation, and the wind turbine generator including a closed-circuit lubricating-oil circulation system in which lubricating oil circulates through devices installed inside the nacelle, wherein an air-cooled heat exchanger installed in the lubricating-oil circulation system to cool the lubricating oil by heat exchange with air is provided in a region separate from nacelle air.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2011Date of Patent: November 19, 2013Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.Inventors: Takeshi Matsuo, Yasushi Okano, Tomohiro Numajiri, Taisuke Nakamura, Chuuhachi Gotou, Shigeto Hirai, Shinsuke Sato
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Patent number: 8502407Abstract: A wind power generating apparatus provided with heat exhausting measures for an in-rotor-head device is provided. In a wind power generating apparatus in which a rotor head that rotates upon receiving wind power on a wind turbine blade drives a generator that is installed inside a nacelle and thereby generates electric power, the nacelle is installed on an upper end portion of a tower that is erected on a foundation, and a hub control panel is installed inside the rotor head, a ventilating fan that forms a flow inside and outside of an enclosure of the hub control panel is provided in the enclosure.Type: GrantFiled: April 18, 2012Date of Patent: August 6, 2013Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.Inventors: Shinsuke Sato, Shigeto Hirai, Taisuke Nakamura, Takeshi Matsuo, Chuuhachi Gotou, Yasushi Okano
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Patent number: 8502405Abstract: A wind turbine for wind power generation accommodated a heat-generating device therein is always properly cooled by accurately detecting clogging of a filter.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 2010Date of Patent: August 6, 2013Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.Inventors: Shigeto Hirai, Yasushi Okano, Shinsuke Sato
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Patent number: 8476784Abstract: In a wind turbine generating apparatus, a heat generating device is provided inside the rotor head and has a hermetically-sealed structure from outside. A rotor head cooling air passage is formed through the periphery of the heat generating device to the inside of a wind turbine blade. A cooling air introduction portion through which cooling air flows and an air outlet from which the cooling air is discharged are provided in the rotor head cooling air passage to thereby form the air outlet in the wind turbine blade.Type: GrantFiled: October 4, 2011Date of Patent: July 2, 2013Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.Inventors: Shinsuke Sato, Shigeto Hirai, Tatsuo Ishiguro
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Publication number: 20130009405Abstract: A wind turbine generator having a large opening area for air intake and exhaust while maintaining tower strength and having a sufficient cooling performance is provided. In the wind turbine generator, a rotor head rotating when receiving wind power with wind turbine blades drives a generating machine provided inside a nacelle to generate electric power. The nacelle is provided on an upper end portion of a tower standing upright on a foundation. Outer air is introduced into the tower from a tower opening provided on a surface of the tower to cool an inner space of the tower. The wind turbine generator includes a recessed cylindrical portion extending from the tower opening toward the inner side of the tower. Air can pass through pressure loss elements provided on a part or all of a surface making up the cylindrical portion, and an effective opening area where the pressure loss elements are provided is larger than an actual opening area of the tower opening.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 7, 2011Publication date: January 10, 2013Applicant: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.Inventors: Shinsuke Sato, Shigeto Hirai, Taisuke Nakamura, Takeshi Matsuo, Chuuhachi Gotou, Yasushi Okano
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Publication number: 20120256425Abstract: A wind power generating apparatus provided with heat exhausting measures for an in-rotor-head device is provided. In a wind power generating apparatus in which a rotor head that rotates upon receiving wind power on a wind turbine blade drives a generator that is installed inside a nacelle and thereby generates electric power, the nacelle is installed on an upper end portion of a tower that is erected on a foundation, and a hub control panel is installed inside the rotor head, a ventilating fan that forms a flow inside and outside of an enclosure of the hub control panel is provided in the enclosure.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 18, 2012Publication date: October 11, 2012Applicant: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.Inventors: Shinsuke SATO, Shigeto HIRAI, Taisuke NAKAMURA, Takeshi MATSUO, Chuuhachi GOTOU, Yasushi OKANO
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Publication number: 20120134818Abstract: A wind turbine generator includes: a rotor hub configured to be provided inside a rotor head and contain apparatuses; a hatch configured to be provided in a front of the rotor hub; and a heat exchanger configured to be provided in an opening of the hatch. The heat exchanger includes: a partition portion configured to be put on the opening, and heat exchanging members configured to be provided so as to penetrate the partition portion, a side of one end being located inside the rotor hub and a side of the other end being located outside the rotor hub.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 2, 2011Publication date: May 31, 2012Applicant: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.Inventors: Shinsuke SATO, Shigeto HIRAI, Yasushi OKANO, Taisuke NAKAMURA, Takeshi MATSUO
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Publication number: 20120074711Abstract: In a wind turbine generating apparatus, a heat generating device is provided inside the rotor head and has a hermetically-sealed structure from outside. A rotor head cooling air passage is formed through the periphery of the heat generating device to the inside of a wind turbine blade. A cooling air introduction portion through which cooling air flows and an air outlet from which the cooling air is discharged are provided in the rotor head cooling air passage to thereby form the air outlet in the wind turbine blade.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 4, 2011Publication date: March 29, 2012Applicant: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.Inventors: Shinsuke SATO, Shigeto HIRAI, Tatsuo ISHIGURO
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Publication number: 20120025541Abstract: A wind turbine generating apparatus includes a rotor head that rotates upon receiving outside wind on a wind turbine blade, a generator that generates electricity, and a nacelle interior air passage through which outside air flows isolatedly from an interior space of the nacelle.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 24, 2011Publication date: February 2, 2012Applicant: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.Inventors: Shigeto HIRAI, Shinsuke SATO, Tatsuo ISHIGURO
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Publication number: 20110272949Abstract: Provided is a wind turbine generator in which the intake air temperature of an air-cooled heat exchanger disposed in a nacelle is decreased to allow efficient heat exchange. A wind turbine generator that generates electric power in such a manner that a rotor head that rotates when receiving wind power drives a generator installed inside a nacelle, the nacelle being installed at the upper end of a tower that is vertically erected on a foundation, and the wind turbine generator including a closed-circuit lubricating-oil circulation system in which lubricating oil circulates through devices installed inside the nacelle, wherein an air-cooled heat exchanger installed in the lubricating-oil circulation system to cool the lubricating oil by heat exchange with air is provided in a region separate from nacelle air.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 8, 2011Publication date: November 10, 2011Applicant: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.Inventors: Takeshi MATSUO, Yasushi OKANO, Tomohiro NUMAJIRI, Taisuke NAKAMURA, Chuuhachi GOTOU, Shigeto HIRAI, Shinsuke SATO
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Publication number: 20110254280Abstract: To provide a wind turbine generator capable of creating an air flow which can efficiently circulate air between the interior of a cover and a nacelle so that the interior of the cover can be efficiently cooled down. A wind turbine generator (1) is provided with a rotor head (4) to which wind turbine blades (6) are attached, a cover (5) which covers the rotor head (4), and a nacelle (3) which accommodates a power generating facility (7) connected to the rotor head (4), and has an air circulation between the interior of the cover (5) and the interior of the nacelle (3), wherein an air flow creation device (20) which creates an air flow is provided inside the cover (5).Type: ApplicationFiled: September 7, 2009Publication date: October 20, 2011Applicant: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.Inventors: Shigeto Hirai, Shinsuke Sato, Takeshi Matsuo, Yasushi Okano
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Publication number: 20110211958Abstract: There are provided a wind-power-generator fan unit and a wind power generator in which the consumption of driving power for a cooler fan that cools a device provided in the wind power generator can be reduced. This wind-power-generator fan unit includes cooler fans that discharge air in a housing that accommodates devices that perform at least power generation by the rotational operation of rotor blades to the outside of the housing through the devices; and a control unit that controls the operation of the cooler fans on the basis of the temperatures of the devices and the operating states of the devices.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 20, 2009Publication date: September 1, 2011Applicant: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.Inventors: Shinsuke Sato, Shigeto Hirai, Toshihiro Sato
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Publication number: 20110175368Abstract: A first wind driven generator includes: a rotor head having wind turbine blades attached thereto; a nacelle that pivotally supports the rotor head; a tower that supports the nacelle; an opening portion that is provided on a tip end of the rotor head and introduces outside air; and a plurality of air-supply acceleration guides that are provided on an outer circumference of the opening portion of the rotor head and collect the outside air in the opening portion. The outside air can be actively taken in the rotor head from the opening portion by causing the air-supply acceleration guides to rotate to follow rotation of the rotor head.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 27, 2009Publication date: July 21, 2011Applicant: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.Inventors: Shinsuke Sato, Shigeto Hirai
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Publication number: 20110163545Abstract: A wind turbine for wind power generation accommodated a heat-generating device therein is always properly cooled by accurately detecting clogging of a filter.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 23, 2010Publication date: July 7, 2011Applicant: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.Inventors: Shigeto Hirai, Yasushi Okano, Shinsuke Sato