Patents by Inventor Kenji NIWATA

Kenji NIWATA 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: 11098769
    Abstract: A clutch mechanism switches a clutch to one of an engaging state and a released state by a piston operated by an oil pressure. The piston includes a first side surface portion configured to press the clutch, and a second side surface portion on which the oil pressure acts. The second side surface portion has an uneven shape in a circumferential direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Nobutaka Yamaguchi, Kenji Niwata
  • Patent number: 10890244
    Abstract: A power transmission device (100) includes: a rotary shaft (4) extending in the vehicle width direction to transmit power to drive wheels of the vehicle; a rotary parts housing chamber (16) disposed on the end section or in its vicinity of the rotary shaft (4) in the axial direction and adapted to house rotary parts including a clutch (5R); and a breather chamber (81) disposed on the outside (the upper side) of the rotary shaft (4), wherein a first communication passage (80) is provided to communicate with the breather chamber (81) and the rotary parts housing chamber (16). The oil intruded into the breather chamber (81) is discharged from the breather chamber (81) through the first communication passage (80) and is led to the rotary parts housing chamber (16) by the negative pressure due to the pull-in to the rotary parts housing chamber (16) accompanying rotation of the rotary parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kenji Niwata
  • Patent number: 10890217
    Abstract: A hydraulic clutch device comprises an oil pump (7), a pressure regulating valve (8) for pressure-regulating oil discharged from the oil pump, and a hydraulic clutch (5) arranged in a power transmission route through which motive power is transmitted along a rotation shaft (4) from the power transmission part (2, 3), and engaged by the oil pressure-regulated by the pressure regulating valve. The pressure regulating valve is located on a downstream side in an oil flowing direction of the hydraulic clutch and arranged in the vicinity of an opposite side to the power transmission part in the axial direction of the rotation shaft with respect to the hydraulic clutch. With this configuration, it is possible to dispense with a pressure regulating valve arranged between a power transmission part and a hydraulic clutch and a valve body integrally provided with the pressure regulating valve in a conventional hydraulic clutch device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Nobutaka Yamaguchi, Kenji Niwata
  • Patent number: 10808777
    Abstract: The friction engagement device connects the input shaft and the output shaft to transmit a driving force from a driving source from the input shaft to the output shaft. The friction engagement device includes a housing, a friction engagement portion, a piston, an oil pump, and a motor. The housing is disposed between the input shaft and the output shaft. The friction engagement portion is disposed in the housing and composed of a plurality of friction components. The piston is disposed at one side of the friction engagement portion for pressing the friction engagement portion. The oil pump is used to operate the piston. The motor is used to drive the oil pump. In the friction engagement device, abnormal wear of the friction components of the friction engagement portion is detected by monitoring a value of an operation parameter of the friction engagement device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Niwata, Motonobu Ikari, Sachi Fujinuma
  • Patent number: 10801596
    Abstract: A power transmission device includes first and second engaging elements, a power transmission, and first and second bearings. The first engaging element is rotatable with a first rotation shaft about a rotation axis. The second engaging element is rotatable with a second rotation shaft about the rotation axis. The power transmission is provided between the first engaging element and the second engaging element. The first bearing is provided between the rotation axis and the second engaging element in a radial direction with respect to the rotation axis and supports a first part of the second engaging element. The second engaging element is between the second bearing and the rotation axis in the radial direction. The second bearing supports a second part of the second engaging element. The second part is farther from the first engaging element in an axis direction than the first part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kenji Niwata, Nobutaka Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 10731746
    Abstract: The power transmission apparatus includes: a gear chamber, used for accommodating gears disposed on a rotating shaft used for transmitting power to a drive wheel; a clutch chamber, disposed adjacent to the gear chamber in an axial direction of the rotating shaft, and used for accommodating a clutch used for disconnecting or connecting the power transmitted by the rotating shaft to the drive wheel; and a communicating hole, used for communicating the clutch chamber with the gear chamber, where an inclined surface facing toward the communicating hole is provided on an inner surface inside the clutch chamber opposite to an outer peripheral surface of the clutch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobutaka Yamaguchi, Kenji Niwata, Fumiya Yoshida, Eisuke Hosoda
  • Patent number: 10731714
    Abstract: The power transmission apparatus is a power transmission apparatus mounted on a vehicle. A gear chamber includes a gear accommodating portion used for accommodating a gear and a strainer accommodating portion used for accommodating an oil strainer. The gear accommodating portion and the strainer accommodating portion are disposed abreast in an axial direction. One clutch chamber of a pair of clutch chambers adjacent to the strainer accommodating portion only directly communicates with the strainer accommodating portion of the gear accommodating portion and the strainer accommodating portion, and the one clutch chamber communicates with the gear accommodating portion only by using the strainer accommodating portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Fumiya Yoshida, Kenji Niwata, Nobutaka Yamaguchi, Eisuke Hosoda
  • Patent number: 10670088
    Abstract: A hydraulic clutch device includes a pressure regulating valve located on a downstream side in an oil flowing direction, a casing housing the hydraulic clutch, an insertion hole holding at least a part of the pressure regulating valve, an upstream side oil passage having an opening part introducing the oil from the hydraulic clutch into the insertion hole, and a downstream side oil passage having another opening part discharge the oil from the other opening part to the downstream side of the insertion hole. A position of a first virtual line (L1) which passes through the center-of-gravity point of a cross section of the opening part of the upstream side oil passage and a position of a second virtual line (L2) which passes through the center-of-gravity point of a cross section of the insertion hole are arranged so as to be different from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Nobutaka Yamaguchi, Kenji Niwata
  • Patent number: 10663014
    Abstract: Provided is a hydraulic clutch device capable of securing sufficient performance (oil filtration performance) of a filter for cleaning oil while avoiding an increase in size of the device. The hydraulic clutch device includes an oil pump, a pressure regulating valve which pressure-regulates oil discharged by the oil pump, and a hydraulic clutch engaged by the oil pressure-regulated by the pressure regulating valve, wherein the pressure regulating valve is disposed on a downstream side in an oil flow direction of the hydraulic clutch, and a filter is disposed between a piston chamber of the hydraulic clutch and the pressure regulating valve. The filter is attached to be accommodated in an accommodating portion formed by recessing an inner surface of the piston chamber from the inside of the piston chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobutaka Yamaguchi, Kenji Niwata
  • Publication number: 20200149599
    Abstract: The friction engagement device connects the input shaft and the output shaft to transmit a driving force from a driving source from the input shaft to the output shaft. The friction engagement device includes a housing, a friction engagement portion, a piston, an oil pump, and a motor. The housing is disposed between the input shaft and the output shaft. The friction engagement portion is disposed in the housing and composed of a plurality of friction components. The piston is disposed at one side of the friction engagement portion for pressing the friction engagement portion. The oil pump is used to operate the piston. The motor is used to drive the oil pump. In the friction engagement device, abnormal wear of the friction components of the friction engagement portion is detected by monitoring a value of an operation parameter of the friction engagement device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2018
    Publication date: May 14, 2020
    Applicant: Honda Motor Co.,Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji NIWATA, Motonobu IKARI, Sachi FUJINUMA
  • Patent number: 10563706
    Abstract: Provided is a hydraulic power transmission device enabling to minimize a pressure loss in an oil passage downstream from a piston chamber of a hydraulic clutch, and to properly prevent reduction in transmission torque capacity in the hydraulic clutch. Left and right pressure regulating valves (8L, 8R) regulating pressure of oil flowing out from piston chambers (59L, 59R) of left and right clutch devices (5L, 5R) are arranged adjacent to a downstream of the piston chamber (59). This can shorten an oil passage from the piston chamber (59) to the pressure regulating valve (8) and minimize pressure loss in the oil passage. Due to better flexibility of arrangement of the pressing load receiving member (82) receiving a pressing force (thrust) of the piston member (57), thrust efficiency of the hydraulic piston (57) improves to properly prevent reduction in transmission torque capacity in the hydraulic clutch (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kenji Niwata, Eisuke Hosoda, Satoshi Imamori, Tetsuya Otani
  • Publication number: 20190242443
    Abstract: A clutch mechanism switches a clutch to one of an engaging state and a released state by a piston operated by an oil pressure. The piston includes a first side surface portion configured to press the clutch, and a second side surface portion on which the oil pressure acts. The second side surface portion has an uneven shape in a circumferential direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2018
    Publication date: August 8, 2019
    Inventors: Nobutaka YAMAGUCHI, Kenji NIWATA
  • Publication number: 20190203824
    Abstract: A power transmission device (100) includes: a rotary shaft (4) extending in the vehicle width direction to transmit power to drive wheels of the vehicle; a rotary parts housing chamber (16) disposed on the end section or in its vicinity of the rotary shaft (4) in the axial direction and adapted to house rotary parts including a clutch (5R); and a breather chamber (81) disposed on the outside (the upper side) of the rotary shaft (4), wherein a first communication passage (80) is provided to communicate with the breather chamber (81) and the rotary parts housing chamber (16). The oil intruded into the breather chamber (81) is discharged from the breather chamber (81) through the first communication passage (80) and is led to the rotary parts housing chamber (16) by the negative pressure due to the pull-in to the rotary parts housing chamber (16) accompanying rotation of the rotary parts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2018
    Publication date: July 4, 2019
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kenji Niwata
  • Publication number: 20180335094
    Abstract: The power transmission apparatus is a power transmission apparatus mounted on a vehicle. A gear chamber includes a gear accommodating portion used for accommodating a gear and a strainer accommodating portion used for accommodating an oil strainer. The gear accommodating portion and the strainer accommodating portion are disposed abreast in an axial direction. One clutch chamber of a pair of clutch chambers adjacent to the strainer accommodating portion only directly communicates with the strainer accommodating portion of the gear accommodating portion and the strainer accommodating portion, and the one clutch chamber communicates with the gear accommodating portion only by using the strainer accommodating portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2018
    Publication date: November 22, 2018
    Applicant: Honda Motor Co.,Ltd.
    Inventors: Fumiya YOSHIDA, Kenji NIWATA, Nobutaka YAMAGUCHI, Eisuke HOSODA
  • Publication number: 20180335128
    Abstract: The power transmission apparatus includes: a gear chamber, used for accommodating gears disposed on a rotating shaft used for transmitting power to a drive wheel; a clutch chamber, disposed adjacent to the gear chamber in an axial direction of the rotating shaft, and used for accommodating a clutch used for disconnecting or connecting the power transmitted by the rotating shaft to the drive wheel; and a communicating hole, used for communicating the clutch chamber with the gear chamber, where an inclined surface facing toward the communicating hole is provided on an inner surface inside the clutch chamber opposite to an outer peripheral surface of the clutch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2018
    Publication date: November 22, 2018
    Applicant: Honda Motor Co.,Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobutaka YAMAGUCHI, Kenji NIWATA, Fumiya YOSHIDA, Eisuke HOSODA
  • Publication number: 20180283244
    Abstract: An oil strainer includes a main body, a tubular suction protrusion, and a partition. The main body has a bottom and is configured to filter an oil in an oil storage. The tubular suction protrusion protrudes from the bottom of the main body downward in a height direction along a height of the oil storage and has a suction port at a bottom end of the tubular suction protrusion. The main body is configured to suction the oil in the oil storage via the suction port. The partition protrudes downward in the height direction from the bottom of the main body and is provided apart from the suction port.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2018
    Publication date: October 4, 2018
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sachi FUJINUMA, Kenji NIWATA, Satoshi IMAMORI
  • Publication number: 20180266481
    Abstract: A power transmission system includes a first rotating shaft and a second rotating shaft, a first fastening element including multiple first friction members and rotating integrally with the first rotating shaft, a second fastening element including multiple second friction members and rotating integrally with the second rotating shaft, a frictional engagement portion in which the first fastening element and the second fastening element are alternately stacked in an axial direction, and a pressing member disposed movable in the axial direction and pressing the frictional engagement portion to engage the first friction members and the second friction members with each other. The first fastening element is supported in the axial direction by an internal thrust bearing and an external thrust bearing that have different diameters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2018
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sachi Fujinuma, Masato Takaya, Kenji Niwata
  • Publication number: 20180259007
    Abstract: A hydraulic clutch device, includes a pressure regulating valve, located on a downstream side in an oil flowing direction, a casing housing the hydraulic clutch, an insertion hole holding at least a part of the pressure regulating valve, an upstream side oil passage having an opening part introducing the oil from the hydraulic clutch into the insertion hole, and a downstream side oil passage having another opening part discharge the oil from the other opening part to the downstream side of the insertion hole. A position of a first virtual line (L1) which passes through the center-of-gravity point of a cross section of the opening part of the upstream side oil passage and a position of a second virtual line (L2) which passes through the center-of-gravity point of a cross section of the insertion hole are arranged so as to be different from each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2018
    Publication date: September 13, 2018
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Nobutaka Yamaguchi, Kenji Niwata
  • Publication number: 20180259006
    Abstract: A hydraulic clutch device comprises an oil pump (7), a pressure regulating valve (8) for pressure-regulating oil discharged from the oil pump, and a hydraulic clutch (5) arranged in a power transmission route through which motive power is transmitted along a rotation shaft (4) from the power transmission part (2, 3), and engaged by the oil pressure-regulated by the pressure regulating valve. The pressure regulating valve is located on a downstream side in an oil flowing direction of the hydraulic clutch and arranged in the vicinity of an opposite side to the power transmission part in the axial direction of the rotation shaft with respect to the hydraulic clutch. With this configuration, it is possible to dispense with a pressure regulating valve arranged between a power transmission part and a hydraulic clutch and a valve body integrally provided with the pressure regulating valve in a conventional hydraulic clutch device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2018
    Publication date: September 13, 2018
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Nobutaka Yamaguchi, Kenji Niwata
  • Publication number: 20180245642
    Abstract: Provided is a hydraulic power transmission device enabling to minimize a pressure loss in an oil passage downstream from a piston chamber of a hydraulic clutch, and to properly prevent reduction in transmission torque capacity in the hydraulic clutch. Left and right pressure regulating valves (8L, 8R) regulating pressure of oil flowing out from piston chambers (59L, 59R) of left and right clutch devices (5L, 5R) are arranged adjacent to a downstream of the piston chamber (59). This can shorten an oil passage from the piston chamber (59) to the pressure regulating valve (8) and minimize pressure loss in the oil passage. Due to better flexibility of arrangement of the pressing load receiving member (82) receiving a pressing force (thrust) of the piston member (57), thrust efficiency of the hydraulic piston (57) improves to properly prevent reduction in transmission torque capacity in the hydraulic clutch (5).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2016
    Publication date: August 30, 2018
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kenji Niwata, Eisuke Hosoda, Satoshi Imamori, Tetsuya Otani