Patents by Inventor Toru Shimba

Toru Shimba 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).

  • Turbine expansion machine with variable nozzle mechanism
    Patent number: 6382910
    Abstract: An adiabatic expansion apparatus 22 with a built-in turbine impeller 12 adiabatically expands gas at a cryogenic temperature when the impeller rotates. A control device 24 is connected coaxially with the turbine impeller to control the impeller. A variable nozzle mechanism 30 is provided for varying the throat area for the gas at a cryogenic temperature to be introduced into the turbine impeller. The adiabatic expansion apparatus is installed in a vacuum vessel 14, and a control device is disposed outside the vacuum vessel. The variable nozzle mechanism comprises a nozzle component 32 built into the adiabatic expansion apparatus, and a driving component 34 installed outside the vacuum vessel. The nozzle component and the driving component are connected to the turbine impeller with a coaxial, thin cylindrical component 36, and drive the nozzle component when the cylindrical component rotates about the axis Z of the turbine impeller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Assignees: Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute, Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries Co., LTD
    Inventors: Takashi Kato, Katsumi Kawano, Toru Shimba, Tadao Hiyama, Hiroshi Tsuji, Seiichiro Yoshinaga, Hiroshi Asakura, Nobuyoshi Saji, Takehiko Ishizawa