Patents by Inventor Takuhiro Kondo

Takuhiro Kondo 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: 20090321201
    Abstract: According to problem solving means of the present invention, in a suspension device (S) comprising a motion transforming mechanism (T) for transforming a linear motion of a linear motion member (1) into a rotational motion of a rotating member (2) and a motor (M) connected to the rotating member (2) in the motion transforming mechanism (T), an air spring (AS) is provided, the air spring (AS) including a tubular air chamber (22) connected to the motor (M), an air piston (37) connected to the linear motion member (1) and being tubular and smaller in diameter than the air chamber (22), and a diaphragm (27) interposed between the air chamber (22) and the air piston (37), a stopper (38a) is provided on an outer periphery of the air piston (37), and a stopper seat (46) is provided on an inner periphery of the air chamber (22) so as to be put in abutment against the stopper (38a) upon maximum extension of the suspension device involving relative separation of the air chamber (22) and the air piston (37) with respect
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2009
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Inventors: Atsushi SAKUTA, Takuhiro KONDO, Takayuki TACHI
  • Publication number: 20090273147
    Abstract: In a system including four electromagnetic absorbers for respective four vehicle wheels, motor coils of two respective electromagnetic absorbers disposed corresponding to two diagonally located wheels are connected forming a closed loop including the coils. A generated damping force magnitude can be made different between an instance directions of respective movements of the diagonally located two wheels with respect to the vehicle body are the same, and an instance the directions are opposite each other. Each electromagnetic absorber includes a resistor cooperating with the corresponding coil forming a closed loop, and selectively establishes: a connected state in which one of the four coils and any of the other three coils are connected to form a closed loop; and a non-connected state in which the one of the four coils is not connected to any other coil. An appropriate vibration suppressing action is exhibited with respect to a coupled motion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2006
    Publication date: November 5, 2009
    Applicants: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Kayaba Industry Co., Ltd, The University of Tokyo
    Inventors: Hirofumi Inoue, Takuhiro Kondo, Yoshihiro Suda
  • Publication number: 20090165581
    Abstract: In a ball screw device, a ball screw nut is rotated, causing a screw shaft to rectilinearly move in the axial direction, and the limit of the movement of the screw shaft is determined by a stopper. The ball screw device includes a hollow shaft that rotates together with the ball screw nut and in which the screw shaft is movably fitted. The hollow shaft is provided with a small diameter portion that exerts a dragging force on the screw shaft before the screw shaft reaches the limit, and a buffer layer is formed on a tip portion of the screw shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2008
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Applicant: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Katsura Koyagi, Tsuyoshi Kamikawa, Takayuki Tachi, Takuhiro Kondo
  • Patent number: 7537097
    Abstract: An electromagnetic damper control device including a first member containing a magnet, and a second member containing a solenoid combined to permit relative rotation. The relative rotation of the first and second members induces an electromagnetic force in a solenoid that serves as a damping force to a motion. The device further comprises a current limiter device operated by a voltage generated in the solenoid due to the relative rotation of the first member and second member. The current limiter devices regulates the electrical current flowing in the solenoid to a specific value based on the voltage generated in the solenoid so that by regulating the damping force of the electromagnetic damper a desired damping force can be applied to the electromagnetic damper without requiring external electrical power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2009
    Assignees: The Foundation for the Promotion of Industrial Science, Kayaba Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Suda, Kouji Hio, Takuhiro Kondo, Hideki Yamagata
  • Publication number: 20090120745
    Abstract: A damper (D) comprises a screw shaft (1), a screw nut (4) threadably and rotatably engaged with the screw shaft (1), a motor (M) having a rotor (R) connected to the screw nut (4), and a detent mechanism (5) for making the screw shaft (1) unrotatable. Thus, since the screw shaft (1) is made to perform a linear motion and there is provided the detent mechanism (5) for the screw shaft (1), the outside diameter of the damper (D) can be reduced and hence the on-board characteristic of the damper (D) to a vehicle is improved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2007
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Inventors: Takuhiro Kondo, Tachi Takayuki
  • Publication number: 20090095584
    Abstract: A damper is comprised of an actuator (A) connected to a sprung member (B) side of a vehicle, the actuator (A) including a motion converting mechanism (T) for transforming a linear motion into a rotational motion and a motor (M) to which the rotational motion resulting from the transformation by the motion converting mechanism (T) is transmitted; a hydraulic damper (E) including a cylinder (C), a piston (P) inserted slidably into the cylinder (C) and defining two pressure chambers within the cylinder (C), and a rod (R) connected at one end thereof to the piston (P), wherein a linear motion of the actuator (A) being transmitted to one of the rod (R) and the cylinder (C) while the other of the rod (R) and the cylinder (C) being connected to an unsprung member (W) side of the vehicle; and biasing means (1, 2, X, Y, Z) for biasing the hydraulic damper (E) in both compressing and extending directions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2006
    Publication date: April 16, 2009
    Inventors: Takuhiro Kondo, Hirofumi Inoue
  • Publication number: 20090079145
    Abstract: It is an object of the invention to improve the utility of an electromagnetic absorber system which is disposed in a suspension system of a vehicle and which generates a damping force by a generation force of a motor. The electromagnetic absorber system 18 is equipped with high-speed-motion responding means, thereby obviating an insufficiency of the damping force and a deterioration of the controllability in a high-speed stroke motion. More specifically, a hydraulic absorber 64 is provided in combination with the electromagnetic absorber system such that the hydraulic absorber 64 operates in the high-speed motion in which an electromotive force of the motor 68 exceeds a power source voltage Further, two motors having mutually different T-N characteristics are provided, and the two motors are selectively operated depending upon a stroke speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2006
    Publication date: March 26, 2009
    Applicants: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Kayaba Industry Co., LTD
    Inventors: Hirofumi Inoue, Takenari Yamaguchi, Takuhiro Kondo
  • Publication number: 20090065314
    Abstract: A damper (D1) comprising an actuator A connected to a sprung member (B) side of a vehicle, the actuator having a motion converting mechanism (T) for converting a linear motion into a rotational motion and a motor (M) to which the rotational motion resulting from the conversion by the motion converting mechanism (T) is transmitted; a hydraulic damper (E), the hydraulic damper (E) having a cylinder (C), a piston (P) inserted slidably into the cylinder (C) and defining two pressure chambers within the cylinder (C), and a rod (R) connected at one end thereof to the piston (P), the linear motion of the actuator (A) being transmitted to one of the rod (R) and the cylinder (C), the other of the rod (R) and the cylinder (C) being connected to an unsprung member (W) side of the vehicle; a spring (1) accommodated within one of the two pressure chambers and biasing the hydraulic damper (E) in a damper compressing direction; and a spring (2) accommodated within the other pressure chamber and biasing the hydraulic damper
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2007
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Inventors: Takuhiro Kondo, Hirofumi Inoue
  • Publication number: 20080164111
    Abstract: It is an object of the invention to improve utility in a suspension apparatus for a vehicle having an electromagnetic actuator and a hydraulic damper. In the suspension apparatus, a hydraulic damper is disposed between an electromagnetic actuator and a wheel-holding portion, and a cover tube is provided for accommodating a seal provided between a piston rod and a housing of the hydraulic damper. In the suspension apparatus according to the present invention wherein the hydraulic damper is disposed between the wheel-holding portion and the electromagnetic actuator, it is possible to effectively mitigate not only transmission of vibrations to the vehicle body from the wheel via the electromagnetic actuator but also transmission of vibrations to the electromagnetic actuator. Further, owing to the presence of the cover tube, entry of dust and the like into the hydraulic damper through the seal can be effectively prevented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2005
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Applicants: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, KAYABA INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hirofumi Inoue, Takuhiro Kondo
  • Patent number: 7357229
    Abstract: An electromagnetic shock absorber according to the present invention has a shock absorber body 1 which makes telescopic motion in response to an input from outside. The shock absorber body 1 comprises a ball screw mechanism 15, which converts the telescopic motion into rotary motion and is composed of a ball nut 16 and a screw shaft 17, and power transmitting sections 13 and 24 having elastic bodies which transmit the rotary motion of the ball screw mechanism 15 to a rotary shaft 11 of a motor 10 while shifting a transmission phase when transmission torque of the rotary motion is changed. The motor 10 generates electromagnetic resistance to oppose against rotations which input into the rotary shaft 11. Thus, vibration or the like which inputs into the shock absorber body 1 from outside is damped by the electromagnetic resistance of the motor 10.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Assignees: Kayaba Industry Co., Ltd., The Foundation for the Promotion of Industrial Science
    Inventors: Takuhiro Kondo, Hideki Yamagata, Yoshihiro Suda
  • Publication number: 20070170024
    Abstract: An electromagnetic damper control device including a first member containing a magnet, and a second member containing a solenoid combined to permit relative rotation. The relative rotation of the first and second members induces an electromagnetic force in a solenoid that serves as a damping force to a motion. The device further comprises a current limiter device operated by a voltage generated in the solenoid due to the relative rotation of the first member and second member. The current limiter devices regulates the electrical current flowing in the solenoid to a specific value based on the voltage generated in the solenoid so that by regulating the damping force of the electromagnetic damper a desired damping force can be applied to the electromagnetic damper without requiring external electrical power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2003
    Publication date: July 26, 2007
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Suda, Kouji Hio, Takuhiro Kondo, Hideki Yamagata
  • Publication number: 20060096815
    Abstract: A shock absorber body 30 which makes telescopic motion in response to an input from outside has a ball screw mechanism 16 which converts the telescopic motion into rotary motion and comprises a ball nut 17 and a screw shaft 18. A motor 32 is provided coaxially with the shock absorber body 30. The motor 32 generates electromagnetic resistance to oppose against the rotary motion which inputs into a rotary shaft 6 of the motor 32. The screw shaft 18 and the rotary shaft 6 are formed as one united shaft member. Damping force which opposes against the telescopic motion of the shock absorber body 30 is generated according to electromagnetic force of the motor 32.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2003
    Publication date: May 11, 2006
    Inventors: Takuhiro Kondo, Yoshihiro Suda
  • Publication number: 20050211516
    Abstract: A shock absorber body 30 which makes telescopic motion in response to an input from outside has a ball screw mechanism 16 which converts the telescopic motion into rotary motion and is composed of a ball nut 17 and a screw shaft 18. A motor 32 is provided coaxially with the shock absorber body 30. The motor 32 generates electromagnetic resistance to oppose against the rotary motion which inputs into a rotary shaft 6 of the motor 32. A cylindrical member 1 or 23 which covers the shock absorber body 30 and the motor 32 from outside and whose part covering the motor 30 also serves as a motor frame is provided. Damping force which opposes against the telescopic motion of the shock absorber body 30 is generated according to electromagnetic force of the motor 32.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2003
    Publication date: September 29, 2005
    Inventors: Takuhiro Kondo, Taro Matsumae, Yoshihiro Suda
  • Publication number: 20050212189
    Abstract: An electromagnetic shock absorber according to the present invention has a shock absorber body 1 which makes telescopic motion in response to an input from outside. The shock absorber body 1 comprises a ball screw mechanism 15, which converts the telescopic motion into rotary motion and is composed of a ball nut 16 and a screw shaft 17, and power transmitting sections 13 and 24 having elastic bodies which transmit the rotary motion of the ball screw mechanism 15 to a rotary shaft 11 of a motor 10 while shifting a transmission phase when transmission torque of the rotary motion is changed. The motor 10 generates electromagnetic resistance to oppose against rotations which input into the rotary shaft 11. Thus, vibration or the like which inputs into the shock absorber body 1 from outside is damped by the electromagnetic resistance of the motor 10.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2003
    Publication date: September 29, 2005
    Inventors: Takuhiro Kondo, Hideki Yamagata, Yoshihiro Suda