Patents by Inventor Eiji Mito

Eiji Mito 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: 11377987
    Abstract: In a power unit device of a vehicle in which a differential device is arranged on one side of an engine, warming-up of the engine is facilitated while heat convection from an oil pan to a differential housing is inhibited. The power unit device includes a heat insulating member that covers the outer side of an oil pan, and a differential housing that is fitted to and mounted on the oil pan. A fitting portion is provided in the differential housing, and a fitted portion is provided in the oil pan. A fitting face portion of one of the fitting portion and the fitted portion includes, at different positions in the circumferential direction, a plurality of recesses and projections in the radial direction, and is fitted to a fitting face portion of the other of the fitting portion and the fitted portion by the plurality of projections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Hideki Murata, Eiji Mito
  • Publication number: 20210332726
    Abstract: In a power unit device of a vehicle in which a differential device is arranged on one side of an engine, warming-up of the engine is facilitated while heat convection from an oil pan to a differential housing is inhibited. The power unit device includes a heat insulating member that covers the outer side of an oil pan, and a differential housing that is fitted to and mounted on the oil pan. A fitting portion is provided in the differential housing, and a fitted portion is provided in the oil pan. A fitting face portion of one of the fitting portion and the fitted portion includes, at different positions in the circumferential direction, a plurality of recesses and projections in the radial direction, and is fitted to a fitting face portion of the other of the fitting portion and the fitted portion by the plurality of projections.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2021
    Publication date: October 28, 2021
    Inventors: Hideki Murata, Eiji Mito
  • Patent number: 10744874
    Abstract: A vehicle, such as a hybrid vehicle, according to one aspect of the present invention is configured such that: a propeller shaft rotated by an engine is arranged so as to extend in a vehicle body front-rear direction; a drive gear provided at a rear end portion of the propeller shaft and a driven gear configured to rotate together with a differential case of a differential device mesh with each other; a motor or a generator is connected to the differential case so as to transmit power to the differential case; the motor or the generator is arranged at one of vehicle width direction right and left sides of an axis of the propeller shaft; and the differential case is arranged at the other of the vehicle width direction right and left sides of the axis of the propeller shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Seiji Hidaka, Eiji Mito, Tomoo Sawazaki, Hideo Toyota
  • Patent number: 10647198
    Abstract: A four-wheel drive vehicle is disclosed, which includes an engine, a rear propeller shaft, a rear differential gear, a transfer mechanism, a front propeller shaft, and a front differential gear. The front propeller shaft is arranged so as to pass through a vicinity of an outside of a room of a pedal working space of a driver's seat and extend toward a front part of the vehicle. In such a four-wheel drive vehicle, the gear ratio of the front differential gear may be RF, the final gear ratio of the rear differential gear may be RR, the transmission ratio of the transfer mechanism may be RT, and the relationships RF<RR and RT>1 may be satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Eiji Mito, Hideki Murata
  • Patent number: 10513176
    Abstract: A vehicle transfer structure includes a main-drive-wheel output shaft that receives torque from a drive source and outputs it to main drive wheels, a part-time-drive-wheel output shaft provided parallel to the main-drive-wheel output shaft, a coupling provided on the main-drive-wheel output shaft and which partially extracts the torque to the part-time-drive-wheel output shaft via a transmission mechanism, and a damper disposed on the main-drive-wheel output shaft. The coupling is provided with an input-side coupling part coupled to an inner circumferential part of the damper. The input-side coupling part is coupled, via a spline-fitted section, to an output-side coupling part of a drive force transmission member which is coupled to an outer circumferential part of the damper and transmits a drive force to a driving-side transmission member of the transmission mechanism. The spline-fitted section allows a relative rotation between the input- and output-side coupling parts within a given angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Yuzo Ohkawa, Eiji Mito
  • Patent number: 10220702
    Abstract: A power transfer unit for transferring power from a front wheel side to a rear wheel side comprises: a hollow transfer input shaft which is coupled to an engine and through which a right-side front-wheel axle is penetrated; a transfer output shaft disposed to extend in a direction orthogonal to the transfer input shaft; a transfer drive gear provided on an outer periphery of the transfer input shaft; and a transfer driven gear provided on an outer periphery of the transfer output shaft and meshed with the transfer drive gear. It further comprises a damper mechanism configured to absorb a fluctuation in torque input from an engine side into the transfer input shaft. The damper mechanism is disposed such that an intermediate portion and a left end-side portion thereof overlap the transfer driven gear in an extension direction of the transfer output shaft, in top plan view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuzo Ohkawa, Eiji Mito, Seiji Hidaka
  • Publication number: 20190031022
    Abstract: A vehicle, such as a hybrid vehicle, according to one aspect of the present invention is configured such that: a propeller shaft rotated by an engine is arranged so as to extend in a vehicle body front-rear direction; a drive gear provided at a rear end portion of the propeller shaft and a driven gear configured to rotate together with a differential case of a differential device mesh with each other; a motor or a generator is connected to the differential case so as to transmit power to the differential case; the motor or the generator is arranged at one of vehicle width direction right and left sides of an axis of the propeller shaft; and the differential case is arranged at the other of the vehicle width direction right and left sides of the axis of the propeller shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2017
    Publication date: January 31, 2019
    Inventors: Seiji Hidaka, Eiji Mito, Tomoo Sawazaki, Hideo Toyota
  • Patent number: 10093180
    Abstract: A transfer device of a vehicle is provided, which includes an input shaft for receiving an output torque of a drive source at an axial first side, a main-wheel output part provided on a second side and for outputting the output torque to main drive wheels, an auxiliary-wheel output shaft provided in parallel to the input shaft and for outputting the output torque to auxiliary drive wheels, a coupling provided on the input shaft and for extracting a part of the output torque, a drive member having a hollow section and provided on the input shaft, a driven member provided on the auxiliary-wheel output shaft and meshed with the drive member, a universal joint provided on the auxiliary-wheel output shaft, and a damper device provided on the input shaft or the auxiliary-wheel output shaft and for reducing noise that occurs due to a variation of the output torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Yuzo Ohkawa, Hideki Murata, Eiji Mito
  • Publication number: 20180257487
    Abstract: A vehicle transfer structure includes a main-drive-wheel output shaft that receives torque from a drive source and outputs it to main drive wheels, a part-time-drive-wheel output shaft provided parallel to the main-drive-wheel output shaft, a coupling provided on the main-drive-wheel output shaft and which partially extracts the torque to the part-time-drive-wheel output shaft via a transmission mechanism, and a damper disposed on the main-drive-wheel output shaft. The coupling is provided with an input-side coupling part coupled to an inner circumferential part of the damper. The input-side coupling part is coupled, via a spline-fitted section, to an output-side coupling part of a drive force transmission member which is coupled to an outer circumferential part of the damper and transmits a drive force to a driving-side transmission member of the transmission mechanism. The spline-fitted section allows a relative rotation between the input- and output-side coupling parts within a given angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2018
    Publication date: September 13, 2018
    Inventors: Yuzo Ohkawa, Eiji Mito
  • Publication number: 20180215256
    Abstract: A four-wheel drive vehicle is disclosed, which includes an engine, a rear propeller shaft, a rear differential gear, a transfer mechanism, a front propeller shaft, and a front differential gear. The front propeller shaft is arranged so as to pass through a vicinity of an outside of a room of a pedal working space of a driver's seat and extend toward a front part of the vehicle. In such a four-wheel drive vehicle, the gear ratio of the front differential gear may be RF, the final gear ratio of the rear differential gear may be RR, the transmission ratio of the transfer mechanism may be RT, and the relationships RF<RR and RT>1 may be satisfied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2018
    Publication date: August 2, 2018
    Inventors: Eiji Mito, Hideki Murata
  • Patent number: 10023049
    Abstract: In a transfer structure of a vehicle according to one aspect of the present invention, a drive shaft includes: a first power transfer shaft including a first end coupled to a differential device; a second power transfer shaft including a first end coupled to a second end of the first power transfer shaft through a first universal joint; and a third power transfer shaft including a first end coupled to a second end of the second power transfer shaft through a second universal joint and a second end to which a driving wheel is coupled, and dampers are provided on at least two respective power transfer shafts. Among these dampers, a predetermined damper arranged on the longest power transfer shaft out of the at least two power transfer shafts functions in a frequency region lower than a frequency region in which a remaining damper functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Kenichiro Nishimura, Eiji Mito
  • Publication number: 20170129332
    Abstract: In a transfer structure of a vehicle according to one aspect of the present invention, a drive shaft includes: a first power transfer shaft including a first end coupled to a differential device; a second power transfer shaft including a first end coupled to a second end of the first power transfer shaft through a first universal joint; and a third power transfer shaft including a first end coupled to a second end of the second power transfer shaft through a second universal joint and a second end to which a driving wheel is coupled, and dampers are provided on at least two respective power transfer shafts. Among these dampers, a predetermined damper arranged on the longest power transfer shaft out of the at least two power transfer shafts functions in a frequency region lower than a frequency region in which a remaining damper functions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2015
    Publication date: May 11, 2017
    Inventors: Kenichiro Nishimura, Eiji Mito
  • Publication number: 20170028845
    Abstract: A transfer device of a vehicle is provided, which includes an input shaft for receiving an output torque of a drive source at an axial first side, a main-wheel output part provided on a second side and for outputting the output torque to main drive wheels, an auxiliary-wheel output shaft provided in parallel to the input shaft and for outputting the output torque to auxiliary drive wheels, a coupling provided on the input shaft and for extracting a part of the output torque, a drive member having a hollow section and provided on the input shaft, a driven member provided on the auxiliary-wheel output shaft and meshed with the drive member, a universal joint provided on the auxiliary-wheel output shaft, and a damper device provided on the input shaft or the auxiliary-wheel output shaft and for reducing noise that occurs due to a variation of the output torque.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2016
    Publication date: February 2, 2017
    Inventors: Yuzo Ohkawa, Hideki Murata, Eiji Mito
  • Publication number: 20170008395
    Abstract: A power transfer unit for transferring power from a front wheel side to a rear wheel side comprises: a hollow transfer input shaft which is coupled to an engine and through which a right-side front-wheel axle is penetrated; a transfer output shaft disposed to extend in a direction orthogonal to the transfer input shaft; a transfer drive gear provided on an outer periphery of the transfer input shaft; and a transfer driven gear provided on an outer periphery of the transfer output shaft and meshed with the transfer drive gear. It further comprises a damper mechanism configured to absorb a fluctuation in torque input from an engine side into the transfer input shaft. The damper mechanism is disposed such that an intermediate portion and a left end-side portion thereof overlap the transfer driven gear in an extension direction of the transfer output shaft, in top plan view.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2015
    Publication date: January 12, 2017
    Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuzo OHKAWA, Eiji MITO, Seiji HIDAKA
  • Patent number: 7216736
    Abstract: A heat exchanger, which performs heat exchanging between a lubricating oil circulating within a transfer device disposed behind an engine and an engine coolant, also functions as a mass member of a dynamic damper. The heat exchanger is disposed at an upper face of a transfer case via a resilient member. Herein, the resilient member is comprised of a first metal plate, a second metal plate, and a rubber member interposed between the first and second metal plates, and there are provided lubricating passages flowing within the resilient member. Accordingly, there can be provided the vibration suppression device of the power train that can suppress vibration properly regardless of the temperature changing and advantage the weight reduction without requiring any new disposition space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Koichi Yamamoto, Yuzou Ohkawa, Eiji Mito
  • Publication number: 20050269147
    Abstract: There is provided the anti-loosening spacer between the screw lock nut and the inner race of the first bearing for drive pinion, such that it is moved forward by a rotation of the screw lock nut, and there can exist the specified magnitude of backlash in the rotational direction between the anti-loosening spacer and the drive pinion shaft at the beginning of the rotation of the screw lock nut, and the specified magnitude of backlash can be eliminated according to the rotation of the screw lock nut. Accordingly, the screw lock nut can be properly prevented from being loosened by this locked spacer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2005
    Publication date: December 8, 2005
    Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventor: Eiji Mito
  • Publication number: 20050029036
    Abstract: A heat exchanger, which performs heat exchanging between a lubricating oil circulating within a transfer device disposed behind an engine and an engine coolant, also functions as a mass member of a dynamic dumper. The heat exchanger is disposed at an upper face of a transfer case via a resilient member. Herein, the resilient member is comprised of a first metal plate, a second metal plate, and a rubber member interposed between the first and second metal plates, and there are provided lubricating passages flowing within the resilient member. Accordingly, there can be provided the vibration suppression device of the power train that can suppress vibration properly regardless of the temperature changing and advantage the weight reduction without requiring any new disposition space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2004
    Publication date: February 10, 2005
    Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Koichi Yamamoto, Yuzou Ohkawa, Eiji Mito