Patents by Inventor Kazuo Komori

Kazuo Komori 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: 9839962
    Abstract: An outer member and an inner member constituting a wheel bearing device are assembled and the brake rotor is fixed to the hub ring of the inner member. In this state, the pad slide surfaces of the brake rotor are lathed with the reference provided by a wheel pilot end surface. Alternatively, the wheel pilot end surface of the hub ring by chucking the knuckle pilot of the outer member with the wheel bearing device put in its assembled state, and the pad slide surfaces of the brake rotor are lathed with the reference provided by the wheel pilot end surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kiyotake Shibata, Kazunari Yamamoto, Kazuhisa Shigeoka, Taku Nishiki, Kazuo Komori, Takao Maeda
  • Patent number: 9759254
    Abstract: A wheel bearing apparatus has a double row angular contact ball bearing. A height of a shoulder of a shoulder portion (18) of an outer member (12) with respect to a ball diameter of a double ball (14) row is set in a range of 0.35 to 0.50 mm. A corner (19) of the shoulder portion (18) has a relief surface (19a) and a chamfered portion (19b). The relief surface is on a straight line that is on a tangent line of an outer raceway surface (12a). The chamfered portion (19b) is round in a circular arc with a predetermined radius of curvature r. The corner (19) is formed simultaneously by a formed grinding wheel forming the double row outer raceway surface (12a). The corner is formed smoothly continuous from each outer raceway surface (12a). A length in the radial direction of the relief surface (19a) is set greater than or equal to 0.2 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuo Komori
  • Patent number: 9315069
    Abstract: A wheel bearing apparatus has an outer member, an inner member and double row rolling elements. A coupler ring is fit onto the wheel hub. The coupler ring inner circumferential splined portion has a plurality of spline recesses and spline projections. The plurality recesses and projections mate with a hub splined portion formed on the inner side outer circumference of the cylindrical portion of the wheel hub. An axial cross-section of the inner-side end of each spline projection of the hub splined portion is formed by a single circular arc with a predetermined radius of curvature “R”. The radius of curvature “R” is larger than a dimension “A”, measured from the inner-side end face of the coupler ring to the inner-side edge “B” of each spline projection (R>A). Also, it is larger than the height “h” of each spline projection (R>h).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuo Komori
  • Publication number: 20160001597
    Abstract: A wheel bearing apparatus has an outer member, an inner member with an inner ring and double row rolling elements rollably contained between inner raceway surfaces of the inner member and outer raceway surfaces of the outer member. The inner ring is axially immovably secured on the wheel hub by a caulking portion. A thickness of a smaller end surface of the inner ring is larger than the height of a stepped portion of a wheel hub of the inner member. The axial position of the smaller end surface of the inner ring is set within an axial range between an axial position of the outermost-side point of the inner-side rolling elements of the double row rolling elements and an axial position of the groove bottom point of an inner raceway surface of the inner ring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2015
    Publication date: January 7, 2016
    Inventor: Kazuo KOMORI
  • Publication number: 20150068040
    Abstract: An outer member and an inner member constituting a wheel bearing device are assembled and the brake rotor is fixed to the hub ring of the inner member. In this state, the pad slide surfaces of the brake rotor are lathed with the reference provided by a wheel pilot end surface. Alternatively, the wheel pilot end surface of the hub ring by chucking the knuckle pilot of the outer member with the wheel bearing device put in its assembled state, and the pad slide surfaces of the brake rotor are lathed with the reference provided by the wheel pilot end surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2014
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Applicant: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kiyotake SHIBATA, Kazunari YAMAMOTO, Kazuhisa SHIGEOKA, Taku NISHIKI, Kazuo KOMORI, Takao MAEDA
  • Patent number: 8914965
    Abstract: An outer member and an inner member constituting a wheel bearing device are assembled and the brake rotor is fixed to the hub ring of the inner member. In this state, the pad slide surfaces of the brake rotor are lathed with the reference provided by a wheel pilot end surface. Alternatively, the wheel pilot end surface of the hub ring by chucking the knuckle pilot of the outer member with the wheel bearing device put in its assembled state, and the pad slide surfaces of the brake rotor are lathed with the reference provided by the wheel pilot end surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Kiyotake Shibata, Kazunari Yamamoto, Kazuhisa Shigeoka, Taku Nishiki, Kazuo Komori, Takao Maeda
  • Patent number: 8905645
    Abstract: A wheel bearing apparatus has an outer member, an inner member, and double row rolling elements are contained between the outer raceway surfaces. Seals are mounted in openings formed between the outer member and the inner member. A shoulder height H of the inner raceway surface of the inner ring is set with a range of 0.4-0.8 times a diameter “d” of the ball (H/d=0.4-0.8). A shoulder height ? of a smaller diameter portion formed on the outermost circumference of the inner ring is set to a value ?/d?0.35. A corner, formed by the tapered surface and the inner raceway surface, is rounded to have a circular arc cross-section. A shoulder height H1 of the inner raceway surface from its bottom to the corner is set within a range of 0.40-0.50 times a diameter of the ball (d) (H1/d=0.40-0.50).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuo Komori, Yasushi Shibata
  • Patent number: 8840313
    Abstract: A vehicle wheel bearing apparatus has an outer member (2, 30) formed with double row outer raceway surfaces (2a, 2b) on its inner circumferential surface. Inner members (1, 20, 29, 35, 38) are each formed with double row inner raceway surfaces (4a, 5a, 31a) on its outer circumferential surface arranged opposite to the double row outer raceway surfaces (2a, 2b). Double row ball groups (3) are freely rollably contained between the outer raceway surfaces (2a, 2b) and inner raceway surfaces (4a, 5a, 31a) of the inner members (1, 20, 29, 35, 38) and the outer member (2, 30). A pitch circle diameter (PCDo) of a ball group (3) near a wheel mounting flange (6) is larger than a pitch circle diameter (PCDi) of a ball group (3) away from the wheel mounting flange (6). Each corner of the shoulders of the outer and inner raceway surfaces (2a, 2b, 4a, 5a, 31a) is rounded as a smooth circular arc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuo Komori, Masahiro Kiuchi, Kazuhiro Baba
  • Patent number: 8794844
    Abstract: A vehicle wheel bearing apparatus has an outer member; an inner member and double row balls freely rollably contained between outer raceway surfaces and inner raceway surfaces. An inner ring is axially secured relative to a wheel hub by a caulked portion. The caulked portion is formed by plastically deforming the cylindrical portion radially outward. The wheel hub is formed from medium-high carbon steel including carbon of 0.40-0.80% by weight and with a ferrite grain size number selected larger than #3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuo Komori
  • Patent number: 8794842
    Abstract: A vehicle wheel bearing apparatus has an outer member, an inner member with a wheel hub and an inner ring. Double row rolling elements are freely rollably contained between the inner and outer raceway surfaces, respectively, of the inner member and the outer member. Seals are mounted in annular openings formed between the outer member and the inner member. The inner side seal of these seals comprises an annular slinger and an annular sealing plate. The sealing plate includes a steel plate metal core and a sealing member bonded to the metal core, via vulcanized adhesion. A plurality of sealing lips extends from the sealing member and is in sliding contact with the slinger. An outer circumferential lip is formed on the periphery of the sealing member. The outer circumferential lip extends radially outward. It has a substantially L-shaped cross-section and is adapted to fit into a gap between the outer member and a flange portion of a knuckle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuo Komori
  • Patent number: 8745874
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a wheel support bearing assembly having a plastically deformed portion engageable with an inclined surface portion of an annular stepped area in the inner race segment. The method includes that the plastically deformed portion, which is of a cylindrical configuration before it is deformed, is formed by pressing a crimping punch, of which front end portion outer peripheral surface is a tapered shape, axially into an inner peripheral surface of the inboard end portion of the hub axle to allow the cylindrical plastically deformed portion to be crimped in the diameter expanded condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Kazunori Kubota, Kazuo Komori, Hiroshi Matsunaga, Akira Fujimura, Tetsuya Hashimoto, Masahiro Kiuchi
  • Publication number: 20140103702
    Abstract: A wheel bearing apparatus has an outer member, an inner member and double row rolling elements. A coupler ring is fit onto the wheel hub. The coupler ring inner circumferential splined portion has a plurality of spline recesses and spline projections. The plurality recesses and projections mate with a hub splined portion formed on the inner side outer circumference of the cylindrical portion of the wheel hub. An axial cross-section of the inner-side end of each spline projection of the hub splined portion is formed by a single circular arc with a predetermined radius of curvature “R”. The radius of curvature “R” is larger than a dimension “A”, measured from the inner-side end face of the coupler ring to the inner-side edge “B” of each spline projection (R>A). Also, it is larger than the height “h” of each spline projection (R>h).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kazuo KOMORI
  • Patent number: 8585298
    Abstract: A wheel bearing apparatus incorporating a rotation speed detecting apparatus has an outer member, an inner member, double row rolling elements, a pulser ring, a cup-shaped sensor cap and a rotation speed sensor. The sensor cap is press-formed from anti-corrosion steel sheet into a cup-shaped configuration with a cylindrical fitting portion, to be press-fit into the end of the outer member, and a bottom portion, extending radially inward from the fitting portion to cover the inner-side end of the inner member. The rotation speed sensor is oppositely arranged so that it abuts or is positioned in close proximity to the bottom portion and accordingly the pulser ring. The rotation speed sensor and pulser ring oppose one another a predetermined axial air gap via the bottom portion. An elastic member is pressed and elastically deformed between the fitting portion of the sensor cap and the end of the outer member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuo Komori, Yasuhiro Aritake
  • Patent number: 8393795
    Abstract: A wheel bearing apparatus incorporating a rotational speed detecting apparatus has a protecting cover. A cylindrical fitting portion of the cover is press-fit into the end inner circumference of the outer member. A donut-shaped shielding portion extends radially inward from the fitting portion, via a radially reducing portion. A bottom portion is continuous with the shielding portion, via a stepped portion, to close the inner-side end of the inner member. A sealing member is integrally adhered to the outer circumference of the radially reducing portion. The sealing member and annular portion has a diameter slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the fitting portion of the protecting cover. The sealing member projected portion has a diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of the fitting portion of the protecting cover. The projected portion is press-fit into the end inner circumference of the outer member via a predetermined interference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Aritake, Kazuo Komori
  • Publication number: 20130028548
    Abstract: A wheel bearing apparatus incorporating a rotation speed detecting apparatus has an outer member, an inner member, double row rolling elements, a pulser ring, a cup-shaped sensor cap and a rotation speed sensor. The sensor cap is press-formed from anti-corrosion steel sheet into a cup-shaped configuration with a cylindrical fitting portion, to be press-fit into the end of the outer member, and a bottom portion, extending radially inward from the fitting portion to cover the inner-side end of the inner member. The rotation speed sensor is oppositely arranged so that it abuts or is positioned in close proximity to the bottom portion and accordingly the pulser ring. The rotation speed sensor and pulser ring oppose one another a predetermined axial air gap via the bottom portion. An elastic member is pressed and elastically deformed between the fitting portion of the sensor cap and the end of the outer member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Applicant: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuo Komori, Yasuhiro Aritake
  • Patent number: 8356942
    Abstract: A bearing sealing device is provided between inner and outer members of a wheel support bearing assembly and includes an annular sealing plate of an L shaped section and an elastic sealing member having an elastic body secured to a core metal of a reverse L-shaped section. The sealing plate includes a cylindrical wall, mounted on an outer periphery of the inner member, and a radial wall extending upwardly from one end thereof. The core metal includes a cylindrical wall, mounted on an inner periphery of the outer member, and a radial upright wall extending radially inwardly from one end thereof. The elastic body includes two side sealing lips, arranged radially of the core metal and having their tips held in contact with the radial upright wall. The distance between those side sealing lips is chosen to be equal to or greater than 0.1 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Torii, Kazuo Komori
  • Patent number: 8313242
    Abstract: A sensor equipped wheel support bearing assembly for supporting a vehicle wheel rotatably relative to a vehicle body, including an outer member; an inner member; a plurality of rows of rolling elements interposed between the outer and inner member; a strain sensor unit, made up of a strain generating member and a sensor element fitted to the strain generating member for detecting strains induced in the strain generating member, is fitted to one of the outer and inner members, that serves as a stationary member; and a covering member that covers at least the sensor element sealingly, provided on a mounting surface of the strain generating member of the strain sensor unit, on which the sensor element is mounted, the covering member being made of a resin which is over-molded or an elastomer bonded by vulcanization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Takayuki Norimatsu, Toru Takahashi, Kazuo Komori, Kazuhiro Baba, Kentarou Nishikawa
  • Patent number: 8308371
    Abstract: A vehicle wheel bearing apparatus has an outer member (2), an inner member (1) and double row ball groups. A pitch circle diameter (PCDo) of the outer side ball group is larger than a pitch circle diameter (PCDi) of the inner side ball group. Ribs (17) are formed on a surface of the inner side of the wheel mounting flange (6). Each rib (17) is formed by an outline including straight portions (17a), radially extending outwardly from the base of the wheel mounting flange (6), and a rounded tip portion (17b), having a predetermined radius of curvature (r) centered on the axial center (O) of hub bolt (6a). The rounded tip substantially corresponds to a distance between the axial center (O) and the outermost periphery of the wheel mounting flange (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuo Komori
  • Patent number: 8267591
    Abstract: A wheel bearing seal (7, 19, 20) has an annular sealing plate (10 or 21) and a slinger (11 or 11?). The sealing plate (10 or 21) has a metal core (12 or 22) and sealing member (13 or 23). The sealing member (13 or 23) has a first side lip (13a or 23a), a second side lip (13b or 23b), and a grease lip (13c or 23c). The slinger (11 or 11?) has a cylindrical portion (11a or 11a?) and an upstanding portion (11b, 11b?). The first and second side lips (13a or 23a and 13b or 23b) slidably contact the upstanding portion. The grease lip (13c or 23c) slidably contacts with the cylindrical portion (11 a or 11a?). A relationship, F1+F2?1.5×F3, exists between contacting loads F1 and F2, respectively, of the first and second side lips (13a or 23a and 13b or 23b) and a fastening force F3 of the grease lip (13c or 23c).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Tomoko Baba, Kazuo Komori
  • Publication number: 20120216407
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a wheel support bearing assembly having a plastically deformed portion engageable with an inclined surface portion of an annular stepped area in the inner race segment. The method includes that the plastically deformed portion, which is of a cylindrical configuration before it is deformed, is formed by pressing a crimping punch, of which front end portion outer peripheral surface is a tapered shape, axially into an inner peripheral surface of the inboard end portion of the hub axle to allow the cylindrical plastically deformed portion to be crimped in the diameter expanded condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2012
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Applicant: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Kazunori KUBOTA, Kazuo Komori, Hiroshi Matsunaga, Akira Fujimura, Tetsuya Hashimoto, Masahiro Kiuchi