Patents by Inventor Kenichi Takada

Kenichi Takada 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: 6830116
    Abstract: A transmission mechanism and a pressure oil supply system therefor are provided for use in work vehicles provided with a work device externally of the body of the vehicle at longitudinal one side thereof, the transmission mechanism being simple in construction and serving to shorten the overall length of the vehicle while holding a transmission shaft interconnecting a PTO shaft and an input shaft for the work device close to a horizontal. A work vehicle provided with a work device in front of the vehicle body comprises a transmission 30 disposed between a differential gear unit 10 and an HST 20 and providing a travel cooperative mechanism, a PTO shaft projecting from the housing of the HST 20, and a PTO cooperative mechanism disposed in the housing for dividedly deriving power for the PTO shaft from the travel cooperative mechanism for the transmission of the power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: Kanzaki Kokyukoki Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Ishimaru, Shusuke Nemoto, Shigenori Sakikawa, Kenichi Takada
  • Publication number: 20040172940
    Abstract: A hydrostatic transmission comprises a housing whose interior space serves as a fluid sump, a pair of first and second fluid passages disposed in the housing, the pair of first and second fluid passages interposed between the hydraulic pump and the hydraulic motor so as to constitute a closed fluid circuit of an HST. A charge fluid passage is disposed in the housing so as to be connected with each of the first and second fluid passages for supplying fluid from the fluid sump into the closed fluid circuit. A drain fluid passage including an orifice is disposed in the housing so as to be connected with at least one of the first and second fluid passages so that, when hydraulic pressure in the at least one of the first and second fluid passages is increased beyond its neutral level, excessive fluid in the at least one of the first and second fluid passages is drained through the drain fluid passage to the fluid sump, thereby expanding the neutral zone of the HST.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2004
    Publication date: September 9, 2004
    Inventors: Kenichi Takada, Ryota Ohashi
  • Publication number: 20040139744
    Abstract: A hydrostatic transmission comprising a housing formed with a fluid sump, a center section, a hydraulic pump, and a hydraulic motor. A fluid passage is formed in the center section. A bore is open at an outer surface of the center section in communication with the fluid passage. An output operation device is provided for controlling discharged fluid of the hydraulic pump. A piston having an outer surface is reciprocally inserted into the bore so as to be allowed to project outward from the center section. A valve is disposed within the bore. The valve is biased to be closed by a spring disposed between the valve and the piston. A member interlocks with the output operation device so as to contact with the outer surface of the piston.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2004
    Publication date: July 22, 2004
    Inventors: Kenichi Takada, Koji Irikura
  • Publication number: 20040141330
    Abstract: A pair of additional reflectors are disposed face to face under a light source. The reflective surfaces of the respective additional reflectors are formed of paraboloids of revolution, with the first focal point of the reflective surface of a reflector as a focal point, and with an optical axis as the central axis of the revolution. As a result, retroreflective light from both reflectors is incident on the upper reflective region of the reflector. Thus, the spreading of the retroreflective light can be reduced based on the enhanced efficiency of utilizing the luminous flux of the light source, to the extent of the presence of the retroreflective light, as compared with the related art structure, wherein a spherical reflective surface centering on the light source is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2004
    Publication date: July 22, 2004
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD
    Inventor: Kenichi Takada
  • Publication number: 20040123595
    Abstract: An axle driving apparatus in which a hydraulic pump and a hydraulic motor which constitute a hydrostatic transmission are disposed on a center section. In a horizontal portion of the center section are provided a pair of linear oil passages in parallel to each other. A pair of arcuate ports are provided on a pump mounting surface formed on the horizontal portion of the center section. The pair of arcuate ports are substantially perpendicular with respect to the direction in which the oil passages extend. The axis of slanting movement of a movable swash plate of the hydraulic pump extends laterally of the vehicle body on which the axle driving apparatus is provided. The rotating direction of an arm provided on a control shaft for slantingly operating the movable swash plate is coincident with the operating direction of a control rod connected with a speed changing member. Thus, the link mechanism for connecting the speed changing member and the control arm for the movable swash plate is simplified.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2003
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Inventors: Kenichi Takada, Ryota Ohashi, Hironori Sumomozawa, Hiroaki Shimizu
  • Patent number: 6742920
    Abstract: A vehicular headlamp includes a light source, a reflector for radiating light emitted from the light source forwards, and a cover lens for covering an area in front of the reflector and the light source, wherein the light distribution pattern of the low beam emitted by the vehicular headlamp has a horizontal cut line at least on the side of the opposite lane and wherein a long-distance visibility enchancing portion extending above the horizontal cut line of the light distribution pattern is formed at an end portion of the horizontal cut line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenichi Takada, Naoki Uchida, Hiroyuki Ishida
  • Publication number: 20040074678
    Abstract: A vehicle is installed with an integral transaxle apparatus constructed so that a single housing contains left and right axles, a driving hydrostatic transmission (HST) having a variable displacement first hydraulic pump and a first hydraulic motor fluidly connected with each other, a steering HST having a variable displacement second hydraulic pump and a variable displacement second hydraulic motor fluidly connected with each other, and a differential unit differentially connecting the axles with each other so as to be driven regularly or reversely by the output of the driving HST and to differentially drive the axles while receiving the output of the steering HST, wherein the first hydraulic pump receives power of a prime mover and has a first movable swash plate, and the second hydraulic pump receives power of the prime mover independently of the first hydraulic pump and has a second movable swash plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2003
    Publication date: April 22, 2004
    Inventors: Koji Irikura, Norihiro Ishii, Ryota Ohashi, Kenichi Takada, Hirohiko Kawada, Robert Abend, Keith J. Andrews, Toshiyuki Hasegawa, Hiroaki Shimizu
  • Patent number: 6709139
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to prevent dazzlement from being caused by beams of light directly emitted from a light source, without requiring any bulky component member. A vehicular headlamp 1 comprises a light source 7, a reflector 6, a cut-line forming shade 9 for forming a cut line, and a condenser lens 8. The cut-line forming shade cuts off some beams of light emitted from the light source and reflected by the reflector and forms shaped beams of light. The condenser lens projects the shaped beams of light forwards and radiates them according to a light distribution pattern. An opening is formed between the condenser lens and the reflector. A dazzling-light cutting shade 15 for cutting off beams of light emitted toward a region above the light distribution pattern is disposed between the light source and the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Ishida, Hideki Tanaka, Kaoru Yamamoto, Kenichi Takada
  • Publication number: 20040045288
    Abstract: An axle driving apparatus comprising a common housing in which a hydraulic pump and a hydraulic motor fluidly connected with each other and an axle driven by the hydraulic motor are disposed, At least one of the hydraulic pump and the hydraulic motor is variable in displacement and has a capacity changing device for changing its capacity. A hydraulic actuator is provided in the housing for controlling the capacity changing device. A control valve for hydraulically controlling the hydraulic actuator is provided in the housing. A center section for fluidly connecting the hydraulic pump and the hydraulic motor with each other is fixedly disposed in the housing and a driving part of the hydraulic actuator and the control valve are incorporated in the center section. A rotary member operatively connected to a human-operated traveling control member provided on a vehicle is rotatably supported by the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2003
    Publication date: March 11, 2004
    Inventors: Kenichi Takada, Ryoto Ohashi
  • Publication number: 20040027836
    Abstract: A vehicular headlamp which radiates a beam forward in a predetermined low-beam light distribution pattern using a projection-type lamp unit and with which visibility to the sides of a vehicle is improved without having a significant effect on the formation of the low-beam light distribution pattern. A first additional reflector for reflecting light from a discharge light source of a discharge bulb forward is disposed below a discharge bulb of the projection-type lamp unit. A second additional reflector for reflecting reflected light from the first additional reflector to one side is provided in front of the first additional reflector. An additional light distribution pattern that partially overlaps a side portion of the low-beam light distribution pattern is formed, thereby providing improved illumination of road zones to the sides of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2003
    Publication date: February 12, 2004
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kenichi Takada, Koji Okawa
  • Patent number: 6681570
    Abstract: A hydrostatic transmission comprising a housing formed with a fluid sump, a center section, a hydraulic pump, and a hydraulic motor. A fluid passage is formed in the center section. A bore is open at an outer surface of the center section in communication with the fluid passage. An output operation device is provided for controlling discharged fluid of the hydraulic pump. A piston having an outer surface is reciprocally inserted into the bore so as to be allowed to project outward from the center section. A valve is disposed within the bore. The valve is biased to be closed by a spring disposed between the valve and the piston. A member interlocks with the output operation device so as to contact with the outer surface of the piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Assignee: Kanzaki Kokykoki Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenichi Takada, Irikura Koji
  • Patent number: 6659216
    Abstract: A vehicle including an integral transaxle apparatus with axles, a driving hydrostatic transmission (HST), a steering HST, and a differential unit. Driving operating means for slanting operation of a first movable swash plate of the variable displacement driving hydraulic pump for switching the travelling direction between forward and backward and for changing the travelling speed, and steering operating means for slanting operation of a second movable swash plate of the variable displacement steering hydraulic pump so as to determine the leftward and rightward cornering angle are provided. The steering hydraulic motor has a third movable swash plate interlocking with the driving operating means so that the slanting direction of the third movable swash plate is changed according to the operation of the driving operating means, whereby the vehicle turns laterally in the same direction in response to the steering operating means whether the vehicle travels forward or backward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Kanzaki Kokyukoki Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koji Irikura, Norihiro Ishii, Ryota Ohashi, Kenichi Takada, Hirohiko Kawada, Robert Abend, Keith J. Andrews, Toshiyuki Hasegawa, Hiroaki Shimizu
  • Patent number: 6647543
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a pair of complementary masks for use in an electron projection lithographic (EPL) technique uses an algorithm for distributing the design data to a pair of EPL masks. The algorithm allocates a positive sign or negative sign to each of the pattern data, summation of the areas of the pattern data having positive signs while subtracting the areas of the pattern data having negative signs, for obtaining a minimum of the sum. One or more of initial combination of the signs is prepared and the vicinity of the initial combination is calculated therefrom for obtaining an optimum combination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuhisa Yamada, Kenichi Takada
  • Publication number: 20030188913
    Abstract: A transmission mechanism and a pressure oil supply system therefor are provided for use in work vehicles provided with a work device externally of the body of the vehicle at longitudinal one side thereof, the transmission mechanism being simple in construction and serving to shorten the overall length of the vehicle while holding a transmission shaft interconnecting a PTO shaft and an input shaft for the work device close to a horizontal. A work vehicle provided with a work device in front of the vehicle body comprises a transmission 30 disposed between a differential gear unit 10 and an HST 20 and providing a travel cooperative mechanism, a PTO shaft projecting from the housing of the HST 20, and a PTO cooperative mechanism disposed in the housing for dividedly deriving power for the PTO shaft from the travel cooperative mechanism for the transmission of the power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2003
    Publication date: October 9, 2003
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Ishimaru, Shusuke Nemoto, Shigenori Sakikawa, Kenichi Takada
  • Publication number: 20030185017
    Abstract: A projection-type headlamp producing a low-beam light distribution pattern having a cut-off line and which provides improved visibility for the driver of the vehicle with a reduced possibility of inflicting glare on drivers of oncoming vehicles. A low-beam light distribution pattern is synthesized from a base light distribution pattern, formed by a projection-type lamp unit, and a pair of additional light distribution patterns, formed by light reflected from a pair of additional reflectors provided on right and left sides of a lamp unit body. The additional light distribution patterns are superimposed on a horizontal cut-off line having a level difference within the base light distribution pattern. The contrast between the area above the horizontal cut-off line and the area below the horizontal cut-off line is accordingly reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2003
    Publication date: October 2, 2003
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Ishida, Naoki Uchida, Kenichi Takada
  • Patent number: 6619038
    Abstract: An axle driving apparatus comprising a common housing in which a hydraulic pump and a hydraulic motor fluidly connected with each other and an axle driven by the hydraulic motor are disposed. At least one of the hydraulic pump and the hydraulic motor is variable in displacement and has a capacity changing device for changing its capacity. A hydraulic actuator is provided in the housing for controlling the capacity changing device. A control valve for hydraulically controlling the hydraulic actuator is provided in the housing. A center section for fluidly connecting the hydraulic pump and the hydraulic motor with each other is fixedly disposed in the housing and a driving part of the hydraulic actuator and the control valve are incorporated in the center section. A rotary member operatively connected to a human-operated traveling control member provided on a vehicle is rotatably supported by the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Assignee: Kanzaki Kokyukoki Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenichi Takada, Ryota Ohashi
  • Publication number: 20030115867
    Abstract: A hydrostatic transmission, comprising a housing, an interior space of the housing serving as a fluid sump; a center section disposed in the housing so as to be submerged In the fluid sump; a hydraulic pump mounted on the center section in the housing: a hydraulic motor mounted on the center section in the housing, and a pair of first and second fluid passages formed within the center section so as to fluidly connect the hydraulic pump with the hydraulic motor. The second fluid passage has an upwardly slant opening toward the fluid sump. A draining device including a relief valve is provided in the opening of the second fluid passage. When hydraulic pressure in the second fluid passage is not more than a predetermined value but not less than that in the first fluid passage, the relief valve is opened so as to drain fluid from the second fluid passage to the fluid sump, thereby keeping the hydrostatic transmission in neutral.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2002
    Publication date: June 26, 2003
    Inventors: Kenichi Takada, Ryota Ohashi
  • Patent number: 6571894
    Abstract: A transmission mechanism and a pressure oil supply system therefor are provided for use in work vehicles provided with a work device externally of the body of the vehicle at longitudinal one side thereof, the transmission mechanism being simple in construction and serving to shorten the overall length of the vehicle while holding a transmission shaft interconnecting a PTO shaft and an input shaft for the work device close to a horizontal. A work vehicle provided with a work device in front of the vehicle body comprises a transmission 30 disposed between a differential gear unit 10 and an HST 20 and providing a travel cooperative mechanism, a PTO shaft projecting from the housing of the HST 20, and a PTO cooperative mechanism disposed in the housing for dividedly deriving power for the PTO shaft from the travel cooperative mechanism for the transmission of the power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Assignee: Kanzaki Kokyukoki Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Ishimaru, Shusuke Nemoto, Shigenori Sakikawa, Kenichi Takada
  • Publication number: 20030079470
    Abstract: A hydrostatic transmission comprises a housing whose interior space serves as a fluid sump, a pair of first and second fluid passages disposed in the housing, the pair of first and second fluid passages interposed between the hydraulic pump and the hydraulic motor so as to constitute a closed fluid circuit of an HST. A charge fluid passage is disposed in the housing so as to be connected with each of the first and second fluid passages for supplying fluid from the fluid sump into the closed fluid circuit. A drain fluid passage including an orifice is disposed in the housing so as to be connected with at least one of the first and second fluid passages so that, when hydraulic pressure in the at least one of the first and second fluid passages is increased beyond its neutral level, excessive fluid in the at least one of the first and second fluid passages is drained through the drain fluid passage to the fluid sump, thereby expanding the neutral zone of the HST.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2002
    Publication date: May 1, 2003
    Inventors: Kenichi Takada, Ryota Ohashi
  • Patent number: 6524205
    Abstract: An integral-type transaxle apparatus comprising a single housing in which a pair of driving axles, a differential mechanism for differentially connecting both said driving axles to each other, a driving hydraulic stepless transmission which fluidly connects a hydraulic pump and a hydraulic motor, a steering hydraulic stepless transmission which fluidly connects a hydraulic pump and a hydraulic motor, a mechanical transmission for transmitting outputs of both said hydraulic stepless transmissions to said differential mechanism are accommodated, wherein at least one of said hydraulic stepless transmissions is disposed such that a rotational axis of a pump shaft of said one hydraulic stepless transmission and a rotational axis of a motor shaft of said one hydraulic stepless transmission are perpendicular to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2003
    Assignees: Kanzaki Kokyukoki Mfg. Co., Ltd., Tuff Torq Corporation
    Inventors: Kohji Irikura, Norihiro Ishii, Ryota Ohashi, Kenichi Takada, Hirohiko Kawada, Robert Abend, Hiroaki Shimizu