Patents by Inventor Kazuhiko Sakurai

Kazuhiko Sakurai 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).

  • Publication number: 20240011887
    Abstract: An abnormality detecting device relating to the present disclosure includes at least two first cover parts arranged next to each other in a circumferential direction; a plurality of electrode parts respectively supported by the first cover parts; a plurality of magnet parts provided inside of the first cover parts in the radial direction, where each magnet part is in contact with a corresponding one of the electrode parts; and at least two second cover parts provided between adjacent ones of the first cover parts in the circumferential direction. Each electrode part has an oil-repellent surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2023
    Publication date: January 11, 2024
    Inventors: Hiroki MORI, Koji NAKAMURA, Kazuhiko SAKURAI, Masaki HARADA
  • Patent number: 11852623
    Abstract: A sensor relating to one aspect of the present invention includes a first electrode, a second electrode arranged relative to the first electrode with a gap being provided therebetween, a sensor body having the first and second electrodes arranged therein, and a catching portion arranged in the gap and having an outer peripheral surface made of an insulating material. Electric connection is established along the outer peripheral surface via conductive particles gathering to the catching portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: NABTESCO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Sakurai, Takahito Azuma, Atsushi Koike
  • Patent number: 11773797
    Abstract: Provided is a status monitoring device for a speed reducer, including: at least one signal transmission unit for monitoring a status of at least one crankshaft of a speed reducer and transmitting a status signal; and a determination unit for determining a status of the speed reducer based on the status signal from the at least one signal transmission unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: NABTESCO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masakazu Kurita, Hiroki Mori, Koji Nakamura, Kazuhiko Sakurai
  • Patent number: 11774387
    Abstract: A wiring structure includes a wiring such as a flexible printed wiring board, a permanent magnet, and a relay piece. The wiring has a conductive portion. The permanent magnet has electrical conductivity. The relay piece is formed of a conductive metal and connected to the conductive portion of the wiring. The relay piece has the permanent magnet fixed thereto by magnetic attraction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: NABTESCO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masaki Harada, Atsushi Koike, Kazuhiko Sakurai
  • Patent number: 11768192
    Abstract: A conductive particle detecting device includes a plurality of electrodes, a permanent magnet, and a detecting circuit. The plurality of electrodes are arranged at intervals in a lubricant. The permanent magnet accumulates conductive particles in the lubricant between adjacent electrodes by a magnetic force. The detecting circuit detects target conductive particles based on electrical resistance between the adjacent electrodes. An attractive force of the permanent magnet acting on the conductive particles between the adjacent electrodes is set such that the lubricant remains as a non-conductive layer around fine-sized conductive particles having a smaller particle size than the target conductive particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: NABTESCO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masakazu Kurita, Hiroki Mori, Koji Nakamura, Kazuhiko Sakurai, Masaki Harada
  • Publication number: 20230243768
    Abstract: An abnormality detecting device includes at least two first cover parts arranged next to each other in a circumferential direction; electrode parts respectively supported by the first cover parts; magnet parts provided inside of the first cover parts in the radial direction, where each magnet part is in contact with a corresponding electrode part; and a second cover part provided between adjacent first cover parts in the circumferential direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2023
    Publication date: August 3, 2023
    Inventors: Kazuhiko SAKURAI, Masaki HARADA
  • Publication number: 20230035518
    Abstract: A sensor relating to one embodiment of the present invention includes a first electrode, a second electrode, an attracting portion arranged between the first electrode and the second electrode, where the attracting portion attracts conductive particles smaller than a gap between the first electrode and the second electrode to cause a change in electrical resistance between the first electrode and the second electrode, and a short circuit preventing portion for preventing a large-diameter conductive piece from causing a short circuit between the first electrode and the second electrode, where the large-diameter conductive piece has a larger dimension than the gap between the first electrode and the second electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2022
    Publication date: February 2, 2023
    Inventors: Kazuhiko SAKURAI, Masaki HARADA, Koki AKAI, Shuichi KAMAGATA
  • Patent number: 11499931
    Abstract: A sensor relating to one embodiment of the present invention includes a first electrode, a second electrode, an attracting portion arranged between the first electrode and the second electrode, where the attracting portion attracts conductive particles smaller than a gap between the first electrode and the second electrode to cause a change in electrical resistance between the first electrode and the second electrode, and a short circuit preventing portion for preventing a large-diameter conductive piece from causing a short circuit between the first electrode and the second electrode, where the large-diameter conductive piece has a larger dimension than the gap between the first electrode and the second electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: NABTESCO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Sakurai, Masaki Harada, Koki Akai, Shuichi Kamagata
  • Patent number: 11493467
    Abstract: Provided is a sensor that can appropriately sense the amount of abrasion powder (conductive substance) in a mechanical device of any size, and thereby to provide a sensor that can be generally used for preventive maintenance of any mechanical parts. The sensor includes a first electrode and a second electrode. A voltage is applied between the first electrode and the second electrode to accumulate conductive substance between the first and second electrodes in order to sense a decrease in electric resistance between the first and second electrodes. The distance between the first electrode and the second electrode is adjustable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: NABTESCO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Koji Nakamura, Kazuhiko Sakurai, Masaki Harada, Toshihide Fujii
  • Publication number: 20220291159
    Abstract: A wiring structure includes a wiring such as a flexible printed wiring board, a permanent magnet, and a relay piece. The wiring has a conductive portion. The permanent magnet has electrical conductivity. The relay piece is formed of a conductive metal and connected to the conductive portion of the wiring. The relay piece has the permanent magnet fixed thereto by magnetic attraction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2022
    Publication date: September 15, 2022
    Inventors: Masaki HARADA, Atsushi KOIKE, Kazuhiko SAKURAI
  • Publication number: 20220291188
    Abstract: A conductive particle detecting device includes a plurality of electrodes, a permanent magnet, and a detecting circuit. The plurality of electrodes are arranged at intervals in a lubricant. The permanent magnet accumulates conductive particles in the lubricant between adjacent electrodes by a magnetic force. The detecting circuit detects target conductive particles based on electrical resistance between the adjacent electrodes. An attractive force of the permanent magnet acting on the conductive particles between the adjacent electrodes is set such that the lubricant remains as a non-conductive layer around fine-sized conductive particles having a smaller particle size than the target conductive particles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2022
    Publication date: September 15, 2022
    Inventors: Masakazu KURITA, Hiroki MORI, Koji NAKAMURA, Kazuhiko SAKURAI, Masaki HARADA
  • Publication number: 20220178857
    Abstract: A sensor includes a plurality of detecting units and a sensing unit. Each of the detecting units includes a pair of electrodes and a detecting area formed between the electrodes, and is configured to cause a change in electrical resistance between the electrodes as conductive particles accumulate. The sensing unit outputs a sensing signal if at least two or more of the detecting units experience a change in electrical resistance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2019
    Publication date: June 9, 2022
    Inventors: Kazuhiko SAKURAI, Masaki HARADA
  • Patent number: 11346871
    Abstract: A sensor relating to the present invention includes: a first electrode; a second electrode; a first attracting portion positioned between the first electrode and the second electrode and configured to receive conductive abrasion powder contained in a detection region and attracted onto the first attracting portion; a sensing unit for sensing a change in electrical resistance between the first electrode and the second electrode caused by the conductive abrasion powder; and at least one second attracting portion positioned within the detection region and configured to attract the conductive abrasion powder contained in the detection region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: NABTESCO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masaki Harada, Kazuhiko Sakurai, Takashi Wada
  • Publication number: 20210324808
    Abstract: Provided is a status monitoring device for a speed reducer, including: at least one signal transmission unit for monitoring a status of at least one crankshaft of a speed reducer and transmitting a status signal; and a determination unit for determining a status of the speed reducer based on the status signal from the at least one signal transmission unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2021
    Publication date: October 21, 2021
    Inventors: Masakazu KURITA, Hiroki MORI, Koji NAKAMURA, Kazuhiko SAKURAI
  • Publication number: 20210181177
    Abstract: A sensor relating to one aspect of the present invention includes a first electrode, a second electrode arranged relative to the first electrode with a gap being provided therebetween, a sensor body having the first and second electrodes arranged therein, and a catching portion arranged in the gap and having an outer peripheral surface made of an insulating material. Electric connection is established along the outer peripheral surface via conductive particles gathering to the catching portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2020
    Publication date: June 17, 2021
    Inventors: Kazuhiko SAKURAI, Takahito AZUMA, Atsushi KOIKE
  • Publication number: 20210132126
    Abstract: A sensor relating to the present invention includes: a first electrode; a second electrode; a first attracting portion positioned between the first electrode and the second electrode and configured to receive conductive abrasion powder contained in a detection region and attracted onto the first attracting portion; a sensing unit for sensing a change in electrical resistance between the first electrode and the second electrode caused by the conductive abrasion powder; and at least one second attracting portion positioned within the detection region and configured to attract the conductive abrasion powder contained in the detection region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Publication date: May 6, 2021
    Inventors: Masaki HARADA, Kazuhiko SAKURAI, Takashi WADA
  • Publication number: 20200340936
    Abstract: A sensor relating to one embodiment of the present invention includes a first electrode, a second electrode, an attracting portion arranged between the first electrode and the second electrode, where the attracting portion attracts conductive particles smaller than a gap between the first electrode and the second electrode to cause a change in electrical resistance between the first electrode and the second electrode, and a short circuit preventing portion for preventing a large-diameter conductive piece from causing a short circuit between the first electrode and the second electrode, where the large-diameter conductive piece has a larger dimension than the gap between the first electrode and the second electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2020
    Publication date: October 29, 2020
    Inventors: Kazuhiko SAKURAI, Masaki HARADA, Koki AKAI, Shuichi KAMAGATA
  • Patent number: 10705039
    Abstract: One object is to increase the amount of abrasion powder accumulated in a sensing region to improve the sensitivity in sensing the abrasion powder. Provided is a sensor for sensing reduction of electric resistance between electrodes, a magnetic field being applied between the electrodes to accumulate magnetic powder floating in a lubricant between the electrodes, wherein at least one sensing region in which the magnetic powder is to be accumulated is provided in at least a part of a region between the electrodes, and the magnetic powder is inhibited from being accumulated in a non-sensing region constituted by a space around the electrodes other than the at least one sensing region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: NABTESCO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takeshi Kiriyama, Takeshi Nishimura, Kazuhiko Sakurai, Masaki Harada
  • Publication number: 20200057044
    Abstract: One object is to provide an industrial device in which abrasion powder (conductive substance) can accumulate on a sensor to an amount necessary for proper failure prediction. An industrial device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a lubricant reservoir portion including a region in which a lubricant circulates; and a sensor including a pair of electrodes disposed in the region in which the lubricant circulates, the sensor being configured to sense variation of electric resistance between the pair of electrodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2019
    Publication date: February 20, 2020
    Inventors: Koji NAKAMURA, Kazuhiko SAKURAI, Masaki HARADA, Kaoru YOTO, Takahito AZUMA
  • Publication number: 20190154608
    Abstract: Provided is a sensor that can appropriately sense the amount of abrasion powder (conductive substance) in a mechanical device of any size, and thereby to provide a sensor that can be generally used for preventive maintenance of any mechanical parts. The sensor includes a first electrode and a second electrode. A voltage is applied between the first electrode and the second electrode to accumulate conductive substance between the first and second electrodes in order to sense a decrease in electric resistance between the first and second electrodes. The distance between the first electrode and the second electrode is adjustable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2018
    Publication date: May 23, 2019
    Inventors: Koji NAKAMURA, Kazuhiko SAKURAI, Masaki HARADA, Toshihide FUJII