Patents by Inventor Akio Handa

Akio Handa 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: 6786293
    Abstract: A two-wheel-drive/four-wheel-drive switching system for a vehicle wherein a switching mechanism is securely fixed and functions of the switching mechanism can be secured, preventing noise from being made. An outside flange is provided to an electromagnetic coil forming a switching mechanism for switching two wheel drive and four wheel drive. A fitting section having a difference in a level to which the outside flange touches is formed in a casing in which the switching mechanism is installed. A fitting groove is formed on the inside face at an interval equal to or larger than the thickness of the outside flange from the fitting section. A circlip opposite to the outside flange is inserted into the circular groove and the outside flange is pressed on the fitting section by inserting a circular elastic member between the circlip and the outside flange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Akio Handa
  • Patent number: 6769505
    Abstract: A two/four-wheel drive switching device capable of avoiding interference with other components as far as possible at the time of installation of the device. All portions of a two/four-wheel drive switching device which portions are connected to a final reduction unit for front wheels are positioned below an upper surface of the device body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2004
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Akio Handa
  • Patent number: 6758297
    Abstract: A two-wheel-drive/four-wheel-drive switching system for a vehicle wherein noise is reduced and a state of drive can be securely indicated. A two-wheel-drive/four-wheel-drive switching system for a vehicle is provided with a switching unit provided to either of power transmission mechanisms connecting an engine and front wheels, and the engine and rear wheels via final reduction gear units for enabling or disabling the transmission of power in the power transmission mechanism. An indication control member is provided for detecting that the transmission of power is made in the power transmission mechanism and illuminates an indicator wherein the indication control means detects a phase difference in revolutions between a pair of final reduction gear units and illuminates or turns off the indicator when the phase difference is in a predetermined range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2004
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akio Handa, Hiroaki Tomita, Shinji Goto, Akio Senda
  • Publication number: 20040097321
    Abstract: To provide a vehicular two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive switching system the configuration of which is simple and which can be built with minor changes to the existing configuration. The switching system hardly generates any noise and can be individually lubricated in a state separated from the other actuating parts. A vehicular two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive switching system according to the present invention is provided with an outer ring connected to a driving shaft and an inner ring connected to a driven shaft. A plurality of engaging/disengaging members are provided for connecting or disconnecting the shafts by being connected or disconnected to/from the respective opposite surfaces. A switching mechanism is provided for selectively positioning the drive shaft and the driven shaft in a position in which they are connected and in a position in which they are disconnected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2003
    Publication date: May 20, 2004
    Applicant: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akio Handa, Noriaki Takano, Bunzo Seki
  • Patent number: 6698563
    Abstract: To provide a vehicular two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive switching system the configuration of which is simple and which can be built with minor changes to the existing configuration. The switching system hardly generates any noise and can be individually lubricated in a state separated from the other actuating parts. A vehicular two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive switching system according to the present invention is provided with an outer ring connected to a driving shaft and an inner ring connected to a driven shaft. A plurality of engaging/disengaging members are provided for connecting or disconnecting the shafts by being connected or disconnected to/from the respective opposite surfaces. A switching mechanism is provided for selectively positioning the drive shaft and the driven shaft in a position in which they are connected and in a position in which they are disconnected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akio Handa, Noriaki Takano, Bunzo Seki
  • Patent number: 6695329
    Abstract: A saddle type vehicle for attaining an appropriate weight distribution and a low centroid position. Suspension mechanisms are each composed of an upper arm and lower arms, the upper and lower arms being disposed in vertically spaced positions. A shock absorber is interposed between the upper arm and a body frame. A stabilizer is disposed between both suspension mechanisms. A lower end of the shock absorber is pivotably connected to the front-side lower arm, while an upper end of the shock absorber is pivotably connected to an inside position in the vehicular transverse direction of the body frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Akio Handa
  • Patent number: 6679348
    Abstract: A vehicular two-wheel/four-wheel drive switching device for selectively transmitting power or disconnecting the transmission of rotary power to a power transmission system having a driving shaft connected to the drive side and a driven shaft fitted to the driving shaft via respective inner and outer rings having an annular clearance therebetween. Plural connecting/disconnecting members provided in the clearance between the inner and outer rings for connecting or disconnecting the driving shaft and the driven shaft are fitted or disconnected to/from respective opposite surfaces in response to a switching mechanism for selectively positioning the connecting/disconnecting members in a position in which the driving shaft and the driven shaft are connected and in a position in which they are disconnected. A casing encloses the switching device, and an oil seal is provided in two locations at an interval in the longitudinal direction of the driven shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignees: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Akio Handa, Noriaki Takano, Bunzo Seki
  • Publication number: 20030234130
    Abstract: A two-wheel-drive/four-wheel-drive switching system for a vehicle wherein noise is reduced and a state of drive can be securely indicated. A two-wheel-drive/four-wheel-drive switching system for a vehicle is provided with a switching unit provided to either of power transmission mechanisms connecting an engine and front wheels, and the engine and rear wheels via final reduction gear units for enabling or disabling the transmission of power in the power transmission mechanism. An indication control member is provided for detecting that the transmission of power is made in the power transmission mechanism and illuminates an indicator wherein the indication control means detects a phase difference in revolutions between a pair of final reduction gear units and illuminates or turns off the indicator when the phase difference is in a predetermined range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2002
    Publication date: December 25, 2003
    Inventors: Akio Handa, Hiroaki Tomita, Shinji Goto, Akio Senda
  • Patent number: 6659256
    Abstract: A two-wheel and four-wheel driving change-over device for a vehicle is provided. A change-over unit intermittently performs power transmission for the power transmission mechanism. The change-over unit includes a driving shaft connected to a driving side, a driven shaft fitted to the driving shaft with an annular clearance therebetween. A plurality of engaging or disengaging members installed in a clearance between the driving shaft and driven shaft are engaged with or disengaged from the opposing surfaces for performing a connecting operation and a disconnecting operation between the driving shaft and driven shaft. A change-over mechanism is provided for selectively positioning the engaging or disengaging members between a position where the driving shaft and driven shaft are connected and a position where the driving shaft and driven shaft are disconnected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Bunzo Seki, Akio Handa, Hiroaki Tomita
  • Publication number: 20030213634
    Abstract: A two-wheel-drive/four-wheel-drive switching system for a vehicle wherein a switching mechanism is securely fixed and functions of the switching mechanism can be secured, preventing noise from being made. An outside flange is provided to an electromagnetic coil forming a switching mechanism for switching two wheel drive and four wheel drive. A fitting section having a difference in a level to which the outside flange touches is formed in a casing in which the switching mechanism is installed. A fitting groove is formed on the inside face at an interval equal to or larger than the thickness of the outside flange from the fitting section. A cisclip opposite to the outside flange is inserted into the circular groove and the outside flange is pressed on the fitting section by inserting a circular elastic member between the cisclip and the outside flange.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2002
    Publication date: November 20, 2003
    Inventor: Akio Handa
  • Publication number: 20030209378
    Abstract: A two-wheel drive/four-wheel drive switching system provided with an electromagnetic coil for connecting or disconnecting a driving shaft and a driven shaft. The accessories connected to the electromagnetic coil of the switching system are provided. The accessories are installed in space formed by faces passing a side edge of a final reduction gear unit, an edge on the side of a switching unit of the final reduction gear unit, an edge on the drive side of the switching unit, and an upper edge of the switching unit. The resulting configuration facilitates the assembly of the accessories connected to the electromagnetic coil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2002
    Publication date: November 13, 2003
    Inventor: Akio Handa
  • Patent number: 6644756
    Abstract: A large-diameter part, the diameter of which is larger than the diameter in the center, is provided at the edges of a rim via parts having a difference in a level. Curled parts are provided on both edges of the rim by curling the large-diameter part. Each end face of the curled parts is touched to the parts having a difference in a level. The rigidity of the side of the edge of the rim can be enhanced by providing the parts having a difference in a level to the rim. As a result, the rigidity of the whole wheel can be enhanced and in addition, as a disc and the rim are not required to be thickened, the weight of the wheel can be prevented from being increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akio Handa, Hideo Yanai, Bunzo Seki, Atsuko Yamaguchi
  • Publication number: 20030101848
    Abstract: A limited-slip differential includes a differential case having a two-piece structure formed by a cup-shaped case body and an end cap attached to an open end of the cup-shaped case body. The limited-slip differential having such two-piece differential case has a small number of parts, is easy to assemble and can be manufactured efficiently at a low cost, as compared to a conventional limited-slip differential having a three-piece differential case.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2002
    Publication date: June 5, 2003
    Applicant: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akio Handa, Akio Senda, Satoru Noguchi, Hideaki Ina, Takayuki Shinmura
  • Publication number: 20030033874
    Abstract: A vehicle speed sensor mounting structure of a vehicle for supporting a vehicle speed sensor. The structure includes a vehicle body for suspending an engine. The engine output is transmitted through a final reduction gear to wheels via an axle. A vehicle speed sensor is mounted on the final reduction gear for detecting rotational speed of a final gear of the final reduction gear, thereby detecting the vehicle speed. The vehicle speed sensor is disposed higher than the center of the axle and near to the outside of the vehicle (vehicle front part) with respect to the center of the axle. With this configuration, flexibility in the mounting of a vehicle speed sensor can be increased and a separate member for protecting the vehicle speed sensor can be omitted. Thus, the number of parts required in the mounting structure can be reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2002
    Publication date: February 20, 2003
    Inventors: Akio Handa, Hiroaki Iguchi
  • Patent number: 6521851
    Abstract: A brake lever conjunctive switch is provided which is capable of making the operating timings of a pair of switches different while minimizing changes in the shape of a switch box. The brake lever conjunctive switch includes a switch box to which a brake lever is pivotally attached. A pair of switches are mounted in the switch box. The switches are disposed in parallel along the axial direction of pivoting of the brake lever. The brake lever is provided with a first contact member for operating one of the switches when the brake lever is turned by a predetermined angle. The brake lever is further provided with a second contact member located on the pivot shaft of the brake lever for operating the other of the switches by being oscillated by the brake lever when the brake lever is pivoted by not less than the predetermined angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2003
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akio Handa, Hitoshi Furuhashi, Katsumi Ebara
  • Patent number: 6517165
    Abstract: Each aluminum alloy wheel includes a rim and a disc, and is attached to a hub of an axle by engaging bolt holes on the disc with bolts provided on the hub, and by screwing nuts into the bolts. The disc is made of a single plate, and nut seats are formed around the bolt holes and have a work hardened layer formed thereon. The disc is made of a reduced number of components compared with a wheel of the related art, and does not require any fastening member. Furthermore, no separate nut seats are necessary. This is effective in reducing the number of components and manufacturing cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Akio Handa
  • Patent number: 6467565
    Abstract: A joint is sub-assembled on a front wheel propeller shaft side of a vehicle by integrally fitting one end of the joint to one end of the front wheel propeller shaft and covering the connection portion with a boot. This arrangement provides a shaft drive mechanism capable of easily assembling a propeller shaft with a pinion gear via a joint. The leading end side of the joint is fitted on a small-diameter boss of a pinion gear supported by a front wheel gear case. The joint is spline-connected so that it is integrally rotatably connected to the boss of the pinion gear. A C-shaped clip previously mounted on the small-diameter boss is engaged on the joint side in order to prevent the spline of the joint from slipping off from the spline of the pinion gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2002
    Assignee: Honda Giken Gokyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akio Handa, Bunzo Seki
  • Publication number: 20020112553
    Abstract: To provide a vehicular two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive switching system the configuration of which is simple and which can be built with minor changes to the existing configuration. The switching system hardly generates any noise and can be individually lubricated in a state separated from the other actuating parts. A vehicular two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive switching system according to the present invention is provided with an outer ring connected to a driving shaft and an inner ring connected to a driven shaft. A plurality of engaging/disengaging members are provided for connecting or disconnecting the shafts by being connected or disconnected to/from the respective opposite surfaces. A switching mechanism is provided for selectively positioning the drive shaft and the driven shaft in a position in which they are connected and in a position in which they are disconnected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2002
    Publication date: August 22, 2002
    Inventors: Akio Handa, Noriaki Takano, Bunzo Seki
  • Patent number: 6431569
    Abstract: To enlarge the up and down stroke of a front wheel without changing the layout of a steering shaft and a tie rod. An upper arm and a lower arm are arranged in an upward and downward manner, respectively. The upper and lower arms are pivotably attached to a vehicle body and respective outer end portions thereof are connected by a knuckle. The upper arm constitutes substantially a triangular shape and is provided with a front pipe, a rear pipe and a vehicle body attaching portion. Furthermore, a joint pipe is provided with a ring-like portion and a ball joint is attached thereto. A rear end portion of the vehicle body attaching portion, an escape portion in the vicinity thereof and an attaching center of a cushion attaching portion provided on the joint pipe, are respectively arranged forward from a joint center line passing through center of the ball joint and orthogonal to a vehicle body center line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2002
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Akio Handa
  • Publication number: 20020100629
    Abstract: A vehicular two-wheel/four-wheel drive switching device for selectively transmitting power or disconnecting the transmission of rotary power to a power transmission system having a driving shaft connected to the drive side and a driven shaft fitted to the driving shaft via respective inner and outer rings having an annular clearance therebetween. Plural connecting/disconnecting members provided in the clearance between the inner and outer rings for connecting or disconnecting the driving shaft and the driven shaft are fitted or disconnected to/from respective opposite surfaces in response to a switching mechanism for selectively positioning the connecting/disconnecting members in a position in which the driving shaft and the driven shaft are connected and in a position in which they are disconnected. A casing encloses the switching device, and an oil seal is provided in two locations at an interval in the longitudinal direction of the driven shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2002
    Publication date: August 1, 2002
    Applicant: HONDA GIKEN KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA, NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akio Handa, Noriaki Takano, Bunzo Seki