Patents by Inventor Kazuyoshi Ito

Kazuyoshi Ito 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: 20190178323
    Abstract: A vibration damping apparatus that includes a plurality of rotational elements including an input to which a torque from an engine is transferred, and an output; a first torsional stiffness mechanism arranged between the input and the output and having a positive torsional stiffness; and a second torsional stiffness mechanism configured to act in parallel to the first torsional stiffness mechanism between the input and the output and having a negative torsional stiffness, wherein the negative torsional stiffness of the second torsional stiffness mechanism increases on a negative side as a rotation speed of the engine increases.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2017
    Publication date: June 13, 2019
    Applicant: AISIN AW CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuyoshi ITO, Yoichi OI, Masaki WAJIMA, Hiroki NAGAI, Takao SAKAMOTO
  • Publication number: 20190178332
    Abstract: A damper apparatus includes an input element, an output element, a first intermediate element, a second intermediate element, a first elastic body configured to transfer the torque between the input and first intermediate elements, a second elastic body configured to transfer the torque between the first intermediate and output elements, a third elastic body, a fourth elastic body configured to transfer the torque between the second intermediate element and the output element, and a fifth elastic body configured to transfer the torque between the first intermediate element and the second intermediate element. At least one of the first and second intermediate elements includes a single member on which a first torque transfer portion disposed between the first and second elastic bodies or between the third and fourth elastic bodies and a second torque transfer portion configured to exchange the torque with the fifth elastic body are both formed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2017
    Publication date: June 13, 2019
    Applicant: AISIN AW CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuyoshi ITO, Masaki WAJIMA, Kazuhiro ITOU
  • Patent number: 10302170
    Abstract: A dynamic damper is coupled to an intermediate member of a damper device. A drive member of the damper device has additional abutment portions coupled to end portions of vibration absorption springs of the dynamic damper before both first and second inter-element stoppers operate. The second inter-element stoppers operate before the first inter-element stoppers operate and at least by the time when the additional coupling portions are coupled to end portions of the vibration absorption springs. Outer springs and the vibration absorption springs act in parallel to transfer torque after the additional coupling portions are coupled to end portions of the vibration absorption springs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: AISIN AW CO. LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuyoshi Ito, Keizo Araki, Yuichiro Hirai, Masaki Wajima, Makoto Ueno, Yuji Kanyama, Kotaro Tsuda
  • Patent number: 10302150
    Abstract: In a lock-up clutch of a starting device, a one-sided friction plate is adopted as a first friction engagement plate fitted with a clutch hub on the power input side and a second friction engagement plate fitted with a clutch drum on the power output side; an engagement oil chamber is defined between a lock-up piston and a flange member; a supply oil passage through which working oil is supplied to the first and second friction engagement plates and is defined between the lock-up piston and a front cover; a return oil passage for the working oil which has passed through the first and second friction engagement plates and is defined on the side of the flange member opposite to the lock-up piston; and the return oil passage communicates with the supply oil passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: AISIN AW CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuyoshi Ito, Keizo Araki, Mayuko Matsukage
  • Publication number: 20190101180
    Abstract: A damper apparatus that includes an input to which a torque from an engine is transferred; an output; a first intermediate element; a second intermediate element; a first elastic body configured to transfer the torque between the input and the first intermediate element; a second elastic body configured to transfer the torque between the first intermediate element and the output; a third elastic body configured to transfer the torque between the input and the second intermediate element; a fourth elastic body configured to transfer the torque between the second intermediate element and the output; and a fifth elastic body configured to transfer the torque between the first intermediate element and the second intermediate element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2017
    Publication date: April 4, 2019
    Applicant: AISIN AW CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuyoshi ITO, Masaki WAJIMA, Kazuhiro ITOU
  • Publication number: 20190063548
    Abstract: A damper apparatus includes: an input element; an output element; a first torque transfer path including an intermediate element, a first elastic body, and a second elastic body configured to transfer the torque between the intermediate and the output element; and a second torque transfer path including a third elastic body configured to transfer the torque between the input element and the output element. The intermediate element includes a first plate member including a torque transfer portion arranged so as to extend in a radial direction of the damper apparatus between the first and second elastic bodies and configured to support at least ends of the first and second elastic bodies from a radially outer side, and a second plate member coupled to a mass and including a coupling portion arranged between the first and second elastic bodies and fitted to the torque transfer portion of the first plate member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2017
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Applicant: AISIN AW CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuyoshi ITO, Masaki WAJIMA, Kazuhiro ITOU
  • Publication number: 20190063505
    Abstract: First to fourth springs SP11 to SP22, two each of four types of springs, are disposed such that attachment radii r11 to r22, which are the distances from a central axis CA of a damper device to the axes of the respective first to fourth springs SP11 to SP22, are equal. Further, the first to fourth springs SP11 to SP22 are disposed such that the axes thereof are arranged in the same plane. With this arrangement, the four types of springs (first to fourth springs SP11 to SP22) can be compactly arranged, and the axial length of the damper device can be reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2017
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Applicant: AISIN AW CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuyoshi ITO, Hiroki NAGAI, Masaki WAJIMA, Kazuhiro ITOU
  • Publication number: 20190048940
    Abstract: The overall size of a damper device having two transmission paths is reduced. A damper device including an input element to which torque from an engine is transmitted and an output element includes: a first intermediate element; a second intermediate element; a first elastic body disposed between the input element and the first intermediate element; a second elastic body disposed between the first intermediate element and the output element; a third elastic body disposed between the input element and the second intermediate element; a fourth elastic body disposed between the second intermediate element and the output element; and a fifth elastic body disposed between the first intermediate element and the second intermediate element, wherein attachment radii of the first to fourth elastic bodies are equal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2017
    Publication date: February 14, 2019
    Applicant: AISIN AW CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuyoshi ITO, Hiroki NAGAI, Masaki WAJIMA, Kazuhiro ITOU
  • Publication number: 20190040915
    Abstract: A damper device that includes an input to which torque from an engine is transmitted; an output; a first intermediate element; a second intermediate element; a first transmission member that transmits torque between the input and the first intermediate element; a second transmission member that transmits torque between the first intermediate element and the output; a third transmission member that transmits torque between the input and the second intermediate element; a fourth transmission member that transmits torque between the second intermediate element and the output; and a fifth transmission member that transmits torque between the first intermediate element and the second intermediate element, wherein at least one of the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth transmission members has variable stiffness that tends to increase as a rotation speed of the damper device increases.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2017
    Publication date: February 7, 2019
    Applicant: AISIN AW CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuyoshi ITO, Masaki WAJIMA, Hiroki NAGAI
  • Patent number: 10156271
    Abstract: A center piece is coupled to a flange member to thereby form a second oil path between an intermediate wall portion of the center piece and the flange portion. A male screw portion is formed on an outer peripheral surface of a cylindrical portion of the center piece, and a nut member in which a female screw portion is formed on an inner peripheral surface is screwed to the male screw portion. Accordingly, the flange member is pressed onto the intermediate wall portion to thereby couple the center piece to the flange member. As a result, the center piece can be coupled to the flange member without causing backlash.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: AISIN AW CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuyoshi Ito, Keizo Araki, Akiyoshi Otsuki, Junya Kashimura
  • Publication number: 20180266516
    Abstract: A damper device that includes an elastic body support provided to the intermediate element to support both end portions of the third elastic body at least when torque is not transferred between the input and the output; and an elastic body abutment provided to one of the input and the output, the elastic body abutment not abutting against an end portion of the third elastic body at least when torque is not transferred between the input and the output, but abutting against one of the end portions of the third elastic body as a relative torsional angle between the one of the input and the output and the intermediate element is increased when torque is transferred between the input and the output.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2016
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Applicants: AISIN AW CO., LTD., AISIN AW INDUSTRIES CO., LTD
    Inventors: Kazuyoshi ITO, Makoto NAKAZURU, Shuhei WARASHINA, Tanaka KATSUNORI, Tomoyuki HIRAMOTO
  • Patent number: 10024385
    Abstract: A damper device has a dynamic damper that includes a mass body and vibration absorption springs that couple the mass body and an intermediate member to each other. The vibration absorption springs are arranged side by side with outer springs in the circumferential direction. The mass body has spring abutment portions that abut against end portions of the vibration absorption springs. The intermediate member has first outer spring abutment portions that abut against end portions of the outer springs and second outer spring abutment portions that abut against end portions of the vibration absorption springs on the radially inner side with respect to the spring abutment portions. The first outer spring abutment portions extend toward the radially outer side with respect to the second outer spring abutment portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: AISIN AW CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuyoshi Ito, Keizo Araki, Makoto Ueno, Yuichiro Hirai, Masaki Wajima, Yuji Kanyama, Kotaro Tsuda
  • Publication number: 20180187743
    Abstract: An intermediate member includes first and second intermediate members. The first and the second intermediate members are provided with a spring supporting portion that extends along springs and supports the springs from an outer side. An expansion and contraction of the springs enables the intermediate member to be movable in a circumferential direction. Accordingly, sliding distances caused by the expansion and contraction of the first and the second springs become shorter, compared with a configuration where the first and the second spring are supported by the driven member or drive member from the outer side, thereby decreasing an energy loss (hysteresis) caused by the sliding. As a result, a vibration damping performance of the damper device can be improved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2016
    Publication date: July 5, 2018
    Applicants: AISIN AW INDUSTRIES CO., LTD, AISIN AW CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takuya YOSHIKAWA, Aki OGAWA, Akiyoshi KATO, Ryosuke OTSUKA, Kazuyoshi ITO, Masaki WAJIMA, Kazuhiro ITOU
  • Publication number: 20180156307
    Abstract: Six through holes are formed in pinion gear supporting portions of two input plate members working as a carrier that supports pinion gears of a rotary inertia mass damper. The two input plate members are opposed to each other in such a manner that the through holes are aligned with each other. The through holes support the pinion gear. The input plate members are coupled with each other by means of rivets passing through the through holes located on both sides of the through holes. This configuration ensures strength (rigidity) of the carrier, suppresses deformation of a planetary gear, and improves meshing accuracy of gears.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2016
    Publication date: June 7, 2018
    Applicants: AISIN AW INDUSTRIES CO., LTD, AISIN AW CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takuya YOSHIKAWA, Aki OGAWA, Akiyoshi KATO, Ryosuke OTSUKA, Kazuyoshi ITO, Masaki WAJIMA, Kazuhiro ITOU
  • Publication number: 20180149232
    Abstract: An intermediate member is configured to include first and second intermediate members. Connecting portions that respectively extend outward from the first or the second intermediate plates are coupled with each other at two positions on the same circumference as pinion gears by two rivets (total six rivets at three connecting portions) as viewed in a central axis of the damper device. Such an arrangement enables spaces between the pinion gears to be used effectively, increases spaces for the first spring, the second spring and the inner spring and improves a vibration damping performance of a damper device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2016
    Publication date: May 31, 2018
    Applicants: AISIN AW INDUSTRIES CO., LTD, AISIN AW CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takuya YOSHIKAWA, Aki OGAWA, Akiyoshi KATO, Ryosuke OTSUKA, Kazuyoshi ITO, Masaki WAJIMA, Kazuhiro ITOU
  • Publication number: 20170261065
    Abstract: A damper device includes first inner springs configured to transmit a torque between a drive member and an intermediate member, second inner springs configured to transmit a torque between the intermediate member and a driven member, and a rotary inertia mass damper including a sun gear serving as a mass body rotating with relative rotation of the drive member to the driven member. The rotary inertia mass damper is provided in parallel to a torque transmission path including the intermediate member, the first inner springs and the second inner springs. A damping ratio ? of the intermediate member determined based on a moment of inertia J2 of the intermediate member and rigidities k1 and k2 of the first and the second inner springs and is less than a value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 25, 2015
    Publication date: September 14, 2017
    Applicants: AISIN AW INDUSTRIES CO., LTD, AISIN AW CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takuya YOSHIKAWA, Aki OGAWA, Tomonori KINOSHITA, Yuji KANYAMA, Makoto YAMAGUCHI, Kazuyoshi ITO, Hiroki NAGAI, Masaki WAJIMA, Takao SAKAMOTO, Kazuhiro ITOU, Yoshihiro TAKIKAWA, Yoichi OI
  • Publication number: 20170175849
    Abstract: A damper device has a dynamic damper that includes a mass body and vibration absorption springs that couple the mass body and an intermediate member to each other. The vibration absorption springs are arranged side by side with outer springs in the circumferential direction. The mass body has spring abutment portions that abut against end portions of the vibration absorption springs. The intermediate member has first outer spring abutment portions that abut against end portions of the outer springs and second outer spring abutment portions that abut against end portions of the vibration absorption springs on the radially inner side with respect to the spring abutment portions. The first outer spring abutment portions extend toward the radially outer side with respect to the second outer spring abutment portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2015
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Applicant: AISIN AW CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuyoshi ITO, Keizo ARAKI, Makoto UENO, Yuichiro HIRAI, Masaki WAJIMA, Yuji KANYAMA, Kotaro TSUDA
  • Publication number: 20170138413
    Abstract: A center piece is coupled to a flange member to thereby form a second oil path between an intermediate wall portion of the center piece and the flange portion. A male screw portion is formed on an outer peripheral surface of a cylindrical portion of the center piece, and a nut member in which a female screw portion is formed on an inner peripheral surface is screwed to the male screw portion. Accordingly, the flange member is pressed onto the intermediate wall portion to thereby couple the center piece to the flange member. As a result, the center piece can be coupled to the flange member without causing backlash.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2015
    Publication date: May 18, 2017
    Applicant: AISIN AW CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuyoshi ITO, Keizo ARAKI, Akiyoshi OTSUKI, Junya KASHIMURA
  • Publication number: 20170045113
    Abstract: In a damper device, a dynamic damper is coupled to a first intermediate member, first and second inner-side springs that act in series with each other are straight coil springs disposed between a second intermediate member and a driven member so that outward movement of the springs in a radial direction of the damper device is restricted at respective both ends, and a gap is formed between each body portion of the first and the second inner-side springs and the second intermediate member or a spring abutment portion of the driven member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2015
    Publication date: February 16, 2017
    Applicant: AISIN AW CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuyoshi ITO, Akiyoshi OTSUKI, Yuichiro HIRAI
  • Publication number: 20160356340
    Abstract: A dynamic damper is coupled to an intermediate member of a damper device. A drive member of the damper device has additional abutment portions coupled to end portions of vibration absorption springs of the dynamic damper before both first and second inter-element stoppers operate. The second inter-element stoppers operate before the first inter-element stoppers operate and at least by the time when the additional coupling portions are coupled to end portions of the vibration absorption springs. Outer springs and the vibration absorption springs act in parallel to transfer torque after the additional coupling portions are coupled to end portions of the vibration absorption springs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2015
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Applicant: AISIN AW CO. LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuyoshi ITO, Keizo ARAKI, Yuichiro HIRAI, Masaki WAJIMA, Makoto UENO, Yuji KANYAMA, Kotaro TSUDA