Patents by Inventor Masami Niimi

Masami Niimi 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: 20130027157
    Abstract: The starter-use electromagnetic switch has an electrical contact interposed in a power supply line for supplying power from a battery to a starter motor, the main contact being turned on and off in interlock with energization of an electromagnet implemented by an excitation coil. The electromagnetic switch includes a connection fitting connected to the excitation coil at one end thereof and drawn outside through a resin cover of the electromagnetic switch at the other end thereof, and a terminal fitting electrically and mechanically connected to the other end of the connection fitting at one end thereof, the other end of the terminal fitting being branched into first and second terminal pieces. The first terminal piece serves as an excitation terminal supplied with power from the battery. The second terminal piece serves as a connection terminal connected to an excitation terminal of an external electromagnetic switch through a cable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masami NIIMI, Takahisa INAGAKI, Mitsuhiro MURATA
  • Patent number: 8344837
    Abstract: In a solenoid apparatus, first and second cylindrical holding parts respectively have first and second opening parts. One flange part is provided with first and second notch portions. In an exciting coil, one line end portion is held by the first cylindrical holding part, and is bent immediately after the one line end portion is pulled from the first notch portion to the inside of the flange part. A line member is wound around a winding drum part toward the other side in the circumferential direction opposed to the opening direction of the first opening part and is wound a predetermined number of turns. Thereafter, the other line end portion is bent in the axial direction immediately in front of the second notch portion and is pulled out from the second notch portion to the outside of the flange part, and is then held by the second cylindrical holding part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Masami Niimi, Kouji Katahira, Masaki Akiyama
  • Publication number: 20120312123
    Abstract: A starter includes a motor, a speed reducer, a pinion that transmits the drive torque of the motor to an engine ring gear, a partition wall that separates between the motor and the speed reducer, a pinion driving solenoid that pushes out the pinion to the ring gear side, and a motor energizing switch that opens and closes an electric point of contact. The starter is able to control independently operation of the pinion drive solenoid and operation of the motor energizing switch, the starter further includes a rotation detector disposed in a motor side inner space separated by the partition wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masami NIIMI
  • Publication number: 20120293284
    Abstract: An electromagnetic switch operative to close and open an electrical contact arrangement to thereby turn on and off an electrical current flowing through an electrical circuit. A movable iron core includes a shaft insertion hole that extends in an axial direction of the movable iron core and has an opening in an end face of the movable iron core axially opposing a movable contact of the electrical contact arrangement. The hole includes a step disposed at a position along the depth, a shaft fixture section on a bottom side of the step, and a shaft guide section on an opening side of the step. An inside diameter of the shaft fixture section is smaller than an inside diameter of the shaft guide section. One axial end side portion of the shaft is press fit in the shaft fixture section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2012
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masami NIIMI, Mitsuhiro MURATA, Takahisa INAGAKI
  • Patent number: 8307726
    Abstract: An electromagnetic switch is disclosed as having an electromagnetic switch, operative to open or close a main contact of a motor circuit, and a solenoid having a function to push a pinion gear to a position away from a motor. The electromagnetic switch and the solenoid are placed in series in a unitary structure such that the electromagnetic switch and the solenoid have a switch case and a solenoid case both of which are integrally formed with each other to be contiguous in an axial direction. Further, a stationary core for the electromagnet and a stationary core for the solenoid are integrally formed and an operational direction of a plunger for the electromagnet and an operational direction of a plunger for the solenoid are set to be opposite in direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Masami Niimi
  • Patent number: 8310323
    Abstract: Terminal bolts are inserted in the bottom of contact cover through collars. C-rings are fitted into U-shaped grooves formed in the terminal bolts and constitute locking parts. Circular notch parts are formed on the innersurface at the contact chamber side of the collars and the notch parts are engaged with the C-ring whereby ring terminals receive pressing force of nuts tightened on the terminal bolts. Accordingly, spaces are created at places being closer to the contact chamber side than the C ring side of the terminal bolts are, by interposing O-rings with large thickness in the spaces in elastically compressed states, whereby an airtightness of the contact chamber can be secured without expanding an outer diameter of the contact cover. Thus, an electromagnetic switch can adopt sealing members with sufficient thickness without expanding an outer diameter of the contact cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Masami Niimi
  • Patent number: 8302497
    Abstract: The present invention provides a starter, including a motor generating torque; a shaft rotating by the torque; a clutch fitting an outer periphery of the shaft; a pinion gear receiving the torque; a pinion control means configured to allow the pinion gear integrally with the clutch to be pushed out; a motor control means for controlling current supplied to the motor; and an inner tube that is arranged to be extended from the inner and in the direction opposite to the motor, supports the pinion gear so as to inhibit rotation thereof with respect to the periphery of the inner tube, and supports the pinion gear to be slidable; wherein a gear-side face and a tube-side face are formed in the pinion gear and the inner tube, respectively, in which the faces are facing each other, and a cushioning member is disposed between the gear-side face and the tube-side face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Masami Niimi, Mitsuhiro Murata, Kiyokazu Haruno
  • Patent number: 8299639
    Abstract: In a starter for starting an internal combustion engine with a first output shaft to which a ring gear is coupled, a motor has a second output shaft to which a movable pinion member is coupled and is operative to, when energized, rotate the second output shaft. A solenoid device includes a solenoid actuator linked to the movable pinion member. The solenoid actuator is configured to, when activated, shift the movable pinion member toward the ring gear to be engaged with the ring gear. The solenoid device includes a solenoid switch configure to, when activated, energize the motor. The solenoid actuator and the solenoid switch are integrated with each other to provide the solenoid device. A controller module is configured to individually control an activation of the solenoid actuator and an activation of the solenoid switch. The controller module is mounted on the solenoid device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Shinji Usami, Yasuyuki Yoshida, Mitsuhiro Murata, Masami Niimi, Hideya Notani, Kazushige Okumoto, Akira Kato, Mikio Saito
  • Patent number: 8289110
    Abstract: In an electromagnetic switch device, a direction where a first plunger moves at the time a solenoid for pinion extrusion operates and a direction where a second plunger moves at the time a solenoid for motor energization operates are constituted in the same direction. A concave portion having a predetermined depth D is formed in a first fixed iron core used for the solenoid for pinion extrusion and a stopper member that controls a returning position of the second plunger is arranged therein. A part of the second plunger overlaps to the first fixed iron core in the axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Masami Niimi, Yoshinori Yamaguchi, Kiyokazu Haruno
  • Publication number: 20120218063
    Abstract: There is an electromagnetic switch for a starter includes a first and second electromagnet and a frame and a cover. The first and second electromagnets are set alongside in the frame. The first and second electromagnets are configured to change a position with respect to the cover by rotating about the axis with respect to the frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2012
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tarou OKADA, Mitsuhiro MURATA, Takahisa INAGAKI, Masami NIIMI, Kiyokazu HARUNO
  • Publication number: 20120206220
    Abstract: In an electromagnetic switch, a magnetic plate, which forms a part of a magnetic circuit, and a bobbin of a second coil are assembled as one body by insert molding. An outer circumferential surface of the magnetic plate is adhered to an inner circumferential surface of a cylindrical frame made of metal. Because a large amount of heat energy generated in the second coil is transmitted to the magnetic plate, this can discharge the heat energy through the magnetic plate to the cylindrical flame. Because a mounting surface of the cylindrical frame is fixed to an end part of a starter housing case, it is possible to easily discharge the heat energy generated in the second coil through the cylindrical frame to the starter housing case. This structure prevents a temperature rise of the second coil and contributes entire-size reduction of the electromagnetic switch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2012
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masami NIIMI, Mitsuhiro MURATA, Takahisa INAGAKI
  • Patent number: 8237524
    Abstract: A first coil constitutes a first coil unit by placing an iron core plate between the first coil and an auxiliary yokes and engaging stopping parts provided in two holding members to an end surface in an axial direction of the auxiliary yoke. A second coil constitutes a second coil unit by forming magnetic path members by insertion to a resin member provided in a second bobbin unitarily, and fixing two terminals to the resin member. The first and the second coil units are united by connecting one terminal lead line of the first coil taken out from holding members to the first terminal, and connecting another terminal lead line to a surface of the magnetic path member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Masami Niimi, Kiyokazu Haruno, Tarou Okada, Hiroaki Higuchi
  • Patent number: 8196558
    Abstract: In a system, a starter includes a motor for rotatably driving an output shaft with a pinion and an actuator that shifts the pinion toward a ring gear to be engaged with the ring gear. A monitor unit monitors a rotational speed of the internal combustion engine. The rotational speed of the internal combustion engine drops after an automatic control for stop of the engine. When an engine restart request occurs with the rotational speed being within a preset range during the rotational speed of the internal combustion engine dropping by the automatic control for stop of the engine, a drive unit drives the actuator to shift the pinion toward the ring gear to be engaged with the ring gear. The drive unit rotatably drives the motor with the pinion being engaged with the ring gear to thereby crank the crankshaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Kazushige Okumoto, Akira Kato, Takashi Senda, Mitsuhiro Murata, Masami Niimi, Kiyokazu Haruno
  • Patent number: 8193882
    Abstract: An electromagnetic switch unit comprises a solenoid device that pushes out a pinion gear to a ring gear side of an engine, and an electromagnetic switch that opens and closes a main point of contact of a motor circuit. The solenoid device and the electromagnetic switch are arranged in series in an axial direction, while a magnetic plate that forms a part of magnetic circuit between a first coil used for the solenoid device and a second coil used for the electromagnetic switch is shared by the solenoid device and the electromagnetic switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Mitsuhiro Murata, Masami Niimi
  • Publication number: 20120119497
    Abstract: An electromagnetic switch unit comprises a solenoid device that pushes out a pinion gear to a ring gear side of an engine, and an electromagnetic switch that opens and closes a main point of contact of a motor circuit. The solenoid device and the electromagnetic switch are arranged in series in an axial direction, while a magnetic plate that forms a part of magnetic circuit between a first coil used for the solenoid device and a second coil used for the electromagnetic switch is shared by the solenoid device and the electromagnetic switch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2012
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mitsuhiro MURATA, Masami Niimi
  • Patent number: 8171908
    Abstract: An engine start system which may be employed in automotive idle stop systems. The engine start system includes a pinion gear to be pushed to a ring gear coupled to an engine for achieving meshing engagement with the ring gear. After the pinion gear engages the ring gear, the engine start system starts to rotate the pinion gear using a starter motor to crank the engine. Specifically, when an engine restart request is made following an engine stop request, the engine start system waits until after the speed of the engine drops below a preselected gear engagable speed and then moves the pinion gear toward the ring gear without rotating the pinion gear. This minimizes the consumption of fuel in the vehicle in supplying electric power to the starter motor and a maximum level of mechanical noise arising from the engagement of the pinion gear with the ring gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Senda, Akira Kato, Kazushige Okumoto, Mitsuhiro Murata, Masami Niimi, Kiyokazu Haruno
  • Publication number: 20120105178
    Abstract: An electromagnetic solenoid having an electromagnetic coil, a fixed iron core, a movable iron core, and a spring coil. The spring coil, arranged between the fixed and the movable iron core, supplies a spring force to the movable iron core toward an opposite direction of the fixed iron core along the axial direction. A magnetic attraction surface and a fitting part are formed in at least one of the fixed iron core and the movable iron core. The magnetic attraction surface is contacted with the fixed iron core when the movable iron core reaches the fixed iron core. An outer peripheral surface of the fitting part, apart from the magnetic attraction surface by a predetermined distance along the axial direction, is engaged with the spring coil. The most outer peripheral part of the magnetic attraction surface is positioned inside rather than the most outer peripheral part of the fitting part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2011
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masami Niimi
  • Patent number: 8143979
    Abstract: Terminal-bolts and a fixed contact are formed with different kinds of metals, and fixed to a fixing hole formed in the fixed contact by press fitting one end of the terminal-bolts. A plurality of concavo-convex parts is provided on a surface of the fixed contact that faces the movable contact. A plurality of concavo-convex portions is provided on another surface of the fixed contact that faces an anti movable-contact side. The concavo-convex portions are arranged so that positions of concave parts of the concavo-convex portions match positions of convex parts of the concavo-convex portions provided in the opposite surface of the fixed contact. The concavo-convex parts are at least partly curved, and have the same height and project in a height direction from the fixed contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Shinji Usami, Masami Niimi, Mitsuhiro Murata, Mikio Saitoh
  • Patent number: 8131452
    Abstract: In a system, an angle sensor outputs a pulse each time an output shaft of an internal combustion engine rotates by a preset angle, and a calculator calculates speed-change information indicative of a change in a speed of rotation of the output shaft based on the pulses outputted from the angle sensor. A determiner determines, based on the speed-change information, whether at least one of the pulses outputted from the angle sensor represents a proper timing for a preset of a pinion of a starter with a ring gear mounted on the output shaft. A pinion engaging unit shifts the pinion toward the ring gear so that the pinion is engaged with the ring gear when it is determined that the at least one of the pulses outputted from the angle sensor represents the proper timing for the preset of the pinion with the ring gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Senda, Akira Kato, Mitsuhiro Murata, Masami Niimi, Kenji Kawahara, Hideya Notani
  • Publication number: 20120049989
    Abstract: In a solenoid apparatus, first and second cylindrical holding parts respectively have first and second opening parts. One flange part is provided with first and second notch portions. In an exciting coil, one line end portion is held by the first cylindrical holding part, and is bent immediately after the one line end portion is pulled from the first notch portion to the inside of the flange part. A line member is wound around a winding drum part toward the other side in the circumferential direction opposed to the opening direction of the first opening part and is wound a predetermined number of turns. Thereafter, the other line end portion is bent in the axial direction immediately in front of the second notch portion and is pulled out from the second notch portion to the outside of the flange part, and is then held by the second cylindrical holding part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2011
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masami NIIMI, Kouji KATAHIRA, Masaki AKIYAMA