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).

  • 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
  • Patent number: 11619427
    Abstract: A heat exchanger includes: first layers each including first flow channels that are microchannels; and second layers each including second flow channels that are microchannels. The first layers and the second layers constitute a lamination. Heat is exchanged by performing either of: liquid evaporation in the first flow channels and gas condensation in the second flow channels, or liquid evaporation in the second flow channels and gas condensation in the first flow channels. The lamination includes: a first liquid transport pore that is in fluid communication with the first flow channels; and a second liquid transport pore that is in fluid communication with the second flow channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Yutaka Shibata, Mitsuharu Numata, Tomoki Hirokawa, Hirokazu Fujino
  • Patent number: 11603997
    Abstract: A heat exchanger includes: a header that extends in a horizontal direction; and heat transfer tubes that extends in a direction crossing the horizontal direction, that are disposed side by side in a longitudinal direction of the header, and that are connected to the header. The header includes a first space that causes a refrigerant to flow in a first direction along the longitudinal direction of the header, a second space that causes the refrigerant to flow in a second direction along the longitudinal direction of the header and opposite to the first direction, a circulation member extends in the longitudinal direction of the header and separates the first space from the second space, a first communication port, a second communication port, and an inflow port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Tomoki Hirokawa, Satoshi Inoue, Shun Yoshioka
  • Patent number: 11555655
    Abstract: A heat exchanger includes: a gas-refrigerant pipe; a header connected to the gas-refrigerant pipe; and heat transfer tubes connected to the header. The header includes: a first plate member; and a second plate member that is stacked on the first plate member in a plate-thickness direction. The first plate member includes a first opening that constitutes an internal space of the header. The second plate member includes a second opening that, together with the first opening, constitutes the internal space of the header. The internal space of the header communicates with the heat transfer tubes. A first direction is perpendicular to both the plate-thickness direction and a direction in which the heat transfer tubes are arranged. A width of a part of the first opening in the first direction is different from a width of the second opening in the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Tooru Andou, Yoshiyuki Matsumoto, Tomoki Hirokawa, Hideyuki Kusaka
  • Patent number: 11549733
    Abstract: A heat exchanger includes heat transfer tubes and a header that forms a refrigerant flow path. The header includes: a first member that includes a first plate-shaped portion; a second member that includes a second plate-shaped portion; a third member that includes a third plate-shaped portion positioned between the first plate-shaped portion and the second plate-shaped portion in a first direction that is a direction in which the first plate-shaped portion and the second plate-shaped portion are arranged; a fourth member that includes a fourth plate-shaped portion positioned between the first plate-shaped portion and the second plate-shaped portion in the first direction and a second opening that constitutes a part of the refrigerant flow path, where a second is along a longitudinal direction of the second opening; and a fifth member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Tomoki Hirokawa, Tooru Andou, Yoshiyuki Matsumoto, Hideyuki Kusaka, Hirokazu Fujino, Kouju Yamada
  • Patent number: 11543186
    Abstract: A heat exchanger includes: a header that extends in a first direction; and a plurality of heat transfer tubes that extend in a second direction crossing the first direction, each of which has one end connected to the header, and that are arranged in the first direction at intervals. The header includes: a header body having a tubular shape, a first member through which the one end of each of the heat transfer tubes extends, and a second member positioned between the header body and the first member in the second direction. The second member includes: a base portion that extends in the first direction, and a plurality of protruding portions that extend from the base portion toward the first member in the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Tomoki Hirokawa, Shun Yoshioka, Tooru Andou, Yoshiyuki Matsumoto, Hideyuki Kusaka, Hiroyuki Nakano, Yoshio Oritani
  • Publication number: 20220381519
    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: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2022
    Publication date: December 1, 2022
    Applicant: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Yutaka Shibata, Tomoki Hirokawa, Hirokazu Fujino
  • Publication number: 20220381487
    Abstract: A heat exchanger includes: first layers each including first flow channels that are microchannels; and second layers each including second flow channels that are microchannels. The first layers and the second layers constitute a lamination. Heat is exchanged by performing either of: liquid evaporation in the first flow channels and gas condensation in the second flow channels, or liquid evaporation in the second flow channels and gas condensation in the first flow channels. The lamination includes: a first liquid transport pore that is in fluid communication with the first flow channels; and a second liquid transport pore that is in fluid communication with the second flow channels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2022
    Publication date: December 1, 2022
    Applicant: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Yutaka Shibata, Mitsuharu Numata, Tomoki Hirokawa, Hirokazu Fujino