Patents by Inventor Katsumi Sahoda

Katsumi Sahoda 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: 8783118
    Abstract: A bending load acting on a steering shaft only with a magnetostrictive torque sensor, without separately providing a sensor for detecting the bending moment. A storage unit stores, as an initial characteristic curve formed from initial detection values, a characteristic curve formed from detection values of each of a first detection coil and a second detection coil when only twisting torque is applied to a steering shaft. A bending load detector provided in an ECU detects a bending load amount acting on the steering shaft based on a difference between each detection value of the first and second detection coils and the initial detection value on the initial characteristic curve corresponding to the detection value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinichiro Kato, Takeshi Wakabayashi, Katsumi Sahoda, Tsuyoshi Tsuda, Hiroyuki Kaneta
  • Patent number: 8567262
    Abstract: An electric power steering apparatus includes a steering shaft for transmitting a steering force of a steering handlebar to a wheel and an upper bearing provided at a location upward from a vehicle body frame so as to rotatably support an upper part of the steering shaft. A lower bearing is provided at a location downward from the vehicle body frame, so as to rotatably support a lower part of the steering shaft. A torque sensor detects a torsional torque applied to the steering shaft. An electric motor imparts a steering force to the steering shaft based on the torsional torque detected by the torque sensor. The electric motor is mounted to the steering shaft between the upper bearing and the lower bearing, while the torque sensor is mounted to the steering shaft at place upward from the upper bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Tsuda, Takeshi Wakabayashi, Shinichiro Kato, Hiroyuki Kaneta, Katsumi Sahoda
  • Patent number: 8302755
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koshi Hayakawa, Kanau Iwashita, Yoshihisa Ieda, Katsumi Sahoda, Akihiko Tomoda
  • Patent number: 8201677
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koshi Hayakawa, Kanau Iwashita, Yoshihisa Ieda, Katsumi Sahoda, Akihiko Tomoda
  • Patent number: 8177012
    Abstract: A saddle-ride three-wheeled vehicle has a fuel cell which generates an electric power by a chemical reaction between a fuel gas and a reaction gas. The three-wheeled vehicle includes a drain pipe which guides water discharged from the fuel cell out of a vehicle body; a rear body to which a pair of left and right rear wheels are journaled; and a linking mechanism which swingably links the rear body and a front body to allow the front body to sway left and right with respect to the rear body, wherein the drain pipe has a drain port between the pair of left and right rear wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Horii, Shinji Furuta, Katsumi Sahoda, Yoshihiro Namiki, Ranju Imao, Takuya Warashina
  • Publication number: 20110239786
    Abstract: An electric power steering apparatus includes a steering shaft for transmitting a steering force of a steering handlebar to a wheel and an upper bearing provided at a location upward from a vehicle body frame so as to rotatably support an upper part of the steering shaft. A lower bearing is provided at a location downward from the vehicle body frame, so as to rotatably support a lower part of the steering shaft. A torque sensor detects a torsional torque applied to the steering shaft. An electric motor imparts a steering force to the steering shaft based on the torsional torque detected by the torque sensor. The electric motor is mounted to the steering shaft between the upper bearing and the lower bearing, while the torque sensor is mounted to the steering shaft at place upward from the upper bearing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2011
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi TSUDA, Takeshi Wakabayashi, Shinichiro Kato, Hiroyuki Kaneta, katsumi Sahoda
  • Publication number: 20110239787
    Abstract: A bending load acting on a steering shaft only with a magnetostrictive torque sensor, without separately providing a sensor for detecting the bending moment. A storage unit stores, as an initial characteristic curve formed from initial detection values, a characteristic curve formed from detection values of each of a first detection coil and a second detection coil when only twisting torque is applied to a steering shaft. A bending load detector provided in an ECU detects a bending load amount acting on the steering shaft based on a difference between each detection value of the first and second detection coils and the initial detection value on the initial characteristic curve corresponding to the detection value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2011
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Inventors: Shinichiro Kato, Takeshi Wakabayashi, Katsumi Sahoda, Tsuyoshi Tsuda, Hiroyuki Kaneta
  • Patent number: 8002099
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koshi Hayakawa, Kanau Iwashita, Yoshihisa Ieda, Akihiko Tomoda, Katsumi Sahoda
  • Patent number: 7926608
    Abstract: An electric-motor three-wheeled vehicle includes a motor for applying a drive force to drive wheels, a motor control unit for controlling the motor, a secondary battery for storing electric power generated by a fuel cell, a rear body supporting a pair of left and right rear wheels and a connecting mechanism for connecting the rear body with a front body so as to tilt the front body while the rear wheels are in contact with the ground. The secondary battery is housed in the inside of a luggage carrier above the rear wheels. The motor and the motor control unit, including a motor driver and a main CPU, are mounted between the left and right rear wheels. The voltage converter increases or decreases the voltage of the electric power supplied from the fuel cell. The control drivers controls a supercharger of reaction gas and a electric pump of cooling water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Horii, Katsumi Sahoda, Naoki Kobayashi, Koji Aoki, Kuniaki Ikui, Takashi Sone
  • Patent number: 7891262
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koshi Hayakawa, Kanau Iwashita, Yoshihisa Ieda, Akihiko Tomoda, Katsumi Sahoda
  • Publication number: 20090266671
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2008
    Publication date: October 29, 2009
    Inventors: Koshi Hayakawa, Kanau Iwashita, Yoshihisa Ieda, Akihiko Tomoda, Katsumi Sahoda
  • Publication number: 20090084208
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2008
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Inventors: Koshi HAYAKAWA, Kanau IWASHITA, Yoshihisa IEDA, Akihiko TOMODA, Katsumi SAHODA
  • Publication number: 20090075152
    Abstract: A saddle-ride three-wheeled vehicle has a fuel cell which generates an electric power by a chemical reaction between a fuel gas and a reaction gas. The three-wheeled vehicle includes a drain pipe which guides water discharged from the fuel cell out of a vehicle body; a rear body to which a pair of left and right rear wheels are journaled; and a linking mechanism which swingably links the rear body and a front body to allow the front body to sway left and right with respect to the rear body, wherein the drain pipe has a drain port between the pair of left and right rear wheels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2008
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Horji, Shinji Furuta, Katsumi Sahoda, Yoshihiro Namiki, Ranju Imao, Takuya Warashina
  • Publication number: 20090057090
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2008
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Inventors: Koshi HAYAKAWA, Kanau Iwashita, Yoshihisa Ieda, Katsumi Sahoda, Akihiko Tomoda
  • Publication number: 20090057092
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2008
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Inventors: Koshi HAYAKAWA, Kanau Iwashita, Yoshihisa Ieda, Katsumi Sahoda, Akihiko Tomoda
  • Patent number: 7481412
    Abstract: A solenoid-operated cutoff valve for use with fuel cells has a movable member disposed in a guide housing for displacement upon energization of a solenoid. When the movable member is displaced, a pilot valve is unseated from a pilot valve seat. A fluid in a communication chamber flows through a pilot passage into an output port. The communication chamber is divided into a first communication chamber and a second communication chamber by a diaphragm. Under a pressure difference developed between the first communication chamber and the second communication chamber, a main valve of a valve head is unseated from a valve seat of a valve housing, opening the solenoid-operated cutoff valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Assignee: Keihin Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuki Ishikawa, Yoshio Saito, Toshiaki Kamo, Katsumi Sahoda, Osamu Ichikawa, Kouji Miyano, Tatsuya Sugawara
  • Publication number: 20090020352
    Abstract: An electric-motor three-wheeled vehicle includes a motor for applying a drive force to drive wheels, a motor control unit for controlling the motor, a secondary battery for storing electric power generated by a fuel cell, a rear body supporting a pair of left and right rear wheels and a connecting mechanism for connecting the rear body with a front body so as to tilt the front body while the rear wheels are in contact with the ground. The secondary battery is housed in the inside of a luggage carrier above the rear wheels. The motor and the motor control unit, including a motor driver and a main CPU, are mounted between the left and right rear wheels. The voltage converter increases or decreases the voltage of the electric power supplied from the fuel cell. The control drivers controls a supercharger of reaction gas and a electric pump of cooling water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2008
    Publication date: January 22, 2009
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki HORII, Katsumi Sahoda, Naoki Kobayashi, Koji Aoki, Kuniaki Ikui, Takashi Sone
  • Patent number: 7441560
    Abstract: A diaphragm is clamped between a solenoid unit disposed in a casing and a second valve body in which hydrogen is introduced. A filter comprising a bottomed cylindrical mesh member is mounted in a first passage defined in the first valve body. A restriction having an orifice for restricting the flow rate of hydrogen supplied to first and second communication chambers is mounted in a first port that is disposed upstream of the filter. The restriction and the filter are disposed coaxially in line with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: Keihin Corporation
    Inventors: Kouji Sonoda, Masakazu Murai, Kouetsu Hikichi, Hideki Sasaki, Yoshio Saito, Koji Katano, Kazunori Fukuma, Hiroyasu Ozaki, Kouji Miyano, Katsumi Sahoda
  • Patent number: 7192665
    Abstract: A regulator for use with fuel cells, which is mounted in a pressure controller of a fuel cell system, has a first diaphragm flexible under the pressure of pilot air supplied as an oxidizing agent to a pilot chamber, a second diaphragm flexible under the pressure of a hydrogen-containing gas flowing through a fluid passage, and a rod connected to a valve head. The spring force of a first spring is set to a value greater than the spring force of a second spring. The regulator is of a normally closed type in which the valve head is seated on a valve seat when the pilot air is not supplied to the pilot chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignee: Keihin Corporation
    Inventors: Yoji Nakajima, Kazuki Ishikawa, Takashi Yoshida, Katsumi Sahoda, Kouji Miyano
  • Patent number: 7157168
    Abstract: A back pressure chamber is defined at an end of a rod for acting in a direction to cancel out a pressure applied to a valve head, and an aspirator chamber is defined closely to the valve head for developing a pressure lower than a secondary pressure due to a suction caused by a nozzle. The rod has a first communication hole and a second communication hole that are defined therein which provides fluid communication between the back pressure chamber and the aspirator chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: Keihin Corporation
    Inventors: Yoji Nakajima, Kazuki Ishikawa, Takashi Yoshida, Katsumi Sahoda, Kouji Miyano