Patents by Inventor Hirotsugu Kudo

Hirotsugu Kudo 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: 10190554
    Abstract: In a fuel supply device for separating raw fuel into high-octane fuel and low-octane fuel and supplying the fuel, to arrange the structural components compactly and to facilitate sealing against fuel vapor, the fuel supply device (1) includes: a raw fuel tank (2) for storing raw fuel; a separator (6) provided inside the raw fuel tank to separate the raw fuel into high-octane fuel that contains a greater amount of components with high octane numbers than the raw fuel and low-octane fuel that contains a greater amount of components with low octane numbers than the raw fuel; and a high-octane fuel tank (5) provided inside the raw fuel tank to store the high-octane fuel separated from the raw fuel by the separator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kengo Ishimitsu, Yusuke Oda, Hiroshi Chishima, Hirotsugu Kudo
  • Patent number: 9803563
    Abstract: A fuel supply apparatus includes a material fuel tank, a separator, a condenser, a first fuel tank, and a first storage device. The material fuel tank is to store a material fuel. The separator is to separate the material fuel supplied from the material fuel tank into a first fuel and a second fuel. The condenser is to condense the first fuel supplied from the separator through a primary-order recovery passage. The first fuel tank is to store the first fuel supplied from the condenser through a secondary-order recovery passage. The first storage device is provided in the secondary-order recovery passage to temporarily store the first fuel supplied from the condenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hirotsugu Kudo, Masayoshi Kawaguchi, Hiroshi Chishima, Kenji Shigetoyo
  • Publication number: 20170122275
    Abstract: In a fuel supply device for separating raw fuel into high-octane fuel and low-octane fuel and supplying the fuel, to arrange the structural components compactly and to facilitate sealing against fuel vapor, the fuel supply device (1) includes: a raw fuel tank (2) for storing raw fuel; a separator (6) provided inside the raw fuel tank to separate the raw fuel into high-octane fuel that contains a greater amount of components with high octane numbers than the raw fuel and low-octane fuel that contains a greater amount of components with low octane numbers than the raw fuel; and a high-octane fuel tank (5) provided inside the raw fuel tank to store the high-octane fuel separated from the raw fuel by the separator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2014
    Publication date: May 4, 2017
    Inventors: Kengo Ishimitsu, Yusuke Oda, Hiroshi Chishima, Hirotsugu Kudo
  • Patent number: 9133778
    Abstract: A device capable of supplying an internal combustion engine with fuel while improving the utilization rate of vaporized fuel. A temporary transition from a third state (primary recovery path FL1: closed, secondary recovery path FL2: closed, second vaporized fuel path VL2: closed, condenser 30: decompressed) to a fourth state (primary recovery path FL1: closed, secondary recovery path FL2: closed, second vaporized fuel path VL2: open, condenser 30: decompressed) is achieved. This temporarily increases an internal air pressure P of a condenser 30, and the kinetic energy of a vaporized fuel V leaked out of a first fuel tank 40 through the second vaporized fuel path VL2 is able to sweep away a first fuel F1 in a liquid state accumulated in a vacuum pump 36 to the first fuel tank 40.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Chishima, Hirotsugu Kudo, Masayoshi Kawaguchi, Kenji Shigetoyo
  • Patent number: 9074562
    Abstract: A fuel supply apparatus includes a raw-fuel tank, a separator, a heater, a cooler, and an adjustment mechanism. The raw-fuel tank is to store raw fuel. The separator is to separate the raw fuel into a first fuel and a second fuel. The adjustment mechanism is to perform adjustment of at least one of a first factor, a second factor, and a third factor so that a first temperature of the separator is set to within a predetermined first temperature range or is set to a first target temperature. The first factor includes a flow rate of the raw fuel. The second factor includes an amount by which the raw fuel is heated in the heater. The third factor includes an amount by which the second fuel is cooled in the cooler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Daiko Tsutsumi, Hiroshi Chishima, Hirotsugu Kudo, Masayoshi Kawaguchi, Kenji Shigetoyo
  • Patent number: 8985064
    Abstract: A device capable of supplying an internal combustion engine 60 with a first fuel F1 of a high octane number fuel, and a second fuel F2 of a low octane number fuel or a raw fuel F0. The device is equipped with a cooling medium circulating path LL configured to perform heat exchange between a cooling medium for cooling the internal combustion engine 60 and a separator 20. The device adjusts a flow rate of the cooling medium in the cooling medium circulating path LL, so that a separator temperature T1 is contained in a predetermined temperature range, according to T1, a raw fuel temperature T2 and a cooling medium temperature T3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Kenji Shigetoyo, Hirotsugu Kudo, Hiroshi Chishima, Masahiko Asanuma
  • Publication number: 20140124419
    Abstract: A fuel separation device includes a raw fuel tank, a separator, a first density sensor, and a state determination element. The raw fuel tank is to store raw fuel. The separator is to separate the raw fuel supplied from the raw fuel tank into high-octane fuel and low-octane fuel. The high-octane fuel contains a high-octane component by a larger amount than an amount of a high-octane component in the raw fuel. The low-octane fuel contains a high-octane component by a smaller amount than the amount of the high-octane component in the raw fuel. The first density sensor is configured to output a signal corresponding to a density of the high-octane component contained in the low-octane fuel. The state determination element is configured to determine a state of the separator in accordance with the density indicated by the signal output from the first density sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2013
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroshi CHISHIMA, Hirotsugu KUDO, Masayoshi KAWAGUCHI, Daiko TSUTSUMI, Kenji SHIGETOYO
  • Publication number: 20140041642
    Abstract: A fuel supply apparatus includes a raw-fuel tank, a separator, a heater, a cooler, and an adjustment mechanism. The raw-fuel tank is to store raw fuel. The separator is to separate the raw fuel into a first fuel and a second fuel. The adjustment mechanism is to perform adjustment of at least one of a first factor, a second factor, and a third factor so that a first temperature of the separator is set to within a predetermined first temperature range or is set to a first target temperature. The first factor includes a flow rate of the raw fuel. The second factor includes an amount by which the raw fuel is heated in the heater. The third factor includes an amount by which the second fuel is cooled in the cooler.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2013
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Inventors: Daiko TSUTSUMI, Hiroshi CHISHIMA, Hirotsugu KUDO, Masayoshi KAWAGUCHI, Kenji SHIGETOYO
  • Publication number: 20140007842
    Abstract: A fuel supply apparatus includes a material fuel tank, a separator, a condenser, a first fuel tank, and a first storage device. The material fuel tank is to store a material fuel. The separator is to separate the material fuel supplied from the material fuel tank into a first fuel and a second fuel. The condenser is to condense the first fuel supplied from the separator through a primary-order recovery passage. The first fuel tank is to store the first fuel supplied from the condenser through a secondary-order recovery passage. The first storage device is provided in the secondary-order recovery passage to temporarily store the first fuel supplied from the condenser.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2013
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Inventors: Hirotsugu KUDO, Masayoshi KAWAGUCHI, Hiroshi CHISHIMA, Kenji SHIGETOYO
  • Publication number: 20130333644
    Abstract: A device capable of supplying an internal combustion engine 60 with a first fuel F1 of a high octane number fuel, and a second fuel F2 of a low octane number fuel or a raw fuel F0. The device is equipped with a cooling medium circulating path LL configured to perform heat exchange between a cooling medium for cooling the internal combustion engine 60 and a separator 20. The device adjusts a flow rate of the cooling medium in the cooling medium circulating path LL, so that a separator temperature T1 is contained in a predetermined temperature range, according to T1, a raw fuel temperature T2 and a cooling medium temperature T3.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2013
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Inventors: Kenji Shigetoyo, Hirotsugu Kudo, Hiroshi Chishima, Masahiko Asanuma
  • Patent number: 8602010
    Abstract: A system for supplying fuel to an internal combustion engine, while improving the utilization rate of an evaporation fuel, is provided. The raw fuel F0 is separated to a first fuel F1 and a second fuel F2 by a separation device 20. The evaporation fuel V derived from the first fuel F1 is suctioned from a condenser 30 by an operation of a vacuum pump 36, and then supplied to a first fuel tank 40. During this operation, at least a part of the evaporation fuel V transits its phase from a gas phase to a liquid phase and stored in the first fuel tank 40 as the first fuel F1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Chishima, Hirotsugu Kudo, Masayoshi Kawaguchi, Kenji Shigetoyo
  • Patent number: 8584658
    Abstract: In a fuel supply system, at least one of a first negative pressure P1 and a second negative pressure P2 is adjusted such that a width of a negative pressure range [P1, P2] of a condenser in a second state, that is, the difference P2?P1 of the first and second negative pressure, becomes smaller as a concentration C2 of high-octane number component of a raw fuel F0 is lower. A term until the internal atmospheric pressure P of the condenser 30 rises from the first negative pressure P1 to the second negative pressure P2 in a negative pressure control processing, that is, the term which the second state is maintained, is shortened. Therefore, the number of times the negative pressure control process is repeated is increased, thus the increase of an accumulated recovery amount of the first fuel F1 with high concentration of high-octane number component is attained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hirotsugu Kudo, Daiko Tsutsumi
  • Publication number: 20130263825
    Abstract: A device capable of supplying an internal combustion engine with fuel while improving the utilization rate of vaporized fuel. A temporary transition from a third state (primary recovery path FL1: closed, secondary recovery path FL2: closed, second vaporized fuel path VL2: closed, condenser 30: decompressed) to a fourth state (primary recovery path FL1: closed, secondary recovery path FL2: closed, second vaporized fuel path VL2: open, condenser 30: decompressed) is achieved. This temporarily increases an internal air pressure P of a condenser 30, and the kinetic energy of a vaporized fuel V leaked out of a first fuel tank 40 through the second vaporized fuel path VL2 is able to sweep away a first fuel F1 in a liquid state accumulated in a vacuum pump 36 to the first fuel tank 40.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2013
    Publication date: October 10, 2013
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroshi CHISHIMA, Hirotsugu KUDO, Masayoshi KAWAGUCHI, Kenji SHIGETOYO
  • Publication number: 20130036990
    Abstract: Disclosed is a system for supplying fuel to an internal combustion engine while improving the utilization rate of an evaporation fuel. The raw fuel F0 is separated to a first fuel F1 and a second fuel F2 by a separation device 20. The evaporation fuel V derived from the first fuel F1 is suctioned from a condenser 30 by an operation of a vacuum pump 36, and then supplied to a first fuel tank 40. During this operation, at least a part of the evaporation fuel V transits its phase from a gas phase to a liquid phase and stored in the first fuel tank 40 as the first fuel F1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2012
    Publication date: February 14, 2013
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroshi CHISHIMA, Hirotsugu KUDO, Masayoshi KAWAGUCHI, Kenji SHIGETOYO
  • Patent number: 6772725
    Abstract: An engine including an engine oil return passage for returning engine oil from a cylinder head side to an oil pan having a balance shaft forming a balancing system for said engine; and a housing disposed below a crankshaft for accommodating rotatably therein the balance shaft. A part of the engine oil return passage is provided in the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Inaba, Yusuke Endo, Osamu Murakami, Hirotsugu Kudo, Kenji Fujiki
  • Patent number: 6758183
    Abstract: A joint portion 33 of an oil pump shaft 19 and a balancer shaft (output-side balancer shaft 12) is provided in an open space between opposite surfaces of a sidewall 4b of an oil pump housing 4 and a sidewall 5c1-5c2 (a bearing portion) of a balancer shaft housing 5. The joint portion 33 of the oil pump shaft 19 and the balancer shaft 12 is comprised of a pair of engageable portions 33a, 33b provided at each end of the balancer shaft 12 and the oil pump shaft 19, respectively. The engageable portions 33a, 33b are disengageably engaged with each other in radial directions of the shafts 12, 19. The joint portion 33 can be seen from the outside, and thus a joining operation can be performed with ease.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2004
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yusuke Endo, Hirotsugu Kudo, Kenji Fujiki
  • Publication number: 20030110940
    Abstract: A joint portion 33 of an oil pump shaft 19 and a balancer shaft (output-side balancer shaft 12) is provided in an open space between opposite surfaces of a sidewall 4b of an oil pump housing 4 and a sidewall 5c1-5c2 (a bearing portion) of a balancer shaft housing 5. The joint portion 33 of the oil pump shaft 19 and the balancer shaft 12 is comprised of a pair of engageable portions 33a, 33b provided at each end of the balancer shaft 12 and the oil pump shaft 19, respectively. The engageable portions 33a, 33b are disengageably engaged with each other in radial directions of the shafts 12, 19. The joint portion 33 can be seen from the outside, and thus a joining operation can be performed with ease.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2002
    Publication date: June 19, 2003
    Applicant: HONDA GIKEN KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yusuke Endo, Hirotsugu Kudo, Kenji Fujiki
  • Publication number: 20030075136
    Abstract: An engine including an engine oil return passage for returning engine oil from a cylinder head side to an oil pan (5) has: a balance shaft (13L, 13R) forming a balancing system (4) for said engine; and a housing (14U, 14L) disposed below a crankshaft (1) for accommodating rotatably therein said balance shaft (13L, 13R). A part (142) of said engine oil return passage is provided in said housing (14U, 14L).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2002
    Publication date: April 24, 2003
    Applicant: HONDA GIKEN KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Inaba, Yusuke Endo, Osamu Murakami, Hirotsugu Kudo, Kenji Fujiki
  • Patent number: 5198808
    Abstract: In a matrix switch apparatus with a diagnosis circuit, a switch unit is positioned between a group of input line interface circuits and a group of output line interface circuits. The switch unit includes front switches and back switches, respectively, equal in number to the input and output line interface circuits, and middle switches of 2M in number. The number M is the number of interface elements included in each of the input and output line interface circuits. Each of the front and back switches is provided with input and output ports having a ratio, respectively, determined by (M+1) and 2M, and each of the middle switches is provided with input and output ports, respectively, equal in number to 2M. In accordance with the above structure, the diagnosis of a stand-by port connected to a stand-by interface element included in each of the input and output line interface circuits can be carried out, even if all working input and output ports connected to the interface elements are occupied for operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1993
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Hirotsugu Kudo