Patents by Inventor Hideaki Kii

Hideaki Kii 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: 8911312
    Abstract: A belt-type continuously variable transmission is provided. The belt-type continuously variable transmission includes a drive pulley assembly; a driven pulley assembly, a belt wrapped around these pulley assemblies, and a case assembly accommodating them. The case assembly includes a case body joined to a housing of a drive device such as an engine and a cover joined to the case body. Since an air-intake duct and an air discharge duct are attached to the case body, the cover can be configured to be thin, and thus the cover can be detached without providing a wide space in front of the cover in the direction in which the cover is detached. With this construction, the cover can be detached without detaching the air-intake duct and the air discharge duct, and thus maintenance can be performed easily.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Seiji Itoo, Hideaki Kii
  • Patent number: 8870702
    Abstract: A power switching device for vehicle has an engaging mechanism for connecting and disconnecting between a pair of rotating members arranged on a driving force transmission passage, an operating mechanism for switch-operating the engaging mechanism, an electric actuator, and a waiting mechanism having an elastic member. The elastic member is incorporated into the waiting mechanism so that the elastic member can temporarily accumulate the operating power only when the engaging mechanism is switched to the engaged condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideaki Kii, Seiji Itoo, Ayumi Hamada
  • Patent number: 8863887
    Abstract: A utility vehicle which can shorten the entire length of an air intake duct includes a belt-type continuously variable transmission that converts and transmits a driving force from an engine, a transmission case that accommodates the continuously variable transmission, an air intake duct that introduces outside air into the transmission case, and an exhaust duct that discharges air in the transmission case, wherein the transmission case is provided in a console box, and an air intake port of the air intake duct is arranged in the console box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hideaki Kii
  • Patent number: 8834307
    Abstract: A belt-type continuously variable transmission comprises a drive pulley assembly mounted to a drive shaft; a driven pulley assembly mounted to a driven shaft; a belt connecting the two; and a case assembly for accommodating these components. The drive pulley assembly has fins for generating a flow of air moving toward an outer periphery of the drive pulley assembly. When viewed in an axial direction of the drive shaft, an air blocking plate is positioned at a forward side in a rotational direction of the drive pulley assembly relative to an imaginary line segment connecting a center axis of the drive pulley assembly to a center axis of the driven pulley assembly, between the drive pulley assembly and the driven pulley assembly such that the air blocking plate surrounds the outer periphery of the drive pulley assembly over a predetermined range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Seiji Itoo, Hideaki Kii
  • Publication number: 20140238185
    Abstract: Provided is a utility vehicle which can shorten the entire length of an air intake duct. The utility vehicle includes a belt-type continuously variable transmission that converts and transmits a driving force from an engine, a transmission case that accommodates the continuously variable transmission, an air intake duct that introduces outside air into the transmission case, and an exhaust duct that discharges air in the transmission case, wherein the transmission case is provided in a console box, and an air intake port of the air intake duct is arranged in the console box.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2013
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Inventor: Hideaki KII
  • Publication number: 20140243138
    Abstract: A power switching device for vehicle has at least first and second power switching mechanisms, a shared operating mechanism, and a housing accommodating the power switching mechanisms and the shard operating mechanism, the housing being integrally formed with a boss portion having a waiting mechanism, wherein the waiting mechanism includes drive and driven cylindrical shafts, and a coil spring connecting between the cylindrical shafts, both of the cylindrical shafts and the coil spring are arranged in a same axis, and are supported on an inner peripheral surface of the boss portion through drive and driven side needle roller bearings respectively, the coil spring is arranged inside the cylindrical shafts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2013
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hideaki KII
  • Patent number: 8801561
    Abstract: A power switching device for vehicle has at least first and second power switching mechanisms, a shared operating mechanism, and a housing accommodating the power switching mechanisms and the shard operating mechanism, the housing being integrally formed with a boss portion having a waiting mechanism, wherein the waiting mechanism includes drive and driven cylindrical shafts, and a coil spring connecting between the cylindrical shafts, both of the cylindrical shafts and the coil spring are arranged in a same axis, and are supported on an inner peripheral surface of the boss portion through drive and driven side needle roller bearings respectively, the coil spring is arranged inside the cylindrical shafts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hideaki Kii
  • Patent number: 8596406
    Abstract: A utility vehicle is provided. The utility vehicle may include a transmission including a transmission mechanism and a transmission case assembly for accommodating the transmission mechanism; and an air discharge duct coupled to the transmission case assembly, to discharge air from inside the transmission case assembly; wherein the air discharge duct includes an upward extending portion extending substantially upward from the transmission case assembly, and a downward extending portion which is bent back at an upper end portion of the upward extending portion, and then extends substantially downward; and the upward extending portion and the downward extending portion partially overlap with each other in at least either a forward and rearward direction or a rightward and leftward direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Seiji Itoo, Hideaki Kii
  • Patent number: 8556015
    Abstract: A utility vehicle is provided. The utility vehicle may comprise a vehicle body frame; a dash panel having a first duct port in a substantially center portion widthwise; a hood located in front of the dash panel; a driving power source mounted to a substantially center portion of the vehicle body frame widthwise and positioned behind the dash panel; a transmission joined to the driving power source; and a first air-intake duct provided in a substantially center portion of the vehicle body frame widthwise such that it extends in a substantially forward and rearward direction and passes through the first duct port. Further, an outlet provided at a downstream end portion of the first air-intake duct is coupled to the transmission; and an inlet provided at an upstream end portion of the first air-intake duct is positioned in an upper rear portion of the space above the first duct port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Seiji Itoo, Hideaki Kii
  • Publication number: 20130167681
    Abstract: A power switching device for vehicle has an engaging mechanism for connecting and disconnecting between a pair of rotating members arranged on a driving force transmission passage, an operating mechanism for switch-operating the engaging mechanism, an electric actuator, and a waiting mechanism having an elastic member, wherein the elastic member is incorporated to the waiting mechanism so that the elastic member can temporarily accumulate the operating power only when the engaging mechanism is switched to the engaged condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2011
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Inventors: Hideaki KII, Seiji Itoo, Ayumi Hamada
  • Publication number: 20130087396
    Abstract: A utility vehicle is provided. The utility vehicle may comprise a vehicle body frame; a dash panel having a first duct port in a substantially center portion widthwise; a hood located in front of the dash panel; a driving power source mounted to a substantially center portion of the vehicle body frame widthwise and positioned behind the dash panel; a transmission joined to the driving power source; and a first air-intake duct provided in a substantially center portion of the vehicle body frame widthwise such that it extends in a substantially forward and rearward direction and passes through the first duct port. Further, an outlet provided at a downstream end portion of the first air-intake duct is coupled to the transmission; and an inlet provided at an upstream end portion of the first air-intake duct is positioned in an upper rear portion of the space above the first duct port.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2011
    Publication date: April 11, 2013
    Applicant: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Seiji Itoo, Hideaki Kii
  • Publication number: 20130090198
    Abstract: A belt-type continuously variable transmission is provided. The belt-type continuously variable transmission includes a drive pulley assembly; a driven pulley assembly, a belt wrapped around these pulley assemblies, and a case assembly accommodating them. The case assembly includes a case body joined to a housing of a drive device such as an engine and a cover joined to the case body. Since an air-intake duct and an air discharge duct are attached to the case body, the cover can be configured to be thin, and thus the cover can be detached without providing a wide space in front of the cover in the direction in which the cover is detached. With this construction, the cover can be detached without detaching the air-intake duct and the air discharge duct, and thus maintenance can be performed easily.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2011
    Publication date: April 11, 2013
    Applicant: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Seiji Itoo, Hideaki Kii
  • Publication number: 20130087403
    Abstract: A utility vehicle is provided. The utility vehicle may include a transmission including a transmission mechanism and a transmission case assembly for accommodating the transmission mechanism; and an air discharge duct coupled to the transmission case assembly, to discharge air from inside the transmission case assembly; wherein the air discharge duct includes an upward extending portion extending substantially upward from the transmission case assembly, and a downward extending portion which is bent back at an upper end portion of the upward extending portion, and then extends substantially downward; and the upward extending portion and the downward extending portion partially overlap with each other in at least either a forward and rearward direction or a rightward and leftward direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2011
    Publication date: April 11, 2013
    Applicant: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Seiji Itoo, Hideaki Kii
  • Publication number: 20130090199
    Abstract: A belt-type continuously variable transmission comprises a drive pulley assembly mounted to a drive shaft; a driven pulley assembly mounted to a driven shaft; a belt connecting the two; and a case assembly for accommodating these components. The drive pulley assembly has fins for generating a flow of air moving toward an outer periphery of the drive pulley assembly. When viewed in an axial direction of the drive shaft, an air blocking plate is positioned at a forward side in a rotational direction of the drive pulley assembly relative to an imaginary line segment connecting a center axis of the drive pulley assembly to a center axis of the driven pulley assembly, between the drive pulley assembly and the driven pulley assembly such that the air blocking plate surrounds the outer periphery of the drive pulley assembly over a predetermined range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2011
    Publication date: April 11, 2013
    Applicant: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Seiji Itoo, Hideaki Kii