Patents by Inventor Tomoji Tarutani

Tomoji Tarutani 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: 20180128252
    Abstract: A variable displacement swash plate type compressor includes a crank chamber, a suction chamber, a drive shaft, a swash plate, and a bleeding passage connecting the crank chamber and the suction chamber. The bleeding passage has an axial passage and first and second radial passages in the drive shaft. The second radial passage opens on an outer peripheral surface of the drive shaft at a position that is closer to the swash plate than the first radial passage. The first radial passage is in constant communication with the crank chamber. The drive shaft has a valve member that is movable in the axial direction with the swash plate. The second radial passage is connected to the crank chamber when the swash plate is at maximum or minimum inclination angles and disconnected from the crank chamber by the valve member when the swash plate is at an intermediate inclination angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2017
    Publication date: May 10, 2018
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventors: Kenji YAMAMOTO, Noriaki SATAKE, Shinichi KAKEGAWA, Hiroshi KUBO, Suguru HIROTA, Tomoji TARUTANI
  • Patent number: 8991296
    Abstract: The compressor is provided with an oil separator for separating oil from refrigerant gas introduced into a separation chamber, an annular space for reserving oil separated from the refrigerant gas, and a reservoir chamber for reserving the thus separated oil. The oil separator is provided in a cylindrical hole formed in a discharge chamber from which the refrigerant gas is discharged and a lid for partitioning the cylindrical hole from the discharge chamber is provided in the cylindrical hole. The oil separator introduces the refrigerant gas from the discharge chamber to the separation chamber via the introduction passage. The annular space is provided around the lid and connected to the reservoir chamber via an oil passage. The reservoir chamber is connected to a crank chamber of a pressure lower than that in the discharge chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Jidoshokki
    Inventors: Yoshinori Inoue, Hirokazu Mesaki, Masaya Sakamoto, Atsuhiro Suzuki, Akinobu Kanai, Tomoji Tarutani, Naoki Koeda, Osamu Nakayama
  • Publication number: 20150044068
    Abstract: A compressor according to the present invention has a housing including a first and second cylinder bores. The inner diameter of the first cylinder bore is smaller than that of the second cylinder bore. In suction process, refrigerant gas is directly drawn from an inlet port into a first suction chamber. The refrigerant gas is flowed from the first suction chamber into a first compression chamber. In contrast, refrigerant gas is drawn through the inlet port, a first suction passage, the first suction chamber, a first communication passage, a swash plate chamber and a second communication passage and into a second compression chamber. According to the above-described compressor, wherein the inner diameter of the first cylinder bore is smaller than the second cylinder bore, the difference of the amplitude of the intake pulsation between the first compression chamber and the second compression chamber can be suitably reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2014
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Inventors: Shinya YAMAMOTO, Tomoji TARUTANI, Takahiro SUZUKI, Kei NISHII
  • Patent number: 8202062
    Abstract: A compressor comprises a suction passage; an oil reservoir for storing a lubricating oil which is separated from a refrigerant gas having a discharge pressure; and a throttle valve provided in the suction passage and having a valve body for adjusting an opening degree of the suction passage based on a differential pressure applied to the valve body. The suction passage has an upstream suction passage which is located upstream of the throttle valve. The compressor comprises a lubricating oil passage connecting the oil reservoir to the upstream suction passage for the lubricating oil in the oil reservoir to flow to the upstream suction passage therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Jidoshokki
    Inventors: Yoshinori Inoue, Naoki Koeda, Akinobu Kanai, Hiroyuki Nakaima, Tomoji Tarutani
  • Patent number: 7976288
    Abstract: A refrigerant gas compressor includes a cylinder block formed with plural cylinder bores, a first housing disposed at the one end of the cylinder block, a second housing disposed at the other end of the cylinder block, a drive shaft supported by the cylinder block and one of the housings, a crank chamber formed in one of the housings, a suction chamber and a discharge chamber formed in one of the housings, a valve plate assembly disposed between the cylinder block and at least one of the housings, a stepped portion formed adjacent to the valve plate assembly to receive a part of the valve plate assembly. A storage chamber is provided for reserving therein oil separated from refrigerant gas. An oil groove is formed by the stepped portion and the valve plate assembly and connecting the storage chamber with one of the crank chamber and the suction chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Jidoshokki
    Inventors: Yoshinori Inoue, Naoki Koeda, Akinobu Kanai, Hiroyuki Nakaima, Tomoji Tarutani
  • Publication number: 20100307884
    Abstract: An electromagnetic clutch includes an external drive source, a driven apparatus having a rotary shaft, a power transmission path, first and second rotating parts, a power source, an electromagnetic coil and a power cutoff mechanism. A power transmission path is formed between the external drive source and the driven apparatus, and in which the first and the second rotating parts, the electromagnetic coil and the power cutoff mechanism are disposed. The first rotating part is driven to rotate by power from the external drive source. The second rotating part is mounted on the rotary shaft for rotation therewith. The electromagnetic coil is energized by electric current from the power source to generate electromagnetic attraction force by which the first and the second rotating parts are connected for transmitting power therebetween. The power cutoff mechanism stops excessive power transmission from the external drive source to the driven apparatus when the electromagnetic coil is energized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2010
    Publication date: December 9, 2010
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventors: Masaki OTA, Masahiro KAWAGUCHI, Nobuaki HOSHINO, Tomoji TARUTANI, Toru ONISHI
  • Publication number: 20100018386
    Abstract: The compressor is provided with an oil separator for separating oil from refrigerant gas introduced into a separation chamber, an annular space for reserving oil separated from the refrigerant gas, and a reservoir chamber for reserving the thus separated oil. The oil separator is provided in a cylindrical hole formed in a discharge chamber from which the refrigerant gas is discharged and a lid for partitioning the cylindrical hole from the discharge chamber is provided in the cylindrical hole. The oil separator introduces the refrigerant gas from the discharge chamber to the separation chamber via the introduction passage. The annular space is provided around the lid and connected to the reservoir chamber via an oil passage. The reservoir chamber is connected to a crank chamber of a pressure lower than that in the discharge chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2007
    Publication date: January 28, 2010
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Jidoshokki
    Inventors: Yoshinori Inoue, Hirokazu Mesaki, Masaya Sakamoto, Atsuhiro Suzuki, Akinobu Kanai, Tomoji Tarutani, Naoki Koeda, Osamu Nakayama
  • Publication number: 20090074592
    Abstract: A compressor comprises a suction passage; an oil reservoir for storing a lubricating oil which is separated from a refrigerant gas having a discharge pressure; and a throttle valve provided in the suction passage and having a valve body for adjusting an opening degree of the suction passage based on a differential pressure applied to the valve body. The suction passage has an upstream suction passage which is located upstream of the throttle valve. The compressor comprises a lubricating oil passage connecting the oil reservoir to the upstream suction passage for the lubricating oil in the oil reservoir to flow to the upstream suction passage therethrough.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2007
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Inventors: Yoshinori Inoue, Naoki Koeda, Akinobu Kanai, Hiroyuki Nakaima, Tomoji Tarutani
  • Publication number: 20070269319
    Abstract: A refrigerant gas compressor includes a cylinder block formed with plural cylinder bores, a first housing disposed at the one end of the cylinder block, a second housing disposed at the other end of the cylinder block, a drive shaft supported by the cylinder block and one of the housings, a crank chamber formed in one of the housings, a suction chamber and a discharge chamber formed in one of the housings, a valve plate assembly disposed between the cylinder block and at least one of the housings, a stepped portion formed adjacent to the valve plate assembly to receive a part of the valve plate assembly. A storage chamber is provided for reserving therein oil separated from refrigerant gas. An oil groove is formed by the stepped portion and the valve plate assembly and connecting the storage chamber with one of the crank chamber and the suction chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2007
    Publication date: November 22, 2007
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventors: Yoshinori Inoue, Naoki Koeda, Akinobu Kanai, Hiroyuki Nakaima, Tomoji Tarutani
  • Publication number: 20070264131
    Abstract: A variable displacement compressor comprises a flange, a movable body, and a detection sensor. The flange is joined to a housing and forms a flange passage for connecting a refrigerant passage and an external refrigerant circuit. The movable body is movably disposed in the flange, is movable according to a flow rate of refrigerant gas in the flange passage, and has a magnet. The detection sensor is fixed to or in the flange for detecting magnetic flux density of the magnet. The flow rate of the refrigerant gas is detected based on the magnetic flux density detected by the detection sensor. The flange is attachable to and detachable from the housing in a state where the flange is provided with the movable body and the detection sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2007
    Publication date: November 15, 2007
    Inventors: Masaki Ota, Tomoji Tarutani, Masanori Sonobe, Yoshinori Inoue
  • Publication number: 20070177991
    Abstract: A muffler forming member defines a muffler chamber. Refrigerant discharged from a cylinder bore is sent to the muffler chamber. The muffler forming member is coupled to a circumferential surface of a housing of a compressor. An oil separation chamber is defined in a discharge pressure zone of the compressor. The oil separation chamber separates the oil from the refrigerant discharged from the cylinder bore. The oil separation chamber extends into both the muffler forming member and the housing. The oil separation chamber has a refrigerant inlet through which the refrigerant flows into the oil separation chamber. The refrigerant inlet is formed in the muffler forming member. Therefore, the oil separation chamber is prolonged in the direction from the muffler forming member toward the housing, thereby improving the oil separation performance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2007
    Publication date: August 2, 2007
    Inventors: Yoshinori Inoue, Naoki Koeda, Masaya Sakamoto, Tomoji Tarutani
  • Publication number: 20070177987
    Abstract: A displacement detection device for a variable displacement compressor in which a swash plate which is connected to a piston through shoes in a housing slides relative to the shoes and rotates synchronously with a drive shaft with a wobbling motion in an axial direction of the drive shaft as the drive shaft is rotated, and an inclination angle of the swash plate is controlled thereby changing a stroke of the piston, includes a detection object provided in a first portion of an outer periphery of the swash plate where an imaginary plane passing through a point of intersection between a line connecting top and bottom dead center positions of the swash plate and an axial line of the drive shaft in perpendicular relation to the line intersects with the outer periphery of the swash plate and a detector provided in the housing so as to face the detection object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2006
    Publication date: August 2, 2007
    Inventors: Masaki Ota, Masanori Sonobe, Atsuhiro Suzuki, Satoshi Umemura, Tomoji Tarutani
  • Publication number: 20070177988
    Abstract: In a structure for oil recovery in a compressor for separating oil from refrigerant and supplying the separated oil into the compressor through an oil supply passage, the compressor includes a rotary shaft, a cylinder block having a plural cylinder bores, a cam member rotated integrally with the rotary shaft, a piston received in each cylinder bore being operable in conjunction with the rotation of the rotary shaft through the cam member, a suction port for allowing the refrigerant to be drawn from a suction-pressure region of the compressor to the corresponding cylinder bore, a discharge port for allowing the refrigerant to be discharged from the corresponding cylinder bore to a discharge-pressure region of the compressor, and a flexible reed valve for opening and closing one of the suction port and the discharge port. The oil supply passage is opened and closed in accordance with motion of the reed valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2007
    Publication date: August 2, 2007
    Inventors: Yoshinori Inoue, Osamu Nakayama, Akinobu Kanai, Tomoji Tarutani
  • Patent number: 7241116
    Abstract: A method of adjusting a rotary machine includes the steps of press fitting an adjustable member to one of a housing and a rotary body where the adjustable member is arranged to a reference position at which movable amount or a rotary body is zero, and adjusting the movable amount of the rotary body in a direction of a rotary axis to the predetermined amount by varying a position of the adjustable member that is press-fitted to the one of the housing and the rotary body from the reference position by the predetermined amount in a direction in which the movement restricting part and the contacting part contacting with each other are separated from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2007
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Jidoshokki
    Inventors: Tomoji Tarutani, Masahiro Kawaguchi, Yoshinori Inoue, Kenji Mochizuki, Hisato Kawamura
  • Patent number: 7207185
    Abstract: A vehicle air conditioning apparatus includes a refrigerant circulation circuit. The vehicle air conditioning apparatus has a variable displacement type compressor, a first pressure monitoring point, a second pressure monitoring point and an oil separator in the refrigerant circulation circuit. Also, the vehicle air conditioning apparatus has a control valve in the compressor. The compressor compresses refrigerant gas. Displacement of the compressor is variable. The refrigerant gas includes oil. The second pressure monitoring point is located more downstream than the first pressure monitoring point. The control valve controls the displacement based on differential pressure between the first and second pressure monitoring points. The oil separator is located between the first and second pressure monitoring points in order to separate the oil from the compressed refrigerant gas, thereby the oil separator serves as means for manifesting the differential pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2007
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Masaki Ota, Tomoji Tarutani, Hisato Kawamura, Yoshinori Inoue, Masahiro Kawaguchi
  • Patent number: 6923626
    Abstract: A variable displacement compressor has a housing, a drive shaft, a rotor, a swash plate, a piston and a decelerating mechanism. The housing includes a cylinder bore and supports the drive shaft. The rotor is secured to the drive shaft. The swash plate is operatively connected to the rotor and the drive shaft so as to rotate therewith and varies its inclination angle relative to the drive shaft. The piston is connected to the swash plate so as to reciprocate in the cylinder bore with rotation of the swash plate. A stroke of the piston varies in accordance with the inclination angle of the swash plate. The deceleration mechanism between the rotor and the swash plate decelerates the inclination speed of the swash plate in a range from a near maximum inclination angle to the maximum inclination angle when the swash plate inclines to increase the stroke of the piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Jidoshokki
    Inventors: Masaki Ota, Tomohiro Wakita, Tomoji Tarutani, Hirotaka Kurakake, Yoshinobu Ishigaki, Kazuhiro Nomura, Yoshinori Inoue, Satoshi Umemura, Kazuhiko Minami
  • Patent number: 6837691
    Abstract: A refrigeration suction mechanism used in a piston type compressor. The compressor comprises a rotary shaft, a plurality of pistons, a compression chamber and a rotary valve. The pistons are arranged in a circumference of the rotary shaft to reciprocate in conjunction with a rotating motion of the rotary shaft through a cam member. An end surface of one of said pistons reciprocates in the compression chamber. The rotary valve includes an introducing passage which allows refrigerant to flow into the compression mechanism through an end opened on an outer surface of the rotary valve. The refrigeration suction mechanism comprises a suction passage and a reactive force transmitting mechanism. The suction passage communicates with the cylinder bore and intermittently communicates with the end of the introducing passage in conjunction with a rotating motion of the rotary valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2005
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Jidoshokki
    Inventors: Tomoji Tarutani, Masaki Ota, Noriyuki Shintoku, Hisato Kawamura, Hirohiko Tanaka, Akio Saiki, Jun Kondo
  • Publication number: 20040202551
    Abstract: As a swash plate of a variable displacement compressor slides along a drive shaft, while being inclined, the displacement of the compressor is changed. A step is formed on the drive shaft between the swash plate and a cylinder block. The step has a seat surface, which functions as a spring seat. The seat surface faces the swash plate. A return spring is located between the spring seat and the swash plate to urge the swash plate in a direction increasing the inclination angle. The step is directly formed on the drive shaft. Therefore, the number of components and the number of steps required for manufacturing the compressor are reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2004
    Publication date: October 14, 2004
    Inventors: Tomoji Tarutani, Masaki Ota, Hisato Kawamura, Yoshinori Inoue, Masahiro Kawaguchi
  • Publication number: 20040194209
    Abstract: A rotary valve operationally connected to a rotary shaft is housed so as to be slidably rotatable in an accommodation hole formed in a cylinder block. A suction valve mechanism functions so as to introduce refrigerant gas in a suction chamber into a compression chamber. A gas suction passage leading from the suction chamber to the compression chamber can be opened and closed in synchronism with rotation of the rotary shaft. In an outer circumferential surface of the rotary valve is formed a groove constituting a part of a gas vent passage for introducing the refrigerant gas in a crank chamber into the compression chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2004
    Publication date: October 7, 2004
    Inventors: Masaki Ota, Tomoji Tarutani, Yoshinori Inoue, Hisato Kawamura, Kenji Mochizuki, Shigeki Kawachi, Junichi Takahata, Masahiro Kawaguchi
  • Publication number: 20040179951
    Abstract: A piston type compressor has introducing passages, each extending from one of compression chambers, and a cylindrical rotary valve located between a suction pressure zone and the introducing passages. An opening of each of the introducing passages has an advanced area a part of that is inclined relative to an axial direction and a circumferential direction of the rotary valve. The rotary valve has a residual gas bypass passage. The residual gas bypass passage connects a high pressure introducing passage through the introducing passages, which communicates with the high pressure compression chamber after the discharge stroke ends, to a low pressure introducing passage, which communicates with the low pressure compression chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2004
    Publication date: September 16, 2004
    Inventors: Masaki Ota, Tomoji Tarutani, Hisato Kawamura, Yoshinori Inoue, Shigeki Kawachi, Junichi Takahata, Kenji Mochizuki, Masahiro Kawaguchi