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: 10569852Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 8, 2016Date of Patent: February 25, 2020Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKIInventors: Tomohiro Yasui, Yoshimitsu Sugiura, Yushiro Isobe, Tatsuhisa Yokoi
-
Publication number: 20190047673Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 8, 2016Publication date: February 14, 2019Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKIInventors: Tomohiro YASUI, Yoshimitsu SUGIURA, Yushiro ISOBE, Tatsuhisa YOKOI
-
Patent number: 8087233Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: November 6, 2007Date of Patent: January 3, 2012Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Tatsuhisa Yokoi, Shigehiro Matsuno, Yasuo Harada, Ryouhei Kusunoki, Hidetomo Horikawa, Ryoichi Kitaoka
-
Patent number: 7895830Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 29, 2007Date of Patent: March 1, 2011Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yasuhiko Otsubo, Tatsuhisa Yokoi, Shigehiro Matsuno, Ikuo Hoda
-
Patent number: 7849677Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 10, 2005Date of Patent: December 14, 2010Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Denso CorporationInventors: Shigehiro Matsuno, Yasuhiko Otsubo, Tatsuhisa Yokoi, Hiroki Matsuoka, Takayoshi Inaba
-
Patent number: 7841169Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 10, 2005Date of Patent: November 30, 2010Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Tatsuhisa Yokoi, Yasuhiko Otsubo, Shigehiro Matsuno, Hiroki Matsuoka
-
Publication number: 20100293923Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: October 17, 2008Publication date: November 25, 2010Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Tatsuhisa Yokoi
-
Patent number: 7836685Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 10, 2005Date of Patent: November 23, 2010Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota JidoshokkiInventors: Tatsuhisa Yokoi, Yukihisa Yamamoto
-
Patent number: 7739904Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 10, 2007Date of Patent: June 22, 2010Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Tatsuhisa Yokoi, Yasuo Harada, Ryouhei Kusunoki, Hidetomo Horikawa, Ryoichi Kitaoka
-
Patent number: 7677029Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 10, 2005Date of Patent: March 16, 2010Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Shigehiro Matsuno, Tatsuhisa Yokoi, Yasuhiko Otsubo, Hiroki Matsuoka
-
Publication number: 20100011745Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: November 6, 2007Publication date: January 21, 2010Applicant: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Tatsuhisa Yokoi, Shigehiro Matsuno, Yasuo Harada, Ryouhei Kusunoki, Hidetomo Horikawa, Ryoichi Kitaoka
-
Patent number: 7607290Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 10, 2005Date of Patent: October 27, 2009Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Denso CorporationInventors: Hiroki Matsuoka, Tatsuhisa Yokoi, Yasuhiko Otsubo, Shigehiro Matsuno, Takayoshi Inaba
-
Patent number: 7600373Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 10, 2005Date of Patent: October 13, 2009Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Denso CorporationInventors: Shigehiro Matsuno, Yasuhiko Otsubo, Tatsuhisa Yokoi, Hiroki Matsuoka, Takayoshi Inaba
-
Patent number: 7484359Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 10, 2005Date of Patent: February 3, 2009Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Tatsuhisa Yokoi, Yasuhiko Otsubo, Shigehiro Matsuno, Hiroki Matsuoka
-
Patent number: 7451748Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 1, 2006Date of Patent: November 18, 2008Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Takuya Nigoro, Tatsuhisa Yokoi, Akiyuki Iemura, Tetsuo Ide, Seiji Sasaki, Ryouhei Kusunoki, Toshio Yamamoto
-
Publication number: 20080154477Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 10, 2007Publication date: June 26, 2008Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Tatsuhisa Yokoi, Yasuo Harada, Ryouhei Kusunoki, Hidetomo Horikawa, Ryoichi Kitaoka
-
Patent number: 7340884Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 10, 2005Date of Patent: March 11, 2008Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, DENSO CORPORATIONInventors: Shigehiro Matsuno, Tatsuhisa Yokoi, Yasuhiko Otsubo, Hiroki Matsuoka, Takayoshi Inaba
-
Publication number: 20080034737Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 29, 2007Publication date: February 14, 2008Inventors: Yasuhiko Otsubo, Tatsuhisa Yokoi, Shigehiro Matsuno, Ikuo Hoda
-
Publication number: 20070193256Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 10, 2005Publication date: August 23, 2007Inventors: Shigehiro Matsuno, Yasuhiko Otsubo, Tatsuhisa Yokoi, Hiroki Matsuoka, Takayoshi Inaba
-
Publication number: 20070180818Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 10, 2005Publication date: August 9, 2007Inventors: Hiroki Matsuoka, Tatsuhisa Yokoi, Yasuhiko Otsubo, Shigehiro Matsuno