Patents by Inventor Hirohiko Kawada

Hirohiko Kawada 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: 20200288631
    Abstract: A riding type vehicle has a driving source, a left wheel and a right wheel, a transmission configured to receive power from the driving source to independently operate and drive the left wheel and the right wheel with regard to a rotation direction and a rotation speed, and caster wheels separately provided in a front-rear direction with respect to the left wheel and the right wheel, the riding type vehicle including two first sensors arranged on both left and right sides more to a front side than a rear end of the vehicle, the two first sensors configured to detect an obstacle target located on a rear side, the obstacle target being a target becoming an obstacle at the time of reversing or turning.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2020
    Publication date: September 17, 2020
    Inventors: Ryoichi KAWAI, Hirohiko KAWADA, Seishi KOSEGAWA, Koga YAMANE, Etsuo MIYAKE, Masaki WATANABE, Koji SAKATA, Kenji SHIBA, Kosuke ONODA, Hiroki MAEHARA
  • Patent number: 10638661
    Abstract: A riding type vehicle has a driving source, a left wheel and a right wheel, a transmission configured to receive power from the driving source to independently operate and drive the left wheel and the right wheel with regard to a rotation direction and a rotation speed, and caster wheels separately provided in a front-rear direction with respect to the left wheel and the right wheel, the riding type vehicle including two first sensors arranged on both left and right sides more to a front side than a rear end of the vehicle, the two first sensors configured to detect an obstacle target located on a rear side, the obstacle target being a target becoming an obstacle at the time of reversing or turning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: KANZAKI KOKYUKOKI MFG. CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ryoichi Kawai, Hirohiko Kawada, Seishi Kosegawa, Koga Yamane, Etsuo Miyake, Masaki Watanabe, Koji Sakata, Kenji Shiba, Kosuke Onoda, Hiroki Maehara
  • Publication number: 20170280621
    Abstract: A riding type vehicle has a driving source, a left wheel and a right wheel, a transmission configured to receive power from the driving source to independently operate and drive the left wheel and the right wheel with regard to a rotation direction and a rotation speed, and caster wheels separately provided in a front-rear direction with respect to the left wheel and the right wheel, the riding type vehicle including two first sensors arranged on both left and right sides more to a front side than a rear end of the vehicle, the two first sensors configured to detect an obstacle target located on a rear side, the obstacle target being a target becoming an obstacle at the time of reversing or turning.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2017
    Publication date: October 5, 2017
    Inventors: Ryoichi KAWAI, Hirohiko KAWADA, Seishi KOSEGAWA, Koga YAMANE, Etsuo MIYAKE, Masaki WATANABE, Koji SAKATA, Kenji SHIBA, Kosuke ONODA, Hiroki MAEHARA
  • Patent number: 7516685
    Abstract: There is provided a PTO transmission structure including a PTO driving shaft operatively connected to a driving source, a PTO driven shaft arranged in a downstream side in a transmission direction of the PTO driving shaft, a PTO clutch unit for selectively performing power transmission/power interruption from the PTO driving shaft to the PTO driven shaft, and a transmission case for supporting the PTO driving shaft and the PTO driven shaft and for accommodating the PTO clutch unit. The transmission case has a case main body which includes a first wall having a first hole for supporting the PTO driving shaft, and a second wall having a second hole for supporting the PTO driven shaft, the second wall being spaced apart from the first wall so as to define a first accommodating space to position the PTO clutch unit between the first wall and the second wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Kanzaki Kokyukoki Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Ebihara, Rei Maeda, Hirohiko Kawada, Toshiyuki Hasegawa, Yoshitaka Ishimaru, Tomoyuki Tsuji
  • Patent number: 7431123
    Abstract: A vehicle including an integral transaxle apparatus with axles, a driving hydrostatic transmission (HST), a steering HST, and a differential unit. Driving operating means for slanting operation of a first movable swash plate of the variable displacement driving hydraulic pump for switching the travelling direction between forward and backward and for changing the travelling speed, and steering operating means for slanting operation of a second movable swash plate of the variable displacement steering hydraulic pump so as to determine the leftward and rightward cornering angle are provided. The steering hydraulic motor has a third movable swash plate interlocking with the driving operating means so that the slanting direction of the third movable swash plate is changed according to the operation of the driving operating means, whereby the vehicle turns laterally in the same direction in response to the steering operating means whether the vehicle travels forward or backward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Kanzaki Kokyukoki Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koji Irikura, Norihiro Ishii, Ryota Ohashi, Kenichi Takada, Hirohiko Kawada, Robert Abend, Keith J. Andrews, Toshiyuki Hasegawa, Hiroaki Shimizu
  • Patent number: 7225704
    Abstract: In a transmission for a working vehicle, a working unit includes a hydraulic power unit and a valve unit enclosed in a first bulging portion of a transmission case closer to an upper side or on a top surface thereof and connected with each other along a vehicle lengthwise direction. The first bulging portion is closer to a first lateral side along the vehicle width direction of the transmission case, while a hydraulic pump is located closer to a second lateral side. Hydraulic fluid is drawn from the transmission case, around a lower side of the hydraulic pump, through a suction port thereof, and discharged to a suction port of the valve unit. The hydraulic power unit includes a cylinder tube and piston, extending in the lengthwise direction, and a support shaft, extending along the width direction, which is supported by the transmission case and connected to a lift arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Inventors: Norihiro Ishii, Hirohiko Kawada, Hideki Kanenobu, Hiroshi Tottori, Kentaro Nagata
  • Patent number: 7047839
    Abstract: In a transmission for a working vehicle, a PTO input shaft is located with its rotational axis extending in a vehicle lengthwise direction substantially at a widthwise center of a transmission case along a vehicle width direction. A running power input shaft is located with its rotational axis extending in the vehicle lengthwise direction substantially at the same position as that of the PTO input shaft along the vehicle width direction and at a lower side of the PTO input shaft. The transmission case provides an accommodation space for accommodating a differential gear unit, which space is displaced to a first lateral side of the vehicle along the vehicle width direction. A running power transmission shaft is located on the front side of the space with its axis extending in the vehicle lengthwise direction, and the running power input shaft, the running power transmission shaft and the differential gear unit are interlocked to each other via a running power gear train.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Inventors: Norihiro Ishii, Hirohiko Kawada, Hideki Kanenobu, Hiroshi Tottori, Kentaro Nagata
  • Publication number: 20050257983
    Abstract: A vehicle is installed with an integral transaxle apparatus constructed so that a single housing contains left and right axles, a driving hydrostatic transmission (HST) having a variable displacement first hydraulic pump and a first hydraulic motor fluidly connected with each other, a steering HST having a variable displacement second hydraulic pump and a variable displacement second hydraulic motor fluidly connected with each other, and a differential unit differentially connecting the axles with each other so as to be driven regularly or reversely by the output of the driving HST and to differentially drive the axles while receiving the output of the steering HST, wherein the first hydraulic pump receives power of a prime mover and has a first movable swash plate, and the second hydraulic pump receives power of the prime mover independently of the first hydraulic pump and has a second movable swash plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2005
    Publication date: November 24, 2005
    Inventors: Koji Irikura, Norihiro Ishii, Ryota Ohashi, Kenichi Takada, Hirohiko Kawada, Robert Abend, Keith Andrews, Toshiyuki Hasegawa, Hiroaki Shimizu
  • Publication number: 20050172740
    Abstract: There is provided a PTO transmission structure including a PTO driving shaft operatively connected to a driving source, a PTO driven shaft arranged in a downstream side in a transmission direction of the PTO driving shaft, a PTO clutch unit for selectively performing power transmission/power interruption from the PTO driving shaft to the PTO driven shaft, and a transmission case for supporting the PTO driving shaft and the PTO driven shaft and for accommodating the PTO clutch unit. The transmission case has a case main body which includes a first wall having a first hole for supporting the PTO driving shaft, and a second wall having a second hole for supporting the PTO driven shaft, the second wall being spaced apart from the first wall so as to define a first accommodating space to position the PTO clutch unit between the first wall and the second wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2005
    Publication date: August 11, 2005
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Ebihara, Rei Maeda, Hirohiko Kawada, Toshiyuki Hasegawa, Yoshitaka Ishimaru, Tomoyuki Tsuji
  • Publication number: 20050150316
    Abstract: In a transmission for a working vehicle, a PTO input shaft is located with its rotational axis extending in a vehicle lengthwise direction substantially at a widthwise center of a transmission case along a vehicle width direction. A running power input shaft is located with its rotational axis extending in the vehicle lengthwise direction substantially at the same position as that of the PTO input shaft along the vehicle width direction and at a lower side of the PTO input shaft. The transmission case provides an accommodation space for accommodating a differential gear unit, which space is displaced to a first lateral side of the vehicle along the vehicle width direction. A running power transmission shaft is located on the front side of the space with its axis extending in the vehicle lengthwise direction, and the running power input shaft, the running power transmission shaft and the differential gear unit are interlocked to each other via a running power gear train.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2005
    Publication date: July 14, 2005
    Inventors: Norihiro Ishii, Hirohiko Kawada, Hideki Kanenobu, Hiroshi Tottori, Kentaro Nagata
  • Publication number: 20040216539
    Abstract: In a transmission for a working vehicle, a PTO input shaft is located with its rotational axis extending in a vehicle lengthwise direction substantially at a widthwise center of a transmission case along a vehicle width direction. A running power input shaft is located with its rotational axis extending in the vehicle lengthwise direction substantially at the same position as that of the PTO input shaft along the vehicle width direction and at a lower side of the PTO input shaft. The transmission case provides an accommodation space for accommodating a differential gear unit, which space is displaced to a first lateral side of the vehicle along the vehicle width direction. A running power transmission shaft is located on the front side of the space with its axis extending in the vehicle lengthwise direction, and the running power input shaft, the running power transmission shaft and the differential gear unit are interlocked to each other via a running power gear train.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2004
    Publication date: November 4, 2004
    Inventors: Norihiro Ishii, Hirohiko Kawada, Hideki Kanenobu, Hiroshi Tottori, Kentaro Nagata
  • Patent number: 6758112
    Abstract: In a power transmission arrangement, a working unit includes a hydraulic power unit and a valve unit enclosed in a first bulging portion of a transmission case closer to an upper side or on a top surface thereof and connected with each other along a vehicle lengthwise direction. The first bulging portion is closer to a first lateral side along the vehicle width direction of the transmission case, while a hydraulic pump is located closer to a second lateral side. Hydraulic fluid is drawn from the transmission case, around a lower side of the hydraulic pump, through a suction port thereof, and discharged to a suction port of the valve unit. The hydraulic power unit includes a cylinder tube and piston, extending in the lengthwise direction, and support shaft, extending along the width direction, which is supported by the transmission case and connected to a lift arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2004
    Inventors: Norihiro Ishii, Hirohiko Kawada, Hideki Kanenobu, Hiroshi Tottori, Kentaro Nagata
  • Publication number: 20040074678
    Abstract: A vehicle is installed with an integral transaxle apparatus constructed so that a single housing contains left and right axles, a driving hydrostatic transmission (HST) having a variable displacement first hydraulic pump and a first hydraulic motor fluidly connected with each other, a steering HST having a variable displacement second hydraulic pump and a variable displacement second hydraulic motor fluidly connected with each other, and a differential unit differentially connecting the axles with each other so as to be driven regularly or reversely by the output of the driving HST and to differentially drive the axles while receiving the output of the steering HST, wherein the first hydraulic pump receives power of a prime mover and has a first movable swash plate, and the second hydraulic pump receives power of the prime mover independently of the first hydraulic pump and has a second movable swash plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2003
    Publication date: April 22, 2004
    Inventors: Koji Irikura, Norihiro Ishii, Ryota Ohashi, Kenichi Takada, Hirohiko Kawada, Robert Abend, Keith J. Andrews, Toshiyuki Hasegawa, Hiroaki Shimizu
  • Patent number: 6659216
    Abstract: A vehicle including an integral transaxle apparatus with axles, a driving hydrostatic transmission (HST), a steering HST, and a differential unit. Driving operating means for slanting operation of a first movable swash plate of the variable displacement driving hydraulic pump for switching the travelling direction between forward and backward and for changing the travelling speed, and steering operating means for slanting operation of a second movable swash plate of the variable displacement steering hydraulic pump so as to determine the leftward and rightward cornering angle are provided. The steering hydraulic motor has a third movable swash plate interlocking with the driving operating means so that the slanting direction of the third movable swash plate is changed according to the operation of the driving operating means, whereby the vehicle turns laterally in the same direction in response to the steering operating means whether the vehicle travels forward or backward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Kanzaki Kokyukoki Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koji Irikura, Norihiro Ishii, Ryota Ohashi, Kenichi Takada, Hirohiko Kawada, Robert Abend, Keith J. Andrews, Toshiyuki Hasegawa, Hiroaki Shimizu
  • Patent number: 6564891
    Abstract: A power take-off casing (47) including therein a rear-PTO shaft (12) and a transmission mechanism (50) therefor is mounted on an outer surface of a rear wall (3c) of the transmission casing (3) disposed between left and right rear wheels (4) which constitute drive wheels for a working vehicle, and a gear (52) constituting an input member of the transmission mechanism is operatively connected to a drive mechanism (46) for a mid-PTO shaft (9) which extends forwardly from the inside of transmission casing through a front wall (3a) thereof. A clutch (60) for selectively cutting-off the drive of the rear-PTO shaft is provided preferably such that it couples the gear selectively to a drive gear (58) which is rotatably mounted on the mid-PTO shaft. In a working vehicle in which a transmission casing is disposed between left and right front wheels constituting the drive wheels for the vehicle, a power take-off casing having a front-PTO shaft is mounted on an outer surface of a front wall of the transmission casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2003
    Assignee: Kanzaki Kokyukoki Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Norihiro Ishii, Hirohiko Kawada, Hiroshi Tottori, Kentaro Nagata
  • Patent number: 6547685
    Abstract: A transaxle apparatus provided with a planetary gear type differential The differential comprises a pair of co-axial axles, a sun gear, a center gear serving as a driving input gear, a pair of carriers, a pair of ring gears serving as steering input gears, and planet gears. The center gear interlocks with the sun gear. The pair of carriers are fixedly disposed around the respective axles oppositely to each other with respect to the center gear. The pair of ring gears are rotatably disposed around the respective carriers so as to slidably abut at their inner peripheral surfaces against outer peripheral surfaces of the respective carriers. Each of the ring gears is extended between the sun gear and each of the carriers disposed in the ring gear so as to be inner peripherally formed into an internal gear. Each of the carriers is integrally provided with a plurality of projections projecting toward the center gear between the sun gear and the internal gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: Kanzaki Kokyukoki Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hirohiko Kawada, Norihiro Ishii
  • Patent number: 6524205
    Abstract: An integral-type transaxle apparatus comprising a single housing in which a pair of driving axles, a differential mechanism for differentially connecting both said driving axles to each other, a driving hydraulic stepless transmission which fluidly connects a hydraulic pump and a hydraulic motor, a steering hydraulic stepless transmission which fluidly connects a hydraulic pump and a hydraulic motor, a mechanical transmission for transmitting outputs of both said hydraulic stepless transmissions to said differential mechanism are accommodated, wherein at least one of said hydraulic stepless transmissions is disposed such that a rotational axis of a pump shaft of said one hydraulic stepless transmission and a rotational axis of a motor shaft of said one hydraulic stepless transmission are perpendicular to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2003
    Assignees: Kanzaki Kokyukoki Mfg. Co., Ltd., Tuff Torq Corporation
    Inventors: Kohji Irikura, Norihiro Ishii, Ryota Ohashi, Kenichi Takada, Hirohiko Kawada, Robert Abend, Hiroaki Shimizu
  • Publication number: 20020134183
    Abstract: In a transmission for a working vehicle, a PTO input shaft is located with its rotational axis extending in a vehicle lengthwise direction substantially at a widthwise center of a transmission case along a vehicle width direction. A running power input shaft is located with its rotational axis extending in the vehicle lengthwise direction substantially at the same position as that of the PTO input shaft along the vehicle width direction and at a lower side of the PTO input shaft. The transmission case provides an accommodation space for accommodating a differential gear unit, which space is displaced to a first lateral side of the vehicle along the vehicle width direction. A running power transmission shaft is located on the front side of the space with its axis extending in the vehicle lengthwise direction, and the running power input shaft, the running power transmission shaft and the differential gear unit are interlocked to each other via a running power gear train.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2002
    Publication date: September 26, 2002
    Inventors: Norihiro Ishii, Hirohiko Kawada, Hideki Kanenobu, Hiroshi Tottori, Kentaro Nagata
  • Publication number: 20020108800
    Abstract: A vehicle is installed with an integral transaxle apparatus constructed so that a single housing contains left and right axles, a driving hydrostatic transmission (HST) having a variable displacement first hydraulic pump and a first hydraulic motor fluidly connected with each other, a steering HST having a variable displacement second hydraulic pump and a variable displacement second hydraulic motor fluidly connected with each other, and a differential unit differentially connecting the axles with each other so as to be driven regularly or reversely by the output of the driving HST and to differentially drive the axles while receiving the output of the steering HST, wherein the first hydraulic pump receives power of a prime mover and has a first movable swash plate, and the second hydraulic pump receives power of the prime mover independently of the first hydraulic pump and has a second movable swash plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2002
    Publication date: August 15, 2002
    Inventors: Koji Irikura, Norihiro Ishii, Ryota Ohashi, Kenichi Takada, Hirohiko Kawada, Robert Abend, Keith J. Andrews, Toshiyuki Hasegawa, Hiroaki Shimizu
  • Patent number: 6397966
    Abstract: A vehicle is installed with an integral transaxle apparatus constructed so that a single housing contains left and right axles, a driving hydrostatic transmission (HST) having a variable displacement first hydraulic pump and a first hydraulic motor fluidly connected with each other, a steering HST having a variable displacement second hydraulic pump and a variable displacement second hydraulic motor fluidly connected with each other, and a differential unit differentially connecting the axles with each other so as to be driven regularly or reversely by the output of the driving HST and to differentially drive the axles while receiving the output of the steering HST, wherein the first hydraulic pump receives power of a prime mover and has a first movable swash plate, and the second hydraulic pump receives power of the prime mover independently of the first hydraulic pump and has a second movable swash plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignees: Kanzaki Kokyukoki, Mfg. Co., Ltd., Tuff Torq Corporation
    Inventors: Koji Irikura, Norihiro Ishii, Ryota Ohashi, Kenichi Takada, Hirohiko Kawada, Robert Abend, Keith J. Andrews, Toshiyuki Hasegawa, Hiroaki Shimizu