Patents by Inventor Naoki Sawada

Naoki Sawada 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: 20160039270
    Abstract: A register fixing structure for a vehicle includes a first engaging portion provided at one of an upper portion and a lower portion of the register, or the instrument panel main body; a first engaged portion provided at the other of the upper portion and lower portion of the register or the instrument panel main body, and engaging with the first engaged portion in a vehicle front and rear direction; a second engaging portion provided at one of a side portion at a vehicle width direction outer side of the register or a side panel that is attached at the vehicle width direction outer side of the instrument panel main body; and a second engaged portion provided at the other of the side portion or the side panel, and engaging with the second engaged portion in a vehicle width direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2015
    Publication date: February 11, 2016
    Inventors: Naoki SAWADA, Toshinao WADA
  • Patent number: 8965743
    Abstract: A design assisting apparatus of a steering device arranges a coordinate of a handle position reference point, a coordinate of a first universal joint reference point, a coordinate of a second universal joint reference point, and a coordinate of a steering gear reference point in a three-dimensional space, calculates a reference axis passing through the second universal joint reference point from the first universal joint reference point, calculates a phase angle which is an angle between a straight line from the handle position reference point to the first joint reference point when viewed along the reference axis and a straight line from the second joint reference point to the steering gear reference point when viewed along the reference axis, and determines success or failure of a condition in which the allowable range of the phase angle allowable error is included in the allowable range of the allowable torque variation rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaki Tomaru, Naoki Sawada, Akira Ichikawa, Ryou Oosawa
  • Patent number: 8948970
    Abstract: [Problem] An object of the present invention is to provide an electric power steering apparatus that realizes weight saving and downsizing of component parts by counting and controlling the number of times of end hitting and simultaneously calculating a current limit value depending on the number of times of end hitting to limit assist.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinji Okada, Hideyuki Kobayashi, Naoki Sawada
  • Patent number: 8905208
    Abstract: A driving force transmission apparatus includes: a housing having an inner peripheral spline portion; an inner shaft having an outer peripheral spline portion; a main clutch including first outer and inner clutch plates respectively engaged with the inner and outer peripheral spline portions; a cam mechanism generating pressing force for pressing the main clutch by relatively rotating a pair of cam members; and an electromagnetic clutch mechanism including an armature engaged with the inner peripheral spline portion and applying rotation force to the cam mechanism for relatively rotating the cam members through energization of an electromagnetic coil. An end face facing the armature is formed in the inner peripheral spline portion between a first region engaged with the first outer clutch plate and a second region engaged with the armature. Movement of the armature toward the first region is regulated by contact of the armature with the end face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignees: JTEKT Corporation, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Naoki Sawada, Mikiharu Oyabu, Yasunari Saito, Masakatsu Kani, Shun Ohno, Hirotake Ito, Yoshihiro Ikushima
  • Patent number: 8863888
    Abstract: An electric motor (5) includes a motor case (30) in which a motor rotating member of which one end is opened and is formed in a cylindrical shape, and a substantially disc-shaped flange member (31) linked so as to close an opening of the one end of the motor case. The flange member is provided with two mounting flanges (31d,31e) to be fixed to the motor mounting part (17) of the speed reduction gear box (4) by outwardly swelling at an irregularly pitched position, and one first abutting flange (31c) abutting to the motor mounting part by outwardly selling between the these two mounting flanges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventors: Takayuki Ochiai, Naoki Sawada
  • Publication number: 20140195204
    Abstract: A design assistance device for a steering device and a method of assisting a steering device design which assists a design of a steering device including an intermediate shaft by using existing components of a tube yoke and a shaft yoke. A design assistance device 1 for a steering device displays a select button on a display device when a fitting length of the combination of a candidate component of the tube yoke and a candidate component of the shaft yoke satisfies a condition of a fitting length. When the select button is selected, a control device 4 may receive information in which a drawing selected by a designer is determined.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2012
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: NSK LTD.
    Inventors: Masaki Tomaru, Naoki Sawada, Akira Ichikawa, Ryou Oosawa
  • Publication number: 20140076653
    Abstract: An electric motor (5) includes a motor case (30) in which a motor rotating member of which one end is opened and is formed in a cylindrical shape, and a substantially disc-shaped flange member (31) linked so as to close an opening of the one end of the motor case. The flange member is provided with two mounting flanges (31d,31e) to be fixed to the motor mounting part (17) of the speed reduction gear box (4) by outwardly swelling at an irregularly pitched position, and one first abutting flange (31c) abutting to the motor mounting part by outwardly selling between the these two mounting flanges.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2011
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: NSK Ltd.
    Inventors: Takayuki Ochiai, Naoki Sawada
  • Patent number: 8659252
    Abstract: An electric motor and a control unit are juxtaposed in a speed reduction gear box. A terminal block is provided at an outer circumference of a flange proximate to a control unit of the electric motor. Terminal block surfaces of the terminal block are provided so that a plane direction faces a direction vertical to a shaft line of the electric motor. A motor side connecting terminal is held on the terminal block surface. The unit side connecting terminals provided at a position proximate to the electric motor of the control unit are arranged so as to overlap with the motor side connecting terminal on the terminal block surface to couple by a coupling portion (fixing screw).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventors: Takayuki Ochiai, Mikihiko Tsunoda, Naoki Sawada
  • Publication number: 20130327610
    Abstract: A driving force transmission apparatus includes: a housing having an inner peripheral spline portion; an inner shaft having an outer peripheral spline portion; a main clutch including first outer and inner clutch plates respectively engaged with the inner and outer peripheral spline portions; a cam mechanism generating pressing force for pressing the main clutch by relatively rotating a pair of cam members; and an electromagnetic clutch mechanism including an armature engaged with the inner peripheral spline portion and applying rotation force to the cam mechanism for relatively rotating the cam members through energization of an electromagnetic coil. An end face facing the armature is formed in the inner peripheral spline portion between a first region engaged with the first outer clutch plate and a second region engaged with the armature. Movement of the armature toward the first region is regulated by contact of the armature with the end face.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2013
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Inventors: Naoki Sawada, Mikiharu Oyabu, Yasunari Saito, Masakatsu Kani, Shun Ohno, Hirotake Ito, Yoshihiro Ikushima
  • Patent number: 8596160
    Abstract: The invention provides a steering apparatus which includes: an inner column 3; an outer column 4 fitted with the inner column 3 in such a manner that it is movable in a telescopic manner; a steering shaft 102 which is rotatably supported on the inner column 3 and outer column 4, and on the vehicle body rearward side of which a steering wheel 103 can be mounted; a lock apparatus 7 including a lock pin 73A which can be operated by an actuator to thereby prevent the rotation of the steering shaft 102; and, a lock housing 71 which is formed integrally with the outer column 4 and stores the lock apparatus 7 therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomonao Nagamura, Naoki Sawada, Wataru Hagiwara, Masaki Tomaru, Seiichi Moriyama
  • Publication number: 20130257337
    Abstract: An electric motor and a control unit are juxtaposed in a speed reduction gear box. A terminal block is provided at an outer circumference of a flange proximate to a control unit of the electric motor. Terminal block surfaces of the terminal block are provided so that a plane direction faces a direction vertical to a shaft line of the electric motor. A motor side connecting terminal is held on the terminal block surface. The unit side connecting terminals provided at a position proximate to the electric motor of the control unit are arranged so as to overlap with the motor side connecting terminal on the terminal block surface to couple by a coupling portion (fixing screw).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2011
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: NSK LTD.
    Inventors: Takayuki Ochiai, Mikihiko Tsunoda, Naoki Sawada
  • Publication number: 20120259512
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an electric power steering apparatus that realizes weight saving and downsizing of component parts by counting and controlling the number of times of end hitting and simultaneously calculating a current limit value depending on the number of times of end hitting to limit assist .
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2011
    Publication date: October 11, 2012
    Applicant: NSK LTD.
    Inventors: Shinji Okada, Hideyuki Kobayashi, Naoki Sawada
  • Publication number: 20120185219
    Abstract: A design assisting apparatus of a steering device arranges a coordinate of a handle position reference point, a coordinate of a first universal joint reference point, a coordinate of a second universal joint reference point, and a coordinate of a steering gear reference point in a three-dimensional space, calculates a reference axis passing through the second universal joint reference point from the first universal joint reference point, calculates a phase angle which is an angle between a straight line from the handle position reference point to the first joint reference point when viewed along the reference axis and a straight line from the second joint reference point to the steering gear reference point when viewed along the reference axis, and determines success or failure of a condition in which the allowable range of the phase angle allowable error is included in the allowable range of the allowable torque variation rate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2011
    Publication date: July 19, 2012
    Applicant: NSK LTD.
    Inventors: Masaki Tomaru, Naoki Sawada, Akira Ichikawa, Ryou Oosawa
  • Publication number: 20110199736
    Abstract: An inverter device has a control unit, a power unit, and a capacitor unit. The power unit has six semiconductor devices. Each semiconductor device has a semiconductor module and a pair of heat sinks disposed in both sides of the semiconductor module. The heat sinks are arranged in a ventilation path of cooling air. An, accommodation chamber of a control unit 1b communicates with the ventilation path of the cooling air.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2011
    Publication date: August 18, 2011
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naoki Sawada, Hiroshi Fujita, Hironori Oobayashi, Taijirou Momose
  • Patent number: 7886630
    Abstract: When a column 4 reaches a tilting ascent end, the lower end 732 of a nut 73 abuts on the buffering segment 83 of a buffer 82. Thus, while the buffering segment 83 of the buffer 82 is elastically deformed, the nut 73 stops with no impact. Accordingly, the inertia when the nut 73 stops is restrained and the tightening torque of the nut 73 when the nut 73 stops is also restrained. For this reason, when an electric motor 61 is rotationally driven in a reverse direction, a feeding screw shaft 71 rotates in the reverse direction with the normal rotation torque of the electric motor 61. Thus, the nut 73 is caused to ascend in the axial direction along the screw segment of the feeding screw shaft 71 so that the column 4 can be tiltingly moved downward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaki Tomaru, Yuuichi Tomaru, Kouhei Yonezawa, Naoki Sawada
  • Publication number: 20100242665
    Abstract: The invention provides a steering apparatus which includes: an inner column 3; an outer column 4 fitted with the inner column 3 in such a manner that it is movable in a telescopic manner; a steering shaft 102 which is rotatably supported on the inner column 3 and outer column 4, and on the vehicle body rearward side of which a steering wheel 103 can be mounted; a lock apparatus 7 including a lock pin 73A which can be operated by an actuator to thereby prevent the rotation of the steering shaft 102; and, a lock housing 71 which is formed integrally with the outer column 4 and stores the lock apparatus 7 therein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2008
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Applicant: NSK Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomonao Nagamura, Naoki Sawada, Wataru Hagiwara, Masaki Tomaru, Seiichi Moriyama
  • Patent number: 7503584
    Abstract: A positioning type steering column device, comprising a steering column (1) having a bulged part (19) formed by a hydraulic pressure bulge forming method, the bulged part (19) further comprising a pair of flat surface parts (20) opposed, back to back, to vertical plate parts for tightening of a body mounting bracket, the pair of flat surface parts (20) further comprising projected parts (21) outward-projectedly formed toward the vertical plate parts opposed thereto, whereby even if a warpage occurs on the flat surface parts (20) by punching out when the bulged part (19) is formed by the hydraulic pressure bulge forming method, a steering column tightening holding force can be prevented from lowering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Assignee: NSK, Ltd.
    Inventor: Naoki Sawada
  • Patent number: 7438320
    Abstract: A steering column adjustable height and inclination of steering wheel has a singularity of control lever for controlling clamping/unclamping of a telescopic mechanism and a tilting mechanism for the adjustment. An energizing direction inverting mechanism inverts direction of biasing force applied to the lever by an energizing member from clamping direction to unclamping direction halfway through operation of the lever by a driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignees: NSK Ltd., NSK Steering Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Sato, Naoki Sawada, Tetsuya Koike
  • Patent number: 7437968
    Abstract: A steering column device (1), comprising a column body (2) having a swelled shell part (23) in deformed section swelled in the side direction of a steering shaft (3) beyond the portion of thereof where an upper bearing (31) is installed and having opposed walls parallel with each other, wherein a lower body mounting part (22) and an upper body mounting part (21) are formed in the swelled shell part (23), whereby a distance bracket and a lower bracket must not be prepared and fixedly positioned on the column body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoki Sawada, Masaki Nishioka, Kenji Sato
  • Patent number: 7412911
    Abstract: A steering column apparatus includes: a stationary column member; a movable column member whose one end is supported on the stationary column member nonrotatably about a center axis and movably along the center axis; a column head disposed on the other end of the movable column member; a wheel shaft supported rotatably on the column head; a column clamp for clamping and unclamping the movable column member with respect to the stationary column member at two or more points which are spaced along the center axis of the movable column member; and a control lever whose operation lever end is positioned in the vicinity of a steering wheel and which is capable of operating the column clamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignees: NSK, Ltd., NSK Steering Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaki Nishioka, Naoki Sawada