Patents by Inventor Katsumi Ochiai

Katsumi Ochiai 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: 8986058
    Abstract: An outboard motor includes a cooling water passage that guides cooling water to cool an exhaust passage and a cylinder unit. A cooling water intake port draws external cooling water into the cooling water passage. A water pump draws cooling water into the cooling water intake port and supplies the cooling water to the cooling water passage. A thermostat is arranged in the cooling water passage downstream of the catalytic converter and the cylinder unit. A first bypass passage is connected to a first connecting section provided on the cooling water passage. The first connecting section is provided along the cooling water passage at a position farther downstream than the catalytic converter and farther upstream than the thermostat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kimitaka Saruwatari, Katsumi Ochiai, Toshio Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8978372
    Abstract: A V-type engine includes two exhaust manifolds connected to two cylinder banks. First and second exhaust ports, respectively provided in the two cylinder banks, are disposed at an inner side of V-shaped lines. Each exhaust manifold includes N branch pipes and a collecting pipe, where N is an integer not less than 2. The N branch pipes are respectively connected to N exhaust ports including at least one of the first exhaust ports and at least one of the second exhaust ports. The collecting pipe is disposed adjacent to N cylinders that are aligned in a direction parallel or substantially parallel to a crank axis direction and extends from one end to the other end of the N cylinders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsumi Ochiai, Kouhei Natsume, Shinichi Hoshiya
  • Patent number: 8944870
    Abstract: An exhaust passage of an outboard motor includes a first exhaust passage and a second exhaust passage. The second exhaust passage is positioned on a downstream side of the first exhaust passage. A first honeycomb structure is disposed inside the first exhaust passage. A second honeycomb structure is disposed inside the second exhaust passage. The first exhaust passage and the second exhaust passage are separate and independent members that are connected to each other. A first opening into which the first honeycomb structure can be inserted is provided at an end portion of the first exhaust passage. A second opening into which the second honeycomb structure can be inserted is provided at an end portion of the second exhaust passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsumi Ochiai, Koichi Nakayama
  • Publication number: 20140322997
    Abstract: An engine includes a cylinder block including a plurality of cylinders disposed along a V-shaped line, a pair of exhaust manifolds disposed inside the V-shaped line, and an exhaust pipe disposed inside the V-shaped line. Each of the pair of exhaust manifolds includes a first passage that includes a plurality of inflow ports into which exhaust gases from the cylinders flow, a collecting portion at which exhaust gases are collected, and an exhaust port from which exhaust gases are discharged. The exhaust pipe includes a connection passage that includes a pair of intermediate inflow ports that are connected to the exhaust ports, at least one intermediate exhaust port from which exhaust gases are discharged. The connection passage is arranged to connect the pair of intermediate inflow ports and the at least one intermediate exhaust port.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2014
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Inventors: Katsumi OCHIAI, Shinichi HOSHIYA, Shinya MAEKAWA, Toshio SUZUKI
  • Patent number: 8858283
    Abstract: An engine includes a cylinder block including a plurality of cylinders, an exhaust manifold, and an exhaust pipe. The exhaust manifold includes a first passage and a second passage. The first passage includes a plurality of first inflow ports into which exhaust gases flow from the plurality of cylinders, a first collecting portion that collects exhaust gases that have flowed into the plurality of first inflow ports, and a first exhaust port through which exhaust gases collected by the first collecting portion are discharged. The second passage includes a second inflow port into which exhaust gases flow and a second exhaust port through which exhaust gases that have flowed into the second inflow port are discharged. The exhaust pipe includes a connection passage through which the first exhaust port and the second inflow port are connected together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsumi Ochiai, Shinichi Hoshiya, Shinya Maekawa, Toshio Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20140287636
    Abstract: An outboard motor includes an exhaust pipe that includes an outer wall section, an inner wall section, a coolant passage, and a constricted section. The inner wall section is arranged inward of the outer wall section. The coolant passage is arranged between the outer wall section and the inner wall section. The constricted section is configured to constrict a flow cross section of the coolant passage. A catalytic converter is housed in the exhaust pipe. A temperature sensor is installed in the constricted section and measures a temperature of a pipe wall of the exhaust pipe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2014
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Inventors: Kimitaka SARUWATARI, Katsumi OCHIAI, Toshio SUZUKI
  • Publication number: 20140242859
    Abstract: An outboard motor includes a cooling water passage including at least a portion disposed at a periphery of a catalyst and that guides cooling water that cools an exhaust passage, a vent hole disposed higher than the catalyst and that connects the interior of the cooling water passage to the exterior of the cooling water passage, and a restriction valve that allows a fluid to flow from the interior of the cooling water passage to the exterior of the cooling water passage via the vent hole and that restricts the flow of the fluid from the exterior of the cooling water passage to the interior of the cooling water passage via the vent hole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2013
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Katsumi OCHIAI
  • Publication number: 20140237997
    Abstract: A V-type engine includes two exhaust manifolds connected to two cylinder banks. First and second exhaust ports, respectively provided in the two cylinder banks, are disposed at an inner side of V-shaped lines. Each exhaust manifold includes N branch pipes and a collecting pipe, where N is an integer not less than 2. The N branch pipes are respectively connected to N exhaust ports including at least one of the first exhaust ports and at least one of the second exhaust ports. The collecting pipe is disposed adjacent to N cylinders that are aligned in a direction parallel or substantially parallel to a crank axis direction and extends from one end to the other end of the N cylinders.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2013
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Katsumi OCHIAI, Kouhei NATSUME, Shinichi HOSHIYA
  • Publication number: 20140242858
    Abstract: A vessel propulsion apparatus includes an exhaust passage guiding an exhaust, discharged from combustion chambers into an exhaust collecting passage, to a catalyst housed in a catalyst housing passage, and a cooling water passage guiding cooling water. The cooling water passage includes an upstream water passage, guiding the cooling water taken into the interior of the vessel propulsion apparatus by a water pump, and a first and second parallel water passage connected in series to the upstream water passage and connected in parallel to each other. The cooling water passage supplies the cooling water from the upstream water passage to each of the first and second parallel water passages to cool the catalyst housing passage by the first parallel water passage disposed along the catalyst housing passage and cool the exhaust collecting passage by the second parallel water passage disposed along the exhaust collecting passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2013
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Katsumi OCHIAI, Kouhei NATSUME, Shinichi HOSHIYA
  • Patent number: 8814619
    Abstract: An outboard motor includes an engine, an exhaust manifold, and a lower exhaust passage. The engine includes a plurality of cylinders, and a plurality of exhaust ports. The cylinders are disposed in-line in a vertical direction. The exhaust ports are respectively connected to the cylinders. The exhaust manifold includes a first passage, a second passage, and a third passage. The first passage is connected to the exhaust ports, and extends in a vertical direction. The second passage is connected to the first passage. The third passage is connected to the first passage below the second passage. The lower exhaust passage is connected to the exhaust manifold, and provides a passage through which exhaust gas is expelled to the outside from the exhaust manifold. One of the second passage and the third passage is connected to the lower exhaust passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinya Maekawa, Toshio Suzuki, Koichi Nakayama, Katsumi Ochiai
  • Patent number: 8801482
    Abstract: An engine includes a cylinder block including a plurality of cylinders disposed along a V-shaped line, a pair of exhaust manifolds disposed inside the V-shaped line, and an exhaust pipe disposed inside the V-shaped line. Each of the pair of exhaust manifolds includes a first passage that includes a plurality of inflow ports into which exhaust gases from the cylinders flow, a collecting portion at which exhaust gases are collected, and an exhaust port from which exhaust gases are discharged. The exhaust pipe includes a connection passage that includes a pair of intermediate inflow ports that are connected to the exhaust ports, at least one intermediate exhaust port from which exhaust gases are discharged. The connection passage is arranged to connect the pair of intermediate inflow ports and the at least one intermediate exhaust port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsumi Ochiai, Shinichi Hoshiya, Shinya Maekawa, Toshio Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8795013
    Abstract: In an outboard motor, an exhaust collecting pipe is disposed so as to extend in a vertical direction. The exhaust collecting pipe collects exhaust emitted from a plurality of exhaust ports. A catalyst housing pipe is disposed along a horizontal direction with the exhaust collecting pipe. The catalyst housing pipe is disposed so as to extend in the vertical direction. A catalyst member is housed in the catalyst housing pipe. A connecting pipe is disposed so as to extend in a horizontal direction. The connecting pipe connects the exhaust collecting pipe and the catalyst housing pipe. A protruding portion is provided at a top or a bottom of an inside surface of the connecting pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koichi Nakayama, Toshio Suzuki, Katsumi Ochiai, Shinya Maekawa
  • Patent number: 8790146
    Abstract: An outboard motor includes an exhaust pipe that includes an outer wall section, an inner wall section, a coolant passage, and a constricted section. The inner wall section is arranged inward of the outer wall section. The coolant passage is arranged between the outer wall section and the inner wall section. The constricted section is configured to constrict a flow cross section of the coolant passage. A catalytic converter is housed in the exhaust pipe. A temperature sensor is installed in the constricted section and measures a temperature of a pipe wall of the exhaust pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kimitaka Saruwatari, Katsumi Ochiai, Toshio Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8764501
    Abstract: An outboard motor includes an engine, exhaust ports, an exhaust passage, a catalyst member, and a water capture member. The exhaust passage includes a first passage, a second passage, a third passage, and a fourth passage. The first passage is connected to a plurality of exhaust ports, extends in a vertical direction, and collects exhaust discharged from the exhaust ports. The second passage extends laterally from the first passage. The third passage is connected to the second passage, extends downward from the second passage, and is disposed on a side of the cylinders. The fourth passage is connected to the third passage and guides the exhaust to below the engine. The catalyst member is disposed in the third passage and includes a carrier on which a catalyst is provided. The water capture member is disposed in the third passage and includes a carrier on which a catalyst is not provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinya Maekawa, Koichi Nakayama, Toshio Suzuki, Katsumi Ochiai
  • Patent number: 8753158
    Abstract: A retaining structure for a honeycomb structure includes a honeycomb structure, a retainer mat, and a housing. The honeycomb structure is a member made of a ceramic material. The retainer mat is in contact with the honeycomb structure and directly retains the honeycomb structure. The housing is in contact with the retainer mat and directly retains the retainer mat. The housing is made of aluminum. The housing includes an inner wall, an outer wall, and a coolant passage. The inner wall is in contact with the retainer mat. The coolant passage is located between the inner wall and the outer wall. An inflow port of the coolant passage is located at one end of the housing. A discharge port of the coolant passage is located at the other end of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koichi Nakayama, Toshio Suzuki, Katsumi Ochiai
  • Publication number: 20140138988
    Abstract: A vehicle body structure includes a roof side rail, roof arch, and roof panel. The roof side rail includes a mount portion extending inward in a vehicle-transversal direction and having a vehicle-transversally outer end portion of the roof panel mounted thereto. The roof arch includes a vehicle-transversally outer end portion that is located outside a vehicle-transversally inner end of the mount portion in the vehicle-transversal direction, joined with the roof side rail, and disposed at a position that is spaced apart downward from the vehicle-transversally outer end portion of the roof panel. At least one of the roof arch and the roof side rail includes a flange portion that extends toward the other one of the roof arch and the side rail and comes into contact with the other one of the roof arch and the roof side rail to restrict downward movement of the roof arch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2012
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masanori Kisaku, Katsumi Ochiai, Yukihiko Nagai
  • Publication number: 20130326857
    Abstract: A retaining structure for a honeycomb structure includes a honeycomb structure, a retainer mat, and a housing. The honeycomb structure is a member made of a ceramic material. The retainer mat is in contact with the honeycomb structure and directly retains the honeycomb structure. The housing is in contact with the retainer mat and directly retains the retainer mat. The housing is made of aluminum. The housing includes an inner wall, an outer wall, and a coolant passage. The inner wall is in contact with the retainer mat. The coolant passage is located between the inner wall and the outer wall. An inflow port of the coolant passage is located at one end of the housing. A discharge port of the coolant passage is located at the other end of the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2013
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Applicant: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koichi NAKAYAMA, Toshio SUZUKI, Katsumi OCHIAI
  • Patent number: 8585452
    Abstract: A marine propulsion device includes an engine, an exhaust passage, a porous body, a retainer mat, and a stopper portion. The engine includes an exhaust port. The exhaust passage connects to the exhaust port. The porous body is disposed in the exhaust passage. The retainer mat covers the outside peripheral face of the porous body. The retainer mat retains the porous body. The stopper portion is disposed inside the exhaust passage. The stopper portion is disposed downstream of the porous body and spaced apart from a downstream-side end portion of the porous body. The stopper portion extends inwardly in the radial direction, past the outside peripheral surface of the porous body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinya Maekawa, Koichi Nakayama, Toshio Suzuki, Katsumi Ochiai
  • Patent number: 8535106
    Abstract: A retaining structure for a honeycomb structure includes a honeycomb structure, a retainer mat, and a housing. The honeycomb structure is a member made of a ceramic material. The retainer mat is in contact with the honeycomb structure and directly retains the honeycomb structure. The housing is in contact with the retainer mat and directly retains the retainer mat. The housing is made of aluminum. The housing includes an inner wall, an outer wall, and a coolant passage. The inner wall is in contact with the retainer mat. The coolant passage is located between the inner wall and the outer wall. An inflow port of the coolant passage is located at one end of the housing. A discharge port of the coolant passage is located at the other end of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koichi Nakayama, Toshio Suzuki, Katsumi Ochiai
  • Patent number: 8469754
    Abstract: An outboard motor includes an exhaust passage, a catalyst member, and a water capture member. The exhaust passage includes a first passage, a second passage, a third passage, and a fourth passage. The first passage is connected to exhaust ports, extends in a vertical direction, and collects exhaust discharged from the exhaust ports. The second passage extends laterally from the first passage. The third passage is connected to the second passage, extends downward from the second passage, and is disposed on a side of cylinders of an engine. The fourth passage is connected to the third passage, is positioned below the engine, and guides the exhaust to below the engine. The fourth passage discharges exhaust to the outside via a propeller boss of a propeller. The catalyst member is disposed in the third passage. The water capture member is disposed downstream of the catalyst member in the third passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinya Maekawa, Koichi Nakayama, Toshio Suzuki, Katsumi Ochiai