Patents by Inventor Tatsuhiko Akita

Tatsuhiko Akita 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: 11840990
    Abstract: A fuel vapor treatment apparatus includes a controller configured to detect an abnormality in at least one of a first check valve, a second check valve, a second purge passage, a charging passage, and an ejector based on pressure detected by a pressure detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tatsuhiko Akita
  • Publication number: 20230099338
    Abstract: A fuel vapor treatment apparatus includes a controller configured to detect an abnormality in at least one of a first check valve, a second check valve, a second purge passage, a charging passage, and an ejector based on pressure detected by a pressure detector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2022
    Publication date: March 30, 2023
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tatsuhiko AKITA
  • Patent number: 11549467
    Abstract: A fuel vapor treatment apparatus includes a controller configured to detect an abnormality in at least one of a first check valve, a second check valve, a second purge passage, a charging passage, and an ejector based on pressure detected by a pressure detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tatsuhiko Akita
  • Patent number: 10883451
    Abstract: In a fuel vapor treatment apparatus, when an internal combustion engine is in non-turbocharging operation, a controller is configured to open a first valve and a second valve, and when the internal combustion engine is in turbocharging operation, the controller is configured to close the first valve, and to open a third valve based on pressure in a fuel tank detected by a first pressure detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiromichi Yasuda, Tatsuhiko Akita
  • Patent number: 10718281
    Abstract: An evaporative fuel treatment apparatus includes a canister, a vapor passage, an outside air introduction passage, a purge passage that connects the canister and an intake passage to each other, a sealing valve configured to open/close a flow channel of the vapor passage, a tank internal pressure sensor, a pressure sensor configured to detect a vapor pressure; and an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit is configured to determine whether or not there is an abnormality in the tank internal pressure sensor based on a change in the vapor pressure in changing over the sealing valve from a closed state to an open state, when an amount of change in the tank pressure in changing over the sealing valve from the closed state to the open state is lower than a first predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tatsuhiko Akita
  • Publication number: 20200132024
    Abstract: In a fuel vapor treatment apparatus, when an internal combustion engine is in non-turbocharging operation, a controller is configured to open a first valve and a second valve, and when the internal combustion engine is in turbocharging operation, the controller is configured to close the first valve, and to open a third valve based on pressure in a fuel tank detected by a first pressure detector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2019
    Publication date: April 30, 2020
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiromichi YASUDA, Tatsuhiko AKITA
  • Publication number: 20200116108
    Abstract: A fuel vapor treatment apparatus includes a controller configured to detect an abnormality in at least one of a first check valve, a second check valve, a second purge passage, a charging passage, and an ejector based on pressure detected by a pressure detector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2019
    Publication date: April 16, 2020
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tatsuhiko AKITA
  • Publication number: 20190368432
    Abstract: An evaporative fuel treatment apparatus includes a canister, a vapor passage, an outside air introduction passage, a purge passage that connects the canister and an intake passage to each other, a sealing valve configured to open/close a flow channel of the vapor passage, a tank internal pressure sensor, a pressure sensor configured to detect a vapor pressure; and an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit is configured to determine whether or not there is an abnormality in the tank internal pressure sensor based on a change in the vapor pressure in changing over the sealing valve from a closed state to an open state, when an amount of change in the tank pressure in changing over the sealing valve from the closed state to the open state is lower than a first predetermined value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2019
    Publication date: December 5, 2019
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tatsuhiko AKITA
  • Patent number: 10480430
    Abstract: An intake pipe of an evaporated fuel processing device is provided with a throttle valve downstream of a supercharger, and an ejector in parallel to the supercharger. A purge passage is branched into first and second branch passages, which connect to the intake pipe at a position downstream of the throttle valve and to a suction port of the ejector, respectively. In the ejector, its intake port is connected to the intake pipe at a position between the supercharger and the throttle valve, and its exhaust port is connected to the intake pipe at a position upstream of the supercharger. A flow rate of purge gas in the second branch passage is obtained based on at least two of a first pressure downstream of the throttle valve, a second pressure between the supercharger and the throttle valve, and a third pressure upstream of the supercharger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignees: AISAN KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hidetoshi Tsutsumi, Tatsuhiko Akita, Yuusaku Nishimura
  • Patent number: 10190514
    Abstract: A purge device includes a canister; a purge passage configured to extend from the canister and be connected to an upstream side of a compressor of a supercharger in an intake passage; a supply unit configured to supply purge gas to the upstream side of the compressor in the intake passage during supercharging; a throttle configured to be provided in a portion of the intake passage connected with the purge passage and limit an inflow of gas from the purge passage; a sensor configured to detect internal pressure downstream of the supply unit in the purge passage; and a control device configured to determine that a passage end of the purge passage deviates from the intake passage, in a case where a detection value obtained by the sensor during the operation of the supply unit is lower than a predetermined pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tatsuhiko Akita
  • Patent number: 10018131
    Abstract: A fuel vapor processing apparatus includes an adsorbent canister, a vapor path connecting the adsorbent canister to a fuel tank, and a flow control valve disposed in the vapor path. The flow control valve is kept closed while a movement distance of a valve body from a predetermined initial position toward a valve opening direction is less than a predetermined distance. A control unit comprising part of the apparatus is configured to set a valve opening speed of the flow control valve to a first speed under a condition where the movement distance of the valve body is less than the predetermined distance, and to set the valve opening speed of the flow control valve to a second speed lower than the first speed under a condition where the movement distance of the valve body is greater than the predetermined distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignees: AISAN KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Naoyuki Tagawa, Minoru Akita, Yoshikazu Miyabe, Tatsuhiko Akita, Yuusaku Nishimura, Keita Fukui
  • Patent number: 10006411
    Abstract: A processor may perform a purging process, which may introduce fuel vapor adsorbed by a canister into an intake passage. The processor may identify clogging of a purge passage based on a decrease amount of the pressure in the canister that results from execution of the purging process. The processor may open an isolation valve when the pressure in a fuel tank is less than or equal to a first pressure, which is less than an atmospheric pressure, and close the isolation valve when the pressure in the fuel tank is greater than or equal to a second pressure, which is greater than the first pressure and less than the atmospheric pressure. The processor may disable the purging process at least in a period from when the processor closes the isolation valve to when a prescribed time has elapsed from the closing of the isolation valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Keita Fukui, Yuusaku Nishimura, Tatsuhiko Akita
  • Patent number: 10006386
    Abstract: A fuel vapor processing apparatus includes a vapor path connecting an adsorbent canister to a tank, where a valve is disposed in the vapor path and comprises a body and a seat, and a control unit configured to detect a movement distance of the body from the seat as a valve movement distance at a valve opening start position. This position results when a change in inner pressure of the tank after starting movement of the body toward a valve opening direction becomes greater in magnitude than a predetermined amount, wherein the control unit stores the valve movement distance in the valve opening direction as a learning value, and also stores one of two predetermined restriction values as the learning value instead of the valve movement distance when the valve movement distance is not within a range between a previously stored learning value and one of the restriction values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignees: AISAN KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Naoyuki Tagawa, Minoru Akita, Yoshikazu Miyabe, Tatsuhiko Akita, Yuusaku Nishimura, Keita Fukui
  • Publication number: 20180163646
    Abstract: An intake pipe of an evaporated fuel processing device is provided with a throttle valve downstream of a supercharger, and an ejector in parallel to the supercharger. A purge passage is branched into first and second branch passages, which connect to the intake pipe at a position downstream of the throttle valve and to a suction port of the ejector, respectively. In the ejector, its intake port is connected to the intake pipe at a position between the supercharger and the throttle valve, and its exhaust port is connected to the intake pipe at a position upstream of the supercharger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2017
    Publication date: June 14, 2018
    Inventors: Hidetoshi TSUTSUMI, Tatsuhiko AKITA, Yuusaku NISHIMURA
  • Patent number: 9909539
    Abstract: In pressure increasing control for raising a pressure within a sealed type fuel tank from an excessive negative pressure to a low negative pressure, an opening or closing operation of a sealing valve, when the interior of a vehicle is very quiet, may cause the working noise thereof to be transmitted to a passenger, thereby deteriorating the noise characteristic. When the pressure within a fuel tank is below a predetermined negative pressure near a saturated vapor pressure of the fuel and an interior noise level is equal to or greater than a threshold value, a controller may operate a sealing valve to thereby raise the pressure of the fuel tank to a normal negative pressure region which may be higher than the predetermined negative pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Keita Fukui, Yusaku Nishimura, Tatsuhiko Akita
  • Patent number: 9759153
    Abstract: In a control apparatus for an internal combustion engine, a vapor concentration learned value learned as a concentration of fuel in purge gas is reflected in an injection amount command value used for fuel injection amount control. An electronic control unit changes a reflection mode of reflecting the vapor concentration learned value in the injection amount command value depending on a pattern of switching an inlet through which the purge gas flows into an intake passage, between a first inlet and a second inlet upstream of the first inlet, and executes the reflection in the changed reflection mode during a period from a start of an intake of intermediate gas into a cylinder to completion of the intake of the intermediate gas. The intermediate gas is present in a portion of the intake passage between the first inlet and the second inlet when switching of the inlet is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tatsuhiko Akita
  • Publication number: 20170226939
    Abstract: A purge device includes a canister; a purge passage configured to extend from the canister and be connected to an upstream side of a compressor of a supercharger in an intake passage; a supply unit configured to supply purge gas to the upstream side of the compressor in the intake passage during supercharging; a throttle configured to be provided in a portion of the intake passage connected with the purge passage and limit an inflow of gas from the purge passage; a sensor configured to detect internal pressure downstream of the supply unit in the purge passage; and a control device configured to determine that a passage end of the purge passage deviates from the intake passage, in a case where a detection value obtained by the sensor during the operation of the supply unit is lower than a predetermined pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2017
    Publication date: August 10, 2017
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tatsuhiko AKITA
  • Publication number: 20170167413
    Abstract: A fuel vapor processing apparatus includes an adsorbent canister, a vapor path connecting the adsorbent canister to a fuel tank, and a flow control valve disposed in the vapor path. The flow control valve is kept closed while a movement distance of a valve body from a predetermined initial position toward a valve opening direction is less than a predetermined distance. A control unit comprising part of the apparatus is configured to set a valve opening speed of the flow control valve to a first speed under a condition where the movement distance of the valve body is less than the predetermined distance, and to set the valve opening speed of the flow control valve to a second speed lower than the first speed under a condition where the movement distance of the valve body is greater than the predetermined distance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2016
    Publication date: June 15, 2017
    Applicants: AISAN KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Naoyuki TAGAWA, Minoru AKITA, Yoshikazu MIYABE, Tatsuhiko AKITA, Yuusaku NISHIMURA, Keita FUKUI
  • Publication number: 20170145932
    Abstract: A fuel vapor processing apparatus includes a vapor path connecting an adsorbent canister to a tank, where a valve is disposed in the vapor path and comprises a body and a seat, and a control unit configured to detect a movement distance of the body from the seat as a valve movement distance at a valve opening start position. This position results when a change in inner pressure of the tank after starting movement of the body toward a valve opening direction becomes greater in magnitude than a predetermined amount, wherein the control unit stores the valve movement distance in the valve opening direction as a learning value, and also stores one of two predetermined restriction values as the learning value instead of the valve movement distance when the valve movement distance is not within a range between a previously stored learning value and one of the restriction values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2016
    Publication date: May 25, 2017
    Applicants: AISAN KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Naoyuki TAGAWA, Minoru AKITA, Yoshikazu MIYABE, Tatsuhiko AKITA, Yuusaku NISHIMURA, Keita FUKUI
  • Patent number: 9567985
    Abstract: A high-pressure pump includes a plunger capable of reciprocating, and a housing having a pressurizing chamber in which fuel is pressurized by the plunger, and a fuel chamber through which the fuel flows toward and from the pressurizing chamber. The pump includes a spring that biases the plunger so as to increase the volume of the pressurizing chamber, and a spring seat that is fixed to the housing and is in contact with one end of the spring. A first space that communicates with the fuel chamber via a fuel passage is provided between the bottom of the spring seat and the housing, and a top face of the bottom exposed to the first space is covered with a heatinginsulating member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tatsuhiko Akita, Kenichi Saito