Patents by Inventor Tatsuhisa Yokoi

Tatsuhisa Yokoi 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: 10569852
    Abstract: A ship propulsion unit includes: an engine including a crankshaft extending in a front-rear direction of a ship; a propeller shaft; a power transmission mechanism configured to couple the crankshaft and the propeller shaft; an upper case; and a lower case accommodating the propeller shaft and connected to the upper case. The power transmission mechanism includes a drive shaft extending from the upper case toward the lower case. The upper case and the engine are fixed to a ship body. A connection portion between the upper case and the lower case is provided with a rotation mechanism configured to rotate the lower case around an axis of the drive shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventors: Tomohiro Yasui, Yoshimitsu Sugiura, Yushiro Isobe, Tatsuhisa Yokoi
  • Publication number: 20190047673
    Abstract: A ship propulsion unit includes: an engine including a crankshaft extending in a front-rear direction of a ship; a propeller shaft; a power transmission mechanism configured to couple the crankshaft and the propeller shaft; an upper case; and a lower case accommodating the propeller shaft and connected to the upper case. The power transmission mechanism includes a drive shaft extending from the upper case toward the lower case. The upper case and the engine are fixed to a ship body. A connection portion between the upper case and the lower case is provided with a rotation mechanism configured to rotate the lower case around an axis of the drive shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2016
    Publication date: February 14, 2019
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventors: Tomohiro YASUI, Yoshimitsu SUGIURA, Yushiro ISOBE, Tatsuhisa YOKOI
  • Patent number: 8087233
    Abstract: A diesel engine includes: a PM filter provided in its exhaust passage; a fuel injection valve for performing post fuel injection in a cylinder of an engine body in addition to primary fuel injection, in order to supply fuel to the PM filter, to maintain its purification performance; an oil level sensor for detecting a degree of dilution of engine oil; and a first indicator lamp that is turned on to indicate that the engine oil needs to be changed when the degree of dilution of engine oil detected by the oil level sensor is equal to or greater than an allowable level. The vehicle diesel engine overrides the prohibition of the post fuel injection until a distance traveled by the vehicle after the indicator lamp is turned on reaches a predetermined distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tatsuhisa Yokoi, Shigehiro Matsuno, Yasuo Harada, Ryouhei Kusunoki, Hidetomo Horikawa, Ryoichi Kitaoka
  • Patent number: 7895830
    Abstract: If an exhaust throttle valve changes to ON state from OFF state under a filter regeneration control condition for regenerating a PM filter, a differential pressure sensor detects a change of a differential pressure following an operation of the exhaust throttle valve. An increase in an exhaust backpressure is calculated based upon the change in the differential pressure. If the increase in the exhaust backpressure is lower than a predetermined value, the operation of the exhaust throttle valve is determined to be malfunctioning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuhiko Otsubo, Tatsuhisa Yokoi, Shigehiro Matsuno, Ikuo Hoda
  • Patent number: 7849677
    Abstract: A regeneration controller for an exhaust purification apparatus (36, 38) of an engine (2) that appropriately burns particulate matter accumulated in the exhaust purification apparatus. The regeneration controller includes an ECU (70) that determines whether an estimated accumulation amount (PMsm) of particulate matter deviates from an actual accumulation amount. When the estimated accumulation amount is less than or equal to a maximum value (BUpm) and an exhaust pressure difference (?P/GA) is greater than a correction reference value (Dp), the ECU adds a correction value corresponding to the exhaust pressure difference to the estimated accumulation amount. This causes the estimated accumulation amount to approach the actual accumulation amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Shigehiro Matsuno, Yasuhiko Otsubo, Tatsuhisa Yokoi, Hiroki Matsuoka, Takayoshi Inaba
  • Patent number: 7841169
    Abstract: A regeneration controller for preventing a large amount of particulate matter from being suddenly burned without increasing the frequency a heating process is performed. The regeneration controller includes an ECU(70) for heating an exhaust purification apparatus to eliminate the particulate matter accumulated in the exhaust purification apparatus when an estimated accumulation amount is greater than a reference accumulation amount. The ECU(70) obtains the estimated accumulation amount by estimating the amount of particulate matter accumulated in the exhaust purification apparatus. Furthermore, the ECU (70) changes modes for heating an exhaust purification apparatus when the regeneration controller is heated and an estimated accumulation amount is within a mode change range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tatsuhisa Yokoi, Yasuhiko Otsubo, Shigehiro Matsuno, Hiroki Matsuoka
  • Publication number: 20100293923
    Abstract: If it is determined that a precondition (S108, S110, S112) for closing an exhaust throttle valve is not satisfied (“NO”) during removal of PM, auxiliaries that are an air-conditioner, a radio, and an electric fan are turned off. If the precondition is actually satisfied (“YES”) by increasing the likelihood that the precondition is satisfied, it is possible to reduce the opening amount of the exhaust throttle valve (S114). Therefore, the bed temperature of a particulate filter (DPF) is controlled stably, and a sufficient bed temperature is maintained. As a result, the DPF is recovered promptly. In this way, excessive increases in the exhaust gas temperature and the exhaust gas back pressure are not caused, and it is therefore possible to protect an internal combustion engine and to control the opening amount of the exhaust throttle valve appropriately. As a result, it is possible to remove particulate matter stably.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2008
    Publication date: November 25, 2010
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tatsuhisa Yokoi
  • Patent number: 7836685
    Abstract: A regeneration controller for preventing particulate matter from increasing when an exhaust purification apparatus is inactivated. The regeneration controller includes an ECU 70 for heating the exhaust purification apparatus and eliminating the particulate matter accumulated in the exhaust purification apparatus when an estimated accumulation amount is greater than a reference accumulation amount. The ECU 70 obtains the estimated accumulation amount by estimating the amount of particulate matter accumulated in the exhaust purification apparatus. An exhaust temperature sensor 44 detects the temperature of the exhaust purification apparatus. The ECU 70 intermittently decreases the air-fuel ratio of exhaust to heat the exhaust purification apparatus and perform burn-up heating for burning the particulate matter. The ECU 70 further prohibits burn-up heating when the temperature detected by an exhaust temperature sensor 44 decreases to a catalyst inactivation level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Jidoshokki
    Inventors: Tatsuhisa Yokoi, Yukihisa Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 7739904
    Abstract: An abnormality detection apparatus for detecting an abnormality of an oil level sensor having lower and upper oil level detectors includes: a recording portion that records the output of the upper oil level detector before the internal combustion engine is started; and a determining portion that determines that the upper oil level detector has an abnormality if the output of the lower oil level detector is indicating, after the start of the internal combustion engine, that the oil level is higher than the first reference oil level while the output of the upper oil level detector recorded by the recording portion is indicating that the oil level was lower than the second reference oil level before the start of the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tatsuhisa Yokoi, Yasuo Harada, Ryouhei Kusunoki, Hidetomo Horikawa, Ryoichi Kitaoka
  • Patent number: 7677029
    Abstract: A regeneration controller for an exhaust purification apparatus (36, 38) of an engine (2) that appropriately burns particulate matter accumulated in the exhaust purification apparatus. The regeneration controller includes an ECU (70) that determines whether an estimated accumulation amount (PMsm) of particulate matter deviates from an actual accumulation amount. When the estimated accumulation amount is less than or equal to a maximum value (BUpm) and an exhaust pressure difference (&Dgr;P/GA) is greater than a replacement reference value (Dp), the ECU replaces the estimated accumulation amount with a greater replacement amount (UPpm). This causes the estimated accumulation amount to approach or to be the same as the actual accumulation amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shigehiro Matsuno, Tatsuhisa Yokoi, Yasuhiko Otsubo, Hiroki Matsuoka
  • Publication number: 20100011745
    Abstract: A diesel engine includes: a PM filter provided in its exhaust passage; a fuel injection valve for performing post fuel injection in a cylinder of an engine body in addition to primary fuel injection, in order to supply fuel to the PM filter, to maintain its purification performance; an oil level sensor for detecting a degree of dilution of engine oil; and a first indicator lamp that is turned on to indicate that the engine oil needs to be changed when the degree of dilution of engine oil detected by the oil level sensor is equal to or greater than an allowable level. The vehicle diesel engine overrides the prohibition of the post fuel injection until a distance traveled by the vehicle after the indicator lamp is turned on reaches a predetermined distance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2007
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Applicant: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tatsuhisa Yokoi, Shigehiro Matsuno, Yasuo Harada, Ryouhei Kusunoki, Hidetomo Horikawa, Ryoichi Kitaoka
  • Patent number: 7607290
    Abstract: An exhaust purifying apparatus for an internal combustion engine includes an exhaust purifying mechanism, a fuel adding device, an electronic control device. The exhaust purifying mechanism is located in an exhaust passage and traps particulate matter. The fuel adding device adds fuel to exhaust gas that passes through the mechanism. The electronic control device detects a pressure difference between a section upstream and a section downstream of the exhaust purifying mechanism. While the fuel adding device is adding fuel to exhaust gas, the electronic control device compares the pressure difference that is detected at a predetermined point in time with the pressure difference reference value. When the pressure difference exceeds the pressure difference reference value, the electronic control device sets the manner of adding fuel to intermittent fuel addition. As a result, the exhaust purifying apparatus decreases the amount of particulate matter that remains in the exhaust purifying mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroki Matsuoka, Tatsuhisa Yokoi, Yasuhiko Otsubo, Shigehiro Matsuno, Takayoshi Inaba
  • Patent number: 7600373
    Abstract: A regeneration controller that prevents overheating when performing burn-up heating for completely burning particulate matter by intermittent fuel addition to an exhaust system or intermittent increase of fuel addition to the exhaust system. The regeneration controller includes first and second exhaust temperature sensors (44, 46), each detecting the exhaust temperature at a location downstream from the exhaust purification apparatus. An ECU (70) determines the timing for stopping fuel addition to the exhaust system or increase of fuel addition to the exhaust system based on the elapsed time of fuel addition to the exhaust system or increase of fuel addition to the exhaust system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Shigehiro Matsuno, Yasuhiko Otsubo, Tatsuhisa Yokoi, Hiroki Matsuoka, Takayoshi Inaba
  • Patent number: 7484359
    Abstract: An exhaust purifying apparatus for an internal combustion engine having a DPNR converter (26), a fuel adding device (46), and an electronic control device (50) is provided. The DPNR converter (26) is located in an exhaust passage (14) of the internal combustion engine (10). The DPNR converter (26) traps particulate matter in exhaust gas. The fuel adding device (46) adds fuel to exhaust as that passes through the DPNR converter (26). The electronic control device (50) estimates a combustion rate of particulate matter in the DPNR converter (26) in a state where the fuel adding device (46) adds fuel to the exhaust gas. Based on the estimated combustion rate, the electronic control device (50) sets a manner of adding fuel by the fuel adding device (46). As a result, the exhaust purifying apparatus suppresses excessive temperature increase of a DPNR converter (26) to which fuel is added.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tatsuhisa Yokoi, Yasuhiko Otsubo, Shigehiro Matsuno, Hiroki Matsuoka
  • Patent number: 7451748
    Abstract: An EGR cooler system according to the invention includes an EGR cooler cooling device that is provided in a coolant path which is separate from the path provided with an engine cooling system which cools coolant. The EGR cooler cooling devices cools the coolant to be supplied to a water-cooled EGR cooler. The EGR cooler system also includes a water pump that circulates the coolant within the coolant path; a bypass passage through which the coolant may bypass the EGR cooler cooling device or the water-cooled EGR cooler; and a flow control valve that regulates the amount of coolant flowing into the bypass based on the temperature of the coolant flowing through the coolant path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2008
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takuya Nigoro, Tatsuhisa Yokoi, Akiyuki Iemura, Tetsuo Ide, Seiji Sasaki, Ryouhei Kusunoki, Toshio Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20080154477
    Abstract: An abnormality detection apparatus for detecting an abnormality of an oil level sensor having lower and upper oil level detectors includes: a recording portion that records the output of the upper oil level detector before the internal combustion engine is started; and a determining portion that determines that the upper oil level detector has an abnormality if the output of the lower oil level detector is indicating, after the start of the internal combustion engine, that the oil level is higher than the first reference oil level while the output of the upper oil level detector recorded by the recording portion is indicating that the oil level was lower than the second reference oil level before the start of the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2007
    Publication date: June 26, 2008
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tatsuhisa Yokoi, Yasuo Harada, Ryouhei Kusunoki, Hidetomo Horikawa, Ryoichi Kitaoka
  • Patent number: 7340884
    Abstract: An exhaust purifying apparatus for an internal combustion engine includes execution means, wherein, when an accumulation amount of particulate matter about a catalyst becomes less than a first determination value after a PM elimination control is started, the execution means executes burn-up control. Stopping means stops the PM elimination control based on an end of the burn-up control. Forcibly ending means forcibly ends the burn-up control when time elapsed since the accumulation amount of particulate matter about the catalyst has dropped to a second determination value reaches a predetermined time. Therefore, the exhaust purifying apparatus is capable of completely burning particulate matter in a PM filter, and suppresses degradation of fuel economy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2008
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shigehiro Matsuno, Tatsuhisa Yokoi, Yasuhiko Otsubo, Hiroki Matsuoka, Takayoshi Inaba
  • Publication number: 20080034737
    Abstract: If an exhaust throttle valve changes to ON state from OFF state under a filter regeneration control condition for regenerating a PM filter, a differential pressure sensor detects a change of a differential pressure following an operation of the exhaust throttle valve. An increase in an exhaust backpressure is calculated based upon the change in the differential pressure. If the increase in the exhaust backpressure is lower than a predetermined value, the operation of the exhaust throttle valve is determined to be malfunctioning.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2007
    Publication date: February 14, 2008
    Inventors: Yasuhiko Otsubo, Tatsuhisa Yokoi, Shigehiro Matsuno, Ikuo Hoda
  • Publication number: 20070193256
    Abstract: A regeneration controller for an exhaust purification apparatus (36, 38) of an engine (2) that appropriately burns particulate matter accumulated in the exhaust purification apparatus. The regeneration controller includes an ECU (70) that determines whether an estimated accumulation amount (PMsm) of particulate matter deviates from an actual accumulation amount. When the estimated accumulation amount is less than or equal to a maximum value (BUpm) and an exhaust pressure difference (?P/GA) is greater than a correction reference value (Dp), the ECU adds a correction value corresponding to the exhaust pressure difference to the estimated accumulation amount. This causes the estimated accumulation amount to approach the actual accumulation amount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2005
    Publication date: August 23, 2007
    Inventors: Shigehiro Matsuno, Yasuhiko Otsubo, Tatsuhisa Yokoi, Hiroki Matsuoka, Takayoshi Inaba
  • Publication number: 20070180818
    Abstract: An exhaust purifying apparatus for an internal combustion engine includes an exhaust purifying mechanism, a fuel adding device, an electronic control device. The exhaust purifying mechanism is located in an exhaust passage and traps particulate matter. The fuel adding device adds fuel to exhaust gas that passes through the mechanism. The electronic control device detects a pressure difference between a section upstream and a section downstream of the exhaust purifying mechanism. While the fuel adding device is adding fuel to exhaust gas, the electronic control device compares the pressure difference that is detected at a predetermined point in time with the pressure difference reference value. When the pressure difference exceeds the pressure difference reference value, the electronic control device sets the manner of adding fuel to intermittent fuel addition. As a result, the exhaust purifying apparatus decreases the amount of particulate matter that remains in the exhaust purifying mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2005
    Publication date: August 9, 2007
    Inventors: Hiroki Matsuoka, Tatsuhisa Yokoi, Yasuhiko Otsubo, Shigehiro Matsuno