Patents by Inventor Toshio Imao

Toshio Imao 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: 6286380
    Abstract: A select mechanism for executing select operation and a change speed mechanism for executing change speed operation are incorporated into the automatic speed-change apparatus. The change speed mechanism is provided with a change speed motor 14 capable of controlling forward and backward rotation, a single or a plurality of intermediate shaft gear mechanisms 16 reducing and then transmitting the speed of the rotation of the speed change motor and each consisting of a large diameter gear 17, a small diameter gear 18 and an intermediate shaft 19 parallel to a select and change speed pull-rod 2, a change speed gear 24 engaged with the intermediate shaft gear mechanisms to transmit rotation and fixed to the select and change speed pull-rod 2, and a change speed sensor 28 provided on the outer end of the select and change speed pull-rod 2 and detecting the operating angle of the pull-rod 2 in rotation direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2001
    Assignee: Aichi Kikai Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshio Imao, Eiji Takeyama
  • Patent number: 6062097
    Abstract: The object is to provide a compact speed-change apparatus for performing the automatic gear shifting of the conventional gear transmission.In this apparatus the select mechanism comprises a select motor 2 rotatable forward and backward, gears 4, 6 for transmitting the rotation of the select motor 2, and a select-shift sleeve 7 receiving the rotation and one end of which is connected with a select-shift rod 9 of the gear transmission; and the shift mechanism comprises a shift motor 10, a gear 12 to be rotated by the shift motor 10, a swing gear 13 meshing with the gear 12 and swinging on an intermediate shaft 14 as a fulcrum, and a connecting rod 16 one end of which is connected with the swing gear 13 and the other end of which is connected with said select-shift sleeve 7.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2000
    Assignee: Aichi Kikai Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshio Imao, Eiji Takeyama
  • Patent number: 6032776
    Abstract: An automatic clutch operating control apparatus which can rapidly perform the disconnection of a friction clutch of a transmission by the assistance of the accumulated load in a coil spring. Comprising a motor 4 rotatable forward and backward; reduction means 27, 23 for reducing the rotation of the motor 4; movement conversion means 19, 21, 15, 9 for converting the rotation of the motor to the axial movement of a piston rod 6; a hydraulic master cylinder 3 including the piston rod 6 for supplying working oil into a friction clutch to compress the spring in the clutch so that the clutch will be disconnected; a coil spring 31 provided on the piston rod 6 of the hydraulic master cylinder 3 so as to accumulate the load by the compression due to the repulsive force of the spring in the clutch when the motor 4 is rotated backward to connect the clutch and so as to release the accumulated load when the motor 4 is rotated forward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2000
    Assignee: Aichi Kikai Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Toshio Imao
  • Patent number: 6026945
    Abstract: An automatic operating apparatus for a friction clutch is disclosed which apparatus performs the disconnection of the clutch of a transmission by the assistance of the accumulated load in a load accumulator which can perform the accumulation and the release of the load by a simple mechanism. In the automatic clutch operating apparatus having a reducer 9, 13 to reduce the forward rotating force of a motor 1 and a movement converter 10, 12 to make a piston rod 4a of a hydraulic master cylinder 2 move in the axial direction so as to disconnect the friction clutch, a link mechanism is constructed for accumulating the loads due to the rotating force of the motor 1 and the repulsive force of the clutch spring in the load accumulator 16, 18 when the motor 1 is rotated backward to connect the friction clutch and for releasing the accumulated loads when the motor 1 is rotated forward to disconnect the clutch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2000
    Assignee: Aichi Kikai Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshio Imao, Eiji Takeyama
  • Patent number: 6006621
    Abstract: The object is to provide a small-sized speed-change apparatus for performing the automatic gear shifting of the conventional gear transmission. In the speed-change apparatus 1, the select mechanism comprises a select motor 6 controllable for forward and backward rotation, gears 7, 8 for transmitting the rotation, a select-shift shaft 11 to be rotated forward and backward through said gears 7, 8 and connected with the select-shift rod 5 of the gear transmission M; and the shift mechanism comprises a piston 12 for moving the select-shift shaft 11 in the axial direction, hydraulic chambers 13, 14 accommodating the piston 12 and a shift-operating hydraulic-pressure generator for supplying the hydraulic oil through hydraulic tubes into the hydraulic chambers 13, 14.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1999
    Assignee: Aichi Kikai Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshio Imao, Eiji Takeyama
  • Patent number: 6000517
    Abstract: An automatic clutch control apparatus which can rapidly perform the disconnection of a friction clutch of a transmission by the assistance of the accumulated load in a coil spring comprising a motor 4 rotatable forward and backward; reduction means 27, 23 for reducing the rotation of the motor 4; movement conversion means 19, 21, 15, 9 for converting the rotation of the motor to the axial movement of a piston rod 6; a hydraulic master cylinder 3 including the piston rod 6 for supplying working oil into a friction clutch to compress a spring in the clutch so that the clutch will be disconnected; a coil spring 31 provided on the piston rod 6 of the hydraulic master cylinder 3 so as to accumulate the load by the compression due to the repulsive force of the spring in the clutch when the motor 4 is rotated backward to connect the clutch and so as to release the accumulated load when the motor 4 is rotated forward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1999
    Assignee: Aichi Kikai Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Toshio Imao
  • Patent number: 5970811
    Abstract: A speed-change apparatus for satisfactorily performing the automatic gear shifting of the conventional gear transmission by controlling two motors comprises a select mechanisms including a stepping-motor 2, a select shaft provided with a select gear meshing with a motor gear 3 for transferring the rotation, a device for connecting the select shaft with the select-shift rod of the gear transmission, and a select sensor 6 for detecting an angle of rotation of the select shaft; the shift mechanism comprises a shift motor 9, an intermediate shaft 12, an actuator gear 11 meshing with a motor gear 10 for transferring rotation, a long actuator gear 13 provided on the periphery of the intermediate shaft 12, a shift shaft provided with a male screw 15, a cylindrical slider 17 with a female screw 16 meshing with the male screw 15 a shift gear 14 meshing with the long actuator gear 13, a mechanism coupled with the slider 17 for connecting the slider 17 with the select-shift rod, and a stroke sensor 19 for detecting an a
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1999
    Assignee: Aichi Kikai Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshio Imao, Eiji Takeyama