Patents by Inventor Kouji Ishikawa

Kouji Ishikawa 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: 9822803
    Abstract: A work machine is adapted for reduced fuel consumption in regions where swinging by a hydraulic motor is prone to deterioration in efficiency, such as when the operating stroke of the swinging is small. The work machine includes an engine, a hydraulic pump, a swing structure, an electric motor for driving the swing structure, and a hydraulic motor for driving the swing structure, the hydraulic motor being driven by the hydraulic pump, and includes a swing control lever device that commands the swing structure to be driven. A control device operates in either an electric swing mode in which the swing structure is driven mainly by torque of the electric motor or a hydraulic swing mode in which the swing structure is driven mainly by torque of the hydraulic motor, depending on an operating stroke of the control lever device and/or a swing speed of the swing structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: HITACHI CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shinya Imura, Kouji Ishikawa, Hidetoshi Satake, Shinji Nishikawa, Tomoaki Kaneta, Shiho Izumi
  • Publication number: 20170298590
    Abstract: When hydraulic fluid discharged from a hydraulic actuator is to be recovered for driving a different hydraulic actuator, the recovery frequency is increased to achieve further energy saving. To this end, a pressure increasing circuit 36 is provided in which a communication pressure increasing valve 12 is disposed in a communication passage 26 that connects a bottom side line 23 of and a rod side line 24 a boom cylinder 4. A recovery control valve 11 is controlled such that, when a first operation unit 5 is operated in a boom lowering direction (own weight falling direction of the boom) and a second operation unit 6 is operated simultaneously, only if the pressure at the bottom side of the boom cylinder 4 is higher than the pressure at the arm cylinder side that is a recovery destination of hydraulic fluid, the recovery control valve 11 is opened to recover the flow rate discharged from the bottom side of the boom cylinder 4 to the arm cylinder side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2014
    Publication date: October 19, 2017
    Inventors: Seiji HIJIKATA, Kouji ISHIKAWA, Takatoshi OOKI, Shinya IMURA
  • Publication number: 20170292250
    Abstract: A construction machine management system in which a failure analysis or a failure-omen diagnosis of a machine body can be performed with a high degree accuracy and at a low cost is provided. In a machine body group of construction machines including at least one representative machine body having an engine control unit that detects a cumulative stress value of a diesel engine of the construction machine and a crankcase pressure sensor that detects a crankcase pressure, and at least one general machine body that has an engine control unit but does not have a crankcase pressure sensor, a center server performs a diagnosis of an omen of a failure state regarding the crankcase pressure of the general machine body based on correlation information between the cumulative stress value and the crankcase pressure obtained from the representative machine body and the cumulative stress value of the general machine body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2015
    Publication date: October 12, 2017
    Inventors: Shinya SATO, Kentarou ITOGA, Masatoshi HOSHINO, Kouji ISHIKAWA
  • Publication number: 20170284064
    Abstract: The construction machine includes: a control valve that switchingly supplies hydraulic fluid from a hydraulic pump to a hydraulic actuator; a control valve drive device that supplies pilot secondary hydraulic fluid to the control valve in accordance with an operation of an operation lever device; a pilot hydraulic pump that supplies pilot primary hydraulic fluid to the control valve drive device; a pressure accumulation device that recovers return hydraulic fluid returned from the hydraulic actuator. The construction machine further includes: a check valve provided in a line between the pilot hydraulic pump and the control valve drive device; a pressure reducing valve that supplied the hydraulic fluid accumulated in the pressure accumulation device; a flow rate reduction device; and a controller that controls the flow rate reduction device in accordance with the pressure in the line between the check valve and the control valve drive device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2015
    Publication date: October 5, 2017
    Inventors: Seiji HIJIKATA, Kouji ISHIKAWA, Yasutaka TSURUGA, Masatoshi HOSHINO, Kiwamu TAKAHASHI
  • Patent number: 9777463
    Abstract: A construction machine, comprising a hydraulic pump, a swing hydraulic motor, a swing electric motor, a delivery capacity regulating device, and a control unit which controls the driving/braking of the swing structure, is configured to comprise an operation amount detection device for detecting the operation amount of the swing control lever and a speed detection device for detecting the speed of the swing electric motor. The control unit includes a hydraulic pump output reduction control unit which takes in an operation amount signal representing the operation amount of the swing control lever detected by the operation amount detection device and a speed signal representing the speed of the swing electric motor detected by the speed detection device and controls the delivery capacity regulating device by calculating a reduction rate of the output of the hydraulic pump based on the detection signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: HITACHI CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shiho Izumi, Shinya Imura, Hidetoshi Satake, Kouji Ishikawa, Tomoaki Kaneta, Hiroaki Amano, Shinji Nishikawa
  • Publication number: 20170276530
    Abstract: A work machine evaluates the fuel consumption for the whole engine running period including the time of operation and the time of non-operation of a work implement and informs an operator of the evaluation in real time to prompt fuel-consumption-savings. The work machine has an engine, a hydraulic pump driven by the engine, an actuator driven by a hydraulic fluid delivered by the hydraulic pump, and an operation device that operates the actuator. A display apparatus for the work machine includes a fuel consumption index calculating section that calculates a first fuel consumption index by dividing the operation time of the operation device by the fuel consumption amount of the engine or dividing the fuel consumption amount of the engine by the operation time of the operation device. The first fuel consumption index calculated by the fuel consumption index calculating section is displayed on a display section in real time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2015
    Publication date: September 28, 2017
    Inventors: Shinji NISHIKAWA, Kouji ISHIKAWA, Tomoaki KANETA
  • Publication number: 20170275852
    Abstract: Provided is a hydraulic control system for a construction machine, including: a control valve (31) for controlling supply and discharge of hydraulic fluid to and from an arm cylinder (4); an operation lever (6) for controlling the position of a spool of the control valve (31); a meter-out flow passage (34) for passing therethrough hydraulic fluid discharged from the arm cylinder; a variable restrictor (23a) provided in the meter-out flow passage; pressure sensors (41, 42) for detecting a magnitude of a negative load applied by an external force to the arm cylinder in a same direction as an actuation direction of the arm cylinder; and a controller (45) for reducing an opening area of the variable restrictor (23a) according to an increase in the magnitude of the negative load calculated with a detection value from the pressure sensors (41, 42).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2015
    Publication date: September 28, 2017
    Inventors: Ryohei YAMASHITA, Shinya IMURA, Kouji ISHIKAWA, Hidekazu MORIKI
  • Publication number: 20170276155
    Abstract: Provided is a hydraulic drive system for a work machine configured with a single solenoid proportional valve for a regeneration circuit, wherein substantially the same actuator speed can be secured irrespective of whether or not hydraulic fluid discharged from a hydraulic actuator is regenerated for driving of another hydraulic actuator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2015
    Publication date: September 28, 2017
    Inventors: Seiji HIJIKATA, Kouji ISHIKAWA, Shinya IMURA
  • Publication number: 20170268540
    Abstract: A work machine including a specific actuator that supplies hydraulic fluid from a plurality of hydraulic pumps includes: first and second hydraulic pumps communicating with a first hydraulic actuator; a first control valve returning hydraulic fluid delivered by the first hydraulic pump to a tank; and a load detection section that detects a load on the first hydraulic actuator. A control valve drive section drives the first control valve such that a communication area between the first hydraulic pump and the tank is enlarged corresponding to an increase in the load on the first hydraulic actuator; and a flow rate control section, during supply of the hydraulic fluid from the first and second hydraulic pumps to the first hydraulic actuator, controls to reduce a delivery flow rate of the first hydraulic pump corresponding to an increase in the load on the first hydraulic actuator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2015
    Publication date: September 21, 2017
    Inventors: Hidekazu MORIKI, Shinya IMURA, Tsutomu UDAGAWA, Ryohei YAMASHITA, Kouji ISHIKAWA
  • Publication number: 20170234334
    Abstract: To provide a hydraulic drive system for a work machine capable of securing a favorable operability in the case where hydraulic fluid discharged from a hydraulic actuator is regenerated for driving other hydraulic actuator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2015
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Inventors: Seiji HIJIKATA, Kouji ISHIKAWA, Shinya IMURA
  • Patent number: 9725878
    Abstract: Provided is a hybrid-type construction machine including a swing device of the hydraulic-electric combined swing type and by which, in a work for which accurate swing operability is demanded like, for example, a crane work, a swing body is driven alone by the electric motor. The hybrid-type construction machine includes an engine, a hydraulic pump driven by the engine, a swing body, an electric motor for driving the swing body, and a hydraulic motor driven by the hydraulic pump for driving the swing body. The swing body is swung by simultaneous drive by the electric motor and the hydraulic motor. The hybrid-type construction machine includes a control apparatus having a work mode changeover unit by which an operator changes over a mode in response to an aspect of a work and an electric alone swing controlling unit configured to control the swing body to be swung by the electric motor alone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroaki Amano, Kouji Ishikawa, Hidetoshi Satake, Shinya Imura, Shinji Nishikawa, Tomoaki Kaneta, Shiho Izumi
  • Publication number: 20170175782
    Abstract: The Construction machinery includes at least two actuators, a main pump that generates hydraulic energy for driving the actuators, control valves disposed between the main pump and the actuators, a hydraulic pump motor driven by the generator motor that generates energy to be added to the hydraulic energy, and a controller that reduces hydraulic energy generated by the main pump when the hydraulic pump motor driven by the generator-motor generates energy. The construction machinery further comprises changeover valves that selectively change a location at which the energy from the hydraulic pump motor driven by the generator-motor is to be added according to the actuators. The controller changes a reduction rate of the hydraulic energy generated by the main pump depending on a specific actuator to which the energy is to be added.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2017
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Inventors: Shinya IMURA, Hidetoshi SATAKE, Kouji ISHIKAWA, Seiji HIJIKATA, Takatoshi OOKI, Shinji NISHIKAWA
  • Patent number: 9598842
    Abstract: Provided is construction machinery that is capable of greatly reducing the amount of fuel consumption by making effective use of recovered energy. The construction machinery has a first hydraulic pump 3 for discharging hydraulic oil for driving an actuator 6, a second hydraulic pump 9, a second prime mover 7 for driving the second hydraulic pump 9, energy storage device 8 for storing energy for driving the second prime mover 7, and a hydraulic oil supply circuit 10 including a hydraulic oil switching section 11c that accepts the hydraulic oil discharged from the first hydraulic pump and the hydraulic oil discharged from the second hydraulic pump and supplies either the mixture of the accepted hydraulic oils or a selected one of the accepted hydraulic oils to the actuator 6.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: HITACHI CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shinya Imura, Hidetoshi Satake, Kouji Ishikawa, Seiji Hijikata, Tomoaki Kaneta
  • Publication number: 20170073932
    Abstract: Provided is a hydraulic fluid energy recovery system for a work machine equipped with a hydraulic pump, a hydraulic actuator for driving the work machine, an operating device for operating the hydraulic actuator, and a regenerating device for recovering a return fluid flowing back from the hydraulic actuator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2014
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Applicant: Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seiji HIJIKATA, Kouji ISHIKAWA, Takatoshi OOKI, Shinya IMURA
  • Patent number: 9593464
    Abstract: A construction machine includes: a swing structure (20); hydraulic and electric motors (25) mechanically coupled to each other; a hydraulic pump (41) that supplies hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic motor; swing control lever (72) that instructs the swing structure to make a swing motion; and a control device (80) that controls at least either a delivery flow rate of the hydraulic pump or an output torque of the electric motor in such a manner that meter-out and meter-in pressures of the hydraulic motor that is run together with the electric motor approach each other when the demanded torque necessary for the swing motion of the swing structure instructed by the swing control lever can be produced by the electric motor alone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shiho Izumi, Kouji Ishikawa, Shinya Imura, Shinji Nishikawa, Tomoaki Kaneta, Hiroaki Amano
  • Publication number: 20170058487
    Abstract: A controller sets a target flow rate of a regenerative hydraulic motor at zero or a low flow rate within an extent in which hydraulic pressure in a regeneration hydraulic line does not become negative pressure when a detected pressure PS detected by a pressure sensor is lower than a first set value previously set by overload relief valves, sets the target flow rate of the regenerative hydraulic motor at a value corresponding to the detected pressure when the detected pressure is higher than or equal to the first set value, and controls the revolution speed of a generator/motor in such a manner that a flow rate through the regenerative hydraulic motor equals the target flow rate. With such features, excellent operability equivalent to that in the conventional technology can be secured.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2014
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventors: Seiji HIJIKATA, Kouji ISHIKAWA, Takatoshi OOKI, Shinya IMURA
  • Patent number: 9567730
    Abstract: A work machine prevents a fault in a swing electric motor if an uneven coil temperature increase occurs in the swing electric motor during swing press and related operations. An electricity storage device is connected to the electric motor. An inverter drives the electric motor and a swing control lever issues a command to drive the swing structure. A rotational speed detecting device detects swing speed of the swing structure and a controller controls torque of the electric motor. The controller reads the swing speed of the swing structure detected by the rotational speed detecting device to control such that, when the swing speed is zero, the torque of the electric motor is smaller than a maximum torque value and, when the swing speed is a first rotational speed higher than zero, the torque of the electric motor is the maximum torque value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: HITACHI CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shinya Imura, Kouji Ishikawa, Hidetoshi Satake, Shinji Nishikawa, Tomoaki Kaneta, Shiho Izumi
  • Publication number: 20170009428
    Abstract: Provided is a hydraulic fluid energy regeneration device for a work machine, including: a regeneration hydraulic motor driven by discharged return hydraulic fluid; a first hydraulic pump mechanically connected to the regeneration hydraulic motor; a second hydraulic pump that delivers an hydraulic fluid for driving a first hydraulic actuator and/or a second hydraulic actuator; a junction line that allows the hydraulic fluid delivered by the second hydraulic pump to be joined; a second regulator that regulates the delivery flow rate of the second hydraulic pump; and a first regulator that regulates the flow rate of the hydraulic fluid coming from the first hydraulic pump and flowing through the junction line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2014
    Publication date: January 12, 2017
    Applicant: Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seiji HIJIKATA, Kouji ISHIKAWA, Takatoshi OOKI, Shinya IMURA
  • Publication number: 20170009690
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a working machine and a working machine monitoring system using the same which is capable of improving the accuracy in determining fuel property. The working machine is provided with an engine operation parameter acquisition module (1041) that acquires an engine operation parameter representing the operation state of an engine mounted on the working machine; a refueling time acquisition module (1011) that acquires a refueling time when the working machine is supplied with fuel; and a fuel property determination module (1014) that determines the property of the fuel based on a comparison result of the time when the engine operation parameter changes, with the refueling time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2015
    Publication date: January 12, 2017
    Inventors: Shinya SATO, Masatoshi HOSHINO, Kouji ISHIKAWA, Shinji ISHIHARA
  • Publication number: 20170009424
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a hydraulic control system for a work machine that is capable of reducing the loss caused by flow division while reducing a decrease in the speed of a hydraulic actuator due to a combined operation. The hydraulic control system for a work machine includes a first hydraulic actuator, one hydraulic pump, a second hydraulic actuator, and another hydraulic pump. The hydraulic control system further includes operating instruction detection means and pump flow control means. The operating instruction detection means detects that operating instructions are issued to the first hydraulic actuator and the second hydraulic actuator. The pump flow control means individually adjusts the delivery flow rate of the one hydraulic pump and the another hydraulic pump in accordance with operation amounts designated by the operating instructions for the first and second hydraulic actuators.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2015
    Publication date: January 12, 2017
    Inventors: Hidekazu MORIKI, Shinya IMURA, Kouji ISHIKAWA, Ryohei YAMASHITA