Patents by Inventor Arata Kikuchi

Arata Kikuchi 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: 20210283810
    Abstract: A resin molding mold, by which a resin worm wheel for a worm speed reducer is molded, includes a plurality of tooth forming portions provided such that the tooth forming portions are disposed at predetermined intervals on a circumference of the resin molding mold. The tooth forming portions each include a projection portion provided in a part of a tooth-flank forming surface by which a tooth flank is formed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2021
    Publication date: September 16, 2021
    Applicant: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Arata KIKUCHI, Mayu TORII
  • Patent number: 9937949
    Abstract: A power transmission coupling that couples an output shaft of an electric motor and a worm shaft together includes a first rotation element coupled to the output shaft, a second rotation element coupled to the worm shaft, and an intermediate element formed of an elastic body and interposed between the first rotation element and the second rotation element. The intermediate element forms a unit integrally including an annular support portion, power transmission portions extending radially from the support portion and interposed between engaging protrusions of the first rotation element and the second rotation element, a spacer arranged inward of the support portion in a radial direction to apply a preload to the worm shaft in an axial direction, and a coupling portion that couples the support portion and the spacer together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Arata Kikuchi, Wataru Yamada
  • Patent number: 9878735
    Abstract: A worm reduction gear satisfies following relational Formula (1) and Formula (2): 3?D2/D1?1.7??(1) 0.1°?????0.5°??(2) where D1 is an outside diameter of a worm, D2 is an outside diameter of a hob for cutting a worm wheel to form tooth spaces, and ? is a pressure angle of the worm wheel and ? is a pressure angle of the worm at an intermeshing pitch circle of the worm and the worm wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventor: Arata Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 9657811
    Abstract: A center axis of a worm shaft is offset in an offset direction with respect to a plane that is orthogonal to a center axis of a worm wheel and that passes through a central position of the worm wheel in a tooth width direction. A bias member biases a second end of the worm shaft in a preloading direction in which a center distance between the worm shaft and the worm wheel decreases. When the worm shaft is configured like a right-hand thread, in a left-handed coordinate system, a direction toward a first end of the worm shaft in an axial direction (a direction toward an electric motor) corresponds to a thumb direction. The preloading direction corresponds to an index finger direction. The offset direction corresponds to a middle finger direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jun Hamakita, Arata Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 9638307
    Abstract: An electric power steering device includes a worm which is swingably connected to the rotation shaft of an electric motor through a joint. A first end portion and second end portion of the worm are supported by a first bearing and a second bearing, respectively. A pair of elastic members elastically urge the worm to an axial neutral position. An annular leaf spring which is held by a housing urges the second end portion toward a worm wheel through the second bearing. A synthetic resin member having a sliding contact surface which is in contact with the leaf spring is integrally disposed on the second bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Arata Kikuchi, Hirotsugu Kusano, Yasutaka Fukumoto
  • Patent number: 9630647
    Abstract: An electric power steering system includes a joint that connects a rotary shaft of an electric motor with a worm shaft of a speed reducer. The joint includes a first rotational element that has a boss into which a first end portion of the worm shaft is press-fitted, and a flange extending radially from the boss. The first bearing is held by a housing and supports the first end portion so that the first end portion is rotatable and movable in an axial direction. A first elastic body, which urges the worm shaft in the axial direction toward the electric motor through the first rotational element, is provided between an inner ring of the first bearing and the flange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Arata Kikuchi, Yoshitomo Nagai
  • Publication number: 20170036691
    Abstract: A shaft coupling structure includes a rotating shaft, a worm shaft, a first member, a second member, and an intermediate member that is an elastic member. The intermediate member is interposed between the first member and the second member. Coupling protrusions of the first member that extend in an axial direction are each inserted between second radial protrusions of the intermediate member and between a plurality of first radial protrusions of the second member. Protruding portions of the first radial protrusions engage with the corresponding recessed portions of the second radial protrusions in the axial direction. When a relative rotation angle between the first member and the second member is smaller than a predetermined angle, ends of each of the second radial protrusions in a circumferential direction each projects in the circumferential direction with respect to a corresponding end of the corresponding first radial protrusion in the circumferential direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2016
    Publication date: February 9, 2017
    Applicant: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Arata KIKUCHI, Naofumi KAWAMURA, Naoji KAWASOKO
  • Publication number: 20160339947
    Abstract: A worm reduction gear satisfies following relational Formula (1) and Formula (2): 3?D2/D1?1.7??(1) 0.1°?????0.5°??(2) where D1 is an outside diameter of a worm, D2 is an outside diameter of a hob for cutting a worm wheel to form tooth spaces, and ? is a pressure angle of the worm wheel and ? is a pressure angle of the worm at an intermeshing pitch circle of the worm and the worm wheel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2016
    Publication date: November 24, 2016
    Applicant: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventor: Arata KIKUCHI
  • Patent number: 9499194
    Abstract: In a speed reducer of an electric power steering system, a first bearing supports a first end portion of a worm so that the first end portion is movable in an axial direction. Elastic members elastically support the worm in the axial direction. A second bearing supports a second end portion of the worm. An urging member oscillates and urges the worm. The sum of first frictional resistance in the axial direction between an inner ring of the first bearing and the worm and second frictional resistance in the axial direction between the urging member and an outer circumference of an outer ring of the second bearing is less than engagement frictional resistance in the axial direction of the worm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventors: Wataru Yamada, Hirotsugu Kusano, Arata Kikuchi, Yoshitomo Nagai
  • Publication number: 20160194024
    Abstract: A power transmission coupling that couples an output shaft of an electric motor and a worm shaft together includes a first rotation element coupled to the output shaft, a second rotation element coupled to the worm shaft, and an intermediate element formed of an elastic body and interposed between the first rotation element and the second rotation element. The intermediate element forms a unit integrally including an annular support portion, power transmission portions extending radially from the support portion and interposed between engaging protrusions of the first rotation element and the second rotation element, a spacer arranged inward of the support portion in a radial direction to apply a preload to the worm shaft in an axial direction, and a coupling portion that couples the support portion and the spacer together.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2015
    Publication date: July 7, 2016
    Applicant: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Arata KIKUCHI, Wataru YAMADA
  • Publication number: 20160069423
    Abstract: A center axis of a worm shaft is offset in an offset direction with respect to a plane that is orthogonal to a center axis of a worm wheel and that passes through a central position of the worm wheel in a tooth width direction. A bias member biases a second end of the worm shaft in a preloading direction in which a center distance between the worm shaft and the worm wheel decreases. When the worm shaft is configured like a right-hand thread, in a left-handed coordinate system, a direction toward a first end of the worm shaft in an axial direction (a direction toward an electric motor) corresponds to a thumb direction. The preloading direction corresponds to an index finger direction. The offset direction corresponds to a middle finger direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2015
    Publication date: March 10, 2016
    Inventors: Jun HAMAKITA, Arata KIKUCHI
  • Publication number: 20150075899
    Abstract: An electric power steering device includes a worm which is swingably connected to the rotation shaft of an electric motor through a joint. A first end portion and second end portion of the worm are supported by a first bearing and a second bearing, respectively. A pair of elastic members elastically urge the worm to an axial neutral position. An annular leaf spring which is held by a housing urges the second end portion toward a worm wheel through the second bearing. A synthetic resin member having a sliding contact surface which is in contact with the leaf spring is integrally disposed on the second bearing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2013
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Applicant: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Arata Kikuchi, Hirotsugu Kusano, Yasutaka Fukumoto
  • Publication number: 20150027248
    Abstract: In a speed reducer of an electric power steering system, a first bearing supports a first end portion of a worm so that the first end portion is movable in an axial direction. Elastic members elastically support the worm in the axial direction. A second bearing supports a second end portion of the worm. An urging member oscillates and urges the worm. The sum of first frictional resistance in the axial direction between an inner ring of the first bearing and the worm and second frictional resistance in the axial direction between the urging member and an outer circumference of an outer ring of the second bearing is less than engagement frictional resistance in the axial direction of the worm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2014
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventors: Wataru YAMADA, Hirotsugu KUSANO, Arata KIKUCHI, Yoshitomo NAGAI
  • Publication number: 20140027197
    Abstract: An electric power steering system includes a joint that connects a rotary shaft of an electric motor with a worm shaft of a speed reducer. The joint includes a first rotational element that has a boss into which a first end portion of the worm shaft is press-fitted, and a flange extending radially from the boss. The first bearing is held by a housing and supports the first end portion so that the first end portion is rotatable and movable in an axial direction. A first elastic body, which urges the worm shaft in the axial direction toward the electric motor through the first rotational element, is provided between an inner ring of the first bearing and the flange.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2013
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Inventors: Arata KIKUCHI, Yoshitomo NAGAI
  • Publication number: 20120067151
    Abstract: A worm wheel of a worm drive includes an annular synthetic resin member having tooth portions meshing with a worm shaft and a core having an outside diameter portion joined to an inside diameter portion of the synthetic resin member. The outside diameter portion of the core has first joining tooth portions that protrude outward in a radial direction and are joined to the inside diameter portion of the synthetic resin member. Each of the first joining tooth portions includes a widening portion whose width in a circumferential direction increases toward the outside in the radial direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2011
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Applicant: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventor: Arata KIKUCHI
  • Patent number: 8096204
    Abstract: A gear includes a metal core and a synthetic resin tooth body. The metal core includes a cylindrical portion, and a disc portion that extends inwardly in a radial direction from one end of the cylindrical portion. The synthetic resin tooth body is coupled to the cylindrical portion of the metal core. A plurality of rotation prevention grooves is formed on the outer peripheral portion of the cylindrical portion, and a plurality of rotation prevention grooves is formed on the inner peripheral portion of the cylindrical portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventors: Susumu Imagaki, Wataru Yamada, Arata Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 7699709
    Abstract: A shaft coupling mechanism includes a coupling base body coupled to a rotating shaft; a coupling base body coupled to a steering shaft; rotation transmitting members which are disposed between the rotating shaft and the steering shaft through the both coupling base bodies and transmit the rotation of the rotating shaft in an R direction to the steering shaft; an intermediate interposed member disposed between the rotation transmitting members; and a coupling means for coupling the rotation transmitting members to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignees: Oiles Corporation, Jtekt Corporation
    Inventors: Shuichi Kubota, Takashi Horiguchi, Katsunori Saito, Arata Kikuchi
  • Publication number: 20080178697
    Abstract: A gear includes a metal core and a synthetic resin tooth body. The metal core includes a cylindrical portion, and a disc portion that extends inwardly in a radial direction from one end of the cylindrical portion. The synthetic resin tooth body is coupled to the cylindrical portion of the metal core. A plurality of rotation prevention grooves is formed on the outer peripheral portion of the cylindrical portion, and a plurality of rotation prevention grooves is formed on the inner peripheral portion of the cylindrical portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2008
    Publication date: July 31, 2008
    Applicant: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventors: Susumu IMAGAKI, Wataru Yamada, Arata Kikuchi