Patents by Inventor Tomoaki Toratani

Tomoaki Toratani 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: 11460254
    Abstract: A heat pipe includes a container including a container substrate and a working fluid enclosed in the container. The working fluid contains water. The heat pipe includes a first film containing tin and/or a tin alloy on at least an inner surface of the container substrate and a second film formed on at least a part of a surface of the first film and containing an oxide and/or hydroxide containing tin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshito Fujii, Tomoaki Toratani
  • Patent number: 11346617
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a wick structure accommodated in a container of a heat pipe having plural foils and a structure holding portion for fixing the foils. The respective foils are held by the structure holding portion, whereby the foils are positions and arrange in parallel. The foil is connected to the other foils including the other adjacent foils via the structure holding portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: FURUKAWA ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tomomi Kaibuchi, Tomoaki Toratani
  • Patent number: 11137215
    Abstract: There is provided a flat heat pipe that is not easily deformed in spite of a reduction in thickness and can maintain high heat transport capacity. A flat heat pipe 100 includes a container 130 in which a cavity 130S is formed by plates 110 (110a, 110b) made of metal and disposed substantially in parallel with each other, working fluid that is enclosed in the cavity 130S, and a wick structure 150 that is inserted into the container. The wick structure 150 includes a first sheet-like member 140, and hollow protruding portions 170 protruding in a height direction of the container 130 are formed on the first sheet-like member 140.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: FURUKAWA ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tomoaki Toratani, Yoshinori Nakamura, Yoshikatsu Inagaki, Hirofumi Aoki
  • Publication number: 20210022265
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a cooling device that can exhibit excellent cooling characteristics while avoiding increase in size of the device, and a cooling system using the cooling device. The cooling device including a container to which at least one heating element is thermally connected, a primary refrigerant sealed in an inside of the container, and a condensation tube through which a secondary refrigerant flows, and which penetrates through a gaseous phase portion inside of the container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2020
    Publication date: January 21, 2021
    Applicant: Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshikatsu INAGAKI, Hirofumi AOKI, Hiroshi OKADA, Kenya KAWABATA, Tomoaki TORATANI
  • Publication number: 20200208922
    Abstract: Provided are a heat pipe capable of preventing the corrosion of a container and the generation of a hydrogen gas caused by a working fluid containing water even if the container is subjected to plastic deformation such as bending or an object to be cooled having a large amount of heat generation is thermally connected, and a method for manufacturing the heat pipe. The heat pipe includes a container including a container substrate and a working fluid enclosed in the container. The working fluid contains water. The heat pipe includes a first film containing tin and/or a tin alloy on at least an inner surface of the container substrate and a second film formed on at least a part of a surface of the first film and containing an oxide and/or hydroxide containing tin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2020
    Publication date: July 2, 2020
    Applicant: Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshito FUJII, Tomoaki TORATANI
  • Publication number: 20200158447
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a wick structure accommodated in a container of a heat pipe having plural foils and a structure holding portion for fixing the foils. The respective foils are held by the structure holding portion, whereby the foils are positions and arrange in parallel. The foil is connected to the other foils including the other adjacent foils via the structure holding portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2020
    Publication date: May 21, 2020
    Applicant: FURUKAWA ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tomomi KAIBUCHI, Tomoaki TORATANI
  • Publication number: 20200025459
    Abstract: There is provided a flat heat pipe that is not easily deformed in spite of a reduction in thickness and can maintain high heat transport capacity. A flat heat pipe 100 includes a container 130 in which a cavity 130S is formed by plates 110 (110a, 110b) made of metal and disposed substantially in parallel with each other, working fluid that is enclosed in the cavity 130S, and a wick structure 150 that is inserted into the container. The wick structure 150 includes a first sheet-like member 140, and hollow protruding portions 170 protruding in a height direction of the container 130 are formed on the first sheet-like member 140.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2019
    Publication date: January 23, 2020
    Applicant: FURUKAWA ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tomoaki TORATANI, Yoshinori NAKAMURA, Yoshikatsu INAGAKI, Hirofumi AOKI
  • Patent number: 9246270
    Abstract: In a power supply connector, when defect is detected at the locking part by the defect detection means, sliding of the connector body and the grasping member with respect to the case is locked by the case lock mechanism; when defect is not detected at the locking part, the case lock mechanism is released and the connector body and the grasping member become slidable in a direction of nearly the same axis line with respect to the case. When the grasping member is slid forward with respect to the case in a state in which the case lock mechanism is released, the connector body becomes movable to the front with respect to the case. As a result, in the power supply connector, the connector in the power supply side is not connectable to the connector of the power reception side when there is a defect in the locking part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignees: FURUKAWA ELECTRIC CO., LTD., NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tomoaki Toratani, Naomi Takahashi, Tsuyoshi Nakajima
  • Patent number: 9209563
    Abstract: According to the present invention, the pin, which is provided on the link member that links the lock lever and the electromagnetic solenoid, can be removed from both sides of the power supply connector. Thus, the pin can be removed from the side that allows workspace, regardless of the side on which the openable lid of the power reception connector is positioned. Thus, even when the electromagnetic solenoid malfunctions, the pin can be extracted with certainty, and the lock can be released. Thus, the power supply connector can be pulled out from the power reception connector. Further, because a cover is provided on the grasping member, the pin extraction workability is also excellent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignees: FURUKAWA ELECTRIC CO., LTD., NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tomoaki Toratani, Naomi Takahashi, Kenichi Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 9172182
    Abstract: When the grasping member 3 is moved forward with respect to the case 9, the linkage 15a joint with the grasping member 3 is pushed in to the front. Because the linkage 15a moves forward, the arm rotates with the pin 23a as its axis of rotation. With the arm 13 rotating, the connector body 11 connected to the arm 13 via linkage 15b moves in the same direction as the grasping member 3. Note that because the coupling position of the grasping member 3 and the connector body 11 with respect to the arm 13 differ, the distance of movement of the grasping member 3 and the distance of movement of the connector body 11 with respect to the case 9 differ. That is, mechanisms such as the arm 13 etc. function as a deceleration mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: FURUKAWA ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tomoaki Toratani, Naomi Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20150249305
    Abstract: According to the present invention, the pin, which is provided on the link member that links the lock lever and the electromagnetic solenoid, can be removed from both sides of the power supply connector. Thus, the pin can be removed from the side that allows workspace, regardless of the side on which the openable lid of the power reception connector is positioned. Thus, even when the electromagnetic solenoid malfunctions, the pin can be extracted with certainty, and the lock can be released. Thus, the power supply connector can be pulled out from the power reception connector. Further, because a cover is provided on the grasping member, the pin extraction workability is also excellent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2015
    Publication date: September 3, 2015
    Inventors: Tomoaki TORATANI, Naomi TAKAHASHI, Kenichi NAKAGAWA
  • Publication number: 20150229074
    Abstract: In a power supply connector, when defect is detected at the locking part by the defect detection means, sliding of the connector body and the grasping member with respect to the case is locked by the case lock mechanism; when defect is not detected at the locking part, the case lock mechanism is released and the connector body and the grasping member become slidable in a direction of nearly the same axis line with respect to the case. When the grasping member is slid forward with respect to the case in a state in which the case lock mechanism is released, the connector body becomes movable to the front with respect to the case. As a result, in the power supply connector, the connector in the power supply side is not connectable to the connector of the power reception side when there is a defect in the locking part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2015
    Publication date: August 13, 2015
    Inventors: Tomoaki TORATANI, Naomi TAKAHASHI, Tsuyoshi NAKAJIMA
  • Patent number: 9088096
    Abstract: A case is a cylinder-shaped member and accommodates a connector body in a front end portion thereof. The connector body can slide back and forth with respect to the case. The case is provided with a slider in the inside thereof. One of the end portions of the slider projects forward from the case. The slider can slide in an axial direction. A stopper member is provided near a front end of a connector bar, at the back of the slider. The stopper member touches the slider and can move in response to movement of the slider. The stopper member locks the case and the holding member. That is, the stopper member functions as a case-locking mechanism for preventing the case from moving with respect to a holding member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: FURUKAWA ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tomoaki Toratani, Naomi Takahashi
  • Patent number: 9088101
    Abstract: The link member (10a) is connected to the lock lever (7) by a pin (23d). Thus, the link member (10a) is pulled to an upward direction by the upward movement of the lock lever (7). At this point, with the movement of the lock lever 7, the link members (10a) and (10b) operate toward a direction that increases the angle between the two, and the plunger (22a) connected to the linkage (15c) moves backward. Thus, when the plunger (22a) is unable to move with respect to the body of the electromagnetic solenoid (22) due to freezing etc., the linkage (15c) is unable to move. Therefore, in such a case, the lock lever (7) becomes inoperable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: FURUKAWA ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tomoaki Toratani, Naomi Takahashi, Tsuyoshi Oshima
  • Patent number: 9078358
    Abstract: A substrate (1) includes conductive portions (7) formed by press working and a resin portion (11) integrally injection-molded with the conductive portions (7). The conductive portions (7) are formed from, for example, a copper alloy. The resin portion 11 is formed from, for example, PPS. A surface-mount component (3), which is an electronic surface-mount component, is mounted on the substrate (1). The surface-mount component (3) has electrodes (5) at its opposite sides, and the electrodes (5) and the respective conductive portions (7) are electrically connected by means of a solder (9). The substrate (1) has a hole (13), which functions as a stress relaxation mechanism, formed in the resin portion (11) (a portion extending therethrough) between connection portions (15) under the surface-mount component (3). The substrate (1) also has resin-exposed portions (13), which function as a stress relaxation mechanism, formed on opposite sides of the surface-mount component (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignees: FURUKAWA ELECTRIC CO., LTD., FURUKAWA AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, INC
    Inventors: Tomoaki Toratani, Toshitaka Hara, Kyutaro Abe, Motomu Shibamura, Kyosuke Hashimoto
  • Publication number: 20150011111
    Abstract: The link member (10a) is connected to the lock lever (7) by a pin (23d). Thus, the link member (10a) is pulled to an upward direction by the upward movement of the lock lever (7). At this point, with the movement of the lock lever 7, the link members (10a) and (10b) operate toward a direction that increases the angle between the two, and the plunger (22a) connected to the linkage (15c) moves backward. Thus, when the plunger (22a) is unable to move with respect to the body of the electromagnetic solenoid (22) due to freezing etc., the linkage (15c) is unable to move. Therefore, in such a case, the lock lever (7) becomes inoperable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Inventors: Tomoaki TORATANI, Naomi TAKAHASHI, Tsuyoshi OSHIMA
  • Publication number: 20140273588
    Abstract: When the grasping member 3 is moved forward with respect to the case 9, the linkage 15a joint with the grasping member 3 is pushed in to the front. Because the linkage 15a moves forward, the arm rotates with the pin 23a as its axis of rotation. With the arm 13 rotating, the connector body 11 connected to the arm 13 via linkage 15b moves in the same direction as the grasping member 3. Note that because the coupling position of the grasping member 3 and the connector body 11 with respect to the arm 13 differ, the distance of movement of the grasping member 3 and the distance of movement of the connector body 11 with respect to the case 9 differ. That is, mechanisms such as the arm 13 etc. function as a deceleration mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomoaki TORATANI, Naomi TAKAHASHI
  • Publication number: 20140045360
    Abstract: A case is a cylinder-shaped member and accommodates a connector body in a front end portion thereof. The connector body can slide back and forth with respect to the case. The case is provided with a slider in the inside thereof. One of the end portions of the slider projects forward from the case. The slider can slide in an axial direction. A stopper member is provided near a front end of a connector bar, at the back of the slider. The stopper member touches the slider and can move in response to movement of the slider. The stopper member locks the case and the holding member. That is, the stopper member functions as a case-locking mechanism for preventing the case from moving with respect to a holding member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2013
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Applicant: FURUKAWA ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tomoaki TORATANI, Naomi TAKAHASHI
  • Publication number: 20120267152
    Abstract: A substrate usable for such as DC-DC converters, which has no defects such as openings therein but is more compact and easy to be manufactured and a method of manufacturing the same is provided. First, circuit materials are cut off by pressing and bended to be formed in desired shapes. Next, the circuit materials are joined or placed in predetermined positions to form a circuit conductor 15. Junction is performed by welding. Next, the circuit conductor 15 is installed on the mold 19. The mold 19 is for injection molding of resin 9 and has a predetermined cavity therein. The circuit conductor 15 is fixed to the mold 19, for example by a pin of a prescribed position. In such a condition, resin is injected into a mold. The substrate 1 is formed by the injection of resin to a surface and between layers of the circuit conductor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2012
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Applicants: FURUKAWA AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS INC., FURUKAWA ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toshitaka HARA, Tomoaki TORATANI, Kyutaro ABE, Koichi MAENO, Motomu SHIBAMURA
  • Publication number: 20120255767
    Abstract: A substrate (1) includes conductive portions (7) formed by press working and a resin portion (11) integrally injection-molded with the conductive portions (7). The conductive portions (7) are formed from, for example, a copper alloy. The resin portion 11 is formed from, for example, PPS. A surface-mount component (3), which is an electronic surface-mount component, is mounted on the substrate (1). The surface-mount component (3) has electrodes (5) at its opposite sides, and the electrodes (5) and the respective conductive portions (7) are electrically connected by means of a solder (9). The substrate (1) has a hole (13), which functions as a stress relaxation mechanism, formed in the resin portion (11) (a portion extending therethrough) between connection portions (15) under the surface-mount component (3). The substrate (1) also has resin-exposed portions (13), which function as a stress relaxation mechanism, formed on opposite sides of the surface-mount component (3).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2012
    Publication date: October 11, 2012
    Applicants: FURUKAWA AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, INC., FURUKAWA ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tomoaki TORATANI, Toshitaka HARA, Kyutaro ABE, Motomu SHIBAMURA, Kyosuke HASHIMOTO