Patents by Inventor Hidekazu Michioka
Hidekazu Michioka 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: 7406890Abstract: There is provided a steering control device for a vehicle of a new structure utilizing a ball screw mechanism for compacting the structure. The steering control device for a vehicle includes a first input shaft 1 connected to a handle, a second input shaft 2 connected to a motor 8, an output shaft 3 connected to a steering wheel, a first transmission 6 for rotating a nut 5 in accordance with the rotational motion of the first input shaft 1 so as to transmit the rotational motion of the first input shaft 1 to the rotational motion of the output shaft 3, and a second transmission 7 for moving the nut 5 linearly in the axial direction with respect to the output shaft 3 in accordance with the rotational motion of the second input shaft 2 so as to transmit the rotational motion of the second input shaft 2 to the rotational motion of the output shaft 3. The center line of the second input shaft and the center line of the output shaft are aligned on substantially the same straight line.Type: GrantFiled: May 30, 2003Date of Patent: August 5, 2008Assignee: THK Co., Ltd.Inventors: Katsuhiro Suda, Takao Nojiri, Naoki Hikosaka, Hidekazu Michioka, Masashi Konomoto, Hiroshi Kaneshige, Masayuki Imamura, Katsuya Iida, Takeomi Kawakami
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Publication number: 20080159667Abstract: Provided is a bearing bush enabling excellent advancing and retreating movements of a shaft member by eliminating a clearance between the bearing bush and the shaft member to eliminate a backlash therebetween, capable of reducing a load of dimension control on both the bearing bush and the shaft member, and capable of being manufactured at a low cost. The bearing bush (4) for supporting the reciprocating movement of the shaft member (1) in an axial direction has a receiving hole through which the shaft member (1) is passed. Grooves (40) are sequentially formed at predetermined intervals in an inner peripheral surface of the bearing bush (4) facing the receiving hole. An inner diameter of the receiving hole is formed to be equal to or smaller than an outer diameter of the shaft member (1), and the bearing bush is press-fitted to an outer peripheral surface of the shaft member (1) in a state of a so-called interference fit.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 20, 2005Publication date: July 3, 2008Applicant: THK CO., LTD.Inventors: Hidekazu Michioka, Katsuya Iida, Takashi Matsumoto, Masayuki Ishizaka
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Patent number: 7329047Abstract: A motion guide device is provided with a rolling member connection belt for holding a series of rolling members which circulate in a circulation passage provided with a loaded rolling passage, a non-loaded return passage and a pair of rolling direction changing members connecting the loaded rolling passage and the non-loaded return passage to thereby constitute the circulation passage. The rolling member connection belt is formed from a metal plate member having a corrugated-shape, in section in a longitudinal direction thereof, formed at least to one portion thereof or entire portion thereof in the longitudinal direction, and the corrugated-shape has peak and valley portions each extending in a direction normal to the longitudinal direction of the metal plate member.Type: GrantFiled: February 9, 2004Date of Patent: February 12, 2008Assignee: THK Co., Ltd.Inventor: Hidekazu Michioka
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Publication number: 20070269148Abstract: In order to provide a long-life, highly-reliable guide apparatus which exhibits dustproof performance and prevents intrusion of dust into the moving block in environments where there are lots of fine dust such as gypsum and ceramic powder and where no oil contents or oil contents are not liked, there is provided a guide apparatus having a track rail 11, in which rolling-element raceway grooves 12-1 to 12-4 are formed along a longitudinal direction thereof, and a moving block 20 attached to the track rail by way of a plurality of rolling elements in a relatively-movable manner, wherein an end-face dustproof brush 25, which has a brush member 36 whose tip end contacts a surface of the track rail 11 and which eliminates extraneous matters adhering to the surface of the track rail 11 by means of the brush member 36, is attached to outside of each of the side covers 22 with respect to the direction of relative movement.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 19, 2004Publication date: November 22, 2007Applicant: THK CO., LTD.Inventors: Hidekazu Michioka, Daisuke Yatsushiro, Tadashi Hirokawa, Yoshiaki Saito
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Publication number: 20070265177Abstract: The present invention provides a grease composition conforming to vibration, including a lubricant base oil of a mineral oil base and/or a synthetic oil base, a thickener, and an additive for improving grease performance, in which the additive includes an organomolybdenum, a metal sulfonate, and a metal phenate. The grease composition conforming to vibration exerts excellent abrasion resistance even when it is used in a guide device driven under conditions where vibration is generated. Also provided is a guide device exerting excellent abrasion resistance, including the grease composition conforming to vibration enclosed therein.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 7, 2005Publication date: November 15, 2007Inventors: Hidekazu Michioka, Yoshio Taki, Hiroshi Niwa
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Publication number: 20070137347Abstract: There is provided a roller screw comprising: a screw shaft 1 formed, on an outer peripheral surface thereof, with a spiral roller rolling groove 1a; a nut member 2 formed, on an inner peripheral surface thereof, with a spiral loaded roller rolling groove 2a opposing to the roller rolling groove 1a of the screw shaft; and a number of rollers 6 disposed between the roller rolling groove 1a and the loaded roller rolling groove 2a. A number of rollers 6 are arranged in cross shape and each of the rollers has a diameter D larger than a prescribed dimension. According to such roller screw, an optimum preload can be applied in accordance with the roller screw structure, thereby improving the rigidity of the roller screw.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 6, 2004Publication date: June 21, 2007Applicant: THK CO., LTD.Inventors: Akihiro Teramachi, Hidekazu Michioka, Hiroshi Niwa, Kentaro Nishimura
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Publication number: 20070072779Abstract: The present invention herein provides a grease composition for use in a direct acting guide apparatus, which comprises a base oil and a thickener, wherein the rate of an ester oil present in the base oil is not less than 50% by mass, the composition comprises not less than 20% by mass of the thickener which comprises a compound having a terminal aliphatic hydrocarbon group and free of metal and it has a penetration ranging from 220 to 300, as well as a direct acting guide apparatus which comprises the foregoing grease composition. The grease composition of the present invention has various excellent characteristic properties such that it generates only a small quantity of dust, that the production cost thereof is low, that the composition is free of metallic component and that it is free of bad roll feeling.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 25, 2006Publication date: March 29, 2007Applicant: THK CO., LTD.Inventors: Shinichi Nagahora, Hidekazu Michioka, Yoshihiro Hirano, Hiroyuki Ikeda, Yoshio Taki
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Publication number: 20070041671Abstract: A guide apparatus including a track rail and a moving block is free from the possibility of foreign matter entering the moving block through the gaps between the side surfaces of the track rail and the inner side surfaces of the moving block even in an environment where many fine dust particles are flying. A guide apparatus has a track rail and a moving block 20 relatively movably attached to the track rail with rolling elements interposed therebetween. The rolling elements recirculate through rolling element recirculation passages. Foreign matter entry preventing plates 34 are provided so that their respective distal ends longitudinally contact the opposite side surfaces of the track rail to close the gaps between the side surfaces of the track rail and at least the inner side surfaces of skirt portions on both sides of a moving block body 21 and the inner side surfaces of end plates of the moving block 20.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 5, 2004Publication date: February 22, 2007Applicant: THK CO. LTD.Inventors: Hidekazu Michioka, Daisuke Yatsushiro, Yoshiaki Saito
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Publication number: 20070028712Abstract: A roller screw includes: a screw shaft 1 having an outer peripheral surface in which a spiral roller rolling groove 1a is formed; a nut member 2 having an inner peripheral surface in which a spiral loaded roller rolling groove 2a is formed so as to oppose to the roller rolling groove 1a; a return pipe 4 connecting one and another ends of a loaded roller rolling groove 2a of the nut member 2; and a plurality of rollers 6 disposed in the loaded roller rolling passage 3 and the return pipe 4. A spacer 31 is disposed between a pair of adjacent rollers 6, 6 so as to prevent the paired rollers 6, 6 from contacting each other. According to such roller screw, the rollers can be smoothly circulated without causing any skew.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 6, 2004Publication date: February 8, 2007Applicant: THK CO, LTD.Inventors: Akihiro Teramachi, Hidekazu Michioka, Hiroshi Niwa, Kentaro Nishimura
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Publication number: 20070009720Abstract: A plurality of thin metal layers 8 and a plurality of thin attenuation layers 9 are laminated one by one alternately. The entire thickness of the laminated damping structure is set to be not more than 1.0 mm. According to this structure, since a plurality of boundary faces exist between the metal layers 8 and the attenuation layers, oscillation energy is easily converted to friction energy, thus providing a large attenuation force. In addition, since the entire thickness is set to be not more than 1.0 mm, deformation amount of the damping structure 6 due to shearing force can be made small, so that rigidity of the damping structure 6 can be increased.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 25, 2004Publication date: January 11, 2007Applicant: THK CO., LTD.Inventors: Hidekazu Michioka, Katsuya Iida
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Publication number: 20060280394Abstract: A cross roller bearing includes an outer ring, an inner ring relatively rotatable with respect to the outer ring, and a plurality of rollers accommodated in a roller circulation passage formed between an outer ring side roller rolling groove formed to the outer ring and an inner ring side roller rolling groove formed to the inner ring so that rotational axes of the rollers intersect each other, and a gear is formed integrally with either one of the outer and inner rings.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 13, 2004Publication date: December 14, 2006Applicant: Thk Co LtdInventors: Hidekazu Michioka, Masahiko Tamano, Masayuki Imamura
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Publication number: 20060248973Abstract: There is provided a roller screw comprising a screw shaft 1 having an outer peripheral surface in which a spiral roller rolling groove 1a is formed, a nut member 2 having an inner peripheral surface in which a spiral loaded roller rolling groove 2a is formed so as to oppose to the roller rolling groove of the screw shaft, a return pipe 4 in which a roller return passage 5 is formed so as to connect one and another ends of a loaded roller rolling passage 3 between the roller rolling groove 1a of the screw shaft 1 and the loaded roller rolling groove 2a of the nut member 2, a number of rollers 6 disposed in the loaded roller rolling passage 3 and the roller return passage 5, wherein the roller return passage 5 is twisted so that an attitude of the roller 6 changes as the roller moves in an axial direction of the return pipe 4. Such roller screw enables to provide an easy assembling and compact structure and to realize smooth circulation of the roller.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 2, 2004Publication date: November 9, 2006Inventors: Akihiro Teramachi, Hidekazu Michioka, Hiroshi Niwa, Kentaro Nishimura
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Publication number: 20060219036Abstract: A hypoid gear device is provided with a backlash eliminating unit arranged between a driven wheel and a driving pinion to be meshed with the driven wheel. The backlash eliminating unit includes a driven pinion mounted on the same shaft as that of the driving pinion so as to be meshed with the driven wheel, and an elastic member urging the driven pinion on the same shaft of the driving pinion in the direction reverse thereto.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 23, 2004Publication date: October 5, 2006Applicant: THK CO., LTD.,Inventors: Hidekazu Michioka, Masahiko Tamano, Masayuki Imamura, Takeki Shirai, Daisuke Yatsushiro
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Publication number: 20060194668Abstract: A traction drive power transmission device, where a lubrication oil can be stably and continuously applied for a long period to portions at which rollers and a shaft are in contact with each other, shortage of the lubrication oil does not occur at the contact portions, the lubrication oil is not wasted, and which does not impair work environment by contaminating floor surface etc. A traction drive power transmission device has at least one drive roller (12a), a follower roller (12b), and a circular cylinder-like shaft (11). The shaft (11) is held between the drive roller (12a) and the follower roller (12b). When the drive roller (12a) is rotated, rotational force by the rotation is transmitted to the shaft (11) to drive it in its axial direction. The device has a lubrication oil-delivering portion (20) with application bodies (22-1, 22-2) for applying a lubrication oil only to portions where the shaft (11) is in contact with the drive roller (12a) and the follower roller (12b).Type: ApplicationFiled: December 26, 2003Publication date: August 31, 2006Inventors: Daisuke Yatsushiro, Takeki Shirai, Hidekazu Michioka, Takahiro Kawaguchi
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Publication number: 20060150416Abstract: Provided is a method of manufacturing a spherical bearing having an inside member with a metal ball portion and an outside member having a ball support portion enclosing and supporting the ball portion of the inside member and connected to the inside member swingably or rotatably relative to each other, including the steps of performing injection molding in which the ball portion of the inside member is inserted as a core in a mold to mold a resin liner covering the ball portion, molding the outside member covering the resin liner by a casting in which the ball portion and the resin liner are inserted as a core in the mold, and after the completion of the casting, and heating the resin liner covering the ball portion through the ball portion of the inside member.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 15, 2004Publication date: July 13, 2006Inventors: Hidekazu Michioka, Tomozumi Murata, Tetsuhiro Nishide
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Publication number: 20060096397Abstract: A ball screw having a lubricant oil feeder constructed so as not to allow the lubricating oil in a ball rolling groove to leak outside. A ball screw having a lubricating oil feeding mechanism installed at the shaft end of a nut, and a seal disposed outside the same, wherein the lubricating oil feeding mechanism has an application with its front end held in slide contact with the ball rolling groove, is being arranged that the lubricating oil is fed to the ball rolling groove through the applicator, and an oil lip with its front end held in slide contact with the surface of the ball rolling groove is installed in the vicinity of the applicators with a predetermined spacing defined between the oil lip and the applicator.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 26, 2003Publication date: May 11, 2006Applicant: THK Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hidekazu Michioka, Daisuke Yatsushiro, Masahiko Yoshino
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Patent number: 7040189Abstract: A circulation member of a ball screw for circulating a ball rolling on a spiral ball rolling groove formed on a screw shaft. The circulation member includes a central portion and a pair of leg portions disposed at both ends of the central portion so as to extend therefrom, the leg portions having inner peripheries having center lines inclined in directions different from each other with respect to a center line of an inner periphery of said central portion. The leg portions also have outer peripheries having center lines being parallel to each other and have thicknesses, different in circumferential directions thereof, at cross sections in directions normal to center lines of the outer peripheries of the respective leg portions.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 2002Date of Patent: May 9, 2006Assignee: THK Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hidekazu Michioka, Yasuyuki Abe, Hiroshi Niwa, Katsuya Iida, Toshiaki Kadono, Takeki Shirai, Hironori Shoji
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Patent number: 6976399Abstract: A wiper ring to be applied to a nut of a ball screw having a screw shaft comprises a plurality of segments each constituted as independent element having a seal portion to be contacted to the screw shaft, support pins extending in an axial direction of the screw shaft so as to correspond to the segments, respectively, the segments being arranged in a circumferential direction of the screw shaft to be rotatable about the pins, the pins being connected to each other through support members so as to limit the relative movement of the respective pins, and a spring member for urging the segments arranged circumferential direction of the screw shaft so as to be directed towards radially central side of the screw shaft.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2004Date of Patent: December 20, 2005Assignee: THK Co., LTDInventors: Hidekazu Michioka, Katsuya Iida, Tetsuhiro Nishide
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Publication number: 20050255927Abstract: Provided is a shaft member capable of minimizing the occurrence of noise by positively attenuating vibration acting on a metal shaft member having spline grooves and spiral grooves axially formed therein. To attain such an object, a shaft member includes a metal shaft main body having a hollow portion and a ceramic material serving as a vibration absorbing member which fills the hollow portion of the shaft body with no gaps. The ceramic material is filled into the hollow portion of the shaft main body in a powder, granular, or fluid state, and formed within the hollow portion into a shape matching the hollow portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 12, 2003Publication date: November 17, 2005Applicant: THK CO., LTD.Inventors: Hidekazu Michioka, Hiroshi Niwa, Masahiko Tamano
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Patent number: 6941656Abstract: There are provided a spherical bearing and a method for manufacturing the same, in which both of a ball bearing section and a ball section made of metal can make light and smooth swinging and rotary motions for a long period of time without biased wear and seize-up of those members even if the solid bodies of them can contact with each other due to a discontinuous oil film under a heavy load. A resin liner that contacts the ball section of the inner member in a sliding relationship is embedded in the ball bearing section, and a resin sliding contact surface provided by the resin liner and the metal sliding surface are adjacent to each other without any gap to form a sliding contact surface at the bearing section.Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 2002Date of Patent: September 13, 2005Assignee: THK Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hidekazu Michioka, Junichi Kuwabara, Kunihisa Takahashi, Tomozumi Murata, Takashi Sakae, Mitsuhiro Teramachi, Tsuyoshi Yamamoto, Fumiaki Morita