Patents by Inventor Katsumi Kurihara

Katsumi Kurihara 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: 7287508
    Abstract: An engine lubrication method is provided. The four-cycle engine has a lightweight aluminum alloy engine block having a cylindrical bore and an enclosed oil reservoir formed therein. A crankshaft is rotatably mounted in the engine block for rotation about a crankshaft axis. A piston reciprocates within the bore and is connected to the crankshaft by a connecting rod. An oil pump driven by the cam gear, which mates with crank gear that is driven by crank shaft, inhales the oil from the oil reservoir to splash lubricate into the cylinder bore. The engine is provided with a cylinder head assembly defining a compact combustion chamber having a pair of overhead intake and exhaust ports and cooperating intake and exhaust valves. A lightweight, high-powered engine is thereby provided having relatively low HC and CO emissions. A circular arc wall surrounds around web of the crankshaft with a slight distance from the web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: ETG Limited
    Inventor: Katsumi Kurihara
  • Publication number: 20070028887
    Abstract: An engine lubrication method is provided. The four-cycle engine has a lightweight aluminum alloy engine block having a cylindrical bore and an enclosed oil reservoir formed therein. A crankshaft is rotatably mounted in the engine block for rotation about a crankshaft axis. A piston reciprocates within the bore and is connected to the crankshaft by a connecting rod. An oil pump driven by the cam gear, which mates with crank gear that is driven by crank shaft, inhales the oil from the oil reservoir to splash lubricate into the cylinder bore. The engine is provided with a cylinder head assembly defining a compact combustion chamber having a pair of overhead intake and exhaust ports and cooperating intake and exhaust valves. A lightweight, high-powered engine is thereby provided having relatively low HC and CO emissions. A circular arc wall surrounds around web of the crankshaft with a slight distance from the web.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2006
    Publication date: February 8, 2007
    Inventor: Katsumi Kurihara
  • Patent number: 6863043
    Abstract: A power tool having a rotary implement driven by a four-cycle engine. The engine crankcase is through a passageway which extends through a camshaft to a valve chamber. The rotating shaft member inhibits the escape of lubricating oil when the engine is running while permitting a lubricating oil mist to circulate through the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Assignee: MTD Southwest, Inc.
    Inventors: Katsumi Kurihara, Shiro Kawamoto, James M. Grayson
  • Publication number: 20040177825
    Abstract: A power tool having a rotary implement driven by a four-cycle engine. The engine crankcase is through a passageway which extends through a camshaft to a valve chamber. The rotating shaft member inhibits the escape of lubricating oil when the engine is running while permitting a lubricating oil mist to circulate through the engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2003
    Publication date: September 16, 2004
    Applicant: MTD Southwest, Inc.
    Inventors: Katsumi Kurihara, Shiro Kawamoto, James M. Grayson
  • Publication number: 20040107938
    Abstract: An engine powered hand-held power tool and engine lubrication method is provided, the power tool being intended to be carried by an operator during use. The power tool has a frame, including a handle to be grasped by the operator, an implement affixed to the frame having a rotary input member, and a small four-cycle, lightweight, internal combustion engine attached to the frame for driving the implement. The four-cycle engine has a lightweight aluminum alloy engine block having a cylindrical bore and an enclosed oil reservoir formed therein. A crankshaft is rotatably mounted in the engine block for rotation about a crankshaft axis. A piston reciprocates within the bore and is connected to the crankshaft by a connecting rod. An oil splasher driven by the crankshaft intermittently engages the oil within the enclosed oil reservoir to splash-lubricate the engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2003
    Publication date: June 10, 2004
    Inventors: Robert G. Everts, Katsumi Kurihara
  • Patent number: 6666184
    Abstract: A power tool having a rotary implement driven by a four-cycle engine. The engine crankcase is through a passageway which extends through a camshaft to a valve chamber. The rotating shaft member inhibits the escape of lubricating oil when the engine is running while permitting a lubricating oil mist to circulate through the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2003
    Assignee: MTD Southwest, Inc.
    Inventors: Katsumi Kurihara, Shiro Kawamoto, James M. Grayson
  • Patent number: 6622688
    Abstract: An engine powered hand-held power tool and engine lubrication method is provided, the power tool being intended to be carried by an operator during use. The power tool has a frame, including a handle to be grasped by the operator, an implement affixed to the frame having a rotary input member, and a small four-cycle, lightweight, internal combustion engine attached to the frame for driving the implement. The four-cycle engine has a lightweight aluminum alloy engine block having a cylindrical bore and an enclosed oil reservoir formed therein. A crankshaft is rotatably mounted in the engine block for rotation about a crankshaft axis. A piston reciprocates within the bore and is connected to the crankshaft by a connecting rod. An oil splasher driven by the crankshaft intermittently engages the oil within the enclosed oil reservoir to splash-lubricate the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2003
    Assignee: MTD Southwest, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert G. Everts, Katsumi Kurihara
  • Publication number: 20030010311
    Abstract: A power tool having a rotary implement driven by a four-cycle engine. The engine crankcase is through a passageway which extends through a camshaft to a valve chamber. The rotating shaft member inhibits the escape of lubricating oil when the engine is running while permitting a lubricating oil mist to circulate through the engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2002
    Publication date: January 16, 2003
    Applicant: MTD Southwest Inc.
    Inventors: Katsumi Kurihara, Shiro Kawamoto, James M. Grayson
  • Patent number: 6363904
    Abstract: A power tool having a rotary implement driven by a four-cycle engine. The engine crankcase is through a passageway which extends through a camshaft to a valve chamber. The rotating shaft member inhibits the escape of lubricating oil when the engine is running while permitting a lubricating oil mist to circulate through the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2002
    Assignee: MTD Southwest Inc.
    Inventors: Katsumi Kurihara, Shiro Kawamoto, James M. Grayson
  • Publication number: 20010027768
    Abstract: An engine powered hand-held power tool and engine lubrication method is provided, the power tool being intended to be carried by an operator during use. The power tool has a frame, including a handle to be grasped by the operator, an implement affixed to the frame having a rotary input member, and a small four-cycle, lightweight, internal combustion engine attached to the frame for driving the implement. The four-cycle engine has a lightweight aluminum alloy engine block having a cylindrical bore and an enclosed oil reservoir formed therein. A crankshaft is rotatably mounted in the engine block for rotation about a crankshaft axis. A piston reciprocates within the bore and is connected to the crankshaft by a connecting rod. An oil splasher driven by the crankshaft intermittently engages the oil within the enclosed oil reservoir to splash-lubricate the engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2001
    Publication date: October 11, 2001
    Applicant: MTD Southwest Inc.
    Inventors: Robert G. Everts, Katsumi Kurihara
  • Patent number: 6227160
    Abstract: An engine powered hand-held power tool and engine lubrication method is provided, the power tool being intended to be carried by an operator during use. The power tool has a frame, including a handle to be grasped by the operator, an implement affixed to the frame having a rotary input member, and a small four-cycle, lightweight, internal combustion engine attached to the frame for driving the implement. The four-cycle engine has a lightweight aluminum alloy engine block having a cylindrical bore and an enclosed oil reservoir formed therein. A crankshaft is rotatably mounted in the engine block for rotation about a crankshaft axis. A piston reciprocates within the bore and is connected to the crankshaft by a connecting rod. An oil splasher driven by the crankshaft intermittently engages the oil within the enclosed oil reservoir to splash-lubricate the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2001
    Assignee: MTD Southwest, Inc.
    Inventors: Katsumi Kurihara, Robert G. Everts
  • Patent number: 6047678
    Abstract: A power tool having a rotary implement driven by a four-cycle engine. The engine crankcase is vented via an axial passageway which extends through at least one cam shaft axial shaft of the crankshaft and cam shaft. The rotating shaft member inhibits the escape of oil when the engine is running due to centrifugal force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2000
    Assignee: Ryobi North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Katsumi Kurihara, Shiro Kawamoto, James M. Grayson
  • Patent number: 5950590
    Abstract: An engine powered hand-held power tool and engine lubrication method is provided, the power tool being intended to be carried by an operator during use. The power tool has a frame, including a handle to be grasped by the operator, an implement affixed to the frame having a rotary input member, and a small four-cycle, lightweight, internal combustion engine attached to the frame for driving the implement. The four-cycle engine has a lightweight aluminum alloy engine block having a cylindrical bore and an enclosed oil reservoir formed therein. A crankshaft is rotatably mounted in the engine block for rotation about a crankshaft axis. A piston reciprocates within the bore and is connected to the crankshaft by a connecting rod. An oil splasher driven by the crankshaft intermittently engages the oil within the enclosed oil reservoir to splash-lubricate the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Assignee: Ryobi Outdoor Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert G. Everts, Katsumi Kurihara
  • Patent number: 5701855
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine is provided with a cartridge containing a fuel/oil mixture where the fuel is liquid, normally gaseous fuel. The cartridges can be readily mounted or demounted from the engine, and provide flexibility of use coupled with easy starting. The use of the fuel/oil cartridges eliminates the need to separately mix oil and fuel, and eliminates substantial contact of the user with an oily fuel/oil mixture. The two cycle and four cycle cartridge-type engines are suitable for use in many hand-powered implements, including line trimmers, chain saws, leaf blowers, hedge trimmers, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 30, 1997
    Assignee: Ryobi Limited
    Inventors: Katsumi Kurihara, Shiro Kawamoto, John E. Nemazi, William G. Conger
  • Patent number: 5596964
    Abstract: Each of intake and exhaust valves of an internal combustion engine has a valve retainer provided with a center hole through which the upper portion of each valve stem passes, a flange and a raised portion surrounded by the flange and around the center hole, a groove formed around the center hole, on the raised portion for receiving a pin inserted into a hole formed in the upper portion of the valve stem. The valve retainer can be easily assembled with a valve spring. Further, a cylinder head has an intake port comprising a lateral path which is in shape of a deep pan in cross section and whose height is gradually decreased from the inlet of the lateral path to a vertical path whose lower end has an opening portion to be opened and closed by a valve portion of the intake valve. Thereby, the mixing state of fuel and air is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 28, 1997
    Assignee: Ryobi Limited
    Inventor: Katsumi Kurihara
  • Patent number: 5588408
    Abstract: An engine unit in which a crank shaft is arranged perpendicularly in its housing in the state of use thereof comprises a housing defining a crank chamber therein, a crank shaft disposed in the crank chamber to be rotatable, a piston-cylinder assembly disposed in the housing, a valve mechanism operatively connected to the piston-cylinder assembly for sucking and discharging air in the cylinder, and a valve moving mechanism for driving the valve mechanism so as to open or close the same. The valve moving mechanism includes a push-rod members, a push-rod cover member covering the push-rod members with a space therebetween. A rocker chamber is disposed in the housing and communicated with the space, and a drain pipe is disposed between a lower portion of the rocker chamber and a lower portion of the crank chamber so as to establish communication therebetween with an inclination in the state of use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 31, 1996
    Assignee: Ryobi Limited
    Inventor: Katsumi Kurihara
  • Patent number: 5520343
    Abstract: A treatment vehicle for treating empty vessels such as empty bottles. A feed conveyor for carrying empty vessels introduced in a vehicle body is obliquely provided such that a starting end thereof faces to a rear of the vehicle body and a forward end thereof rises toward a front of the vehicle body. A treatment machine for treating the empty vessels to produce chips is provided beneath the forward end of the feed conveyor, and a hopper for receiving the chips produced by the treatment machine is provided in a space formed beneath the feed conveyor. A transport conveyor for transporting and guiding the chips from the treatment machine into the hopper is obliquely provided in a direction opposite to the feed conveyor, and the hopper is provided in the shape of a trapezoid in an angular space surrounded by the feed conveyor and the transport conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 28, 1996
    Assignee: B.S.C. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Osamu Aika, Chikashi Okumura, Noboru Nishikouri, Hajime Yonemura, Kuniyoshi Hidao, Rikiya Miyakoda, Katsumi Kurihara
  • Patent number: 5405128
    Abstract: A highly reliable sheet feed device for a copier, facsimile apparatus, printer or similar image forming apparatus and having a plurality of sheet storing portions which are arranged substantially horizontally and serially in an intended direction of sheet transport. The device surely feeds sheets from the storing portions one by one and eliminate sheet jams and defective sheet feed. Further, the device is simple and miniature and capable of accommodating a plurality of kinds of sheets therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 11, 1995
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Fujiwara, Kunio Hibi, Katsumi Kurihara, Hiroshi Tanabe, Masanori Matsuda, Takahiro Shinga, Satoshi Takanashi
  • Patent number: 5322269
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for feeding sheets separately, the apparatus comprises a feed unit disposed over a stack of sheets for causing a conveyance force upon the uppermost of the stack thereby to feed the uppermost sheet from the stack with the conveyance force being directed in a sheet path direction. The feed unit has an alternating charged pattern on a surface thereof. The apparatus further comprises a separation unit disposed opposite to the feed unit so as to form a sheet path in association with the feed unit for causing a preventive force onto an under face of the fed sheet thereby to prevent the sheet from being fed. The preventive force is set to be less than the conveyance force and greater than a friction force between sheets. The separation unit has another alternating charged pattern on a surface thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 21, 1994
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Noriaki Fukube, Katsumi Kurihara, Hiroshi Tanabe, Hiroyuki Inobe, Hiroshi Fujiwara
  • Patent number: 5316282
    Abstract: A sheet feeding and separting device incorporated in image forming equipment for feeding sheets one by one from a sheet stack while preventing two or more sheets from being fed together as far as possible and, when a plurality of sheets are accidentally fed together, surely separating one of them from the others. A pick-up member is implemented as an endless dielectric belt. An AC power source forms a charge pattern on the belt via an electrode. As a result, the belt retains a sheet by attraction and transports it due to the Maxwell stress generated in the sheet. When a plurality of sheets are fed together, an arresting member which faces the belt separates one of them from the others. Alternatively, a charge pattern may be formed on the surface of the arresting member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 31, 1994
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Noriaki Fukube, Katsumi Kurihara, Satoshi Takano, Hiroshi Tanabe, Hiroshi Fujiwara, Kazunori Bannai, Hiroyuki Inobe