Patents by Inventor Syohei Shimodaira

Syohei Shimodaira 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: 5078542
    Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus to prevent the entrance of aquatic species into the intake watercourse having a U-shaped cross section with a narrow bottom and a wide surface, in which oppositely facing electrodes are installed vertically along the side walls on both sides of the intake watercourse, and the distance between the upper ends of the electrodes is made greater than the distance between the lower ends of the electrodes, and a voltage is impressed between the both electrodes. Since the electric barrier intensity is smallest at the surface of water and becomes greater as it goes toward the bottom of water, the river fish moving around the bottom of water make a U-turn when they reach the strong electric barrier, or alternatively, after reaching the strong electric barrier, they move upward to where the electric barrier is weaker and then make a U-turn, thereby the entrance of aquatic species into the intake watercourse can be prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1992
    Assignees: Hitachi Zosen Corporation, The Kansai Electric Power Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Tohru Yoshikawa, Syohei Shimodaira, Mamoru Abe, Hidehiko Maehata, Hiroaki Arai, Hiroyuki Daiku, Masanori Tsukahara, Seiji Ohtani