Patents by Inventor Ryota Ohashi

Ryota Ohashi 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: 7500361
    Abstract: There is provided a hydraulic pump unit of variable displacement type disposed away from a pair of hydraulic motor units which are capable of being independently arranged, the pump unit fluidly-connected to the pair of hydraulic motor units so as to change the outputs of the pair of hydraulic motor units in both forward and reverse rotation directions. The pump unit includes a hydraulic pump body operatively rotated and driven by a driving source, a pump case surrounding the hydraulic pump body, a capacity adjusting mechanism for changing the capacity of the hydraulic pump body, and a hydraulic servomechanism for transmitting an external input based on a manual operation to the capacity adjusting mechanism by utilizing a hydraulic force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2009
    Assignee: Kanzaki Kokyukoki Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ryota Ohashi
  • Patent number: 7493758
    Abstract: An axle driving apparatus for being mounted on the body frame of a vehicle and for independently rotating drive wheel members. The axle driving apparatus includes a first axle driving unit (18L) having a housing (40) and a single axle (20L), the single axle (20L) defining a proximal end portion rotatably mounted in the housing (40) and a distal end portion extending outwardly from a first side of the housing (40). An enlarged region is defined by the housing (40), with the enlarged region extending substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the single axle (20L). A hydraulic stepless speed change assembly (22) is disposed within the enlarged region. The speed change assembly (22) includes a hydraulic pump (52) having an input shaft (21) projecting from the enlarged region and includes a hydraulic motor (55) including an output shaft (74) drivingly connected to the single axle (20L).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Assignee: Kanzaki Kokyukoki Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Robert Abend, Norihiro Ishii, Ryota Ohashi
  • Patent number: 7490692
    Abstract: An axle driving unit includes an axle, a hydraulic pump, a hydraulic motor having a motor shaft on which an output gear is provided to be drivingly connected to said axle, a center section having a pump mounting surface and a motor mounting surface onto which the hydraulic pump and the hydraulic motor are mounted respectively so as to be fluidly connected with each other through the center section, a housing constituted by a first housing part and a second housing part joined to each other at a joint surface, a projection integrally formed on the center section so as to be fitted to the housing, thereby fixing a position of the center section relative to the housing, and a fastener fastening the center section to the first housing part. The pump mounting surface and said motor mounting surface may be disposed perpendicular to each other. Said pump mounting surface and said motor mounting surface are disposed perpendicular to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignee: Kanzaki Kokyukoki Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Robert Abend, Norihiro Ishii, Ryota Ohashi
  • Patent number: 7484364
    Abstract: An axle driving apparatus for being mounted on the body frame of a vehicle and for independently rotating drive wheel members. The axle driving apparatus includes a first axle driving unit (18L) having a housing (40) and a single axle (20L), the single axle (20L) defining a proximal end portion rotatably mounted in the housing (40) and a distal end portion extending outwardly from a first side of the housing (40). An enlarged region is defined by the housing (40), with the enlarged region extending substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the single axle (20L). A hydraulic stepless speed change assembly (22) is disposed within the enlarged region. The speed change assembly (22) includes a hydraulic pump (52) having an input shaft (21) projecting from the enlarged region and includes a hydraulic motor (55) including an output shaft (74) drivingly connected to the single axle (20L).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: Kanzaki Kokyukoki Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Robert Abend, Norihiro Ishii, Ryota Ohashi
  • Publication number: 20090008183
    Abstract: There is provided a pump unit configured to be capable of transmitting a rotational per from a driving power source which is operatively connected thereto to an actuator through a pair of hydraulic fluid lines. The pump unit includes: an input shaft; a hydraulic pump main body; a PTO shaft; a PTO clutch mechanism; and auxiliary pump main body; a suction line; a discharge line; a charge line; a PTO hydraulic fluid line; a pressure-reducing valve; and a resistance valve. The PTO hydraulic fluid line and the charge line are fluidly connected to the primary side and a secondary side of the pressure-reducing valve, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2008
    Publication date: January 8, 2009
    Inventors: Masahisa KAWAMURA, Ryota OHASHI, Hironori SUMOMOZAWA, Takeaki NOZAKI
  • Patent number: 7467516
    Abstract: An axle driving apparatus in which a hydraulic pump and a hydraulic motor which constitute a hydrostatic transmission are disposed on a center section. In a horizontal portion of the center section are provided a pair of linear oil passages in parallel to each other. A pair of arcuate ports are provided on a pump mounting surface formed on the horizontal portion of the center section. The pair of arcuate ports are substantially perpendicular with respect to the direction in which the oil passages extend. The axis of slanting movement of a movable swash plate of the hydraulic pump extends laterally of the vehicle body on which the axle driving apparatus is provided. The rotating direction of an arm provided on a control shaft for slantingly operating the movable swash plate is coincident with the operating direction of a control rod connected with a speed changing member. Thus, the link mechanism for connecting the speed changing member and the control arm for the movable swash plate is simplified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2008
    Assignee: Kanzaki Kokyukoki Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenichi Takada, Ryota Ohashi, Hironori Sumomozawa, Hiroaki Shimizu
  • Publication number: 20080296080
    Abstract: A hydraulic transaxle comprises a transaxle casing for supporting left and right axles, a pair of hydraulic motors disposed in the transaxle casing so as to drive the respective left and right axles, hydraulic ports provided in the transaxle casing so as to fluidly connect the pair of hydraulic motors in parallel to a common hydraulic pump, and a system for restricting or canceling differential rotation of the pair of hydraulic motors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2008
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Inventors: Norihiro ISHII, Koji Irikura, Ryota Ohashi, Shigenori Sakikawa
  • Publication number: 20080289326
    Abstract: The present invention provides a pump unit including at least one hydraulic pump with inlet and outlet ports, a pump case for accommodating the hydraulic pump having an opening through which the hydraulic pump is insertable, and a lid, called a center section, closing the pump case. The center section forms a pair of inlet/outlet passages communicating an end with the inlet and outlet ports of the hydraulic pump and an end opening through a pump case abutting surface of the center section, and a first charging passage by which hydraulic fluid is fed through the pump case abutting surface of the center section. At least one of the pump case and the center section communicates the first charging passage with the pair of inlet/outlet passages via a first hydraulic fluid feeding valve preventing the reverse flow into said first charging passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2008
    Publication date: November 27, 2008
    Inventors: Ryota OHASHI, Hironori Sumomozawa
  • Patent number: 7455144
    Abstract: A transaxle apparatus comprises: a housing; a hydrostatic transmission disposed in the housing, the hydrostatic transmission including a hydraulic pump receiving power from a prime mover, a first hydraulic motor driven in response to fluid supplied from the hydraulic pump, and a center section including an inner fluid passage for fluidly connecting the first hydraulic motor to the hydraulic pump; a first axle disposed in the housing and driven by the first hydraulic motor; a hydraulic actuator disposed outside the housing so as to drive a second axle disposed outside the housing; a port opened outside the housing so as to be fluidly connected to the hydraulic actuator; and a block interposed between the center section and the port in the housing, wherein a fluid passage is disposed in the block so as to connect the port to the inner fluid passage in the center section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2008
    Assignee: Kanzaki Kokyukoki Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryota Ohashi, Hideaki Okada, Shinichi Hirose, Hironori Sumomozawa
  • Patent number: 7448209
    Abstract: An axle driving apparatus for being mounted on the body frame of a vehicle and for independently rotating drive wheel members. The axle driving apparatus includes a first axle driving unit (18L) leaving a housing (40) and a single axle (20L), the single axle (20L) defining a proximal end portion rotatably mounted in the housing (40) and a distal end portion extending outwardly from a first side of the housing (40). An enlarged region is defined by the housing (40), with the enlarged region extending substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the single axle (20L). A hydraulic stepless speed change assembly (22) is disposed within the enlarged region. The speed change assembly (22) includes a hydraulic pump (52) having an input shaft (21) projecting from the enlarged region and includes a hydraulic motor (55) including an output shaft (74) drivingly connected to the single axle (20L).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: Kanzaki Kokyukoki Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Robert Abend, Norihiro Ishii, Ryota Ohashi
  • Patent number: 7445077
    Abstract: An axle driving apparatus for a vehicle includes an axle, a vertical pump shaft, a hydraulic pump having a movable swash plate, a pair of trunnion shafts provided coaxially at respective opposite sides of the movable swash plate, a hydraulic motor having a motor shaft drivingly connected to the axle, and a housing containing the hydraulic pump, the hydraulic motor, and the axle. The housing includes a first housing member and a second housing member separably jointed along a vertical plane perpendicular to a rotary axis of the axle. A rotary axis of the hydraulic pump is substantially parallel to the vertical plane. The hydraulic pump is entirely disposed in the first housing member. A rotary axis of the trunnion shafts is substantially perpendicular to the vertical plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: Kanzaki Kokyukoki Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Robert Abend, Norihiro Ishii, Ryota Ohashi
  • Patent number: 7434651
    Abstract: An axle driving apparatus includes a housing for supporting an axle, a hydrostatic transmission including a hydraulic pump, a hydraulic motor, and a center section. The center section has a pump mounting surface and a motor mounting surface substantially perpendicular to each other. A rotational axis of a motor shaft is disposed lower than a plane located at the pump mounting surface. The center section includes a narrow portion and a wide portion. The narrow portion is defined between a first side and a second side opposite the first side in a direction along the rotational axis of the motor shaft. The wide portion is formed adjacent to the narrow portion. A first extension of the wide portion is defined by a width that extends from the first side in the direction along the rotational axis of the motor shaft and a length that extends in a direction perpendicular to the rotational axis of the motor shaft. A second extension of the wide portion is generally defined by the pump mounting surface formed thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Assignee: Kanzaki Kokyukoki Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Robert Abend, Norihiro Ishii, Ryota Ohashi
  • Patent number: 7430862
    Abstract: An axle driving apparatus for being mounted on the body frame of a vehicle and for independently rotating drive wheel members. The axle driving apparatus includes a first axle driving unit (18L) having a housing (40) and a single axle (20L), the single axle (20L) defining a proximal end portion rotatably mounted in the housing (40) and a distal end portion extending outwardly from a first side of the housing (40). An enlarged region is defined by the housing (40), with the enlarged region extending substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the single axle (20L). A hydraulic stepless speed change assembly (22) is disposed within the enlarged region. The speed change assembly (22) includes a hydraulic pump (52) having an input shaft (21) projecting from the enlarged region and includes a hydraulic motor (55) including an output shaft (74) drivingly connected to the single axle (20L).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Kanzaki Kokyukoki Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Robert Abend, Norihiro Ishii, Ryota Ohashi
  • Patent number: 7430863
    Abstract: There is provided a pump unit configured to be capable of transmitting a rotational power from a driving power source which is operatively connected thereto to an actuator through a pair of hydraulic fluid lines. The pump unit includes: an input shaft; a hydraulic pump main body; a PTO shaft; a PTO clutch mechanism; an auxiliary pump main body; a suction line; a discharge line; a charge line; a PTO hydraulic fluid line; a pressure-reducing valve; and a resistance valve. The PTO hydraulic fluid line and the charge line are fluidly connected to the primary side and a secondary side of the pressure-reducing valve, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Kanzaki Kokyukoki Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahisa Kawamura, Ryota Ohashi, Hironori Sumomozawa, Takeaki Nozaki
  • Patent number: 7431123
    Abstract: A vehicle including an integral transaxle apparatus with axles, a driving hydrostatic transmission (HST), a steering HST, and a differential unit. Driving operating means for slanting operation of a first movable swash plate of the variable displacement driving hydraulic pump for switching the travelling direction between forward and backward and for changing the travelling speed, and steering operating means for slanting operation of a second movable swash plate of the variable displacement steering hydraulic pump so as to determine the leftward and rightward cornering angle are provided. The steering hydraulic motor has a third movable swash plate interlocking with the driving operating means so that the slanting direction of the third movable swash plate is changed according to the operation of the driving operating means, whereby the vehicle turns laterally in the same direction in response to the steering operating means whether the vehicle travels forward or backward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Kanzaki Kokyukoki Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koji Irikura, Norihiro Ishii, Ryota Ohashi, Kenichi Takada, Hirohiko Kawada, Robert Abend, Keith J. Andrews, Toshiyuki Hasegawa, Hiroaki Shimizu
  • Patent number: 7418819
    Abstract: The present invention provides a pump unit including at least one hydraulic pump with inlet and outlet ports, a pump case for accommodating the hydraulic pump having an opening through which the hydraulic pump is insertable, and a lid, called a center section, closing the pump case. The center section forms a pair of inlet/outlet passages communicating an end with the inlet and outlet ports of the hydraulic pump and an end opening through a pump case abutting surface of the center section, and a first charging passage by which hydraulic fluid is fed through the pump case abutting surface of the center section. At least one of the pump case and the center section communicates the first charging passage with the pair of inlet/outlet passages via a first hydraulic fluid feeding valve preventing the reverse flow into said first charging passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: Kanzaki Kokyukoki Mfg. Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Ryota Ohashi, Hironori Sumomozawa
  • Patent number: 7419025
    Abstract: A hydraulic transaxle comprises a transaxle casing for supporting left and right axles, a pair of hydraulic motors disposed in the transaxle casing so as to drive the respective left and right axles, hydraulic ports provided in the transaxle casing so as to fluidly connect the pair of hydraulic motors in parallel to a common hydraulic pump, and a system for restricting or canceling differential rotation of the pair of hydraulic motors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: Kanzaki Kokyukoki Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Norihiro Ishii, Koji Irikura, Ryota Ohashi, Shigenori Sakikawa
  • Patent number: 7419030
    Abstract: A transaxle includes a housing, a hydraulic pump, a hydraulic motor, an axle supported by the housing and disposed in parallel to a motor shaft of the hydraulic motor, a mechanical drive train including an intermediate gear for mechanically connecting the motor shaft to the axle, a center section, an operation shaft supported by the housing so as to operate a movable swash plate of the hydraulic pump, a speed-control operation lever provided on the outer portion of the operation shaft, and a brake rotor provided on the outer portion of said motor shaft. The operation shaft and the motor shaft extend in parallel and have respective outer portions projecting outward from a side surface of the housing. The center section includes a pump mounting surface and a motor mounting surface which are disposed perpendicular to each other and overlap each other in an axial direction of the axle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: Kanzaki Kokyukoki Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Robert Abend, Norihiro Ishii, Ryota Ohashi
  • Publication number: 20080202113
    Abstract: The present invention provides a tandem pump unit that includes: a first hydraulic pump and a second hydraulic pump respectively having a first pump shaft and a second pump shaft respectively having adjacent ends connected together so that the first and second pump shafts are coaxially aligned and non-rotatably connected in tandem; a common housing for accommodating the first hydraulic pump and the second hydraulic pump; and a first center section and a second center section that respectively support the first and second hydraulic pumps.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2008
    Publication date: August 28, 2008
    Inventors: Ryota OHASHI, Hironori Sumomozawa
  • Publication number: 20080202838
    Abstract: An articulated vehicle with a working device has a first frame having a prime mover mounted thereon and supporting a first transaxle apparatus. The first transaxle apparatus includes an input shaft receiving power from the prime mover, a pair of first axles, and a hydrostatic transmission. The hydrostatic transmission comprises a variable hydraulic pump, a first hydraulic motor fluidly connected to the hydraulic pump via a fluid passage, and a housing with a flexible port fluidly connected to the fluid passage. The second transaxle apparatus includes a pair of second axles having different lengths and a second hydraulic motor. The second hydraulic motor is fluidly connected via piping to a directionally adjustable connection portion of the flexible port. Proximal ends of the first and second frames with respect to the vehicle are coupled to each other so that the first and second frames are rotatable around a vertical axis relative to each other when steered.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2008
    Publication date: August 28, 2008
    Inventors: Ryota OHASHI, Hideaki Okada