Patents by Inventor Akio Miguchi
Akio Miguchi 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).
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Patent number: 7988596Abstract: A vehicle includes a first detecting means for detecting an engine speed, a second detecting means for detecting a rotational speed of a rotating member, an engine speed changing means for changing the engine speed, and a control unit. The control unit is electrically connected to the first detecting means, the second detecting means, and the engine speed changing means and controls the engine speed changing means when the rotational speed of the rotating member detected by the second detecting means is lower than a set rotational speed previously set in a range from zero to a rotational speed of the rotating member during rotation of the engine in a range between a speed more than an idle rotational speed and a speed less than a predetermined maximum limit rotational speed.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 2008Date of Patent: August 2, 2011Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Akio Miguchi
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Patent number: 7980904Abstract: A jet-propulsion personal watercraft comprises a body including a hull and a deck, an engine mounted in the body, a driving power output changing system configured to be able to change a driving power output of the engine, a controller configured to control an operation of the driving power output changing system, and a pressure sensor configured to be able to detect a pressure which is applied to the body from the water on which the body is floating, the pressure having a component in a lateral direction of the body, wherein the controller includes a turning determiner configured to determine whether or not the body is turning, based on a signal received from the pressure sensor; and a driving power output control unit configured to control the driving power output changing system based on information received from the turning determiner.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 2008Date of Patent: July 19, 2011Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Akio Miguchi
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Patent number: 7980906Abstract: A personal watercraft comprises an engine which is mounted in a body of the watercraft and is equipped with an open-loop water cooling system; a coolant passage in which water for cooling the engine flows; a water flow generator configured to operate in association with the engine to generate a water flow in the coolant passage; and a valve unit configured to restrict a flow of the water in the coolant passage.Type: GrantFiled: December 29, 2008Date of Patent: July 19, 2011Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Atsufumi Ozaki, Yasuo Okada, Akio Miguchi, Hiroshi Yagii, Toshio Araki
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Publication number: 20100167607Abstract: A personal watercraft comprises an engine which is mounted in a body of the watercraft and is equipped with an open-loop water cooling system; a coolant passage in which water for cooling the engine flows; a water flow generator configured to operate in association with the engine to generate a water flow in the coolant passage; and a valve unit configured to restrict a flow of the water in the coolant passage.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 29, 2008Publication date: July 1, 2010Applicant: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Atsufumi Ozaki, Yasuo Okada, Akio Miguchi, Hiroshi Yagii, Toshio Araki
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Publication number: 20080293311Abstract: A jet-propulsion personal watercraft comprises a body including a hull and a deck, an engine mounted in the body, a driving power output changing system configured to be able to change a driving power output of the engine, a controller configured to control an operation of the driving power output changing system, and a pressure sensor configured to be able to detect a pressure which is applied to the body from the water on which the body is floating, the pressure having a component in a lateral direction of the body, wherein the controller includes a turning determiner configured to determine whether or not the body is turning, based on a signal received from the pressure sensor; and a driving power output control unit configured to control the driving power output changing system based on information received from the turning determiner.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 23, 2008Publication date: November 27, 2008Applicant: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Akio Miguchi
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Publication number: 20080280729Abstract: A vehicle according to the present invention includes a first detecting means for detecting an engine speed, a second detecting means for detecting a rotational speed of a rotating member, an engine speed changing means for changing the engine speed, and a control unit. The control unit is electrically connected to the first detecting means, the second detecting means, and the engine speed changing means and controls the engine speed changing means such that when the rotational speed of the rotating member detected by the second detecting means is lower than a set rotational speed previously set in a range from zero to a rotational speed of the rotating member during rotation of the engine in a range between a speed more than an idle rotational speed and a speed less than a predetermined maximum limit rotational speed.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 14, 2008Publication date: November 13, 2008Inventor: Akio Miguchi
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Patent number: 7093683Abstract: An all-terrain vehicle, which limits a speed of backward movement of the vehicle to a predetermined speed and which assures a necessary power output while limiting the backward speed, without a driver's taking any manual trouble to operate a switch to control an engine of the vehicle, even though a high load is exerted upon the vehicle. The all-terrain vehicle includes a vehicle speed sensor device, a backward movement positional sensor device, and an engine controller for limiting the engine speed of the vehicle when the backward movement positional sensor device detects that the vehicle is running backward and when the vehicle speed sensor device detects that the vehicle speed reaches a predetermined value, thereby limiting the speed of the vehicle running backward.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2003Date of Patent: August 22, 2006Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Akio Miguchi
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Patent number: 6904992Abstract: Disclosed is a four-wheel-drive all terrain vehicle capable of smoothly braking wheels in braking operation of rear wheels and having simplified structures of a drive force disconnecting device and a 2WD/4WD switching device. The drive force disconnecting device is provided in a power transmission path for front-wheel-drive, for engagement/disengagement between a cam shaft and an outer race by means of a torque transmission member such as rollers, to allow a driven-side rotary member such as the outer race to become free when a drive-side rotary member such as the cam shaft is braked during 4WD. The rollers are provided between a plurality of cam faces formed on the cam shaft and a cylindrical friction face formed on the outer race, and they are placed in a torque transmission state (4WD) in which the rollers are pressed between the cam faces and the cylindrical friction face or a torque transmission release state in which the rollers are not pressed between them.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2002Date of Patent: June 14, 2005Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Akio Miguchi
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Patent number: 6817263Abstract: Disclosed are a transmission lever unit for vehicle comprising: a single transmission lever for operating the transmission unit; a first lever member swingable around a first pivot and having a second pivot; and a second lever member integrally attached to a base end portion of the transmission lever and swingable around the second pivot orthogonal to the first pivot, the transmission lever unit being adapted to select a desired combination of gear trains of first and second systems of the transmission through independent connecting means of the first and second systems by an operation of the lever, wherein the first connecting means is adapted to operate by swing operation of the transmission lever around the first pivot, and the second connecting means is adapted to operate by swing operation of the transmission lever around the second pivot, and a mounting structure of a coil spring held by two members disposed such that at least part of the members are substantially parallel to each other, for elasticallyType: GrantFiled: April 11, 2002Date of Patent: November 16, 2004Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Akio Miguchi
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Patent number: 6715379Abstract: An all terrain vehicle comprising a V-belt continuously variable transmission and a gear-type transmission, being capable of transmitting drive torque from an engine with controlled engine braking but without loss of the torque, thereby giving a rider an improved driving feel. The V-belt continuously variable transmission and the gear-type transmission are placed in this order from upstream in a power transmission path from the engine to wheels. A one-way clutch for transmitting only the drive torque from the engine to the wheel and a torque limiter for transmitting the torque less than a predetermined value are arranged in parallel, between, e.g., a countershaft and forward intermediate gears fitted onto the countershaft.Type: GrantFiled: April 18, 2002Date of Patent: April 6, 2004Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Akio Miguchi, Yasutaka Kobayashi
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Publication number: 20040060758Abstract: An all-terrain vehicle, which limits a speed of backward movement of the vehicle to a predetermined speed and which assures a necessary power output while limiting the backward speed, without a driver's taking any manual trouble to operate a switch to control an engine of the vehicle, even though a high load is exerted upon the vehicle. The all-terrain vehicle includes a vehicle speed sensor device, a backward movement positional sensor device, and an engine controller for limiting the engine speed of the vehicle when the backward movement positional sensor device detects that the vehicle is running backward and when the vehicle speed sensor device detects that the vehicle speed reaches a predetermined value, thereby limiting the speed of the vehicle running backward.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 25, 2003Publication date: April 1, 2004Inventor: Akio Miguchi
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Publication number: 20020152838Abstract: Disclosed is an all terrain vehicle comprising a V-belt continuously variable transmission and a gear-type transmission, and capable of transmitting drive torque from an engine with controlled engine braking but without loss of the torque, thereby giving a rider an improved driving feel. The V-belt continuously variable transmission and the gear-type transmission are placed in this order from upstream in a power transmission path from the engine to wheels. A one-way clutch for transmitting only the drive torque from the engine to the wheel and a torque limiter for transmitting the torque less than a predetermined value are arranged in parallel, between, e.g., a countershaft and forward intermediate gears fitted onto the countershaft.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 18, 2002Publication date: October 24, 2002Inventors: Akio Miguchi, Yasutaka Kobayashi
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Publication number: 20020148319Abstract: Disclosed are a transmission lever unit for vehicle comprising: a single transmission lever for operating the transmission unit; a first lever member swingable around a first pivot and having a second pivot; and a second lever member integrally attached to a base end portion of the transmission lever and swingable around the second pivot orthogonal to the first pivot, the transmission lever unit being adapted to select a desired combination of gear trains of first and second systems of the transmission through independent connecting means of the first and second systems by an operation of the lever, wherein the first connecting means is adapted to operate by swing operation of the transmission lever around the first pivot, and the second connecting means is adapted to operate by swing operation of the transmission lever around the second pivot, and a mounting structure of a coil spring held by two members disposed such that at least part of the members are substantially parallel to each other, for elasticallyType: ApplicationFiled: April 11, 2002Publication date: October 17, 2002Inventor: Akio Miguchi
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Publication number: 20020139598Abstract: Disclosed is a four-wheel-drive all terrain vehicle capable of smoothly braking wheels in braking operation of rear wheels and having simplified structures of a drive force disconnecting device and a 2WD/4WD switching device. The drive force disconnecting device is provided in a power transmission path for front-wheel-drive, for engagement/disengagement between a cam shaft and an outer race by means of a torque transmission member such as rollers, to allow a driven-side rotary member such as the outer race to become free when a drive-side rotary member such as the cam shaft is braked during 4WD. The rollers are provided between a plurality of cam faces formed on the cam shaft and a cylindrical friction face formed on the outer race, and they are placed in a torque transmission state (4WD) in which the rollers are pressed between the cam faces and the cylindrical friction face or a torque transmission release state in which the rollers are not pressed between them.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 27, 2002Publication date: October 3, 2002Inventor: Akio Miguchi
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Patent number: 5697249Abstract: An engine 2, a reduction gear 3, and a clutch 4 detachably coupling a reducing input shaft 25 of the reduction gear 3 to an engine output shaft 24, are housed in and supported to a support and frame work 1. A reducing output shaft 26 of the reduction gear 3 is used for a power takeoff shaft of the drive unit, and an input shaft of a work machine is coupled the power takeoff shaft, so that the work machine is operated. A weight of the support and frame work 1 is made smaller than a total weight of the engine 2, the reduction gear 3 and the clutch 4 so as to decrease a weight of unit. Thus, an over-loading can be overcome easily by using a friction clutch for the clutch 4.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 1995Date of Patent: December 16, 1997Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Akio Miguchi
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Patent number: 4964378Abstract: A cooling device is provided for an engine having a cylinder head, a crankcase and a crankcase cover. The device includes a jacket formed in the crankcase for retaining therein a liquid cooling medium, and a plurality of fins is provided on the crankcase. A cooling fan is provided and an air leading cover is arranged to surround the fan, cylinder head, crankcase and at least a portion of the crankcase cover for leading air downwardly to the fins to cool the cylinder head, crankcase and crankcase cover.Type: GrantFiled: March 1, 1989Date of Patent: October 23, 1990Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Shinichi Tamba, Akio Miguchi
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Patent number: 4949807Abstract: Muffler apparatus including an elongated muffler which is connectable to an engine body via two exhaust pipes. The muffler includes a first expansion chamber which extends along the entire length of the muffler, and the two exhaust pipes are connected separately adjacent opposite ends, or in the vicinity of the ends, of the muffler on the side of the muffler at which the first expansion chamber is located.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 1988Date of Patent: August 21, 1990Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Makizo Hirata, Shinichi Tamba, Akio Miguchi
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Patent number: 4936263Abstract: An engine comprises a first cylinder and a second cylinder adapted to perform explosions at such timing that an interval from the explosion in the first cylinder to the explosion in the second cylinder is shorter than an interval from the explosion in the second cylinder to the explosion in first cylinder, an intake manifold having an intake passage, and branch passages communicating the intake passage with the first and the second cylinders.Type: GrantFiled: February 24, 1989Date of Patent: June 26, 1990Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Shinichi Tamba, Hitomi Miyake, Akio Miguchi, Yuichi Onaka
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Patent number: 4903485Abstract: A muffler cooling device for a V-type engine which includes an engine cooling fan disposed at an end of a crankshaft. An air guide plate is provided at a part of a duct through which air sucked by the cooling fan flows, and the duct has at least one opening through which the air flows as being guided by the air guide plate. The arrangement is such that the air having flown through the opening is led, through a space surrounded by a V-bank formed by cylinder heads and an intake manifold, to an area in which a muffler and exhaust pipes extending from the cylinder heads to the muffler are arranged.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 1988Date of Patent: February 27, 1990Assignee: Kawasaki Jukugyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Shinichi Tamba, Shigeru Nishimura, Akio Miguchi
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Patent number: 4898040Abstract: A power transmission apparatus has a first shaft and a second shaft which are supported by an aluminum housing, and an iron gear and a synthetic resin gear which are respectively mounted on the two shafts and are engaged with each other. The synthetic resin used for the synthetic resin gear contains an aromatic polyamide fiber.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 1988Date of Patent: February 6, 1990Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Shinichi Tamba, Takeshi Miyazaki, Akio Miguchi