Patents Assigned to Kabushiki Kaisha Toyoda Jidoshokki Seisakusho
  • Patent number: 6488481
    Abstract: A compressor has a suction muffler structure capable of reducing vibration and noise accompanying liquid compression. The suction muffler structure involves a muffler chamber defined between a suction chamber of the compressor and an external coolant circuit. A suction passage connects the muffler chamber to the suction chamber. A liquid-storage space is formed in the region of the muffler chamber lower than the inlet of the suction passage to the muffler chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2002
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyoda Jidoshokki Seisakusho
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Nagai, Kazushige Murao, Kazuaki Iwama, Hiroshi Kamishima
  • Patent number: 6487958
    Abstract: The object of the present invention is to form a film of a high quality on a constituent part in a compressor. The compressor has a swash plate as a constituent part to be filmed. The swash plate on which the film is to be formed is arranged on a seat of a film forming device. An adhesive layer is formed to the end surfaces of the swash plate in advance. A sheet to form a film is absorbed to a hollow body of a suction device of the film forming device, and press-contacted to the swash plate. The sheet is thus adhered to the end surface of the swash plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2002
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyoda Jidoshokki Seisakusho
    Inventors: Manabu Sugiura, Hiroaki Kayukawa, Kazuaki Iwama, Naohiko Isomura, Shigeki Kawachi
  • Patent number: 6488297
    Abstract: A suspension device suspends a driving wheel and a caster, which are laterally spaced from one another. A cab is located above the caster. A drive unit support supports a drive unit to which the driving wheel is attached. The drive unit support is fixed to a rotary shaft that extends in the lateral direction of the vehicle. The rotary shaft is located in front of the drive unit. The drive unit support is not located between the drive unit and the cab. Thus, the width of the cab is maximized without increasing the width of the vehicle body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2002
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyoda Jidoshokki Seisakusho
    Inventor: Mikio Murase
  • Patent number: 6484621
    Abstract: Swash plate type compressor including a cylinder block having cylinder bores arranged along a circle, a drive shaft aligned with the circle, a swash plate rotated with the drive shaft, and single-headed pistons each including a head portion engaging the cylinder bore, and a neck portion engaging the swash plate, and wherein each piston is reciprocated by the swash plate rotated by the drive shaft, and the head portion includes a circular body portion, and an outer sliding portion and an inner sliding portion which are disposed between the body portion and the neck portion and which slidably engage respective circumferential portions of the cylinder bore which correspond to respective radially outer and inner portions of the cylinder block. Length from the end face of the body portion to the remote end of the inner sliding portion is larger than the corresponding length of the outer sliding portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyoda Jidoshokki Seisakusho
    Inventors: Takayuki Kato, Seiji Katayama, Shigeo Fukushima
  • Patent number: 6484520
    Abstract: A displacement control apparatus controls the displacement of a variable displacement controller. A drive shaft of the compressor is driven by an engine. Torque acting on the drive shaft represents the displacement. The apparatus includes a control valve, an air conditioner controller and a compressor controller. The control valve changes the compressor displacement. The air conditioner controller produces a torque setting signal, which represents a target torque, to the compressor controller. The compressor controller changes the valve opening based on the torque setting signal such that the actual load torque matches the target torque value. Accordingly, the compressor is controlled according to the torque. The air conditioner controller may send the torque setting signal to an engine controller, which eliminates the need for load torque maps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyoda Jidoshokki Seisakusho
    Inventors: Masahiro Kawaguchi, Masanori Sonobe, Ken Suitou
  • Patent number: 6485092
    Abstract: A light transmitting panel mounting structure for mounting a transmitting panel is provided with a frame having a mounting flange, a light transmitting panel bonded relatively movably to the frame and a weather strip held by the mounting flange of the frame for sealing a space between the frame and the light transmitting panel. The weather strip has a body portion, a leg portion extending from the body portion to face the body portion for clamping the mounting flange of the frame in cooperation with the body portion, and a hollow lip having a hollow cross-sectional shape and projecting from the leg portion in elastic contact with an end face of the light transmitting panel. The hollow lip has a bent portion that is collapsible while shifting toward the leg portion when the hollow lip is subjected to an external force, and the bent portion is provided with a groove for assisting the collapsing action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyoda Jidoshokki Seisakusho
    Inventors: Yasushi Iimori, Hiroshi Kuno, Kazumasa Okumura, Toru Takao
  • Patent number: 6481227
    Abstract: An air conditioner having a refrigerant circuit that maintains a high cooling efficiency and a sufficient amount of oil returned to a compressor even if the flow rate of refrigerant is decreased due to a low cooling load is provided. The refrigerant circuit includes a condenser, an expansion valve, an evaporator and a variable displacement compressor. The expansion valve is normal-charge type. A control valve adjusts the pressure in a crank chamber based on the value of a current from a controller and on a pressure difference between two pressure monitoring points, which are located in the refrigerant circuit. Accordingly, the compressor displacement and the flow rate of refrigerant in the circuit are controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2002
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyoda Jidoshokki Seisakusho
    Inventors: Masaki Ota, Masahiro Kawaguchi, Ken Suitou, Hirotaka Kurakake
  • Patent number: 6481985
    Abstract: A motor-driven compressor performs suction, compression, and discharge of refrigerant. The compressor has four cylinder bores and four pistons. A swash plate is integrally rotated with a drive shaft. A transmission mechanism transmits rotation of the swash plate to the pistons. The ratio of the discharge pressure to the suction pressure when the discharge displacement of the compressor is maximum, that is, the compression ratio, is in a range of 2 to 4.5. The compressor is constructed to permit the size of the motor to be minimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2002
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyoda Jidoshokki Seisakusho
    Inventors: Toshiro Fujii, Kazuo Murakami, Yoshiyuki Nakane, Susumu Tarao
  • Patent number: 6484081
    Abstract: A steering wheel angle sensor detects the rotational speed of a steering wheel. A wheel angle sensor detects the off-center angle of a wheel. A controller drives a motor based on the outputs of the steering wheel angle sensor and the wheel angle sensor. An oil pump generates an oil pressure according to the revolution speed of the motor. A steering valve determines the supply direction of hydraulic fluid to be supplied to a PS cylinder. The PS cylinder changes the angle of the wheel according to the given oil pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2002
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyoda Jidoshokki Seisakusho
    Inventor: Seiji Nakashima
  • Patent number: 6481976
    Abstract: A variable capacity type compressor has a tiltable swash plate and pistons. A control valve is arranged to change the pressure in the crank chamber, to vary the capacity of the compressor by changing the inclination angle of the swash plate by changing the pressure in the crank chamber. The control valve has independently movable first and second plungers and a coil arranged around the first and second plungers so that the coil generates an electromagnetic attraction force acting on and between the first and second plungers. First and second valve elements provided on the first and second plungers can adjust the degree of opening of the first and second fluid passages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2002
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyoda Jidoshokki Seisakusho
    Inventors: Kazuya Kimura, Masahiro Kawaguchi, Hiroaki Kayukawa, Tetsuhiko Fukanuma
  • Patent number: 6474976
    Abstract: To provide a film holding apparatus for an injection mold which is capable of surely holding a protective film on a specific position of a mold surface of the injection mold. The film holding apparatus for holding an inner film on the mold surface of the injection molds consisting of two coupled molds having substantially-vertical coupled surfaces thereof includes two positioning pins that can hang an upper edge side of the inner film on an upper edge portion of the mold surface of the mold, and upper and lower vacuum opening portions for film adsorption disposed so as to interpose the positioning pins therebetween from the upper and lower sides. The upper vacuum opening portion is formed in a line, which extends along an upper edge of the mold surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyoda Jidoshokki Seisakusho
    Inventors: Kotaro Oami, Masaaki Suzumura
  • Patent number: 6474955
    Abstract: variable displacement compressor has a drive shaft extending through a crank chamber. A lug plate is integrally fixed to the drive shaft. A drive plate is connected to and driven by the lug plate by a hinge mechanism. The drive plate inclines with respect to the drive shaft to vary the displacement of the compressor. The hinge mechanism has a linear guide on the lug plate and a pin projecting from the drive plate toward the lug plate. A bearing surface engages the pin. The pin has an axis that intersects an axis of the guide. The axis of the pin is parallel to the axis of the drive shaft when the compressor operates with a maximum load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyoda Jidoshokki Seisakusho
    Inventors: Masaki Ota, Tomoji Tarutani, Ryo Matsubara, Taku Adaniya
  • Patent number: 6474957
    Abstract: A suction port as a fluid port of a piston type compressor is contoured with reference to a middle line passing through a middle point of a maximum length of the suction port in the longitudinal direction of the suction valve and perpendicularly crossing a reference line extending in the longitudinal direction. The middle line divides the suction port into a first section positioned on the proximal end side and a second section positioned on the distal end side. An area of the second section is greater than an area of the first section. A width increasing region is disposed in which the width of the suction port becomes gradually greater from the proximal end side to the distal end side, and the length of the width increasing region occupies a major part of the maximum length of the suction port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyoda Jidoshokki Seisakusho
    Inventors: Naofumi Kimura, Masakazu Obayashi
  • Patent number: 6474429
    Abstract: A frame structure for an industrial vehicle includes a lower plate, a front frame portion, a rear frame portion and a battery chamber. The front frame portion is spaced from the rear frame portion. The battery chamber is located between the front frame portion and the rear frame portion. The battery chamber has an opening at a side of the frame structure for receiving a battery. The frame structure further includes a side bar for coupling the front frame portion with the rear frame portion. The side bar extends along the periphery of the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyoda Jidoshokki Seisakusho
    Inventor: Jun Nishio
  • Patent number: 6471490
    Abstract: A suction port of a piston type compressor is formed in the shape similar to a portion of a sector with an apex portion of the sector removed. A distal end portion of a suction valve which can open and close the suction port has a contour line including a distal end forming line extending generally parallel to a distal end line of the suction port, and side lines. A gap between the distal end line of the suction port and the distal end forming line of the suction valve is substantially constant, and a gap between the distal end forming line and the circle of the cylinder bore is substantially constant. The ease of the inflow of a gas when the gas is sucked from the suction port to the cylinder bore is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyoda Jidoshokki Seisakusho
    Inventors: Naofumi Kimura, Masakazu Obayashi
  • Patent number: 6471024
    Abstract: A torque limiting mechanism for transmitting power from an external drive source to the drive shat of a compressor. A pulley, which is coupled to the external drive source, has elastic members. A hub, which is attached to the drive shaft, has engaging portions. A coupler member is located between the pulley and the hub. The coupler member is engaged with the elastic members and with the engaging portions such that power is transmitted from the pulley to the hub. The urging members urge the coupler member such that the coupler member is disengaged from the engaging portions. When power is transmitted from the pulley to the hub, the elastic members maintain the coupler engaged with the elastic members and the engaging portions. When load generated due to power transmission exceeds a predetermined level, the elastic members are deformed such that the coupler member is disengaged from the elastic members. When disengaged from the elastic members, the coupler member is disengaged from the engaging portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyoda Jidoshokki Seisakusho
    Inventors: Masaki Ota, Kazuya Kimura, Satoshi Umemura, Masahiro Kawaguchi, Akifumi Uryu, Taku Adaniya
  • Patent number: 6471497
    Abstract: Fixed throttle devices 36A, 36B, 36C, 36D are screw-engaged with a rotor housing 12. A fixed throttle device 37is screw-engaged with a front housing 13, and a fixed throttle device 38is screw-engaged with a rear housing 14. Inert gas is supplied to the respective throttle devices 36A, 36B, 36C, 36D, 37and 38via branch pipes 54 to 59. Each of the throttle devices 36A, 36B, 36C, 36D, 37and 38includes a check valve 44, a fixed throttle 45 screw-engaged with the check valve 44, and a pipe joint 46 screw-engaged with the check valve 44.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyoda Jidoshokki Seisakusho
    Inventors: Yoshinari Suzuki, Naoki Goto, Mamoru Kuwahara
  • Patent number: 6471113
    Abstract: A method of forming a coating on a work surface of a machine component. The method includes a preparatory step of preparing a feed form formed of a metal material that is softer than at least a work surface of a machine component, a pressure-welding step of pressure-welding an end face of the feed form to the work surface of the machine component while causing relative rotation between the machine component and the feed form, to join the feed form to the machine component, and a cutting step of cutting the feed form in a direction substantially orthogonal to an axis of the relative rotation at a portion near a joining position at which the machine component and the feed form are joined, to add a soft metal layer having a predetermined thickness to the work surface of the machine component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyoda Jidoshokki Seisakusho
    Inventors: Seizo Hirayama, Manabu Sugiura, Kazuaki Iwama, Seiji Suzaki
  • Patent number: 6472949
    Abstract: A signal attenuator may have a first attenuator (1t) and a second attenuator (2t). The first attenuator (1t) is a &pgr;-type resistance attenuator and includes resistors (R1, R2 and R3). The second attenuator (2t) is a &pgr;-type resistance attenuator and includes resistors (R4, R5 and R6) and negative temperature coefficient thermistor (R7). The first attenuator (1t) may be a T-type resistance attenuator. The first attenuator (1t) may be connected in series to each of the input and output of the second attenuator (2t). Such signal attenuators compensate for changes in signal amplitude caused purely by changes in ambient temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyoda Jidoshokki Seisakusho
    Inventors: Kazuji Yamazaki, Yoshiki Nagata
  • Patent number: 6467296
    Abstract: An air conditioning apparatus for a vehicle that includes a multi-stage compressor, an internal heat exchanger, an external heat exchanger, a heat exchanger switching circuit, a cooling expansion passage and a heating expansion passage. The compressor has at least two cylinder bores, one bore being smaller than the other. Refrigerant is compressed in two stages. Refrigerant is conducted from the large cylinder bore to the small cylinder bore via an intermediate chamber. The heat exchanger switching circuit connects the intake chamber of the compressor to one of the heat exchangers depending on whether heating or cooling is desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2002
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyoda Jidoshokki Seisakusho
    Inventors: Toshiro Fujii, Kazuo Murakami, Yoshiyuki Nakane, Tatsuya Koide