Patents by Inventor Tadahiko Kobayashi

Tadahiko Kobayashi 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: 20130227965
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a magnetic refrigeration system includes a first heat exchange section, a magnetic field changing section, a first heat transport medium, a second heat transport medium, and a transport section. The first heat exchange section includes a magnetocaloric effect material. The magnetic field changing section is configured to change magnetic field to the first heat exchange section. The second heat transport medium is separated from the first heat transport medium. The second heat transport medium is different from the first heat transport medium in specific heat per unit volume. The transport section is configured to sequentially feed the first heat exchange section with the first heat transport medium and the second heat transport medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2013
    Publication date: September 5, 2013
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Ryosuke YAGI, Akiko Saito, Tadahiko Kobayashi, Shiori Kaji
  • Patent number: 8312730
    Abstract: A magnetic refrigeration device, which can be reduced in size and improve magnetic refrigeration efficiency, and a magnetic refrigeration system can be provided. The magnetic refrigeration device has a heat exchanger vessel of a helical structure filled with magnetic particles having a magnetocaloric effect, a magnetic circuit, a driving unit configured to relatively move the heat exchanger vessel and the magnetic circuit so that a magnetic field can be applied to and removed from the magnetic particles, a low temperature side heat exchanging unit, a high temperature side heat exchanging unit, a refrigerant flow device, and a refrigerant circuit formed by connecting the heat exchanger vessel, the low temperature side heat exchanging unit, the high temperature side heat exchanging unit, and the refrigerant flow device by a pipe for circulating a refrigerant. The magnetic refrigeration system is arranged to use the magnetic refrigeration device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Tadahiko Kobayashi, Akiko Saito, Shiori Kaji
  • Publication number: 20120174597
    Abstract: A magnetic material for magnetic refrigeration of an embodiment has a composition represented by the formula, Gd100-x-y(HoxEry), and satisfies 0<x+y?25 and 0?y/(x+y)?0.6.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2012
    Publication date: July 12, 2012
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Shiori Kaji, Akiko Saito, Tadahiko Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20120073307
    Abstract: A heat exchanger unit according to an exemplary embodiment includes: a plurality of heat exchangers that includes magnetic particles therein; and a connection section that is provided between the heat exchangers to connect the heat exchangers, the connection section including a solid-core member, a porous body or a combined substance of the solid-core member and the porous body. In the heat exchanger unit, the connection section invades partially into an inside of the heat exchanger connected thereto.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2011
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Inventors: Shiori Kaji, Tadahiko Kobayashi, Akiko Saito
  • Publication number: 20120031108
    Abstract: The magnetic refrigerating device according to one embodiment includes a fixed container filled with a refrigerant, the fixed container including a magnetic material container that is filled with a magnetic material and that can move in the fixed container and an elastic member provided at the end of the magnetic material container. The magnetic refrigerating device also includes a magnetic-field applying/removing mechanism that is provided at the outside of the fixed container, and that can apply and remove a magnetic field to and from the magnetic material and can generate a magnetic torque to the magnetic material container in moving direction of the magnetic material container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2011
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Inventors: Tadahiko Kobayashi, Akiko Saito, Shiori Kaji
  • Patent number: 8099964
    Abstract: A magnetic refrigerating device includes: a magnetic refrigerating unit including a magnetic material “A” exhibiting a magneto-caloric effect that the temperature of the material “A” is increased by the application of a magnetic field and the temperature of the material “A” is decreased by the removal of a magnetic field, a magnetic material “B” exhibiting a magneto-caloric effect that the temperature of the material “B” is decreased by the application of a magnetic field and the temperature of the material “B” is increased by the removal of a magnetic field, a heat conductive material “a” exhibiting higher heat conductivity under the application of a magnetic field and lower heat conductivity under the removal of a magnetic field, and a heat conductive material “b” exhibiting lower heat conductivity under the application of a magnetic field and higher heat conductivity under the removal of a magnetic field, wherein the magnetic refrigerating unit is configured so as to include at least one layered structure
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Akiko Saito, Tadahiko Kobayashi, Hideyuki Tsuji, Hideo Iwasaki, Katsumi Hisano, Akihiro Koga, Akihiro Kasahara, Takuya Takahashi
  • Patent number: 7993542
    Abstract: A magnetic material for magnetic refrigeration has a composition represented by (R11-yR2y)xFe100-x (R1 is at least one of element selected from Sm and Er, R2 is at least one of element selected from Ce, Pr, Nd, Tb and Dy, and x and y are numerical values satisfying 4?x?20 atomic % and 0.05?y?0.95), and includes a Th2Zn17 crystal phase, a Th2Ni17 crystal phase, or a TbCu7 crystal phase as a main phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Shinya Sakurada, Akiko Saito, Tadahiko Kobayashi, Hideyuki Tsuji
  • Patent number: 7914628
    Abstract: A magnetic material comprising a NaZn13 type crystal structure with uniform and fine microstructure exhibiting excellent characteristics as a magnetic refrigeration material, and a method of manufacturing the magnetic refrigeration material are provided. An alloy composition for forming magnetic material of the NaZn13 type crystal structure was melted comprising 0.5 atomic percent to 1.5 atomic percent of B to molten metal. The molten metal is rapidly cooled and solidified by a forced cooling process. Then, a rapidly cooled alloy having the NaZn13 type crystal structure was obtained. In this manner, magnetic materials comprising the NaZn13 type crystal structure phase, or the NaZn13 type crystal structure phase accompanied with other phases such as ?-Fe phase having very small phase regions was manufactured without requiring heat treatment for a long time. As the result, productivity of manufacturing the magnetic refrigeration material is remarkably enhanced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Hideyuki Tsuji, Akiko Saito, Tadahiko Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 7833361
    Abstract: An alloy is used for production of magnetic refrigeration material particles. The alloy contains La in a range of 4 to 15 atomic %, Fe in a range of 60 to 93 atomic %, Si in a range of 3.5 to 23.5 atomic % and at lease one element M selected from B and Ti in a range of 0.5 to 1.5 atomic %. The alloy includes a main phase containing Fe as a main component element and Si, and a subphase containing La as a main component element and Si. The main phase has a bcc crystal structure and an average grain diameter of 20 ?m or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Akiko Saito, Tadahiko Kobayashi, Hideyuki Tsuji
  • Publication number: 20100058775
    Abstract: There are provided a magnetic material for magnetic refrigeration improving a magnetic refrigeration efficiency by including a wide operation temperature range and a magnetic refrigeration apparatus and a magnetic refrigeration system using the magnetic material. The magnetically refrigerating magnetic material is formed of a magnetic material shown by a composition formula of Gd100-x-yZrxYy, wherein 0<x<3.4 as well as 0?y?13.5, and the magnetic refrigeration apparatus and the magnetic refrigeration system uses the magnetic material. It is preferable that the magnetic material be approximately spherical magnetic particles having a maximum diameter of 0.3 mm or more to 2 mm or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2009
    Publication date: March 11, 2010
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Shiori Kaji, Akiko Saito, Tadahiko Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20090217674
    Abstract: There are provided a magnetic material for a magnetic refrigeration apparatus, which improves magnetic refrigeration efficiency by the wide operation temperature range of it, AMR bed using the magnetic material, and a magnetic refrigeration apparatus. The magnetic material is used for the magnetic refrigeration apparatus using a liquid refrigerant, formed by approximately uniformly blending at least two kinds of magnetic particles having different magnetic transition temperatures, and the magnetic particles exhibit an approximately spherical shape with maximum diameter of 0.3 mm or more to 2 mm or less. The AMR bed is filled with the magnetic particles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2009
    Publication date: September 3, 2009
    Inventors: Shiori Kaji, Akiko Saito, Tadahiko Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20090217675
    Abstract: A magnetic refrigeration device, which can be reduced in size and improve magnetic refrigeration efficiency, and a magnetic refrigeration system can be provided. The magnetic refrigeration device has a heat exchanger vessel of a helical structure filled with magnetic particles having a magnetocaloric effect, a magnetic circuit, a driving unit configured to relatively move the heat exchanger vessel and the magnetic circuit so that a magnetic field can be applied to and removed from the magnetic particles, a low temperature side heat exchanging unit, a high temperature side heat exchanging unit, a refrigerant flow device, and a refrigerant circuit formed by connecting the heat exchanger vessel, the low temperature side heat exchanging unit, the high temperature side heat exchanging unit, and the refrigerant flow device by a pipe for circulating a refrigerant. The magnetic refrigeration system is arranged to use the magnetic refrigeration device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2009
    Publication date: September 3, 2009
    Inventors: Tadahiko Kobayashi, Akiko Saito, Shiori Kaji
  • Patent number: 7563330
    Abstract: A powder raw material is prepared by mixing at least two kinds of powders selected from a powder A, a powder B, a powder C, and a powder D. A sintered body of a magnetic material having an NaZn13 crystal structure phase is formed by heating the powder raw material while applying a pressure treatment. The powder A is at least one of elemental powder of element R selected from Y, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, and Yb. The powder B is at least one of elemental powder of element T selected from Fe, Co, Ni, Mn, and Cr. The powder C is at least one of elemental powder of element M selected from Si, B, C, Ge, Al, Ga, and In. The powder D is a compound powder composed of at least two kinds of elements selected from the element R, the element T, and the element M.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Hideyuki Tsuji, Akiko Saito, Tadahiko Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 7552592
    Abstract: In a magnetic refrigerator, a permanent magnet unit shaped like a hub is so rotated as to face an annular magnetic unit having magnetic blocks arranged in a circumferential direction. The permanent magnet unit is also arranged to be concentric with a magnetic unit and has an inner and outer diameters substantially equal to those of the magnetic unit. Each of the magnetic blocks has positive and negative magnetic segments alternately arranged with predetermined gaps. As the permanent magnet unit rotates, heat conducting members are inserted into and removed from the gaps between the magnetic segments of the magnetic block. This allows heat generated from the magnetic segments to conduct in one direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Hideo Iwasaki, Akihiro Kasahara, Katsumi Hisano, Akihiro Koga, Akiko Saito, Tadahiko Kobayashi, Takuya Takahashi
  • Patent number: 7536866
    Abstract: A magnetic refrigerator has a housing, heat exchangers filled with magnetic particles having a magnetocaloric effect, a rotary drive, a rotating shaft, a magnetic field generator fixed to the rotating shaft which applies a magnetic field to or eliminates a magnetic field from the magnetic particles in the heat exchangers following rotation of the rotating shaft, a refrigerant pump which circulates the refrigerant following rotation of the rotating shaft, a rotary refrigerant control valve which controls supply of the refrigerant to and discharge of the refrigerant from the heat exchangers following rotation of the rotating shaft, and a refrigerant circuit. The magnetic field generator and the rotary refrigerant control valve are configured to synchronize application of the magnetic field to or elimination of the magnetic field from the magnetic particles with supply of the refrigerant to or discharge of the refrigerant from the heat exchangers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2009
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Tadahiko Kobayashi, Akiko Saito, Hideyuki Tsuji
  • Publication number: 20090019860
    Abstract: A magnetic material for magnetic refrigeration has a composition represented by (R11-yR2y)xFe100-x (R1 is at least one of element selected from Sm and Er, R2 is at least one of element selected from Ce, Pr, Nd, Tb and Dy, and x and y are numerical values satisfying 4?x?20 atomic % and 0.05?y?0.95), and includes a Th2Zn17 crystal phase, a Th2Ni17 crystal phase, or a TbCu7 crystal phase as a main phase.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2008
    Publication date: January 22, 2009
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Shinya Sakurada, Akiko Saito, Tadahiko Kobayashi, Hideyuki Tsuji
  • Publication number: 20080236171
    Abstract: A magnetic refrigerating device includes: at least one set of double-structured Halbach type magnet including a ring-shaped inner Halbach type magnet and a ring-shaped outer Halbach type magnet which are coaxially arranged one another so that a magnetic field generated by the inner Halbach type magnet is superimposed with a magnetic field generated by the outer Halbach type magnet; a magnetic refrigerant or a magnetic refrigeration working chamber including the magnetic refrigerant therein disposed in a bore space of the inner Halbach type magnet; and a rotating mechanism to rotate the outer Halbach type magnet while the inner Halbach type magnet is stationed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2007
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Akiko Saito, Tadahiko Kobayashi, Hideyuki Tsuji, Hideo Iwasaki, Katsumi Hisano, Akihiro Koga, Akihiro Kasahara, Takuya Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20080216484
    Abstract: A magnetic refrigeration material includes: at least one selected from the group consisting of Y, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm and Tb by a range of 4 to 15 atomic percentages; at least one selected from the group consisting of Fe, Co, Ni, Mn and Cr by a range of 60 to 93 atomic percentages; at least one selected from the group consisting of Si, C, Ge, Al, Ga and In by a range of 2.9 to 23.5 atomic percentages; and at least one selected from the group consisting of Ta, Nb and W by a range of 1.5 atomic percentages or less, wherein the magnetic refrigeration material includes a NaZn13 type crystal structure as a main phase.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2008
    Publication date: September 11, 2008
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Hideyuki TSUJI, Akiko Saito, Tadahiko Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20080078184
    Abstract: A magnetic refrigerating device includes: a magnetic refrigerating unit including a magnetic material “A” exhibiting a magneto-caloric effect that the temperature of the material “A” is increased by the application of a magnetic field and the temperature of the material “A” is decreased by the removal of a magnetic field, a magnetic material “B” exhibiting a magneto-caloric effect that the temperature of the material “B” is decreased by the application of a magnetic field and the temperature of the material “B” is increased by the removal of a magnetic field, a heat conductive material “a” exhibiting higher heat conductivity under the application of a magnetic field and lower heat conductivity under the removal of a magnetic field, and a heat conductive material “b” exhibiting lower heat conductivity under the application of a magnetic field and higher heat conductivity under the removal of a magnetic field, wherein the magnetic refrigerating unit is configured so as to include at least one layered structure
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2007
    Publication date: April 3, 2008
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Akiko SAITO, Tadahiko Kobayashi, Hideyuki Tsuji, Hideo Iwasaki, Katsumi Hisano, Akihiro Koga, Akihiro Kasahara, Takuya Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20080078476
    Abstract: An alloy is used for production of magnetic refrigeration material particles. The alloy contains La in a range of 4 to 15 atomic %, Fe in a range of 60 to 93 atomic %, Si in a range of 3.5 to 23.5 atomic % and at lease one element M selected from B and Ti in a range of 0.5 to 1.5 atomic %. The alloy includes a main phase containing Fe as a main component element and Si, and a subphase containing La as a main component element and Si. The main phase has a bcc crystal structure and an average grain diameter of 20 ?m or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2007
    Publication date: April 3, 2008
    Applicant: Kabushiki KaishaToshiba
    Inventors: Akiko Saito, Tadahiko Kobayashi, Hideyuki Tsuji