Patents by Inventor Hiroto Suma

Hiroto Suma 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: 11371554
    Abstract: A bearing device for a vehicle wheel that is capable of maintaining the sealability of a protective cover by preventing a seal member of the protective cover from being damaged without performing any complex machining. The bearing device for vehicle wheel (1) is provided with: a cylindrical sensor holder (11) that is fitted outside the protective cover (9), wherein in the outer ring (2), a protective cover fitting part (13A) to which the protective cover (9) is fitted, a seal part (13B) with which the seal member (10) of the protective cover (9) is brought into contact, and a sensor holder fitting part (13C) to which the sensor holder (11) is fitted are formed, the inner diameter of the seal part (13B) is equal to that of the sensor holder fitting part (13C), and the seal part (13B) and the sensor holder fitting part (13C) are adjacent to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hiroto Suma
  • Publication number: 20200309190
    Abstract: A bearing device for a vehicle wheel that is capable of maintaining the sealability of a protective cover by preventing a seal member of the protective cover from being damaged without performing any complex machining. The bearing device for vehicle wheel (1) is provided with: a cylindrical sensor holder (11) that is fitted outside the protective cover (9), wherein in the outer ring (2), a protective cover fitting part (13A) to which the protective cover (9) is fitted, a seal part (13B) with which the seal member (10) of the protective cover (9) is brought into contact, and a sensor holder fitting part (13C) to which the sensor holder (11) is fitted are formed, the inner diameter of the seal part (13B) is equal to that of the sensor holder fitting part (13C), and the seal part (13B) and the sensor holder fitting part (13C) are adjacent to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2017
    Publication date: October 1, 2020
    Inventor: Hiroto SUMA
  • Patent number: 10752049
    Abstract: A wheel bearing device has a vehicle-body-mounting flange 5b with a plurality of ears 10 discontinuously formed in a circumferential direction on an outer circumferential surface of the outer member 5. An outer circumferential surface 11 on the outer side of the outer member is tapered and formed such that a diameter of the outer member gradually decreases in a direction to an outer side. Ridges 16 protrude from a fitting surface 12 toward the outside in a radial direction. The ridges 16 are formed between the plurality of ears 10. The ridges 16 are forged to smoothly connect to the outer circumferential surfaces of the plurality of ears 10. Ribs 15 are forged on inner-side outer circumferential surfaces of the plurality of ears 10.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Yuta Nakatsuji, Hiroto Suma
  • Patent number: 10641336
    Abstract: A wheel bearing apparatus has a magnetic encoder 14 mounted on an inner ring 5 opposing the rotational speed sensor 16, via the cap 10 and an air gap. The cap 10 has a cylindrical fitting part 10a press-fit into an inner circumference of an end of the outer member 2. A shielding part 10c extends radially inward from the fitting part 10a and has an annular disc shape. A detection part 16a of the rotational speed sensor 16 is arranged close to or in contact with a side surface of the shielding part 10c. The cap 10 is formed of austenitic stainless steel sheet based on SUS 304. The carbon (C) content is reduced and the nickel (Ni) content is increased. A difference of magnetic flux density between a martensitic transformation part and non-martensite part is 1.4 mT or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroto Suma
  • Publication number: 20180209482
    Abstract: A wheel bearing apparatus has a magnetic encoder 14 mounted on an inner ring 5 opposing the rotational speed sensor 16, via the cap 10 and an air gap. The cap 10 has a cylindrical fitting part 10a press-fit into an inner circumference of an end of the outer member 2. A shielding part 10c extends radially inward from the fitting part 10a and has an annular disc shape. A detection part 16a of the rotational speed sensor 16 is arranged close to or in contact with a side surface of the shielding part 10c. The cap 10 is formed of austenitic stainless steel sheet based on SUS 304. The carbon (C) content is reduced and the nickel (Ni) content is increased. A difference of magnetic flux density between a martensitic transformation part and non-martensite part is 1.4 mT or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2018
    Publication date: July 26, 2018
    Inventor: Hiroto Suma
  • Publication number: 20170368873
    Abstract: A wheel bearing device has a vehicle-body-mounting flange 5b with a plurality of ears 10 discontinuously formed in a circumferential direction on an outer circumferential surface of the outer member 5. An outer circumferential surface 11 on the outer side of the outer member is tapered and formed such that a diameter of the outer member gradually decreases in a direction to an outer side. Ridges 16 protrude from a fitting surface 12 toward the outside in a radial direction. The ridges 16 are formed between the plurality of ears 10. The ridges 16 are forged to smoothly connect to the outer circumferential surfaces of the plurality of ears 10. Ribs 15 are forged on inner-side outer circumferential surfaces of the plurality of ears 10.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2017
    Publication date: December 28, 2017
    Inventors: Yuta NAKATSUJI, Hiroto SUMA
  • Publication number: 20170144483
    Abstract: A wheel bearing apparatus has an outer member, an inner member and double row rolling elements contained between outer raceway surfaces and inner raceway surfaces, respectively, of the outer member and the inner member. A vibration damping mechanism is mounted on a portion of the outer member or the inner member except at portions engaging with mating components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2017
    Publication date: May 25, 2017
    Inventors: Kazuhisa SHIGEOKA, Hiroto SUMA, Kentarou NISHIKAWA, Makoto SEKI
  • Publication number: 20170144482
    Abstract: A wheel bearing apparatus has an outer member, an inner member and double row rolling elements contained between outer raceway surfaces and inner raceway surfaces, respectively, of the outer member and the inner member. A vibration damping mechanism is mounted on a portion of the outer member or the inner member except at portions engaging with mating components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2017
    Publication date: May 25, 2017
    Inventors: Kazuhisa SHIGEOKA, Hiroto SUMA, Kentarou NISHIKAWA, Makoto SEKI
  • Patent number: 8267593
    Abstract: A vehicle wheel bearing apparatus has an outer member, an inner member with a wheel hub, and at least one inner ring, double row rolling elements, seals and a rolling bearing fit onto the inner circumference of the wheel hub positioned and secured by a retaining ring. The retaining ring is mounted at an inner side position of a bearing center line. A retaining ring groove, for mounting the retaining ring, is formed with a substantially rectangular cross-section. Outer side and inner side corner portions of the retaining groove are formed with circular arc cross-sections. Each corner portion has a radius of curvature. The radius of curvature of the outer side corner portion is larger than the radius of curvature of the inner side corner portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroto Suma
  • Patent number: 8157453
    Abstract: In an assembly of retainers and tapered rollers to be easily incorporated into an outer ring having a rib portion on an inner peripheral surface on an outboard side thereof, recesses are formed in a large end surface and a small end surface of an outboard side tapered roller. Projections to be inserted into the recesses are formed in an outboard side retainer. A diameter of a circumcircle of the tapered rollers before they are inserted into a hub ring is smaller than an inner diameter of a rib portion. When a hub ring is inserted into the outer ring, the tapered rollers move in a radial direction to cause the diameter of the circumcircle to be greater than the inner diameter dimension of the rib portion, and as a result, the tapered rollers can be received in a specified position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Hisashi Ohtsuki, Hiroto Suma
  • Publication number: 20120076450
    Abstract: A vehicle wheel bearing apparatus has an outer member, an inner member with a wheel hub, and at least one inner ring, double row rolling elements, seals and a rolling bearing fit onto the inner circumference of the wheel hub positioned and secured by a retaining ring. The retaining ring is mounted at an inner side position of a bearing center line. A retaining ring groove, for mounting the retaining ring, is formed with a substantially rectangular cross-section. Outer side and inner side corner portions of the retaining groove are formed with circular arc cross-sections. Each corner portion has a radius of curvature. The radius of curvature of the outer side corner portion is larger than the radius of curvature of the inner side corner portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2011
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Applicant: NTN Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroto Suma
  • Patent number: 7931409
    Abstract: A wheel bearing apparatus for a driven wheel of a vehicle has an outer member, an inner member and rolling elements between the two. The outer member has a body mounting flange for mounting it to a knuckle of a suspension apparatus. The knuckle has a disc shaped bottom portion. The outer member is secured to the knuckle by fastening bolts. The body mounting flange abuts against the bottom portion of the knuckle. The inner side end of the inner member is closed by the knuckle. A plurality of pins is secured to the knuckle. Pin bores to receive the pins are formed on the body mounting flange. The pin bores radially positioning the outer member relative to the knuckle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Keizo Kobayashi, Hiroto Suma
  • Publication number: 20100040319
    Abstract: A wheel bearing apparatus for a driven wheel of a vehicle has an outer member, an inner member and rolling elements between the two. The outer member has a body mounting flange for mounting it to a knuckle of a suspension apparatus. The knuckle has a disc shaped bottom portion. The outer member is secured to the knuckle by fastening bolts. The body mounting flange abuts against the bottom portion of the knuckle. The inner side end of the inner member is closed by the knuckle. A plurality of pins is secured to the knuckle. Pin bores to receive the pins are formed on the body mounting flange. The pin bores radially positioning the outer member relative to the knuckle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2009
    Publication date: February 18, 2010
    Applicant: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Keizo Kobayashi, Hiroto Suma
  • Publication number: 20090304319
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to allow an assembly of retainers and tapered rollers to be easily incorporated into an outer ring having a rib portion on an inner peripheral surface on an outboard side thereof, whereby helping to achieve an improvement in terms of assembly workability. Recesses (27, 28) are formed in a large end surface (25) and a small end surface (26) of an outboard side tapered roller (4a). Projections (35, 36) to be inserted into the recesses (27, 28) are formed in an outboard side retainer (6a). A diameter (A) of a circumcircle of the tapered rollers (4a) before they are inserted into a hub ring is set smaller than an inner diameter (B) of a rib portion (20). When a hub ring (1) is inserted into the outer ring (3), the tapered rollers (4a) move in a radial direction to cause the diameter (A) of the circumcircle to be greater than the inner diameter dimension of the rib portion, and as a result, the tapered rollers (4a) can be received in a specified position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2006
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Inventors: Hisashi Ohtsuki, Hiroto Suma
  • Patent number: 7311363
    Abstract: A vehicle wheel bearing apparatus which improves the surface run-out of the wheel mounting flange to limit the generation of brake judder and also to increase the strength of the flange has a double row rolling bearing to rotatably support a wheel relative to a body of a vehicle. Double row rolling elements are between an inner member and an outer member. The inner member includes a wheel mounting flange, to secure the wheel via a brake rotor, and a cylindrical brake pilot portion, which extends from the wheel mounting flange to support the brake rotor. A plurality of hub bolts is press-fit into the wheel mounting flange along its circumference. The wheel mounting flange includes an annular recess portion recessed from the side surface of an outboard side at a base of the wheel mounting flange. The annular recess portion includes a corner region crossing the brake pilot portion which is formed with a predetermined hardened layer by high frequency induction quenching.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroto Suma
  • Publication number: 20060033381
    Abstract: A vehicle wheel bearing apparatus which improves the surface run-out of the wheel mounting flange to limit the generation of brake judder and also to increase the strength of the flange has a double row rolling bearing to rotatably support a wheel relative to a body of a vehicle. Double row rolling elements are between an inner member and an outer member. The inner member includes a wheel mounting flange, to secure the wheel via a brake rotor, and a cylindrical brake pilot portion, which extends from the wheel mounting flange to support the brake rotor. A plurality of hub bolts is press-fit into the wheel mounting flange along its circumference. The wheel mounting flange includes an annular recess portion recessed from the side surface of an outboard side at a base of the wheel mounting flange. The annular recess portion includes a corner region crossing the brake pilot portion which is formed with a predetermined hardened layer by high frequency induction quenching.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2005
    Publication date: February 16, 2006
    Inventor: Hiroto Suma