Patents by Inventor Hitoshi Ohara

Hitoshi Ohara 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: 20090205979
    Abstract: There is disclosed an electrolyte medium which makes it possible to significantly simplify device structure and detection procedure as well as to detect photocurrent with high sensitivity and accuracy, in specific detection of an analyte with use of photocurrent generated by photo-excitation of a sensitizing dye. The electrolyte-containing sheet comprises a hydrous substrate; and an electrolyte contained in the hydrous substrate. The electrolyte-containing sheet is used as an electrolyte medium in specific detection of an analyte with use of photocurrent generated by photo-excitation of a sensitizing dye. A gel matrix or a water-absorbent substrate can be used as the hydrous substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2009
    Publication date: August 20, 2009
    Applicant: TOTO LTD.
    Inventors: Makoto Bekki, Hitoshi Ohara, Shuji Sonezaki, Yoshimasa Yamana
  • Publication number: 20090131209
    Abstract: In a rocker joint silent chain, the link plates have two different engagement pitches, and the connecting pins are composed of combinations of rocker pins and joint pins, where each rocker pin has one of two thicknesses and each joint pin has one of two thicknesses, so that the rocker joint pins of the chain have three different thicknesses. The link plates and connecting pins are arranged randomly along the length of the chain.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2008
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Applicant: TSUBAKIMOTO CHAIN CO.
    Inventors: Takayuki Morimoto, Hitoshi Ohara, Minoru Komada, Kazufumi Kotani, Shuuji Hamaguchi
  • Publication number: 20080248908
    Abstract: In a silent chain comprising interleaved and relatively pivotable rows of link plates, protrusions formed in the link plates contact relatively pivotable link plates in adjacent rows so that the area of contact is reduced. The protrusions can be annular, or they can be in the form of arcs that are of a size and position such that the arcuate protrusions of each plate do not interfere with the arcuate protrusions of an adjacent plate as the chain bends during use. The plates can have rectangular protrusions, or arcuate protrusions each consisting of an arc-shaped collection of dot-shaped protrusions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2008
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Applicant: Tsubakimoto Chain Co.
    Inventors: Minoru Komada, Hitoshi Ohara, Takayuki Morimoto, Yoshinori Iwasaki, Syuuji Hamaguchi, Shouhei Adachi
  • Publication number: 20070275804
    Abstract: A silent chain transmission utilizes two different kinds of link plates. In a first kind of link plate, the inner flank pitch line is farther than the outer flank pitch line from the chain pitch line. In a second kind of link plate the inner flank pitch line is closer than the outer flank pitch line from the chain pitch line. Every four successive links includes at least one link composed of one type of link plate and at least one link composed of the other type of link plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2007
    Publication date: November 29, 2007
    Applicant: Tsubakimoto Chain Co.
    Inventors: Takayuki Morimoto, Hitoshi Ohara, Minoru Komada, Kazufumi Kotani, Shuuji Hamaguchi
  • Publication number: 20050064969
    Abstract: An oil tight type chain tensioner applies tension to a chain used in an engine. The tensioner includes a housing, in which oil is sealed, and a reciprocating rod extending from the interior of the housing to the exterior for pressing the chain. An oil seal is located between the outer circumferential surface of the rod and the inner circumferential surface of the housing. A reservoir for retaining the oil is communicated with the interior of the housing. This structure permits the oil to flow between the interior of the housing and the reservoir in correspondence with the reciprocation of the rod. The reservoir has a hole for permitting air communication from the interior of the reservoir to the exterior but restricting an oil flow from the exterior of the reservoir to the interior.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2004
    Publication date: March 24, 2005
    Inventors: Yukiharu Tomita, Tomohiro Kano, Katsuya Nakakubo, Tomonori Yoshimura, Hiroshi Hashimoto, Hitoshi Ohara
  • Patent number: 6589127
    Abstract: A silent chain includes guide link rows and joint link rows arranged alternately and articulately connected in an endless fashion by rocker joint pins each composed of a longer pin and a shorter pin. In each guide link row, the longer pin is fitted with two guide plates and also inserted through link plates disposed between the guide plates. In each joint link row, the shorter pin is inserted through link plates. The longer pin and the shorter pin are initially formed in a straight configuration and have the same cross-sectional shape. When the silent chain is stretched substantially straight after having been subjected to a proof load, the pitch of the guide plates is made slightly greater than the pitch of adjacent contact points between the longer pins and the shorter pins of the rocker joint pins in the guide link rows so that the longer pins are elastically deformed into a bow-like configuration bent toward the mating shorter pins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Assignee: Tsubakimoto Chain Co.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Horie, Kazumasa Matsuno, Masao Maruyama, Shigekazu Fukuda, Yoshinori Iwasaki, Takayuki Funamoto, Hitoshi Ohara
  • Patent number: 6572503
    Abstract: A rocker joint silent chain includes rocker joints articulately connecting together multiple interleaved link plates and guide plates located outside the interleaved link plates in the widthwise direction of the chain. Each of the rocker joints is composed of a longer pin firmly fitted at opposite ends thereof in a pair of aligned pin-accommodation holes of two opposed guide plates, and a shorter pin having opposite ends projecting from opposite outer surfaces of the interleaved link plates. The ends of the shorter pin are in slight contact with inner surfaces of the guide plates. High-frequency noise and abrasive wear of the rocker joints and link plates, which may occur due to free movement of the shorter pin in the widthwise direction of the chain, can be avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Assignee: Tsubakimoto Chain Co.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Horie, Kazumasa Matsuno, Shigekazu Fukuda, Takayuki Funamoto, Yoshinori Iwasaki, Makoto Kanehira, Hitoshi Ohara
  • Patent number: 6564933
    Abstract: A conveyor chain has a number of chain units connected together by connecting pins in an endless fashion. Each of the chain units is composed of a plurality of inverted tooth plates disposed in the width direction of the chain, and a slat disposed on one side of the tooth plates and extending across the width of the chain transversely across the tooth plates for carrying an object to be conveyed. The tooth plates each have a pair of inverted teeth formed on the other side thereof for meshing with sprocket teeth, and a pair of pin-accommodation holes for receiving a pair of connecting pins, respectively. The connecting pins each connect adjacent two chain units such that the tooth plates of one chain unit are interleaved with the tooth plates of the other chain unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2003
    Assignee: Tsubakimoto Chain Co.
    Inventors: Takayuki Morimoto, Hitoshi Ohara, Takashi Nakagawa, Masatoshi Sonoda
  • Patent number: 6494800
    Abstract: A wear-resistant silent chain includes a large number of link plates articulately connected together in an endless fashion by rocker joint pins each composed of a long pin and a short pin. The long and short pins have an outer peripheral surface formed by, at least, a convexly arcuate rocker surface which is adjacent to the convexly arcuate rocker surface of another pin, a load-bearing surface on the side opposite to the rocker surface and being seated on an inner peripheral surface of each of a pair of pin holes formed in each link plate, and a pair of lubricant guide surfaces each extending substantially linearly from one circumferential end of the load-bearing surface to an adjacent circumferential end of the rocker surface while extending divergently with respect to the inner peripheral surface of each of said pin holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2002
    Assignee: Tsubakimoto Chain Co.
    Inventors: Makoto Kanehira, Hitoshi Ohara, Kazumasa Matsuno, Masao Maruyama, Hiroshi Horie, Yoshihiro Kusunoki, Shigekazu Fukuda, Takayuki Funamoto
  • Patent number: 6432011
    Abstract: A silent chain include a number of link modules articulately connected together in an endless fashion by rocker joint pins. The rocker joint pins include a first rocker joint pin composed of a first longer pin and a first shorter pin each having a different first thickness in a direction of pitch of the rocker joint pins, and a second rocker joint composed of a second longer pin and a second shorter pin each having a different second thickness in the direction of pitch of the rocker joint pins. The second thickness of the second longer or shorter pin is different from the first thickness of a corresponding one of the first longer and shorter pins. The first joint rocker pin and the second rocker joint pin are arranged in a random pattern along the length of the silent chain so as to suppress generation of periodic noise when teeth of the silent chain and teeth of a sprocket engage with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2002
    Assignee: Tsubakimoto Chain Co.
    Inventors: Makoto Kanehira, Kazumasa Matsuno, Hitoshi Ohara, Shigekazu Fukuda, Hiroshi Horie, Takayuki Funamoto, Yoshihiro Kusunoki, Masao Maruyama
  • Patent number: 6416436
    Abstract: A silent chain power transmitting device includes a driving sprocket and at least one drive sprocket, and a silent chain stretched over the driving and driven sprockets to provide a tension run and a slack run on opposite sides of the driving sprocket. The driving and driven sprockets have a sprocket pitch (chordal pitch) designed to become substantially equal to a chain pitch of the tension run of the silent chain while operating under load. By thus designing the sprocket pitch relative to the chain pitch, toothed link plates of the silent chain are smoothly guided into sliding contact with teeth of the sprockets without causing objectionable interference or collision. The sprockets and silent chain are substantially free from abnormal wear and hence have an increased degree of durability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2002
    Assignee: Tsubakimoto Chain Co.
    Inventors: Makoto Kanehira, Kazumasa Matsuno, Hitoshi Ohara, Shigekazu Fukuda, Hiroshi Horie, Takayuki Funamoto, Yoshihiro Kusunoki, Masao Maruyama
  • Publication number: 20020060142
    Abstract: A conveyor chain has a number of chain units connected together by connecting pins in an endless fashion. Each of the chain units is composed of a plurality of inverted tooth plates disposed in the width direction of the chain, and a slat disposed on one side of the tooth plates and extending across the width of the chain transversely across the tooth plates for carrying an object to be conveyed. The tooth plates each have a pair of inverted teeth formed on the other side thereof for meshing with sprocket teeth, and a pair of pin-accommodation holes for receiving a pair of connecting pins, respectively. The connecting pins each connect adjacent two chain units such that the tooth plates of one chain unit are interleaved with the tooth plates of the other chain unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2001
    Publication date: May 23, 2002
    Inventors: Takayuki Morimoto, Hitoshi Ohara, Takashi Nakagawa, Masatoshi Sonoda
  • Publication number: 20020058561
    Abstract: A silent chain for use with a driving or driven sprocket includes a plurality of link plates each having a pair of teeth engageable with teeth of the sprocket. In each of the link plates, the teeth have a pair of symmetric outside flanks that are caused to be seated on corresponding teeth of the sprocket when the teeth of the link plate are placed in full meshing engagement with the corresponding sprocket teeth, and a pair of symmetric inside flanks each having an arcuately convex profile protruding toward the other inside flank in such a manner that a leading one of the inside flanks of the link plate interferes with one of the corresponding teeth of the sprocket at the onset of the meshing engagement between the link plate and the corresponding sprocket teeth. These link plates are interconnected serially, by a plurality of pivot pins, into a longitudinally articulated strand.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2000
    Publication date: May 16, 2002
    Applicant: TSUBAKIMOTO CHAIN CO.
    Inventors: Makoto Kanehira, Kazumasa Matsuno, Hitoshi Ohara, Shigekazu Fukuda, Hiroshi Horie, Takayuki Funamoto, Yoshihiro Kusunoki, Masao Maruyama
  • Patent number: 6383105
    Abstract: A guide plate a for silent chain is substantially arch-shaped and has a pair of pin holes formed therein at a position adjacent to opposite free ends of the arch-shaped guide plate. The arch-shaped guide plate further has an arcuate inner peripheral surface and an arcuate outer peripheral surface both extending arcuately about a center located at the midpoint of a pitch line segment interconnecting the pair of pin holes. The arcuate inner peripheral surface has a radius of curvature which is in the range of 35 to 45% of the chain pitch, and the arcuate outer peripheral surface is blended with the opposite free ends of the arch-shaped guide plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Assignee: Tsubakimoto Chain Co.
    Inventors: Kazumasa Matsuno, Hitoshi Ohara, Shigekazu Fukuda, Masao Maruyama, Hiroshi Horie, Takayuki Funamoto, Yoshihiro Kusunoki
  • Publication number: 20020025867
    Abstract: A rocker joint silent chain includes rocker joints articulately connecting together multiple interleaved link plates and guide plates located outside the interleaved link plates in the widthwise direction of the chain. Each of the rocker joints is composed of a longer pin firmly fitted at opposite ends thereof in a pair of aligned pin-accommodation holes of two opposed guide plates, and a shorter pin having opposite ends projecting from opposite outer surfaces of the interleaved link plates. The ends of the shorter pin are in slight contact with inner surfaces of the guide plates. High-frequency noise and abrasive wear of the rocker joints and link plates, which may occur due to free movement of the shorter pin in the widthwise direction of the chain, can be avoided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2001
    Publication date: February 28, 2002
    Inventors: Hiroshi Horie, Kazumasa Matsuno, Shigekazu Fukuda, Takayuki Funamoto, Yoshinori Iwasaki, Makoto Kanehira, Hitoshi Ohara
  • Patent number: 6325735
    Abstract: A silent chain includes guide links and articular links arranged in the longitudinal direction of the chain. The guide links each include one or more guide link plates, and the articular links each include two or more articular link plates. When the chain is in the straight-line state, the inside flank of each meshing tooth of any one of the link plates projects outwardly from the outside flank of each meshing tooth of another laterally adjacent one of the link plates. The projecting length of the inside flank relative to the outside flank is allowed to vary between the adjacent links, either in a random fashion or in a regular alternate fashion, along the length of the chain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2001
    Assignee: Tsubakimoto Chain Co.
    Inventors: Makoto Kanehira, Kazumasa Matsuno, Hitoshi Ohara, Shigekazu Fukuda, Hiroshi Horie, Takayuki Funamoto, Yoshihiro Kusunoki, Masao Maruyama
  • Patent number: 6277046
    Abstract: Two rocker pins inserted into each of two pin holes of each link plate of a silent chain each include a rocker surface, a first non-contact surface opposed to an inner peripheral surface of the pin hole on a side opposite to the rocker surface, a pair of load-bearing surfaces contiguous with both circumferential ends of the first non-contact surface, and two second non-contact surfaces interconnecting the pair of load-bearing surfaces and both circumferential ends of the rocker surface, respectively. A part of the inner peripheral surface of the pin hole is formed in a pair of pin-seating surfaces which is in register with the pair of load-bearing surfaces of each rocker pin, respectively, to prevent rotation of the rocker pin within the pin hole. Since the load-bearing surfaces are supported by the pin-seating surfaces in an exactly matched or registered condition, rotation and wobbling of the rocker pin within the pin hole are securely prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2001
    Assignee: Tsubakimoto Chain Co.
    Inventors: Hitoshi Ohara, Makoto Kanehira, Shigekazu Fukuda, Yoshihiro Kusunoki, Takayuki Funamoto, Masao Maruyama
  • Patent number: 6272835
    Abstract: A silent chain is constituted by a number of articulately connected link plates each having an engagement surface for meshing engagement with teeth of a sprocket. The link plates are press-formed so that the engagement surface includes a smooth sheared surface. All of the link plates have respective sheared surfaces along not more than 60% of the thickness of the link plates. In order to reduce noises produced when the link plates mesh with the sprocket teeth, more than 50% of the link plates have respective sheared surfaces along 7 to 15% of the thickness of the link plates and are arranged randomly in the silent chain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2001
    Assignee: Tsubakimoto Chain Co.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Horie, Kazumasa Matsuno, Masao Maruyama, Shigekazu Fukuda, Yoshinori Iwasaki, Takayuki Funamoto, Hitoshi Ohara, Makoto Kanehira
  • Patent number: 6260345
    Abstract: A silent chain includes double rocker joint pins articulately connecting together adjacent links of the chain. The double rocker joint pins are each composed of a longer pin and a shorter pin. The longer pin has a cross-sectional shape different from that of the shorter pin, and the thickness of the longer pin as measured in a direction parallel to a chain pitch line is made greater than the corresponding thickness of the shorter pin. By thus designing the longer pin relative to the shorter pin, the longer pin has a large mechanical strength sufficient to withstand not only an impact force applied when the longer pin is swaged or riveted at opposite ends thereof, but also a shear force and a bending force applied at one time to opposite end portions of the longer pin during power-transmitting operation of the chain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2001
    Assignee: Tsubakimoto Chain Co.
    Inventors: Makoto Kanehira, Kazumasa Matsuno, Hitoshi Ohara, Shigekazu Fukuda, Hiroshi Horie, Takayuki Funamoto, Yoshihiro Kusunoki, Masao Maruyama
  • Patent number: 6159122
    Abstract: Link plates connected together by connecting members to form an endless silent chain each include a pair of teeth and a pair of connecting holes each receiving therein one of the connecting members. The teeth each have an outer flank, an arcuate tip end portion, and an inner flank. The outer flank has a rectilinear tooth face having an intermeshing point, and a tooth length extending from the intermeshing point toward a tip end of each tooth. The tooth length is 5 to 15% of a pitch between the connecting members. The tip end portion has a first arc adjacent to the outer flank and a second arc adjacent to the inner flank, the second arc having a smaller radius of curvature than the first arc. The shortest distance from a junction between the first and second arcs of the arcuate tip end portion to a face angle forming line of the outer flank is 0.5 to 3.0% of the pitch between the connecting members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: Tsubakimoto Chain Co.
    Inventors: Makoto Kanehira, Kenshi Suzuki, Masao Maruyama, Takayuki Funamoto, Shigekazu Fukuda, Hitoshi Ohara