Patents by Inventor Akiyuki Yonekawa

Akiyuki Yonekawa 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: 20080035086
    Abstract: A lift-variable valve-operating system for an internal combustion engine, comprising: subsidiary cams which are swingably supported on a movable support shaft capable of being displaced within a plane perpendicular to a rotational axis of a valve-operating cam, and which are swung following the valve-operating cam; and rocker arms each operatively connected to an engine valve and operated following the subsidiary cams, operating characteristics including a lift amount of the engine valve being changed by displacing the movable support shaft, wherein the system further includes a control arm carried in an engine body to be capable of turning about a turning axis parallel to a rotational axis of the valve-operating cam, wherein the movable support shaft having an axis parallel to the turning axis of the control arm is retained on the control arm at a location offset from the turning axis, wherein a hydraulic tappet is mounted in the control arm to support one end of each of the rocker arms, and wherein a valve
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2007
    Publication date: February 14, 2008
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masahiko Tashiro, Akiyuki Yonekawa
  • Patent number: 7318018
    Abstract: A control system which is capable of compensating for and suppressing the influence of a periodic disturbance on a controlled object more quickly, even when the controlled object is subjected to the periodic disturbance the amplitude of which periodically changes, thereby enhancing the stability and the accuracy of control. The control system includes an ECU. The ECU calculates disturbance compensation values for compensating for a periodic disturbance by searching maps and tables, in timing of generation of each pulse of a CRK signal. The ECU calculates control inputs at a predetermined control period, with predetermined control algorithms, according to the disturbance compensation values read in at the control period, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2008
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuji Yasui, Mitsunobu Saito, Tadaharu Shoji, Akiyuki Yonekawa
  • Publication number: 20070289565
    Abstract: An engine valve operating system is provided in which a rocker arm (63) linked and connected to an engine valve (19) and has a cam-abutting portion (65) to abut a valve operating cam (69) is turnably connected, via first and second connecting shafts (64, 66), to one end of a first link arm (61) turnably supported on an engine body (10) and one end of a second link arm (62) turnably supported by a displaceable movable shaft (68a). Also, oil supply means (58) which supply oil to the upper connecting shaft (64) of first and second connecting shafts (64, 66) are fixed to the engine body (10). This makes it possible to implement an engine valve operating system which is compact in size, ensures follow-up ability of the valve opening/closing operation, has a simple lubricating structure with a reduced number of parts, and ensures smooth valve operation while allowing the lift amount of the engine valve to be varied continuously.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2005
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Noriaki Fujii, Katsunori Nakamura, Akiyuki Yonekawa
  • Patent number: 7295912
    Abstract: An intake air amount control system for an internal combustion engine, which controls respective amounts of intake air drawn into four cylinders #1 to #4, independently of each other, by variable inter-intake cam phase mechanisms 80, identifies intake air amount variation coefficients ?#i, based on a model [equation (43)] defining a relationship between an estimated value Gth_est of a TH passing intake air amount and a plurality of simulation values Gcyl_OS#i, such that the estimated value Gth_est becomes equal to the TH passing intake air amount, calculates a target inter-intake cam phase ?ssi#i_cmd, on a cylinder-by-cylinder basis, according to the identified intake air amount variation coefficients ?#i (step 81), and calculates control input DUTY_ssi#2 to #4 to the variable inter-intake cam phase mechanisms 80 according to the target inter-intake cam phases ?ssi#i_cmd (step 75).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuji Yasui, Akiyuki Yonekawa
  • Publication number: 20070245986
    Abstract: In an engine having a cylinder head which forms a portion of an engine body and is provided with an intake valve operated for opening and closing operations by an intake valve operating device having an intake camshaft and an exhaust valve driven for opening and closing operations by an exhaust valve operating device having an exhaust camshaft, the intake camshaft (30) is placed higher in position than the exhaust camshaft (35) by increasing the distance between the intake camshaft (30) and a combustion chamber (17) along a cylinder axis (C) of the engine body (11) relative to that between the exhaust camshaft (35) and the combustion chamber (17). Lubricating oil is thereby enabled to be easily used for exhaust valve operating device after being used for lubrication and cooling of the intake valve operating device, thus achieving efficient lubrication and cooling of the exhaust valve operating device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2005
    Publication date: October 25, 2007
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Noriaki Fujii, Katsunori Nakamura, Akiyuki Yonekawa
  • Publication number: 20070240655
    Abstract: A lift-variable valve-operating system for an internal combustion engine, comprising: subsidiary cams which are swingably supported on a movable support shaft capable of being displaced within a plane perpendicular to a rotational axis of a valve-operating cam, and which are swung following the valve-operating cam; and rocker arms each operatively connected to an engine valve and operated following the subsidiary cams, operating characteristics including a lift amount of the engine valve being changed by displacing the movable support shaft, wherein the system further includes a control arm carried in an engine body to be capable of turning about a turning axis parallel to a rotational axis of the valve-operating cam, wherein the movable support shaft having an axis parallel to the turning axis of the control arm is retained on the control arm at a location offset from the turning axis, wherein a hydraulic tappet is mounted in the control arm to support one end of each of the rocker arms, and wherein a valve
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2007
    Publication date: October 18, 2007
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masahiko Tashiro, Akiyuki Yonekawa
  • Publication number: 20070240654
    Abstract: A lift-variable valve-operating system for an internal combustion engine, comprising: subsidiary cams which are swingably supported on a movable support shaft capable of being displaced within a plane perpendicular to a rotational axis of a valve-operating cam, and which are swung following the valve-operating cam; and rocker arms each operatively connected to an engine valve and operated following the subsidiary cams, operating characteristics including a lift amount of the engine valve being changed by displacing the movable support shaft, wherein the system further includes a control arm carried in an engine body to be capable of turning about a turning axis parallel to a rotational axis of the valve-operating cam, wherein the movable support shaft having an axis parallel to the turning axis of the control arm is retained on the control arm at a location offset from the turning axis, wherein a hydraulic tappet is mounted in the control arm to support one end of each of the rocker arms, and wherein a valve
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2007
    Publication date: October 18, 2007
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masahiko Tashiro, Akiyuki Yonekawa
  • Publication number: 20070144471
    Abstract: First and second connecting portions 61a and 62a are arranged in parallel and relatively turnably connected to a rocker arm 36 and a movable support portion 62b of a second link arm 62 is placed nearer to an engine valve 19 than a fixed support portion 61b of a first link arm 61. This makes it possible to decrease the size of a valve operating system and ensure the follow-up ability of the opening/closing operation as well as to vary a lift amount of the engine valve continuously while maintaining the reliability and durability of drive means.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2004
    Publication date: June 28, 2007
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO.,
    Inventors: Noriaki Fujii, Akiyuki Yonekawa, Katsunori Nakamura, Kazunari Kaneshima, Yousuke Kohara, Tomoya Fujimoto, Ryou Horiuchi, Keiko Yoshida
  • Publication number: 20070129875
    Abstract: A control system which is capable of compensating for and suppressing the influence of a periodic disturbance on a controlled object more quickly, even when the controlled object is subjected to the periodic disturbance the amplitude of which periodically changes, thereby enhancing the stability and the accuracy of control. The control system includes an ECU. The ECU calculates disturbance compensation values for compensating for a periodic disturbance by searching maps and tables, in timing of generation of each pulse of a CRK signal. The ECU calculates control inputs at a predetermined control period, with predetermined control algorithms, according to the disturbance compensation values read in at the control period, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2007
    Publication date: June 7, 2007
    Inventors: Yuji Yasui, Mitsunobu Saito, Tadaharu Shoji, Akiyuki Yonekawa
  • Patent number: 7191589
    Abstract: A control system for an internal combustion engine, which is capable of reducing exhaust emissions during and after the start of the engine. A control system is capable of changing the valve-closing timing of intake valves relative to the valve-opening timing thereof as desired using a variable intake valve actuation assembly. The control system includes an ECU. The ECU sets a target auxiliary intake cam phase to a start value that sets the valve-closing timing of the intake valves to retarded-closing timing, during starting of the engine, and to a catalyst warmup value that sets the same to timing closer to timing in the Otto cycle operation, during catalyst warmup control after the start of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuji Yasui, Akiyuki Yonekawa
  • Patent number: 7188020
    Abstract: A control system which is capable of compensating for and suppressing the influence of a periodic disturbance on a controlled object more quickly, even when the controlled object is subjected to the periodic disturbance the amplitude of which periodically changes, thereby enhancing the stability and the accuracy of control. The control system includes an ECU. The ECU calculates disturbance compensation values for compensating for a periodic disturbance by searching maps and tables, in timing of generation of each pulse of a CRK signal. The ECU calculates control inputs at a predetermined control period, with predetermined control algorithms, according to the disturbance compensation values read in at the control period, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuji Yasui, Mitsunobu Saito, Tadaharu Shoji, Akiyuki Yonekawa
  • Publication number: 20070034183
    Abstract: A lift-variable valve-operating system for an internal combustion engine, comprising: subsidiary cams which are swingably supported on a movable support shaft capable of being displaced within a plane perpendicular to a rotational axis of a valve-operating cam, and which are swung following the valve-operating cam; and rocker arms each operatively connected to an engine valve and operated following the subsidiary cams, operating characteristics including a lift amount of the engine valve being changed by displacing the movable support shaft, wherein the system further includes a control arm carried in an engine body to be capable of turning about a turning axis parallel to a rotational axis of the valve-operating cam, wherein the movable support shaft having an axis parallel to the turning axis of the control arm is retained on the control arm at a location offset from the turning axis, wherein a hydraulic tappet is mounted in the control arm to support one end of each of the rocker arms, and wherein a valve
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2006
    Publication date: February 15, 2007
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masahiko Tashiro, Akiyuki Yonekawa
  • Publication number: 20070028875
    Abstract: An engine valve operating system is provided that includes a variable valve lift mechanism in which, when there is a possibility that the rotational speed of the engine might increase beyond an allowed rotational speed due to a downshift error in a manual transmission, etc., the amount of valve lift is decreased without changing the opening angle of the valve (19). By so doing, the curvature at the top of the curve of lift of the valve (19) is reduced, the inertial force applied to the valve (19) is reduced, and improper movement of the valve (19) can be prevented. Moreover, it is possible to prevent any increase in the intake air volume due to a decrease in the amount of lift of the valve (19), and prevent the effectiveness of engine braking from being degraded, thus enabling the rotational speed of the engine to be decreased and thereby preventing improper movement of the valve (19) from being promoted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2004
    Publication date: February 8, 2007
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Noriaki Fujii, Akiyuki Yonekawa, Katsunori Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20070006833
    Abstract: In an engine in which a lift amount of a valve can be changed continuously, an engine valve operating system including a valve lift-changing mechanism is capable of increasing and decreasing the lift amount of the valve without changing an opening angle for the valve and capable of decreasing a tappet clearance in accordance with a decrease in lift amount of the valve. Thus, it is possible to prevent the ratio of the tappet clearance to the lift amount at a low valve lift from being increased to minimize the influence of the dispersion of the tappet clearance and to reduce the seating speed of the valve at the low valve lift to prevent the generation of a noise. It is also possible to prevent a reduction in performance of the engine at a high valve lift due to the dispersion of the tappet clearance and to decrease the seating noise of the valve at the low valve lift.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2004
    Publication date: January 11, 2007
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Noriaki Fujii, Akiyuki Yonekawa, Katsunori Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20070006830
    Abstract: An intake air amount control system for an internal combustion engine, which controls respective amounts of intake air drawn into four cylinders #1 to #4, independently of each other, by variable inter-intake cam phase mechanisms 80, identifies intake air amount variation coefficients ?#i, based on a model [equation (43)] defining a relationship between an estimated value Gth_est of a TH passing intake air amount and a plurality of simulation values Gcyl_OS#i, such that the estimated value Gth_est becomes equal to the TH passing intake air amount, calculates a target inter-intake cam phase ?ssi#i_cmd, on a cylinder-by-cylinder basis, according to the identified intake air amount variation coefficients ?#i (step 81), and calculates control input DUTY_ssi#2 to #4 to the variable inter-intake cam phase mechanisms 80 according to the target inter-intake cam phases ?ssi#i_cmd (step 75).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2004
    Publication date: January 11, 2007
    Inventors: Yuji Yasui, Akiyuki Yonekawa
  • Patent number: 7104230
    Abstract: A drive of a variable valve lift mechanism for driving a control shaft controlling a variable valve lift mechanism provided between an engine valve and an engine valve operating cam in order to change lift amount of the engine valve, comprises: a rotational force generating actuator; power conversion means for converting a rotational force of the rotational force generating actuator into a pivoting force of the control shaft; and a casing containing the power conversion means with the rotational force generating actuator coupled to an outer face of the casing. One end of the control shaft protrudes outward from one side of an engine body. The casing into which one end of the control shaft is inserted is attached to the one side of the engine body through fixing means which can be repeatedly attached and detached. Thus, it is possible to avoid the engine body from being complex and improve maintainability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Noriaki Fujii, Hisao Sakai, Tadaharu Shoji, Motohiro Maruyama, Tomoya Fujimoto, Akiyuki Yonekawa, Takahumi Mizorogi, Keiko Yoshida
  • Patent number: 7089903
    Abstract: In an internal combustion engine including a valve actuating mechanism, a vibration control member made of vibration control alloy is interposed in a path of vibration transmission between a camshaft and a cylinder head. The vibration control alloy has a vibration isolation capability comparable to that of rubber, but provides a durability and a resistance to degradation comparable to those of metal and alloy that are typically used in internal combustion engines. Therefore, a desired vibration control can be achieved while ensuring a required reliability, durability and resistance to degradation. The present invention is particularly useful when the valve actuating mechanism is provided with a variable lift, variable timing or variable compression mechanism because such a variable mechanism increases the stress to the engine, and tends to cause more vibrations than a more conventional non-variable valve actuating mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Noriaki Fujii, Akiyuki Yonekawa, Katsunori Nakamura, Keiko Yoshida, Masaki Nagakura, Tomoya Fujimoto
  • Publication number: 20050211197
    Abstract: In an internal combustion engine including a valve actuating mechanism, a vibration control member made of vibration control alloy is interposed in a path of vibration transmission between a camshaft and a cylinder head. The vibration control alloy has a vibration isolation capability comparable to that of rubber, but provides a durability and a resistance to degradation comparable to those of metal and alloy that are typically used in internal combustion engines. Therefore, a desired vibration control can be achieved while ensuring a required reliability, durability and resistance to degradation. The present invention is particularly useful when the valve actuating mechanism is provided with a variable lift, variable timing or variable compression mechanism because such a variable mechanism increases the stress to the engine, and tends to cause more vibrations than a more conventional non-variable valve actuating mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2005
    Publication date: September 29, 2005
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Noriaki Fujii, Akiyuki Yonekawa, Katsunori Namamura, Keiko Yoshida, Masaki Nagakura, Tomoya Fujimoto
  • Publication number: 20050216179
    Abstract: A control system which is capable of compensating for and suppressing the influence of a periodic disturbance on a controlled object more quickly, even when the controlled object is subjected to the periodic disturbance the amplitude of which periodically changes, thereby enhancing the stability and the accuracy of control. The control system includes an ECU. The ECU calculates disturbance compensation values for compensating for a periodic disturbance by searching maps and tables, in timing of generation of each pulse of a CRK signal. The ECU calculates control inputs at a predetermined control period, with predetermined control algorithms, according to the disturbance compensation values read in at the control period, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2005
    Publication date: September 29, 2005
    Inventors: Yuji Yasui, Mitsunobu Saito, Tadaharu Shoji, Akiyuki Yonekawa
  • Publication number: 20050161011
    Abstract: A drive of a variable valve lift mechanism for driving a control shaft controlling a variable valve lift mechanism provided between an engine valve and an engine valve operating cam in order to change lift amount of the engine valve, comprises: a rotational force generating actuator; power conversion means for converting a rotational force of the rotational force generating actuator into a pivoting force of the control shaft; and a casing containing the power conversion means with the rotational force generating actuator coupled to an outer face of the casing. One end of the control shaft protrudes outward from one side of an engine body. The casing into which one end of the control shaft is inserted is attached to the one side of the engine body through fixing means which can be repeatedly attached and detached. Thus, it is possible to avoid the engine body from being complex and improve maintainability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2004
    Publication date: July 28, 2005
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Noriaki Fujii, Hisao Sakai, Tadaharu Shoji, Motohiro Maruyama, Tomoya Fujimoto, Akiyuki Yonekawa, Takahumi Mizorogi, Keiko Yoshida