Patents by Inventor Seiji Itoo

Seiji Itoo 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: 11644094
    Abstract: A power unit includes a prime mover and a belt continuously variable transmission. The belt continuously variable transmission includes a drive pulley, a driven pulley, a belt wound around the drive pulley and the driven pulley, and a housing forming an accommodation space in which the belt is disposed. The belt continuously variable transmission changes a speed of rotation produced by drive power output from the prime mover. The power unit further includes a temperature sensor configured to detect a temperature of the belt or a temperature corresponding to the temperature of the belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: KAWASAKI MOTORS, LTD.
    Inventors: Seiji Itoo, Ayumi Hamada, Nobuyuki Nishiguchi
  • Patent number: 11624427
    Abstract: A spider is screwed to a drive shaft, includes a first screw that advances in one direction of an axial direction of the drive shaft when the spider rotates relative to the drive shaft in one direction of a circumferential direction, and is fastened to the drive shaft by the first screw. A nut is screwed to the drive shaft, includes a second screw that advances in the other direction of the axial direction of the drive shaft when the nut rotates relative to the drive shaft in one direction of the circumferential direction, and is fastened to the drive shaft by the second screw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: KAWASAKI MOTORS, LTD.
    Inventors: Seiji Itoo, Yasuhiro Kuji, Shouji Ozawa, Kaoru Oda, Ryosuke Fujino, Hisashi Takeuchi, Manabu Hidaka
  • Patent number: 11312235
    Abstract: A drive switching mechanism of a utility vehicle includes: a two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive switching device that switches between two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive of the utility vehicle; and a control unit that controls the drive switching mechanism. The two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive switching device switches between two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive by using a first clutch. The control unit permits the two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive switching device to switch from two-wheel drive to four-wheel drive when a rotation difference of the first clutch becomes equal to or smaller than a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: KAWASAKI MOTORS, LTD.
    Inventors: Seiji Itoo, Ayumi Hamada, Manabu Hidaka, Masahiko Nakagawa
  • Publication number: 20210231211
    Abstract: A power unit includes a prime mover and a belt continuously variable transmission. The belt continuously variable transmission includes a drive pulley, a driven pulley, a belt wound around the drive pulley and the driven pulley, and a housing forming an accommodation space in which the belt is disposed. The belt continuously variable transmission changes a speed of rotation produced by drive power output from the prime mover. The power unit further includes a temperature sensor configured to detect a temperature of the belt or a temperature corresponding to the temperature of the belt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2020
    Publication date: July 29, 2021
    Inventors: Seiji ITOO, Ayumi HAMADA, Nobuyuki NISHIGUCHI
  • Publication number: 20210190182
    Abstract: A spider is screwed to a drive shaft, includes a first screw that advances in one direction of an axial direction of the drive shaft when the spider rotates relative to the drive shaft in one direction of a circumferential direction, and is fastened to the drive shaft by the first screw. A nut is screwed to the drive shaft, includes a second screw that advances in the other direction of the axial direction of the drive shaft when the nut rotates relative to the drive shaft in one direction of the circumferential direction, and is fastened to the drive shaft by the second screw.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2019
    Publication date: June 24, 2021
    Inventors: Seiji Itoo, Yasuhiro Kuji, Shouji Ozawa, Kaoru Oda, Ryosuke Fujino, Hisashi Takeuchi, Manabu Hidaka
  • Publication number: 20210086613
    Abstract: A drive switching mechanism of a utility vehicle includes: a two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive switching device that switches between two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive of the utility vehicle; and a control unit that controls the drive switching mechanism. The two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive switching device switches between two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive by using a first clutch. The control unit permits the two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive switching device to switch from two-wheel drive to four-wheel drive when a rotation difference of the first clutch becomes equal to or smaller than a predetermined value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2020
    Publication date: March 25, 2021
    Inventors: Seiji ITOO, Ayumi HAMADA, Manabu HIDAKA, Masahiko NAKAGAWA
  • Patent number: 10913459
    Abstract: A shift switching mechanism of a utility vehicle includes: an input gear connected to an input shaft to which a driving force of an engine is input; a shifter that is connected to a counter shaft transmitting a driving force of the input shaft, and enables engagement between the input gear and a gear connected to the counter shaft; and a control unit that controls the shift switching mechanism. At reception of a shift command, the control unit calculates a rotation difference between the input gear and the shifter, and controls output of the engine to reduce the rotation difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Seiji Itoo, Ayumi Hamada, Manabu Hidaka, Masahiko Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 10889185
    Abstract: A drive switching mechanism of a utility vehicle includes: a two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive switching device that switches between two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive of the utility vehicle; and a control unit that controls the drive switching mechanism. The two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive switching device switches between two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive by using a first clutch. The control unit permits the two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive switching device to switch from two-wheel drive to four-wheel drive when a rotation difference of the first clutch becomes equal to or smaller than a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Seiji Itoo, Ayumi Hamada, Manabu Hidaka, Masahiko Nakagawa
  • Publication number: 20200172107
    Abstract: A shift switching mechanism of a utility vehicle includes: an input gear connected to an input shaft to which a driving force of an engine is input; a shifter that is connected to a counter shaft transmitting a driving force of the input shaft, and enables engagement between the input gear and a gear connected to the counter shaft; and a control unit that controls the shift switching mechanism. At reception of a shift command, the control unit calculates a rotation difference between the input gear and the shifter, and controls output of the engine to reduce the rotation difference.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2018
    Publication date: June 4, 2020
    Inventors: Seiji ITOO, Ayumi HAMADA, Manabu HIDAKA, Masahiko NAKAGAWA
  • Publication number: 20200172103
    Abstract: A drive switching mechanism of a utility vehicle includes: a two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive switching device that switches between two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive of the utility vehicle; and a control unit that controls the drive switching mechanism. The two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive switching device switches between two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive by using a first clutch. The control unit permits the two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive switching device to switch from two- wheel drive to four-wheel drive when a rotation difference of the first clutch becomes equal to or smaller than a predetermined value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2018
    Publication date: June 4, 2020
    Inventors: Seiji ITOO, Ayumi HAMADA, Manabu HIDAKA, Masahiko NAKAGAWA
  • Patent number: 10400656
    Abstract: A cooling fan for use in a utility vehicle, wherein the cooling fan is equipped with a fan cover for covering the upper half portion of the cooling fan and is accommodated inside an engine room that is configured so as to take in the outside air from the lower side and to be accessible from the upper side, and the fan cover is fixed to an engine case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Seiji Itoo, Shinichi Tanaka, Ayumi Hamada
  • Patent number: 10197149
    Abstract: A V-belt type continuously variable transmission of an air-cooled type mounted on a vehicle. The V-belt type continuously variable transmission includes an intake port for taking air into the V-belt type continuously variable transmission, and an exhaust port for exhausting air from the V-belt type continuously variable transmission. The V-belt type continuously variable transmission further includes at least one of an electric intake fan connected to the intake port directly or via an intake duct, and an electric exhaust fan connected to the exhaust port directly or via an exhaust duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Kuji, Seiji Itoo, Ayumi Hamada
  • Patent number: 9945471
    Abstract: A lubricating apparatus of the present invention is applied to a transmission having a plurality of rotating shafts, and includes a first rotating shaft having a first oil passage, a second rotating shaft, and an impeller fixed to an axial end of the first rotating shaft. The impeller is arranged in a first oil storage chamber communicated with an outlet of the first oil passage. The impeller rotates with the first rotating shaft to scatter oil, and supplies the oil to the second rotating shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Seiji Itoo, Ayumi Hamada, Shigeru Nishimura
  • Patent number: 9849781
    Abstract: A utility vehicle includes a diesel engine, a two-four wheel drive switcher provided on a driving power transmission path from the diesel engine and configured to switch transmission of driving power to driving wheels between a two-wheel drive mode and a four-wheel drive mode, and a vehicle control unit configured to control the two-four wheel drive switcher. The utility vehicle further includes a rollover sensor configured to detect rollover of the utility vehicle, and a fuel cutoff valve configured to cut off fuel supply to the diesel engine. The vehicle control unit determines whether or not the utility vehicle is being rolled over in accordance with detection by the rollover sensor and controls the fuel cutoff valve to cut off the fuel supply when the vehicle control unit determines that the utility vehicle is being rolled over.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Seiji Itoo, Shinichi Tanaka
  • Patent number: 9835242
    Abstract: A vehicle-use transmission includes a transmission case accommodating a transmission mechanism; and a power extraction case linked to a side wall of the transmission case and accommodating a gear type power extraction mechanism linked to a power extraction shaft of the transmission mechanism. The power extraction case includes: a gear accommodation chamber for accommodating the gear type power extraction mechanism; and an intermediate transmission chamber for establishing fluid communication between the gear accommodation chamber and the inside of the transmission case. The power extraction case is provided with an oil communication passage for establishing fluid communication between the inside of the transmission case and the gear accommodation chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Seiji Itoo, Ayumi Hamada, Taisuke Morita
  • Patent number: 9778087
    Abstract: An oil level detector configured to detect a level of oil in a case includes: a guide tube inserted to the case; and an oil level gauge inserted to the guide tube to detect the level of the oil in the case. The guide tube includes a main body having a distal end portion and an insert portion inserted to the case, and a branch portion provided between the distal end portion and the insert portion and branching from the main body, and the branch portion is inserted to the case at a position higher than the insert portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Seiji Itoo, Shinichi Tanaka, Ayumi Hamada
  • Publication number: 20170276234
    Abstract: There is provided a V-belt type continuously variable transmission of an air-cooled type mounted on a vehicle. The V-belt type continuously variable transmission includes an intake port for taking air into the V-belt type continuously variable transmission, and an exhaust port for exhausting the taken air from the V-belt type continuously variable transmission. The V-belt type continuously variable transmission further includes at least one of an electric intake fan connected to the intake port directly or via an intake duct, and an electric exhaust fan connected to the exhaust port directly or via an exhaust duct.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2016
    Publication date: September 28, 2017
    Inventors: Yasuhiro KUJI, Seiji ITOO, Ayumi HAMADA
  • Publication number: 20170108109
    Abstract: A lubricating apparatus of the present invention is applied to a transmission having a plurality of rotating shafts, and includes a first rotating shaft having a first oil passage, a second rotating shaft, and an impeller fixed to an axial end of the first rotating shaft. The impeller is arranged in a first oil storage chamber communicated with an outlet of the first oil passage. The impeller rotates with the first rotating shaft to scatter oil, and supplies the oil to the second rotating shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2016
    Publication date: April 20, 2017
    Inventors: Seiji ITOO, Ayumi HAMADA, Shigeru NISHIMURA
  • Patent number: 9528595
    Abstract: A V-belt type continuously variable transmission is provided with a transmission case attached to an engine and forms an outer shape, comprising: an air intake duct provided with an air intake port arranged on an engine side; and an air intake duct connection port arranged in a side wall on the engine side of the transmission case and connected to the air intake duct, the air intake duct connection port being inclined relative to the side wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Seiji Itoo, Ayumi Hamada, Taisuke Morita, Jun Takagi
  • Patent number: 9499036
    Abstract: A utility vehicle including a chassis, a seat provided on the chassis, a cargo bed provided behind the seat, an engine provided on the chassis, and a storage box provided below the cargo bed for storing an air cleaner of the engine, a battery, and the like. The storage box stores the air cleaner, the battery, and the like, and includes a box body having an opening provided in a top surface facing the cargo bed, and a top cover covering the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Seiji Itoo, Shinichi Tanaka, Ayumi Hamada