Patents Assigned to Honda Motors Co., Ltd.
  • Publication number: 20140091596
    Abstract: A front cowl structure for a saddle riding type vehicle, capable of containing a stick phenomenon of an airflow in the front cowl. A pair of headlights is disposed on leading end lateral sides of a front cowl. Each of the headlights has a lens surface that includes at least a part formed to face downwardly. A front cowl structure has headlight neighboring openings formed on sides in a vehicle rearward of the lens surface, the headlight neighboring openings communicating with an inside of the front cowl.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2013
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Rui MAEDA, Yoshinori KOROGI, Atsushi TAKASAKI, Shunji YOKOKAWA
  • Publication number: 20140092237
    Abstract: An indication control unit 11 indicates a side-rearward image of a vehicle 1 captured by a left-rearward camera 2L and a right-rearward camera 2R mounted on the vehicle 1, after superimposing guidelines showing a guide of a distance from the vehicle 1, to a left-rearward indicator 3L and a right-rearward indicator 3R. A road shape recognizing unit 13 recognizes a shape of a road on which the vehicle is traveling. When it is recognized by the road shape recognizing unit 13 that the vehicle 1 is traveling on the road of a predetermined shape, the indication control unit 11 sets the guidelines to non-display, or sets an indicating position of the guidelines according to the shape of the road recognized by the road shape recognizing unit 13.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2012
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takashi Watanabe, Kei Oshida, Haruhiko Nishiguchi
  • Publication number: 20140095040
    Abstract: A twin clutch controlling apparatus wherein a clutch lever is operated during a deceleration operation in which an auto mode (Auto) is selected, then a shift down action from a gear position “N-2” at which a driving force can be transmitted only by one of an odd number stage side clutch CL1 and an even number stage side clutch CL2 to another position “1-2” at which the transmission gear for transmitting a driving force is switched in response to switching control of the clutch is carried out in response to the operation of the clutch lever. After the shift down action, if re-connection of the clutch is to be carried out by the clutch lever, then the clutch (CL1, CL2) on the side to be driven in response to a manual operation clutch capacity arithmetic operation value (tqcltmt) is determined in response to a vehicle speed V.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2013
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshiaki NEDACHI, Hiroyuki KOJIMA, Kazuyuki FUKAYA, Kazuhiko NAKAMURA, Satoshi HONMA, Yasuyuki MORI
  • Publication number: 20140090920
    Abstract: A saddle-ride type vehicle that allows easy axle adjustment even if the exhaust system has such a structure wherein a muffler is close to an axle of a rear wheel. The exhaust system includes a tubular muffler connected to an exhaust pipe for discharging the exhaust of an engine. In the exhaust system, the muffler is disposed laterally to a rear wheel rotatably supported by swingarms via an axle. An end cap covering a muffler rear end portion of the muffler is detachably and attachably provided on the muffler rear end portion with the end cap being disposed on a vehicle outer side of the axle at such a position that the axle is invisible in a side view of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2013
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masayuki IWATA, Yuuhei MUKAI
  • Publication number: 20140090924
    Abstract: An exhaust system of a saddle-ride type vehicle includes an end cap and a muffler close to each other to achieve uniformity therebetween and which is capable of preventing the occurrence of a knocking sound. The exhaust system of a saddle-ride type vehicle includes a muffler connected to an exhaust pipe for discharging exhaust of an engine E and an end cap is attached to a muffler rear end portion. In the end cap, an insertion portion thereof is inserted into and held by an end cap inserted portion provided in the muffler rear end portion, and multiple protruding portions are formed on an outer surface of the insertion portion at a predetermined interval in a circumferential direction of the outer surface. The multiple protruding portions come in contact with an inserted portion inner peripheral wall surface of the end cap inserted portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2013
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuki UZAWA, Yoshitaka HAYAMA
  • Publication number: 20140091597
    Abstract: In a cowling fastening structure (1) for fastening a first cowling member (2) and a second cowling member (3) to each other by using a clip (30), the two cowling members are provided with opposing walls (13, 21) having a mutually aligned through holes (15, 26) formed therein, the clip is provided with a first member (31) and a second member (32) joined by a hinge (33). A free end of the first member formed with an engagement hole (39) is passed through the through holes, and a free end of the second member formed with an engagement claw (44) is passed around the opposing walls so as to engage the engagement claw with the engagement hole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2012
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicants: NIFCO INC., HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yusuke Inoue, Yotaro Abe, Hajime Naoi
  • Publication number: 20140095033
    Abstract: A twin clutch controlling apparatus includes an ATM control unit for controlling a shift actuator and a clutch actuator and a shift pedal P for carrying out shifting request to the ATM control unit. When a shifting request by the shift pedal P is issued, the ATM control unit drives the shift actuator to change over the shift stage to a next stage gear irrespective of an operational amount of a clutch lever L and then causes the manual operation clutch capacity arithmetic operation value (tqcltmt) to correspond to a clutch capacity corresponding to the next stage gear using an operational amount of the clutch lever L that exceeds a predetermined value as a trigger. If a predetermined period of time elapses while the clutch lever L is not operated, then the shifting request is an erroneous operation and the shift stage is returned to an original gear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2013
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki KOJIMA, Yoshiaki TSUKADA, Kazuyuki FUKAYA, Yoshiaki NEDACHI, Yasuyuki MORI, Satoshi HONMA, Kazuhiko NAKAMURA
  • Publication number: 20140090912
    Abstract: In a motorcycle with a cowl, a bent portion which has an upright wall facing forwardly and is bent in an upward and downward direction is provided at an intermediate portion in a forward and backward direction of an air intake duct. A plurality of dewatering devices are provided, and configured to be hit from the front by traveling wind to remove moisture from the traveling wind. The dewatering devices are disposed at a plurality of locations in the air intake duct spaced from each other along the traveling wind flowing direction in the air passage in the front of the upright wall. An overall extent of a range in which the air passage can be seen up to a rear end thereof without obstruction when the air intake duct is viewed from the front of the traveling wind inlet is occupied by the dewatering devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2013
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masahiro KONTANI, Takahiro SANO
  • Publication number: 20140093087
    Abstract: A vehicular audio processing unit includes a receiver that receives voice data by wirelessly communicating with audio equipment, an audio processor that applies predetermined audio processing to the voice data received by the receiver, a transmitter that transmits the voice data to which the audio processor applies the predetermined audio processing by wirelessly communicating with an audio output device that can output a sound, and a sensor that detects an operational status of a vehicle with which the unit is provided. The audio processor automatically modifies the predetermined audio processing based on the operational status detected by the operational status detector to the voice data received by the receive, thereby the user is not required to perform any operation for varying the voice output according to an operational status of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2013
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yutaka KIKUCHI, Koji SUZUKI, Katsuhisa YAMADA, Makoto HATTORI
  • Publication number: 20140090926
    Abstract: An exhaust system of a saddle-ride type vehicle includes engagement units to improve the exterior design of a muffler cover and a muffler cover for an excellent appearance that can be easily and reliably attached. A cylindrical muffler is connected to an exhaust pipe for exhausting exhaust from an engine E. A front cap is provided on a front side of a muffler body portion. A muffler cover covers part of the exhaust pipe and the front cap. In the exhaust system, multiple engagement units respectively include multiple engagement receiving parts and multiple engagement claw parts. The engagement receiving parts are provided on an outer surface wall of the front cap with an interval therebetween in a circumferential direction about a muffler center axis of the muffler. The engagement claw parts corresponding respectively to the multiple engagement receiving parts and are disposed on a back surface of the muffler cover.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2013
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yuki UZAWA
  • Publication number: 20140091747
    Abstract: The embodiments disclosed herein provide an option to drivers of electric vehicles to charge their electric vehicles using energy generated from renewable energy sources while still meeting charging requirements of the drivers. A system may schedule an electric vehicle for charging based on a historical clean energy profile.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Robert Masahiko Uyeki
  • Publication number: 20140093200
    Abstract: In the present invention, disclosed is a sealing device for an axle bearing wherein a lubricant is maintained on sliding contact surfaces, thereby suppressing elevation of torque due to the depletion of grease. A lubricant-adsorbing layer (40) comprises a thickener (41) and a binder (42). The lubricant (25) comprises a base oil (43) and a thickener (41B). The thickener (41) and the thickener (41B) are mutually attracted. A lubricant layer (44) of a prescribed thickness is formed on the lubricant-adsorbing layer (40). This lubricant layer (44) adheres closely to the lubricant-adsorbing layer (40) making it difficult to separate the lubricant layer from the lubricant-adsorbing layer (40).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2012
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tasuku Sakurai, Morinobu Kawamura
  • Patent number: 8685223
    Abstract: A method for operating a water electrolysis system includes determining whether or not a water electrolysis apparatus is shut down. The water electrolysis system includes the water electrolysis apparatus, a water circulation apparatus, and a gas-liquid separation apparatus. The water electrolysis apparatus includes power feeders provided on an anode side and a cathode side of an electrolyte membrane. The water electrolysis apparatus generates oxygen on the anode side and generates hydrogen on the cathode side at a higher pressure than a pressure of the oxygen by electrolysis of water. Pressure on the cathode side is released when it is determined that the water electrolysis apparatus is shut down. The water circulation apparatus is operated until a concentration of hydrogen remaining on the anode side is a specified value or less under a condition in which a release of pressure on the cathode side is completed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Daisuke Kurashina, Kenji Taruya, Jun Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 8688307
    Abstract: Even when a first moving condition is not satisfied, when it is determined that a second moving condition is satisfied and at the same time an object belongs to a second classification, an operation of a robot is controlled so as to prompt the object to move according to a first pattern or an arbitrary pattern. The “first moving condition” is a condition that the robot is capable of moving without being obstructed by the object when the robot moves according to a current target position trajectory. The “second moving condition” is a condition that the robot is capable of moving according to the current target position trajectory without being obstructed by the object when the object is displaced according to the first pattern. The “second classification” means a classification of the object which is capable of being moved by a force from the robot acting thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Makoto Sekiya
  • Patent number: 8684885
    Abstract: First and second engines ENG1 and ENG2; first and second transmissions TM1 and TM2 shifting the output of the first and second engines; first and second one-way clutches OWC1 and OWC2 that are provided in each output portion of the first and second transmissions; a driving target member 11 commonly connected to the output members 121 of the first and second one-way clutches via clutch mechanisms CL1 and CL2 and transmits the rotational power transmitted to the output members of the one-way clutches to the driving wheel 2; a main motor/generator MG1 connected to the member 11; a sub motor/generator MG2 connected to the output shaft S1 of the first engine; a battery 8 sending/receiving the electric power between both motor/generators; a synchronization mechanism 20 connecting/disconnecting the member 11 and the output shaft S2 of the second engine; and a controller 5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuki Ichikawa, Fumiyasu Suga
  • Patent number: 8684341
    Abstract: A torque rod having an arm portion, a ring portion formed on each end of the arm portion in a longitudinal direction of the arm portion, and a rubber bushing that is integrally provided with the ring portion. The arm portion is formed from a material that is lower in specific gravity than iron. A weight is provided in a portion of the rubber bushing other than a principal spring portion. The principal spring portion, which absorbs principal vibration to be isolated, is formed by an elastic arm portion that extends radially outwardly from an inner cylinder located substantially in a center of the rubber bushing and is connected to the ring portion. An aperture, which is a separation space, is provided between the elastic arm portion and the ring portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignees: Yamashita Rubber Kabushiki Kaisha, Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hironao Nishimae, Nobuo Kubo, Hiroshi Yanagase
  • Patent number: 8685177
    Abstract: The invention relates to a crankshaft member having high fatigue strength and good bending correctability, and its method of manufacture. The steel made crankshaft member mainly consists of a two-phase structure of ferrite and perlite. The steel includes C, Ni, Mn, and Cr as required elements and Si, Cu, Mo, Ti, V, Nb, Ca, and S as optional elements that may be included, in the amounts of C within the range of 0.20 to 0.50 wt %, Si within the range of 0 to 0.6 wt %, Mn within the range of 0.5 to 1.5 wt %, Cu within the range of 0 to 0.7 wt %, Ni within the range of 0.05 to 1.5 wt %, Cr within the range of 0.05 to 0.45 wt %, and Mo within the range of 0 to 0.5 wt % to satisfy the condition 115?70C+8Si+23Mn+11Cu+128Cr+83Mo?50. A portion of the member surface is provided at least with a hard nitride layer having an average hardness within the range of 300 to 450 HV. Lamellar spacing of the perlite is 0.3 ?m or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignees: Honda Motor Co., Ltd., Daido Steel Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Isamu Saito, Yoshihiro Takitani, Shinichiro Kato, Makoto Hobo, Keiichiro Kamiya, Takahiro Miyazaki, Takashi Kano
  • Patent number: 8688328
    Abstract: When a start-up operation by a driver is detected while a vehicle is maintained at a stopped state, a target driving force for suppressing the movement of the vehicle on the road to be driven is calculated, based on the grade obtained regarding the road to be driven on. After the vehicle is driven by the target driving force, the braking force is released so as to terminate the maintaining of the stopped state of the vehicle. Preferably, the state of being driven by the target driving force is maintained until the releasing of the braking force is completed. When the releasing of the braking force is completed, the driving force is increased to start-up the vehicle. With such a start-up control, vehicles are prevented from moving temporarily in a direction opposite from the traveling direction, and a smooth star-up can be achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tadayoshi Okada, Toshiaki Arai
  • Patent number: 8684284
    Abstract: Methods, processes, and apparatuses for the large scale synthesis of carbon nanostructures are provided. The apparatus for continuous large scale production of SWNTs includes a chamber. Positioned in one end of the chamber is a piston and at the other end is a tangential vortex created by gases forced into the chamber from opposite sides of the chamber walls. The chamber can be heated to reduce or eliminate agglomeration of small particles. The piston is used to push the catalyst towards the vortex, and the injection rate is controlled by the speed of the piston and the gas flow rate to create the vortex that also act as the transport gas. Thus, greater than 1 kg/h of an aerosolized, deagglomerated dry powder catalyst can be delivered to the reactor at a constant flow rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Avetik R. Harutyunyan
  • Patent number: D701984
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Daisuke Kuriki, Tomotake Shimoji