Patents by Inventor Yujiro Okihara

Yujiro Okihara 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: 8409520
    Abstract: Provided is an ozone concentrator including an ozone generator (3), adsorption/desorption columns (4) in which silica gel (6) cooled with a certain-temperature refrigerant (25) for concentrating ozone generated by the ozone generator (3) is packed, a refrigerating machine (23) for cooling the refrigerant (25), a vacuum pump (20) for enhancing a concentration of the ozone in one of the adsorption/desorption columns (4) by discharging mainly oxygen from the silica gel (6) adsorbing the ozone, a plurality of valves (8) to (13) for air pressure operations, for switching passages of gas that is allowed to flow in or flow out with respect to the adsorption/desorption columns (4), and ozone concentration meters (28, 29) for measuring the concentration of the ozone enhanced by the vacuum pump (20), in which a discharge line of the vacuum pump (20) is connected to another one of the adsorption/desorption columns (4), whereby the ozone is allowed to pass through another one of the adsorption/desorption columns again.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignees: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, Toshiba Mitsubishi-Electric Industrial Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Koji Ota, Yasuhiro Tanimura, Yoichiro Tabata, Yujiro Okihara, Tetsuya Saitsu, Noriyuki Nakamura, Ryohei Ueda
  • Publication number: 20120251395
    Abstract: An ozone gas output flow rate management unit configured to receive a plurality of ozone gas outputs from a plurality of ozone generation units and capable of performing an ozone gas output flow rate control for selectively outputting one or a combination of two or more of the plurality of ozone gas outputs to any of a plurality of ozone treatment apparatuses by performing an opening/closing operation of a plurality of ozone gas control valves provided in the ozone gas output flow rate management unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2010
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: Toshiba Mitsubishi-Electric Industrial Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Noriyuki Nakamura, Yujiro Okihara, Tetsuya Saitsu, Hatsuo Yotsumoto, Yoichiro Tabata, Nobuyuki Itoh
  • Publication number: 20120219460
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a downsized ozone generation unit including control means having plurality of means for outputting an ozone gas, and the ozone generation unit. In the present invention, a gas pipe integrated block (30) has a plurality of internal pipe paths (R30a to R30f). The plurality of internal pipe paths are connected to an ozone generator (1), control means (an MFC (3), a gas filter (51), and an APC (4)), a raw gas supply port (14), an ozone gas output port (15), and cooling water inlet/outlet ports (13A, 13B), to thereby form a unit in which a raw gas input pipe path and an ozone gas output pipe path are integrated. The raw gas input pipe path extends from the raw gas supply port through the APC to the ozone gas generator. The ozone gas output pipe path extends from the ozone generator through the gas filter, the ozone concentration meter 5, and the MFC 3, to the ozone gas output port.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2010
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Applicant: TOSHIBA MITSUBISHI-ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yujiro Okihara, Yoichiro Tabata, Noriyuki Nakamura, Tetsuya Saitsu, Hatsuo Yotsumoto, Nobuyuki Itoh
  • Publication number: 20110052483
    Abstract: An ozonized gas having a pressure exceeding atmospheric pressure and having a predetermined concentration is supplied to adsorption/desorption columns (4) at a low temperature state of 0° C. or less and a high pressure and packed with silica gel (6) serving as an adsorbent. The adsorption/desorption columns (4) have been constituted so that at least three of a plurality of adsorption/desorption columns (4), i.e., adsorption/desorption columns (4-1, 4-2, and 4-3), are disposed in a serial cycle arrangement to constitute a main adsorption/desorption column group (99), and that an adsorption/desorption column (4-4) is disposed in parallel with the main adsorption/desorption column group (99) to constitute an auxiliary adsorption/desorption column (999). In a period in which none of the three columns of the main adsorption/desorption column group (99) is performing desorption processing, the auxiliary adsorption/desorption column (999) performs desorption processing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2008
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Applicants: TOSHIBA MITSUBISHI-ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL SYS. CORP., MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoichiro Tabata, Yujiro Okihara, Tetsuya Saitsu, Noriyuki Nakamura, Ryohei Ueda, Koji Ota, Yasuhiro Tanimura
  • Publication number: 20100266463
    Abstract: Provided is an ozone concentrator including an ozone generator (3), adsorption/desorption columns (4) in which silica gel (6) cooled with a certain-temperature refrigerant (25) for concentrating ozone generated by the ozone generator (3) is packed, a refrigerating machine (23) for cooling the refrigerant (25), a vacuum pump (20) for enhancing a concentration of the ozone in one of the adsorption/desorption columns (4) by discharging mainly oxygen from the silica gel (6) adsorbing the ozone, a plurality of valves (8) to (13) for air pressure operations, for switching passages of gas that is allowed to flow in or flow out with respect to the adsorption/desorption columns (4), and ozone concentration meters (28, 29) for measuring the concentration of the ozone enhanced by the vacuum pump (20), in which a discharge line of the vacuum pump (20) is connected to another one of the adsorption/desorption columns (4), whereby the ozone is allowed to pass through another one of the adsorption/desorption columns again.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2008
    Publication date: October 21, 2010
    Applicants: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION, TOSHIBA MITSUBISHI-ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL.SYS. CORP.
    Inventors: Koji Ota, Yasuhiro Tanimura, Yoichiro Tabata, Yujiro Okihara, Tetsuya Saitsu, Noriyuki Nakamura, Ryohei Ueda
  • Patent number: 7771797
    Abstract: This invention provides a new photocatalyst material producing apparatus and photocatalyst material producing method that can produce a large quantity of photocatalyst material of high quality by a chemical reaction in light high-field plasma in a highly oxidative high-concentration ozone medium state, instead of systems to produce a photocatalyst material by PVD and CVD, which are conventional dry deposition methods. In a photocatalyst material producing method and photocatalyst material producing apparatus according to this invention, a pair of facing electrodes are provided via a dielectric material in a discharge gap where gas mainly containing oxygen gas is supplied, and an AC voltage is applied between the electrodes to generate dielectric barrier discharge (silent discharge or creeping discharge) in the discharge gap. Thus, oxygen gas containing ozone gas is created and a metal or metal compound is modified to a photocatalyst material by the dielectric barrier discharge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Toshiba Mitsubishi-Electric Industrial Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Yoichiro Tabata, Tetsuya Saitsu, Yujiro Okihara, Ryohei Ueda
  • Publication number: 20100162752
    Abstract: One ozone concentrating chamber is provided therein with a part of a cooling temperature range where ozone can be selectively condensed or an oxygen gas can be selectively removed by transmission from an ozonized oxygen gas, and a part of a temperature range where condensed ozone can be vaporized, and condensed ozone is vaporized by moving condensed ozone with flow of a fluid or by gravitation to the part where condensed ozone can be vaporized, whereby the ozonized oxygen gas can be increased in concentration. Such a constitution is provided that a particle material 13 for condensation and vaporization filled in the ozone concentrating chambers 11 and 12 has a spherical shape of a special shape with multifaceted planes on side surfaces, or an oxygen transmission membrane 130 capable of selectively transmitting an oxygen gas in an ozone gas is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2006
    Publication date: July 1, 2010
    Applicant: Toshiba Mitsubishi Electric Industrial Systems
    Inventors: Yoichiro Tabata, Tetsuya Saitsu, Yujiro Okihara, Nobuyuki Itoh, Rayohei Ueda, Yasuhiro Tanimura, Koji Ohta
  • Patent number: 7744825
    Abstract: A compact, inexpensive, large-capacity ozone generator with increased ease of apparatus maintenance. An ozone power supply includes an n-phase inverter for obtaining an AC voltage having a predetermined frequency and outputting an n-phase AC voltage waveform; n reactors and an n-phase transformer for converting an n-phase AC voltage to a high AC voltage; n high-voltage terminals for outputting the n-phase high AC voltage; and a low-voltage terminal having a common potential. Ozone generator units are electrically divided into n pieces within a discharge chamber. Each ozone generator unit includes n high-voltage electrode terminals and one low-voltage electrode terminal, common to all ozone generator units. Each ozone generator unit supports an n-phase AC discharge to generate ozone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: Toshiba Mitsubishi-Electric Industrial Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Yoichiro Tabata, Yujiro Okihara, Masayuki Ishikawa, Tetsuya Saitsu
  • Publication number: 20080251012
    Abstract: This invention provides a new photocatalyst material producing apparatus and photocatalyst material producing method that can produce a large quantity of photocatalyst material of high quality by a chemical reaction in light high-field plasma in a highly oxidative high-concentration ozone medium state, instead of systems to produce a photocatalyst material by PVD and CVD, which are conventional dry deposition methods. In a photocatalyst material producing method and photocatalyst material producing apparatus according to this invention, a pair of facing electrodes are provided via a dielectric material in a discharge gap where gas mainly containing oxygen gas is supplied, and an AC voltage is applied between the electrodes to generate dielectric barrier discharge (silent discharge or creeping discharge) in the discharge gap. Thus, oxygen gas containing ozone gas is created and a metal or metal compound is modified to a photocatalyst material by the dielectric barrier discharge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2005
    Publication date: October 16, 2008
    Applicant: TOSHIBA MITSUBISHI-ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL
    Inventors: Yoichiro Tabata, Tetsuya Saitsu, Yujiro Okihara, Ryohei Ueda
  • Patent number: 7382087
    Abstract: An ozone generating system and an ozone generating method producing ozone at a high concentration and operating at high efficiency, in which a raw material gas with no nitrogen added and mainly containing oxygen is used. The amount of generation of NOX by-product is null. A raw material gas not containing nitrogen and mainly containing oxygen is supplied to an ozone generator, an AC voltage is applied to produce discharge light having a wavelength of 428 nm to 620 nm, a catalytic material containing a photocatalytic material with a band gap energy of 2.0 eV to 2.9 eV is provided on an electrode or a dielectric in a discharge region, gas pressure is kept at 0.1 MPa to 0.4 MPa, and ozone is generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: Toshiba Mitsubishi-Electric Industrial Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Yoichiro Tabata, Yujiro Okihara, Masayuki Ishikawa, Tetsuya Saitsu, Hatsuo Yotsumoto
  • Publication number: 20070134140
    Abstract: A compact, inexpensive, large-capacity ozone generator with increased ease of apparatus maintenance. An ozone power supply includes an n-phase inverter for obtaining an AC voltage having a predetermined frequency and outputting an n-phase AC voltage waveform; n reactors and an n-phase transformer for converting an n-phase AC voltage to a high AC voltage; n high-voltage terminals for outputting the n-phase high AC voltage; and a low-voltage terminal having a common potential. Ozone generator units are electrically divided into n pieces within a discharge chamber. Each ozone generator unit includes n high-voltage electrode terminals and one low-voltage electrode terminal, common to all ozone generator units. Each ozone generator unit supports an n-phase AC discharge to generate ozone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2004
    Publication date: June 14, 2007
    Applicant: TOSHIBA MITSUBISHI-ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL SYSTEMS COR
    Inventors: Yoichiro Tabata, Yujiro Okihara, Masayuki Ishikawa, Tetsuya Saitsu
  • Patent number: 7198765
    Abstract: An ozone generator in which a discharge region may be enlarged without damaging ozone generating performance. In the ozonizer, an alternating current is applied between a first electrode and a second electrode, and a discharge is produced in a gap into which oxygen is injected. In the first electrode, an ozone gas passage for retrieving ozone gas generated in the discharge region is located between an electrode surface facing the discharge region and a side. The ozone gas passages are dispersed in the first electrode. The ozone gas passages collect ozone generated at discharge region locations inside the first electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Toshiba Mitsubishi-Electric Industrial Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Youichiro Tabata, Akaru Usui, Yujiro Okihara, Tetsuya Saitsu, Norimitsu Esaki, Hajime Nakatani
  • Patent number: 7108836
    Abstract: An ozonizer has a flat plate-shaped low voltage electrode, flat plate-shaped first and second high voltage electrodes facing the low voltage electrode, a first dielectric, and a first spacer, located between the low voltage electrode and the first high voltage electrode, a second dielectric, and a second spacer between the electrode and the second high voltage electrode. The ozonizer also has a first electrode cooling sheet facing the first high voltage electrode at a side opposite a first discharge gap, a second electrode cooling sheet facing the second high voltage electrode, a first thermally conducting and electrically insulating sheet sandwiched between the first high voltage electrode and the first electrode cooling sheet, and a second thermally conducting and electrically insulating sheet sandwiched between the second high voltage electrode and the second electrode cooling sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Assignee: Toshiba Mitsubishi-Electric Industrial Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Yujiro Okihara, Youichiro Tabata, Akaru Usui, Hiromichi Komiya, Yuji Ganryu, Masaki Kuzumoto, Noboru Wada, Koji Ohta, Shigenori Yagi, Hirozoh Kanegae
  • Publication number: 20060049738
    Abstract: An ozone generating system and an ozone generating method producing ozone at a high concentration and operating at high efficiency, in which a raw material gas with no nitrogen added and mainly containing oxygen is used. The amount of generation of NOX by-product is null. A raw material gas not containing nitrogen and mainly containing oxygen is supplied to an ozone generator, an AC voltage is applied to produce discharge light having wavelength of 428 nm to 620 nm, a catalytic material containing a photocatalytic material with a band gap energy of 2.0 eV to 2.9 eV is provided on an electrode or a dielectric in a discharge region, gas pressure is kept at 0.1 MPa to 0.4 MPa, and ozone is generated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2004
    Publication date: March 9, 2006
    Applicant: Toshiba Mitsbishi-Electric Industrial Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Yoichiro Tabata, Yujiro Okihara, Masayuki Tetsuyasaitsu, Hatsuo Yotsumoto
  • Patent number: 6905659
    Abstract: An ozonizer has a flat plate-shaped low voltage electrode and a flat plate-shaped high voltage electrode facing a main surface of the low voltage electrode. The ozomzer also has a flat plate-shaped dielectric and a spacer forming a discharge gap in a laminating direction, located between the low voltage electrode and the high voltage electrode, a high voltage electrode cooling unit forming a cooling water passage insulated from the high voltage electrode inside the high voltage electrode. An alternating voltage is applied between the low voltage electrode and the high voltage electrode and a discharge is produced in the discharge gap, into which oxygen is injected, to produce ozone gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2005
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akaru Usui, Youichiro Tabata, Yujiro Okihara, Hiromichi Komiya, Yuji Ganryu, Masaki Kuzumoto, Noboru Wada, Koji Ohta, Shigenori Yagi, Hirozoh Kanegae
  • Patent number: 6869575
    Abstract: The ozonizer of this present invention is small in size, and capable of generating highly concentrated ozone with a high (generating) efficiency. A low voltage electrode includes a disc-shaped low voltage electrode main body facing a high voltage electrode and an extension at one side of the low voltage electrode main body, and the extensions are laminated in layers on a base via blocks, and a coolant inlet portion for supplying coolant to a coolant passage, a coolant outlet portion for exhausting coolant from the coolant passage, and an ozone gas outlet portion for exhausting ozone gas from the ozone gas passage pass through the extensions and the blocks, respectively, in a laminating direction of the discharge cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2005
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Youichiro Tabata, Yujiro Okihara, Akaru Usui, Hiromichi Komiya, Yuji Ganryu, Masaki Kuzumoto, Noboru Wada, Koji Ohta, Shigenori Yagi, Hirozoh Kanegae
  • Patent number: 6866829
    Abstract: An ozonizer has a flat plate-shaped low voltage electrode 7, a flat plate-shaped high voltage electrode 3 facing a main surface of the low voltage electrode 7. The ozonizer also has a flat plate-shaped dielectric 5 and a spacer for forming a discharge gap 6 of a thin thickness in a laminating direction provided between the low voltage electrode 7 and the electrode 3, an electrode cooling sheet 1 provided facing a main surface of the electrode 3 at a side opposite the discharge gap 6 for cooling the electrode 3. The ozonizer also has a thermal conducting/electric insulating sheet 2 sandwiched between the electrode 3 and the electrode cooling sheet 1. An alternating voltage is applied between the low voltage electrode 7 and the electrode 3 and a discharge is produced in the discharge gap 6 injected with oxygen gas to produce ozone gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yujiro Okihara, Youichiro Tabata, Akaru Usui, Hiromichi Komiya, Yuji Ganryu, Masaki Kuzumoto, Noboru Wada, Koji Ohta, Shigenori Yagi, Hirozoh Kanegae
  • Publication number: 20040076560
    Abstract: The present invention provides an ozonizer in which a discharge region may be increased without damaging ozone generating performance. In the ozonizer, electrode module(s) 102 an alternating current is applied between a first electrode 7 and a second electrode 3, and a discharge is brought about in a gap of the discharge region which is injected with a gas containing at least oxygen gas. In the first electrode 7, an ozone gas passage (8) for taking out ozone gas generated by the discharge region is formed between an electrode surface facing the discharge region and a side portion. A plurality of the ozone gas passages are dispersed in the first electrode. The plurality of ozone gas passages (8) collect and draw out ozone gas generated at a plurality of the discharge region locations inside the first electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2003
    Publication date: April 22, 2004
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Youichiro Tabata, Akaru Usui, Yujiro Okihara, Tetsuya Saitsu, Norimitsu Esaki, Hajime Nakatani
  • Publication number: 20040052701
    Abstract: An ozonizer has a flat plate-shaped low voltage electrode and a flat plate-shaped high voltage electrode facing a main surface of the low voltage electrode. The ozonizer also has a flat plate-shaped dielectric and a spacer for forming a discharge gap having a thickness in a laminating direction, provided between the low voltage electrode and the electrode, an electrode cooling sheet facing a main surface of the electrode at a side opposite the discharge gap for cooling the electrode. The ozonizer also has a thermally conducting and electrically insulating sheet sandwiched between the electrode and the electrode cooling sheet. An alternating voltage is applied between the low voltage electrode and the electrode and a discharge is produced in the discharge gap so that, when filled with oxygen, ozone gas is produced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2002
    Publication date: March 18, 2004
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yujiro Okihara, Youichiro Tabata, Akaru Usui, Hiromichi Komiya, Yuji Ganryu, Masaki Kuzumoto, Noboru Wada, Koji Ohta, Shigenori Yagi, Hirozoh Kanegae
  • Patent number: RE40746
    Abstract: An ozonizer has a flat plate-shaped low voltage electrode 7, a flat plate-shaped high voltage electrode 3 facing a main surface of the low voltage electrode 7. The ozonizer also has a flat plate-shaped dielectric 5 and a spacer for forming a discharge gap 6 of a thin thickness in a laminating direction provided between the low voltage electrode 7 and the electrode 3, an electrode cooling sheet 1 provided facing a main surface of the electrode 3 at a side opposite the discharge gap 6 for cooling the electrode 3. The ozonizer also has a thermal conducting/electric insulating sheet 2 sandwiched between the electrode 3 and the electrode cooling sheet 1. An alternating voltage is applied between the low voltage electrode 7 and the electrode 3 and a discharge is produced in the discharge gap 6 injected with oxygen gas to produce ozone gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2009
    Assignee: Toshiba Mitsubishi-Electric Industrial System Corporation
    Inventors: Yujiro Okihara, Youichiro Tabata, Akaru Usui, Hiromichi Komiya, Yuji Ganryu, Masaki Kuzumoto, Noboru Wada, Koji Ohta, Shigenori Yagi, Hirozoh Kanegae