Patents by Inventor Yasutaka Nagai
Yasutaka Nagai 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).
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Patent number: 9951670Abstract: An exhaust gas purification apparatus for an internal combustion engine, includes an oxygen ion conductor which can conduct oxygen ions when a voltage is applied to the conductor and a NOx absorption/discharge device. The NOx absorption/discharge device is formed by a first electrode provided on a first surface of the oxygen ion conductor and a second electrode including silver and provided on a second surface of the oxygen ion conductor opposite to the first surface across the oxygen ion conductor. The apparatus applies a voltage between the first and second electrodes such that oxygen ions move through the oxygen ion conductor from the first electrode toward the second electrode when satisfied is a purification condition that nitrogen oxide discharged from the NOx absorption/discharge device can be purified in the exhaust passage.Type: GrantFiled: May 6, 2016Date of Patent: April 24, 2018Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Akira Kato, Yoshiyuki Sakamoto, Yasutaka Nagai
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Publication number: 20160326927Abstract: An exhaust gas purification apparatus for an internal combustion engine, includes an oxygen ion conductor which can conduct oxygen ions when a voltage is applied to the conductor and a NOx absorption/discharge device. The NOx absorption/discharge device is formed by a first electrode provided on a first surface of the oxygen ion conductor and a second electrode including silver and provided on a second surface of the oxygen ion conductor opposite to the first surface across the oxygen ion conductor. The apparatus applies a voltage between the first and second electrodes such that oxygen ions move through the oxygen ion conductor from the first electrode toward the second electrode when satisfied is a purification condition that nitrogen oxide discharged from the NOx absorption/discharge device can be purified in the exhaust passage.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 6, 2016Publication date: November 10, 2016Inventors: Akira Kato, Yoshiyuki Sakamoto, Yasutaka Nagai
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Patent number: 9005558Abstract: An exhaust gas control apparatus for an internal combustion engine includes: a NOx purification catalyst arranged in an exhaust passage of the internal combustion engine; a degradation degree estimating unit estimating a degradation degree of the NOx purification catalyst; and an air-fuel ratio control unit adjusting an air-fuel ratio of exhaust gas flowing into the NOx purification catalyst, wherein, until the estimated degradation degree of the NOx purification catalyst reaches a predetermined degradation degree, the air-fuel ratio control unit adjusts the air-fuel ratio of the exhaust gas to a rich air-fuel ratio, and, when the estimated degradation degree of the NOx purification catalyst exceeds the predetermined degradation degree, the air-fuel ratio control unit changes the air-fuel ratio of the exhaust gas from the rich air-fuel ratio to a lean air-fuel ratio so that the NOx purification catalyst is regenerated.Type: GrantFiled: May 30, 2012Date of Patent: April 14, 2015Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Masao Watanabe, Shigeharu Takagi, Keisuke Kishita, Noboru Otake, Akira Morikawa, Takuto Hirose, Yasutaka Nagai
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Publication number: 20140134087Abstract: An exhaust gas control apparatus for an internal combustion engine includes: a NOx purification catalyst arranged in an exhaust passage of the internal combustion engine; a degradation degree estimating unit estimating a degradation degree of the NOx purification catalyst; and an air-fuel ratio control unit adjusting an air-fuel ratio of exhaust gas flowing into the NOx purification catalyst, wherein, until the estimated degradation degree of the NOx purification catalyst reaches a predetermined degradation degree, the air-fuel ratio control unit adjusts the air-fuel ratio of the exhaust gas to a rich air-fuel ratio, and, when the estimated degradation degree of the NOx purification catalyst exceeds the predetermined degradation degree, the air-fuel ratio control unit changes the air-fuel ratio of the exhaust gas from the rich air-fuel ratio to a lean air-fuel ratio so that the NOx purification catalyst is regenerated.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 30, 2012Publication date: May 15, 2014Inventors: Masao Watanabe, Shigeharu Takagi, Keisuke Kishita, Noboru Otake, Akira Morikawa, Takuto Hirose, Yasutaka Nagai
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Patent number: 8601794Abstract: A regeneration apparatus comprises a heater 2 which heats a catalyst 1 at the time of stopping fuel supply to an engine, a pump 4 which supplies an oxidizing gas or a reducing gas to the heated catalyst 1 and a switching valve 3. In the oxidizing step, catalytic poisons, for example hydrocarbon, which are absorbed on a noble metal are oxidized and removed. The particles of the noble metal become oxidized particles as pure oxide and the like. After the oxidizing step, the reducing step is carried out. In the reducing step, particles of the noble metal are reduced and re-dispersed on the support simultaneously and as a result, the particles of the noble metal become fine. Thus, a deteriorated catalyst can be regenerated without interrupting the use of catalyst and also without deteriorating the drivability.Type: GrantFiled: May 9, 2008Date of Patent: December 10, 2013Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Masanori Yamato, Takeru Yoshida, Nobuyuki Takagi, Toshitaka Tanabe, Yasutaka Nagai, Kazuhiko Dohmae, Naoki Takahashi
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Patent number: 8389435Abstract: A metal oxide catalyst carrier particle has a center portion and an outer skin portion each containing a first metal oxide and a second metal oxide. The center portion and the outer skin portion are different in composition. The mole fraction of the metal of the first metal oxide is higher in the center portion than in the outer skin portion and the mole fraction of the metal of the second metal oxide is higher in the outer skin portion than in the center portion. The second metal oxide is selected from the group consisting of rare earth oxides, except for ceria, and alkali earth metal oxides. In addition, platinum is supported on the metal oxide catalyst carrier particle, thus forming an exhaust gas purification catalyst.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2007Date of Patent: March 5, 2013Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Masahide Miura, Nobuyuki Takagi, Shinichi Matsumoto, Toshitaka Tanabe, Yasutaka Nagai, Kazuhiko Dohmae, Yasuo Ikeda
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Patent number: 8225601Abstract: An exhaust gas purification system includes: a catalyst (3) provided in an exhaust gas passage of an internal combustion engine (1) and having a carrier containing a basic oxide and platinum carried on the carrier; a catalyst (4) for purifying NOx; and oxygen supply means (2).Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2007Date of Patent: July 24, 2012Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Nobuyuki Takagi, Masahide Miura, Shinichi Matsumoto, Toshitaka Tanabe, Yasutaka Nagai, Miho Hatanaka, Kazuhiko Dohmae, Toshio Yamamoto, Yasuo Ikeda
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Patent number: 8105561Abstract: A catalyst for purification of exhaust gas in which a noble metal is supported on a metal-oxide support wherein, in a oxidation atmosphere, the noble metal exists on the surface of the support in high oxidation state, and the noble metal binds with a cation of the support via an oxygen atom on the surface of the support to form a surface oxide layer and, in a reduction atmosphere, the noble metal exists on the surface of the support in a metal state, and an amount of noble metal exposed at the surface of the support, measured by CO chemisorption, is 10% or more in atomic ratio to a whole amount of the noble metal supported on the support.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 2006Date of Patent: January 31, 2012Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Chuo Kenkyusho, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Miho Hatanaka, Toshitaka Tanabe, Yasutaka Nagai, Toshio Yamamoto, Kazuhiko Dohmae, Nobuyuki Takagi, Masahide Miura, Yasuo Ikeda
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Publication number: 20100293921Abstract: A regeneration apparatus comprises a heater 2 which heats a catalyst 1 at the time of stopping fuel supply to an engine, a pump 4 which supplies an oxidizing gas or a reducing gas to the heated catalyst 1 and a switching valve 3. In the oxidizing step, catalytic poisons, for example hydrocarbon, which are absorbed on a noble metal are oxidized and removed. The particles of the noble metal become oxidized particles as pure oxide and the like. After the oxidizing step, the reducing step is carried out. In the reducing step, particles of the noble metal are reduced and re-dispersed on the support simultaneously and as a result, the particles of the noble metal become fine. Thus, a deteriorated catalyst can be regenerated without interrupting the use of catalyst and also without deteriorating the drivability.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 9, 2008Publication date: November 25, 2010Inventors: Masanori Yamato, Takeru Yoshida, Nobuyuki Takagi, Toshitaka Tanabe, Yasutaka Nagai, Kazuhiko Dohmae, Naoki Takahashi
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Publication number: 20100004117Abstract: A metal oxide catalyst carrier particle has a center portion and an outer skin portion each containing a first metal oxide and a second metal oxide. The center portion and the outer skin portion are different in composition. The mole fraction of the metal of the first metal oxide is higher in the center portion than in the outer skin portion and the mole fraction of the metal of the second metal oxide is higher in the outer skin portion than in the center portion. The second metal oxide is selected from the group consisting of rare earth oxides, except for ceria, and alkali earth metal oxides. In addition, platinum is supported on the metal oxide catalyst carrier particle, thus forming an exhaust gas purification catalyst.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 30, 2007Publication date: January 7, 2010Inventors: Masahide Miura, Nobuyuki Takagi, Shinichi Matsumoto, Toshitaka Tanabe, Yasutaka Nagai, Kazuhiko Dohmae, Yasuo Ikeda
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Publication number: 20090266053Abstract: An exhaust gas purification system includes: at least two catalysts (1a, 1b) disposed in parallel with each other on an exhaust gas passage of an internal combustion engine (3) and having a carrier containing a basic oxide and platinum carried on the carrier; and oxygen supply means (2) for supplying oxygen to the catalysts (1a, 1b).Type: ApplicationFiled: March 29, 2007Publication date: October 29, 2009Inventors: Nobuyuki Takagi, Masahide Miura, Shinichi Matsumoto, Toshitaka Tanabe, Yasutaka Nagai, Miho Hatanaka, Kazuhiko Dohmae, Toshio Yamamoto, Yasuo Ikeda
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Publication number: 20090170689Abstract: A catalyst for purification of exhaust gas in which a noble metal is supported on a metal-oxide support wherein, in a oxidation atmosphere, the noble metal exists on the surface of the support in high oxidation state, and the noble metal binds with a cation of the support via an oxygen atom on the surface of the support to form a surface oxide layer and, in a reduction atmosphere, the noble metal exists on the surface of the support in a metal state, and an amount of noble metal exposed at the surface of the support, measured by CO chemisorption, is 10% or more in atomic ratio to a whole amount of the noble metal supported on the support.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 1, 2006Publication date: July 2, 2009Applicants: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Chuo KenkyushoInventors: Miho Hatanaka, Toshitaka Tanabe, Yasutaka Nagai, Toshio Yamamoto, Kazuhiko Dohmae, Nobuyuki Takagi, Masahide Miura, Yasuo Ikeda
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Publication number: 20090104088Abstract: An exhaust gas purification system includes: a catalyst (3) provided in an exhaust gas passage of an internal combustion engine (1) and having a carrier containing a basic oxide and platinum carried on the carrier; a catalyst (4) for purifying NOx; and oxygen supply means (2).Type: ApplicationFiled: March 29, 2007Publication date: April 23, 2009Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Nobuyuki Takagi, Masahide Miura, Shinichi Matsumoto, Toshitaka Tanabe, Yasutaka Nagai, Miho Hatanaka, Kazuhiko Dohmae, Toshio Yamamoto, Yasuo Ikeda
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Publication number: 20090105070Abstract: A catalyst for purification of exhaust gas, comprising: a material (A) which can release a noble metal at a high temperature; and a material (B) which contains a composite oxide of zirconia and/or alumina and at least one element selected from the group consisting of alkaline earth metal elements, rare earth elements and group 3A elements, and which receives the noble metal released from the material (A) at the high temperature.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 12, 2007Publication date: April 23, 2009Inventors: Toshitaka Tanabe, Yasutaka Nagai, Miho Hatanaka, Kazuhiko Dohmae, Toshio Yamamoto, Nobuyuki Takagi, Yasuo Ikeda
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Patent number: 7247597Abstract: A composite oxide includes CeO2, ZrO2 and a metallic oxide being free from reacting with CeO2 and ZrO2 at 700° C. or more, preferably at 900° C. or more and further preferably at 1,000° C. or more. The composite oxide has a regulatory oriented phase, such as a pyrochlore phase, etc., in which at least a part of Ce cations and Zr cations are oriented regularly. The composite oxide makes a catalytic support. The CeO2—ZrO2 composite oxide and the reaction-free metallic oxide make barriers each other which suppress the granular growth when the composite oxide is subjected to high-temperature heat in a reducing heat treatment to form the regulatory oriented phase. The regulatory oriented phase improves the oxygen storage-and-release capability of the catalytic support. Thus, it is possible to simultaneously attain a large a specific surface area and a high oxygen storage-and-release capability.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 2002Date of Patent: July 24, 2007Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Chuo KenkyushoInventors: Akira Morikawa, Yasutaka Nagai, Toshitaka Tanabe, Tadashi Suzuki, Akihiko Suda, Hideo Sobukawa
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Publication number: 20030050189Abstract: A composite oxide includes CeO2, ZrO2 and a metallic oxide being free from reacting with CeO2 and ZrO2 at 700° C. or more, preferably at 900° C. or more and further preferably at 1,000° C. or more. The composite oxide has a regulatory oriented phase, such as a pyrochlore phase, etc., in which at least a part of Ce cations and Zr cations are oriented regularly. The composite oxide makes a catalytic support. The CeO2—ZrO2 composite oxide and the reaction-free metallic oxide make barriers each other which suppress the granular growth when the composite oxide is subjected to high-temperature heat in a reducing heat treatment to form the regulatory oriented phase. The regulatory oriented phase improves the oxygen storage-and-release capability of the catalytic support. Thus, it is possible to simultaneously attain a large a specific surface area and a high oxygen storage-and-release capability.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 22, 2002Publication date: March 13, 2003Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA CHUO KENKYUSHOInventors: Akira Morikawa, Yasutaka Nagai, Toshitaka Tanabe, Tadashi Suzuki, Akihiko Suda, Hideo Sobukawa
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Patent number: 6133185Abstract: An exhaust gas purifying catalyst, for reducing nitrogen oxides and ammonia in an exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine, in an oxidizing atmosphere, is provided. The exhaust gas purifying catalyst comprises a first catalyst having zeolite carrying platinum and copper thereon. Preferably, the exhaust gas purifying catalyst further comprises a second catalyst having zeolite carrying copper thereon. Preferably, the second catalyst is arranged upstream of the first catalyst, with respect to the exhaust gas flow.Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 1996Date of Patent: October 17, 2000Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Chuo KenkyushoInventors: Yukio Kinugasa, Kouhei Igarashi, Takaaki Itou, Naoto Suzuki, Takehisa Yaegashi, Takaaki Kanazawa, Takahiro Hayashi, Koji Yokota, Yasutaka Nagai
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Patent number: 5662116Abstract: A multi-plane electronic scan ultrasound probe having a rotary member rotatably mounted on a distal end portion of an elongated catheter member of the probe and support thereon an ultrasound transducer consisting of a row of a large number of ultrasound elements. The rotary member is connected to a rotation control knob on a manipulating head of the probe by way of rotation transmission wires extended through the catheter member and via a drive pulley mounted on the manipulating head in association with the rotation control knob to turn the ultrasound transducer through an arbitrary angle in multi-plane electronic scanning by manipulation of the rotation control knob.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 1996Date of Patent: September 2, 1997Assignees: Fuji Photo Optical Co., Ltd., Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventors: Mituo Kondo, Kenji Abe, Hisashi Nakamura, Yasutaka Nagai
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Patent number: 5469852Abstract: An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus and a probe therefor for a body cavity of a patient are disclosed. The probe comprises a transducer which rotates to obtain sectional ultrasound images along various angles. The apparatus comprises a means for indicating the rotation angle of the transducer. A mark for indicating the angle is provided on a surface of the transducer. The rotation angle is detected electrically to be displayed on a CRT screen. For more precise detection, slack removers for removing slacks of rotation wires are provided. A rotation angle indicator for indicating the rotation angle of a rotation knob which represents the rotation angle of the transducer is provided on the operation portion.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 1994Date of Patent: November 28, 1995Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventors: Hisashi Nakamura, Yasutaka Nagai, Susumu Hiki
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Patent number: 5300355Abstract: In order to provide a damping material exhibiting an excellent vibration damping property in a wide temperature range, according to the present invention, in a magnetic composite type damping material constructed by bonding an adhesive elastic sheet containing magnetic powder to a constraining plate such as a metal plate by using an adhesive, the adhesive elastic sheet is made of a composite material consisting of rubber elastomer, adhesive resin, plasticizer, magnetic powder, etc.Since not only is the damping material having a construction described above attracted by magnetic force against a vibration source, it also is provided with a superficial adhesiveness, and the excellent vibration damping property is exhibited in a wide temperature range by a synergistic effect of the magnetic force and the adhering force.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 1992Date of Patent: April 5, 1994Assignees: Nichias Corporation, Railway Technical Research InstituteInventors: Naoto Mifune, Yasutaka Nagai, Masaaki Ashizawa, Kazuo Nishimoto, Takahiro Niwa, Shuji Ito, Masanori Hansaka