Patents Assigned to JTEKT
  • VEHICLE DRIVE APPARATUS
    Publication number: 20140066253
    Abstract: A driving force transmission apparatus includes a linkage mechanism that is able to carry out switchover between a connected state where a first intermediate shaft and a second intermediate shaft are connected to each other so as to be non-rotatable relative to each other to transmit torque output from an electric motor to a rear wheel, and a disconnected state where the first intermediate shaft and the second intermediate shaft are disconnected from each other. A control unit reduces the torque that is generated by the electric motor, after making a rotational speed of the first intermediate shaft higher than or equal to a rotational speed of the second intermediate shaft, and then switches the driving force transmission apparatus from the disconnected state to the connected state by controlling the linkage mechanism with the torque that is generated by the motor maintained at a reduced level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventors: Kunihiko Suzuki, Keita Nomura
  • Steering system
    Patent number: 8662240
    Abstract: A steering system includes: an operation mechanism that includes an operation member used to perform a steering operation; and a steered mechanism that is not mechanically coupled to the operation mechanism, and that steers a wheel based on the steering operation of the operation member. The operation mechanism includes a steering angle sensor that detects a steering angle of the operation member, and steering direction detection unit that detects only a steering direction of the operation member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventors: Masayasu Higashi, Takeshi Watanabe
  • Vehicle steering system
    Patent number: 8662242
    Abstract: A variable transmission ratio mechanism is provided on an intermediate portion of a steering shaft, and is able to change a transmission ratio between a shaft on the steering wheel side and a shaft on the steered wheel side by transmitting the sum of rotation of the first shaft and rotation of a rotary shaft of a motor to the second shaft. The variable transmission ratio mechanism is provided with a lock mechanism that restricts the operation of the variable transmission ratio mechanism. When the fact that a rate of change in torque that acts on the steering shaft exceeds a predetermined rate is detected, a period of time until the torque that acts on the steering shaft reaches a torque determination value is estimated. On the condition that the estimated time is shorter than or equal to a predetermined period of time, the lock mechanism is activated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventors: Tomonari Yamakawa, Satoshi Motoyama
  • Manufacturing method of rack shaft
    Patent number: 8661677
    Abstract: In a manufacturing method of a rack shaft, the rack shaft is formed by mounting a shaft raw material on a receiving groove of a lower mold, the receiving mold having an approximately U-shaped cross section, thereafter arranging an upper mold having a rack-teeth-forming teeth portion formed in a rectangular shape in a bottom view and capable of oscillating in a width direction of the receiving groove around a center in the width direction of the rack-teeth-forming teeth portion, in such a manner that the center of oscillation lies on a vertical line of a center in a width direction of the rack teeth, pressing the shaft raw material in the diametrical direction, deforming the shaft raw material along the receiving groove, and thereafter deforming the shaft raw material while oscillating the upper mold so as to form a rack teeth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Omi, Kazuo Ukai
  • Power steering device for automobile
    Patent number: 8666606
    Abstract: The steering system of the invention includes a processing means (26) comprising a means for determining (30) a driving signal (S3) of the power means (25) on the basis of: a first control signal (S1) determined from the measure of a torque applied by the driver on the steering wheel by applying a gain that depends on the longitudinal speed of the vehicle; a second correction signal (S2) determined from the measure of the torque applied by the driver on the steering wheel, and a setpoint determined on the basis of at least one characteristic parameter of the lateral dynamics of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: JTEKT Europe
    Inventors: Stephane Cassar, Jean-Marc Kasbarian
  • Bearing device for vehicle and method of manufacturing the same
    Patent number: 8661679
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a bearing device for a wheel, the method including forming an inner shaft so that an outside diameter of the inner shaft at a first portion is smaller than an outside diameter of the inner shaft at a second portion which is adjacent to the first portion, the peripheral surface of the inner shaft at the first portion is to be heat-treated, and the peripheral surface of the inner shaft at the second portion is not to be heat-treated, and the first portion has a predetermined length in an axial direction, and heat-treating the peripheral surface of the inner shaft at the first portion, and finishing a peripheral surface of the inner shaft by lathe turning whereby a step is not formed at a border between the first portion and the second portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: JTEKT Coporation
    Inventor: Tsuyoshi Kamikawa
  • Securing the assistance torque by means of an estimator of the force on the rack
    Patent number: 8666605
    Abstract: A method for securing the assistance torque (15) supplied by an electric assistance motor (8) in a motor vehicle power steering system includes the steps of: estimating the force on the steering system rack from the torque exerted by the driver on the steering wheel (2), from the assistance torque (15), and optionally from other parameters such as the speed of the electric assistance motor; comparing a target assistance torque with an authorized assistance range, defined with respect to the estimated rack force (17) at any moment, and in the event the target assistance torque is maintained above predefined limits for a predefined duration, correcting and optionally interrupting the power steering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: JTEKT Europe
    Inventors: Jocelyn Delarche, Andre Michelis, Pierre Pilaz, Christophe Ravier
  • Resolver and resolver-rolling bearing unit
    Patent number: 8664949
    Abstract: A resolver includes: a resolver rotor attached to a rotational shaft; an annular resolver stator that is provided on a radially outer side of the resolver rotor and that has a plurality of teeth each opposed, across a clearance, to an outer peripheral face of the resolver rotor and circumferentially arranged at given intervals; and a case member having a cylindrical fit portion to which an outer peripheral face of the resolver stator is fitted. At least three protrusions, each protruding radially outward, are formed at given circumferential intervals on the outer peripheral face of the resolver stator, so that the outer peripheral face of the resolver stator is press-fitted to an inner peripheral face of the fit portion at positions at which the protrusions are formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Jtekt Corporation
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Takei, Kouji Kitahata, Toshiki Kumeno, Takashi Matsumoto
  • ROLLING BEARING
    Publication number: 20140056547
    Abstract: A rolling bearing includes an inner ring, an outer rind and a plurality of rolling elements. Multiple dynamic pressure generating grooves are formed in at least one of an inner ring raceway surface and an outer ring raceway surface so as to be arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction. The number of the dynamic pressure generating grooves and the number of the rolling elements are set so as to establish a relationship expressed by A=[{n+(n+1)}/2]·Z, where A is the number of the dynamic pressure generating grooves, Z is the number of the rolling elements, and n is a natural number (1, 2, 3 . . .
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2013
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Applicant: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventor: Junji MURATA
  • ELECTRIC POWER STEERING SYSTEM
    Publication number: 20140058628
    Abstract: An electric power steering system includes a motor control device that controls driving of a motor based on an assist command value, the motor applying assist torque to a steering mechanism. The motor control device computes a first assist component based on steering torque and a vehicle speed. The motor control device computes a second assist component based on the steering torque and the first assist component. The motor control device computes the assist command value by adding the second assist component to the first assist component. The motor control device includes a road information compensation portion that adjusts the second assist component contained in the assist command value. A basic assist component computation portion computes the first assist component in accordance with a degree of adjustment of the second assist component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2013
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Applicant: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventor: Terutaka TAMAIZUMI
  • ELECTRIC POWER STEERING SYSTEM
    Publication number: 20140058629
    Abstract: An electric power steering system includes a motor control device that controls, based on an assist command value, driving of a motor that gives an assist torque to a steering mechanism. The motor control device computes a first assist component based on a steering torque and a vehicle speed. A steered-angle command value is computed based on the steering torque and the first assist component, and a second assist component is computed by performing a feedback control that matches the steered angle with the steered-angle command value. The motor control device adds the second assist component to the first assist component so as to compute an assist command value. The motor control device includes a road information compensation portion that decreases an absolute value of the second assist component included in the assist command value when a skid is detected by a vehicle state detecting portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2013
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Applicant: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Terutaka TAMAIZUMI, Hirozumi EKI, Masayuki KITA, Isao NAMIKAWA
  • CONTROL UNIT FOR FOUR-WHEEL-DRIVE VEHICLE
    Publication number: 20140058638
    Abstract: A four-wheel-drive vehicle includes a clutch that is able to allow and interrupt transmission of driving force to a propeller shaft, and a traction control unit that controls at least one of the driving force generated by an engine and braking force applied to right and left front wheels to suppress a slip of the right and left front wheels. When the drive mode is switched from a two-wheel-drive mode to a four-wheel-drive mode, if the relative rotational speed between a first rotary member and a second rotary member constituting a clutch is equal to or higher than a predetermined value, an ECU outputs a control command signal for suppressing the slip of the right and left front wheels to the traction control unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2013
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Applicant: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventors: Kenta TANIGUCHI, Akira Kodama, Tomoaki Kato, Masaki Mita
  • PATTERN FORMING DEVICE AND PATTERN FORMING METHOD
    Publication number: 20140054176
    Abstract: A pattern forming device includes a plurality of tanks, and a power supply device. Each of the tanks has an open end having the same shape as a profile shape of a corresponding one of regions of a surface of a workpiece, in which different types of films are to be formed, and stores a corresponding one of electrodeposition solutions used to form the different types of films in a state where the open end is in contact with the surface. The power supply device applies a predetermined voltage to between the workpiece that serves as a first electrode, and each one of second electrodes in the tanks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2013
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Applicant: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Boyko STOIMENOV, Kazuyoshi YAMAKAWA, Masahiro SUZUKI, Kazuaki MATSUO
  • DRIVING FORCE CONTROL APPARATUS AND VEHICLE CONTROL METHOD
    Publication number: 20140058643
    Abstract: A driving force control apparatus includes: a turning radius estimating unit that estimates a turning radius of a four-wheel-drive vehicle; a target slip angle computing unit that computes a target slip angle at the time of turning of the four-wheel-drive vehicle, on the basis of the estimated turning radius; a target rotational speed computing unit that computes target rotational speeds of right and left rear wheels of the four-wheel-drive vehicle, on the basis of the estimated turning radius, the computed target slip angle, and a vehicle speed; and a driving force control unit that controls driving forces that are transmitted to the right and left rear wheels such that actual rotational speeds of the right and left rear wheels approach the computed target rotational speeds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2013
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Applicant: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventor: Akira Kodama
  • STEERING DEVICE
    Publication number: 20140053677
    Abstract: A steering device includes a steering column that rotatably supports a steering wheel, a column side bracket that supports the steering column, a vehicle body side bracket coupled to the column side bracket and an impact absorption mechanism that moves the steering column in a direction along the steering column in a second collision. The impact absorption mechanism includes an impact absorption member and a supporting member. The impact absorption member is integrally formed with an elastic supporting portion and an extending portion. The elastic supporting portion is supported by the vehicle body side bracket and elastically supports the steering column. The extending portion extends in a direction along the steering column. The supporting member is supported by a vehicle body and supports a part of the extending portion in a longitudinal direction of the extending portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2013
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Applicant: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventor: Toru SAKATA
  • KNEADING DEVICE AND KNEADING METHOD FOR ELECTRICITY STORAGE MATERIAL
    Publication number: 20140056095
    Abstract: A kneading device includes an index setting portion that sets an index for kneading based on a motion energy of particles of an electricity storage material, a mean free path of the particles of the electricity storage material, and a kneading time for the electricity storage material, a condition setting portion that sets a condition for the kneading based on the set index for the kneading, and a kneading control portion that controls the kneading of the electricity storage material in accordance with the set condition for the kneading.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2013
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Applicant: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventors: Takumi MIO, Takashi Matsuura, Koji Nishi, Yoshifumi Fukaya
  • Electric power steering apparatus and control method therefor
    Patent number: 8660751
    Abstract: An electric power steering apparatus comprises a charge-discharge circuit capable of configuring a circuit for charging an auxiliary power supply and a circuit for discharging a battery and the auxiliary power supply as well as configuring a discharge-preference circuit which enables only the discharge of the auxiliary power supply while avoiding the charge thereof. In the apparatus, a control circuit performs a power latch operation of carrying on control till the end of a predetermined period of time following an operation of turning off an ignition key, and also causes the charge-discharge circuit to configure the discharge-preference circuit thereby enabling steering assist accompanied by the discharge of the auxiliary power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventors: Keisuke Izutani, Kazuyuki Yoshida
  • Steering system
    Patent number: 8657062
    Abstract: In a steering system, an operation mechanism that includes an operation member includes: a steering angle sensor that detects a steering angle of the operation member; and a steering direction detection unit that detects a steering direction of the operation member. The steering direction detection unit includes: a threaded shaft that is rotatable in the steering direction of the operation member; a nut that is screwed to the threaded shaft; a nut guide that causes the nut to move in accordance with rotation of the threaded shaft; a stopper that prevents movement of the nut beyond a predetermined position; a proximity detection sensor that detects a fact that the nut is in proximity to the stopper; and a variable axial length mechanism that reduces a clearance between the nut and the stopper in response to occurrence of a malfunction in the steering angle sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventor: Takashi Tashiro
  • Ball joint
    Patent number: 8657519
    Abstract: An annular groove, in which a lower end of a boot is fitted, is formed in an outer periphery of an open end of a housing so as to extend in a circumferential direction of the housing. The annular groove is defined by a cylindrical face, an upper inner wall, and a lower inner wall. By fitting a clip onto a cylindrical portion of the lower end of the boot, the cylindrical portion is pushed against the cylindrical face, and an inner end portion and a folded-back portion are pushed against the upper inner wall and the lower inner wall, respectively. The inner end portion has an annular protrusion that is engaged with the upper inner wall and elastically contracted when the lower end of the boot is fitted in the annular groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventors: Hajime Watanabe, Hideo Shibata
  • Motor vehicle steering system
    Patent number: 8660749
    Abstract: A motor vehicle steering system steers vehicle wheels in response to the operation of an operation member for steering a vehicle. The system includes a rutted road judging unit which judges whether the vehicle is driving on a rutted road or not, and a steering enhancement control unit which enhances steering of vehicle wheels in response to operation of the operation member when the rutted road judging unit judges that the vehicle is driving on a rutted road than when the rutted road judging unit judges that the vehicle is not driving on a rutted road.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventors: Ryouhei Hayama, Shiro Nakano, Tomoyasu Kada