Patents by Inventor Kaoru Hanawa

Kaoru Hanawa 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: 9789923
    Abstract: A hybrid power unit is mounted on a vehicle body frame of a saddle-type vehicle and is composed of an engine, a transmission, a clutch system, that enables switching between connection and disconnection of power transmission between a crankshaft and the transmission, and an electric motor capable of transmitting rotational power to the transmission. An operation of the electric motor alone is enabled with alleviation of the load. Thus, an increase in the size in the direction along the axis line of the crankshaft is avoided. The electric motor, rendered incapable of direct power transmission from and to a crankshaft, is housed in a transmission chamber so as to be allowed to transmit rotational power from a rotor of the electric motor to a transmission shaft. The rotor is disposed on an upper side relative to the highest oil level of lubricating oil in the transmission chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kaoru Hanawa, Kazuyuki Nakai, Yoshitaka Nukada
  • Publication number: 20170088213
    Abstract: A hybrid power unit is mounted on a vehicle body frame of a saddle-type vehicle and is composed of an engine, a transmission, a clutch system, that enables switching between connection and disconnection of power transmission between a crankshaft and the transmission, and an electric motor capable of transmitting rotational power to the transmission. An operation of the electric motor alone is enabled with alleviation of the load. Thus, an increase in the size in the direction along the axis line of the crankshaft is avoided. The electric motor, rendered incapable of direct power transmission from and to a crankshaft, is housed in a transmission chamber so as to be allowed to transmit rotational power from a rotor of the electric motor to a transmission shaft. The rotor is disposed on an upper side relative to the highest oil level of lubricating oil in the transmission chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2016
    Publication date: March 30, 2017
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kaoru HANAWA, Kazuyuki NAKAI, Yoshitaka NUKADA
  • Patent number: 8726881
    Abstract: In the inlet passage structure of the V-type internal combustion engine, front and rear banks have inlet ports with a nearly identical inlet passage length, and an inlet chamber is connected to a top end openings of the inlet ports. A throttle body and the inlet chamber are offset on a side leading to a cylinder on a side away from the throttle body. The inside of the inlet chamber is formed with a nearly straight inlet passage from the throttle body to the top end opening of the inlet port leading to the cylinder bore on the side away from the throttle body, and a curved inlet passage to the top end opening of the inlet port leading to the cylinder on a close side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Sato, Masaki Cho, Natsue Ogawa, Takahiro Imafuku, Kaoru Hanawa, Noriaki Okano
  • Patent number: 8584645
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a variable intake pipe length device capable of adjusting the length of an intake pipe according to the condition of an engine, the intake pipe being provided in an intake passage for inducing air from an air cleaner box to an intake port of the engine, the intake pipe including a fixed funnel and a movable funnel movable relative to the fixed funnel by a driving force of an actuator. A rotating pipe as a part of the intake pipe is rotationally driven by the actuator, and the movable funnel is moved by rotating the rotating pipe, thereby varying the length of the intake pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Katsuhiro Kubo, Kaoru Hanawa
  • Patent number: 8348005
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle includes an engine, a motor, a multi-stage gear transmission, and an actuator. The engine has a crankshaft, a crankcase, and a cylinder. The motor is provided on the crankshaft. Through the multi-stage gear transmission, an output of the crankshaft is changed to be used for traveling of the vehicle. The actuator is configured to automatically shift the multi-stage gear transmission and is provided in the crankcase in proximity to the motor. A radius from a center line of the cylinder to a part of the actuator farthest from the center line is shorter than a radius from the center line to a part of the motor farthest from the center line. The actuator has a width less than a width of the motor in a direction perpendicular to the crankshaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kaoru Hanawa, Takashi Tsutsumizaki
  • Patent number: 8316980
    Abstract: A hybrid motorcycle includes a body frame, a front wheel, and a hybrid driving source. The hybrid driving source is mounted on the body frame between a head pipe and a swing arm pivot. The hybrid driving source includes an engine and a motor. The engine has a crankshaft whose axial direction is substantially parallel to a vehicle longitudinal direction. The motor is provided at a front shaft end adjacent to the front wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kaoru Hanawa, Takashi Tsutsumizaki
  • Publication number: 20110073391
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle includes an engine, a motor, a multi-stage gear transmission, and an actuator. The engine has a crankshaft, a crankcase, and a cylinder. The motor is provided on the crankshaft. Through the multi-stage gear transmission, an output of the crankshaft is changed to be used for traveling of the vehicle. The actuator is configured to automatically shift the multi-stage gear transmission and is provided in the crankcase in proximity to the motor. A radius from a center line of the cylinder to a part of the actuator farthest from the center line is shorter than a radius from the center line to a part of the motor farthest from the center line. The actuator has a width less than a width of the motor in a direction perpendicular to the crankshaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2010
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kaoru HANAWA, Takashi Tsutsumizaki
  • Publication number: 20110073401
    Abstract: A hybrid motorcycle includes a body frame, a front wheel, and a hybrid driving source. The hybrid driving source is mounted on the body frame between a head pipe and a swing arm pivot. The hybrid driving source includes an engine and a motor. The engine has a crankshaft whose axial direction is substantially parallel to a vehicle longitudinal direction. The motor is provided at a front shaft end adjacent to the front wheel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2010
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kaoru HANAWA, Takashi Tsutsumizaki
  • Publication number: 20100242903
    Abstract: In the inlet passage structure of the V-type internal combustion engine, front and rear banks have inlet ports with a nearly identical inlet passage length, and an inlet chamber is connected to a top end openings of the inlet ports. A throttle body and the inlet chamber are offset on a side leading to a cylinder on a side away from the throttle body. The inside of the inlet chamber is formed with a nearly straight inlet passage from the throttle body to the top end opening of the inlet port leading to the cylinder bore on the side away from the throttle body, and a curved inlet passage to the top end opening of the inlet port leading to the cylinder on a close side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2010
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toshiyuki SATO, Masaki Cho, Natsue Ogawa, Takahiro Imafuku, Kaoru Hanawa, Noriaki Okano
  • Publication number: 20090165741
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a variable intake pipe length device capable of adjusting the length of an intake pipe according to the condition of an engine, the intake pipe being provided in an intake passage for inducing air from an air cleaner box to an intake port of the engine, the intake pipe including a fixed funnel and a movable funnel movable relative to the fixed funnel by a driving force of an actuator. A rotating pipe as a part of the intake pipe is rotationally driven by the actuator, and the movable funnel is moved by rotating the rotating pipe, thereby varying the length of the intake pipe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2008
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Katsuhiro KUBO, Kaoru HANAWA
  • Patent number: 7370643
    Abstract: A V-type internal combustion engine includes cylinder heads having respective compressed-air supply channels extending therein for providing fluid communication between an air compressor and charge injectors. Formation of condensation in the compressed-air supply channels is prevented. Charge injectors are provided in the respective cylinder heads, for directly injecting charges of fuel-air mixture into combustion chambers in cylinders. Compressed-air supply channels extend from an air compressor to the respective charge injectors, including a shared channel provided in a crankcase, and branched supply channels provided in each of the respective cylinder blocks. The compressed-air supply channels are internal conduits formed by attaching the cylinder blocks to the crankcase. In addition, cooling of the compressed air in the compressed-air supply channels is prevented during engine operation, so that formation of condensation within the compressed-air supply channels is prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kaoru Hanawa
  • Patent number: 7331331
    Abstract: To effectively reduce operational noise generated by vibration of the fuel injection valve with a fuel injection valve installation structure of an engine. In the structure, an installation hole is formed in an engine component member that constitutes a part of an engine. The installation hole has an annular shoulder portion, which is formed in the middle portion thereof, and which faces the exterior side. The fuel injection valve is held between the annular shoulder portion and a supporting member attached to the engine component member. A first damper, with high vibration-damping properties, is set between an annular shoulder portion and a fuel injection valve. A second damper, with high vibration-damping quality, is set between a supporting member and the fuel injection valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Kaoru Hanawa, Satoru Shimizu
  • Patent number: 7314042
    Abstract: An EGR control valve is disposed on a V-type internal combustion engine such that the engine is compact as a whole. In the internal combustion engine, cylinders are provided with the cylinders spaced apart from each other in a V-shape, and exhaust gas obtained from an exhaust port of the rear cylinder is supplied to intake ports of the respective cylinders via a single EGR control valve through exhaust-gas supply channels having a branching chamber. The EGR control valve is provided in a V bank space between the cylinders. In addition, the EGR control valve is disposed at the rear of the front cylinder, so that the cooling of the EGR control valve due to exposure to the wind caused by vehicle travel is inhibited, and the exhaust gas is maintained at a high temperature during recirculation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2008
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kaoru Hanawa
  • Publication number: 20070169755
    Abstract: To effectively reduce operational noise generated by vibration of the fuel injection valve with a fuel injection valve installation structure of an engine. In the structure, an installation hole is formed in an engine component member that constitutes a part of an engine. The installation hole has an annular shoulder portion, which is formed in the middle portion thereof, and which faces the exterior side. The fuel injection valve is held between the annular shoulder portion and a supporting member attached to the engine component member. A first damper, with high vibration-damping properties, is set between an annular shoulder portion and a fuel injection valve. A second damper, with high vibration-damping quality, is set between a supporting member and the fuel injection valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2007
    Publication date: July 26, 2007
    Inventors: Kaoru Hanawa, Satoru Shimizu
  • Publication number: 20060219228
    Abstract: A V-type internal combustion engine includes cylinder heads having respective compressed-air supply channels extending therein for providing fluid communication between an air compressor and charge injectors. Formation of condensation in the compressed-air supply channels is prevented. Charge injectors are provided in the respective cylinder heads, for directly injecting charges of fuel-air mixture into combustion chambers in cylinders. Compressed-air supply channels extend from an air compressor to the respective charge injectors, including a shared channel provided in a crankcase, and branched supply channels provided in each of the respective cylinder blocks. The compressed-air supply channels are internal conduits formed by attaching the cylinder blocks to the crankcase. In addition, cooling of the compressed air in the compressed-air supply channels is prevented during engine operation, so that formation of condensation within the compressed-air supply channels is prevented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2006
    Publication date: October 5, 2006
    Applicant: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kaoru Hanawa
  • Publication number: 20060219229
    Abstract: An EGR control valve is disposed on a V-type internal combustion engine such that the engine is compact as a whole. In the internal combustion engine, cylinders are provided with the cylinders spaced apart from each other in a V-shape, and exhaust gas obtained from an exhaust port of the rear cylinder is supplied to intake ports of the respective cylinders via a single EGR control valve through exhaust-gas supply channels having a branching chamber. The EGR control valve is provided in a V bank space between the cylinders. In addition, the EGR control valve is disposed at the rear of the front cylinder, so that the cooling of the EGR control valve due to exposure to the wind caused by vehicle travel is inhibited, and the exhaust gas is maintained at a high temperature during recirculation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2006
    Publication date: October 5, 2006
    Applicant: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kaoru Hanawa
  • Patent number: 6889670
    Abstract: In an engine fuel injection apparatus including an injector having a fuel injection valve for injecting fuel and an air fuel injection valve that is mounted to a cylinder head so as to inject fuel directly into a combustion chamber with compressed air an increase in the size of the engine and the complexity of the structure around the engine are avoided and the pumping efficiency of a compressed air pump is improved. At least part of the compressed air supply route for supplying compressed air to the injector is provided directly in the cylinder head while passing the area in the vicinity of an exhaust port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2005
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kaoru Hanawa, Hiroya Ueda
  • Patent number: 6877491
    Abstract: An air fuel injection engine including an injector composed of a fuel injection valve for injecting fuel and an air fuel injection valve for directly injecting fuel together with compressed air into a combustion chamber and an injector housing for holding and securing the injector to an engine body. The injector is supported on a head cover, and at least part of a compressed air supply passage for supplying compressed air to the injector is provided directly in the head cover. Further, an injector housing is formed integrally with a head cover which forms part of an engine body. With this configuration, the scale of the engine, the complication of the structure around the engine, and the number of part required can be kept to a minimum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kaoru Hanawa, Shuichi Ishida, Hiroya Ueda, Hiroshi Kuribara
  • Publication number: 20040094135
    Abstract: In an engine fuel injection apparatus including an injector having a fuel injection valve for injecting fuel and an air fuel injection valve that is mounted to a cylinder head so as to inject fuel directly into a combustion chamber with compressed air an increase in the size of the engine and the complexity of the structure around the engine are avoided and the pumping efficiency of a compressed air pump is improved. At least part of the compressed air supply route for supplying compressed air to the injector is provided directly in the cylinder head while passing the area in the vicinity of an exhaust port.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2003
    Publication date: May 20, 2004
    Inventors: Kaoru Hanawa, Hiroya Ueda
  • Publication number: 20040065295
    Abstract: An air fuel injection engine including an injector composed of a fuel injection valve for injecting fuel and an air fuel injection valve for directly injecting fuel together with compressed air into a combustion chamber and an injector housing for holding and securing the injector to an engine body. The injector is supported on a head cover, and at least part of a compressed air supply passage for supplying compressed air to the injector is provided directly in the head cover. Further, an injector housing is formed integrally with a head cover which forms part of an engine body. With this configuration, the scale of the engine, the complication of the structure around the engine, and the number of part required can be kept to a minimum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2003
    Publication date: April 8, 2004
    Inventors: Kaoru Hanawa, Shuichi lshida, Hiroya Ueda, Hiroshi Kuribara