Patents by Inventor Tomoaki UMEMURA

Tomoaki UMEMURA 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: 20240058764
    Abstract: A gas separation membrane module includes at least one hollow fiber membrane element and a casing. The hollow fiber membrane element includes hollow fiber membranes and a cylindrical body. The cylindrical body extends in a longitudinal direction of the hollow fiber membranes, and accommodates the hollow fiber membranes. The hollow fiber membrane element includes sweep gas introduction ports and mixed gas discharge ports. A first supply chamber, a first discharge chamber, a second supply chamber, and a second discharge chamber are positioned between the casing and the hollow fiber membrane element. The first supply chamber, the first discharge chamber, the second supply chamber, and the second discharge chamber are partitioned off from each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2020
    Publication date: February 22, 2024
    Applicants: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA, KURARAY, CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Katsuya UMEMOTO, Takafumi ITO, Koji FUKUMOTO, Tomoaki UMEMURA, Koji MIYAKE, Kazuhiko EDA, Youhei YABUNO, Kensaku KOMATSU
  • Patent number: 11872521
    Abstract: An air purifying system includes: a carbon dioxide remover including first and second spaces partitioned by a gas permeable membrane with 50 nm or less diameter micropores; a feed passage leading to-be-purified air from a room to the first space; a supply passage supplying clean gas having lower carbon dioxide and higher oxygen concentrations than the to-be-purified air to the second space; a discharge passage discharging, from the second space, mixed gas; a return passage leading purified air from the first space into the room, the purified air resulting from removing carbon dioxide from the to-be-purified air; and adjusting equipment adjusting a gas pressure in the first and second spaces to be substantially equal to each other. The to-be-purified air flows in the first space along a surface of the gas permeable membrane, and the clean gas flows in the second space along a surface of the gas permeable membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Katsuya Umemoto, Kazuhiro Okumura, Kouji Fukumoto, Tomoaki Umemura, Hideto Matsuyama, Eiji Kamio
  • Patent number: 11815212
    Abstract: Each of a pair of couplers includes: a vacuum double-pipe structure main part; a valve seat forming an opening through which a fluid flows; and a valve body in the main part. The valve body is configured such that, when separating the couplers, in each coupler, the body is brought into contact with the seat by a spring to close the opening, and when coupling the couplers, the body of each coupler is pressed by the body of the other coupler to move away from the seat and open the opening. The valve body includes: a holding member holding a sealing material sealing between the body and the seat when the body is in contact with the seat; a resin block covering a distal end surface of the holding member; and a metal operating member accommodating the block and protruding from the holding member to pass through the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignees: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA, TB GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES LTD.
    Inventors: Tomoaki Umemura, Shuntaro Unno, Kentaro Okumura, Tsutomu Kawai
  • Patent number: 11608923
    Abstract: A fluid loading joint for rotatably connecting double pipes to each other includes: a first half including a first inner pipe, a first outer pipe, and a holder, the first inner pipe being provided with a first flange, the first outer pipe accommodating the first inner pipe therein, the holder holding the first outer pipe such that the first outer pipe is rotatable; a second half including a sliding surface facing the first flange, the second half including a second inner pipe and a second outer pipe, the second inner pipe being provided with a second flange, the second outer pipe accommodating the second inner pipe therein and being provided with an outer flange that is fastened to the holder; an inner sealing member and an outer sealing member that are disposed between the first flange and the sliding surface; an inner passage provided in the second flange, the inner passage leading a leaked fluid from between the inner sealing member and the outer sealing member to an outer circumferential surface of the se
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignees: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA, TB GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES LTD., T.EN LOADING SYSTEMS S.A.S.
    Inventors: Tomoaki Umemura, Tsutomu Kawai
  • Patent number: 11608263
    Abstract: A fluid loading joint includes: a first half provided at an end of a first vacuum double pipe, the first half including a first inner pipe, a first outer pipe, and a first blocking member blocking between the first inner pipe and the first outer pipe; a second half provided at an end of a second vacuum double pipe, the second half including a second inner pipe, a second outer pipe, and a second blocking member blocking between the second inner pipe and the second outer pipe; an annular inner insulator interposed between the first inner pipe and the second inner pipe; and an annular outer insulator interposed between the first outer pipe and the second outer pipe, the outer insulator surrounding the inner insulator, with a gas space positioned between the outer insulator and the inner insulator, the gas space being formed between the first blocking member and the second blocking member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignees: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA, TB GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES LTD., T.EN LOADING SYSTEMS S.A.S.
    Inventors: Tomoaki Umemura, Tsutomu Kawai
  • Publication number: 20220134275
    Abstract: An air purifying system includes: a carbon dioxide remover including first and second spaces partitioned by a gas permeable membrane with 50 nm or less diameter micropores; a feed passage leading to-be-purified air from a room to the first space; a supply passage supplying clean gas having lower carbon dioxide and higher oxygen concentrations than the to-be-purified air to the second space; a discharge passage discharging, from the second space, mixed gas; a return passage leading purified air from the first space into the room, the purified air resulting from removing carbon dioxide from the to-be-purified air; and adjusting equipment adjusting a gas pressure in the first and second spaces to be substantially equal to each other. The to-be-purified air flows in the first space along a surface of the gas permeable membrane, and the clean gas flows in the second space along a surface of the gas permeable membrane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2020
    Publication date: May 5, 2022
    Applicant: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Katsuya UMEMOTO, Kazuhiro OKUMURA, Kouji FUKUMOTO, Tomoaki UMEMURA, Hideto MATSUYAMA, Eiji KAMIO
  • Patent number: 11248726
    Abstract: A joint structure connecting a first and second double pipe, includes a male bayonet at an end portion of one of the pipes, the male bayonet including a first flange; a female bayonet at an end portion of the other of the pipes, the female bayonet including a second flange fastened to the first; a first positioning member mounted on the first double pipe; a second positioning member mounted on the second double pipe, the second positioning member being positioned with respect to the first so that a center axis of the male bayonet and the female bayonet conform to each other; and a slide mechanism which supports the first positioning member so the first positioning member is slidable in an axial direction of the first double pipe or supports the second positioning member so the second positioning member is slidable in an axial direction of the second double pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Akihiko Inomata, Shuntaro Unno, Tomonori Takase, Tomoaki Umemura
  • Publication number: 20210396338
    Abstract: Each of a pair of couplers includes: a vacuum double-pipe structure main part; a valve seat forming an opening through which a fluid flows; and a valve body in the main part. The valve body is configured such that, when separating the couplers, in each coupler, the body is brought into contact with the seat by a spring to close the opening, and when coupling the couplers, the body of each coupler is pressed by the body of the other coupler to move away from the seat and open the opening. The valve body includes: a holding member holding a sealing material sealing between the body and the seat when the body is in contact with the seat; a resin block covering a distal end surface of the holding member; and a metal operating member accommodating the block and protruding from the holding member to pass through the opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2019
    Publication date: December 23, 2021
    Applicants: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA, TB GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES LTD.
    Inventors: Tomoaki UMEMURA, Shuntaro UNNO, Kentaro OKUMURA, Tsutomu KAWAI
  • Patent number: 11079051
    Abstract: To provide an emergency detachment mechanism for a fluid handling device that has exceptional heat insulation performance and enables liquid hydrogen or another very-low-temperature fluid to be handled. An emergency detachment mechanism for a fluid handling device provided with a pair of couplers 1, wherein each of the pair of couplers 1 has a coupler body part 5 including an internal tube part 2 in which a fluid passes through an interior and which opens at a distal end side, an external tube part 3 which forms a vacuum layer 9 with the internal tube part 2 and which opens at a distal end side, and a connecting flange part 4 that closes off a space between the internal tube part 2 and the external tube part 3, a wall thickness of the connecting flange part 4 being less than a wall thickness of the external tube part 3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignees: TB GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES LTD., KAWASAKI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD
    Inventors: Tsutomu Kawai, Tomoaki Umemura
  • Publication number: 20210071795
    Abstract: A fluid loading joint for rotatably connecting double pipes to each other includes: a first half including a first inner pipe, a first outer pipe, and a holder, the first inner pipe being provided with a first flange, the first outer pipe accommodating the first inner pipe therein, the holder holding the first outer pipe such that the first outer pipe is rotatable; a second half including a sliding surface facing the first flange, the second half including a second inner pipe and a second outer pipe, the second inner pipe being provided with a second flange, the second outer pipe accommodating the second inner pipe therein and being provided with an outer flange that is fastened to the holder; an inner sealing member and an outer sealing member that are disposed between the first flange and the sliding surface; an inner passage provided in the second flange, the inner passage leading a leaked fluid from between the inner sealing member and the outer sealing member to an outer circumferential surface of the se
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2018
    Publication date: March 11, 2021
    Applicants: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA, TOKYO BOEKI ENGINEERING LTD.
    Inventors: Tomoaki UMEMURA, Tsutomu KAWAI
  • Publication number: 20210061640
    Abstract: A fluid loading joint includes: a first half provided at an end of a first vacuum double pipe, the first half including a first inner pipe, a first outer pipe, and a first blocking member blocking between the first inner pipe and the first outer pipe; a second half provided at an end of a second vacuum double pipe, the second half including a second inner pipe, a second outer pipe, and a second blocking member blocking between the second inner pipe and the second outer pipe; an annular inner insulator interposed between the first inner pipe and the second inner pipe; and an annular outer insulator interposed between the first outer pipe and the second outer pipe, the outer insulator surrounding the inner insulator, with a gas space positioned between the outer insulator and the inner insulator, the gas space being formed between the first blocking member and the second blocking member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2018
    Publication date: March 4, 2021
    Applicants: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA, TOKYO BOEKI ENGINEERING LTD.
    Inventors: Tomoaki UMEMURA, Tsutomu KAWAI
  • Patent number: 10724688
    Abstract: An emergency release system includes a first shut-off valve unit which is land-based; and a second shut-off valve unit which is provided for a marine vessel and separably connected to the first shut-off valve unit, and the first shut-off valve unit is provided with a reservoir container which receives liquid air generated in the first shut-off valve unit and dropped, in a state in which the second shut-off valve unit is separated from the first shut-off valve unit, and the system includes a container support mechanism which is capable of retaining the reservoir container at a retracted position in a state in which the first and second shut-off valve units are connected to each other, the container support mechanism being configured to automatically shift the reservoir container to a reserving position, in a state in which the first and second shut-off valve units are separated from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignees: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA, TOKYO BOEKI ENGINEERING LTD.
    Inventors: Shuntaro Unno, Tomonori Takase, Tomoaki Umemura, Tsutomu Kawai
  • Publication number: 20200010314
    Abstract: To provide an emergency detachment mechanism for a fluid handling device that has exceptional heat insulation performance and enables liquid hydrogen or another very-low-temperature fluid to be handled. An emergency detachment mechanism for a fluid handling device provided with a pair of couplers 1, wherein each of the pair of couplers 1 has a coupler body part 5 including an internal tube part 2 in which a fluid passes through an interior and which opens at a distal end side, an external tube part 3 which forms a vacuum layer 9 with the internal tube part 2 and which opens at a distal end side, and a connecting flange part 4 that closes off a space between the internal tube part 2 and the external tube part 3, a wall thickness of the connecting flange part 4 being less than a wall thickness of the external tube part 3.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2018
    Publication date: January 9, 2020
    Applicants: TOKYO BOEKI ENGINEERING LTD., KAWASAKI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Tsutomu KAWAI, Tomoaki UMEMURA
  • Patent number: 10495258
    Abstract: A liquefied hydrogen transport method includes connecting first and second loading arms to the manifold while vacuum insulation double tubes of the first and second loading arms are filled with hydrogen gas and air is mixed in piggyback lines; supplying an inactive gas to one of the piggyback lines of the first and second loading arms and taking in a gas mixture of an inactive gas and air from the other of the piggyback lines of the first and second loading arms; supplying hydrogen gas to one of the piggyback lines of the first and second loading arms and taking in a gas mixture of hydrogen gas and an inactive gas from the other of the piggyback lines of the first and second lading arms; and transporting liquefied hydrogen through any one of the vacuum insulation double tubes of the first and second loading arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shuntaro Unno, Tomonori Takase, Tomoaki Umemura, Akihiko Inomata
  • Publication number: 20190331268
    Abstract: A joint structure connecting a first and second double pipe, includes a male bayonet at an end portion of one of the pipes, the male bayonet including a first flange; a female bayonet at an end portion of the other of the pipes, the female bayonet including a second flange fastened to the first; a first positioning member mounted on the first double pipe; a second positioning member mounted on the second double pipe, the second positioning member being positioned with respect to the first so that a center axis of the male bayonet and the female bayonet conform to each other; and a slide mechanism which supports the first positioning member so the first positioning member is slidable in an axial direction of the first double pipe or supports the second positioning member so the second positioning member is slidable in an axial direction of the second double pipe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2017
    Publication date: October 31, 2019
    Applicant: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Akihiko INOMATA, Shuntaro UNNO, Tomonori TAKASE, Tomoaki UMEMURA
  • Patent number: 10399643
    Abstract: A liquefied hydrogen loading arm configured to transport liquefied hydrogen includes: a support frame structure including a base riser erected on a ground, an inboard boom, an outboard boom, and a counterweight; a flexible vacuum insulation double tube including a flexible metal inner tube, a flexible metal outer tube fitted on the inner tube, and a vacuum layer, the vacuum insulation double tube being disposed in an upward curved shape in a space below the support frame structure; a vacuum insulation double connecting tube connected to a distal end portion of the vacuum insulation double tube and connected to a distal end portion of the outboard boom; and a midway portion support mechanism configured to support a lengthwise midway portion of the vacuum insulation double tube on the support frame structure through a hard curved member curved upward in a convex shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignees: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Tokyo Boeki Engineering Ltd.
    Inventors: Shuntaro Unno, Tomonori Takase, Tomoaki Umemura, Akihiko Inomata
  • Patent number: 10139020
    Abstract: A low temperature fluid dual structure pipe includes: an inner pipe through which a low temperature fluid flows; and an outer pipe externally fitted to the inner pipe with a sealed tubular space therebetween. An inactive gas having a melting point and a boiling point each of which is equal to or higher than a temperature of the low temperature fluid is filled in the tubular space between the inner pipe and the outer pipe. When the low temperature fluid flows through the inner pipe, the inactive gas is liquefied or solidified, and therefore, at least one of a liquefied inactive gas layer and a solidified inactive gas layer is formed on an outer peripheral surface of the inner pipe. As a result, a pseudo vacuum layer that is in a substantially vacuum state is formed in the tubular space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shuntaro Unno, Tomonori Takase, Tomoaki Umemura, Eiji Kawagoe
  • Publication number: 20180208275
    Abstract: A liquefied hydrogen loading arm configured to transport liquefied hydrogen includes: a support frame structure including a base riser erected on a ground, an inboard boom, an outboard boom, and a counterweight; a flexible vacuum insulation double tube including a flexible metal inner tube, a flexible metal outer tube fitted on the inner tube, and a vacuum layer, the vacuum insulation double tube being disposed in an upward curved shape in a space below the support frame structure; a vacuum insulation double connecting tube connected to a distal end portion of the vacuum insulation double tube and connected to a distal end portion of the outboard boom; and a midway portion support mechanism configured to support a lengthwise midway portion of the vacuum insulation double tube on the support frame structure through a hard curved member curved upward in a convex shape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2016
    Publication date: July 26, 2018
    Applicant: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shuntaro UNNO, Tomonori TAKASE, Tomoaki UMEMURA, Akihiko INOMATA
  • Publication number: 20180202608
    Abstract: A liquefied hydrogen transport method includes connecting first and second loading arms to the manifold while vacuum insulation double tubes of the first and second loading arms are filled with hydrogen gas and air is mixed in piggyback lines; supplying an inactive gas to one of the piggyback lines of the first and second loading arms and taking in a gas mixture of an inactive gas and air from the other of the piggyback lines of the first and second loading arms; supplying hydrogen gas to one of the piggyback lines of the first and second loading arms and taking in a gas mixture of hydrogen gas and an inactive gas from the other of the piggyback lines of the first and second lading arms; and transporting liquefied hydrogen through any one of the vacuum insulation double tubes of the first and second loading arms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2016
    Publication date: July 19, 2018
    Applicant: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shuntaro UNNO, Tomonori TAKASE, Tomoaki UMEMURA, Akihiko INOMATA
  • Publication number: 20180195671
    Abstract: An emergency release system includes a first shut-off valve unit which is land-based; and a second shut-off valve unit which is provided for a marine vessel and separably connected to the first shut-off valve unit, and the first shut-off valve unit is provided with a reservoir container which receives liquid air generated in the first shut-off valve unit and dropped, in a state in which the second shut-off valve unit is separated from the first shut-off valve unit, and the system includes. a container support mechanism which is capable of retaining the reservoir container at a retracted position in a state in which the first and second shut-off valve units are connected to each other, the container support mechanism being configured to automatically shift the reservoir container to a reserving position, in a state in which the first and second shut-off valve units are separated from each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2016
    Publication date: July 12, 2018
    Applicants: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA, TOKYO BOEKI ENGINEERING LTD.
    Inventors: Shuntaro UNNO, Tomonori TAKASE, Tomoaki UMEMURA, Tsutomu KAWAI