Patents by Inventor Tamotsu Kitade

Tamotsu Kitade 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: 11235989
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a composite porous hollow-fiber membrane including a first layer and a second layer which each include a fluororesin-based polymer, in which at least a part of molecular chains of the fluororesin-based polymer is oriented in a longitudinal direction of the composite porous hollow-fiber membrane, the molecular chains of the fluororesin-based polymer have a degree of orientation it in the longitudinal direction of the composite porous hollow-fiber membrane of 0.4 or higher but less than 1.0, the degree of orientation it being calculated with the specific formula.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: TORAY INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Shun Shimura, Masayuki Hanakawa, Kenta Iwai, Tamotsu Kitade, Masahiro Kimura
  • Patent number: 11141698
    Abstract: The present invention provides a hollow fiber membrane module that can effectively resolve the accumulation of suspended solids within the membrane module, lower running costs, and also operate stably. The present invention relates to a hollow fiber membrane molecule provided with: a cylindrical case having a first end and a second end in the direction of height; a plurality of hollow fiber membranes accommodated within the cylindrical case; and a first potting part accommodated within the cylindrical case and attaching the plurality of hollow fiber membranes together such that the end parts of the plurality of hollow membrane fibers at a first end side of the cylindrical case are open. The hollow fiber membranes are porous hollow fiber membranes having a breaking strength of 23 MPa, and the hollow membrane module has a membrane area per unit volume of 800-3700 m2/m3. The filling fraction for the hollow fiber membranes in a cross-section orthogonal to the direction of height of the cylindrical case is 25-38%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: TORAY INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Shun Shimura, Kenta Iwai, Masayuki Hanakawa, Tamotsu Kitade, Masahiro Kimura, Atsushi Kobayashi, Aya Nishio
  • Patent number: 11077407
    Abstract: The porous hollow-fiber membrane of the present invention comprises a fluororesin polymer, and has columnar structures oriented in the longitudinal direction thereof. In the porous hollow-fiber membrane, molecular chains of the fluororesin polymer have been oriented in the longitudinal direction of the porous hollow-fiber membrane and have an average value ? of Raman orientation parameter of 1.5-4.0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: TORAY INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Kenta Iwai, Masayuki Hanakawa, Tamotsu Kitade, Masahiro Kimura, Toshiyuki Ishizaki
  • Patent number: 11065580
    Abstract: According to the present invention, even when a high recovery ratio operation is performed, the influence of concentration of ingredients to be separated in the feed fluid can be reduced, the concentration polarization can be prevented by increasing the turbulence effect on the membrane surface, and the fluid permeation performance and the separation performance of the separation membrane element can be maintained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: TORAY INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Yoshiki Okamoto, Akshay Garg, Kentarou Takagi, Hiroho Hirozawa, Tamotsu Kitade
  • Patent number: 11020709
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a composite porous hollow-fiber membrane including a first layer and a second layer which each include a fluororesin-based polymer, in which the first layer has a columnar texture oriented in a longitudinal direction of the composite porous hollow-fiber membrane, the columnar texture has an average value v of a Raman orientation parameter calculated with the specific formula, and the second layer has a three-dimensional network texture and has an average surface-pore diameter of 5.0 nm to 5.0 ?m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: TORAY INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Shun Shimura, Kenta Iwai, Masayuki Hanakawa, Tamotsu Kitade, Masahiro Kimura
  • Patent number: 10974199
    Abstract: This hollow fiber membrane module is provided with: a cylindrical case having a first end and a second end in the direction of height; a plurality of hollow fiber membranes accommodated in the cylindrical case; and a first potting unit attaching the end parts of the plurality of hollow fiber membranes positioned at the first end of the cylindrical case while the end parts are open. The hollow fiber membranes have a rupture strength of 23 MPa or more. The filling rate for the hollow fiber membranes is 40-80%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: TORAY INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Atsushi Kobayashi, Kenta Iwai, Masayuki Hanakawa, Tamotsu Kitade, Masahiro Kimura
  • Patent number: 10766007
    Abstract: The present invention provides a hollow fiber membrane module that can effectively resolve the accumulation of suspended solids within the membrane module, lower running costs, and also operate stably. The present invention relates to a hollow fiber membrane molecule provided with: a cylindrical case having a first end and a second end in the direction of height; a plurality of hollow fiber membranes accommodated within the cylindrical case; and a first potting part accommodated within the cylindrical case and attaching the plurality of hollow fiber membranes together such that the end parts of the plurality of hollow membrane fibers at a first end side of the cylindrical case are open. The hollow fiber membranes are porous hollow fiber membranes having a breaking strength of 23 MPa, and the hollow membrane module has a membrane area per unit volume of 800-3700 m2/m3. The filling fraction for the hollow fiber membranes in a cross-section orthogonal to the direction of height of the cylindrical case is 25-38%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: TORAY INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Shun Shimura, Kenta Iwai, Masayuki Hanakawa, Tamotsu Kitade, Masahiro Kimura, Atsushi Kobayashi, Aya Nishio
  • Publication number: 20200246756
    Abstract: The porous hollow-fiber membrane of the present invention comprises a fluororesin polymer, and has columnar structures oriented in the longitudinal direction thereof. In the porous hollow-fiber membrane, molecular chains of the fluororesin polymer have been oriented in the longitudinal direction of the porous hollow-fiber membrane and have an average value ? of Raman orientation parameter of 1.5-4.0.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2017
    Publication date: August 6, 2020
    Applicant: TORAY INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Kenta IWAI, Masayuki HANAKAWA, Tamotsu KITADE, Masahiro KIMURA, Toshiyuki ISHIZAKI
  • Patent number: 10702834
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a separation membrane having high mechanical strength and being less likely to cause clogging and capable of continuously maintaining high water permeation performance. The present invention relates to a separation membrane characterized in that the average diameter D1 of a spherical structure in a region within 10 ?m from a first surface in a separation membrane having a spherical structure layer formed of a thermoplastic resin and the average diameter D2 of a spherical structure in a region of 10 ?m to 20 ?m from a second surface satisfy the relational expression of D1>D2 and the average diameter D1 and the average diameter D3 of a spherical structure in a third region satisfy the relational expression of 1.10<D1/D3<4.00.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: TORAY INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Kenta Iwai, Toshiyuki Ishizaki, Tamotsu Kitade, Kenji Komori, Masayuki Hanakawa
  • Publication number: 20200206689
    Abstract: This hollow fiber membrane module is provided with: a cylindrical case having a first end and a second end in the direction of height; a plurality of hollow fiber membranes accommodated in the cylindrical case; and a first potting unit attaching the end parts of the plurality of hollow fiber membranes positioned at the first end of the cylindrical case while the end parts are open. The hollow fiber membranes have a rupture strength of 23 MPa or more. The filling rate for the hollow fiber membranes is 40-80%.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2017
    Publication date: July 2, 2020
    Applicant: TORAY INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Atsushi KOBAYASHI, Kenta IWAI, Masayuki HANAKAWA, Tamotsu KITADE, Masahiro KIMURA
  • Publication number: 20190330085
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a composite porous hollow-fiber membrane including a first layer and a second layer which each include a fluororesin-based polymer, in which at least a part of molecular chains of the fluororesin-based polymer is oriented in a longitudinal direction of the composite porous hollow-fiber membrane, the molecular chains of the fluororesin-based polymer have a degree of orientation it in the longitudinal direction of the composite porous hollow-fiber membrane of 0.4 or higher but less than 1.0, the degree of orientation it being calculated with the specific formula.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2017
    Publication date: October 31, 2019
    Applicant: Toray Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Shun SHIMURA, Masayuki HANAKAWA, Kenta IWAI, Tamotsu KITADE, Masahiro KIMURA
  • Patent number: 10456753
    Abstract: The present invention provides a porous hollow fiber membrane that has both high strength and high pure water permeability, and that exhibits excellent thermal deformation resistance. The present invention is related to a porous hollow fiber membrane containing a fluororesin-based polymer, and a manufacturing method of the membrane comprises a drawing step and a relaxing step. The porous hollow fiber membrane is characterized in that: the molecular chain of the polymer is oriented in the longitudinal direction of the hollow fiber membrane; and at the same time internal distortion of oriented non-crystalline chains, which is disadvantageous in terms of entropy, is alleviated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: TORAY INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Takaaki Yasuda, Masayuki Hanakawa, Kenta Iwai, Toshiyuki Ishizaki, Tamotsu Kitade, Masahiro Kimura
  • Publication number: 20190262775
    Abstract: According to the present invention, even when a high recovery ratio operation is performed, the influence of concentration of ingredients to be separated in the feed fluid can be reduced, the concentration polarization can be prevented by increasing the turbulence effect on the membrane surface, and the fluid permeation performance and the separation performance of the separation membrane element can be maintained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2017
    Publication date: August 29, 2019
    Applicant: TORAY INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Yoshiki OKAMOTO, Akshay GARG, Kentarou TAKAGI, Hiroho HIROZAWA, Tamotsu KITADE
  • Publication number: 20190168167
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a composite porous hollow-fiber membrane including a first layer and a second layer which each include a fluororesin-based polymer, in which the first layer has a columnar texture oriented in a longitudinal direction of the composite porous hollow-fiber membrane, the columnar texture has an average value v of a Raman orientation parameter calculated with the specific formula, and the second layer has a three-dimensional network texture and has an average surface-pore diameter of 5.0 nm to 5.0 ?m.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2017
    Publication date: June 6, 2019
    Applicant: TORAY INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Shun SHIMURA, Kenta IWAI, Masayuki HANAKAWA, Tamotsu KITADE, Masahiro KIMURA
  • Publication number: 20190160435
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a separation membrane element for use in separation of ingredients contained in fluids such as liquid and gas. An object of the present invention is to provide a separation membrane element which, even when used in a high-recovery ratio operation, has high fresh-water production performance and high removal performance and is less apt to suffer scaling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2017
    Publication date: May 30, 2019
    Applicant: TORAY INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Hiroho HIROZAWA, Kentarou TAKAGI, Yoshiki OKAMOTO, Satoshi KATO, Takeshi KONDA, Hiroyuki YAMADA, Tamotsu KITADE, Akshay GARG
  • Publication number: 20190060838
    Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to provide a porous molded body which is capable of adsorbing and removing low-molecular-weight organic matters or ions with high removal rate. The present invention relates to a porous molded body which is provided with: a plurality of columnar structures containing a crystalline polymer and having a (long side)/(short side) aspect ratio of 2 or more; and inorganic particles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2016
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Applicant: TORAY INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Ryuichiro HIRANABE, Kentaro KOBAYASHI, Masayuki HANAKAWA, Tamotsu KITADE
  • Publication number: 20190015788
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a flat-sheet separation membrane element having formed therein a separation membrane pair in which separation membranes are disposed such that permeation-side faces thereof face each other and in which a channel material is provided, wherein the area of a high-elasticity region satisfying a bending modulus of 100-1000 MPa and a maximum bending stress of 1-15 MPa at least in one direction is not less than 10% of the area of a filtration region of the pair of separation membranes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2017
    Publication date: January 17, 2019
    Applicant: TORAY INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Yoshiki OKAMOTO, Satoshi KATO, Tamotsu KITADE
  • Publication number: 20190015786
    Abstract: The present invention provides a hollow fiber membrane module that can effectively resolve the accumulation of suspended solids within the membrane module, lower running costs, and also operate stably. The present invention relates to a hollow fiber membrane molecule provided with: a cylindrical case having a first end and a second end in the direction of height; a plurality of hollow fiber membranes accommodated within the cylindrical case; and a first potting part accommodated within the cylindrical case and attaching the plurality of hollow fiber membranes together such that the end parts of the plurality of hollow membrane fibers at a first end side of the cylindrical case are open. The hollow fiber membranes are porous hollow fiber membranes having a breaking strength of 23 MPa, and the hollow membrane module has a membrane area per unit volume of 800-3700 m2/m3. The filling fraction for the hollow fiber membranes in a cross-section orthogonal to the direction of height of the cylindrical case is 25-38%.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2016
    Publication date: January 17, 2019
    Applicant: TORAY INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Shun SHIMURA, Kenta IWAI, Masayuki HANAKAWA, Tamotsu KITADE, Masahiro KIMURA, Atsushi KOBAYASHI, Aya NISHIO
  • Publication number: 20180369757
    Abstract: The present invention provides a porous hollow fiber membrane that has both high strength and high pure water permeability, and that exhibits excellent thermal deformation resistance. The present invention is related to a porous hollow fiber membrane containing a fluororesin-based polymer, and a manufacturing method of the membrane comprises a drawing step and a relaxing step. The porous hollow fiber membrane is characterized in that: the molecular chain of the polymer is oriented in the longitudinal direction of the hollow fiber membrane; and at the same time internal distortion of oriented non-crystalline chains, which is disadvantageous in terms of entropy, is alleviated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2016
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Applicant: TORAY INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Takaaki YASUDA, Masayuki HANAKAWA, Kenta IWAI, Toshiyuki ISHIZAKI, Tamotsu KITADE, Masahiro KIMURA
  • Patent number: 9901883
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a porous hollow-fiber membrane having high strength while maintaining high pure-water permeation performance. A porous hollow-fiber membrane of the present invention is a porous hollow-fiber membrane including a fluororesin-based polymer, in which the porous hollow-fiber membrane has a columnar texture oriented in a longitudinal direction of the porous hollow-fiber membrane, and a molecular chain of the fluororesin-based polymer is oriented in the longitudinal direction of the porous hollow-fiber membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: TORAY INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Masayuki Hanakawa, Kenta Iwai, Toshiyuki Ishizaki, Tamotsu Kitade, Masahiro Kimura