Patents by Inventor Kanau Iwashita
Kanau Iwashita 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: 8365856Abstract: A shifting system for a motorcycle includes a shift link mechanism for transmitting operational force during a gear shifting operation. The shift link mechanism is arranged between a shift spindle and a change pedal operated by a shifting movement. A motion capture mechanism is provided on the shift link mechanism so as to transmit the operational force from the change pedal to the shift spindle via an resilient member including a compressive coil spring.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2009Date of Patent: February 5, 2013Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Mikio Kashiwai, Kanau Iwashita, Yoshihisa Ieda, Hisashi Matsuo
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Patent number: 8302755Abstract: A clutch hydraulic mechanism wherein the positional relationship between two cylinders is not varied, and a compact structure can be achieved. A see-saw member for transmitting motive power is provided between a second release cylinder and a first master cylinder and the first master cylinder and the second release cylinder are formed in the same cylinder block. This eliminates the need for adjusting the positions of the first master cylinder and the second release cylinder. In addition, it is possible to dispose the first master cylinder and the second release cylinder close to each other.Type: GrantFiled: July 24, 2008Date of Patent: November 6, 2012Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Koshi Hayakawa, Kanau Iwashita, Yoshihisa Ieda, Katsumi Sahoda, Akihiko Tomoda
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Patent number: 8276732Abstract: A clutch device is configured to include a clutch mechanism, a clutch actuator operatively engaging and disengaging the clutch mechanism, a clutch lever, and an assist pressure generator which generates assist hydraulic pressure by driving an electric motor. The assist hydraulic pressure is supplied to the clutch actuator to operatively engage and disengage the clutch mechanism. The clutch device further includes a first turning angle sensor which detects the turn operation angle of the clutch lever, a control unit which controllably drives the electric motor based on the turning operation amount of the clutch lever and adjusts the driving force generating gain characteristic of the electric motor, and a gain adjustment knob which variably sets the gain characteristic. The clutch device makes it possible to changeably set the magnitude of an assist force of an assist device according to a rider's preference.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2007Date of Patent: October 2, 2012Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kanau Iwashita, Yoshiaki Tsukada, Yoshihisa Ieda, Akihiko Tomoda, Akihiro Iimuro
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Patent number: 8250939Abstract: A transmission for a vehicle for performing a shift manipulation at a desired time while ensuring a favorable operation feeling. A lost motion member is arranged in a shift drive force transmitting mechanism arranged between a shift spindle and a shift drum, and a rotary position of the shift drum is resiliently held by a shift stopper mechanism in a state where one of a plurality of gear trains is established or in a neutral state. A state which allows a changeover operation of an established state of a plurality of gear trains due to an action of a shift drive force which is temporarily accumulated by a lost motion means and a state which interrupts the changeover operation can be changed over by a shift restricting mechanism which is provided as a part separate from a shift stopper mechanism.Type: GrantFiled: August 20, 2009Date of Patent: August 28, 2012Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Koshi Hayakawa, Mikio Kashiwai, Akihiko Tomoda, Yoshihisa Ieda, Kanau Iwashita
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Patent number: 8201677Abstract: A clutch hydraulic system for a vehicle wherein it is possible to independently operate two systems, to increase the degree of freedom in designing, and to achieve a reduction in cost. A seesaw member for transmitting motive power is provided between a second release cylinder and a first master cylinder, the first master cylinder and a second hydraulic oil pipe communicate with each other through a large diameter hole and a small diameter hole provided as communicating passages through which oil flows. A reservoir tank is provided for reserving the oil for controlling the amounts of the oil in the hydraulic oil passage on the side of the first master cylinder and the amount of the oil in the hydraulic oil passage on the side of the second release cylinder is connected to a second master cylinder.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 2008Date of Patent: June 19, 2012Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Koshi Hayakawa, Kanau Iwashita, Yoshihisa Ieda, Katsumi Sahoda, Akihiko Tomoda
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Patent number: 8147381Abstract: A grip force of a driving wheel is maintained by identifying an actual condition of a motorcycle and controlling a clutch in a timely manner. A clutch control system includes a clutch, an actuator unit causing the clutch to engage or disengage, a rear wheel speed sensor, a front wheel speed sensor, a clutch lever sensor and a controller controlling a control motor based on a rear wheel speed and a front wheel speed. When the rear wheel speed is lower than the front wheel speed and an absolute value of a difference between the rear wheel speed and the front wheel speed is greater than a threshold value, the control motor is driven so as to reduce a transmission force of the clutch. When an operational amount of the clutch lever is greater than a threshold value, processing to reduce the transmission force of the clutch is suspended.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2008Date of Patent: April 3, 2012Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kanau Iwashita, Akihiko Tomoda
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Patent number: 8150587Abstract: An ECU is configured to disengage a clutch by driving a motor upon detection of starting of a shift operation, and to engage the clutch upon detection of completion of the shift change. The shift operation starting detection is detected upon determination that an operational force given to a shift pedal is equal to or more than a predetermined operational force, and the shift change completion detection is detected upon determination that a rotational angle of a shift drum from a shift gear position before a shift gear operation becomes equal to or more than a first predetermined angle. The shift operation starting detection is also detected upon determination that the rotational angle of the shift drum from a shift gear position before a shift gear operation is a second predetermined angle or more which is smaller than the first predetermined angle.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2009Date of Patent: April 3, 2012Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Ahihiko Tomoda, Kanau Iwashita, Yoshihisa Ieda, Koshi Hayakawa
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Patent number: 8002099Abstract: A clutch operation mechanism wherein when a clutch is disengaged and engaged by manual operation or by operation of an actuator the one operation does not affect the other operation. The clutch operation mechanism includes a lever side lost mechanism which is disposed between a clutch lever and a turn-operating force transmitting member for interrupting, from the clutch lever side, an operated-force applied from the turn-operating force transmitting member by driving the electric motor when the clutch lever is not operated. A motor side lost mechanism is disposed between the electric motor and the turn-operating force transmitting member and interrupts, from the side of the electric motor, the operated-force applied from the turn-operating force transmitting member by operating the clutch lever when the electric motor is not operated.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2008Date of Patent: August 23, 2011Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Koshi Hayakawa, Kanau Iwashita, Yoshihisa Ieda, Akihiko Tomoda, Katsumi Sahoda
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Patent number: 7891262Abstract: A shift position changing drive member for a transmission includes an arm member capable of turning around the axis of a shift spindle for drivingly turning a shift drum in response to the turning of the shift spindle wherein the shift drum is prevented from coming into a neutral position even if the shifting speed is stopped in midstream. A lost motion spring includes gripping portions gripping a pressing portion from both sides of a coil portion surrounding the shift spindle. An arm member of shift position changing drive member is provided with a pressure-receiving member which is gripped by both gripping portions in such a manner that when the turning member is turned, if, in response to the turning direction, the pressing portion abuts against one of the gripping portions for turning, the other of the gripping portions abuts against the pressure-receiving member.Type: GrantFiled: July 21, 2008Date of Patent: February 22, 2011Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Koshi Hayakawa, Kanau Iwashita, Yoshihisa Ieda, Akihiko Tomoda, Katsumi Sahoda
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Patent number: 7828131Abstract: A clutch-manipulation assist mechanism of a vehicle clutch mechanism is capable of disconnecting power of an engine and is provided to a power transmission path which transmits the power of the engine to a rear wheel. The clutch-manipulation assist mechanism includes a push rod member which is arranged near the clutch mechanism and which is movable in the axial direction interlockingly with a power cutoff of the clutch mechanism due to the manipulation of a clutch lever by a rider. An axial movement of the push rod member is assisted by an actuator in response to a detection of the clutch lever manipulation by the rider using a stroke sensor, thus reducing a manipulation force of the clutch lever. A detection lug of the stroke sensor detects a movement quantity of a shaft end of the push rod member.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2007Date of Patent: November 9, 2010Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kanau Iwashita, Atsuko Niwano
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Patent number: 7690474Abstract: In a clutch manipulation assist device which includes a clutch assist actuator, the actuator is arranged at a position where it is possible to suppress the influence of heat from an engine on the actuator without requiring the heat insulation structure or the like. In a clutch manipulation assist device which includes a clutch mechanism 61 which is arranged in a power transmission path for transmitting a rotational driving force of an engine to a wheel, a clutch-manipulation mechanism in which a clutch manipulation force is inputted, and an actuator which generates a clutch assist force in response to a manipulation of the clutch manipulation mechanism, the actuator is arranged in front of the engine and outside a main frame.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 2007Date of Patent: April 6, 2010Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kanau Iwashita, Yoshihisa Ieda, Akihiko Tomoda
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Publication number: 20100050805Abstract: A transmission for a vehicle for performing a shift manipulation at a desired time while ensuring a favorable operation feeling. A lost motion member is arranged in a shift drive force transmitting mechanism arranged between a shift spindle and a shift drum, and a rotary position of the shift drum is resiliently held by a shift stopper mechanism in a state where one of a plurality of sear trains is established or in a neutral state. A state which allows a changeover operation of an established state of a plurality of gear trains due to an action of a shift drive force which is temporarily accumulated by a lost motion means and a state which interrupts the changeover operation can be changed over by a shift restricting mechanism which is provided as a part separate from a shift stopper mechanism.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 20, 2009Publication date: March 4, 2010Inventors: Koshi HAYAKAWA, Mikio Kashiwai, Akihiko Tomoda, Yoshihisa Ieda, Kanau Iwashita
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Publication number: 20090266671Abstract: A clutch operation mechanism wherein when a clutch is disengaged and engaged by manual operation or by operation of an actuator the one operation does not affect the other operation. The clutch operation mechanism includes a lever side lost mechanism which is disposed between a clutch lever and a turn-operating force transmitting member for interrupting, from the clutch lever side, an operated-force applied from the turn-operating force transmitting member by driving the electric motor when the clutch lever is not operated. A motor side lost mechanism is disposed between the electric motor and the turn-operating force transmitting member and interrupts, from the side of the electric motor, the operated-force applied from the turn-operating force transmitting member by operating the clutch lever when the electric motor is not operated.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 24, 2008Publication date: October 29, 2009Inventors: Koshi Hayakawa, Kanau Iwashita, Yoshihisa Ieda, Akihiko Tomoda, Katsumi Sahoda
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Publication number: 20090249914Abstract: A shifting system for a motorcycle includes a shift link mechanism for transmitting operational force during a gear shifting operation. The shift link mechanism is arranged between a shift spindle and a change pedal operated by a shifting movement. A motion capture mechanism is provided on the shift link mechanism so as to transmit the operational force from the change pedal to the shift spindle via an resilient member including a compressive coil spring.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 17, 2009Publication date: October 8, 2009Applicant: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Mikio Kashiwai, Kanau Iwashita, Yoshihisa Ieda, Hisashi Matsuo
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Publication number: 20090222182Abstract: An ECU is configured to disengage a clutch by driving a motor upon detection of starting of a shift operation, and to engage the clutch upon detection of completion of the shift change. The shift operation starting detection is detected upon determination that an operational force given to a shift pedal is equal to or more than a predetermined operational force, and the shift change completion detection is detected upon determination that a rotational angle of a shift drum from a shift gear position before a shift gear operation becomes equal to or more than a first predetermined angle. The shift operation starting detection is also detected upon determination that the rotational angle of the shift drum from a shift gear position before a shift gear operation is a second predetermined angle or more which is smaller than the first predetermined angle.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 27, 2009Publication date: September 3, 2009Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Ahihiko TOMODA, Kanau IWASHITA, Yoshihisa IEDA, Koshi HAYAKAWA
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Publication number: 20090088298Abstract: A grip force of a driving wheel is maintained by identifying an actual condition of a motorcycle and controlling a clutch in a timely manner. A clutch control system includes a clutch, an actuator unit causing the clutch to engage or disengage, a rear wheel speed sensor, a front wheel speed sensor, a clutch lever sensor and a controller controlling a control motor based on a rear wheel speed and a front wheel speed. When the rear wheel speed is lower than the front wheel speed and an absolute value of a difference between the rear wheel speed and the front wheel speed is greater than a threshold value, the control motor is driven so as to reduce a transmission force of the clutch. When an operational amount of the clutch lever is greater than a threshold value, processing to reduce the transmission force of the clutch is suspended.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 25, 2008Publication date: April 2, 2009Inventors: Kanau IWASHITA, Akihiko Tomoda
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Publication number: 20090084208Abstract: A shift position changing drive member for a transmission includes an arm member capable of turning around the axis of a shift spindle for drivingly turning a shift drum in response to the turning of the shift spindle wherein the shift drum is prevented from coming into a neutral position even if the shifting speed is stopped in midstream. A lost motion spring includes gripping portions gripping a pressing portion from both sides of a coil portion surrounding the shift spindle. An arm member of shift position changing drive member is provided with a pressure-receiving member which is gripped by both gripping portions in such a manner that when the turning member is turned, if, in response to the turning direction, the pressing portion abuts against one of the gripping portions for turning, the other of the gripping portions abuts against the pressure-receiving member.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 21, 2008Publication date: April 2, 2009Inventors: Koshi HAYAKAWA, Kanau IWASHITA, Yoshihisa IEDA, Akihiko TOMODA, Katsumi SAHODA
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Patent number: 7506708Abstract: A protective guard member is provided in order to protect a high-voltage wire connected to a control unit in an electric vehicle, in which the control unit, for controlling a drive motor of the vehicle, is mounted to a rear swing arm thereof. The high-voltage wire protecting guard member may be provided as a guard arm of a main vehicle support stand, arranged to shield the external side of the high-voltage wire, when the support stand is in a stored position thereof. The guard arm may be configured to protectively shield a water supply pipe and a water discharge pipe for a cooling plate associated with the control unit, as well as protecting the high-voltage wire, when the support stand is in the stored position thereof.Type: GrantFiled: July 6, 2005Date of Patent: March 24, 2009Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventor: Kanau Iwashita
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Publication number: 20090057090Abstract: A clutch hydraulic mechanism wherein the positional relationship between two cylinders is not varied, and a compact structure can be achieved. A see-saw member for transmitting motive power is provided between a second release cylinder and a first master cylinder and the first master cylinder and the second release cylinder are formed in the same cylinder block. This eliminates the need for adjusting the positions of the first master cylinder and the second release cylinder. In addition, it is possible to dispose the first master cylinder and the second release cylinder close to each other.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 24, 2008Publication date: March 5, 2009Inventors: Koshi HAYAKAWA, Kanau Iwashita, Yoshihisa Ieda, Katsumi Sahoda, Akihiko Tomoda
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Publication number: 20090057092Abstract: A clutch hydraulic system for a vehicle wherein it is possible to independently operate two systems, to increase the degree of freedom in designing, and to achieve a reduction in cost. A seesaw member for transmitting motive power is provided between a second release cylinder and a first master cylinder, the first master cylinder and a second hydraulic oil pipe communicate with each other through a large diameter hole and a small diameter hole provided as communicating passages through which oil flows. A reservoir tank is provided for reserving the oil for controlling the amounts of the oil in the hydraulic oil passage on the side of the first master cylinder and the amount of the oil in the hydraulic oil passage on the side of the second release cylinder is connected to a second master cylinder.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 22, 2008Publication date: March 5, 2009Inventors: Koshi HAYAKAWA, Kanau Iwashita, Yoshihisa Ieda, Katsumi Sahoda, Akihiko Tomoda