Patents by Inventor Masaaki Kuma

Masaaki Kuma 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: 8661805
    Abstract: A fluid type power transmission system includes a fluid type power transmission device and a control part. The fluid type power transmission device includes an inlet part and an outlet part for a working fluid. The fluid type power transmission device is configured to transmit power in response to circulation of the working fluid in the interior thereof. The control part is configured to control a pressure of the working fluid in the inlet part by regulating a pressure of the working fluid in the outlet part of the fluid type power transmission device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaaki Kuma, Osamu Kodama
  • Patent number: 8447476
    Abstract: A lubricating oil supply control device controls a lubricating oil supply amount to a transmission in a construction machine including a torque converter with a lock-up clutch. The lubricating oil supply control device includes a clutch state determining section, a lubricating oil amount detecting section and a lock-up clutch controlling section. The clutch state determining section determines whether or not the lock-up clutch is being coupled. The lubricating oil amount detecting section detects whether or not the lubricating oil supply amount to the transmission is short of a preliminarily set supply amount. The lock-up clutch controlling section decouples the lock-up clutch when the lock-up clutch is being coupled and the lubricating oil supply amount is short of the preliminarily set supply amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventors: Eiji Yamaguchi, Masaaki Kuma, Yasutaka Kuse, Miki Kuse, Reiko Kuse
  • Patent number: 8356528
    Abstract: A transmission for an industrial vehicle has an input shaft; first and second transmission mechanisms each having a plurality of speed-change steps; a second transmission mechanism; a clutch mechanism; a rotation direction switching mechanism; and an output shaft. The clutch mechanism is disposed on the input side of the first and second transmission mechanisms and is provided with a forward clutch and a reverse clutch for switching between forward and reverse travel, and is further provided with first and second snap clutches for selecting which of the first and second transmission mechanisms will receive rotational input from the engine. The rotation direction switching mechanism is a mechanism for switching the direction of rotation inputted to the first transmission mechanism or the second transmission mechanism to the direction of rotation for forward travel or the direction of rotation for reverse travel in accordance with the switching of forward and reverse travel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaaki Kuma, Hiroaki Takeshima
  • Patent number: 8182394
    Abstract: Provided is a device for performing speed change not leading to engine stall in a working vehicle such as a wheel loader while sustaining a required tractive force and reducing fuel consumption. When a speed (“forward”, “second speed”) suitable for a work is selected by a speed change operator, control means makes a modulation clutch engaged in response to the vehicle speed drop and makes a lock-up state where a lock-up clutch is engaged transit to a lock-up and modulation clutch slip state where the lock-up clutch is engaged while the modulation clutch slips. Subsequently, the control means performs a clutch control for causing a transition to both clutch slip state where the lock-up clutch and the modulation clutch slip in response to the vehicle speed drop, hence causing the transition to a torque converter operation state where the modulation clutch is engaged and the lock-up clutch is released.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventors: Eiji Yamaguchi, Masaaki Kuma, Takashi Kuse
  • Patent number: 8147376
    Abstract: A construction vehicle includes a control unit configured to shift gear after performing pre-shifting to couple a target speed-change gear that corresponds to a target speed with a target speed-change shaft in non-transmitting state of rotation of the input shaft when the gear shift is performed from a current speed to the target speed, in a state in which the current speed gear that corresponds to the current speed step and the current speed-change shaft that corresponds to the current speed gear are coupled. When the vehicle speed detected by the vehicle speed detecting section is zero, the control unit is configured to perform pre-shift auxiliary control prior to the pre-shifting control to input the rotation of the input shaft to the target speed-change shaft in a state in which the target speed-change shaft is not coupled to the plurality of speed-change gears.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroaki Takeshima, Masaaki Kuma, Takashi Kuse
  • Publication number: 20110276237
    Abstract: A lubricating oil supply control device controls a lubricating oil supply amount to a transmission in a construction machine including a torque converter with a lock-up clutch. The lubricating oil supply control device includes a clutch state determining section, a lubricating oil amount detecting section and a lock-up clutch controlling section. The clutch state determining section determines whether or not the lock-up clutch is being coupled. The lubricating oil amount detecting section detects whether or not the lubricating oil supply amount to the transmission is short of a preliminarily set supply amount. The lock-up clutch controlling section decouples the lock-up clutch when the lock-up clutch is being coupled and the lubricating oil supply amount is short of the preliminarily set supply amount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2010
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Applicant: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventors: Eiji Yamaguchi, Masaaki Kuma, Takashi Kuse, Yasutaka Kuse, Miki Kuse, Reiko Kuse
  • Publication number: 20100236229
    Abstract: A fluid type power transmission system includes a fluid type power transmission device and a control part. The fluid type power transmission device includes an inlet part and an outlet part for a working fluid. The fluid type power transmission device is configured to transmit power in response to circulation of the working fluid in the interior thereof. The control part is configured to control a pressure of the working fluid in the inlet part by regulating a pressure of the working fluid in the outlet part of the fluid type power transmission device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2008
    Publication date: September 23, 2010
    Applicant: KOMATSU LTD.
    Inventors: Masaaki Kuma, Osamu Kodama
  • Publication number: 20100197459
    Abstract: Provided is a device for performing speed change not leading to engine stall in a working vehicle such as a wheel loader while sustaining a required tractive force and reducing fuel consumption. When a speed (“forward”, “second speed”) suitable for a work is selected by a speed change operator, control means makes a modulation clutch engaged in response to the vehicle speed drop and makes a lock-up state where a lock-up clutch is engaged transit to a lock-up and modulation clutch slip state where the lock-up clutch is engaged while the modulation clutch slips. Subsequently, the control means performs a clutch control for causing a transition to both clutch slip state where the lock-up clutch and the modulation clutch slip in response to the vehicle speed drop, thence causing the transition to a torque converter operation state where the modulation clutch is engaged and the lock-up clutch is released.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2008
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Inventors: Eiji Yamaguchi, Masaaki Kuma, Takashi Kuse
  • Publication number: 20100069198
    Abstract: A construction vehicle includes a control unit configured to shift gear after performing pre-shifting to couple a target speed-change gear that corresponds to a target speed with a target speed-change shaft in non-transmitting state of rotation of the input shaft when the gear shift is performed from a current speed to the target speed, in a state in which the current speed gear that corresponds to the current speed step and the current speed-change shaft that corresponds to the current speed gear are coupled. When the vehicle speed detected by the vehicle speed detecting section is zero, the control unit is configured to perform pre-shift auxiliary control prior to the pre-shifting control to input the rotation of the input shaft to the target speed-change shaft in a state in which the target speed-change shaft is not coupled to the plurality of speed-change gears.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2008
    Publication date: March 18, 2010
    Applicant: KOMATSU LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroaki Takeshima, Masaaki Kuma, Takashi Kuse
  • Publication number: 20100018336
    Abstract: A transmission for an industrial vehicle has an input shaft; first and second transmission mechanisms, each having a plurality of speed-change steps; a second transmission mechanism; a clutch mechanism; a rotation direction switching mechanism; and an output shaft. The clutch mechanism is disposed on the input side of the first and second transmission mechanisms and is provided with a forward clutch and a reverse clutch for switching between forward and reverse travel, and is further provided with first and second snap clutches for selecting which of the first and second transmission mechanisms will receive rotational input from the engine. The rotation direction switching mechanism is a mechanism for switching the direction of rotation inputted to the first transmission mechanism or the second transmission mechanism to the direction of rotation for forward travel or the direction of rotation for reverse travel in accordance with the switching of forward and reverse travel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2008
    Publication date: January 28, 2010
    Applicant: KOMATSU LTD.
    Inventors: Masaaki Kuma, Hiroaki Takeshima
  • Publication number: 20030186770
    Abstract: A variable displacement oil hydraulic motor designed to have its axial size minimized is disclosed, which comprises: a cylinder block receiving a plurality of pistons in pressure contact with a slanting surface of a swash plate variable in its angle of inclination, a motor housing accommodating the cylinder block therein; and at least one swash plate inclination changing piston which is disposed at a given circumferential position in an annular space defined between an outer periphery of the cylinder block and an inner periphery of the motor housing and which is movable bidirectionally in a direction parallel to the abovementioned pistons to alter the angle of inclination of the swash plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2003
    Publication date: October 2, 2003
    Inventors: Masaaki Kuma, Kenichi Kishi
  • Patent number: 5484352
    Abstract: A detector switch of the present invention is capable of confirming that an electrical signal from a controller to an electromagnetic valve has been transformed into the operation of a control valve spool when the speed of a transmission of automobiles or construction machines is changed. To achieve this, in a transmission having control valves having a spool (3) for changing the hydraulic pressure of a transmission clutch, a controller (5) for turning ON and OFF electromagnetic valves (2.sub.1, 2.sub.2, 2.sub.3,) the control valves (1.sub.1, 1.sub.2, 1.sub.3) are provided with a detector switch (7) which is capable of transmitting a signal to the controller (5) when the spool (3) abuts against the switch (7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 16, 1996
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Komatsu Seisakusho
    Inventor: Masaaki Kuma