Patents by Inventor Akira Tsubouchi

Akira Tsubouchi 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).

  • Publication number: 20120186085
    Abstract: To sufficiently secure the width dimension, strength and rigidity of the rack teeth 10, and to realize the light weight construction and the manufacturing method of the rack 8, the rack teeth 10 is formed by plastic working on one side surface in the radial direction of part in the axial direction of a rod unit 9 having a circular cross-sectional shape, and the curvature radius of the portion which is separated in the radial direction from the portion where the rack teeth 10 is formed, is made greater than that of the cross sectional shape of the outer surface of the axial remaining portion of the rod unit 9.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2012
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Applicant: NSK LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuto Kobayashi, Yuki Mizushima, Kotaro Hirota, Akira Tsubouchi
  • Publication number: 20110300334
    Abstract: The present fibrous structural article is a material in a plate-like shape and having multiple fibers adhered to one another, and fibers are oriented from one surface side toward the other surface side of the fibrous structural article, and the fibers are arranged in an annual ring centering on a virtual axis. The present production method of a fibrous structural article comprises a fiber supplying process for blowing and supplying first short fibers and second short fibers, into a forming mold in a hollow box shape and having a first bottom wall, sidewalls and second bottom wall, from a fiber supplying port formed through the first bottom wall, and a melting process for melting at least part of the second short fibers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2011
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Applicant: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Nobukazu UENO, Yasuhiro BEPPU, Akira TSUBOUCHI
  • Publication number: 20100162843
    Abstract: To sufficiently secure the width dimension, strength and rigidity of the rack teeth 10, and to realize the light weight construction and the manufacturing method of the rack 8, the rack teeth 10 is formed by plastic working on one side surface in the radial direction of part in the axial direction of a rod unit 9 having a circular cross-sectional shape, and the curvature radius of the portion which is separated in the radial direction from the portion where the rack teeth 10 is formed, is made greater than that of the cross sectional shape of the outer surface of the axial remaining portion of the rod unit 9.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Publication date: July 1, 2010
    Applicant: NSK LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuto Kobayashi, Yuki Mizushima, Kotaro Hirota, Akira Tsubouchi
  • Patent number: 7069764
    Abstract: A hollow rack shaft is manufactured through a first step, a second step and a third step. At the first step, the plate-like workpiece of substantial rectangular shape is press formed into a gutter-like shape. The first die set used at this step is provided with slant die surfaces for canceling elastic recovering generated at the workpiece when the workpiece is removed from the first die set. At the second step, a row of rack teeth is press-formed on the flat bottom portion of the workpiece formed in the first step. The die set used at the second step is provided with a recess for releasing surplus workpiece material within the die clearance at a stroke end of the pressworking. At the third step, each of a pair of legs of the workpiece is bent in a semi-circular shape so as to be butted to each other. At this time, a mandrel is inserted between the legs of the workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Tsubouchi, Kiyoshi Okubo, Yasushi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 6898853
    Abstract: A hollow rack shaft is manufactured through a first step, a second step and a third step. At the first step, the plate-like workpiece of substantial rectangular shape is press-formed into a gutter-like shape. At the second step, a row of rack teeth is press-formed by a preliminary forming step and a main forming step on the flat bottom portion of the workpiece formed in the first step. The die set used at the second step is provided with a recess for releasing surplus workpiece material within the die clearance at a stroke end of the pressworking and each die set is divided into a plurality of segments at the recess. At the third step, each of a pair of legs of the workpiece is bent in a semi-circular shape so as to be butted to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2005
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Tsubouchi, Kiyoshi Okubo, Yasushi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 6845560
    Abstract: Methods are provided for forming a hollow rack shaft from a workpiece comprising a rectangular plate. The workpiece is first bent into a gutter-like shape using a first die set. Rack teeth are then press-formed in a portion of the gutter-like shape using a second die set. The legs, or sides, of the workpiece are then bent around a mandrel into a semi-circular shape so as to butt against each other. Preferably, the die sets and mandrel may be adapted to improve the resulting hollow rack shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2005
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Tsubouchi, Kiyoshi Okubo, Yasushi Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20040170401
    Abstract: A hollow rack shaft is manufactured through a first step, a second step and a third step. At the first step, the plate-like workpiece of substantial rectangular shape is press formed into a gutter-like shape. The first die set used at this step is provided with slant die surfaces for canceling elastic recovering generated at the workpiece when the workpiece is removed from the first die set. At the second step, a row of rack teeth is press-formed on the flat bottom portion of the workpiece formed in the first step. The die set used at the second step is provided with a recess for releasing surplus workpiece material within the die clearance at a stroke end of the pressworking. At the third step, each of a pair of legs of the workpiece is bent in a semi-circular shape so as to be butted to each other. At this time, a mandrel is inserted between the legs of the workpiece.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2004
    Publication date: September 2, 2004
    Applicant: NSK LTD.
    Inventors: Akira Tsubouchi, Kiyoshi Okubo, Yasushi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 6782598
    Abstract: A workpiece for a hollow rack shaft is a substantially rectangular plate. The opposite two sides of this workpiece are respectively provided with a complementary profile composed of the continuation of a convex portion and a concave portion and when the workpiece is cylindrically formed, the profiles are mutually engaged. As the width of a part the width of which is the largest in the convex portion is larger than that of a part the width of which is the smallest in the concave portion, the two sides are prevented from being detached after engagement. Further, the opposite convex portion and concave portion are mutually caulked and hereby, mutual gap is removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Tsubouchi, Kiyoshi Okubo, Yasushi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 6782772
    Abstract: The object of the invention is to provide a rack shaft having two rack teeth groups and hollowed throughout the whole body, to lightweightize the shaft and to reduce the cost. The two rack teeth groups are located longitudinally apart from each other and have phase difference related to an angle around the axis of the shaft. After the two rack teeth groups are formed simultaneously or sequentially by die forming on the flat bottoms of the workpiece beforehand gutter-shaped, the legs of the gutter-shaped workpiece are bent to butt to each other and, thereby, a tubular body of the shaft is given to the workpiece. The centers of the material are offset beforehand corresponding to the phase difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Tsubouchi, Kiyoshi Okubo, Yasushi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 6779271
    Abstract: A hollow rack shaft is manufactured through a first step, a second step and a third step. At the first step, the plate-like workpiece of substantial rectangular shape is press formed into a gutter-like shape. The first die set used at this step is provided with slant die surfaces for canceling elastic recovering generated at the workpiece when the workpiece is removed from the first die set. At the second step, a row of rack teeth is press-formed on the flat bottom portion of the workpiece formed in the first step. The die set used at the second step is provided with a recess for releasing surplus workpiece material within the die clearance at a stroke end of the pressworking. At the third step, each of a pair of legs of the workpiece is bent in a semi-circular shape so as to be butted to each other. At this time, a mandrel is inserted between the legs of the workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2004
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Tsubouchi, Kiyoshi Okubo, Yasushi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 6763739
    Abstract: The object of the invention is to provide a rack shaft having two rack teeth groups and hollowed throughout the whole body, to lightweightize the shaft and to reduce the cost. The two rack teeth groups are located longitudinally apart from each other and have phase difference related to an angle around the axis of the shaft. After the two rack teeth groups are formed simultaneously or sequentially by die forming on the flat bottoms of the workpiece beforehand gutter-shaped, the legs of the gutter-shaped workpiece are bent to butt to each other and, thereby, a tubular body of the shaft is given to the workpiece. The centers of the material are offset beforehand corresponding to the phase difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Tsubouchi, Kiyoshi Okubo, Yasushi Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20030213321
    Abstract: The object of the invention is to provide a rack shaft having two rack teeth groups and hollowed throughout the whole body, to lightweightize the shaft and to reduce the cost. The two rack teeth groups are located longitudinally apart from each other and have phase difference related to an angle around the axis of the shaft. After the two rack teeth groups are formed simultaneously or sequentially by die forming on the flat bottoms of the workpiece beforehand gutter-shaped, the legs of the gutter-shaped workpiece are bent to butt to each other and, thereby, a tubular body of the shaft is given to the workpiece. The centers of the material are offset beforehand corresponding to the phase difference.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2003
    Publication date: November 20, 2003
    Applicant: NSK Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Tsubouchi, Kiyoshi Okubo, Yasushi Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20030209100
    Abstract: A workpiece for a hollow rack shaft is a substantially rectangular plate. The opposite two sides of this workpiece are respectively provided with a complementary profile composed of the continuation of a convex portion and a concave portion and when the workpiece is cylindrically formed, the profiles are mutually engaged. As the width of a part the width of which is the largest in the convex portion is larger than that of a part the width of which is the smallest in the concave portion, the two sides are prevented from being detached after engagement. Further, the opposite convex portion and concave portion are mutually caulked and hereby, mutual gap is removed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2003
    Publication date: November 13, 2003
    Applicant: NSK Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Tsubouchi, Kiyoshi Okubo, Yasushi Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20030196469
    Abstract: A hollow rack shaft is manufactured through a first step, a second step and a third step. At the first step, the plate-like workpiece of substantial rectangular shape is press formed into a gutter-like shape. The first die set used at this step is provided with slant die surfaces for canceling elastic recovering generated at the workpiece when the workpiece is removed from the first die set. At the second step, a row of rack teeth is press-formed on the flat bottom portion of the workpiece formed in the first step. The die set used at the second step is provided with a recess for releasing surplus workpiece material within the die clearance at a stroke end of the pressworking. At the third step, each of a pair of legs of the workpiece is bent in a semi-circular shape so as to be butted to each other. At this time, a mandrel is inserted between the legs of the workpiece.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2002
    Publication date: October 23, 2003
    Applicant: NSK LTD.
    Inventors: Akira Tsubouchi, Kiyoshi Okubo, Yasushi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 6588293
    Abstract: A hollow rack shaft is produced by forming a plate work piece and has continuous metal flow along the contour of rack teeth surface without being cut. A series of wave-like concave-convex sections is formed on the inner surface of the shaft. Thickness of tooth body and tooth bottom of the rack teeth is adjusted by dimensions of the unevenness. Thereby, stress concentration at each point of the rack shaft is prevented and the shaft is strengthened and its weight reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Tsubouchi, Kiyoshi Okubo, Yasushi Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20030079516
    Abstract: A hollow rack shaft is manufactured through a first step, a second step and a third step. At the first step, the plate-like workpiece of substantial rectangular shape is press formed into a gutter-like shape. The first die set used at this step is provided with slant die surfaces for canceling elastic recovering generated at the workpiece when the workpiece is removed from the first die set. At the second step, a row of rack teeth is press-formed on the flat bottom portion of the workpiece formed in the first step. The die set used at the second step is provided with a recess for releasing surplus workpiece material within the die clearance at a stroke end of the pressworking. At the third step, each of a pair of legs of the workpiece is bent in a semi-circular shape so as to be butted to each other. At this time, a mandrel is inserted between the legs of the workpiece.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2002
    Publication date: May 1, 2003
    Applicant: NSK LTD.
    Inventors: Akira Tsubouchi, Kiyoshi Okubo, Yasushi Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20030079517
    Abstract: A hollow rack shaft is manufactured through a first step, a second step and a third step. At the first step, the plate-like workpiece of substantial rectangular shape is press formed into a gutter-like shape. The first die set used at this step is provided with slant die surfaces for canceling elastic recovering generated at the workpiece when the workpiece is removed from the first die set. At the second step, a row of rack teeth is press-formed on the flat bottom portion of the workpiece formed in the first step. The die set used at the second step is provided with a recess for releasing surplus workpiece material within the die clearance at a stroke end of the pressworking. At the third step, each of a pair of legs of the workpiece is bent in a semi-circular shape so as to be butted to each other. At this time, a mandrel is inserted between the legs of the workpiece.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2002
    Publication date: May 1, 2003
    Applicant: NSK LTD.
    Inventors: Akira Tsubouchi, Kiyoshi Okubo, Yasushi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 6442992
    Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a hollow rack shaft, an approximately rectangular plate having a wide rack tooth portion, is bent lengthwise into a gutter-like cross section to provide: at the central portion, a flat bottom portion on which rack teeth are formed later and a pair of mutually facing leg portions, and, in the vicinity of both ends, a semicircular bottom portion and a pair of mutually facing leg portions. The mutually facing leg portions at the central portion have a larger clearance than the clearance of the mutually facing leg portions in the vicinity of both ends. The rack teeth are then formed on the flat bottom portion through the plastic flow of the flat bottom portion and a part of material of the pair of leg portions of this flat bottom portion. The gutter-shaped plate, on which the rack teeth have been formed, is then formed into a tube having a hollow inner surface, by bending the plate and butt joining the edge portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Tsubouchi, Kiyoshi Okubo, Yasushi Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20020073793
    Abstract: The object of the invention is to provide a rack shaft having two rack teeth groups and hollowed throughout the whole body, to lightweightize the shaft and to reduce the cost. The two rack teeth groups are located longitudinally apart from each other and have phase difference related to an angle around the axis of the shaft. After the two rack teeth groups are formed simultaneously or sequentially by die forming on the flat bottoms of the workpiece beforehand gutter-shaped, the legs of the gutter-shaped workpiece are bent to butt to each other and, thereby, a tubular body of the shaft is given to the workpiece. The centers of the material are offset beforehand corresponding to the phase difference.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2001
    Publication date: June 20, 2002
    Applicant: NSK LTD.
    Inventors: Akira Tsubouchi, Kiyoshi Okubo, Yasushi Watanabe
  • Patent number: RE39647
    Abstract: The disk has a traction surface having a concave-arc-shaped cross section which is interposed between a small diameter end portion and a large diameter end portion. In the central portion of the end face of the disk on the small diameter end portion side, there is formed a through hole which extends through the disk up to the large diameter end portion side end face of the disk, while the inner peripheral surface of the through hole is used as an inside diameter surface of the disk. Here, when, among metal flows existing in the disk, a metal flow, which has such a positional relationship with respect to the surface of the disk that an angle ? formed between a metal flow on the traction surface side and the tangent of the traction surface is smaller than or equal to 30 degrees, is defined as a “metal flow along the disk surface”, the disk is structured such that the “metal flow along the disk surface” exists at least in the traction surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2007
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Okubo, Akira Tsubouchi, Takashi Imanishi, Nobuo Gotou