Patents by Inventor Hiroyoshi Tsuruta

Hiroyoshi Tsuruta 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: 7942749
    Abstract: A damper mechanism (4) includes a first flywheel (2), an intermediate rotating body (44) arranged to be rotatable with respect to the first flywheel (2), a second flywheel (3) arranged to be rotatable with respect to the intermediate rotating body (44), a first damper (8) having a plurality of first coil springs (41) elastically coupling the first flywheel (2) and the intermediate rotating body (44) in a rotation direction, and a second damper (9) elastically coupling the intermediate rotating body (44) and the second flywheel (3) in the rotation direction and that begins operating at a torque that is lower than the minimum operating torque of the first damper (8). The first coil springs (41) are accommodated between the first flywheel (2) and the second flywheel (3) in a state of having been compressed in the rotation direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Exedy Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Uehara, Hiroyoshi Tsuruta, Hirotaka Fukushima, Masakazu Kamiya, Masaru Ebata
  • Publication number: 20090069098
    Abstract: A damper mechanism (4) includes a first flywheel (2), an intermediate rotating body (44) arranged to be rotatable with respect to the first flywheel (2), a second flywheel (3) arranged to be rotatable with respect to the intermediate rotating body (44), a first damper (8) having a plurality of first coil springs (41) elastically coupling the first flywheel (2) and the intermediate rotating body (44) in a rotation direction, and a second damper (9) elastically coupling the intermediate rotating body (44) and the second flywheel (3) in the rotation direction and that begins operating at a torque that is lower than the minimum operating torque of the first damper (8). The first coil springs (41) are accommodated between the first flywheel (2) and the second flywheel (3) in a state of having been compressed in the rotation direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2007
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Applicant: EXEDY Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Uehara, Hiroyoshi Tsuruta, Hirotaka Fukushima, Masakazu Kamiya, Masaru Ebata
  • Patent number: 7467699
    Abstract: A double mass flywheel has an inertia member, a flexible plate, a second flywheel, an elastic member, and a friction generation mechanism. The flexible plate is deformable in a bending direction and connects the inertia member to a crankshaft. The second flywheel is formed with a clutch friction surface. The elastic member elastically connects the second flywheel to the crankshaft in the rotational direction. The friction generation mechanism is located functionally in parallel with the elastic member in the rotational direction. The friction generation mechanism is held by the flexible plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2008
    Assignee: Exedy Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyoshi Tsuruta, Hiroshi Uehara
  • Patent number: 7445552
    Abstract: A flywheel assembly with an improved bearing structure is provided. The flywheel damper (11) is a flywheel assembly for transmitting torque from the crankshaft of an engine, and has a first flywheel assembly (4), a second flywheel assembly (5), a damper mechanism (6), and a needle bearing (43). The first flywheel assembly (4) is fixed to the crankshaft (2). The second flywheel assembly (5) is disposed so as to be able to rotate relative to the first flywheel assembly (4). The damper mechanism (6) elastically connects the second flywheel assembly (5) to the crankshaft (2) in the rotation direction. The needle bearing (43) is a bearing to support rotatably the second flywheel assembly (5) on the crankshaft (2), and has a plurality of needles (44) disposed between the peripheral surfaces (21d) and (37b) of both members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: Exedy Corporation
    Inventors: Kozo Yamamoto, Hiroyoshi Tsuruta
  • Patent number: 7438166
    Abstract: A flywheel assembly that receives torque from a crankshaft of an engine includes a flywheel, a damper mechanism, and a frictional resistance generation mechanism. The damper mechanism elastically connects the flywheel to the crankshaft in a rotational direction. The damper mechanism includes an input member, an output member, elastic members to connect elastically the input member and the output member in the rotational direction. The frictional resistance generation mechanism is located functionally in parallel with the damper mechanism in the rotational direction. The frictional resistance generation mechanism utilizes a portion of the flywheel as a friction surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Exedy Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyoshi Tsuruta, Hiroshi Uehara, Kozo Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 7303479
    Abstract: A friction resistance generation mechanism is disposed between two relatively rotatable members of a rotating mechanism. The mechanism includes an input side disk-like plate 32, output side disk-like plates 30 and 31, friction shims 361A, 361B, and 361C aligned and disposed in a direction of rotation. A plurality of elastic members is disposed among the friction shims in the direction of rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Assignee: Exedy Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyoshi Tsuruta, Hiroshi Uehara
  • Patent number: 7229357
    Abstract: A flywheel assembly that transmits torque from a crankshaft of an engine is provided. The flywheel assembly has a flywheel with a friction surface and an elastic coupling mechanism. The elastic coupling mechanism elastically couples the flywheel and the crankshaft in a rotating direction, and has a pair of first disk-shaped members axially spaced from each other and fixed together, a second disk-shaped member that is arranged between the pair of first disk-shaped members, and an elastic member that elastically couples the first disk-shaped members to the second disk-shaped member in the rotating direction. Further, a plate-like coupling portion extending between outer peripheries of the paired first disk-shaped members fixes the pair of first disk-shaped members together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: Exedy Corporation
    Inventors: Hirotaka Fukushima, Hiroyoshi Tsuruta, Hiroshi Uehara
  • Publication number: 20070099710
    Abstract: A flexible flywheel is a member to which torque is input from a crankshaft 91 of the engine and includes a first flywheel 2 and a damper mechanism 4. The first flywheel 2 includes an inertia member 13, and a flexible plate 11 for connecting the inertia member 13 with the crankshaft 91. The flexible plate is flexibly deformable in the bending direction. The damper mechanism 4 includes an input-side disc-like plate 20 to which torque is input from the crankshaft 91, output plates 32 and 33 located rotatable relative to the input-side disc-like plate 20, and coil springs 34, 35, and 36 to be compressed in the rotational direction when both the plates rotate relative to each other. The first flywheel 2 can move relative to the damper mechanism 4 in the bending direction with a limited range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2004
    Publication date: May 3, 2007
    Applicant: Exedy Corporation
    Inventors: Kozo Yamamoto, Hiroyoshi Tsuruta, Hiroshi Uehara
  • Publication number: 20070021221
    Abstract: A friction resistance generation mechanism is disposed between two relatively rotatable members of a rotating mechanism. The mechanism includes an input side disk-like plate 32, output side disk-like plates 30 and 31, friction shims 361A, 361B, and 361C aligned and disposed in a direction of rotation. A plurality of elastic members is disposed among the friction shims in the direction of rotation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2006
    Publication date: January 25, 2007
    Applicant: Exedy Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyoshi Tsuruta, Hiroshi Uehara
  • Publication number: 20060260898
    Abstract: A flywheel assembly to which a torque is input from the crankshaft of the engine, has a flywheel, a damper mechanism to connect elastically the flywheel to the crankshaft in the rotational direction, and a slip clutch to transmit torque from the damper mechanism to the flywheel and to slip in response to torque that exceeds a predetermined value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2006
    Publication date: November 23, 2006
    Applicant: Exedy Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyoshi Tsuruta, Hiroshi Uehara
  • Publication number: 20060254875
    Abstract: A flywheel assembly to which a torque is input from a crankshaft of an engine, has a flywheel formed with a clutch friction surface, a damper mechanism that elastically connects the flywheel to the crankshaft in a rotational direction, and a friction generation unit having two members arranged in a axial direction rotatable relative to each other. The two members are urged in the axial direction against each other when the clutch release load is applied to the flywheel toward the crankshaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2006
    Publication date: November 16, 2006
    Applicant: Exedy Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Uehara, Hiroyoshi Tsuruta
  • Patent number: 7134963
    Abstract: A friction resistance generation mechanism is disposed between two relatively rotatable members of a rotating mechanism. The mechanism includes an input side disk-like plate 32, output side disk-like plates 30 and 31, first friction shims 61A, and second friction shims 61B. The first friction shims 61A are frictionally engaged with the plates 30 and 31, and engaged in a manner that allows torque to be transmitted by way of a first rotational direction gap 79A to the plate 32. The second friction shims 61B are frictionally engaged with the plates 30 and 31, and engaged in a manner that allows torque to be transmitted to the plate 32 by way of a second rotational direction gap 79B with a different size than the first rotational direction gap 79A.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2006
    Assignee: Exedy Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyoshi Tsuruta, Hiroshi Uehara
  • Publication number: 20060201767
    Abstract: A flywheel assembly that receives torque from a crankshaft of an engine includes a flywheel, a damper mechanism, and a frictional resistance generation mechanism. The damper mechanism elastically connects the flywheel to the crankshaft in a rotational direction. The damper mechanism includes an input member, an output member, elastic members to connect elastically the input member and the output member in the rotational direction. The frictional resistance generation mechanism is located functionally in parallel with the damper mechanism in the rotational direction. The frictional resistance generation mechanism utilizes a portion of the flywheel as a friction surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2006
    Publication date: September 14, 2006
    Applicant: Exedy Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyoshi Tsuruta, Hiroshi Uehara, Kozo Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20060185959
    Abstract: A double mass flywheel has an inertia member, a flexible plate, a second flywheel, an elastic member, and a friction generation mechanism. The flexible plate is deformable in a bending direction and connects the inertia member to a crankshaft. The second flywheel is formed with a clutch friction surface. The elastic member elastically connects the second flywheel to the crankshaft in the rotational direction. The friction generation mechanism is located functionally in parallel with the elastic member in the rotational direction. The friction generation mechanism is held by the flexible plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2006
    Publication date: August 24, 2006
    Applicant: Exedy Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyoshi Tsuruta, Hiroshi Uehara
  • Publication number: 20060096833
    Abstract: A damper mechanism 6 is provided to transmit torque while absorbing and damping torsional vibrations. A small coil spring 45 achieves characteristics of a low rigidity in a small torsion angle region of the torsion characteristics when compressed by rotary members. A coil spring 33 achieves characteristics of a high rigidity in a large torsion angle region of the torsion characteristics when compressed by the rotary members rotating relatively to each other. A frictional resistance generating mechanism 7 generates a frictional resistance while each spring is being compressed. Owing to a rotating-direction space 79, the frictional resistance generating mechanism 7 does not operate in the second stage of the torsion characteristics and also does not in the first stage while a torsion angle is in a predetermined range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2005
    Publication date: May 11, 2006
    Applicant: Exedy Corporation
    Inventors: Hirotaka Fukushima, Hiroyoshi Tsuruta, Hiroshi Uehara
  • Publication number: 20060009296
    Abstract: A damper mechanism 6 is provided to transmit torque while absorbing and damping torsional vibrations. A small coil spring 45 achieves characteristics of a low rigidity in a small torsion angle region of the torsion characteristics when compressed by rotary members. A coil spring 33 achieves characteristics of a high rigidity in a large torsion angle region of the torsion characteristics when compressed by the rotary members rotating relatively to each other. A frictional resistance generating mechanism 7 generates a frictional resistance while each spring is being compressed. Owing to a rotating-direction space 79, the frictional resistance generating mechanism 7 does not operate in the second stage of the torsion characteristics and also does not in the first stage while a torsion angle is in a predetermined range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2005
    Publication date: January 12, 2006
    Applicant: Exedy Corporation
    Inventors: Hirotaka Fukushima, Hiroyoshi Tsuruta, Hiroshi Uehara
  • Publication number: 20060006044
    Abstract: A damper mechanism 6 is provided to transmit torque while absorbing and damping torsional vibrations. A small coil spring 45 achieves characteristics of a low rigidity in a small torsion angle region of the torsion characteristics when compressed by rotary members. A coil spring 33 achieves characteristics of a high rigidity in a large torsion angle region of the torsion characteristics when compressed by the rotary members rotating relatively to each other. A frictional resistance generating mechanism 7 generates a frictional resistance while each spring is being compressed. Owing to a rotating-direction space 79, the frictional resistance generating mechanism 7 does not operate in the second stage of the torsion characteristics and also does not in the first stage while a torsion angle is in a predetermined range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2005
    Publication date: January 12, 2006
    Applicant: Exedy Corporation
    Inventors: Hirotaka Fukushima, Hiroyoshi Tsuruta, Hiroshi Uehara
  • Publication number: 20050037848
    Abstract: A flywheel assembly with an improved bearing structure is provided. The flywheel damper (11) is a flywheel assembly for transmitting torque from the crankshaft of an engine, and has a first flywheel assembly (4), a second flywheel assembly (5), a damper mechanism (6), and a needle bearing (43). The first flywheel assembly (4) is fixed to the crankshaft (2). The second flywheel assembly (5) is disposed so as to be able to rotate relative to the first flywheel assembly (4). The damper mechanism (6) elastically connects the second flywheel assembly (5) to the crankshaft (2) in the rotation direction. The needle bearing (43) is a bearing to support rotatably the second flywheel assembly (5) on the crankshaft (2), and has a plurality of needles (44) disposed between the peripheral surfaces (21d) and (37b) of both members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2004
    Publication date: February 17, 2005
    Applicant: Exedy Corporation
    Inventors: Kozo Yamamoto, Hiroyoshi Tsuruta
  • Publication number: 20040248655
    Abstract: A friction resistance generation mechanism is disposed between two relatively rotatable members of a rotating mechanism. The mechanism includes an input side disk-like plate 32, output side disk-like plates 30 and 31, first friction shims 61A, and second friction shims 61B. The first friction shims 61A are frictionally engaged with the plates 30 and 31, and engaged in a manner that allows torque to be transmitted by way of a first rotational direction gap 79A to the plate 32. The second friction shims 61B are frictionally engaged with the plates 30 and 31, and engaged in a manner that allows torque to be transmitted to the plate 32 by way of a second rotational direction gap 79B with a different size than the first rotational direction gap 79A.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2004
    Publication date: December 9, 2004
    Inventors: Hiroyoshi Tsuruta, Hiroshi Uehara
  • Patent number: RE38691
    Abstract: A flywheel assembly comprises a flywheel having a friction surface, a flexible plate, and a stopper plate serving as a stopper mechanism. The above-described flexible plate is flexible in the bending direction and rigid in the rotational direction, and has a radially outer portion fixed to the flywheel and a radially inner portion fixable to an end of a crankshaft of an engine. The stopper plate is for restraining bending deflection of the flexible plate when it exceeds a predetermined amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2005
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Daikin Seisakusho
    Inventors: Hiroyoshi Tsuruta, Hirotaka Fukushima