Patents by Inventor Satoru Nojima

Satoru Nojima 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: 11401976
    Abstract: A power transmitting device includes a first rotor and a second rotor rotatably disposed coaxially with a rotational central axis and in facing relation to each other. A first pressing protrusion projecting from the first rotor and a second pressing protrusion projecting from the second rotor are disposed in relative positions on superposed rotation trajectories. A soft rubber member elastically deformable to a large extent and has a small modulus of elasticity and a hard rubber member elastically deformable to a small extent and has a large modulus of elasticity are interposed between the first and second pressing protrusions. While no relative torque load is being applied to the first and second rotors, the soft rubber member is held in contact with both the first and second pressing protrusions, and the hard rubber member is interposed between the first pressing protrusion and the second pressing protrusion with gaps therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hidemichi Mori, Hiroshi Yokota, Satoru Nojima, Soichiro Murakami, Yasuhiro Fukuyoshi, Toshiaki Deguchi, Yusuke Osaki, Daisuke Sugio, Takuya Hatta
  • Patent number: 11326650
    Abstract: A power transmitting device includes a first rotor and a second rotor rotatably disposed coaxially with a rotational central axis and in facing relation to each other, a single arc spring that is elastically deformable to a large extent and has a small modulus of elasticity, the arc spring being interposed between the first rotor and the second rotor for urging the first rotor and the second rotor to opposite sides in a ration direction, a first pressing protrusion projecting from the first rotor and a second pressing protrusion projecting from the second rotor, the first pressing protrusion and the second pressing protrusion being disposed in relative positions on superposed rotation trajectories, and a rubber member that is elastically deformable to a small extent and has a large modulus of elasticity, the rubber member being interposed between the first pressing protrusion and the second pressing protrusion with gaps therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hidemichi Mori, Hiroshi Yokota, Toshiaki Deguchi, Yusuke Osaki, Satoru Nojima, Soichiro Murakami, Daisuke Sugio, Takuya Hatta
  • Publication number: 20200049204
    Abstract: A power transmitting device includes a first rotor and a second rotor rotatably disposed coaxially with a rotational central axis and in facing relation to each other. A first pressing protrusion projecting from the first rotor and a second pressing protrusion projecting from the second rotor are disposed in relative positions on superposed rotation trajectories. A soft rubber member elastically deformable to a large extent and has a small modulus of elasticity and a hard rubber member elastically deformable to a small extent and has a large modulus of elasticity are interposed between the first and second pressing protrusions. While no relative torque load is being applied to the first and second rotors, the soft rubber member is held in contact with both the first and second pressing protrusions, and the hard rubber member is interposed between the first pressing protrusion and the second pressing protrusion with gaps therebetween.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2017
    Publication date: February 13, 2020
    Inventors: Hidemichi MORI, Hiroshi YOKOTA, Satoru NOJIMA, Soichiro MURAKAMI, Yasuhiro FUKUYOSHI, Toshiaki DEGUCHI, Yusuke OSAKI, Daisuke SUGIO, Takuya HATTA
  • Publication number: 20200032853
    Abstract: A power transmitting device includes a first rotor and a second rotor rotatably disposed coaxially with a rotational central axis be and in facing relation to each other, a single arc spring that is elastically deformable to a large extent and has a small modulus of elasticity, the arc spring being interposed between the first rotor and the second rotor for urging the first rotor and the second rotor to opposite sides in a ration direction, a first pressing protrusion projecting from the first rotor and a second pressing protrusion projecting from the second rotor, the first pressing protrusion and the second pressing protrusion being disposed in relative positions on superposed rotation trajectories, and a rubber member that is elastically deformable to a small extent and has a large modulus of elasticity, the rubber member being interposed between the first pressing protrusion and the second pressing protrusion with gaps therebetween.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2017
    Publication date: January 30, 2020
    Inventors: Hidemichi MORI, Hiroshi YOKOTA, Toshiaki DEGUCHI, Yusuke OSAKI, Satoru NOJIMA, Soichiro MURAKAMI, Daisuke SUGIO, Takuya HATTA
  • Patent number: 10287928
    Abstract: A valve operating apparatus for use in an internal combustion engine includes an intake cam 38, an intake rocker arm 33 rotatable about a rotational shaft 35 and driven by the intake cam 38, and an intake valve 40 pushed by a pusher 70 of the intake rocker arm 33, the internal combustion engine has a cylinder assembly 12L lying horizontally, and the intake rocker arm 33 has a weight 67 adjusting the center of gravity of the rocker arm 33 to position the pusher 70 above the rotational shaft 35 while the intake cam 38 is held out of abutting contact with the intake rocker arm 33.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Ikebe, Hiroshi Yokota, Satoru Nojima
  • Publication number: 20170276028
    Abstract: A valve operating apparatus for use in an internal combustion engine includes an intake cam 38, an intake rocker arm 33 rotatable about a rotational shaft 35 and driven by the intake cam 38, and an intake valve 40 pushed by a pusher 70 of the intake rocker arm 33, the internal combustion engine has a cylinder assembly 12L lying horizontally, and the intake rocker arm 33 has a weight 67 adjusting the center of gravity of the rocker arm 33 to position the pusher 70 above the rotational shaft 35 while the intake cam 38 is held out of abutting contact with the intake rocker arm 33.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2017
    Publication date: September 28, 2017
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki IKEBE, Hiroshi YOKOTA, Satoru NOJIMA
  • Patent number: 9682737
    Abstract: A vehicle is disclosed with a seating assembly which is capable of prompting an occupant to take an appropriate riding posture depending on the behavior of the vehicle body. A motorcycle includes tilting mechanisms for tilting seating surfaces of a front seat (rider seating part) and a rear seat (passenger seating part) and an ECU carries out a control process for tilting the seating surfaces to lift rear portions of the seats upwardly in response to an action to accelerate the motorcycle and a control process for tilting the seating surfaces to lift front portions of the seats upwardly in response to an action to decelerate the motorcycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yotaro Mori, Akira Kashiwagi, Satoru Nojima, Naoto Yamagishi, Jun Tanaka, Yasushi Miyagi, Akito Hiramatsu
  • Patent number: 9683475
    Abstract: To elongate an exhaust tail pipe wherein a muffler is covered by a rear cowl. An exhaust structure of a vehicle including a rear cowl covering a vehicle rear portion, a rear bank-muffler including a first and second expansion chamber partitioned by a partition, a first and second connecting pipe connecting the expansion chambers, and a tail pipe configured to discharge exhaust air from the rear bank-muffler. The rear bank-muffler is covered by the rear cowl, wherein outlines of the rear bank-muffler and the rear cowl are each formed such that the width decreases toward the vehicle rear. The tail pipe, the first connecting pipe, and the second connecting pipe are provided so as to penetrate the partition. A position where the tail pipe penetrates the partition and positions where the first connecting pipe and second connecting pipe penetrate the partition are offset from each other in the vertical direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Katsuaki Shibuki, Masaya Yazaki, Satoru Nojima
  • Publication number: 20170159531
    Abstract: To elongate an exhaust tail pipe wherein a muffler is covered by a rear cowl. An exhaust structure of a vehicle including a rear cowl covering a vehicle rear portion, a rear bank-muffler including a first and second expansion chamber partitioned by a partition, a first and second connecting pipe connecting the expansion chambers, and a tail pipe configured to discharge exhaust air from the rear bank-muffler. The rear bank-muffler is covered by the rear cowl, wherein outlines of the rear bank-muffler and the rear cowl are each formed such that the width decreases toward the vehicle rear. The tail pipe, the first connecting pipe, and the second connecting pipe are provided so as to penetrate the partition. A position where the tail pipe penetrates the partition and positions where the first connecting pipe and second connecting pipe penetrate the partition are offset from each other in the vertical direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2015
    Publication date: June 8, 2017
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Katsuaki SHIBUKI, Masaya YAZAKI, Satoru NOJIMA
  • Patent number: 9469361
    Abstract: A motorcycle includes a step operating mechanism that changes the position of pillion steps (passenger steps), and an electronic control unit carries out step inclining control to change the position of the pillion steps, so that footrest surfaces of the pillion steps may each become an inclined surface, in which the steps are pivotally raised such that a portion of the passenger step situated at the vehicle body outside is raised toward the vehicle body upper side relative to a portion of the passenger step situated at the vehicle body inside, in response to at least one of an acceleration operation, a deceleration operation, and a turn operation of the motorcycle. Such arrangement provides a vehicle that can induce an occupant to take a riding posture suitable for the traveling status of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yotaro Mori, Akira Kashiwagi, Naoto Yamagishi, Satoru Nojima, Jun Tanaka, Yasushi Miyagi, Akito Hiramatsu
  • Publication number: 20160090137
    Abstract: A vehicle is disclosed with a seating assembly which is capable of prompting an occupant to take an appropriate riding posture depending on the behavior of the vehicle body. A motorcycle includes tilting mechanisms for tilting seating surfaces of a front seat (rider seating part) and a rear seat (passenger seating part) and an ECU carries out a control process for tilting the seating surfaces to lift rear portions of the seats upwardly in response to an action to accelerate the motorcycle and a control process for tilting the seating surfaces to lift front portions of the seats upwardly in response to an action to decelerate the motorcycle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2015
    Publication date: March 31, 2016
    Inventors: Yotaro MORI, Akira KASHIWAGI, Satoru NOJIMA, Naoto YAMAGISHI, Jun TANAKA, Yasushi MIYAGI, Akito HIRAMATSU
  • Publication number: 20160090139
    Abstract: A motorcycle includes a step operating mechanism that changes the position of pillion steps (passenger steps), and an electronic control unit carries out step inclining control to change the position of the pillion steps, so that footrest surfaces of the pillion steps may each become an inclined surface, in which the steps are pivotally raised such that a portion of the passenger step situated at the vehicle body outside is raised toward the vehicle body upper side relative to a portion of the passenger step situated at the vehicle body inside, in response to at least one of an acceleration operation, a deceleration operation, and a turn operation of the motorcycle. Such arrangement provides a vehicle that can induce an occupant to take a riding posture suitable for the traveling status of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2015
    Publication date: March 31, 2016
    Inventors: Yotaro MORI, Akira KASHIWAGI, Naoto YAMAGISHI, Satoru NOJIMA, Jun TANAKA, Yasushi MIYAGI, Akito HIRAMATSU
  • Patent number: 8800400
    Abstract: A dog-clutch transmission system having dog-clutches is provided that can effectively lower the sound resulting from the engagement of dogs during the meshing of gears. A dog-clutch transmission system includes first gears installed adjacent to each other on respective shafts so as not to be rotatable relatively to the respective shafts and to be axially slidable; and second gears installed so as to be rotatable relatively to the respective shafts and not to be axially slidable. Each of the first gears has dog-teeth projecting in the axial direction and each of the other gears has dog-holes recessed in the axial direction. Speed-stages are switchable by bringing the dog-teeth and the dog-holes into engagement and disengagement. A speed-change ratio proportion of a change-speed ratio at an arbitrary n-speed speed-stage to a speed-change ratio at a (n+1)-speed speed-stage is set at 0.725 or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kosaku Takahashi, Dai Arai, Junya Watanabe, Masataka Tanaka, Masahiko Tsuchiya, Satoru Nojima
  • Patent number: 8590667
    Abstract: A crankcase of an internal combustion engine includes protruding portions formed on an outer surface of the crankcase which are constituted of a pair of left and right wall members, and a vibration isolating rubber is fitted between the wall members. The crankcase configured in this manner prevents the generation of sounds from a protruding portion of the crankcase and is light-weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Junya Watanabe, Atsushi Ogasawara, Masataka Tanaka, Satoru Nojima
  • Patent number: 8469169
    Abstract: To provide a multiple disc clutch in which the engagement/disengagement timing of the clutch can be adjusted to a fixed value, and an assembling method for the multiple disc clutch. Two kinds of clutch discs different at least in thickness are combined, and the clutch disc or discs are replaced with the clutch disc or discs of other thickness so that the total thickness of a required number of the combined clutch discs when a predetermined pressure is applied thereto will be equal to a predetermined size, whereby the total thickness is adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenichiro Nakamura, Satoru Nojima
  • Publication number: 20120247241
    Abstract: A dog-clutch transmission system having dog-clutches is provided that can effectively lower the sound resulting from the engagement of dogs during the meshing of gears. A dog-clutch transmission system includes first gears installed adjacent to each other on respective shafts so as not to be rotatable relatively to the respective shafts and to be axially slidable; and second gears installed so as to be rotatable relatively to the respective shafts and not to be axially slidable. Each of the first gears has dog-teeth projecting in the axial direction and each of the other gears has dog-holes recessed in the axial direction. Speed-stages are switchable by bringing the dog-teeth and the dog-holes into engagement and disengagement. A speed-change ratio proportion of a change-speed ratio at an arbitrary n-speed speed-stage to a speed-change ratio at a (n+1)-speed speed-stage is set at 0.725 or more.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2012
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kosaku TAKAHASHI, Dai Arai, Junya Watanabe, Masataka Tanaka, Masahiko Tsuchiya, Satoru Nojima
  • Patent number: 8235157
    Abstract: A saddle-type vehicle includes a passenger step member, a brake pedal, a step holder having the passenger step member and the brake pedal mounted thereon, and a master cylinder adapted to convert a tread force from the brake pedal into brake pressure. The master cylinder is mounted on a support bracket, which is separate from the step holder. The support bracket and the step holder are temporarily assembled with each other, and are co-fastened to a vehicle body frame of the vehicle such that a gap is formed between the support bracket and the step holder. During operation of the vehicle, such configuration of the support bracket and the step holder having the gap formed therebetween minimizes transmission of vibration from the support bracket to the step holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuliang Cheng, Satoru Nojima, Kenji Morita
  • Publication number: 20110239977
    Abstract: A crankcase of an internal combustion engine includes protruding portions formed on an outer surface of the crankcase which are constituted of a pair of left and right wall members, and a vibration isolating rubber is fitted between the wall members. The crankcase configured n this manner prevents the generation of sounds from a protruding portion of the crankcase and is light-weight.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2011
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Inventors: Junya WATANABE, Atsushi OGASAWARA, Masataka TANAKA, Satoru NOJIMA
  • Publication number: 20110061985
    Abstract: To provide a multiple disc clutch in which the engagement/disengagement timing of the clutch can be adjusted to a fixed value, and an assembling method for the multiple disc clutch. Two kinds of clutch discs different at least in thickness are combined, and the clutch disc or discs are replaced with the clutch disc or discs of other thickness so that the total thickness of a required number of the combined clutch discs when a predetermined pressure is applied thereto will be equal to a predetermined size, whereby the total thickness is adjusted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2010
    Publication date: March 17, 2011
    Inventors: Kenichiro NAKAMURA, Satoru Nojima
  • Patent number: 7828114
    Abstract: A muffler for efficiently reducing noise. Front side exhaust pipes and rear side exhaust pipes extend from front cylinders and rear cylinders, respectively, of a V-type water-cooled 4-cylinder engine and are operatively connected to a catalyst chamber disposed below a crankcase. The catalyst chamber is connected to an exhaust chamber located to the rear thereof in which exhaust gas is expanded. An outlet pipe laterally projects from a lateral surface of a rear end portion of the exhaust chamber and is connected to a front pipe projecting from the lateral surface of the front portion of a muffler. The front pipe is transversely inserted into the muffler to increase a cross-section ratio, thereby efficiently reducing noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Morita, Yuichi Tanaka, Satoru Nojima