Patents by Inventor Fumitaka Ando
Fumitaka Ando 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: 5685386Abstract: In a vehicle having a pair of right and left front wheels and a pair of right and left rear wheels, when the front wheels are driven wheels, a differential limiting mechanism such as a multi-disc viscous clutch is arranged between axle members coupled to axles of the front wheels via universal joints, or when the rear wheels are driven wheels, the differential limiting mechanism is arranged between axles of the rear wheels. The differential limiting force of the differential limiting mechanism is controlled on the basis of various physical quantities (a steering angle .theta.h, a vehicle speed V, a brake hydraulic pressure P, a vertical acceleration G, and a road-surface .mu.) associated with the traveling state of the vehicle detected by sensors. Therefore, there can be provided a driven wheel differential limiting apparatus for a vehicle, which has high reliability and durability since the differential limiting force is controlled via, e.g.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 1995Date of Patent: November 11, 1997Assignee: Mazda Motor Corp.Inventors: Toshiro Kondo, Fumitaka Ando, Yasuhiro Nakashima, Takao Imada
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Patent number: 5439244Abstract: An intersection of an extension of a front lower arm with an extension of a rear lower arm outside a transversely outer side constitutes a lower set point of a virtual kingpin axis. The transversely inner end portion of one lower arm of the front lower arm and the rear lower arm is connected to the body of the vehicle so as to be capable of being displaced in the longitudinal direction of the body. When the wheel is steered, the transversely outer end portion of the lower arm for the externally cornering wheel is displaced rearward while it pivots rearward about the transversely inner end portion of the lower arm, and the rearward displacement is transmitted so as to displace the transversely inner end portion of the one lower arm through a control link. The control link may be divided into two elements.Type: GrantFiled: January 27, 1993Date of Patent: August 8, 1995Assignee: Mazda Motor CorporationInventors: Kenji Tomosada, Fumitaka Ando, Toshiro Kondo, Takao Imada
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Patent number: 5351985Abstract: A suspension system has a link mechanism, disposed between a wheel support and a car body, for suspending the wheel support from the body so as to allow a wheel, related to steering, to swing about a center axis relative to the body. The link mechanism is caused to change a height of an instantaneous center of a swing of the wheel from the ground according to degrees of turn, such as steered angles, so as to maintain a height of the instantaneous center at a substantially fixed height from the ground.Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 1993Date of Patent: October 4, 1994Assignee: Mazda Motor CorporationInventors: Fumitaka Ando, Takeshi Edahiro, Shigefumi Hirabayashi
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Patent number: 5348337Abstract: A lower end of a knuckle member for rotatably supporting a wheel Is connected swingably around an axis in a longitudinal direction of a vehicle to a vehicle body via a lower arm. A connecting member is fitted swingably around only an axis in a vertical direction to an upper end of the knuckle member, and the connecting member is fitted swingably around only an axis in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle to the lower end of a damper device. An upper arm whose one end is pivotally fitted to the vehicle body with one point is fitted at the other end to the damper device or the connecting member so as to be swingable around only an axis in the longitudinal direction. Preferably, the lower arm i s composed of front and rear link members and arranged in such a fashion that an axis of each link member crosses each other outboard than respective pivot points thereof with the knuckle member.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 1992Date of Patent: September 20, 1994Assignee: Mazda Motor CorporationInventor: Fumitaka Ando
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Patent number: 5303791Abstract: Two support members which are supported swingably to the vehicle body through the medium of the support axis extending in up and down direction are provided at the vehicle body end portions of two left and right suspension arm members connecting left and right rear wheels to the vehicle body. Lever parts are extended from the support members toward the opposing direction to each other and are interconnected by a link member. One of the two support members is driven by one actuator for rotation around an support axis, whereby left and right two suspension arm members move in vehicle widthwise direction, opposite to each other, and in synchronism with each other and thus left and right rear wheels are steered symmetrically in toe-in direction or toe-out direction.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 1991Date of Patent: April 19, 1994Assignee: Mazda Motor CorporationInventors: Hiroyuki Hayashi, Toshiro Kondo, Fumitaka Ando, Hirotaka Kanazawa, Takeshi Edahiro, Ryuya Akita
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Patent number: 5158320Abstract: A suspension system for vehicles, in which the supporting center on the vehicle body side of an assist link is offset from the axial center of a bush of a suspension arm member so as to control the swinging locus of the suspension arm member at bumping of the wheel by the different swinging locus of the assist link. By the supporting center on the wheel support member side of the suspension arm member which is offset from the central axis of rotation of the wheel, the wheel at bumping is made toe-in for oversteering tendency to enhance turning ability at turning or is made toe-out for understeering tendency to enhance driving stability at turning and the camber angle of the wheel is made larger for enhancing straight driving stability or is made smaller for enhancing riding comfort and reducing steering power required for turning. Thus, the present invention makes it possible to change properly the toe-control and the camber-control according to characteristics of each kind of vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 1990Date of Patent: October 27, 1992Assignee: Mazda Motor Corp.Inventors: Fumitaka Ando, Toshiro Kondo
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Patent number: 5098118Abstract: A rear end portion of a triangular arm member and a vehicle body side member are interconnected by an assisting link member extending in the widthwise direction of the vehicle body so as to allow the movement of a rear end portion of the triangular arm member in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body but to restrict the movement thereof in the transverse direction of the vehicle body. Accordingly, the rear end portion of the triangular arm member undergoes displacement in parallel to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body without rotating in the transverse direction of the vehicle body.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 1990Date of Patent: March 24, 1992Assignee: Mazda Motor CorporationInventors: Toshio Hayashi, Toshiro Kondo, Fumitaka Ando
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Patent number: 5098116Abstract: In a suspension system for a vehicle constructed to change toe angle of wheels when receiving a lateral force, delay means for delaying toe angle change is provided at one of these: a front lateral link, a rear lateral link, and a trailing link. This structure results in a rapid cornering at an initial stage of cornering and a stability of wheels thereafter can be planned.Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 1990Date of Patent: March 24, 1992Assignee: Mazda Motor ManufacturingInventors: Takeshi Edahiro, Toshiro Kondo, Fumitaka Ando, Tadanobu Yamamoto, Katsuyuki Komiya
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Patent number: 5094474Abstract: A suspension system for a vehicle in which lateral rigidity of a suspension arm member to resist external force in a transverse direction of the vehicle at turning, for example, is increased effectively by an assist link, and rigidity in the longitudinal direction of the suspension arm member to resist external force from the longitudinal direction of the vehicle while running over a rough road, for example, is decreased when the vehicle body side support of the suspension arm member close to the assist link swings in a longitudinal direction, with the vehicle body side support part of a vertical link member acting as a fulcrum. Thus, compliance to the input from the longitudinal direction of the vehicle is ensured fully and comfortableness to ride when running over a rough road, for example, and driving stability at turning, for example, can coexist at a high level.Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 1990Date of Patent: March 10, 1992Assignee: Mazda Motor CorporationInventors: Fumitaka Ando, Toshiro Kondo
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Patent number: 4826203Abstract: An automobile sub-frame structure for supporting two double wishbone type rear suspensions on its respective sides includes a pair of juxtaposed first members extending in a direction widthwise of a vehicle body, a pair of opposed second members extending substantially vertically and each rigidly secured at an upper portion thereof to one end of each first member, and a pair of third members rigidly secured to lower portions of the second members and to a lower surface of a central portion of each first member. In the sub-frame structure, a plurality of truss structures are formed by the first, second and third members so that the sub-frame structure will be sufficiently rigid.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 1988Date of Patent: May 2, 1989Assignee: Mazda Motor CorporationInventors: Takao Kijima, Fumitaka Ando, Toshihide Koyama
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Patent number: 4715614Abstract: A vehicle rear-suspension system comprises a trailing arm one end of which is connected to the vehicle body by way of a resilient bushing for up-and-down pivotal movement, a wheel hub for supporting a rear wheel for rotation, a ball joint connecting the wheel hub to the trailing arm so as to permit pivotal movement of the wheel hub about a point relative to the trailing arm, and first and second resilient bushings which resiliently connect the wheel hub to the trailing arm, the ball joint and the first and second resilient bushings being arranged to cause the rear wheel to toe in against a force acting thereon. A first control link is fixed to said trailing arm at one end, and a second control link is connected for pivotal movement to the other end of the first control link at one end. The second control link is connected for pivotal movement to the vehicle body at the other end. The body side pivotal center of the second control link is offset from the pivotal axis of the trailing arm by a preset amount.Type: GrantFiled: July 17, 1984Date of Patent: December 29, 1987Assignee: Mazda Motor CorporationInventors: Takao Kijima, Fumitaka Ando
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Patent number: 4715615Abstract: A trailing arm type rear-suspension system having a trailing arm which is connected to a wheel hub for supporting a rear wheel for rotation at one end and to the vehicle body for vertical pivotal movement at the other end by way of a resilient bushing is provided with a camber control link mechanism. The camber control link mechanism comprises first and second control links. The first control link is fixed to the trailing arm at its first end. The second control link is connected to a second end of the first control link for pivotal movement at one end, and to the vehicle body for pivotal movement at the other end.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 1984Date of Patent: December 29, 1987Assignee: Mazda Motor CorporationInventors: Takao Kijima, Fumitaka Ando
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Patent number: 4652009Abstract: In a rear suspension system, a suspension mounting frame extends in the transverse direction of the vehicle body and is supported on the vehicle body at the right and left ends thereof by way of resilient material bodies. A pair of trailing arms pivoted on the suspension mounting frame. An intermediate portion of the suspension mounting frame is connected, by way of a resilient material body, to a front portion of a differential case which is connected to the vehicle body at a rear portion by way of a resilient material body. Further, the intermediate portion of the suspension mounting frame is supported by the vehicle body by way of a vertical movement restraining member.Type: GrantFiled: July 25, 1985Date of Patent: March 24, 1987Assignee: Mazda Motor CorporationInventors: Fumitaka Ando, Kijima Takao
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Patent number: 4536007Abstract: A vehicle rear suspension mechanism capable of producing a toe-in displacement under a side force, a brake force, an engine brake force and an engine drive force to obtain a stabilized stearing property. The mechanism includes a suspension member connected with a vehicle body, a wheel hub supporting a rear wheel for rotation about a rotating axis, a connecting device for connecting the wheel hub with the suspension member. The connecting device includes a ball joint connecting the wheel hub to the suspension member pivotably about the joint center, a first resilient bush located between the wheel hub and the suspension member, and a second resilient bush located between the wheel hub and the suspension member. The ball joint is located rearwardly of and below the wheel center, whereas the first resilient member is rearwardly of and above the wheel center and the second resilient member forwardly of and above the wheel center.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 1983Date of Patent: August 20, 1985Assignee: Mazda Motor CorporationInventors: Takao Kijima, Jiro Maebayashi, Fumitaka Ando
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Patent number: 4530513Abstract: A body side support member such as the semi trailing arm of a semi trailing type rear-suspension system, the strut of a strut type rear-suspension system and the like is connected to a wheel hub for a rear tire by way of a ball joint and a pair of rubber bushings. The ball joint is positioned, as viewed from the left side of the vehicle body, in quadrant I, one of the rubber bushings is positioned in quadrant IV and the other rubber bushing is positioned in quadrant II or III on a coordinate plane having its origin on the center of the rear wheel, its abscissa on the horizontal line passing through the center of the rear wheel and its ordinate on the vertical line passing through the center of the rear wheel.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 1983Date of Patent: July 23, 1985Assignee: Mazda Motor CorporationInventors: Takao Kijima, Jiro Maebayashi, Fumitaka Ando