Patents by Inventor Yoshio Tomigashi

Yoshio Tomigashi 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: 10161684
    Abstract: An air cooling unit is an air cooling unit used in a Rankine cycle system and includes an expander and a condenser. The expander recovers energy from a working fluid by expanding the working fluid. The condenser cools the working fluid using air. The air cooling unit includes a heat-transfer reducer that reduces heat transfer between the expander and an air path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Osamu Kosuda, Osao Kido, Atsuo Okaichi, Takumi Hikichi, Masaaki Konoto, Noriyoshi Nishiyama, Yoshio Tomigashi, Tetsuya Matsuyama
  • Patent number: 10060283
    Abstract: Specific operation is executable in a Rankine-cycle power-generating apparatus. In the Rankine-cycle power-generating apparatus, a) in the specific operation, the control device adjusts the degree of opening of the opening/closing device so that the direct-current electric power absorbed by the electric power absorber approaches first electric power, or b) in the specific operation, the degree of opening of the opening/closing device is increased to the predetermined intermediate degree of opening so that the direct-current electric power absorbed by the electric power absorber falls within a predetermined range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshio Tomigashi, Takumi Hikichi
  • Patent number: 9966756
    Abstract: A thermal power generation apparatus includes a control circuit that selects a single operation mode from among a plurality of modes including a normal mode and a specific mode on the basis of a voltage in a commercial system. The normal mode is an operation mode in which alternating-current power output from an inverter is adjusted so that a direct-current voltage in a direct-current power line follows a target voltage. The specific mode is an operation mode in which direct-current power absorbed by an electric power absorber and/or the amount of heat per unit time supplied to a heat engine are/is adjusted so that the direct-current voltage follows the target voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaaki Konoto, Yoshio Tomigashi, Noriyoshi Nishiyama, Takumi Hikichi, Atsuo Okaichi, Osao Kido
  • Patent number: 9964000
    Abstract: A combined heat and power system according the present disclosure includes a Rankine cycle apparatus including an evaporator that heats a working fluid by heat exchange between the working fluid and a heat source medium, an expansion machine that converts expansion power of the working fluid into rotational power, and a condenser that cools the working fluid by heat exchange between the working fluid and a heat medium, and a thermal circuit for using the heat medium heated by the condenser. An expansion volume ratio of the expansion machine is equal to or less than an expansion ratio in a theoretical Rankine cycle determined based on a state of a temperature and a pressure of the working fluid at a discharge port of the expansion machine and a state of a temperature and a pressure of the working fluid at a suction port of the expansion machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takumi Hikichi, Osao Kido, Atsuo Okaichi, Noriyoshi Nishiyama, Yoshio Tomigashi, Masaaki Konoto, Osamu Kosuda, Subaru Matsumoto, Tetsuya Matsuyama
  • Patent number: 9850783
    Abstract: A liquid pump includes: a casing; a feed pipe bringing liquid from outside the casing to inside the casing; a pump mechanism provided in the casing and including a suction hole for sucking in the liquid and a discharge hole for discharging the liquid sucked in via the suction hole; a suction space positioned in the casing on a suction-hole inlet side and making a flow path formed by the feed pipe and the suction hole communicate with each other; and a discharge space positioned on a discharge-hole outlet side in the casing and communicating with the discharge hole. The suction space includes a gas accumulation area that is positioned above a center of an opening at casing-side end of the feed pipe, when viewed vertically and that accumulates gas brought into the casing through the feed pipe together with the liquid to separate the gas from the liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takumi Hikichi, Osao Kido, Atsuo Okaichi, Yoshio Tomigashi
  • Publication number: 20170299267
    Abstract: An air cooling unit is an air cooling unit used in a Rankine cycle system and includes an expander and a condenser. The expander recovers energy from a working fluid by expanding the working fluid. The condenser cools the working fluid using air. The air cooling unit includes a heat-transfer reducer that reduces heat transfer between the expander and an air path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2017
    Publication date: October 19, 2017
    Inventors: Osamu KOSUDA, Osao KIDO, Atsuo OKAICHI, Takumi HIKICHI, Masaaki KONOTO, Noriyoshi NISHIYAMA, Yoshio TOMIGASHI, Tetsuya MATSUYAMA
  • Patent number: 9774223
    Abstract: A permanent magnet synchronous machine includes a rotor including a core body and an overhang protruding further in an axial direction than a core of a stator. An end surface of the core body includes an N-region disposed on a north pole and an S-region disposed on a south pole. The overhang includes first permanent magnets arranged along an outer edge of the end surface with distances therebetween and a plurality of second permanent magnets disposed on the end surface and adjacent to the first permanent magnets. The first permanent magnets include at least one of a permanent magnet comprising a north pole facing the N-region and a permanent magnet comprising a south pole facing the S-region. The second permanent magnets are provided in the configuration which causes the second permanent magnets to generate a magnetic flux extending from the S-region toward the N-region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Noriyoshi Nishiyama, Osao Kido, Atsuo Okaichi, Takumi Hikichi, Yoshio Tomigashi, Tetsuya Matsuyama, Masaaki Konoto, Osamu Kosuda, Subaru Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 9735635
    Abstract: A permanent magnet synchronous machine includes a rotor including a core body and an overhang protruding further in an axial direction than a core of a stator. An end surface of the core body includes an N-region disposed on a north pole and an S-region disposed on a south pole. The overhang includes first permanent magnets arranged along an outer edge of the end surface with distances therebetween and a plurality of second permanent magnets disposed on the end surface and adjacent to the first permanent magnets. The first permanent magnets include at least one of a permanent magnet comprising a north pole facing the N-region and a permanent magnet comprising a south pole facing the S-region. The second permanent magnets are provided in the configuration which causes the second permanent magnets to generate a magnetic flux extending from the S-region toward the N-region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Noriyoshi Nishiyama, Osao Kido, Atsuo Okaichi, Takumi Hikichi, Yoshio Tomigashi, Tetsuya Matsuyama, Masaaki Konoto, Osamu Kosuda, Subaru Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 9726432
    Abstract: An air cooling unit is an air cooling unit used in a Rankine cycle system and includes an expander and a condenser. The expander recovers energy from a working fluid by expanding the working fluid. The condenser cools the working fluid using air. The air cooling unit includes a heat-transfer reducer that reduces heat transfer between the expander and an air path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Osamu Kosuda, Osao Kido, Atsuo Okaichi, Takumi Hikichi, Masaaki Konoto, Noriyoshi Nishiyama, Yoshio Tomigashi, Tetsuya Matsuyama
  • Patent number: 9702263
    Abstract: A Rankine cycle device in the present disclosure includes an evaporator as a heater, an expander, a cooler, a first temperature sensor, a second temperature sensor, and a control device. The first temperature sensor detects a temperature of the working fluid flowing from an outlet of the heater to an inlet of the expander in the circuit of the working fluid. The second temperature sensor detects a temperature of the working fluid flowing from an outlet of the expander to an inlet of the cooler. The controller controls a number of rotation of the expander based on a difference between a detected temperature of the first temperature sensor and a detected temperature of the second temperature sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Atsuo Okaichi, Osao Kido, Takumi Hikichi, Osamu Kosuda, Noriyoshi Nishiyama, Yoshio Tomigashi, Masaaki Konoto, Subaru Matsumoto, Tetsuya Matsuyama
  • Publication number: 20170107846
    Abstract: Specific operation is executable in a Rankine-cycle power-generating apparatus. In the Rankine-cycle power-generating apparatus, a) in the specific operation, the control device adjusts the degree of opening of the opening/closing device so that the direct-current electric power absorbed by the electric power absorber approaches first electric power, or b) in the specific operation, the degree of opening of the opening/closing device is increased to the predetermined intermediate degree of opening so that the direct-current electric power absorbed by the electric power absorber falls within a predetermined range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2016
    Publication date: April 20, 2017
    Inventors: YOSHIO TOMIGASHI, TAKUMI HIKICHI
  • Patent number: 9359915
    Abstract: A power generation control system includes a converter and a controller. The converter controls a generator of a Rankine cycle system, the Rankine cycle system including an expander, the generator, which is interconnected to the expander, a pump which feeds a working fluid, and an evaporator which evaporates a working fluid. The controller causes the converter to execute, in at least one of a startup operation and a shutdown operation of the Rankine cycle system, first control in at least one of a startup operation and a shutdown operation of the Rankine cycle system such that the expander is prevented from expanding a working fluid if the working fluid at an outlet of the evaporator contains a liquid component while the pump is operating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshio Tomigashi, Atsuo Okaichi, Tetsuya Matsuyama, Noriyoshi Nishiyama, Osamu Kosuda, Takumi Hikichi, Osao Kido, Masaaki Konoto
  • Publication number: 20150364910
    Abstract: A thermal power generation apparatus includes a control circuit that selects a single operation mode from among a plurality of modes including a normal mode and a specific mode on the basis of a voltage in a commercial system. The normal mode is an operation mode in which alternating-current power output from an inverter is adjusted so that a direct-current voltage in a direct-current power line follows a target voltage. The specific mode is an operation mode in which direct-current power absorbed by an electric power absorber and/or the amount of heat per unit time supplied to a heat engine are/is adjusted so that the direct-current voltage follows the target voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2015
    Publication date: December 17, 2015
    Inventors: MASAAKI KONOTO, YOSHIO TOMIGASHI, NORIYOSHI NISHIYAMA, TAKUMI HIKICHI, ATSUO OKAICHI, OSAO KIDO
  • Publication number: 20150285101
    Abstract: A combined heat and power system according the present disclosure includes a Rankine cycle apparatus including an evaporator that heats a working fluid by heat exchange between the working fluid and a heat source medium, an expansion machine that converts expansion power of the working fluid into rotational power, and a condenser that cools the working fluid by heat exchange between the working fluid and a heat medium, and a thermal circuit for using the heat medium heated by the condenser. An expansion volume ratio of the expansion machine is equal to or less than an expansion ratio in a theoretical Rankine cycle determined based on a state of a temperature and a pressure of the working fluid at a discharge port of the expansion machine and a state of a temperature and a pressure of the working fluid at a suction port of the expansion machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2015
    Publication date: October 8, 2015
    Inventors: TAKUMI HIKICHI, OSAO KIDO, ATSUO OKAICHI, NORIYOSHI NISHIYAMA, YOSHIO TOMIGASHI, MASAAKI KONOTO, OSAMU KOSUDA, SUBARU MATSUMOTO, TETSUYA MATSUYAMA
  • Publication number: 20150275696
    Abstract: A liquid pump includes: a casing; a feed pipe bringing liquid from outside the casing to inside the casing; a pump mechanism provided in the casing and including a suction hole for sucking in the liquid and a discharge hole for discharging the liquid sucked in via the suction hole; a suction space positioned in the casing on a suction-hole inlet side and making a flow path formed by the feed pipe and the suction hole communicate with each other; and a discharge space positioned on a discharge-hole outlet side in the casing and communicating with the discharge hole. The suction space includes a gas accumulation area that is positioned above a center of an opening at casing-side end of the feed pipe, when viewed vertically and that accumulates gas brought into the casing through the feed pipe together with the liquid to separate the gas from the liquid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2015
    Publication date: October 1, 2015
    Inventors: TAKUMI HIKICHI, OSAO KIDO, ATSUO OKAICHI, YOSHIO TOMIGASHI
  • Publication number: 20150252685
    Abstract: A Rankine cycle device in the present disclosure includes an evaporator as a heater, an expander, a cooler, a first temperature sensor, a second temperature sensor, and a control device. The first temperature sensor detects a temperature of the working fluid flowing from an outlet of the heater to an inlet of the expander in the circuit of the working fluid. The second temperature sensor detects a temperature of the working fluid flowing from an outlet of the expander to an inlet of the cooler. The controller controls a number of rotation of the expander based on a difference between a detected temperature of the first temperature sensor and a detected temperature of the second temperature sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2015
    Publication date: September 10, 2015
    Inventors: ATSUO OKAICHI, OSAO KIDO, TAKUMI HIKICHI, OSAMU KOSUDA, NORIYOSHI NISHIYAMA, YOSHIO TOMIGASHI, MASAAKI KONOTO, SUBARU MATSUMOTO, TETSUYA MATSUYAMA
  • Publication number: 20150171679
    Abstract: A permanent magnet synchronous machine includes a rotor including a core body and an overhang protruding further in an axial direction than a core of a stator. An end surface of the core body includes an N-region disposed on a north pole and an S-region disposed on a south pole. The overhang includes first permanent magnets arranged along an outer edge of the end surface with distances therebetween and a plurality of second permanent magnets disposed on the end surface and adjacent to the first permanent magnets. The first permanent magnets include at least one of a permanent magnet comprising a north pole facing the N-region and a permanent magnet comprising a south pole facing the S-region. The second permanent magnets are provided in the configuration which causes the second permanent magnets to generate a magnetic flux extending from the S-region toward the N-region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2014
    Publication date: June 18, 2015
    Inventors: NORIYOSHI NISHIYAMA, OSAO KIDO, ATSUO OKAICHI, TAKUMI HIKICHI, YOSHIO TOMIGASHI, TETSUYA MATSUYAMA, MASAAKI KONOTO, OSAMU KOSUDA, SUBARU MATSUMOTO
  • Publication number: 20150084346
    Abstract: A power generation control system includes a converter and a controller. The converter controls a generator of a Rankine cycle system, the Rankine cycle system including an expander, the generator, which is interconnected to the expander, a pump which feeds a working fluid, and an evaporator which evaporates a working fluid. The controller causes the converter to execute, in at least one of a startup operation and a shutdown operation of the Rankine cycle system, first control in at least one of a startup operation and a shutdown operation of the Rankine cycle system such that the expander is prevented from expanding a working fluid if the working fluid at an outlet of the evaporator contains a liquid component while the pump is operating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2014
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Inventors: YOSHIO TOMIGASHI, ATSUO OKAICHI, TETSUYA MATSUYAMA, NORIYOSHI NISHIYAMA, OSAMU KOSUDA, TAKUMI HIKICHI, OSAO KIDO, MASAAKI KONOTO
  • Publication number: 20150068208
    Abstract: An air cooling unit is an air cooling unit used in a Rankine cycle system and includes an expander and a condenser. The expander recovers energy from a working fluid by expanding the working fluid. The condenser cools the working fluid using air. The air cooling unit includes a heat-transfer reducer that reduces heat transfer between the expander and an air path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2014
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Inventors: OSAMU KOSUDA, OSAO KIDO, ATSUO OKAICHI, TAKUMI HIKICHI, MASAAKI KONOTO, NORIYOSHI NISHIYAMA, YOSHIO TOMIGASHI, TETSUYA MATSUYAMA
  • Patent number: 8384322
    Abstract: Provided is a motor control device including a voltage specifying unit which generates a specified voltage signal indicating a target value of an applied voltage to a motor on the basis of a specified current signal indicating a target value of supplied current to the motor, so as to control the motor in accordance with the specified voltage signal. An update unit is further provided, which sequentially updates a specified field current signal that is a field current component of the specified current signal to be given to the voltage specifying unit on the basis of difference information between a value of the specified voltage signal and a limit voltage value defined as an upper limit value of the applied voltage. The update unit includes a low pass filter. The specified field current signal after the update is generated on the basis of a signal obtained by passing the specified field current signal before the update through the low pass filter and the difference information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: SANYO Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshio Tomigashi