Patents by Inventor Kaoru AONO

Kaoru AONO 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: 11415187
    Abstract: Provided is a centrifugal clutch configured so that a clutch weight can be smoothly displaced without interference with backward displacement of the clutch weight in a rotary drive direction of a drive plate and assist thrust can be stably generated. A centrifugal clutch 200 includes, through swing support pins 214, clutch weights 230 on a drive plate 210 to be rotatably driven by drive force of an engine, and includes plate-side cam bodies 218 and dampers 221. The clutch weight 230 turnably displaces to a clutch outer 240 side through the swing support pin 214, and includes a weight-side cam body 235 configured to climb on the plate-side cam body 218 and a damper groove 236. The damper groove 236 is formed such that a groove width W2 for fitting the damper 221 when the clutch weight 230 is at a clutch-ON position is wider to a front side in a rotary drive direction of the drive plate 210 than a groove width W1 for fitting the damper 221 when the clutch weight 230 is at a clutch-OFF position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha F.C.C.
    Inventors: Kaoru Aono, Yuta Yokomichi, Yuta Kine, Makoto Kataoka
  • Patent number: 11346407
    Abstract: Provided is a centrifugal clutch configured so that a clutch capacity can be increased with a simple configuration. A centrifugal clutch 200 includes a drive plate 210 to be directly rotatably driven by drive force of an engine. The drive plate 210 includes each of swing support pins 214 and protruding bodies 218. The swing support pin 214 is fitted in a pin slide hole 231 formed at a clutch weight 230 to swingably support the clutch weight 230. The protruding body 218 is formed as a cylindrical roller. A driven portion 235 of the clutch weight 230 contacts the protruding body 218. The pin slide hole 231 is formed in a long hole shape allowing backward displacement of the clutch weight 230 in the rotary drive direction of the drive plate 210. The driven portion 235 is formed to extend inclined toward an outer rear side in a rotary drive direction of the drive plate 210.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha F.C.C.
    Inventors: Kaoru Aono, Yuta Yokomichi, Yuta Kine, Makoto Kataoka
  • Patent number: 11255388
    Abstract: Provided is a centrifugal clutch configured so that tilt of a clutch weight can be more effectively reduced to reduce occurrence of uneven wear of the clutch weight and a clutch shoe and smoothly swing the clutch weight. A centrifugal clutch 200 includes clutch weights 230 and plate-side cam bodies 218 on a drive plate 210 to be rotatably driven by drive force of an engine. The clutch weight 230 turnably displaces to a clutch outer 240 side, and includes a weight-side cam body 238 configured to climb on the plate-side cam body 218. In the clutch weight 230, each of a center portion CCP in a cam contact area CE between the plate-side cam body 218 and the weight-side cam body 238, the positions FP1, FP2 of action of force F1, F2 of a coupling spring 235, and a center portion SCP of a clutch shoe 236 in a thickness direction thereof is coincident with a barycentric position WCP of the clutch weight 230.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha F.C.C.
    Inventors: Kaoru Aono, Yuta Yokomichi, Yuta Kine, Makoto Kataoka
  • Patent number: 11149805
    Abstract: A centrifugal clutch is configured so that assist thrust can be maintained constant or can be decreased even when a clutch shoe is abraded. The centrifugal clutch includes a drive plate to be rotatably driven by drive force of an engine. The drive plate includes each of swing support pins and the plate-side cam bodies. The swing support pin is fitted in a long-hole-shaped pin slide hole formed at a clutch weight to swingably support the clutch weight. The plate-side cam body includes a cylindrical roller, and a weight-side cam body of the clutch weight contacts the plate-side cam body. The weight-side cam body is formed as such a curved surface that a cam angle when a clutch shoe contacts a cylindrical surface of a clutch outer is the same between before and after abrasion of the clutch shoe progresses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha F.C.C.
    Inventors: Kaoru Aono, Yuta Yokomichi, Yuta Kine, Makoto Kataoka
  • Patent number: 11118635
    Abstract: A power transmission device has a back torque transmission cam that brings driving clutch plates 6 and driven clutch plates 7 into press contact with each other. A second clutch member 4b is moved when a rotational force is input to a first clutch member 4a via the output shaft 3. The pressure member 5 is located at a non-actuation position. A torque transmission portion transmits a rotational force transmitted to the second clutch member 4b to the first clutch member 4a not via the back torque transmission cam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha F.C.C.
    Inventors: Yoshihiko Ozawa, Han Hiong Chen, Makoto Kataoka, Masataka Murai, Kaoru Aono, Yuta Kine, Yuta Yokomichi
  • Patent number: 11073184
    Abstract: A power transmission device has a back torque transmission cam that brings driving clutch plates 6 and driven clutch plates 7 into press contact with each other. This occurs by moving a second clutch member 4b when a rotational force is input to a first clutch member 4a, via the output shaft 3. A pressure member 5 is located at a non-actuation position. A back torque transmission cam can hold abutment between an interlocking member 9 and weight member 8 by moving the second clutch member 4b in a direction of being brought into proximity to the interlocking member 9.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha F.C.C.
    Inventors: Yoshihiko Ozawa, Han Hiong Chen, Makoto Kataoka, Masataka Murai, Kaoru Aono, Yuta Kine, Yuta Yokomichi
  • Patent number: 11060569
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a centrifugal clutch (100). The centrifugal clutch (100) includes a drive plate (110) that is rotationally driven directly by the driving force of the engine. The drive plate (110) includes a swing support pin (113) that supports a clutch shoe (123) in a swinging state with respect to a clutch outer part (130), and a spring support (115) that supports a torsion spring (116). The spring support (115) is provided in a standing state on a base (111) adjacent to one distal end (121a) of both end parts of a clutch weight (120) in the circumferential direction that faces a tubular surface (131) of the clutch outer part (130). Both end parts (116b) and (116c) of the torsion spring (116) are respectively hooked on the distal end (121a) of one clutch weight (120) and a proximal end (121b) of the other clutch weight (120) of the two clutch weights (120).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha F.C.C.
    Inventors: Yuta Yokomichi, Kaoru Aono
  • Publication number: 20210115986
    Abstract: Provided is a centrifugal clutch configured so that a clutch weight can be smoothly displaced without interference with backward displacement of the clutch weight in a rotary drive direction of a drive plate and assist thrust can be stably generated. A centrifugal clutch 200 includes, through swing support pins 214, clutch weights 230 on a drive plate 210 to be rotatably driven by drive force of an engine, and includes plate-side cam bodies 218 and dampers 221. The clutch weight 230 turnably displaces to a clutch outer 240 side through the swing support pin 214, and includes a weight-side cam body 235 configured to climb on the plate-side cam body 218 and a damper groove 236. The damper groove 236 is formed such that a groove width W2 for fitting the damper 221 when the clutch weight 230 is at a clutch-ON position is wider to a front side in a rotary drive direction of the drive plate 210 than a groove width W1 for fitting the damper 221 when the clutch weight 230 is at a clutch-OFF position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2019
    Publication date: April 22, 2021
    Inventors: Kaoru AONO, Yuta YOKOMICHI, Yuta KINE, Makoto KATAOKA
  • Publication number: 20210108687
    Abstract: Provided is a centrifugal clutch configured so that assist thrust can be maintained constant or can be decreased even when a clutch shoe is abraded. The centrifugal clutch 200 includes a drive plate 210 to be rotatably driven by drive force of an engine. The drive plate 210 includes each of swing support pins 214 and the plate-side cam bodies 218. The swing support pin 214 is fitted in a long-hole-shaped pin slide hole 231 formed at a clutch weight 230 to swingably support the clutch weight 230. The plate-side cam body 218 includes a cylindrical roller, and a weight-side cam body 235 of the clutch weight 230 contacts the plate-side cam body 218. The weight-side cam body 235 is formed as such a curved surface that a cam angle when a clutch shoe 233 contacts a cylindrical surface of a clutch outer 240 is the same between before and after abrasion of the clutch shoe 233 progresses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2019
    Publication date: April 15, 2021
    Inventors: Kaoru AONO, Yuta YOKOMICHI, Yuta KINE, Makoto KATAOKA
  • Publication number: 20210079961
    Abstract: Provided is a centrifugal clutch configured so that tilt of a clutch weight can be more effectively reduced to reduce occurrence of uneven wear of the clutch weight and a clutch shoe and smoothly swing the clutch weight. A centrifugal clutch 200 includes clutch weights 230 and plate-side cam bodies 218 on a drive plate 210 to be rotatably driven by drive force of an engine. The clutch weight 230 turnably displaces to a clutch outer 240 side, and includes a weight-side cam body 238 configured to climb on the plate-side cam body 218. In the clutch weight 230, each of a center portion CCP in a cam contact area CE between the plate-side cam body 218 and the weight-side cam body 238, the positions FP1, FP2 of action of force F1, F2 of a coupling spring 235, and a center portion SCP of a clutch shoe 236 in a thickness direction thereof is coincident with a barycentric position WCP of the clutch weight 230.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2019
    Publication date: March 18, 2021
    Inventors: Kaoru AONO, Yuta YOKOMICHI, Yuta KINE, Makoto KATAOKA
  • Patent number: 10927905
    Abstract: A centrifugal clutch that can suppress the inclination of a clutch weight, realize smooth oscillation, and suppress the uneven wear of a clutch shoe is provided. A drive plate (210) slidably supports a clutch weight (230) and also supports a projection body (218) via a projection body support pin (216). The clutch weight (230) includes a first spring attachment part (231) and a second spring attachment part (234) to which two clutch springs (235) are attached formed, and a driven part (238) that comes into contact with the projection body (218) formed. The projection body (218) and the driven part (238) are formed in a manner that a projection body range (TE) where the projection body (218) and the driven part (238) come into contact overlaps action positions (FP1) and (FP2) of forces (F1) and (F2) of the clutch spring (235) acting on the clutch weight (230) in the thickness direction of the clutch weight (230).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha F.C.C.
    Inventors: Kaoru Aono, Yuta Yokomichi, Yuta Kine, Makoto Kataoka
  • Publication number: 20200370607
    Abstract: Provided is a centrifugal clutch configured so that a clutch capacity can be increased with a simple configuration. A centrifugal clutch 200 includes a drive plate 210 to be directly rotatably driven by drive force of an engine. The drive plate 210 includes each of swing support pins 214 and guide portions 216. The swing support pin 214 is fitted in a pin slide hole 221 formed at a clutch weight 220 to swingably support the clutch weight 220. The guide portion 216 is formed in a cutout shape or a hole shape extending inclined to an outer rear side in a rotary drive direction of the drive plate 210. A protruding body 224 of the clutch weight 220 contacts the guide portion 216. The pin slide hole 221 is formed in a long hole shape allowing backward displacement of the clutch weight 220 in the rotary drive direction of the drive plate 210. The protruding body 224 is formed to protrude from the clutch weight 220.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2018
    Publication date: November 26, 2020
    Inventors: Kaoru AONO, Masayuki ICHII, Yuta YOKOMICHI, Yuta KINE, Makoto KATAOKA
  • Publication number: 20200340540
    Abstract: Provided is a centrifugal clutch configured so that a clutch capacity can be increased with a simple configuration. A centrifugal clutch 200 includes a drive plate 210 to be directly rotatably driven by drive force of an engine. The drive plate 210 includes each of swing support pins 214 and protruding bodies 218. The swing support pin 214 is fitted in a pin slide hole 231 formed at a clutch weight 230 to swingably support the clutch weight 230. The protruding body 218 is formed as a cylindrical roller. A driven portion 235 of the clutch weight 230 contacts the protruding body 218. The pin slide hole 231 is formed in a long hole shape allowing backward displacement of the clutch weight 230 in the rotary drive direction of the drive plate 210. The driven portion 235 is formed to extend inclined toward an outer rear side in a rotary drive direction of the drive plate 210.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2018
    Publication date: October 29, 2020
    Inventors: Kaoru AONO, Yuta YOKOMICHI, Yuta KINE, Makoto KATAOKA
  • Patent number: 10760626
    Abstract: A centrifugal clutch 200 includes a first drive plate 210 rotationally driven directly by a driving force of an engine and a second drive plate 220 frictionally in contact with the first drive plate 210. The first drive plate 210 includes a bulging body 215 on a supporting portion 214 bulging toward the second drive plate 220. The second drive plate 220 is rotationally driven together with the first drive plate 210 while allowing rotational displacement relative to the first drive plate and includes clutch weights 230. The bulging body 215 is made of a cylindrical roller. The clutch weight 230 is formed with a driven portion 232. The driven portion 232 has a pressing body 232a in contact with the bulging body 215. The pressing body 232a obliquely extends rearwardly and outwardly in a rotational drive direction of the first drive plate 210.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha F.C.C.
    Inventors: Kaoru Aono, Yuta Kine, Yuta Yokomichi, Makoto Kataoka
  • Publication number: 20200232520
    Abstract: A power transmission device has a back torque transmission cam that brings driving clutch plates 6 and driven clutch plates 7 into press contact with each other. A second clutch member 4b is moved when a rotational force is input to a first clutch member 4a via the output shaft 3. The pressure member 5 is located at a non-actuation position. A torque transmission portion transmits a rotational force transmitted to the second clutch member 4b to the first clutch member 4a not via the back torque transmission cam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2020
    Publication date: July 23, 2020
    Inventors: Yoshihiko Ozawa, Han Hiong Chen, Makoto Kataoka, Masataka Murai, Kaoru Aono, Yuta Kine, Yuta Yokomichi
  • Publication number: 20200200226
    Abstract: A power transmission device has a back torque transmission cam that brings driving clutch plates 6 and driven clutch plates 7 into press contact with each other. This occurs by moving a second clutch member 4b when a rotational force is input to a first clutch member 4a, via the output shaft 3. A pressure member 5 is located at a non-actuation position. A back torque transmission cam can hold abutment between an interlocking member 9 and weight member 8 by moving the second clutch member 4b in a direction of being brought into proximity to the interlocking member 9.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2020
    Publication date: June 25, 2020
    Inventors: Yoshihiko OZAWA, Han Hiong CHEN, Makoto KATAOKA, Masataka MURAI, Kaoru AONO, Yuta KINE, Yuta YOKOMICHI
  • Patent number: 10670087
    Abstract: A power transmitting apparatus has a clutch member and a pressure member. The cam surfaces of the pressure-contact assist cam face each other. The cam surfaces of the back torque limiter cam face each other. A receiving portion for a clutch spring (10) on the pressure member (5) side has a receiving member (11) separate from the pressure member (5). A first cam surface (C1) and a second cam surface (C2), constituting the back torque limiter cam, are, respectively, formed on the receiving member (11) and the clutch member (4). A third cam surface (C3) and a fourth cam surface (C4), constituting the pressure-contact assist cam, are, respectively, formed on the pressure member (5) and the clutch member (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha F.C.C.
    Inventors: Makoto Kataoka, Han Hiong Chen, Kaoru Aono
  • Publication number: 20200158193
    Abstract: A centrifugal clutch 200 includes a first drive plate 210 rotationally driven directly by a driving force of an engine and a second drive plate 220 frictionally in contact with the first drive plate 210. The first drive plate 210 includes a bulging body 215 on a supporting portion 214 bulging toward the second drive plate 220. The second drive plate 220 is rotationally driven together with the first drive plate 210 while allowing rotational displacement relative to the first drive plate and includes clutch weights 230. The bulging body 215 is made of a cylindrical roller. The clutch weight 230 is formed with a driven portion 232. The driven portion 232 has a pressing body 232a in contact with the bulging body 215. The pressing body 232a obliquely extends rearwardly and outwardly in a rotational drive direction of the first drive plate 210.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2019
    Publication date: May 21, 2020
    Inventors: Kaoru AONO, Yuta KINE, Yuta YOKOMICHI, Makoto KATAOKA
  • Patent number: 10626932
    Abstract: Provided is a centrifugal clutch having a simple configuration and configured so that a clutch capacity can be increased. A centrifugal clutch (200) includes a drive plate (210) to be directly rotatably driven by drive force of an engine. The drive plate (210) includes swing support pins (214) and protrusions (218). The swing support pin (214) is fitted in a pin slide hole (231) formed at a clutch weight (230), and swingably supports the clutch weight (230). The protrusion (218) includes a cylindrical roller, and contacts a driven portion (235) of the clutch weight (230). The pin slide hole (231) is formed in a long hole shape allowing the clutch weight (230) to displace backward in a rotary drive direction of the drive plate (210). The driven portion (235) is formed to extend inclined outward to a rear side in the rotary drive direction of the drive plate (210).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha F.C.C.
    Inventors: Yuta Yokomichi, Yuta Kine, Kaoru Aono, Makoto Kataoka
  • Patent number: 10539197
    Abstract: A centrifugal clutch 200 includes a first drive plate 210 rotationally driven directly by a driving force of an engine and a second drive plate 220 frictionally in contact with the first drive plate 210. The first drive plate 210 includes a bulging body 215 on a supporting portion 214 bulging toward the second drive plate 220. The second drive plate 220 is rotationally driven together with the first drive plate 210 while allowing rotational displacement relative to the first drive plate and includes clutch weights 230. The bulging body 215 is made of a cylindrical roller. The clutch weight 230 is formed with a driven portion 232. The driven portion 232 has a pressing body 232a in contact with the bulging body 215. The pressing body 232a obliquely extends rearwardly and outwardly in a rotational drive direction of the first drive plate 210.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha F.C.C.
    Inventors: Kaoru Aono, Yuta Kine, Yuta Yokomichi, Makoto Kataoka