Patents by Inventor Yuuichi Yakumaru

Yuuichi Yakumaru 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).

  • Publication number: 20170092255
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell, an air supplier that supplies air to a cathode of the fuel cell, a flow rate sensor that senses an air flow rate, and a silencer that reduces sound of a certain frequency through interference of an acoustic wave, the flow rate sensor, the air supplier, and the fuel cell being arranged in an air passage in series in order named from an upstream side of flow of the air, the silencer being arranged in a branch portion of the air passage, the branch portion being between the flow rate sensor and the air supplier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2016
    Publication date: March 30, 2017
    Inventors: YUUICHI YAKUMARU, AKINORI YUKIMASA
  • Publication number: 20150263362
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a hydro-desulfurizer that removes sulfur compounds in power generation material, a fuel cell unit that generates electric power using the power generation material, a recycle channel that supplies a part of hydrogen-containing gas from the fuel cell unit to the power generation material before the power generation material enters the hydro-desulfurizer, and an ejector which is provided in a power generation material channel upstream of the hydro-desulfurizer and into which hydrogen-containing gas from the recycle channel flows, in which the ejector is heated by exhaust gas discharged from the fuel cell unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2015
    Publication date: September 17, 2015
    Inventor: YUUICHI YAKUMARU
  • Publication number: 20150030943
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes: a reformer to generate a fuel gas from a raw material gas, reforming water, and air supplied to the reformer; an SOFC to generate electric power through a power-generating reaction by utilizing the fuel gas and air; a combustor to combust an anode off gas discharged from the SOFC; a hot module housing the reformer, the SOFC, and the combustor, which are covered with a heat insulating material; and a hydrodesulfurizer to remove a sulfur component from the raw material gas by hydrodesulfurization. The anode off gas is supplied to the combustor and the hydrodesulfurizer in a distributed manner. The hydrodesulfurizer performs the hydrodesulfurization of the raw material gas by utilizing the anode off gas as a hydrogen source and utilizing an exhaust gas discharged from the hot module as a heat source, the exhaust gas containing at least combustion heat from the combustor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2014
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventors: Susumu Kobayashi, Kunihiro Ukai, Yuuichi Yakumaru
  • Patent number: 7975502
    Abstract: In a heat pump apparatus of the invention, a refrigerant is circulated through a compressor 31, a radiator 32, a first throttle apparatus 33, a heat exchanger 34, a second throttle apparatus 35 and an evaporator 36 in this order. The heat exchanger 34 can be utilized as both a radiator and an evaporator by operating the first throttle apparatus 33 and the second throttle apparatus 35. Therefore, even if the outside air temperature is high, discharge pressure and suction pressure of the compressor do not rise, the heat pump apparatus can be operated in a stable refrigeration cycle, and energy can be saved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Tomoichiro Tamura, Yuuichi Yakumaru, Masaya Honma, Fumitoshi Nishiwaki
  • Patent number: 7730729
    Abstract: A compressor, a radiator, an expander, and an evaporator are connected in series to define a refrigerating cycle. A bypass circuit that bypasses the expander, an on-off valve disposed in the bypass circuit, and a controller C1 for controlling an opening of the on-off valve are provided in the refrigerating cycle. During defrosting, the controller C1 controls the on-off valve so that a refrigerant may flow through the bypass circuit, thereby avoiding reduction in the amount of flow of the refrigerant during defrosting and preventing the defrosting operation from being prolonged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Yuuichi Yakumaru, Tetsuya Saito, Tomoichiro Tamura, Masaya Honma
  • Patent number: 7469486
    Abstract: A drying apparatus has a heat pump comprising a compressor (31), a radiator (32), a throttle apparatus (33) and an evaporator (34), and also includes a structure in which drying air heated by heat of the radiator (32) is introduced to a subject (37) to be dried is dehumidified by the evaporator (34). The drying apparatus also includes a bypass circuit (39) through which a portion of dying air heated by the radiator (32) flows to an inlet of the evaporator (34) without coming into contact with the subject, a super heat detecting device (43, 44) for detecting super heat of the heat pump apparatus, and a throttle apparatus control device for controlling flow path resistance in the bypass circuit (39) using a value detected by the super heat detecting device (43, 44).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomoichiro Tamura, Yuuichi Yakumaru, Fumitoshi Nishiwaki
  • Publication number: 20080168781
    Abstract: A compressor 1, a radiator 2, an expander 3, and an evaporator 4 are connected in series to define a refrigerating cycle. A bypass circuit 6 that bypasses the expander 3, an on-off valve 7 disposed in the bypass circuit 6, and a controller C1 for controlling an opening of the on-off valve 7 are provided in the refrigerating cycle. During defrosting, the controller C1 controls the on-off valve 7 so that a refrigerant may flow through the bypass circuit 6, thereby avoiding reduction in the amount of flow of the refrigerant during defrosting and preventing the defrosting operation from being prolonged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2006
    Publication date: July 17, 2008
    Inventors: Yuuichi Yakumaru, Tetsuya Saito, Tomoichiro Tamura, Masaya Honma
  • Patent number: 7350366
    Abstract: The present invention provides a heat pump including: a compressor; a radiator; a first throttling device having a variable opening; an expander; a second throttling device having a variable opening; an evaporator; piping that connects the compressor, the radiator, the first throttling device, the expander, the second throttling device, and the evaporator so that refrigerant circulates thorough the elements in that order; and a control device for controlling the opening of the first throttling device and the opening of the second throttling device. This heat pump is capable of independently controlling the pressure of the refrigerant flowing into the expander (intermediate pressure) and pressure in a high-pressure side of a refrigeration cycle, and also is capable of size reduction, or in some cases elimination, of a receiver for the refrigerant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuuichi Yakumaru, Tomoichiro Tamura, Tetsuya Saito, Masaya Honma
  • Patent number: 7302807
    Abstract: In a refrigerating cycle device using carbon dioxide as a refrigerant, there exists a problem that the provision of a receiver at a low-pressure side increases cost and volume due to a pressure resistance design necessary for ensuring safety. By adjusting a refrigerant holding quantity of a first heat exchanger in such a manner that a refrigerant pressure of the first heat exchanger 13 is changed by operating a first decompressor 12 and a second decompressor 15, an imbalance of a refrigerant quantity between time for space cooling and time for heating or dehumidifying can be alleviated and hence, it is possible to perform an operation of the refrigerating cycle device with high efficiency with a miniaturized receiver or without providing the receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuuichi Yakumaru, Masami Funakura, Fumitoshi Nishiwaki, Noriho Okaza
  • Publication number: 20070151266
    Abstract: A refrigeration cycle apparatus includes a compressor, a radiator, an expander, an evaporator, a bypass circuit, and an injection circuit. The bypass circuit has a flow rate control valve and a gas-liquid separator. One end of the bypass circuit is connected to an intake conduit of the expander and the other end thereof is connected to a discharge conduit of the expander so that a portion of refrigerant passed through the radiator bypasses the expander and is guided to the flow rate control valve and that the liquid refrigerant separated by the gas-liquid separator returns to the discharge conduit of the expander. One end of the injection circuit is connected to a gas outlet portion of the gas-liquid separator and the other end thereof is connected to an intermediate pressure portion of the compressor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2006
    Publication date: July 5, 2007
    Applicant: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuuichi Yakumaru, Kou Komori, Tomoichiro Tamura, Masaya Honma
  • Publication number: 20070107255
    Abstract: It has been difficult to operate a drying apparatus in a stable and high-efficiency state where a superheat value is changed in a drying process. A drying apparatus includes: a first temperature sensor 38 which detects the temperature of a refrigerant between the outlet of an evaporator 34 and the inlet of a compressor 31; and control means 14 for controlling a superheat value by changing flow resistance of an expansion valve 33 based on a detected value of the first temperature sensor 38. The control means 14 controls the superheat value in the drying process to become a target value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2005
    Publication date: May 17, 2007
    Applicant: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tomoichiro Tamura, Yuuichi Yakumaru, Masaya Honma, Fumitoshi Nishiwaki
  • Publication number: 20070068178
    Abstract: A heat pump of the present invention has a compressor and an expander coupled with a common axis of rotation, a first throttling device disposed in a circulation passage of refrigerant, and a second throttling device disposed in a bypass passage diverted from the expander. A control device controls the openings of these throttling devices. The control device executes a first controlling in which the opening of the first throttling device is adjusted in order to bring a high pressure PH in a refrigeration cycle close to a predetermined value determined based on a value at which the coefficient of performance (COP) of the heat pump is optimized, and after the first controlling is completed, it executes a second controlling in which the opening of the second throttling device is adjusted in order to bring a degree of superheat SH close to a predetermined positive value. This ensures smooth and stable operations of the heat pump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Publication date: March 29, 2007
    Applicant: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masaya HONMA, Yuuichi YAKUMARU, Tomoichiro Tamura, Tetsuya SAITO
  • Patent number: 7191543
    Abstract: A drying apparatus comprising a heat pump apparatus in which a refrigerant circulates through a compressor, a radiator, a throttle apparatus and an evaporator in this order, in which air heated by the radiator is introduced into a dry chamber, the air coming out from the dry chamber is cooled by a cooling apparatus, the air cooled by the cooling apparatus is dehumidified by the evaporator, and the air dehumidified by the evaporator is again heated by the radiator, wherein the drying apparatus further comprises compressor input detecting means for detecting input of the compressor, and cooling quantity control means for controlling a cooling quantity of the cooling apparatus using a value detected by the compressor input detecting means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuuichi Yakumaru, Tomoichiro Tamura, Fumitoshi Nishiwaki
  • Publication number: 20060266057
    Abstract: The present invention provides a heat pump including: a compressor; a radiator; a first throttling device having a variable opening; an expander; a second throttling device having a variable opening; an evaporator; piping that connects the compressor, the radiator, the first throttling device, the expander, the second throttling device, and the evaporator so that refrigerant circulates thorough the elements in that order; and a control device for controlling the opening of the first throttling device and the opening of the second throttling device. This heat pump is capable of independently controlling the pressure of the refrigerant flowing into the expander (intermediate pressure) and pressure in a high-pressure side of a refrigeration cycle, and also is capable of size reduction, or in some cases elimination, of a receiver for the refrigerant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2006
    Publication date: November 30, 2006
    Applicant: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuuichi Yakumaru, Tomoichiro Tamura, Tetsuya Saito, Masaya Honma
  • Publication number: 20060179681
    Abstract: A drying apparatus has a heat pump comprising a compressor (31), a radiator (32), a throttle apparatus (33) and an evaporator (34), and also includes a structure in which drying air heated by heat of the radiator (32) is introduced to a subject (37) to be dried is dehumidified by the evaporator (34). The drying apparatus also includes a bypass circuit (39) through which a portion of dying air heated by the radiator (32) flows to an inlet of the evaporator (34) without coming into contact with the subject, a super heat detecting device (43, 44) for detecting super heat of the heat pump apparatus, and a throttle apparatus control device for controlling flow path resistance in the bypass circuit (39) using a value detected by the super heat detecting device (43, 44).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2004
    Publication date: August 17, 2006
    Applicant: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tomoichiro Tamura, Yuuichi Yakumaru, Fumitoshi Nishiwaki
  • Patent number: 7069983
    Abstract: An air conditioner for a vehicle includes a refrigerant cycle having an evaporator which is disposed in a blowing duct and cools air by refrigerant evaporation in the blowing duct; a compressor setting the evaporated refrigerant at a high temperature and high pressure; a refrigerant-to-water heat exchanger heating cooling water by heat transfer from the refrigerant discharged from the compressor; and an expansion device decompressing the refrigerant discharged from the refrigerant-to-water heat exchanger. The air conditioner also includes a cooling water cycle having a heater core which is disposed on the downstream side of the evaporator; a radiator cooling the cooling water; a pump circulating the cooling water cooled by the radiator; a power engine cooled by the cooling water fed by the pump; and the refrigerant-to-water heat exchanger. The refrigerant cycle performs cooling for dehumidification by performing the operation of heating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuuichi Yakumaru, Fumitoshi Nishiwaki, Noriho Okaza
  • Publication number: 20050241818
    Abstract: An air conditioner for a vehicle includes a refrigerant cycle having an evaporator which is disposed in a blowing duct and cools air by refrigerant evaporation in the blowing duct; a compressor setting the evaporated refrigerant at a high temperature and high pressure; a refrigerant-to-water heat exchanger heating cooling water by heat transfer from the refrigerant discharged from the compressor; and an expansion device decompressing the refrigerant discharged from the refrigerant-to-water heat exchanger, The air conditioner also includes a cooling water cycle having a heater core which is disposed on the downstream side of the evaporator; a radiator cooling the cooling water; a pump circulating the cooling water cooled by the radiator; a power engine cooled by the cooling water fed by the pump; and the refrigerant-to-water heat exchanger. The refrigerant cycle performs cooling for dehumidification by performing the operation of heating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2005
    Publication date: November 3, 2005
    Inventors: Yuuichi Yakumaru, Fumitoshi Nishiwaki, Noriho Okaza
  • Publication number: 20050217133
    Abstract: A drying apparatus comprising a heat pump apparatus in which a refrigerant circulates through a compressor, a radiator, a throttle apparatus and an evaporator in this order, in which air heated by the radiator is introduced into a dry chamber, the air coming out from the dry chamber is cooled by a cooling apparatus, the air cooled by the cooling apparatus is dehumidified by the evaporator, and the air dehumidified by the evaporator is again heated by the radiator, wherein the drying apparatus further comprises compressor input detecting means for detecting input of the compressor, and cooling quantity control means for controlling a cooling quantity of the cooling apparatus using a value detected by the compressor input detecting means.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2004
    Publication date: October 6, 2005
    Inventors: Yuuichi Yakumaru, Tomoichiro Tamura, Fumitoshi Nishiwaki
  • Publication number: 20050204755
    Abstract: A drying apparatus has a heat pump apparatus having a compressor, a radiator, an expansion mechanism and an evaporator connected in this order via pipes through which a refrigerant is circulated. The drying apparatus has a structure in which drying air heated in the radiator is introduced into a subject to be dried, drying air obtained by removing moisture or water from the subject to be dried is cooled and dehumidified by the evaporator, and then the drying air is reheated in the radiator to be reused as renewed drying air. The drying apparatus also has a structure in which drain water generated by dehumidifying the drying air in the evaporator is dropped or sprayed into the radiator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2005
    Publication date: September 22, 2005
    Applicant: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Fumitoshi Nishiwaki, Yuuichi Yakumaru, Tomoichiro Tamura
  • Patent number: 6871511
    Abstract: Refrigeration-cycle equipment wherein an oil separator is installed as a refrigerant vessel in a part of the high-pressure-side circuit. A linear compressor of an oil-less type or an oil-poor type is used. Alternatively, the quantity of the CO2 refrigerant filled in the circuit is 0.25 kg or less per liter on the basis of the total internal volume of the circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2005
    Inventors: Noriho Okaza, Masami Funakura, Fumitoshi Nishiwaki, Yuji Yoshida, Yuuichi Yakumaru