Patents by Inventor Takuro UBA

Takuro UBA 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: 11035520
    Abstract: A method for controlling a compression system that includes a compressor for compressing gas, a first on-off valve provided on a suction flow passage connected to a suction side of the compressor, a pressure reducing valve provided on a portion of the suction flow passage upstream of the first on-off valve, a second on-off valve provided on a discharge flow passage connected to a discharge side of the compressor, a bypass flow passage connecting the suction flow passage and the discharge flow passage to detour the compressor, and a bypass valve provided on the bypass flow passage, includes closing the first on-off valve while driving the compressor, opening the bypass valve simultaneously with or after the closing of the first on-off valve, closing the second on-off valve after the opening of the bypass valve, and continuing to drive the compressor after the closing of the second on-off valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventors: Koichiro Hashimoto, Masashi Takano, Takuro Uba, Takayuki Fukuda, Kenji Nagura
  • Publication number: 20210164618
    Abstract: A method for controlling a compression system that includes a compressor for compressing gas, a first on-off valve provided on a suction flow passage connected to a suction side of the compressor, a pressure reducing valve provided on a portion of the suction flow passage upstream of the first on-off valve, a second on-off valve provided on a discharge flow passage connected to a discharge side of the compressor, a bypass flow passage connecting the suction flow passage and the discharge flow passage to detour the compressor, and a bypass valve provided on the bypass flow passage, includes closing the first on-off valve while driving the compressor, opening the bypass valve simultaneously with or after the closing of the first on-off valve, closing the second on-off valve after the opening of the bypass valve, and continuing to drive the compressor after the closing of the second on-off valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2020
    Publication date: June 3, 2021
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA KOBE SEIKO SHO (KOBE STEEL, LTD.)
    Inventors: Koichiro HASHIMOTO, Masashi TAKANO, Takuro UBA, Takayuki FUKUDA, Kenji NAGURA
  • Patent number: 10883662
    Abstract: A gas supply device includes a first compressor that compresses hydrogen gas, an accumulator disposed downstream of the first compressor and supplying the hydrogen gas to a dispenser that fills the hydrogen gas in a vehicle, and a gas flow passage that connects the first compressor, the accumulator, and the dispenser, and a control device. The gas flow passage includes a lead-in line for leading the hydrogen gas into the accumulator, a lead-out line for leading out the hydrogen gas from the accumulator, a lead-in side valve, and a lead-out side valve. The control device is capable of simultaneously bringing the lead-in side valve and the lead-out side valve into an open state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: KOBE STEEL, LTD.
    Inventors: Kenji Nagura, Hitoshi Takagi, Takuro Uba
  • Patent number: 10677235
    Abstract: This compression device is provided with a reciprocating compressor which compresses a gas, and a heat exchanger which cools gas compressed by the compressor. The heat exchanger is provided with a cooling unit for cooling the gas and with a connection unit which abuts against the outside surface of the compressor and has a gas inlet passage to allow gas discharged from the compression chamber of the compressor to flow into the cooling unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Nagura, Hitoshi Takagi, Takuro Uba, Toshio Hirai
  • Patent number: 10563820
    Abstract: A gas supply device includes a first compressor that compresses hydrogen gas, an accumulator disposed downstream of the first compressor and supplying the hydrogen gas to a dispenser that fills the hydrogen gas in a vehicle, and a gas flow passage that connects the first compressor, the accumulator, and the dispenser, and a control device. The gas flow passage includes a lead-in line for leading the hydrogen gas into the accumulator, a lead-out line for leading out the hydrogen gas from the accumulator, a lead-in side valve, and a lead-out side valve. The control device is capable of simultaneously bringing the lead-in side valve and the lead-out side valve into an open state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Nagura, Hitoshi Takagi, Takuro Uba
  • Patent number: 10400954
    Abstract: A gas delivery system including: a feeder for feeding a gas to a tank; a pressure storage container unit which has a plurality of pressure storage containers, and sends out the gas to the feeder; a gas supply unit; and a controller. The controller implements a storing operation that a specified pressure storage among the plurality of pressure storage containers is supplied with the gas until a pressure of the specified pressure storage container reaches a reference pressure or greater, after finish of a delivery of the gas to one tank carrier, and a sending operation that the gas is sent out from another pressure storage container except the specified pressure storage container to the feeder, and then sent out from the specified pressure storage container to the feeder on a receipt of a shift indication from the feeder, at a delivery of the gas to a subsequent tank carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Okuno, Kenji Nagura, Hitoshi Takagi, Takuro Uba
  • Patent number: 10317011
    Abstract: [Object] To enable a gas supply system to be easily transported and to increase a degree of freedom when the gas supply system is installed. [Solution] A hydrogen station includes: a filling facility for filling a tank-mounted device with a gas; and a gas supply system for supplying the gas to the filling facility. The gas supply system includes: a compressor for compressing the gas; a compressor accommodating body for accommodating the compressor; a refrigerator for cooling the gas flowed into the filling facility or the gas just before being flowed into the filling facility, the refrigerator including an evaporation part, an expansion part, and a compression part; and a cooler accommodating body for accommodating the evaporation part, the expansion part, and the compression part. The compressor accommodating body and the cooler accommodating body are detachable from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Okuno, Hitoshi Takagi, Kenji Nagura, Daisuke Wada, Takuro Uba, Akitoshi Fujisawa
  • Patent number: 10247179
    Abstract: A gas compression device (10) is provided with a compressor (16) and a recovery section (20). The recovery section (20) is provided with a recovery passage (22), an auxiliary compressor (24) which is provided in the recovery passage (22), and a recovery tank (26) which is provided in the recovery passage (22). When gas leaks from the main compressor (16), the auxiliary compressor (24) is driven and the leaked gas is compressed. The leaked gas, the pressure of which has been increased by the auxiliary compressor (24), flows into the recovery tank (26) and is stored therein. The gas within the recovery tank (26) is fed to a suction passage (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Nagura, Hitoshi Takagi, Takuro Uba
  • Publication number: 20190041003
    Abstract: A gas supply device includes a compressor for compressing gas, an in-flow side flow passage having a buffer tank for storing the gas and linked to the compressor, an in-flow side on-off valve for opening and closing the in-flow side flow passage on an portion of the in-flow side flow passage upstream of the buffer tank, an out-flow side flow passage linked to a discharge side of the compressor, and a control unit for executing a control to close the in-flow side on-off valve upon receipt of a stop signal for the compressor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2017
    Publication date: February 7, 2019
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA KOBE SEIKO SHO (Kobe Steel, Ltd.)
    Inventors: Koichiro HASHIMOTO, Akitoshi FUJISAWA, Takayuki FUKUDA, Daisuke WADA, Takuro UBA, Kenji NAGURA
  • Publication number: 20180238493
    Abstract: A gas supply device includes a first compressor that compresses hydrogen gas, an accumulator disposed downstream of the first compressor and supplying the hydrogen gas to a dispenser that fills the hydrogen gas in a vehicle, and a gas flow passage that connects the first compressor, the accumulator, and the dispenser, and a control device. The gas flow passage includes a lead-in line for leading the hydrogen gas into the accumulator, a lead-out line for leading out the hydrogen gas from the accumulator, a lead-in side valve, and a lead-out side valve. The control device is capable of simultaneously bringing the lead-in side valve and the lead-out side valve into an open state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2018
    Publication date: August 23, 2018
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA KOBE SEIKO SHO (KOBE STEEL, LTD.)
    Inventors: Kenji NAGURA, Hitoshi TAKAGI, Takuro UBA
  • Publication number: 20180023764
    Abstract: A gas delivery system including: a feeder for feeding a gas to a tank; a pressure storage container unit which has a plurality of pressure storage containers, and sends out the gas to the feeder; a gas supply unit; and a controller. The controller implements a storing operation that a specified pressure storage among the plurality of pressure storage containers is supplied with the gas until a pressure of the specified pressure storage container reaches a reference pressure or greater, after finish of a delivery of the gas to one tank carrier, and a sending operation that the gas is sent out from another pressure storage container except the specified pressure storage container to the feeder, and then sent out from the specified pressure storage container to the feeder on a receipt of a shift indication from the feeder, at a delivery of the gas to a subsequent tank carrier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2016
    Publication date: January 25, 2018
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho (Kobe Steel, Ltd.)
    Inventors: Takashi OKUNO, Kenji NAGURA, Hitoshi TAKAGI, Takuro UBA
  • Publication number: 20170328519
    Abstract: [Object] To enable a gas supply system to be easily transported and to increase a degree of freedom when the gas supply system is installed. [Solution] A hydrogen station includes: a filling facility for filling a tank-mounted device with a gas; and a gas supply system for supplying the gas to the filling facility. The gas supply system includes: a compressor for compressing the gas; a compressor accommodating body for accommodating the compressor; a refrigerator for cooling the gas flowed into the filling facility or the gas just before being flowed into the filling facility, the refrigerator including an evaporation part, an expansion part, and a compression part; and a cooler accommodating body for accommodating the evaporation part, the expansion part, and the compression part. The compressor accommodating body and the cooler accommodating body are detachable from each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2015
    Publication date: November 16, 2017
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho (Kobe Steel, Ltd.)
    Inventors: Takashi OKUNO, Hitoshi TAKAGI, Kenji NAGURA, Daisuke WADA, Takuro UBA, Akitoshi FUJISAWA
  • Patent number: 9810374
    Abstract: A gas-filling apparatus includes a gas flow passage including an inflow end to which a gas supply source is connectable and an outflow end to which a pressure accumulator is connectable, a compressor, a storage portion, and an operation control portion conducting a first compression filling operation in which a gas supplied from the gas supply source connected to the inflow end is compressed by the compressor to be discharged from the outflow end and a second compression filling operation in which the gas stored in the storage portion is compressed by the compressor to be discharged from the outflow end, the operation control portion conducting the first compression filling operation until a pressure of the gas at the outflow end reaches a predetermined pressure and executing a control for shifting the first compression filling operation to the second compression filling operation when the pressure has reached the predetermined pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Nagura, Hitoshi Takagi, Takuro Uba
  • Publication number: 20170146001
    Abstract: A gas compression device (10) is provided with a compressor (16) and a recovery section (20). The recovery section (20) is provided with a recovery passage (22), an auxiliary compressor (24) which is provided in the recovery passage (22), and a recovery tank (26) which is provided in the recovery passage (22). When gas leaks from the main compressor (16), the auxiliary compressor (24) is driven and the leaked gas is compressed. The leaked gas, the pressure of which has been increased by the auxiliary compressor (24), flows into the recovery tank (26) and is stored therein. The gas within the recovery tank (26) is fed to a suction passage (14).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2015
    Publication date: May 25, 2017
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho (Kobe Steel, Ltd.)
    Inventors: Kenji NAGURA, Hitoshi TAKAGI, Takuro UBA
  • Publication number: 20170051875
    Abstract: A gas supply device includes a first compressor that compresses hydrogen gas, an accumulator disposed downstream of the first compressor and supplying the hydrogen gas to a dispenser that fills the hydrogen gas in a vehicle, and a gas flow passage that connects the first compressor, the accumulator, and the dispenser, and a control device. The gas flow passage includes a lead-in line for leading the hydrogen gas into the accumulator, a lead-out line for leading out the hydrogen gas from the accumulator, a lead-in side valve, and a lead-out side valve. The control device is capable of simultaneously bringing the lead-in side valve and the lead-out side valve into an open state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2015
    Publication date: February 23, 2017
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho (Kobe Steel, Ltd.)
    Inventors: Kenji NAGURA, Hitoshi TAKAGI, Takuro UBA
  • Patent number: 9328970
    Abstract: Provided is a compressing device including a compressor with a compressing unit compressing a gas and a heat exchanger, the heat exchanger including: a cooling unit that cools a gas compressed by the compressing unit; a connection path that connects the compressing unit to the cooling unit; and a connection path branch portion that is branched from a part of the connection path. The connection path branch portion includes an attachment portion that is provided in a surface different from a surface facing the compressor in the heat exchanger. An instrumentation device is directly and strongly attached to the attachment portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Nagura, Hitoshi Takagi, Takuro Uba, Toshio Hirai
  • Publication number: 20150354553
    Abstract: This compression device is provided with a reciprocating compressor which compresses a gas, and a heat exchanger which cools gas compressed by the compressor. The heat exchanger is provided with a cooling unit for cooling the gas and with a connection unit which abuts against the outside surface of the compressor and has a gas inlet passage to allow gas discharged from the compression chamber of the compressor to flow into the cooling unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2014
    Publication date: December 10, 2015
    Applicant: Kavushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho (Kobe Steel, Ltd.)
    Inventors: Kenji NAGURA, Hitoshi TAKAGI, Takuro UBA, Toshio HIRAI
  • Publication number: 20150167895
    Abstract: A gas-filling apparatus includes a gas flow passage including an inflow end to which a gas supply source is connectable and an outflow end to which a pressure accumulator is connectable, a compressor, a storage portion, and an operation control portion conducting a first compression filling operation in which a gas supplied from the gas supply source connected to the inflow end is compressed by the compressor to be discharged from the outflow end and a second compression filling operation in which the gas stored in the storage portion is compressed by the compressor to be discharged from the outflow end, the operation control portion conducting the first compression filling operation until a pressure of the gas at the outflow end reaches a predetermined pressure and executing a control for shifting the first compression filling operation to the second compression filling operation when the pressure has reached the predetermined pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2014
    Publication date: June 18, 2015
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho (Kobe Steel, Ltd.)
    Inventors: Kenji NAGURA, Hitoshi TAKAGI, Takuro UBA
  • Publication number: 20150153005
    Abstract: A gas filling apparatus in the present invention includes an accumulator, a compressor, a pressure sensor for detecting the pressure of gas delivered from a dispenser to be delivered to a gas tank, a regulating valve for regulating the gas flow rate, and a controller. To prevent a rapid rise in pressure of gas supplied to the gas tank, the controller includes an opening control unit for controlling the opening of the regulating valve when a detected value of the pressure sensor is lower than a pressure corresponding to the gas pressure in the accumulator by a predetermined value or more, and a compression control unit for controlling drive of the compressor so that the compressor compresses sucked gas when a pressure difference of a pressure detected by the pressure sensor from a pressure corresponding to the gas pressure in the accumulator becomes a value smaller than the predetermined value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2014
    Publication date: June 4, 2015
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho (Kobe Steel, Ltd.)
    Inventors: Masashi TAKANO, Kenji NAGURA, Takuro UBA
  • Publication number: 20140318747
    Abstract: Provided is a compressing device including a compressor with a compressing unit compressing a gas and a heat exchanger, the heat exchanger including: a cooling unit that cools a gas compressed by the compressing unit; a connection path that connects the compressing unit to the cooling unit; and a connection path branch portion that is branched from a part of the connection path. The connection path branch portion includes an attachment portion that is provided in a surface different from a surface facing the compressor in the heat exchanger. An instrumentation device is directly and strongly attached to the attachment portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2014
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho (Kobe Steel, Ltd.)
    Inventors: Kenji NAGURA, Hitoshi TAKAGI, Takuro UBA, Toshio HIRAI