Patents by Inventor Yukihito Ichikawa
Yukihito Ichikawa 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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Publication number: 20040052941Abstract: A thin-walled honeycomb structure includes: a circumferential wall, numerous partition walls disposed inside the circumferential wall, and numerous cell passages defined by the partition walls. A circumferential portion of the honeycomb structure is reinforced wholly or in a part within a certain distance from an extremity surface of the honeycomb structure by a reinforcing material that dissipates or evaporates at a high temperature, and a method for producing the same.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 23, 2003Publication date: March 18, 2004Applicant: NGK Insulators, Ltd.Inventors: Yukihito Ichikawa, Koichi Ikeshima
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Publication number: 20040013582Abstract: An assembling method for an assembly is provided: the assembly comprising a cell structure (1) housed and held in a metal vessel (5) via a compressible material having a cushioning property (7) by arranging it between outer periphery of the structure (1) and the vessel (5) in a compressed state with applying a mounting pressure to the structure (1) via the material (7) to hold the structure (1) in the vessel (5). Information regarding outside dimension of the structure (1) and/or inside dimension of the vessel (5) being marked on their surfaces prior to the start of assembly, and the information is read, and a cell structure (1) and a metal vessel (5) are selected based on read information in assembly to achieve a proper holding condition therebetween. Regardless of variations in external dimension of the structure, etc. constituting the assembly, the minimization thereof, and proper holding state may be achieved easily without causing a fracture of the structure, etc.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 9, 2002Publication date: January 22, 2004Inventors: Yukihito Ichikawa, Eiji Ito, Koichi Ikeshima, Masayoshi Miwa, Shinichi Tosa, Tomomi Sugiyama
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Patent number: 6656564Abstract: A ceramic honeycomb structure (1) constituted by cell walls (ribs) (2) forming a composite structure from a plurality of cells (3) being adjacent each other and a honeycomb outer wall (4) surrounding and holding the outermost peripheral cells located at the circumference of the composite structure; said composite structure satisfying the followings: the basic thickness of the cell walls (2) (the basic cell wall thickness) (Tc) is Tc≦0.12 mm, the outer wall thickness (Ts) of the honeycomb structure is Ts≧0.05 mm, and the open frontal area (P) is P≧80%, and there is a relation shown by formula: 1.10≦(Tr1˜Tr3-20)/Tc≦3.00 between the basic cell wall thickness (Tc) and each cell wall thickness (Tr1˜Tr3-20) of cells existing between an outermost peripheral cell and any cell within a first end cell from a third cell to a twentieth cell extending inwardly, taking the outermost peripheral cell as a first starting cell.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 2002Date of Patent: December 2, 2003Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.Inventors: Yukihito Ichikawa, Takahiro Kondo, Makoto Miyazaki, Masahiro Shirai
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Patent number: 6656298Abstract: A thin-walled honeycomb structure includes: a circumferential wall, numerous partition walls disposed inside the circumferential wall, and numerous cell passages defined by the partition walls. A circumferential portion of the honeycomb structure is reinforced wholly or in a part within a certain distance from an extremity surface of the honeycomb structure by a reinforcing material that dissipates or evaporates at a high temperature, and a method for producing the same.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 2001Date of Patent: December 2, 2003Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.Inventors: Yukihito Ichikawa, Koichi Ikeshima
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Publication number: 20030000089Abstract: There is provided an assembling method for an assembly in which a cell structure is housed and held in a metal vessel via a compressible material by arranging the compressible material having a cushioning property between the outer periphery of the cell structure and the tubular metal vessel in a compressed state and applying a mounting pressure to the cell structure via the compressible material to hold the cell structure in the metal vessel. Information regarding the thickness and/or bulk density of the compressible material has been marked on the member surface prior to the start of an assembling process, the information is read in the assembling process, and a cell structure, a metal vessel, and a compressible material having a proper holding condition are selected based on the read information. Even if the external-shape dimension of the cell structure etc. constituting the assembly varies, the influence of variation can be made little, and a proper holding state without a fracture etc.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 10, 2002Publication date: January 2, 2003Inventors: Yukihito Ichikawa, Eiji Ito, Koichi Ikeshima, Masayasu Ishikawa
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Publication number: 20030000060Abstract: There is provided an assembling method for assembling an assembly by combining a plurality of mating members with each other. Inherent information regarding dimensions of individual members, which is necessary for the combination of members, has been marked on the member surface prior to the start of an assembling process, the information marked on the member is read in the assembling process, and members having a dimension that meets a proper combining condition are selected based on the information. An individual member and inherent information regarding the dimension etc. of members can be handled integrally, when the mating members are combined with each other, members having a dimension that meets a proper combining condition are selected, and when the member is processed so as to correspond to the property thereof, proper processing corresponding to the inherent properties of each member can be performed easily and surely without troublesome work.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 11, 2002Publication date: January 2, 2003Inventors: Yukihito Ichikawa, Eiji Ito
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Publication number: 20020192426Abstract: A ceramic honeycomb structure (1) constituted by cell walls (ribs) (2) forming a composite structure from a plurality of cells (3) being adjacent each other and a honeycomb outer wall (4) surrounding and holding the outermost peripheral cells located at the circumference of the composite structure; said composite structure satisfying the followings:Type: ApplicationFiled: April 23, 2002Publication date: December 19, 2002Inventors: Yukihito Ichikawa, Takahiro Kondo, Makoto Miyazaki, Masahiro Shirai
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Patent number: 6421915Abstract: A hexagonal-cell honeycomb structure having a plurality of cell passages, wherein the sectional shape of each cell is hexagonal and the ratio (C/B) of the average C-axis compression fracture strength (C) and the average B-axis compression fracture strength (B) both of the honeycomb structure is 0.9 or more; and a method for fixing said structure. This hexagonal-cell honeycomb structure is high in mechanical strength, good in purifiability of automobile exhaust gas, and low in pressure loss and therefore can be suitably used particularly as a carrier for catalyst for purification of automobile exhaust gas.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 2000Date of Patent: July 23, 2002Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.Inventor: Yukihito Ichikawa
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Patent number: 6375695Abstract: Filter has a filter main body, a container, a first counter room, and a second counter room. A counter air is introduced into the first counter room through the counter air discharge valve, and fine particles trapped in the filter main body are removed and transported to the second counter room. Then, the removed fine particles are further transported to a process portion isolated from an exhaust gas passage, and the fine particles are fired in the process portion. Since the process portion is isolated from the exhaust gas passage, the fine particles in the process portion are not returned to the filter main body. Moreover, since the fine particles are transported by the counter air only to the second counter room, it is possible to reduce an amount of the counter air.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 1995Date of Patent: April 23, 2002Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.Inventors: Minoru Machida, Toshio Yamada, Takeshi Naito, Yukihito Ichikawa
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Patent number: 6352756Abstract: A thin-walled honeycomb structure includes: a circumferential wall, numerous partition walls disposed inside the circumferential wall, and numerous cell passages defined by the partition walls. A circumferential portion of the honeycomb structure is reinforced wholly or in a part within a certain distance from an extremity surface of the honeycomb structure by a reinforcing material that dissipates or evaporates at a high temperature, and a method for producing the same.Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 1999Date of Patent: March 5, 2002Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.Inventors: Yukihito Ichikawa, Koichi Ikeshima
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Publication number: 20020022109Abstract: A thin-walled honeycomb structure includes: a circumferential wall, numerous partition walls disposed inside the circumferential wall, and numerous cell passages defined by the partition walls. A circumferential portion of the honeycomb structure is reinforced wholly or in a part within a certain distance from an extremity surface of the honeycomb structure by a reinforcing material that dissipates or evaporates at a high temperature, and a method for producing the same.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 18, 2001Publication date: February 21, 2002Applicant: NGK INSULATORS, LTD.Inventors: Yukihito Ichikawa, Koichi Ikeshima
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Publication number: 20010037729Abstract: Filter has a filter main body, a container, a first counter room, and a second counter room. A counter air is introduced into the first counter room through the counter air discharge valve, and fine particles trapped in the filter main body are removed and transported to the second counter room. Then, the removed fine particles are further transported to a process portion isolated from an exhaust gas passage, and the fine particles are fired in the process portion. Since the process portion is isolated from the exhaust gas passage, the fine particles in the process portion is not returned to the filter main body. Moreover, since the fine particles are transported by the counter air only to the second counter room, it is possible to reduce an amount of the counter air.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 10, 1995Publication date: November 8, 2001Applicant: NGK INSULATORS, LTD.Inventors: MINORU MACHIDA, TOSHIO YAMADA, TAKESHI NAITO, YUKIHITO ICHIKAWA
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Publication number: 20010036427Abstract: A cell structure mounting container comprises a cell structure stored within a metal container. The cell structure is held within the metal container by providing a compressed resilience material having cushioning characteristics between the cell structure and the metal container in a compressed state. The compressed resilience material is a heat-resistant and low-expansion material containing ceramic fibers or ceramic fibers and heat-resistant metal fibers. Accordingly, compression characteristics which do not greatly fluctuate within the usage temperature range are obtained, the compression force acting on the periphery portion of the cell structure does not change greatly, and further, the compression force acts essentially uniformly on the periphery portion of the cell structure.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 6, 2001Publication date: November 1, 2001Applicant: NGK INSULATORS, LTD.Inventors: Toshio Yamada, Toshihiko Hijikata, Yukihito Ichikawa
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Patent number: 6159578Abstract: A hexagonal-cell honeycomb structure having a plurality of cell passages, wherein the sectional shape of each cell is hexagonal and the ratio (C/B) of the average C-axis compression fracture strength (C) and the average B-axis compression fracture strength (B) both of the honeycomb structure is 0.9 or more; and a method for fixing said structure. This hexagonal-cell honeycomb structure is high in mechanical strength, good in purifiability of automobile exhaust gas, and low in pressure loss and therefore can be suitably used particularly as a carrier for catalyst for purification of automobile exhaust gas.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 1999Date of Patent: December 12, 2000Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.Inventor: Yukihito Ichikawa
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Patent number: 5866079Abstract: A ceramic honeycomb catalytic converter having a novel canning structure capable of stably retaining a thin-walled ceramic honeycomb catalyst within a metal casing for a long period. A retainer member in the form of a ceramic fiber mat is disposed between an inner peripheral surface of the casing and an outer peripheral surface of the honeycomb catalyst, in a compressed state to generate a surface pressure for retaining the honeycomb catalyst in place. The ceramic fiber mat is composed of heat resistant and non-intumescent ceramic fibers, and has a compression characteristic which is substantially free from a significant increase or decrease over an operative temperature range of the catalytic converter. The casing may be provided with at least one locking member for locking the ceramic fiber mat in a flow direction of exhaust gas passed through the honeycomb catalyst.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 1994Date of Patent: February 2, 1999Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.Inventors: Minoru Machida, Toshio Yamada, Toshihiko Hijikata, Yukihito Ichikawa
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Patent number: 5595581Abstract: An exhaust gas filter is provided, including a honeycomb structure having a plurality of partition walls defining through-holes extending along an axial direction. The through-holes include first and second groups. The first group is plugged via first sealing members at a second axial end of the honeycomb structure, while the second group is plugged via second sealing members at the first axial end of the honeycomb structure. The first group of through-holes is adapted to receive exhaust gas, and trap therein fine particles. The first sealing members have a three-dimensional micropore structure that includes interconnected pores to allow blowback air to pass therethrough. The blowback air flows through both the first sealing members and the partition walls defining the second through-holes so as to remove the fine particles that have collected in the first through-holes.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 1995Date of Patent: January 21, 1997Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.Inventors: Yukihito Ichikawa, Yoshiyuki Kasai, Yoshiro Ono
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Patent number: 5592925Abstract: An exhaust gas recirculation device for an internal combustion engine has a filter for trapping particulates in a recirculation gas, which is arranged in a recirculation gas route, and a device for generating a reverse air flow in which a pure gas flow for the reverse air flow passing through said filter in a reverse direction with respect to a recirculation gas flowing direction in the filter is generated. In the exhaust gas circulation device, the trapped gases are discharged out of the filter by the reverse air flow and are not returned into the internal combustion engine due to an engine exhaust pressure.Type: GrantFiled: September 6, 1995Date of Patent: January 14, 1997Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.Inventors: Minoru Machida, Toshio Yamada, Yukihito Ichikawa, Yoshiyuki Kasai
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Patent number: 5494881Abstract: A ceramic honeycomb catalyst includes a thin-walled honeycomb structural body (10) and a catalytic substance carried by the honeycomb structural body (10). The honeycomb structural body (10) has a number of longitudinally extending flow passages (13) defined by an outer peripheral wall (11) and partition walls (12) with a reduced thickness (t). The honeycomb structural body (10) satisfies particular relationships between the partition wall thickness (t) and the open frontal area (OFA) or bulk density (G). Notwithstanding the thin-walled partition walls, the honeycomb structural body (10) has practically satisfactory compressive strength characteristics. The catalyst comprising the honeycomb structural body (10) has reduced pressure loss and heat capacity.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 1994Date of Patent: February 27, 1996Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.Inventors: Minoru Machida, Toshio Yamada, Yukihito Ichikawa
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Patent number: 5259675Abstract: A ceramic guide pin having a guide portion, wherein at least the guide portion has a surface so shaped, microscopically, that top portions of outwardly projected portions of the surface are in the shape of gently curved surfaces. The ceramic guide pin can be produced by a process which comprises the steps of preparing a shaped body of a ceramic guide pin by forming or machining in dimensions calculated from the desired finished dimensions and a firing shrinkage allowance factor, sintering said shaped body, and subjecting the sintered body to barrel polishing.Type: GrantFiled: February 21, 1992Date of Patent: November 9, 1993Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.Inventors: Yukihito Ichikawa, Koji Fushimi