Patents by Inventor Suguru Hirota

Suguru Hirota 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).

  • Publication number: 20180128252
    Abstract: A variable displacement swash plate type compressor includes a crank chamber, a suction chamber, a drive shaft, a swash plate, and a bleeding passage connecting the crank chamber and the suction chamber. The bleeding passage has an axial passage and first and second radial passages in the drive shaft. The second radial passage opens on an outer peripheral surface of the drive shaft at a position that is closer to the swash plate than the first radial passage. The first radial passage is in constant communication with the crank chamber. The drive shaft has a valve member that is movable in the axial direction with the swash plate. The second radial passage is connected to the crank chamber when the swash plate is at maximum or minimum inclination angles and disconnected from the crank chamber by the valve member when the swash plate is at an intermediate inclination angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2017
    Publication date: May 10, 2018
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventors: Kenji YAMAMOTO, Noriaki SATAKE, Shinichi KAKEGAWA, Hiroshi KUBO, Suguru HIROTA, Tomoji TARUTANI
  • Publication number: 20080047424
    Abstract: A variable displacement compressor comprising a cylinder block having a plurality of cylinder bores. The cylinder block has an extension which extends from an outer periphery of an end surface of the cylinder block which faces a swash plate. The extension has an extension surface which forms a part of a bore surface of each cylinder bore and first and second wall surfaces which extend continuously from opposite ends of the extension surface in a circumferential direction of the extension surface. A part of each extension surface which is connected to the first wall surface which is located on a preceding side of rotation of the swash plate corresponds to a high-load area which is locally subjected to loads from a single-headed piston during a compression stroke. The high-load area has a chamfered region which is formed into a curved surface by chamfering.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2007
    Publication date: February 28, 2008
    Inventors: Suguru Hirota, Hiroshi Uneyama, Junya Yano, Hiroaki Kayukawa
  • Patent number: 7204098
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a structure for separating oil from a refrigerant gas containing the oil. The refrigerant gas is discharged from a refrigerant compressor which forms a part of refrigerating cycle to an external refrigerant circuit. The oil separation structure includes a separation chamber in which the oil is separated from the discharge refrigerant gas having a cylindrical inner surface, and a plurality of introduction passages through which the discharge refrigerant gas is introduced into the separation chamber. The oil is separated by centrifugal action from the discharge refrigerant gas by turning the discharge refrigerant gas introduced into the separation chamber along the cylindrical inner surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Jidoshokki
    Inventors: Yoshinari Yamada, Suguru Hirota, Hajime Kurita
  • Patent number: 6912783
    Abstract: In a manufacturing method of a valve plate for a compressor according to this invention, a punch die 43 formed with a convex and concave configuration at its tip end face 42 is set at a press machine 41, and the punch die 43 is depressed against a surface of a valve plate 9 to transfer the convex and concave configuration of the tip end face 42. Thus, peripheral portions of a suction port and a discharge port of the valve plate 9 are roughened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2005
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Jidoshokki
    Inventors: Hirohiko Tanaka, Suguru Hirota, Atsushi Shibata, Takeshi Kondo, Mitsuru Hattori, Eiji Tokunaga, Tetsuhiko Fukanuma, Masakazu Hashimoto, Hiromi Yoshino
  • Patent number: 6837948
    Abstract: A process of production of a compressor shoe superior in durability and reduced in manufacturing cost, wherein a process of quenching the shoe is performed in a vacuum, inert gas, or modified gas so as to prevent oxidation of the chrome and manganese of the surface of the material or the quenching process is performed after forming an antioxidation film on the surface of the material to prevent the oxidation of the chrome and manganese.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2005
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Jidoshokki
    Inventors: Yoshitami Kondo, Masanobu Tomita, Yasuhiro Miura, Hironobu Tsushima, Suguru Hirota
  • Publication number: 20040221610
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a structure for separating oil from a refrigerant gas containing the oil. The refrigerant gas is discharged from a refrigerant compressor which forms a part of refrigerating cycle to an external refrigerant circuit. The oil separation structure includes a separation chamber in which the oil is separated from the discharge refrigerant gas having a cylindrical inner surface, and a plurality of introduction passages through which the discharge refrigerant gas is introduced into the separation chamber. The oil is separated by centrifugal action from the discharge refrigerant gas by turning the discharge refrigerant gas introduced into the separation chamber along the cylindrical inner surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2004
    Publication date: November 11, 2004
    Inventors: Yoshinari Yamada, Suguru Hirota, Hajime Kurita
  • Publication number: 20030163919
    Abstract: In a manufacturing method of a valve plate for a compressor according to this invention, a punch die 43 formed with a convex and concave configuration at its tip end face 42 is set at a press machine 41, and the punch die 43 is depressed against a surface of a valve plate 9 to transfer the convex and concave configuration of the tip end face 42. Thus, peripheral portions of a suction port and a discharge port of the valve plate 9 are roughened.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2003
    Publication date: September 4, 2003
    Inventors: Hirohiko Tanaka, Suguru Hirota, Atsushi Shibata, Takeshi Kondo, Mitsuru Hattori, Eiji Tokunaga, Tetsuhiko Fukanuma, Masakazu Hashimoto, Hiromi Yoshino
  • Publication number: 20020189717
    Abstract: A process of production of a compressor shoe superior in durability and reduced in manufacturing cost, wherein a process of quenching the shoe is performed in a vacuum, inert gas, or modified gas so as to prevent oxidation of the chrome and manganese of the surface of the material or the quenching process is performed after forming an antioxidation film on the surface of the material to prevent the oxidation of the chrome and manganese.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2002
    Publication date: December 19, 2002
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Jidoshokki
    Inventors: Yoshitami Kondo, Masanobu Tomita, Yasuhiro Miura, Hironobu Tsushima, Suguru Hirota
  • Patent number: 6283722
    Abstract: A variable displacement type swash plate compressor that prevents a drive shaft from moving axially when the difference between a crank chamber pressure and a cylinder bore pressure becomes excessive. A hinge mechanism has a support arm extending from a lug plate and a guide pin extends from a swash plate. The head portion of the guide pin fits in a guide hole formed in the support arm. A cutaway surface is formed in a part of the support arm that defines the guide hole. The cutaway surface forms a clearance in the hinge. The clearance permits the swash plate to move without pulling the drive shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyoda Jidoshokki Seisakusho
    Inventors: Kenji Takenaka, Hiroaki Kayukawa, Tetsuhiko Fukanuma, Masahiro Kawaguchi, Hideki Mizutani, Suguru Hirota, Hiroyuki Nakaima
  • Patent number: 6186048
    Abstract: A variable displacement compressor includes a rotor, which is fixed to a drive shaft, and a pivotal swash plate, which is supported on the drive shaft and slides in an axial direction along the drive shaft. A hinge mechanism is located between the rotor and the swash plate. The hinge mechanism rotates the swash plate integrally with the rotor and guides the pivoting and the sliding motion of the swash plate. The hinge mechanism includes a swing arm, which extends from the swash plate. The swash plate is made of aluminum or aluminum alloy material. The swing arm is separate from the swash plate and is made of iron-based metal material. Therefore, while the swash plate is light, the hinge mechanism is strong.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2001
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyoda Jidoshokki Seisakusho
    Inventors: Kazuya Kimura, Hiroaki Kayukawa, Suguru Hirota, Keiichi Kato
  • Patent number: 6179578
    Abstract: A compressor includes a compressing mechanism for compressing refrigerant gas and an oil separator for separating the oil from the gas. The separated oil is used to lubricate the compressor. The compressor has a discharge passage to permit refrigerant gas to flow out of the compressor, a recess located in the discharge passage, a plug press fitted in the recess and a supply passage for returning the separated oil to the compressor. The plug and the recess define a separation chamber having a circular cross-section and an annular chamber. The separation chamber is connected with the annular chamber by an outlet passage formed in the plug. The refrigerant gas swirls along the wall of the separation chamber, which separates the oil from the gas. Since the plug is press fitted in the recess, installation of the plug is facilitated. This structure also prevents the plug from loosening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyoda Jidishokki Seisakusho
    Inventors: Hiroaki Kayukawa, Shigeyuki Hidaka, Suguru Hirota, Kenta Nakauchi
  • Patent number: 6162026
    Abstract: A reciprocating piston type compressor for compressing refrigerant gas for an automobile air conditioning system is improved to protect itself without protective control by a computer. The compressor detects the temperature of a part of the compressor in which the temperature increases to higher than a predetermined critical temperature when the compressor malfunctions, and changes a displacement control valve to reduce the displacement of the compressor when the detected temperature is higher than the predetermined critical temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2000
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyoda Jidoshokki Seisakusho
    Inventors: Kazuya Kimura, Kiyohiro Yamada, Suguru Hirota, Shiro Hayashi
  • Patent number: 5823294
    Abstract: A compressor compresses gas containing misted oil. The compressor has a drive plate located in a crank chamber and mounted on a drive shaft and a piston operably coupled to the drive plate and located in a cylinder bore. The drive plate converts rotation of the drive shaft to reciprocating movement of the piston in the cylinder bore to vary the capacity of the cylinder bore. The piston compresses gas supplied to the cylinder bore and discharges the compressed gas from the compressor by way of a discharge chamber and a discharge passage. An oil separating mechanism is disposed midway in the discharge passage to separate the oil from the gas flowing in the discharge passage. A storing chamber is defined in the lower portion of the separating mechanism to store the oil separated from the gas. A supplying passage connects the storing chamber with the crank chamber to supply the oil to the crank chamber from the storing chamber. A supplying valve is disposed midway in the supplying passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1998
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyoda Jidoshokki Seisakusho
    Inventors: Hideki Mizutani, Hiroaki Kayukawa, Suguru Hirota, Fuminobu Enokijima
  • Patent number: 5784950
    Abstract: A single headed swash plate type compressor including, a housing with a crank chamber and cylinder bore, pistons arranged in cylinder bores, and a swash plate driven by a drive shaft. Each of the pistons has at one end thereof a bearing having axially spaced first and second bearing portions and an axially extending third portion interconnecting the first and second bearing portions. Shoes are slidably arranged between the swash plate and the first and second bearing portions for converting rotational movement of the swash plate into reciprocal movement of the pistons. An oil communication hole is arranged in and extends through the second bearing portion for fluid communication between the groove of the second bearing portion on the side remote from the cylinder bore and the crank chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1998
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyoda Jidoshokki Seisakusho
    Inventors: Hiroaki Kayukawa, Suguru Hirota, Hideki Mizutani, Fuminobu Enokijima, Takehito Tomita, Yoshitami Kondo, Takahiro Hamaoka, Kenji Takenaka
  • Patent number: 5556260
    Abstract: A multiple-cylinder piston type compressor is disclosed. The compressor has a cylinder head fastened to the rear end of a cylinder block assembly of the compressor with a valve plate interposed therebetween and having formed therein a suction chamber formed in a radially outer peripheral region thereof so as to surround a central discharge chamber. The compressor further includes a refrigerant gas intake passage extending along a straight line and radially through the axial center of the compressor and having at least two holes for providing direct communication between the gas intake passage and the suction chamber at positions that are radially spaced. The refrigerant gas intake passage may include a combination of at least two passage portions having different cross-sectional areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1996
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyoda Jidoshokki Seisakusho
    Inventors: Kenji Takenaka, Hiroaki Kayukawa, Masafumi Ito, Osamu Hiramatsu, Suguru Hirota, Taro Ozeki
  • Patent number: 5486098
    Abstract: A swash plate type variable displacement compressor comprises cylinder bores, pistons, a suction chamber and a discharge chamber. A suction valve introduces a low pressure gas into a working chamber in each cylinder bore. A discharge valve introduces a high pressure gas in the working chamber into the discharge chamber during a compression stroke. A crank chamber communicates to each of the cylinder bores at rear sides of the pistons. A swash plate is tiltably supported on a drive shaft and connected to each of the pistons through associated rods. The swash plate makes the pistons reciprocate in response to its undulating swing motion and varies its inclination angle based upon pressure differential between pressure in the suction chamber and pressure in the crank chamber therefore adjusting discharge displacement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 23, 1996
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyoda Jidoshokki Seisakusho
    Inventors: Kazuya Kimura, Masafumi Ito, Hideki Mizutani, Yoshihiro Makino, Suguru Hirota, Taro Ozeki, Keiichi Kato, Hiroaki Kayukawa