Patents by Inventor Kazuhiro Kurosawa

Kazuhiro Kurosawa 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: 10277012
    Abstract: A spark plug having a connection portion disposed between a metal terminal and a center electrode. The connection portion includes: a magnetic substance formed from a Fe-containing oxide; a conductor which is a wire helically disposed on an outer periphery of the magnetic substance and electrically connected to the metal terminal and the center electrode; and an intermediate member which is in contact with the magnetic substance, the conductor, and an inner peripheral surface of the insulator, is disposed between the magnetic substance and the conductor, and the inner peripheral surface of the insulator, and has lower electrical conductivity than the conductor. The conductor is made of one or more of an oxide conductor, carbon, and a carbon compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Kurosawa, Katsuya Takaoka, Kota Yokoyama, Kuniharu Tanaka, Hirokazu Kurono, Hironori Uegaki
  • Patent number: 10270228
    Abstract: A spark plug having a connection portion disposed in the axial hole and between a metal terminal and a center electrode. The connection portion includes: a magnetic substance formed from a Fe-containing oxide; a conductor helically disposed on an outer periphery of the magnetic substance and electrically connected to the metal terminal and the center electrode; and an intermediate member disposed between the magnetic substance and the conductor, and an inner peripheral surface of the insulator and having lower electrical conductivity than the conductor. The conductor includes a base and a conductive layer disposed on an outer periphery of the base and having higher electrical conductivity than the base, and the conductive layer has a thickness of larger than 0.1 ?m and equal to or smaller than 25 ?m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Kurosawa, Katsuya Takaoka, Kota Yokoyama, Kuniharu Tanaka, Hirokazu Kurono, Hironori Uegaki
  • Publication number: 20190067914
    Abstract: A spark plug having a connection portion disposed between a metal terminal and a center electrode. The connection portion includes: a magnetic substance formed from a Fe-containing oxide; a conductor which is a wire helically disposed on an outer periphery of the magnetic substance and electrically connected to the metal terminal and the center electrode; and an intermediate member which is in contact with the magnetic substance, the conductor, and an inner peripheral surface of the insulator, is disposed between the magnetic substance and the conductor, and the inner peripheral surface of the insulator, and has lower electrical conductivity than the conductor. The conductor is made of one or more of an oxide conductor, carbon, and a carbon compound.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2018
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Applicant: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuhiro KUROSAWA, Katsuya TAKAOKA, Kota YOKOYAMA, Kuniharu TANAKA, Hirokazu KURONO, Hironori UEGAKI
  • Publication number: 20190067915
    Abstract: A spark plug having a connection portion disposed in the axial hole and between a metal terminal and a center electrode. The connection portion includes: a magnetic substance formed from a Fe-containing oxide; a conductor helically disposed on an outer periphery of the magnetic substance and electrically connected to the metal terminal and the center electrode; and an intermediate member disposed between the magnetic substance and the conductor, and an inner peripheral surface of the insulator and having lower electrical conductivity than the conductor. The conductor includes a base and a conductive layer disposed on an outer periphery of the base and having higher electrical conductivity than the base, and the conductive layer has a thickness of larger than 0.1 ?m and equal to or smaller than 25 ?m.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2018
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Applicant: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuhiro KUROSAWA, Katsuya TAKAOKA, Kota YOKOYAMA, Kuniharu TANAKA, Hirokazu KURONO, Hironori UEGAKI
  • Publication number: 20180375298
    Abstract: The present invention allows reduction in high frequency noise of a spark plug. A Fe-containing oxide layer is formed on the surface of a beneath-flange rod-shaped portion, of a metal terminal of the spark plug, between a terminal flange portion and an upper end of a metal shell. The surface area of the Fe-containing oxide layer is not less than 10% of the surface area of the beneath-flange rod-shaped portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2016
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Applicant: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuhiro KUROSAWA, Katsuya TAKAOKA, Kuniharu TANAKA, Toshitaka HONDA, Hirokazu KURONO, Hironori UEGAKI
  • Publication number: 20180358784
    Abstract: A spark plug has an insulator, a rod-shaped electrode member disposed in an axial hole of the insulator, and a cylindrical magnetic member disposed on an outer circumference of the electrode member within the axial hole. The insulator includes a large inner diameter region, a middle inner diameter region located frontward of the large inner diameter region and having an inner diameter smaller than that of the large inner diameter region, and a small inner diameter region located frontward of the middle inner diameter region and having an inner diameter smaller than that of the middle inner diameter region. The electrode member is retained on a step portion of the insulator between the middle inner diameter region and the small inner diameter region. The magnetic member is positioned in the axial hole at a location within the large inner diameter region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2018
    Publication date: December 13, 2018
    Applicant: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hironori UEGAKI, Shoma TSUMAGARI, Kazuhiro KUROSAWA, Katsuya TAKAOKA, Kuniharu TANAKA
  • Patent number: 10153622
    Abstract: A spark plug has an insulator, a rod-shaped electrode member disposed in an axial hole of the insulator, and a cylindrical magnetic member disposed on an outer circumference of the electrode member within the axial hole. The insulator includes a large inner diameter region, a middle inner diameter region located frontward of the large inner diameter region and having an inner diameter smaller than that of the large inner diameter region, and a small inner diameter region located frontward of the middle inner diameter region and having an inner diameter smaller than that of the middle inner diameter region. The electrode member is retained on a step portion of the insulator between the middle inner diameter region and the small inner diameter region. The magnetic member is positioned in the axial hole at a location within the large inner diameter region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hironori Uegaki, Shoma Tsumagari, Kazuhiro Kurosawa, Katsuya Takaoka, Kuniharu Tanaka
  • Patent number: 10090646
    Abstract: Disclosed is a spark plug capable of suppressing high-frequency noise by improving the material of an electrical connection part between a center electrode and a metal terminal within an axial hole of an insulator. A spark plug has an electrical connection part arranged in an axial hole of an insulator to establish electrical connection between a center electrode and a metal terminal. The electrical connection part includes a conductor having a first crystal phase formed of a Fe-containing oxide and a second crystal phase formed of a conductive metal oxide of perovskite crystal structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Katsuya Takaoka, Kazuhiro Kurosawa, Kuniharu Tanaka, Hisashi Kozuka, Toshitaka Honda, Hirokazu Kurono, Haruki Yoshida, Hironori Uegaki
  • Publication number: 20180166861
    Abstract: A connection structure between a center electrode and a metal terminal of a spark plug having a composite part that contains a plurality of secondary particles each formed of a plurality of primary particles of iron-containing oxide as a magnetic substance, and a conductive material coating the plurality of secondary particles. The iron-containing oxide includes at least one of an oxide represented by M1+AOFe2?AO3 (where ?0.5?A?0.5; and M is at least one kind of element selected from the group consisting of Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Mg, Zn and Ca) and an oxide represented by Q3Fe5O12 (where Q is at least one kind of element selected from the group consisting of Y, Lu, Yb, Tm, Er, Ho, Dy, Tb, Gd and Sm). In cross section, an average particle size of the primary particles is 0.5 ?m to 100 ?m, an average particle size of the secondary particles is 0.5 mm to 2.0 mm, and a porosity of the inside of the secondary particles is 5% or lower.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2016
    Publication date: June 14, 2018
    Applicant: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuhiro KUROSAWA, Katsuya TAKAOKA, Kuniharu TANAKA, Toshitaka HONDA, Hirokazu KURONO, Hironori UEGAKI
  • Patent number: 9997894
    Abstract: A spark plug includes a cylindrical metallic shell having a ground electrode at a forward end of the cylindrical metallic shell, a cylindrical insulator held in the metallic shell, a center electrode disposed in the insulator, a resistor element disposed in the insulator and having a forward end located rearward of a rear end of the center electrode, a forward-end-side electrically conductive seal layer disposed in the insulator to be located between the center electrode and the resistor element, and a rear-end-side electrically conductive seal layer disposed in the insulator to be located rearward of the resistor element. The forward end of the resistor element is located forward of the rear end of the metallic shell, and the rear end of the resistor element is located rearward of the rear end of the metallic shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hironori Uegaki, Kazuhiro Kurosawa, Katsuya Takaoka, Kuniharu Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20170288374
    Abstract: A spark plug includes a cylindrical metallic shell having a ground electrode at a forward end of the cylindrical metallic shell, a cylindrical insulator held in the metallic shell, a center electrode disposed in the insulator, a resistor element disposed in the insulator and having a forward end located rearward of a rear end of the center electrode, a forward-end-side electrically conductive seal layer disposed in the insulator to be located between the center electrode and the resistor element, and a rear-end-side electrically conductive seal layer disposed in the insulator to be located rearward of the resistor element. The forward end of the resistor element is located forward of the rear end of the metallic shell, and the rear end of the resistor element is located rearward of the rear end of the metallic shell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2017
    Publication date: October 5, 2017
    Applicant: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hironori UEGAKI, Kazuhiro KUROSAWA, Katsuya TAKAOKA, Kuniharu TANAKA
  • Publication number: 20170214219
    Abstract: Disclosed is a spark plug capable of suppressing high-frequency noise by improving the material of an electrical connection part between a center electrode and a metal terminal within an axial hole of an insulator. A spark plug has an electrical connection part arranged in an axial hole of an insulator to establish electrical connection between a center electrode and a metal terminal. The electrical connection part includes a conductor having a first crystal phase formed of a Fe-containing oxide and a second crystal phase formed of a conductive metal oxide of perovskite crystal structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2015
    Publication date: July 27, 2017
    Applicant: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Katsuya TAKAOKA, Kazuhiro KUROSAWA, Kuniharu TANAKA, Hisashi KOZUKA, Toshitaka HONDA, Hirokazu KURONO, Haruki YOSHIDA, Hironori UEGAKI
  • Patent number: 9595814
    Abstract: A connection portion connecting a center electrode and a terminal metal fixture together in a through hole of the insulator includes a resistor and a magnetic substance structure including a magnetic substance and a conductor and being disposed on a leading end side or a rear end side of the resistor while being positioned away from the resistor. The connection portion further includes a first conductive sealing portion, a second conductive sealing portion and a third conductive sealing portion. The first conductive sealing portion is disposed on a leading end side of a first member and is in contact therewith. The second conductive sealing portion is disposed between the first member and a second member and is in contact with the first and second members. The third conductive sealing portion is disposed on a rear end side of the second member and is in contact therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takashi Kasashima, Katsuya Takaoka, Kazuhiro Kurosawa, Kuniharu Tanaka, Toshitaka Honda, Hirokazu Kurono, Haruki Yoshida, Hironori Uegaki
  • Patent number: 9590395
    Abstract: A connection portion connecting a center electrode and a terminal metal fixture together in a through hole of the insulator includes a resistor and a magnetic substance structure including a magnetic substance and a conductor. The connection portion further includes a first conductive sealing portion, a second conductive sealing portion and a third conductive sealing portion. The first conductive sealing portion is disposed on a leading end side of a first member and is in contact therewith. The second conductive sealing portion is disposed between the first member and a second member and is in contact with the first member and the second member. The third conductive sealing portion is disposed on a rear end side of the second member and is in contact therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Katsuya Takaoka, Kazuhiro Kurosawa, Kuniharu Tanaka, Toshitaka Honda, Hirokazu Kurono, Haruki Yoshida, Hironori Uegaki
  • Publication number: 20160329687
    Abstract: A connection portion connecting a center electrode and a terminal metal fixture together in a through hole of the insulator includes a resistor and a magnetic substance structure including a magnetic substance and a conductor and being disposed on a leading end side or a rear end side of the resistor while being positioned away from the resistor. The connection portion further includes a first conductive sealing portion, a second conductive sealing portion and a third conductive sealing portion. The first conductive sealing portion is disposed on a leading end side of a first member and is in contact therewith. The second conductive sealing portion is disposed between the first member and a second member and is in contact with the first and second members. The third conductive sealing portion is disposed on a rear end side of the second member and is in contact therewith.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 25, 2014
    Publication date: November 10, 2016
    Applicant: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takashi KASASHIMA, Katsuya TAKAOKA, Kazuhiro KUROSAWA, Kuniharu TANAKA, Toshitaka HONDA, Hirokazu KURONO, Haruki YOSHIDA, Hironori UEGAKI
  • Publication number: 20160322789
    Abstract: A connection portion connecting a center electrode and a terminal metal fixture together in a through hole of the insulator includes a resistor and a magnetic substance structure including a magnetic substance and a conductor The connection portion further includes a first conductive sealing portion, a second conductive sealing portion and a third conductive sealing portion. The first conductive sealing portion is disposed on a leading end side of a first member and is in contact therewith. The second conductive sealing portion is disposed between the first member and a second member and is in contact with the first member and the second member. The third conductive sealing portion is disposed on a rear end side of the second member and is in contact therewith.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 25, 2014
    Publication date: November 3, 2016
    Applicant: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Katsuya TAKAOKA, Kazuhiro KUROSAWA, Kuniharu TANAKA, Toshitaka HONDA, Hirokazu KURONO, Haruki YOSHIDA, Hironori UEGAKI
  • Patent number: 9373940
    Abstract: A spark plug having an insulator with a through hole formed therein in a direction of an axis, a center electrode disposed in a front side of the through hole, a metal terminal disposed in a rear side of the through hole, an electrical connection part arranged in the through hole to establish electrical connection between the center electrode and the metal terminal and a metal shell holding therein the insulator. The electrical connection part has a conductor including a conductive material and at least one kind of Fe-containing oxide material. The Fe-containing oxide material contains at least FeO. The conductor satisfies a relationship of 0.06?S1/(S1+S2)?0.46 where, in a cross section taken along the axis, S1 is an area occupied by the conductive material and S2 is an area occupied by the Fe-containing oxide material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Katsuya Takaoka, Kazuhiro Kurosawa, Kuniharu Tanaka, Haruki Yoshida, Hirokazu Kurono, Toshitaka Honda
  • Patent number: 9281662
    Abstract: A spark plug including an insulator having an axial hole, a center electrode held at one end side and a terminal electrode held at the other end side of the axial hole, an electrical connection portion electrically connecting the center electrode and the terminal electrode inside the axial hole, wherein the electrical connection portion includes a conductor including a ceramic phase and a metal wire having a spiral structure portion, wherein the metal wire has a wire diameter of 0.1 mm or greater and 0.5 mm or smaller, and wherein the spiral structure portion of the metal wire is configured such that an outer diameter thereof is 1.0 mm or greater and 3 mm or smaller, a pitch thereof is 0.3 mm or greater and 1 mm or smaller, and a height thereof is 8 mm or greater and 30 mm or smaller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Katsuya Takaoka, Kazuhiro Kurosawa, Kuniharu Tanaka, Haruki Yoshida, Hirokazu Kurono, Toshitaka Honda
  • Publication number: 20150349498
    Abstract: A spark plug including an insulator having an axial hole, a center electrode held at one end side and a terminal electrode held at the other end side of the axial hole, an electrical connection portion electrically connecting the center electrode and the terminal electrode inside the axial hole, wherein the electrical connection portion includes a conductor including a ceramic phase and a metal wire having a spiral structure portion, wherein the metal wire has a wire diameter of 0.1 mm or greater and 0.5 mm or smaller, and wherein the spiral structure portion of the metal wire is configured such that an outer diameter thereof is 1.0 mm or greater and 3 mm or smaller, a pitch thereof is 0.3 mm or greater and 1 mm or smaller, and a height thereof is 8 mm or greater and 30 mm or smaller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2015
    Publication date: December 3, 2015
    Applicant: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Katsuya TAKAOKA, Kazuhiro KUROSAWA, Kuniharu TANAKA, Haruki YOSHIDA, Hirokazu KURONO, Toshitaka HONDA
  • Publication number: 20150325982
    Abstract: A spark plug having an insulator with a through hole formed therein in a direction of an axis, a center electrode disposed in a front side of the through hole, a metal terminal disposed in a rear side of the through hole, an electrical connection part arranged in the through hole to establish electrical connection between the center electrode and the metal terminal and a metal shell holding therein the insulator. The electrical connection part has a conductor including a conductive material and at least one kind of Fe-containing oxide material. The Fe-containing oxide material contains at least FeO. The conductor satisfies a relationship of 0.06?S1/(S1+S2)?0.46 where, in a cross section taken along the axis, S1 is an area occupied by the conductive material and S2 is an area occupied by the Fe-containing oxide material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2015
    Publication date: November 12, 2015
    Applicant: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Katsuya TAKAOKA, Kazuhiro KUROSAWA, Kuniharu TANAKA, Haruki YOSHIDA, Hirokazu KURONO, Toshitaka HONDA