Patents by Inventor Akio Osuka

Akio Osuka 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: 11046352
    Abstract: A steering column includes: a cylindrical member that holds a steering shaft in such a manner as to allow extension and contraction of the steering shaft; a holding member that holds the cylindrical member; a fixture member that is fixed to a vehicle body; a coupling member that couples the fixture member and the holding member; and an energy absorbing member that is partially fixed to the holding member. The coupling member uncouples the fixture member and the holding member when the holding member moves forward for a specified distance in an axial direction. The fixture member has an engaging section arranged at a position where the engaging section is engaged with an engaged section of the energy absorbing member when the holding member moves forward for the specified distance or longer in the axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignees: JTEKT CORPORATION, FUJI KIKO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hidekazu Miyai, Osamu Fujimura, Yota Uesaka, Yasuhiro Tanioka, Akio Osuka, Takuya Suzuki
  • Patent number: 10894558
    Abstract: A steering system includes a steering shaft, a fixed bracket, a column jacket, and a lock mechanism. The lock mechanism includes an insertion shaft, an operation member, a first pressing member, a second pressing member, and a drive mechanism. The lock mechanism is configured to lock a position of the column jacket relative to the fixed bracket after the tilt adjustment. The drive mechanism is configured to move at least one of the first pressing member and the second pressing member so that the first pressing member and the second pressing member approach each other in an insertion axis direction of the insertion shaft along with rotation of the operation member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takuya Suzuki, Akio Osuka
  • Publication number: 20190359245
    Abstract: A steering column includes: a cylindrical member that holds a steering shaft in such a manner as to allow extension and contraction of the steering shaft; a holding member that holds the cylindrical member; a fixture member that is fixed to a vehicle body; a coupling member that couples the fixture member and the holding member; and an energy absorbing member that is partially fixed to the holding member. The coupling member uncouples the fixture member and the holding member when the holding member moves forward for a specified distance in an axial direction. The fixture member has an engaging section arranged at a position where the engaging section is engaged with an engaged section of the energy absorbing member when the holding member moves forward for the specified distance or longer in the axial direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2019
    Publication date: November 28, 2019
    Applicants: JTEKT CORPORATION, FUJI KIKO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hidekazu MIYAI, Osamu FUJIMURA, Yota UESAKA, Yasuhiro TANIOKA, Akio OSUKA, Takuya SUZUKI
  • Publication number: 20190329813
    Abstract: A steering column device includes: an outer tube in which a high rigidity portion and a low rigidity portion are formed; an inner tube disposed in the outer tube; a tubular retainer disposed between the outer tube and the inner tube; at least three protruding portions formed on an outer peripheral surface of the retainer; and a fastening mechanism that regulates relative movement of the outer tube and the inner tube in an axial direction. The at least three protruding portions include: a first protruding portion and a second protruding portion that are disposed so that a midpoint between the first protruding portion and the second protruding portion in a circumferential direction is offset to the high rigidity portion side from a vertical line; and a third protruding portion that is disposed in a region of the low rigidity portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2019
    Publication date: October 31, 2019
    Applicant: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akio OSUKA, Yasuhiro TANIOKA, Takuya SUZUKI, Ryoji IKEGAMI
  • Publication number: 20190283792
    Abstract: A steering system includes a steering shaft, a fixed bracket, a column jacket, and a lock mechanism. The lock mechanism includes an insertion shaft, an operation member, a first pressing member, a second pressing member, and a drive mechanism. The lock mechanism is configured to lock a position of the column jacket relative to the fixed bracket after the tilt adjustment. The drive mechanism is configured to move at least one of the first pressing member and the second pressing member so that the first pressing member and the second pressing member approach each other in an insertion axis direction of the insertion shaft along with rotation of the operation member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2019
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Applicant: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takuya SUZUKI, Akio OSUKA
  • Patent number: 8733201
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a steering apparatus for a vehicle mounting a steering lock device to an upper tube by small numbers of constructing parts. A guide supporting mechanism guiding and supporting a upper tube in relation to a lower housing along an axial direction of the upper tube includes a guide bracket portion fixed to the upper tube, and a guide portion mounted in the lower housing to guide and support the guide bracket along the axial direction of the guide tube. A steering lock device locking and unlocking rotation of the upper shaft includes a lock housing guiding a cylinder in back and forth direction, and a lock bracket portion mounted in a shape of grasping the upper tube by the lock housing therewith. The guide bracket and the lock bracket portion are formed to one piece as a whole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventors: Ryota Okano, Akio Osuka
  • Patent number: 8485554
    Abstract: A steering device has a guide rail and a holding rubber. The guide rail is mounted on a mounting stay of a vehicle by way of an upper bracket, and the holding rubber restricts movement of the guide rail relative to the upper bracket. The guide rail has a fixed portion and a main body portion extending forward of the vehicle along the axial direction of a steering shaft from the fixed portion. The main body portion is inserted into a through hole of a vehicle body bracket. The holding rubber has a positioning protrusion and a detent pawl for restricting movement of the guide rail relative to the upper bracket before being fixed to the mounting stay so as to hold them at a mounting position. The detent pawl is formed so as to reduce a restricting force for restricting movement of the guide rail relative to the upper bracket as the guide rail comes closer to the mounting stay by screwing a nut onto a bolt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventors: Akio Osuka, Ryota Okano
  • Publication number: 20120234127
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a steering apparatus for a vehicle mounting a steering lock device to an upper tube by small numbers of constructing parts. A guide supporting mechanism guiding and supporting a upper tube in relation to a lower housing along an axial direction of the upper tube includes a guide bracket portion fixed to the upper tube, and a guide portion mounted in the lower housing to guide and support the guide bracket along the axial direction of the guide tube. A steering lock device locking and unlocking rotation of the upper shaft includes a lock housing guiding a cylinder in back and forth direction, and a lock bracket portion mounted in a shape of grasping the upper tube by the lock housing therewith. The guide bracket and the lock bracket portion are formed to one piece as a whole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2012
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Applicant: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ryota OKANO, Akio OSUKA
  • Publication number: 20110227323
    Abstract: A steering device has a guide rail and a holding rubber. The guide rail is mounted on a mounting stay of a vehicle by way of an upper bracket, and the holding rubber restricts movement of the guide rail relative to the upper bracket. The guide rail has a fixed portion and a main body portion extending forward of the vehicle along the axial direction of a steering shaft from the fixed portion. The main body portion is inserted into a through hole of a vehicle body bracket. The holding rubber has a positioning protrusion and a detent pawl for restricting movement of the guide rail relative to the upper bracket before being fixed to the mounting stay so as to hold them at a mounting position. The detent pawl is formed so as to reduce a restricting force for restricting movement of the guide rail relative to the upper bracket as the guide rail comes closer to the mounting stay by screwing a nut onto a bolt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2011
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Applicant: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akio OSUKA, Ryota OKANO
  • Patent number: 7886619
    Abstract: A torque detecting apparatus includes two magnetism collecting rings cylindrical portions enclosing a magnetic circuit forming member provided on a rotating body and a magnetism sensitive device disposed between the protruding pieces protruding from parts of the cylindrical portions in an radially outward direction of the cylindrical portions. It includes a regulating body for regulating a relative position between the magnetism sensitive device and the protruding pieces respectively. This regulating body includes two inserting recesses into which each of protruding pieces is inserted respectively, each recess having a prismatic shape. It also has a connecting part connecting inner edges of apertures of the inserting recesses to each other. It also has a holding part holding the magnetism sensitive device between the inserting recesses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignees: JTEKT Corporation, Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Kaoku, Norio Nakatani, Taisuke Tujimoto, Akio Osuka, Keizo Arita, Noriyuki Yahata, Naoki Nakane
  • Patent number: 7798019
    Abstract: A torque detecting apparatus for detecting rotational torque applied to a first and a second shafts which are coaxially connected to each other by a torsion bar by using a relative angular displacement between a cylindrical magnet fixedly fitted onto the first shaft and integrally rotating with the first shaft and yoke rings surrounding an outer circumference of the first rotating member and integrally rotating with the second shaft. A facing portion is provided between the first and second shafts, and faces each other in the axial direction by a space smaller than a space between a lower end face of the first rotating member and the upper end face of the second shaft. Positioning in the axial direction of the cylindrical magnet and the yoke rings is carried out referring position where the space of the facing surface becomes zero.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignees: JTEKT Corporation, Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Akio Osuka, Toshiharu Ishihara, Naoki Nakane
  • Patent number: 7604085
    Abstract: An electric power steering apparatus (1, 64) comprises a housing (10) for supporting a steer shaft (9) for axial slide movement, a speed reduction mechanism (23), and a motion converting mechanism (24, 76). The housing (10) includes a plurality of split housings (36, 37; 36, 37A, 70) connected to each other. The speed reduction mechanism (23) includes an output gear (22) surrounding the steer shaft (9). The motion converting mechanism (24, 76) includes a rotary sleeve (28) surrounding the steer shaft (9) and rotatable integrally with the output gear (22) and converts the rotation of the rotary sleeve (28) into axial movement of the steer shaft (9). The rotary sleeve (28) is rotatably supported by first and second bearings (30, 31) disposed on opposite sides of the output gear (22). The split housings (36, 37; 36, 37A, 70) include main split housings (37, 37A) rotatably supporting an input gear (21) and supporting the first and second bearings (30, 31).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignee: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventors: Akio Osuka, Kousuke Yamanaka
  • Patent number: 7428847
    Abstract: An inventive torque detection device includes: a magnetic circuit forming member provided at a rotating body to which a torque is applied; a magnetic flux collecting ring for collecting a generated magnetic flux; a detection part for detecting, based on the density of the collected magnetic flux, the torque applied to the rotating body; a holding ring, having a flange, for holding the magnetic flux collecting ring and the detection part; and a sealing ring for sealing between the flange and a housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2008
    Assignees: JTEKT Corporation, DENSO Corporation
    Inventors: Akio Osuka, Toshiharu Ishihara, Naoki Nakane
  • Patent number: 7374013
    Abstract: An electric power steering apparatus comprises a steering assisting electric motor having an output shaft and a speed reduction mechanism. The speed reduction mechanism includes conical first and second gears to be engaged with each other. The first and second gears include a plurality of teeth each having a tooth surface. The mutually corresponding tooth surfaces of the first and second gears each include engaging regions to be engaged with each other. A center position in a tooth width direction of the engaging region of each tooth surface of the first gear in an unloaded state is offset by a first offset amount from center position in the tooth width direction of the tooth surface of the first gear to a relatively small end portion of the tooth of the first gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignees: Favess Co., Ltd., Koyo Seiko Co., Ltd., Toyoda Koki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masato Mizuhara, Akio Osuka, Shigeo Ishihara, Hisamitsu Hayashi
  • Publication number: 20070240521
    Abstract: A torque detecting apparatus for detecting rotational torque applied to a first and a second shafts which are coaxially connected to each other by a torsion bar, by using a relative angular displacement between a cylindrical magnet fixedly fitted onto the first shaft and integrally rotating with the first shaft and yoke rings surrounding an outer circumference of the first rotating member and integrally rotating with the second shaft. A facing portion is provided between the first and second shafts, and faces each other in the axial direction by a space smaller than a space between a lower end face of the first rotating member and the upper end face of the second shaft. Positioning in the axial direction of the cylindrical magnet and the yoke rings is carried out referring position where the space of the facing surface becomes zero.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2007
    Publication date: October 18, 2007
    Inventors: Akio Osuka, Toshiharu Ishihara, Naoki Nakane
  • Publication number: 20070180905
    Abstract: A torque detecting apparatus includes two magnetism collecting rings cylindrical portions enclosing a magnetic circuit forming member provided on a rotating body and a magnetism sensitive device disposed between the protruding pieces protruding from parts of the cylindrical portions in an radially outward direction of the cylindrical portions. It includes a regulating body for regulating a relative position between the magnetism sensitive device and the protruding pieces respectively. This regulating body includes two inserting recesses into which each of protruding pieces is inserted respectively, each recess having a prismatic shape. It also has a connecting part connecting inner edges of apertures of the inserting recesses to each other. It also has a holding part holding the magnetism sensitive device between the inserting recesses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2007
    Publication date: August 9, 2007
    Applicants: JTEKT Corporation, DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takashi Kaoku, Norio Nakatani, Taisuke Tujimoto, Akio Osuka, Keizo Arita, Noriyuki Yahata, Naoki Nakane
  • Publication number: 20070169569
    Abstract: An inventive torque detection device includes: a magnetic circuit forming member provided at a rotating body to which a torque is applied; a magnetic flux collecting ring for collecting a generated magnetic flux; a detection part for detecting, based on the density of the collected magnetic flux, the torque applied to the rotating body; a holding ring, having a flange, for holding the magnetic flux collecting ring and the detection part; and a sealing ring for sealing between the flange and a housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2007
    Publication date: July 26, 2007
    Applicants: JTEKT Corporation, DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akio Osuka, Toshiharu Ishihara, Naoki Nakane
  • Publication number: 20070114093
    Abstract: An electric power steering apparatus (1, 64) comprises a housing (10) for supporting a steer shaft (9) for axial slide movement, a speed reduction mechanism (23), and a motion converting mechanism (24, 76). The housing (10) includes a plurality of split housings (36, 37; 36, 37A, 70) connected to each other. The speed reduction mechanism (23) includes an output gear (22) surrounding the steer shaft (9). The motion converting mechanism (24, 76) includes a rotary sleeve (28) surrounding the steer shaft (9) and rotatable integrally with the output gear (22) and converts the rotation of the rotary sleeve (28) into axial movement of the steer shaft (9). The rotary sleeve (28) is rotatably supported by first and second bearings (30, 31) disposed on opposite sides of the output gear (22). The split housings (36, 37; 36, 37A, 70) include main split housings (37, 37A) rotatably supporting an input gear (21) and supporting the first and second bearings (30, 31).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2004
    Publication date: May 24, 2007
    Inventors: Akio Osuka, Kousuke Yamanaka
  • Publication number: 20060027416
    Abstract: An electric power steering apparatus comprises a steering assisting electric motor having an output shaft and a speed reduction mechanism. The speed reduction mechanism includes conical first and second gears to be engaged with each other. The first and second gears include a plurality of teeth each having a tooth surface. The mutually corresponding tooth surfaces of the first and second gears each include engaging regions to be engaged with each other. A center position in a tooth width direction of the engaging region of each tooth surface of the first gear in an unloaded state is offset by a first offset amount from center position in the tooth width direction of the tooth surface of the first gear to a relatively small end portion of the tooth of the first gear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2005
    Publication date: February 9, 2006
    Inventors: Masato Mizuhara, Akio Osuka, Shigeo Ishihara, Hisamitsu Hayashi