Patents by Inventor Chikara Kawamura

Chikara Kawamura 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: 11891122
    Abstract: Provided is a frame which is made of a fiber reinforced composite and has an increased bending strength by suppressing occurrence of buckling. The frame which is made of a fiber reinforced composite includes: a compressive wall part where a compressive stress occurs in a longitudinal direction of the frame when the frame receives a bending load in a normal direction perpendicularly intersecting the longitudinal direction; and a side wall part extending in the normal direction and defining one of corners with the compressive wall part. The compressive wall part includes a longitudinal alignment layer having reinforcement fibers aligned in the longitudinal direction. The side wall part has a surface section composed of a normal directional alignment layer having reinforcement fibers aligned in a direction different from the longitudinal direction, and serving as a differential alignment layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignees: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION, NIPPON STEEL Chemical & Material Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chikara Kawamura, Tetsuya Sugiyama
  • Patent number: 11858555
    Abstract: A front body structure of a vehicle includes a dash member that extends in a vehicle width direction and separates a vehicle interior from an engine room, a pair of left and right front side frames that extend from left and right end portions of the dash member, and a pair of left and right suspension towers that are fixed to the pair of front side frames and support the upper portions of dampers of a suspension device. A first coupling member couples the dash member to the suspension towers. The first coupling member has a reinforced layer portion made of fiber reinforced plastic in which fibers are impregnated with a synthetic resin material. The fibers of the reinforced layer portion are oriented so that more fibers extend in a longitudinal direction than extend in directions other than the longitudinal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenji Nishida, Chikara Kawamura
  • Publication number: 20230332633
    Abstract: An outer member, an inner member, and an inside fixing member overlap each other and fastened together by a fastening member. The outer member is made of fiber reinforced resin, and fibers contained in the fiber reinforced resin-made outer member are arranged in a direction crossing the above-described overlapping direction. A bolt of the fastening member comprises a conical (truncated cone-shaped) middle portion which is poisoned between a head portion and a shaft portion. In a case where the outer member and the bolt are offset from each other in a radial direction of a through hole of the outer member, the conical middle portion partially contacts an edge portion of the through hole and compress a contacted portion of the outer member in the overlapping direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2023
    Publication date: October 19, 2023
    Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenji NISHIDA, Kenichi YAMAMOTO, Chikara KAWAMURA
  • Publication number: 20230311998
    Abstract: A side sill constituting a vehicle body comprises a side sill outer and a side sill inner. Each of an upper-side side face portion (upper face portion) and a lower-side side face portion (lower face portion) of the side sill inner comprises a second bending portion (bending portion) being formed by each of the upper face portion and the lower face portion bent toward an inside of the side sill, an upper-side slant face portion and a lower-side slant portion which respectively extend toward the side sill outer in an oblique direction such that a width, in a vertical direction, of the side sill inner gradually increases, and a second upper face portion and a second lower face portion (vehicle-width-direction face portions) which respectively extend in a vehicle width direction toward an inward side, in the vehicle width direction, from the second bending portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2023
    Publication date: October 5, 2023
    Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Isamu KIZAKI, Takuto Fukushima, Masanori Honda, Chikara Kawamura
  • Publication number: 20230312019
    Abstract: A lower vehicle-body structure of a vehicle is provided with a frame member having a closed-cross section. The frame member comprises a first portion and a second portion. The first portion comprises a compression face portion and a pair of side face portions. The side face portion comprises a bending portion, a compression-side area which is positioned on a side of the compression face portion relative to the bending portion and where a compressive stress is generated when the bending load is applied, and a tension-side area which is positioned on a side away from the compression face portion relative to the bending portion and where a tensile stress is generated when the bending load is applied. The compression-side area is configured to have higher rigidity than the tension-side area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2023
    Publication date: October 5, 2023
    Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Isamu KIZAKI, Takuto FUKUSHIMA, Masanori HONDA, Chikara KAWAMURA
  • Publication number: 20230311997
    Abstract: A side sill comprises a side sill outer and a side sill inner. Each of an upper-side side face portion (upper face portion) and a lower-side side face portion (lower face portion) of the side sill outer comprises a first bending portion bent toward an inside of the side sill. The side sill inner comprises an upper-side side face portion with a first upper face portion, an upper-side slant face portion and a second upper face portion and a lower-side side face portion with a first lower face portion, a lower-side slant face portion and a second lower face portion. The side sill inner comprises a pair of upper-and-lower second bending portions which are bent toward an inside of the side sill at respective positions between the second upper face portion and the upper-side slant face portion and between the second lower face portion and the lower-side slant face portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2023
    Publication date: October 5, 2023
    Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Isamu KIZAKI, Takuto Fukushima, Masanori Honda, Chikara Kawamura
  • Patent number: 11618399
    Abstract: A shock absorbing member is provided having a sequential destruction capability and protection against electrolytic corrosion on fastening-fixing portions thereof to be fastened to a bumper reinforcement or a vehicle body. Embodiments include a shock absorbing member between a bumper reinforcement and a vehicle body, including a distal end portion fastened to the bumper reinforcement; a base end flange portion fastened to the vehicle body; and an absorbing member body extending in a vehicle front-rear direction and connecting the distal end portion and the base end flange portion. The absorbing member body includes a carbon fiber-glass reinforced plastic layer. Fastening-fixing portions of the distal end portion and the base end flange portion are composed of glass fiber reinforced plastic layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Taiki Yotsuyanagi, Tsuyoshi Nishihara, Ryo Shimoda, Chikara Kawamura, Tsuneki Shimanaka, Kota Yoshida
  • Publication number: 20220297768
    Abstract: Provided is a frame which is made of a fiber reinforced composite and where a bending strength and a vibration damping capability are compatible. The frame which is made of a fiber reinforced composite includes: a compressive wall part where a compressive stress occurs in a longitudinal direction of the frame when the frame receives a bending load in a normal direction perpendicularly intersecting the longitudinal direction; a side wall part extending in the normal direction and defining one of the corners with the compressive wall part; and a tension wall part which is away from the compressive wall part and extends in the longitudinal direction, and where a tensile stress occurs in the longitudinal direction when the frame receives the bending load. The tension wall part has a loss coefficient which is larger than a loss coefficient of the compressive wall part by 0.005 or more.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2022
    Publication date: September 22, 2022
    Applicants: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION, NIPPON STEEL Chemical & Material Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chikara KAWAMURA, Yuki KODAMA, Kenji NISHIDA, Tetsuya SUGIYAMA, Koichi HATTORI
  • Publication number: 20220297769
    Abstract: Provided is a frame which is made of a fiber reinforced composite and has an increased bending strength by suppressing occurrence of buckling. The frame which is made of a fiber reinforced composite includes: a compressive wall part where a compressive stress occurs in a longitudinal direction of the frame when the frame receives a bending load in a normal direction perpendicularly intersecting the longitudinal direction; and a side wall part extending in the normal direction and defining one of corners with the compressive wall part. The compressive wall part includes a longitudinal alignment layer having reinforcement fibers aligned in the longitudinal direction. The side wall part has a surface section composed of a normal directional alignment layer having reinforcement fibers aligned in a direction different from the longitudinal direction, and serving as a differential alignment layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2022
    Publication date: September 22, 2022
    Applicants: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION, NIPPON STEEL Chemical & Material Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chikara KAWAMURA, Tetsuya SUGIYAMA
  • Publication number: 20220274652
    Abstract: A body structure of a vehicle includes a coupling member made of fiber reinforced plastic including fibers impregnated with synthetic resin and a pair of rear fixing members that have a bending rigidity higher than the coupling member and fix both end portions in the longitudinal direction of the coupling member to a vehicle body. Boundary portions between the pair of fixing members and the coupling member are formed in both end portions in the longitudinal direction. A distance between the boundary portions on the rear side is different from that between the boundary portions on the front side that extend along neutral axes defined by the lines of intersection between the neutral plane of bending moments of the coupling member and the lateral cross sections of the coupling member when a bending load is input through the pair of rear fixing members to the coupling member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2022
    Publication date: September 1, 2022
    Applicant: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji NISHIDA, Chikara KAWAMURA
  • Publication number: 20220274653
    Abstract: A front body structure of a vehicle includes a dash member that extends in a vehicle width direction and separates a vehicle interior from an engine room, a pair of left and right front side frames that extend from left and right end portions of the dash member, and a pair of left and right suspension towers that are fixed to the pair of front side frames and support the upper portions of dampers of a suspension device. A first coupling member couples the dash member to the suspension towers. The first coupling member has a reinforced layer portion made of fiber reinforced plastic in which fibers are impregnated with a synthetic resin material. The fibers of the reinforced layer portion are oriented so that more fibers extend in a longitudinal direction than extend in directions other than the longitudinal direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2022
    Publication date: September 1, 2022
    Applicant: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji NISHIDA, Chikara KAWAMURA
  • Patent number: 11345295
    Abstract: An impact absorbing structure for a vehicle according to the present invention includes: a resin frame member extending in a vehicle front-rear direction and having an opening portion in a surface thereof on one side in a vehicle width direction; and a strut member disposed in the opening portion of the frame member. The frame member includes a frame body having the opening portion, and a rib protruding at least either upward or downward from the frame body and extending in the vehicle front-rear direction. The strut member is disposed between a pair of opening edges for defining an upper edge and a lower edge of the opening portion and at a position abuttable against the paired opening edges, when the frame member is deformed by input of a load at a time of oblique collision from upward or oblique collision from downward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Chikara Kawamura, Tsuyoshi Nishihara, Kazutaka Ishikura, Hiroaki Takeshita, Tsuneki Shimanaka, Taiki Yotsuyanagi, Yoshiaki Murakami
  • Publication number: 20210213899
    Abstract: A shock absorbing member is provided having a sequential destruction capability and protection against electrolytic corrosion on fastening-fixing portions thereof to be fastened to a bumper reinforcement or a vehicle body. Embodiments include a shock absorbing member between a bumper reinforcement and a vehicle body, including a distal end portion fastened to the bumper reinforcement; a base end flange portion fastened to the vehicle body; and an absorbing member body extending in a vehicle front-rear direction and connecting the distal end portion and the base end flange portion. The absorbing member body includes a carbon fiber-glass reinforced plastic layer. Fastening-fixing portions of the distal end portion and the base end flange portion are composed of glass fiber reinforced plastic layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2020
    Publication date: July 15, 2021
    Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Taiki YOTSUYANAGI, Tsuyoshi NISHIHARA, Ryo SHIMODA, Chikara KAWAMURA, Tsuneki SHIMANAKA, Kota YOSHIDA
  • Publication number: 20210202924
    Abstract: A lithium-ion battery device comprises a housing, a battery cell stored inside the housing, and an adjacent member provided adjacently to and on a rearward side, in a vehicle longitudinal direction, of the battery cell. The battery cell comprises a cell case, an electrode body stored inside the cell case, and a pair of terminals. The cell case includes a first main face and a second main face which face to each other in the vehicle longitudinal direction. At least two gap-forming portions which respectively have a smaller area than the second main face and have a specified thickness of the vehicle longitudinal direction are arranged between the second main face and the adjacent member. The two gap-forming portions are provided to be spaced apart from each other in an inter-terminal direction of the battery cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2020
    Publication date: July 1, 2021
    Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Wataru MASUDA, Teruhiko HANAOKA, Toshiki TAKAHASHI, Chikara KAWAMURA, Masanori HONDA
  • Publication number: 20210162939
    Abstract: An impact absorbing structure for a vehicle according to the present invention includes: a resin frame member extending in a vehicle front-rear direction and having an opening portion in a surface thereof on one side in a vehicle width direction; and a strut member disposed in the opening portion of the frame member. The frame member includes a frame body having the opening portion, and a rib protruding at least either upward or downward from the frame body and extending in the vehicle front-rear direction. The strut member is disposed between a pair of opening edges for defining an upper edge and a lower edge of the opening portion and at a position abuttable against the paired opening edges, when the frame member is deformed by input of a load at a time of oblique collision from upward or oblique collision from downward.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2018
    Publication date: June 3, 2021
    Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Chikara KAWAMURA, Tsuyoshi NISHIHARA, Kazutaka ISHIKURA, Hiroaki TAKESHITA, Tsuneki SHIMANAKA, Taiki YOTSUYANAGI, Yoshiaki MURAKAMI
  • Patent number: 10994680
    Abstract: Each impact-absorbing member has an open cross-sectional shape that is open to a first side of a vehicle width direction. Each impact-absorbing member includes an upper wall, a lower wall, a side wall extending between the upper wall and the lower wall, an upper flange portion extending upward from the upper wall, and a lower flange portion extending downward from the lower wall. Curved portions curved in the vehicle width direction in a protruding manner are formed in the side wall. The upper wall and the lower wall include a plurality of plate-shaped flat portions adjacent in the vehicle width direction, and step portions connecting the adjacent flat portions while forming a step in a vertical direction, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventor: Chikara Kawamura
  • Publication number: 20200384934
    Abstract: A shock absorbing structure for a vehicle 1 is provided which includes a bumper beam 67 connecting together a pair of shock absorbing members 61, 61 made of a fiber-reinforced resin. The shock absorbing member 61 includes an upper wall portion 62a, a lower wall portion 62b, a side wall portion 62c having a recess 63, an upper flange portion 62d, and a lower flange portion 62e, and a vehicle-width-direction outer side is open. An outer edge portion 62o extends in a front-rear direction, an inner edge portion 62i extends in an inclined manner, and a width of each of the upper wall portion 62a and the lower wall portion 62b is wider on a rear side than a front side. Step portions 64 make an interval between the upper wall portion 62a and the lower wall portion 62b become narrower on a vehicle-width-direction inner side than the vehicle-width-direction outer side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2019
    Publication date: December 10, 2020
    Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Taiki YOTSUYANAGI, Hiroaki TAKESHITA, Chikara KAWAMURA, Tsuyoshi NISHIHARA
  • Publication number: 20200324823
    Abstract: An impact absorbing structure for a vehicle according to the present invention includes a frame member formed of a resin material. The frame member includes a closed cross sectional portion extending in a vehicle front-rear direction, and a rib protruding at least either upward or downward from the closed cross sectional portion and extending in the vehicle front-rear direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2018
    Publication date: October 15, 2020
    Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Chikara KAWAMURA, Tsuyoshi NISHIHARA, Kazutaka ISHIKURA, Hiroaki TAKESHITA, Tsuneki SHIMANAKA, Taiki YOTSUYANAGI, Yoshiaki MURAKAMI
  • Patent number: 10604094
    Abstract: An impact absorbing member structure of a vehicle includes: a pair of left and right rear side frames; a pair of left and right crash cans containing a plurality of first carbon fibers arranged so as to continuously extend in a forward/rearward direction; and a bumper reinforcement attached to tip end portions of the pair of rear side frames through the pair of crash cans. Each of the crash cans is formed as an open-section member including: a side wall portion extending in the forward/rearward direction; and a tip end wall portion continuous with the side wall portion and including an attaching portion to which the bumper reinforcement is attached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Chikara Kawamura, Tsuneki Shimanaka, Hiroaki Takeshita, Tsuyoshi Nishihara, Takayuki Kimura, Kazutaka Ishikura
  • Patent number: 10479302
    Abstract: An impact absorbing structure includes an impact absorbing member made of CFRP, and the impact absorbing member includes a pair of left and right side wall portions and upper and lower coupling wall portions each coupling the side wall portions. Each of the pair of side wall portions includes a plurality of curved portions. Each of the curved portions is formed such that a leftward/rightward direction depth thereof decreases toward a front side. Each of the pair of side wall portions includes: a plurality of first carbon fibers arranged to extend in a forward/rearward direction and constituting most of reinforced fibers contained in the side wall portion; and a plurality of second carbon fibers arranged to extend in a direction intersecting with the first carbon fibers. The plurality of second carbon fibers are arranged at both thickness direction end vicinity parts of each of the side wall portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Chikara Kawamura, Taiki Yotsuyanagi, Hiroaki Takeshita, Tsuyoshi Nishihara, Tsuneki Shimanaka, Takayuki Kimura, Yoshiaki Murakami