Patents by Inventor Hiroki Bessho

Hiroki Bessho 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: 20170001519
    Abstract: Disclosed is a utility work vehicle having an engine section at a rear portion of a vehicle body. The engine section includes an engine having an output shaft oriented laterally along a right/left direction of the vehicle body, a speed changer device having an input shaft oriented laterally along the right/left direction of the vehicle body, the speed changer device being disposed rearwardly of the engine, a belt type stepless speed changer device disposed on one right/left side of the engine and the speed changer device and configured to transmit power from the engine to the speed changer device. A clutch is disposed between the engine and the belt type stepless speed changer device. A space is formed downwardly of the clutch between the engine and the belt type stepless speed changer device. At a portion downwardly of the speed changer device and facing the space, a front wheel driving output shaft extends forwardly from the speed changer device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2016
    Publication date: January 5, 2017
    Inventor: Hiroki Bessho
  • Publication number: 20170001658
    Abstract: Disclosed is a vehicle including a steering wheel arranged offset toward one side in a vehicle body right/left direction, and an electric power steering unit. The electric power steering unit includes a link mechanism operably connected to the steering wheel and extending from a right/left center side of the steering wheel toward a vehicle body right/left center side to be operably connected to a wheel side, an assist device for the link mechanism, a control lever arranged adjacent the vehicle body right/left center in the vicinity of the steering wheel, a rotation shaft operably connected to the control lever to be rotated about a right/left axis that extends in the vehicle body right/left direction, and a control cable operably connected to the rotation shaft. A base end portion of the control cable is more offset toward the one side than the assist device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2016
    Publication date: January 5, 2017
    Inventors: Hiroshi Takagi, Hiroki Bessho, Takafumi Komatsu, Kensuke Okabe, Takeshi Satozono
  • Patent number: 9511761
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle includes an engine, a motor, and a belt stepless speed changer device having a driving rotary body, a driven rotary body, a first shaft member supporting the driving rotary body with allowing rotation thereof in unison, a second shaft member supporting the driven rotary body with allowing rotation thereof in unison, and an endless belt wound around the driving rotary body and the driven rotary body. The vehicle further includes a transmission case configured to receive the powers from the engine and the motor via the belt stepless speed changer device and a centrifugal clutch incorporated in a power transmission line extending form the engine to the first shaft member. The motor is disposed on the side opposite the engine across the driving rotary body, and the driving power of the motor is inputted to the first shaft member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Kubota Corporation
    Inventors: Sumio Yagyu, Go Takaki, Shinichi Kawabata, Shigeki Hayashi, Shohei Nakai, Hiroki Bessho
  • Publication number: 20140113766
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle includes an engine, a motor, and a belt stepless speed changer device having a driving rotary body, a driven rotary body, a first shaft member supporting the driving rotary body with allowing rotation thereof in unison, a second shaft member supporting the driven rotary body with allowing rotation thereof in unison, and an endless belt wound around the driving rotary body and the driven rotary body. The vehicle further includes a transmission case configured to receive the powers from the engine and the motor via the belt stepless speed changer device and a centrifugal clutch incorporated in a power transmission line extending form the engine to the first shaft member. The motor is disposed on the side opposite the engine across the driving rotary body, and the driving power of the motor is inputted to the first shaft member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2013
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: Kubota Corporation
    Inventors: Sumio Yagyu, Go Takaki, Shinichi Kawabata, Shigeki Hayashi, Shohei Nakai, Hiroki Bessho
  • Patent number: 8534257
    Abstract: An engine case includes: a crank chamber (2R) of an engine (1); a clutch chamber (30R) having a wet clutch (30) connected to an output shaft (2) protruding from the crank chamber (2R); a partition wall (10) keeping the crank and clutch chambers separated and connecting the crank and clutch chambers; an oil inlet (11) for introducing engine oil; an oil feeding passage (11R) which is configured to allow the engine oil introduced from the oil inlet (11) to first enter the clutch chamber (30R) separated by the partition wall (10); and an inflow part (10h) which is formed in the partition wall (10) and configured to allow an excess amount of the introduced engine oil over a predetermined amount to flow into the crank chamber (2R).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignees: Fuji Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Kubota Corporation
    Inventors: Taiichiro Ogi, Hiroki Bessho, Masatake Murakawa
  • Patent number: 8459397
    Abstract: A work vehicle having drive wheels includes: an engine having an output shaft oriented in a transverse direction of a vehicle body; a transmission having an input shaft oriented in the transverse direction, which includes a transmission case arranged next to the engine in a front-rear direction of the vehicle body; and a CVT which extends between a lateral side of the engine and a lateral side of the transmission case and is configured to transmit a driving force from the output shaft to the input shaft. A connecting plate is configured to connect an upper part of the engine and an upper part of the transmission case and has a cover part. An electric component is disposed in a space defined by the engine, the transmission case and the connecting plate and is covered by the cover part from above.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Kubota Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroki Bessho, Shoichiro Kawamura, Koji Fujiwara, Masatake Murakawa
  • Patent number: 8439141
    Abstract: A work vehicle includes: a muffler which flows exhaust from an engine and extends in a transverse direction so as to allow the exhaust from the engine to flow in the transverse direction; and a CVT case for covering a belt-type CVT positioned frontward of the muffler in a longitudinal direction. The CVT case includes a cooling structure for introducing cooling air from outside, cooling the belt-type CVT, and discharging the cooling air from a discharge part. An exhaust duct includes an inflow opening to be connected to the discharge part for allowing the cooling air to flow into the exhaust duct, and an exhaust opening for allowing the cooling air to flow out rearward. The exhaust opening is elongated in an extending direction of the muffler and oriented in a direction that allows the cooling air flowing out to hit the muffler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Kubota Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroki Bessho, Ryouzou Imanishi, Shoichiro Kawamura, Masatake Murakawa
  • Patent number: 8181731
    Abstract: A drive train for a work vehicle comprises: an engine mounted to a vehicle body such that an output shaft of the engine extends in a lateral direction of the vehicle body; a hydrostatic transmission having a pump shaft, a motor shaft, and a housing, the hydrostatic transmission being mounted to the vehicle body such that the pump shaft and the motor shaft extend in the lateral direction; a mechanical transmission having a plurality of transmission shafts each of which extends in the lateral direction. A pump side portion of the housing of the hydrostatic transmission is connected to an end plate of the engine and a motor side portion of the housing is connected to a casing of the mechanical transmission so that the housing extends from the engine to the mechanical transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Kubota Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroki Bessho, Yoshifumi Horiuchi, Hiroshi Shimada, Takafumi Komatsu
  • Publication number: 20120055728
    Abstract: A work vehicle having drive wheels includes: an engine having an output shaft oriented in a transverse direction of a vehicle body; a transmission having an input shaft oriented in the transverse direction, which includes a transmission case arranged next to the engine in a front-rear direction of the vehicle body; and a CVT which extends between a lateral side of the engine and a lateral side of the transmission case and is configured to transmit a driving force from the output shaft to the input shaft. A connecting plate is configured to connect an upper part of the engine and an upper part of the transmission case and has a cover part. An electric component is disposed in a space defined by the engine, the transmission case and the connecting plate and is covered by the cover part from above.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2011
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Applicant: KUBOTA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroki Bessho, Shoichiro Kawamura, Koji Fujiwara, Masatake Murakawa
  • Publication number: 20120055729
    Abstract: A work vehicle includes: a muffler which flows exhaust from an engine and extends in a transverse direction so as to allow the exhaust from the engine to flow in the transverse direction; and a CVT case for covering a belt-type CVT positioned frontward of the muffler in a longitudinal direction. The CVT case includes a cooling structure for introducing cooling air from outside, cooling the belt-type CVT, and discharging the cooling air from a discharge part. An exhaust duct includes an inflow opening to be connected to the discharge part for allowing the cooling air to flow into the exhaust duct, and an exhaust opening for allowing the cooling air to flow out rearward. The exhaust opening is elongated in an extending direction of the muffler and oriented in a direction that allows the cooling air flowing out to hit the muffler.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2011
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Applicant: KUBOTA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroki Bessho, Ryouzou Imanishi, Shoichiro Kawamura, Masatake Murakawa
  • Patent number: 8007403
    Abstract: A work vehicle includes a hydraulic stepless speed changing apparatus and a gear type speed changing apparatus operable to receive output from the hydraulic stepless speed changing apparatus to convert it into a plurality of stages of speed. A return oil passage connected to a high-pressure side circuit of the hydraulic stepless speed changing apparatus is connected to a hydraulic tank. The return oil passage incorporates an unload valve and a throttle valve, between which an operably coupling mechanism is provided. This operably coupling mechanism switches over the unload valve to an unload condition in response to an operational displacement of a brake operating member for operating a brake to its braking side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Kubota Corporation
    Inventors: Yuuki Ishida, Hiroshi Shimada, Koji Nada, Masaru Nakaji, Hiroki Bessho, Masatake Murakawa, Yasunobu Nakatani
  • Publication number: 20110155093
    Abstract: An engine case includes: a crank chamber (2R) of an engine (1); a clutch chamber (30R) having a wet clutch (30) connected to an output shaft (2) protruding from the crank chamber (2R); a partition wall (10) keeping the crank and clutch chambers separated and connecting the crank and clutch chambers; an oil inlet (11) for introducing engine oil; an oil feeding passage (11R) which is configured to allow the engine oil introduced from the oil inlet (11) to first enter the clutch chamber (30R) separated by the partition wall (10); and an inflow part (10h) which is formed in the partition wall (10) and configured to allow an excess amount of the introduced engine oil over a predetermined amount to flow into the crank chamber (2R).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2010
    Publication date: June 30, 2011
    Applicants: FUJI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA, KUBOTA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Taiichiro Ogi, Hiroki Bessho, Masatake Murakawa
  • Patent number: 7926387
    Abstract: A change-speed control system is provided for a utility vehicle having a stepless change-speed apparatus for speed-changing an engine output and transmitting the speed-changed output to a traveling unit. The system includes an engine speed governor for adjusting speed of the engine, an accelerator controller and a change-speed control linkage device for providing operative displacements in the stepless change-speed apparatus and the engine speed governor in association with an operation of the accelerator controller. The change-speed control linkage device sets an operation amount for the stepless change-speed apparatus and an operation amount for the engine speed governor in correlation with the operation amount of the accelerator controller, such that an acceleration ratio for the engine speed is greater than an acceleration ratio for the stepless change-speed apparatus until the engine reaches a predetermined speed and also the stepless change-speed apparatus reaches a predetermined speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Kubota Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshifumi Horiuchi, Yasunobu Nakatani, Hiroki Bessho, Norimi Nakamura
  • Patent number: 7854182
    Abstract: A work vehicle includes a hydrostatic continuously variable speed-change device, a gear type multiple-stage speed-change device disposed downstream of the hydrostatic continuously variable speed-change device with respect to a direction in which power is transmitted, first and second oil passages, a bypass oil passage communicating the first and second oil passages with each other, a valve mechanism for opening and closing the bypass oil passage, and a manual operating member provided in a driving section for opening and closing the valve mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Assignee: Kubota Corporation
    Inventors: Yasunobu Nakatani, Fumitake Okunishi, Yoshifumi Horiuchi, Hiroki Bessho, Yoshihiro Kawahara, Mitsugu Kobayashi, Shinichiro Saji, Masaki Hayashi
  • Patent number: 7600769
    Abstract: A work vehicle comprising a pair of left and right wheels; a vehicle body frame supported at least partially by the pair of left and right wheels; and a suspension provided between the pair of left and right wheels and the vehicle body frame, the suspension being a five-linkage type rigid axle suspension including: a pair of left and right upper arms and a pair of left and right lower arms for positioning the pair of left and right wheels in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body, a lateral rod for positioning the pair of left and right wheels in the lateral direction of the vehicle body, a pair of left and right coil springs for absorbing shocks from the road, and a pair of left and right dampers for controlling the movements of the pair of left and right coil springs. An auxiliary frame is further provided for supporting the pair of left and right wheels, an engine, and a transmission device, wherein the auxiliary frame is suspended on the vehicle body frame via the suspension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: Kubota Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroki Bessho, Yoshifumi Horiuchi
  • Publication number: 20090239706
    Abstract: A work vehicle includes a hydraulic stepless speed changing apparatus and a gear type speed changing apparatus operable to receive output from the hydraulic stepless speed changing apparatus to convert it into a plurality of stages of speed. A return oil passage connected to a high-pressure side circuit of the hydraulic stepless speed changing apparatus is connected to a hydraulic tank. The return oil passage incorporates an unload valve and a throttle valve, between which an operably coupling mechanism is provided. This operably coupling mechanism switches over the unload valve to an unload condition in response to an operational displacement of a brake operating member for operating a brake to its braking side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2008
    Publication date: September 24, 2009
    Applicant: KUBOTA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuuki Ishida, Hiroshi Shimada, Koji Nada, Masaru Nakaji, Hiroki Bessho, Masatake Murakawa, Yasunobu Nakatani
  • Publication number: 20090065279
    Abstract: A drive train for a work vehicle comprises: an engine mounted to a vehicle body such that an output shaft of the engine extends in a lateral direction of the vehicle body; a hydrostatic transmission having a pump shaft, a motor shaft, and a housing, the hydrostatic transmission being mounted to the vehicle body such that the pump shaft and the motor shaft extend in the lateral direction; a mechanical transmission having a plurality of transmission shafts each of which extends in the lateral direction. A pump side portion of the housing of the hydrostatic transmission is connected to an end plate of the engine and a motor side portion of the housing is connected to a casing of the mechanical transmission so that the housing extends from the engine to the mechanical transmission.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2008
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Applicant: KUBOTA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroki Bessho, Yoshifumi Horiuchi, Hiroshi Shimada, Takafumi Komatsu
  • Publication number: 20090066052
    Abstract: A work vehicle comprising a pair of left and right wheels; a vehicle body frame supported at least partially by the pair of left and right wheels; and a suspension provided between the pair of left and right wheels and the vehicle body frame, the suspension being a five-linkage type rigid axle suspension including: a pair of left and right upper arms and a pair of left and right lower arms for positioning the pair of left and right wheels in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body, a lateral rod for positioning the pair of left and right wheels in the lateral direction of the vehicle body, a pair of left and right coil springs for absorbing shocks from the road, and a pair of left and right dampers for controlling the movements of the pair of left and right coil springs. An auxiliary frame is further provided for supporting the pair of left and right wheels, an engine, and a transmission device, wherein the auxiliary frame is suspended on the vehicle body frame via the suspension.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2008
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Applicant: KUBOTA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroki Bessho, Yoshifumi Horiuchi
  • Patent number: 7367247
    Abstract: A change-speed control system is provided for a utility vehicle having a stepless change-speed apparatus for speed-changing an engine output and transmitting the speed-changed output to a traveling unit. The system includes an engine speed governor for adjusting speed of the engine, an accelerator controller and a change-speed control linkage device for providing operative displacements in the stepless change-speed apparatus and the engine speed governor in association with an operation of the accelerator controller. The change-speed control linkage device sets an operation amount for the stepless change-speed apparatus and an operation amount for the engine speed governor in correlation with the operation amount of the accelerator controller, such that an acceleration ratio for the engine speed is greater than an acceleration ratio for the stepless change-speed apparatus until the engine reaches a predetermined speed and also the stepless change-speed apparatus reaches a predetermined speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Assignee: Kubota Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshifumi Horiuchi, Yasunobu Nakatani, Hiroki Bessho, Norimi Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20070219047
    Abstract: A work vehicle includes: a hydrostatic continuously variable speed-change device; a gear type multiple-stage speed-change device disposed downstream of the hydrostatic continuously variable speed-change device with respect to a direction in which power is transmitted; first and second oil passages interconnecting between a hydraulic pump and a hydraulic motor in the hydrostatic continuously variable speed-change device; a bypass oil passage communicating the first and second oil passages with each other; a valve mechanism for opening and closing the bypass oil passage; and a manual operating member provided in a driving section for opening and closing the valve mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2007
    Publication date: September 20, 2007
    Applicant: Kubota Corporation
    Inventors: Yasunobu Nakatani, Fumitake Okunishi, Yoshifumi Horiuchi, Hiroki Bessho, Yoshihiro Kawahara, Mitsugu Kobayashi, Shinichiro Saji, Masaki Hayashi