IP Library Granted Patent US 12,292,218
Granted Patent B2
US 12,292,218 · App. 17/388,451 · Granted May 6, 2025

Reservoir tank, cooling device, and projector

Inventors: Toshihiko Matsuda (Osaka, JP); Shigeyoshi Matsui (Osaka, JP); Shigekazu Yamagishi (Osaka, JP)
Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
F25B43/006G03B21/16
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,292,218
App. No.
17/388,451
Granted
May 6, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A reservoir tank includes: a tank main body configured to store a refrigerant within the tank main body; an inflow path configured to allow the refrigerant to flow into the tank main body; an outflow path configured to allow the refrigerant to flow out of the tank main body; a collision member that has a first surface and faces an outlet of the inflow path within the tank main body, wherein the collision member is configured such that the refrigerant flowing out from the outlet of the inflow path collides against the first surface; and an air bubble mixing prevention member that faces an inlet of the outflow path within the tank main body, wherein the air bubble mixing prevention member is configured to prevent air bubbles from getting into the outflow path.

Claims (31)

1. A reservoir tank comprising:

a tank main body configured to store a refrigerant within the tank main body;

an inflow path configured to allow the refrigerant to flow into the tank main body;

an outflow path configured to allow the refrigerant to flow out of the tank main body; and

an air bubble mixing prevention member that faces an inlet of the outflow path within the tank main body, wherein

the air bubble mixing prevention member is configured to prevent air bubbles from getting into the outflow path,

the inflow path includes a first inflow path into which the refrigerant flows from outside the tank main body, and a second inflow path connected to an outlet of the inflow path from the first inflow path,

the second inflow path has a cross-sectional area larger than a cross-sectional area of the first inflow path, and

the air bubble mixing prevention member includes:

a lid portion facing the inlet of the outflow path; and

a wall surrounding both of the inlet of the outflow path and the lid portion.

2. The reservoir tank according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a collision member that has a first surface and faces the outlet of the inflow path within the tank main body, wherein the collision member is configured such that the refrigerant flowing out from the outlet of the inflow path collides against the first surface of the collision member.

3. The reservoir tank according to claim 1 , wherein the inlet of the outflow path is disposed within the tank main body at a position away from an inner wall of the tank main body.

4. The reservoir tank according to claim 1 , wherein the inflow path is configured such that a direction in which the refrigerant flows through the first inflow path is orthogonal to a direction in which the refrigerant flows through the second inflow path.

5. The reservoir tank according to claim 2 , wherein

the outlet of the inflow path and the inlet of the outflow path are disposed in a first direction,

the outlet of the inflow path is provided at a position different from a position of the inlet of the outflow path in the first direction, and

the collision member is disposed between the outlet of the inflow path and the inlet of the outflow path in the first direction.

6. The reservoir tank according to claim 2 , wherein

the collision member has a second surface opposite to the first surface, and

the collision member has one or more through holes through which the refrigerant moves from the first surface toward the second surface.

7. The reservoir tank according to claim 2 , wherein the collision member and the air bubble mixing prevention member are provided integrally.

8. The reservoir tank according to claim 2 , wherein the first surface of the collision member is provided in a planar shape.

9. A cooling device comprising:

the reservoir tank according to claim 1 ;

a pump configured to circulate the refrigerant;

a heat sink configured to receive heat from a heat source; and

a heat exchanger configured to cool the refrigerant,

wherein the heating element is cooled by circulation of the refrigerant stored in the reservoir tank.

10. A projector comprising the cooling device according to claim 9 .

Assignments (3)
NUNC PRO TUNC ASSIGNMENT Recorded Feb 24, 2026
From: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
To: PANASONIC PROJECTOR & DISPLAY CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 074988/0945 →
CHANGE OF ADDRESS Recorded Feb 24, 2026
From: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
To: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 074984/0429 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 14, 2021
From: MATSUDA, TOSHIHIKO; MATSUI, SHIGEYOSHI; YAMAGISHI, SHIGEKAZU
To: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 058106/0543 →
Priority Claims (2)
JP 2020-128434 · Jul 29, 2020 · national
JP 2021-122937 · Jul 28, 2021 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20220034563A1 · Feb 3, 2022
References Cited (10)
US 20040001312A1 · Hotta et al. · 2004 [cited by applicant]
CN 105091429A · 2015 [cited by examiner]
EP 2631566A1 · 2013 [cited by examiner]
JP 58031004 · 1983 [cited by applicant]
JP 2002090007A · 2002 [cited by examiner]
JP 200484958 · 2004 [cited by applicant]
JP 2005286119 · 2005 [cited by applicant]
JP 3885679 · 2007 [cited by applicant]
JP 2013026527A · 2013 [cited by examiner]
JP 201345942 · 2013 [cited by applicant]