Patents by Inventor Yoshifumi Odaka

Yoshifumi Odaka 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: 9718714
    Abstract: A separation-membrane module 1 includes an element block 2 that is formed by arranging, in parallel, a plurality of separation-membrane elements 4 that are formed by arranging a pair of separation-membranes with their respective permeate surfaces in opposition to each other and sealing the edges of the pair of the membranes; and an aeration block 3 that includes an aeration pipe 31 and that is disposed under the element block 2. In the element block 2, at least one upper spacer 8 is disposed in the upper portion of each space between the adjacent separation-membrane elements 4, and a lower spacer 9 is disposed under the upper spacer 8 in each space between the adjacent separation-membrane elements 4. And the leftmost and the rightmost separation-membrane elements 4 of the plurality of the separation-membrane elements 4 are secured to a frame 12 at the lower spacers 9.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Toray Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Hideaki Ando, Yoshifumi Odaka, Yasuharu Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20150344337
    Abstract: A separation-membrane module 1 includes an element block 2 that is formed by arranging, in parallel, a plurality of separation-membrane elements 4 that are formed by arranging a pair of separation-membranes with their respective permeate surfaces in opposition to each other and sealing the edges of the pair of the membranes; and an aeration block 3 that includes an aeration pipe 31 and that is disposed under the element block 2. In the element block 2, at least one upper spacer 8 is disposed in the upper portion of each space between the adjacent separation-membrane elements 4, and a lower spacer 9 is disposed under the upper spacer 8 in each space between the adjacent separation-membrane elements 4. And the leftmost and the rightmost separation-membrane elements 4 of the plurality of the separation-membrane elements 4 are secured to a frame 12 at the lower spacers 9.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2013
    Publication date: December 3, 2015
    Applicant: TORAY INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Hideaki Ando, Yoshifumi Odaka, Yasuharu Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20150329381
    Abstract: A separation membrane module has an element unit. The element unit includes: a shaft; a plurality of separation membrane elements each including a separation membrane pair having two separation membranes disposed so that permeate-side surfaces of the separation membranes face each other and a water collecting flow path provided between the separation membranes, and a sealed portion that seals the separation membranes at peripheral edge portions of the separation membranes; a suspension portion that suspends the separation membrane elements on the shaft; and a water collection nozzle provides communication between the water collection flow path and an outside of the separation membrane elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2013
    Publication date: November 19, 2015
    Applicant: TORAY INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Atsushi Kitanaka, Yasuharu Watanabe, Shuji Furuno, Yoshifumi Odaka, Seiko Kantani, Hideaki Ando
  • Publication number: 20150021260
    Abstract: A separation membrane element including a pair of separation membranes containing two separation membranes arranged so that the filtrate-side surfaces thereof are disposed in mutually opposed relation, and a plurality of resin members bonded to both of the mutually opposed filtrate-side surfaces, a peripheral edge of the pair of separation membranes being sealed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2013
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Applicant: Toray Industries
    Inventors: Kenta Iwai, Shuji Furuno, Yoshifumi Odaka, Kenji Komori, Yasuharu Watanabe, Atsushi Kitanaka, Seiko Kantani, Hideaki Ando
  • Patent number: 8388848
    Abstract: A liquid separation device is provided, and is capable of suppressing the lowering of filtration function due to an increase in flow channel resistance of permeated liquid which results in a separation membrane falling in a groove of a permeated liquid flow channel material along with accompanied breakage of the separation membrane surface. A permeated liquid flow channel material is disposed on the back side of a separation membrane composed of a sheet-like material having a linear groove and a linear crest alternately arrayed on one surface or both surfaces, wherein a groove width of the linear groove in the sheet-like material is 10 to 200 ?m, and a ratio of the groove width of the linear groove to the pitch of the linear groove is 0.45 or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Toray Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Yoshifumi Odaka, Toshimasa Katayama, Tsunemitsu Kitagawa
  • Publication number: 20100006504
    Abstract: A liquid separation device is provided, and is capable of suppressing the lowering of filtration function due to an increase in flow channel resistance of permeated liquid which results in a separation membrane falling in a groove of a permeated liquid flow channel material along with accompanied breakage of the separation membrane surface. A permeated liquid flow channel material is disposed on the back side of a separation membrane composed of a sheet-like material having a linear groove and a linear crest alternately arrayed on one surface or both surfaces, wherein a groove width of the linear groove in the sheet-like material is 10 to 200 ?m, and a ratio of the groove width of the linear groove to the pitch of the linear groove is 0.45 or more.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2007
    Publication date: January 14, 2010
    Applicant: TORAY Industries , Inc.
    Inventors: Yoshifumi Odaka, Toshimasa Katayama, Tsunemitsu Kitagawa
  • Publication number: 20100000935
    Abstract: Provided are membrane elements and membrane units capable of easily forming a space part surrounded with a frame body above the membrane elements regardless of the number of the membrane elements. That is, the membrane elements are membrane elements each comprising filtering membranes on both surfaces of a plate-like supporting plate, wherein spacer parts are formed in both side parts for keeping the membrane face distance to adjacent membrane elements being prescribed intervals, and the spacer parts have through bolt insertion holes and are extended upward from the upper end part of the supporting plate. The membrane units are configured by arranging a plurality of the membrane elements in such a manner that the channel parts formed in the spacer parts are brought into contact with each other, seal panels are installed in the outermost parts of the arranged membrane elements, and a frame body is formed by surrounding the space above the filtering membranes by the spacer parts and the seal panels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2007
    Publication date: January 7, 2010
    Inventors: Kenji Sakai, Hiromitsu Kanamori, Yoshifumi Odaka, Toshitsugu Onoe, Hiroshi Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 7615105
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a separation membrane in which a film-forming solution can be prevented from reaching a rear surface of a porous support in a step of forming a film, the adhesion between a functional film for separation and the porous support is high, and the thickness can be reduced. In the present invention, the separation membrane includes a porous support having a rough rear surface and a functional film for separation, and the functional film is disposed on a front surface of the porous support and extends into the porous support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: Toray Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Yoshifumi Odaka, Osamu Nakamatsu, Ichiro Kumo
  • Publication number: 20050087070
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a separation membrane in which a film-forming solution can be prevented from reaching a rear surface of a porous support in a step of forming a film, the adhesion between a functional film for separation and the porous support is high, and the thickness can be reduced. In the present invention, the separation membrane includes a porous support having a rough rear surface and a functional film for separation, and the functional film is disposed on a front surface of the porous support and extends into the porous support.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2002
    Publication date: April 28, 2005
    Inventors: Yoshifumi Odaka, Osamu Nakamatsu, Ichiro Kumo