Patents by Inventor Tomoki Hirokawa

Tomoki Hirokawa 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: 12663223
    Abstract: A heat exchanger that exchanges heat between a refrigerant and air, includes: flat tubes disposed in a first direction intersecting with a longitudinal direction of cross sections of the flat tubes and through which the refrigerant flows; first heat transfer fins that contact the flat tubes and are disposed on a windward side of the flat tubes; and second heat transfer fins that contact the flat tubes and are disposed on a leeward side of the flat tubes. The first heat transfer fins are inserted toward the flat tubes from a side of first ends in the longitudinal direction. The second heat transfer fins are inserted toward the flat tubes from a side of second ends in the longitudinal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2024
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2026
    Assignee: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Ken Satou, Tooru Andou, Tomoki Hirokawa, Aya Okuno, Kengo Uchida
  • Patent number: 12631374
    Abstract: A heat exchanger, connected to a refrigerant pipe, includes: heat transfer tubes; and a header that connects the refrigerant pipe and the heat transfer tubes, and that forms a refrigerant flow path between the refrigerant pipe and the heat transfer tubes. The header includes a first member that includes a first plate-shaped portion, and a second member that includes a second plate-shaped portion that is stacked on a heat transfer tubes side of the first plate-shaped portion. The first plate-shaped portion has a first opening that forms the refrigerant flow path. The second plate-shaped portion has a second opening that forms the refrigerant flow path. When viewed in a stacking direction of the first plate-shaped portion and the second plate-shaped portion, the second opening and the first opening overlap each other at a first region and at a second region that is different from the first region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2024
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2026
    Assignee: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Tomoki Hirokawa, Kouju Yamada
  • Publication number: 20260118064
    Abstract: A heat exchanger includes a first and second heat transfer plates laminated on each other. The first heat transfer plate includes two first flow ports, two first through holes, a first heat transfer region, and a first connection portion connected to one of the first flow ports and the first heat transfer region. The second heat transfer plate includes a second flow port that communicates with one of the first through holes, two second through holes, a second heat transfer region, and a second connection portion connected to the second flow port and the second heat transfer region. The second flow port is formed at a position opposite to the second heat transfer region with one of the second through holes interposed. The second connection portion is formed so as to go around an outer side of the second through hole, and includes a second protrusion portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2024
    Publication date: April 30, 2026
    Inventors: Chie EMURA, Tomoki HIROKAWA, Ko TERAI, Daisuke BABA
  • Patent number: 12583042
    Abstract: A heat exchanger includes: a header; and heat transfer tubes connected to the header. The header includes a first member, a second member, and a third member. A brazing layer between the second member and the third member has a melt rate, at predetermined temperature, that is larger than a melt rate, at the predetermined temperature, of at least one of: a brazing layer between the first member and the second member; and a brazing layer between the first member and the third member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2026
    Assignee: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Kouju Yamada, Tomoki Hirokawa
  • Patent number: 12460870
    Abstract: A heat exchanger, that connects to a first pipe through which a refrigerant flows, includes: heat transfer tubes extending in a first direction; and a header connected to the heat transfer tubes. The header includes: a first member including a first portion connected to the heat transfer tubes; and a second member disposed between the first pipe and the first portion. The second member includes: a first wall and a second wall that each extend in the first direction; and a coupling portion that couples the first wall to the second wall. The first pipe communicates with each heat transfer tube through a space delimited by the first wall and the second wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2025
    Assignee: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Kouju Yamada, Tomoki Hirokawa
  • Patent number: 12398956
    Abstract: A heat exchanger includes: heat transfer tubes disposed along a predetermined direction; and a header that retains longitudinal ends of the heat transfer tubes. The header includes: a first member including a main wall portion that has through holes through which the longitudinal ends respectively pass; a second member defining insertion spaces that communicate with the heat transfer tubes at the longitudinal ends; and a third member facing the longitudinal ends. The second member includes: a pair of side plates disposed in a width direction of the header and that define the insertion spaces therebetween; and a partition plate connected to the pair of side plates and that separates adjacent ones of the insertion spaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2025
    Assignee: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Tomoki Hirokawa, Yoshiyuki Matsumoto, Tooru Andou, Hideyuki Kusaka
  • Publication number: 20250146766
    Abstract: A heat exchanger includes: flat tubes disposed in a first direction; and a fin joined to the flat tubes. The heat exchanger causes heat exchange between: a refrigerant that flows inside the flat tubes, and air that flows outside the flat tubes along a second direction that intersects the first direction. The fin includes: a first joint portion joined to a first flat tube included in the flat tubes; and a first plate portion between an air flow downstream end of the fin and the first joint portion. The first plate portion includes a protruding portion that causes water to flow in the first direction in a vicinity of the first flat tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2025
    Publication date: May 8, 2025
    Applicant: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Aya Okuno, Ken Satou, Tomoki Hirokawa, Tooru Andou, Chen Zheng, Kengo Uchida
  • Publication number: 20250137730
    Abstract: A heat exchanger causes heat exchange between water and a refrigerant. The heat exchanger includes a first flow path through which the water flows, and a second flow path through which the refrigerant flows. A fragile portion is formed by any one of members forming the first flow path other than a partition wall partitioning the first flow path and the second flow path or any one of joining portions where members forming the first flow path are joined to each other. The fragile portion has a lower strength than the other members forming the first flow path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2025
    Publication date: May 1, 2025
    Inventors: Chie EMURA, Takuro YAMADA, Tomoki HIROKAWA, Ko TERAI
  • Patent number: 12264883
    Abstract: A heat exchanger includes: a header that guides a refrigerant; and an assembly of heat transfer tubes and fins that is connected to the header and that causes heat exchange between the refrigerant and a medium. The header includes: a first member having a first surface; a second member having a second surface that faces the first surface; and third member having a third surface that intersects with the first surface and the second surface. The first surface is joined with the second surface by a first brazing material having a first thickness. The third surface is joined with the first member by a second brazing material having a second thickness. The third surface is joined with the second member by the second brazing material. The first thickness is less than the second thickness. The first thickness is 0.2 mm or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2025
    Assignee: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Kouju Yamada, Tomoki Hirokawa
  • Patent number: 12209807
    Abstract: A heat exchanger includes: rows of heat transfer tubes disposed next to one another in an air flow direction; and headers each connected to an end of each of the rows of heat transfer tubes. A center position of an upstream-most header disposed on a most upstream side in the air flow direction among the headers is displaced upstream in the air flow direction from a center position of an upstream-most row of the heat transfer tubes to which the upstream-most header is connected such that the upstream-most header is spaced apart from a row of the heat transfer tubes adjacent to the upstream-most row of the heat transfer tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Matsumoto, Shun Yoshioka, Tooru Andou, Tomoki Hirokawa, Hideyuki Kusaka
  • Patent number: 12163706
    Abstract: A refrigeration apparatus includes: a compressor; an outdoor heat exchanger connected to the compressor; an indoor heat exchanger connected to the compressor; and an expansion valve disposed between the outdoor heat exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger. In cooling operation, a refrigerant flows through the compressor, the outdoor heat exchanger, the expansion valve, and the indoor heat exchanger in this order. In heating operation, the refrigerant flows through the compressor, the indoor heat exchanger, the expansion valve, and the outdoor heat exchanger in this order. The refrigerant is an HFO (hydrofluoroolefin) refrigerant or a refrigerant mixture that includes an HFO refrigerant. The indoor heat exchanger and the outdoor heat exchanger are cross-fin-type heat exchangers or stack-type heat exchangers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2024
    Assignee: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Ikuhiro Iwata, Eiji Kumakura, Takuro Yamada, Ryuhei Kaji, Tomoki Hirokawa
  • Publication number: 20240328718
    Abstract: A heat exchange unit includes: a heat exchanger in which flat tubes are stacked at predetermined intervals in a thickness direction by a heat transfer fin; and a first member that is attached to the heat exchanger and that restricts a movement of the heat exchanger. The first member includes a body and a protrusion portion protruding from the body. The protrusion portion is disposed between adjacent flat tubes of the heat exchanger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2024
    Publication date: October 3, 2024
    Applicant: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Tooru Andou, Ken Satou, Tomoki Hirokawa, Aya Okuno, Kengo Uchida, Chen Zheng
  • Publication number: 20240247875
    Abstract: A heat exchanger configured to cause a refrigerant to exchange heat with a heat medium, includes: plates stacked on top of one another. A first flow path and a second flow path are formed between the plates. The refrigerant in a two phase state flows through the first flow path and the heat medium flows through the second flow path. Each of the plates includes: a first inlet from which the refrigerant flows into the first flow path; and a first outlet from which the refrigerant flows out of the first flow path. In each of the plates, when viewed in a direction in which the plates are stacked, the first inlet has line symmetry with respect to a center line in a width direction of the each of the plates, and the first outlet has line symmetry with respect to the center line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2024
    Publication date: July 25, 2024
    Applicant: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Ken Sato, Mitsuharu Numata, Ko Terai, Shinya Tabata, Tomoki Hirokawa
  • Publication number: 20240240877
    Abstract: A heat exchanger that exchanges heat between a refrigerant and air, includes: flat tubes disposed in a first direction intersecting with a longitudinal direction of cross sections of the flat tubes and through which the refrigerant flows; first heat transfer fins that contact the flat tubes and are disposed on a windward side of the flat tubes; and second heat transfer fins that contact the flat tubes and are disposed on a leeward side of the flat tubes. The first heat transfer fins are inserted toward the flat tubes from a side of first ends in the longitudinal direction. The second heat transfer fins are inserted toward the flat tubes from a side of second ends in the longitudinal direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2024
    Publication date: July 18, 2024
    Applicant: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Ken Satou, Tooru Andou, Tomoki Hirokawa, Aya Okuno, Kengo Uchida
  • Publication number: 20240175613
    Abstract: A refrigeration cycle device includes a heat exchanger main body, a plurality of flow rate adjusters, and a controller. The heat exchanger main body has a plurality of refrigerant flow paths including a first refrigerant flow path and a second refrigerant flow path. The flow rate adjusters adjust flow rates of a refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant flow paths. The controller adjusts the flow rates of the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant flow paths by controlling opening degrees of the flow rate adjusters. The controller controls the opening degrees of the flow rate adjusters based on a first value or a second value. The first value is a value representing overall efficiency of the refrigeration cycle. The second value is a value representing overall efficiency of the heat exchanger main body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2024
    Publication date: May 30, 2024
    Applicant: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Takashi MAEDA, Ryuhei KAJI, Tomoki HIROKAWA
  • Publication number: 20240159434
    Abstract: A heat exchanger, connected to a refrigerant pipe, includes: heat transfer tubes; and a header that connects the refrigerant pipe and the heat transfer tubes, and that forms a refrigerant flow path between the refrigerant pipe and the heat transfer tubes. The header includes a first member that includes a first plate-shaped portion, and a second member that includes a second plate-shaped portion that is stacked on a heat transfer tubes side of the first plate-shaped portion. The first plate-shaped portion has a first opening that forms the refrigerant flow path. The second plate-shaped portion has a second opening that forms the refrigerant flow path. When viewed in a stacking direction of the first plate-shaped portion and the second plate-shaped portion, the second opening and the first opening overlap each other at a first region and at a second region that is different from the first region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2024
    Publication date: May 16, 2024
    Applicant: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Tomoki Hirokawa, Kouju Yamada
  • Patent number: 11913689
    Abstract: A heat exchanger connected to a refrigerant pipe includes: heat transfer tubes; and a header that connects the refrigerant pipe and the heat transfer tubes, and that forms a refrigerant flow path between the refrigerant pipe and the heat transfer tubes. The header includes a first member that includes a first plate-shaped portion, and a second member that includes a second plate-shaped portion that is stacked on a heat transfer tubes side of the first plate-shaped portion. The first plate-shaped portion has a first opening that forms the refrigerant flow path. The second plate-shaped portion has a second opening that forms the refrigerant flow path. When viewed in a stacking direction of the first plate-shaped portion and the second plate-shaped portion, the second opening and the first opening overlap each other at a first region and at a second region that is different from the first region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Tomoki Hirokawa, Kouju Yamada
  • Patent number: 11815316
    Abstract: A heat exchanger includes: a first layer including first flow channels that are microchannels and arranged to extend side by side; and a second layer that is laminated on the first layer and that includes second flow channels that are microchannels and arranged to extend side by side. A first one end-side collective flow channel is in fluid communication with first ends of the first flow channels. A first other end-side collective flow channel is in fluid communication with second ends of the first flow channels. A second one end-side collective flow channel is in fluid communication with first ends of the second flow channels. A second other end-side collective flow channel is in fluid communication with second ends of the second flow channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Yutaka Shibata, Tomoki Hirokawa, Hirokazu Fujino
  • Patent number: 11747059
    Abstract: A heat exchanger includes: heat transfer tubes aligned with one another; a header connected to end portions of the heat transfer tubes; and fins joined to the heat transfer tubes. When viewed in a longitudinal direction of the header and when the heat exchanger is used as an evaporator, the header is divided into: a circulation space including a first space in which refrigerant flows in a first direction along the longitudinal direction of the header and a second space in which the refrigerant flows in a second direction opposite to the first direction along the longitudinal direction; and an insertion space into which the heat transfer tubes are inserted. The header includes: a circulation division plate that divides the first space from the second space; and an insertion space forming plate that divides the circulation space from the insertion space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Satoshi Inoue, Shun Yoshioka, Yoshio Oritani, Tomohiko Sakamaki, Tomoya Yamaguchi, Tomoki Hirokawa
  • Patent number: 11740026
    Abstract: A heat exchanger is connected to a first pipe through which a refrigerant flows. The heat exchanger includes: heat transfer tubes; and a header connected to the heat transfer tubes. The header includes: a first plate-shaped portion connected to the first pipe; a second plate-shaped portion connected to the heat transfer tubes; a third plate-shaped portion disposed between the first plate-shaped portion and the second plate-shaped portion; and a fourth plate-shaped portion that is disposed between the third plate-shaped portion and the second plate-shaped portion and that has communication openings for the heat transfer tubes. The first plate-shaped portion, the third plate-shaped portion, the fourth plate-shaped portion, and the second plate-shaped portion are stacked and overlap in a stacking direction. The third plate-shaped portion has a refrigerant flow path formation opening including: a first region through which the refrigerant flows in a first direction perpendicular to the stacking direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Kouju Yamada, Tomoki Hirokawa