Patents by Inventor Akihiro Iwazaki

Akihiro Iwazaki 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: 7059453
    Abstract: An electromagnetic brake interposed between a fixed housing and a rotating member. The electromagnetic brake includes a multiplate brake mechanism, a ringlike core member fixed through an annular brake guide inside the fixed housing, an exciting coil accommodated in an annular groove formed on the core member, and a ringlike armature member arranged radially outside of the core member. Each of the core member and the armature member has a plurality of tapering surfaces. The tapering surfaces of the core member are respectively complementary in shape to the tapering surfaces of the armature member. The electromagnetic brake further includes a cylindrical pressure member movable in a direction of pressing the multiplate brake mechanism. The cylindrical pressure member has one end fixed to the armature member and another end engaged with the multiplate brake mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoichiro Yamamoto, Katsuhiro Kitamura, Rikiya Kunii, Keiichi Ooiso, Kenji Honda, Akihiro Iwazaki
  • Patent number: 7044879
    Abstract: An electromagnetic brake interposed between a fixed housing and a rotating member. The electromagnetic brake includes a multiplate brake mechanism, a ringlike core member fixed in the fixed housing, an annular exciting coil accommodated in an annular groove formed on the core member, and a ringlike armature member opposed to the annular groove of the core member and having an outer diameter larger than the outer diameter of the core member. The electromagnetic brake further includes an annular pressure plate axially and movably mounted on the fixed housing at one end portion of the multiplate brake mechanism adjacent to the core member, and a cylindrical pressure member provided so as to surround the outer circumferential surface of the core member and be movable in a direction of pressing the multiplate brake mechanism as being guided by the core member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akihiro Iwazaki, Rikiya Kunii
  • Patent number: 7002444
    Abstract: An electromagnetic coil assembly has a main coil having a first end and a second end, the main coil being wound without a bobbin, a first cover fitted over the main coil from the first end of the main coil, a second cover fitted over the main coil from the second end of the main coil and a molding resin covering the first and second covers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2006
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akihiro Iwazaki, Rikiya Kunii
  • Publication number: 20050115782
    Abstract: An electromagnetic brake interposed between a fixed housing and a rotating member. The electromagnetic brake includes a multiplate brake mechanism, a ringlike core member fixed in the fixed housing, an annular exciting coil accommodated in an annular groove formed on the core member, and a ringlike armature member opposed to the annular groove of the core member and having an outer diameter larger than the outer diameter of the core member. The electromagnetic brake further includes an annular pressure plate axially and movably mounted on the fixed housing at one end portion of the multiplate brake mechanism adjacent to the core member, and a cylindrical pressure member provided so as to surround the outer circumferential surface of the core member and be movable in a direction of pressing the multiplate brake mechanism as being guided by the core member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2005
    Publication date: June 2, 2005
    Applicant: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akihiro Iwazaki, Rikiya Kunii
  • Patent number: 6857982
    Abstract: A differential with a differential action limiting mechanism includes a differential mechanism D for distributing the drive force of an internal combustion engine inputted into a differential case 28 to a left-hand axle shaft 13 and a half shaft 11 which continuously connects to a right-hand axle shaft for output therefrom and friction clutches 44L, 44R for limiting differential rotations of the left-hand axle shaft 13 and the half shaft 11 relative to the differential case 28. An actuator A for generating an engagement force for bringing the friction clutches 44L, 44R into engagement is provided outside a housing 14 for accommodating therein the differential case 28, whereby an engagement force generated by the actuator A is transmitted to the friction clutches 44L, 44R via the half shaft 11.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2005
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tatsuhiro Tomari, Yutaka Tashiro, Akihiro Iwazaki, Koji Matsubara, Shinji Ohkuma, Shinichi Inagawa, Yasuji Shibahata
  • Patent number: 6854571
    Abstract: An electromagnetic brake interposed between a fixed housing and a rotating member. The electromagnetic brake includes a multiplate brake mechanism, a ringlike core member fixed in the fixed housing, an annular exciting coil accommodated in an annular groove formed on the core member, and a ringlike armature member opposed to the annular groove of the core member and having an outer diameter larger than the outer diameter of the core member. The electromagnetic brake further includes an annular pressure plate axially and movably mounted on the fixed housing at one end portion of the multiplate brake mechanism adjacent to the core member, and a cylindrical pressure member provided so as to surround the outer circumferential surface of the core member and be movable in a direction of pressing the multiplate brake mechanism as being guided by the core member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2005
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akihiro Iwazaki, Rikiya Kunii
  • Patent number: 6837821
    Abstract: The differential includes a differential casing configured to be rotatably driven by a motor under a driving force. The differential includes a differential mechanism which includes a pair of first and second side-gears for distributing a torque of the differential casing to first and second output shafts. The differential includes a frictional clutch for interconnecting the first and second output shafts. The frictional clutch includes first and second power-transmitting members connected to first and second output shafts respectively and first and second clutch plates. The first and second clutch plates are connected to the first and second power-transmitting members respectively. The differential includes an actuator for operating the frictional clutch. One output shaft of the first and second output shafts is axially displacable by the actuator under an engagement force to engage the frictional clutch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2005
    Assignees: Tochigi Fuji Sangyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masao Teraoka, Tatsuhiro Tomari, Akihiro Iwazaki, Koji Matsubara, Yutaka Tashiro
  • Publication number: 20040212473
    Abstract: An electromagnetic coil assembly has a main coil having a first end and a second end, the main coil being wound without a bobbin, a first cover fitted over the main coil from the first end of the main coil, a second cover fitted over the main coil from the second end of the main coil and a molding resin covering the first and second covers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2004
    Publication date: October 28, 2004
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Akihiro Iwazaki, Rikiya Kunii
  • Patent number: 6786314
    Abstract: A driving force distribution system selectively operates right and left electromagnetic clutches and, thereby assisting a vehicle in turning by transmitting torque from the inner turning wheel to the outer turning wheel. The right electromagnetic clutch includes an armature on the right side of a core housing a coil. The left electromagnetic clutch includes an armature on the left side of the core housing a coil. When the right electromagnetic clutch is engaged in order to assist the turning by transmitting torque from the right driven wheel to the left driven wheel when the vehicle is turning right, since the right electromagnetic clutch includes the armature on the right side of the core, the armature is urged leftward toward the core due to a centrifugal force caused by turning right to reduce an air gap, thereby enhancing the responsiveness of engagement of the right electromagnetic clutch as well as reducing the power consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tatsuhiro Tomari, Akihiro Iwazaki, Masakatsu Hori, Kazuhiro Wada
  • Patent number: 6761662
    Abstract: An electromagnetic coupling apparatus interposed between a fixed housing and a rotating member. The electromagnetic coupling apparatus includes a multiplate brake mechanism, a ringlike core member fixed in the housing, an annular exciting coil accommodated in an annular groove of the core member, and a ringlike armature member opposed to the annular groove of the core member. The armature member has an outer diameter larger than the outer diameter of the core member. The electromagnetic brake further includes a cylindrical pressure member having one end fixed to an outer circumferential portion of the armature member and the other end engaged with the multiplate brake mechanism. The cylindrical pressure member surrounds the core member so as to be movable in a direction of applying a pressure to the multiplate brake mechanism as being guided by the core member. The opposed portion between the core member and the armature member is formed by tapered end surfaces each having a predetermined tapered angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2004
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akihiro Iwazaki, Shin Aoki, Rikiya Kunii
  • Publication number: 20040040801
    Abstract: An electromagnetic brake interposed between a fixed housing and a rotating member. The electromagnetic brake includes a multiplate brake mechanism, a ringlike core member fixed through an annular brake guide inside the fixed housing, an exciting coil accommodated in an annular groove formed on the core member, and a ringlike armature member arranged radially outside of the core member. Each of the core member and the armature member has a plurality of tapering surfaces. The tapering surfaces of the core member are respectively complementary in shape to the tapering surfaces of the armature member. The electromagnetic brake further includes a cylindrical pressure member movable in a direction of pressing the multiplate brake mechanism. The cylindrical pressure member has one end fixed to the armature member and another end engaged with the multiplate brake mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2003
    Publication date: March 4, 2004
    Applicant: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Tokyo, Japan
    Inventors: Yoichiro Yamamoto, Katsuhiro Kitamura, Rikiya Kunii, Keiichi Ooiso, Kenji Honda, Akihiro Iwazaki
  • Patent number: 6672443
    Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide an electromagnetic friction connecting apparatus, which allows the easier operations associated with the installation of an exciting coil or a search coil in a core element. Input and output terminals having second horizontal parts extending in the vehicle inward direction and second vertical parts extending from the ends of the second horizontal parts into the radial outward direction are provided for the exciting coil and the search coil. Each end of the second vertical parts is situated radially inside a periphery surface of the exciting coil. Holes which allow the respective ends of the second vertical parts of the input and output terminals to face the outside are made on the core element and the housing. They are connected to the ends of the second vertical parts of the input and output terminals by inserting couplers into these holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akihiro Iwazaki, Rikiya Kunii, Kenji Honda
  • Patent number: 6668996
    Abstract: Two sensors are provided on a clutch core. Sensor coils are driven at a high frequency by a high-frequency driving circuit. As the sensors sense a magnetic flux of a magnetic circuit including the clutch core and an armature, the impedance of the sensor coils changes. In accordance with the outputs from the sensor coils at this point, an impedance detecting circuit detects the impedance of the sensor coils. Then, an impedance combining circuit combines the impedance of the sensor coils. On the basis of the combined impedance, a current control circuit controls a current supplied to an exciting coil. Thus, the attracting force of the armature to the core excited by the exciting coil is controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignees: Sony Precision Technology Inc., Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuo Nekado, Masaaki Kusumi, Ken Onoe, Akihiro Iwazaki, Koji Matsubara, Shinji Ohkuma, Tatsuhiro Tomari, Shinichi Inagawa
  • Publication number: 20030232683
    Abstract: The differential includes a differential casing configured to rotatably drive by a motor under a driving force. The differential includes a differential mechanism which includes a pair of first and second side-gears for distributing a torque of the differential casing to first and second output shafts. The differential includes a frictional clutch for interconnecting the first and second output shafts. The frictional clutch includes a first power-transmitting member connected to a first output shaft. The frictional clutch includes a second power-transmitting member connected to a second output shaft. The frictional clutch includes first and second clutch plates axially displacable to engage with each other. A first clutch plate is connected to the first power-transmitting member. A second clutch plate is connected to the second power-transmitting member. The differential includes an actuator for operating the frictional clutch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2003
    Publication date: December 18, 2003
    Applicants: TOCHIGI FUJI SANGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA, HONDA GIKEN KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masao Teraoka, Tatsuhiro Tomari, Akihiro Iwazaki, Koji Matsubara, Yutaka Tashiro
  • Patent number: 6640178
    Abstract: In a vehicle in which a torque generated in an engine is transmitted to driven wheels through a torque converter and an automatic transmission, when a speed ratio e in the torque converter is equal to or larger than a predetermined value (e.g., 0.85), and the accuracy of estimating a capacity &tgr; of the torque converter is low, an estimated engine torque Ti is multiplied by a torque ratio k of the torque converter to estimate a drive torque Td. When the speed ratio e in the torque converter is smaller than the predetermined value, and a response lag is produced in the transmission of the engine torque, a drive torque Td is estimated from an engine rotational sped Ne and the speed ratio e in the torque converter. During shifting of the automatic transmission, a drive torque Td is estimated from a wheel speed V. Thus, a correct drive torque can be estimated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Wakamatsu, Ryuji Asada, Akihiro Iwazaki, Shinji Okuma, Tatsuhiro Tomari, Masakatsu Hori
  • Patent number: 6637572
    Abstract: An electromagnetic clutch structure in a driving force distribution system selectively operates right and left electromagnetic clutches so as to transmit torque from the inner turning wheel to the outer turning wheel, thereby assisting turning, or so as to transmit torque from the outer turning wheel to the inner turning wheel, thereby stabilizing vehicle behavior. The right and left electromagnetic clutches each include a coil, a core housing the coils, armatures arranged so as to adjoin the core in the lateral direction, and frictional engagement members arranged on the inside, in the radial direction, of the core. The frictional engagement members are engaged by pressure of a pressure part of the armatures, the pressure part extending further inward in the radial direction than the core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tatsuhiro Tomari, Akihiro Iwazaki, Masakatsu Hori, Kazuhiro Wada
  • Publication number: 20030186773
    Abstract: An electromagnetic coupling apparatus interposed between a fixed housing and a rotating member. The electromagnetic coupling apparatus includes a multiplate brake mechanism, a ringlike core member fixed in the housing, an annular exciting coil accommodated in an annular groove of the core member, and a ring-like armature member opposed to the annular groove of the core member. The armature member has an outer diameter larger than the outer diameter of the core member. The electromagnetic brake further includes a cylindrical pressure member having one end fixed to an outer circumferential portion of the armature member and the other end engaged with the multiplate brake mechanism. The cylindrical pressure member surrounds the core member so as to be movable in a direction of applying a pressure to the multiplate brake mechanism as being guided by the core member. The opposed portion between the core member and the armature member is formed by tapered end surfaces each having a predetermined tapered angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2003
    Publication date: October 2, 2003
    Applicant: HONDA GIKEN KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Akihiro Iwazaki, Shin Aoki, Rikiya Kunii
  • Patent number: 6607061
    Abstract: The engagement force of an electromagnetic clutch can be precisely controlled at a target engagement force by a simple structure even when an air gap of the electromagnetic clutch varies. An electromagnetic clutch control system includes magnetic flux density sensors, a target engagement force calculating device, a target magnetic flux density calculating device, and a feedback control device. The target magnetic flux density calculating device calculates a target magnetic flux density &phgr;t based on a target engagement force Tt of electromagnetic clutches calculated by the target engagement force calculating device. The current supplied to the electromagnetic clutches is feedback controlled by the feedback control device so that an actual magnetic flux density &phgr; detected by the magnetic flux density sensors agrees with the target magnetic flux density &phgr;t.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2003
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masakatsu Hori, Ryuji Asada, Akihiro Iwazaki, Shinji Ohkuma, Tatsuhiro Tomari, Kiyoshi Wakamatsu
  • Patent number: 6597975
    Abstract: A vehicle co-operative control system is provided which suppresses the torque steer phenomenon by co-operatively controlling a driving force and/or braking force distribution device and an electric power steering device without changing the control device of the electric power steering device for a vehicle having a specification in which the co-operative control is not carried out or with the introduction of only a minimal change. The control device can also be applied to a vehicle having a specification in which the co-operative control is carried out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2003
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Shinmura, Hiromi Inagaki, Masakatsu Hori, Tatsuhiro Tomari, Shinji Ohkuma, Akihiro Iwazaki, Yasuji Shibahata
  • Publication number: 20030075395
    Abstract: An electromagnetic brake interposed between a fixed housing and a rotating member. The electromagnetic brake includes a multiplate brake mechanism, a ringlike core member fixed in the fixed housing, an annular exciting coil accommodated in an annular groove formed on the core member, and a ringlike armature member opposed to the annular groove of the core member and having an outer diameter larger than the outer diameter of the core member. The electromagnetic brake further includes an annular pressure plate axially and movably mounted on the fixed housing at one end portion of the multiplate brake mechanism adjacent to the core member, and a cylindrical pressure member provided so as to surround the outer circumferential surface of the core member and be movable in a direction of pressing the multiplate brake mechanism as being guided by the core member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2002
    Publication date: April 24, 2003
    Applicant: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akihiro Iwazaki, Rikiya Kunii