Patents by Inventor Minoru Hiraoka

Minoru Hiraoka 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: 8308597
    Abstract: In order to provide a speed change transmission system which can be obtained compactly, while obtaining output at steplessly varied speeds over a large speed change range only by carrying out a simple shifting operation, the speed change transmission system has a hydrostatic stepless transmission to which engine drive is inputted. A planetary transmission device (P) has a plurality of planetary transmission mechanisms, for combining output of the stepless transmission and engine drive not undergoing speed change action by the hydrostatic stepless transmission. A plurality of transmission shafts are provided with a plurality of speed range setting clutches switchable for converting the combined driving force from the planetary transmission device (P) to a driving force in a plurality speed ranges, and transmitting it to an output rotary member. The plurality of transmission shafts are juxtaposed and arranged in parallel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Kubota Corporation
    Inventors: Minoru Hiraoka, Satoshi Machida, Yoshiyuki Katayama
  • Patent number: 8303448
    Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus including a stepless speed change device receiving an engine drive; a planetary transmission device for, by a plurality of planetary transmission mechanisms, combining an output from the stepless speed change device and the engine drive not subject to a speed change by the stepless speed change device; and a speed range setting device for outputting the drive combined by the planetary transmission device and divided into a plurality of speed ranges. The planetary transmission device, the speed range setting device and a forward-reverse changeover device are located forwardly of a rear end of an upstream transmission case portion. An electric motor may be used instead of the stepless speed change device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Kubota Corporation
    Inventors: Minoru Hiraoka, Yoshirou Takao, Masaru Andou
  • Publication number: 20120225746
    Abstract: Disclosed is a transmission apparatus for a tractor which is operable to transmit a forward drive force in a wide speed changing range to the traveling device and which is operable also to transmit a reverse drive force to the traveling device in an inexpensive manner and with good transmission efficiency. A planetary transmission section (30) is configured to output the forward drive force in whichever case a hydrostatic stepless speed changing section (11) is speed-changed to a forward rotation speed change state or a reverse rotation speed change state. A low speed transmission clutch (45) couples a low speed side speed changing gear (41), meshed with a low speed side output gear (31) of the planetary transmission section (30), to a counter shaft (44) to be rotatable therewith.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2011
    Publication date: September 6, 2012
    Applicant: KUBOTA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Minoru Hiraoka, Atsushi Hayashi, Masaru Andou, Masakazu Hino
  • Patent number: 8096912
    Abstract: The object is to simplify the construction of a speed change apparatus in which an engine drive force is speed-changed in a plurality of speed ranges and speed-changed steplessly in each speed range, with using a stepless speed change device (10), planetary transmission mechanisms (P1, P2, P3) and clutches (C1, C2). There is provided a main speed change device (B) configured to combine an output from the stepless speed change device (10) and the drive force from the engine trough the first, second and third planetary transmission mechanisms (P1, P2, P3) and then output the resultant combined force from an output shaft (41). There is provided an auxiliary speed change device (20) for effecting speed change on the drive force from the output shaft (41) of the main speed change device (B) and then outputting the speed-changed force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Kubota Corporation
    Inventors: Minoru Hiraoka, Shoso Ishimori, Yoshiyuki Katayama
  • Patent number: 7887449
    Abstract: A speed-change transmission apparatus for effecting a speed-changing on an engine drive force with utilizing a continuously variable speed-change device, a plurality of planetary transmission mechanisms and a plurality of clutches is constructed to be capable of effecting the speed-changing operation smoothly, regardless of a centrifugal force generated in the clutches. An output from the continuously variable speed-change device and a drive force from the engine are combined by a planetary transmission section. The drive force from this planetary transmission section is transmitted via a clutch section to an output shaft. First, second, third and fourth clutches of the clutch section are configured to be switched over respectively between an engaged condition and a disengaged condition, as clutch members are engaged with or disengaged from output side rotational members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Kubota Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Katayama, Yoshihiro Ueda, Shoso Ishimori, Minoru Hiraoka
  • Publication number: 20100184551
    Abstract: In order to provide a speed change transmission system which can be obtained compactly, while obtaining output at steplessly varied speeds over a large speed change range only by carrying out a simple shifting operation, the speed change transmission system has a hydrostatic stepless transmission to which engine drive is inputted. A planetary transmission device (P) has a plurality of planetary transmission mechanisms, for combining output of the stepless transmission and engine drive not undergoing speed change action by the hydrostatic stepless transmission. A plurality of transmission shafts are provided with a plurality of speed range setting clutches, switchable for converting the combined driving force from the planetary transmission device (P) to a driving force in a plurality speed ranges, and transmitting it to an output rotary member. The plurality of transmission shafts are juxtaposed and arranged in parallel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2008
    Publication date: July 22, 2010
    Applicant: KUBOTA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Minoru Hiraoka, Satoshi Machida, Yoshiyuki Katayama
  • Publication number: 20090280944
    Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus including a stepless speed change device receiving an engine drive; a planetary transmission device for, by a plurality of planetary transmission mechanisms, combining an output from the stepless speed change device and the engine drive not subject to a speed change by the stepless speed change device; and a speed range setting device for outputting the drive combined by the planetary transmission device and divided into a plurality of speed ranges. The planetary transmission device, the speed range setting device and a forward-reverse changeover device are located forwardly of a rear end of an upstream transmission case portion. An electric motor may be used instead of the stepless speed change device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2007
    Publication date: November 12, 2009
    Applicant: KUBOTA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Minoru Hiraoka, Yoshirou Takao, Masaru Andou
  • Publication number: 20090149292
    Abstract: The object is to simplify the construction of a speed change apparatus in which an engine drive force is speed-changed in a plurality of speed ranges and speed-changed steplessly in each speed range, with using a stepless speed change device (10), planetary transmission mechanisms (P1, P2, P3) and clutches (C1, C2). There is provided a main speed change device (B) configured to combine an output from the stepless speed change device (10) and the drive force from the engine trough the first, second and third planetary transmission mechanisms (P1, P2, P3) and then output the resultant combined force from an output shaft (41). There is provided an auxiliary speed change device (20) for effecting speed change on the drive force from the output shaft (41) of the main speed change device (B) and then outputting the speed-changed force.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2006
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Applicant: KUBOTA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Minoru Hiraoka, Shoso Ishimori, Yoshiyuki Katayama
  • Publication number: 20080214351
    Abstract: A speed-change transmission apparatus for effecting a speed-changing on an engine drive force with utilizing a continuously variable speed-change device, a plurality of planetary transmission mechanisms and a plurality of clutches is constructed to be capable of effecting the speed-changing operation smoothly, regardless of a centrifugal force generated in the clutches. An output from the continuously variable speed-change device and a drive force from the engine are combined by a planetary transmission section. The drive force from this planetary transmission section is transmitted via a clutch section to an output shaft. First, second, third and fourth clutches of the clutch section are configured to be switched over respectively between an engaged condition and a disengaged condition, as clutch members are engaged with or disengaged from output side rotational members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2006
    Publication date: September 4, 2008
    Applicant: Kubota Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Katayama, Yoshihiro Ueda, Shoso Ishimori, Minoru Hiraoka