Patents by Inventor Michihito Hirahara

Michihito Hirahara 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: 7566063
    Abstract: A wheel suspension system for suspending wheels rotatably supported by axle members for a vehicle is comprised of a pair of trailing arms which extends in a vehicle longitudinal direction and are connected to the axle members, respective; a pair of torsion bar cases which extend in a vehicle lateral direction and whose lateral outside portion is connected to the trailing arm; a pair of torsion bars which are connected to lateral inside portions of the torsion bar cases and whose lateral outside portions are connected to a vehicle body; and a connecting beam which extends in the vehicle lateral direction and connects the pair of torsion bar cases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2009
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Oki, Takuya Murakami, Michihito Hirahara, Akira Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 7389998
    Abstract: A vehicle steering system is configured to avoid contact between wheels and wheel housings when the wheels are steered and to enlarge the maximum steering angle. The vehicle steering system has a steering knuckle that supports a wheel for rotation about a wheel axis and a pivotal movement about a steering axis. The steering knuckle is coupled to a first end part of an extension link. A second end part of the extension link is connected to an arm through a control rod. The extension link is pivotally sustained around a steering axis. The arm is connected to a front end of a knuckle arm through a tie rod. When the arm turns, the second end part of the extension link is pulled inside through the control rod, and the steering knuckle situated on rear end of the control rod is pushed outwardly. At the same time, the arm steers the steering knuckle through the tie rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2008
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuo Kondo, Yoshihiro Kawabe, Michihito Hirahara
  • Patent number: 7354051
    Abstract: An independent suspension system for a wheeled vehicle includes a modified shock absorber, a leaf spring, and a wheel carrier. The shock absorber includes a cylinder, and a rod passing through the cylinder. The shock absorber is vertically mounted in a condition where the ends of the rod are coupled to the vehicle body. The cylinder of the shock absorber is coupled to the wheel carrier. The leaf spring supports the wheel carrier against rotation on a vertical axis of the vehicle. The leaf spring is elastically twisted to cancel a moment that causes a friction within the shock absorber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Ohki, Michihito Hirahara
  • Publication number: 20060017252
    Abstract: A wheel suspension system for suspending wheels rotatably supported by axle members for a vehicle is comprised of a pair of trailing arms which extends in a vehicle longitudinal direction and are connected to the axle members, respective; a pair of torsion bar cases which extend in a vehicle lateral direction and whose lateral outside portion is connected to the trailing arm; a pair of torsion bars which are connected to lateral inside portions of the torsion bar cases and whose lateral outside portions are connected to a vehicle body; and a connecting beam which extends in the vehicle lateral direction and connects the pair of torsion bar cases.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2005
    Publication date: January 26, 2006
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Oki, Takuya Murakami, Michihito Hirahara, Akira Yamaguchi
  • Publication number: 20050087941
    Abstract: An independent suspension system for a wheeled vehicle includes a modified shock absorber, a leaf spring, and a wheel carrier. The shock absorber includes a cylinder, and a rod passing through the cylinder. The shock absorber is vertically mounted in a condition where the ends of the rod are coupled to the vehicle body. The cylinder of the shock absorber is coupled to the wheel carrier. The leaf spring supports the wheel carrier against rotation on a vertical axis of the vehicle. The leaf spring is elastically twisted to cancel a moment that causes a friction within the shock absorber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2004
    Publication date: April 28, 2005
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Ohki, Michihito Hirahara
  • Publication number: 20050017472
    Abstract: A vehicle steering system is configured to avoid contact between wheels and wheel housings when the wheels are steered and to enlarge the maximum steering angle. The vehicle steering system has a steering knuckle that supports a wheel for rotation about a wheel axis and a pivotal movement about a steering axis. The steering knuckle is coupled to a first end part of an extension link. A second end part of the extension link is connected to an arm through a control rod. The extension link is pivotally sustained around a steering axis. The arm is connected to a front end of a knuckle arm through a tie rod. When the arm turns, the second end part of the extension link is pulled inside through the control rod, and the steering knuckle situated on rear end of the control rod is pushed outwardly. At the same time, the arm steers the steering knuckle through the tie rod.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2004
    Publication date: January 27, 2005
    Applicant: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuo Kondo, Yoshihiro Kawabe, Michihito Hirahara
  • Patent number: 5740039
    Abstract: A wheel suspension arrangement for a wheel carrier including a suspension spring and a hydraulic actuator has a valve controlling the actuator. A stroke sensor detects the position of the wheel carrier relative to the vehicle body, and an acceleration sensor detects the vertical component of acceleration of the vehicle body adjacent the wheel and provide signals to a controller, which derives force components acting on the vehicle body by the suspension spring and actuator, respectively. The controller derives a modified combined force acting on the body out of the force components and determines a force counterbalancing the modified combined force, and controls the valve to cause the actuiator to vary the force acting between the associated wheel carrier and the vehicle body by the force counterbalancing the modified combined force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1998
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Michihito Hirahara, Takeshi Kimura, Hideo Tobata