Patents by Inventor Kazuhito Hotta

Kazuhito Hotta 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: 7219657
    Abstract: A fuel routing structure for use in a vehicle having a V-type engine is provided. The structure has fewer parts, is compact, and facilitates ease of assembly and maintenance for a vehicle where fuel injection valves are attached to an intake manifold, which contains an intake passage communicating with intake ports of a pair of cylinder banks. Each fuel injection valve is attached to an upper part of the intake manifold, so that center lines of the fuel injection valves corresponding to both banks are crossed at an intersection over the intake manifold when a vehicle is viewed from the side. A fuel rail is provided with a fuel passage pipe, the axis of which is arranged in the vicinity of the intersection of the center lines of the fuel injection valves. The axis of the fuel passage pipe may be parallel to the crankshaft and may extend linearly and connected to all the fuel injection valves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2007
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuhito Hotta, Hiraku Minato
  • Patent number: 7210454
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine having cylinders capable of selectively resting during engine operation is capable of eliminating step increases in engine output when the number of operative cylinders is changed. The internal combustion engine includes a plurality of cylinders divided into two or more groups, at least some of the cylinders being restable. A throttle valve of each of the cylinders is independently operable on the basis of the group to which the cylinder belongs, and the number of resting cylinders is controlled according to the throttle grip opening. The throttle valve opening is different between the groups, except for the full opening condition and the full closure condition of the throttle valve, and an ECU is provided for opening the throttle valve of the next cylinder group before the throttle valve opening of the former cylinder group reaches the full opening condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hayato Maehara, Shinji Saito, Kazuhito Hotta, Takaaki Tsukui
  • Publication number: 20070084440
    Abstract: An intake air control device is provided in which a valve shaft extends in the left and right direction of a vehicle body frame across an air intake path, and is rotatably supported by an air intake path forming body connected to an engine body, equalizing the distances from a center of the vehicle body frame in the left and right direction to both ends of the intake air control device when arranging the air intake path forming body at the center of the vehicle body frame in the left and right direction. An actuator, which applies a motive power to drive the valve shaft, is connected to one end of the valve shaft, and a throttle operating amount sensor for detecting the throttle operating amount by a vehicle operator is supported by the air intake path forming body and connected to the other end of the valve shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2006
    Publication date: April 19, 2007
    Applicant: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuhito Hotta, Tomohiro Tsutsumi, Junya Sato, Takashi Udono, Takeru Abe
  • Patent number: 7121256
    Abstract: A throttle body for controlling a plurality of throttle valves in a multi-cylinder engine. The throttle valves of at least two of the cylinders are structurally connected to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takaaki Tsukui, Kazuhito Hotta, Shinji Saito
  • Patent number: 7055497
    Abstract: In a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine having throttle valves to be opened and closed by electric motors, output control is enabled in various ways according to the state of usage of an object to be driven by the multi-cylinder internal combustion engine with a simple structure with the scope of application of shared components being expanded to reduce the cost. In addition, a throttle body assembly is downsized in the direction of the arrangement of the cylinders. A multi-cylinder internal combustion engine includes a predetermined number of cylinders, a throttle body assembly including the throttle bodies formed with intake-air channels and throttle valves. The respective throttle valves are opened and closed by the electric motors provided independently for each throttle valve. Air-intake ports of the first and fourth cylinders are formed so as to approach a center plane in the direction of the arrangement as they approach entrances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hayato Maehara, Takaaki Tsukui, Kazuhito Hotta
  • Publication number: 20060048746
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine having cylinders capable of selectively resting during engine operation is capable of eliminating step increases in engine output when the number of operative cylinders is changed. The internal combustion engine includes a plurality of cylinders divided into two or more groups, at least some of the cylinders being restable. A throttle valve of each of the cylinders is independently operable on the basis of the group to which the cylinder belongs, and the number of resting cylinders is controlled according to the throttle grip opening. The throttle valve opening is different between the groups, except for the full opening condition and the full closure condition of the throttle valve, and an ECU is provided for opening the throttle valve of the next cylinder group before the throttle valve opening of the former cylinder group reaches the full opening condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2005
    Publication date: March 9, 2006
    Applicant: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hayato Maehara, Shinji Saito, Kazuhito Hotta, Takaaki Tsukui
  • Publication number: 20060042601
    Abstract: A fuel routing structure for use in a vehicle having a V-type engine is provided. The structure has fewer parts, is compact, and facilitates ease of assembly and maintenance for a vehicle where fuel injection valves are attached to an intake manifold, which contains an intake passage communicating with intake ports of a pair of cylinder banks. Each fuel injection valve is attached to an upper part of the intake manifold, so that center lines of the fuel injection valves corresponding to both banks are crossed at an intersection over the intake manifold when a vehicle is viewed from the side. A fuel rail is provided with a fuel passage pipe, the axis of which is arranged in the vicinity of the intersection of the center lines of the fuel injection valves. The axis of the fuel passage pipe may be parallel to the crankshaft and may extend linearly and connected to all the fuel injection valves.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2005
    Publication date: March 2, 2006
    Applicant: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuhito Hotta, Hiraku Minato
  • Patent number: 6971371
    Abstract: An air-fuel mixing and delivery apparatus for an internal combustion engine is situated to be shielded from exposure to water or mud during travel of a vehicle, to protect fuel system components such as a fuel injector. In the air-fuel mixing and delivery apparatus, an air-intake port, a throttle body, and an air cleaner are arranged substantially linearly and extending rearwardly above a main body of the internal combustion engine, toward the rear of the vehicle. A fuel injector is positioned on the side of the throttle body, below a seat of the vehicle. The apparatus may include a fuel pump operatively attached to the throttle body as well as a fuel injector, so that the apparatus can be compactly consolidated. Optionally, a pressure regulator may also be attached to the throttle body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2005
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuhito Hotta, Fumie Okada, Minoru Ueda
  • Publication number: 20050173918
    Abstract: A saddle ride type four-wheel vehicle includes an electronic control type fuel injection system in a fuel supply system for an engine mounted thereon, wherein a fuel pump is disposed on the rear side relative to the rotational center axis of front wheels and on the front side relative to the engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2005
    Publication date: August 11, 2005
    Applicant: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masataka Eguchi, Yuichiro Tsuruta, Kazuhito Hotta, Atsushi Ito, Naoki Urano
  • Publication number: 20050133004
    Abstract: In a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine having throttle valves to be opened and closed by electric motors, output control is enabled in various ways according to the state of usage of an object to be driven by the multi-cylinder internal combustion engine with a simple structure with the scope of application of shared components being expanded to reduce the cost. In addition, a throttle body assembly is downsized in the direction of the arrangement of the cylinders. A multi-cylinder internal combustion engine includes a predetermined number of cylinders, a throttle body assembly including the throttle bodies formed with intake-air channels and throttle valves. The respective throttle valves are opened and closed by the electric motors provided independently for each throttle valve. Air-intake ports of the first and fourth cylinders are formed so as to approach a center plane in the direction of the arrangement as they approach entrances.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2004
    Publication date: June 23, 2005
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hayato Maehara, Takaaki Tsukui, Kazuhito Hotta
  • Publication number: 20050087175
    Abstract: An air-fuel mixing and delivery apparatus for an internal combustion engine is situated to be shielded from exposure to water or mud during travel of a vehicle, to protect fuel system components such as a fuel injector. In the air-fuel mixing and delivery apparatus, an air-intake port, a throttle body, and an air cleaner are arranged substantially linearly and extending rearwardly above a main body of the internal combustion engine, toward the rear of the vehicle. A fuel injector is positioned on the side of the throttle body, below a seat of the vehicle. The apparatus may include a fuel pump operatively attached to the throttle body as well as a fuel injector, so that the apparatus can be compactly consolidated. Optionally, a pressure regulator may also be attached to the throttle body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2004
    Publication date: April 28, 2005
    Applicant: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuhito Hotta, Fumie Okada, Minoru Ueda
  • Patent number: 6866015
    Abstract: To prevent the entry of ambient air and liquid such as rainwater into a direct acting type auto-by starter and thereby prevent the formation of rust in the auto-by starter, by adjusting pressure fluctuations in the auto-by starter caused by the operation of a starting valve for opening and closing a starting intake passage. A starting valve is lifted to open a starting intake passage to start an internal combustion engine. Pressure in a sliding space for the starting valve is increased, so that the gas in the sliding space flows out. The flow of the gas is absorbed by an increase in volume inside a bellows boot mounted on an upper portion of the starting valve. When the starting valve is lowered by the operation of a spring member, the pressure in the sliding space is reduced to allow the gas flow from the bellows boot into the sliding space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akinobu Masunaga, Kazuhito Hotta
  • Publication number: 20040237934
    Abstract: A throttle body for controlling a plurality of throttle valves in a multi-cylinder engine. The throttle valves of at least two of the cylinders are structurally connected to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2004
    Publication date: December 2, 2004
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takaaki Tsukui, Kazuhito Hotta, Shinji Saito
  • Patent number: 6752010
    Abstract: A sensor arrangement structure for an engine for a personal watercraft for preventing an engine controlling sensor from being splashed with water so that the engine operates appropriately. An engine for driving a jet propulsion pump is provided in a watercraft body surrounded by a hull and a deck with a throttle body and a surge tank contiguous to the throttle body being provided on the intake side of the engine and forming a horizontal partition assembly A extending in a forward and rearward direction and extending in a substantially horizontal direction at an upper portion of the engine. A sensor for controlling the engine is disposed above the horizontal partition assembly. An intercooler is disposed just below the surge tank. The intake pressure sensor for detecting the intake pressure on the downstream side with respect to the throttle valve is disposed adjacent to a head cover and is attached in a state wherein it is spaced away from an upper face of the throttle body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2004
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshitsugu Gokan, Kazuhito Hotta
  • Publication number: 20040051255
    Abstract: To prevent the entry of ambient air and liquid such as rainwater into a direct acting type auto-by starter and thereby prevent the formation of rust in the auto-by starter, by adjusting pressure fluctuations in the auto-by starter caused by the operation of a starting valve for opening and closing a starting intake passage. A starting valve is lifted to open a starting intake passage to start an internal combustion engine. Pressure in a sliding space for the starting valve is increased, so that the gas in the sliding space flows out. The flow of the gas is absorbed by an increase in volume inside a bellows boot mounted on an upper portion of the starting valve. When the starting valve is lowered by the operation of a spring member, the pressure in the sliding space is reduced to allow the gas flow from the bellows boot into the sliding space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2003
    Publication date: March 18, 2004
    Inventors: Akinobu Masunaga, Kazuhito Hotta
  • Publication number: 20030019287
    Abstract: A sensor arrangement structure for an engine for a personal watercraft for preventing an engine controlling sensor from being splashed with water so that the engine operates appropriately. An engine for driving a jet propulsion pump is provided in a watercraft body surrounded by a hull and a deck with a throttle body and a surge tank contiguous to the throttle body being provided on the intake side of the engine and forming a horizontal partition assembly A extending in a forward and rearward direction and extending in a substantially horizontal direction at an upper portion of the engine. A sensor for controlling the engine is disposed above the horizontal partition assembly. An intercooler is disposed just below the surge tank. The intake pressure sensor for detecting the intake pressure on the downstream side with respect to the throttle valve is disposed adjacent to a head cover and is attached in a state wherein it is spaced away from an upper face of the throttle body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2002
    Publication date: January 30, 2003
    Inventors: Yoshitsugu Gokan, Kazuhito Hotta
  • Patent number: 6311673
    Abstract: A fuel injection device for an engine constructed at a cost reduction by rational integral formation of a fuel supply pipe and a part of an injection pressure regulator. A regulator housing of an injection pressure regulator is divided into a housing body defining a fuel chamber and a cover defining a pressure regulating chamber. The housing body is integral with a fuel supply pipe at its end portion. The fuel supply pipe is connected at its side wall to a fuel injector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2001
    Assignee: Honda Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuhito Hotta, Kenichiro Ikeda, Shunji Akamatsu, Mutsumi Katayama