Patents by Inventor Kentaro Nishikawa

Kentaro Nishikawa 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: 11641146
    Abstract: Provided is a wheel bearing apparatus with a generator that can have a simplified structure to reduce costs and is capable of preventing electrolytic corrosion. The wheel bearing apparatus with a generator includes a wheel bearing and a generator. The generator includes a stator attached to a fixed wheel and a motor rotor attached to a rotating wheel and is of an outer-rotor type in which the stator is located on an outer periphery of the wheel bearing, and the motor rotor is located radially outside of the stator. The wheel bearing apparatus with the generator further includes at least one conducting unit that conducts a current between the fixed wheel and the rotating wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroki Yabuta, Mitsuo Kawamura, Kentaro Nishikawa
  • Patent number: 11634021
    Abstract: The power device for a vehicle includes: a wheel bearing including a stationary ring and a rotary ring having a hub flange, the rotary ring being rotatably supported by the stationary ring via rolling element, the hub flange being configured to be attached with a wheel of a vehicle and a brake rotor; and a generator including a stator attached to the stationary ring of the wheel bearing and a rotor attached to the rotary ring of the wheel bearing, wherein the rotor includes a soft magnetic material part, magnets, and a resin material part that is integrally molded with the soft magnetic material part and the magnets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mitsuo Kawamura, Kentaro Nishikawa, Yuuji Yada, Yasuyuki Fujita, Hiroki Yabuta
  • Publication number: 20230098893
    Abstract: Provided is a vehicle power device (1) including: a wheel bearing (2); and a driving motor (3) that can rotationally drive an outer ring (4) as a rotary ring. The vehicle power device further includes a bracket (24) attached to a knuckle (8) of a vehicle. The bracket (24) includes a bracket base portion (24a) and a bracket cylindrical portion (24b), the bracket base portion interposed between the knuckle (8) and an inner ring (5) wherein the inner ring (5) is removably fixed, the bracket cylindrical portion (24b) extending from the bracket base portion (24a) toward an outboard side. The driving motor (3) includes a stator (18) removably attached to an inner periphery of the bracket cylindrical portion (24b) and a rotor (19) attached to the outer ring (4) on an inner periphery of the stator (18).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2022
    Publication date: March 30, 2023
    Applicant: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuuji YADA, Kentaro NISHIKAWA
  • Publication number: 20230094579
    Abstract: Provided is a vehicle power device including: an inner ring as a fixed ring, an outer ring as a rotary ring which is an outer ring rotation, and a bracket a knuckle for fixing an inboard side end portion of the inner ring removably with the electric motor disposed. The electric motor is of an outer rotor motor type, and the bracket includes a bracket base portion and a bracket cylindrical portion, the bracket base portion for being attached to the knuckle and fixed to the inner ring, the bracket cylindrical portion which extends from the bracket base portion toward an outboard side is located on an outer periphery of the outer ring via a radial gap and is provided with a stator disposed on an outer peripheral surface. The rotor of the electric motor is removably attached to the wheel mounting flange via a rotor casing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2022
    Publication date: March 30, 2023
    Applicant: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuuji YADA, Kentaro NISHIKAWA
  • Patent number: 11577598
    Abstract: A wheel support bearing assembly includes a wheel support bearing and a power unit. The power unit is that of an outer rotor design in which a stator is located at an outer periphery of the wheel support bearing and a rotor is located radially outward of the stator. A radial extension of the entire power unit is sized to be radially inward of a peripheral section of a brake rotor. An entirety of the power unit, excluding a mount part thereof to a hub flange, is sized to be situated in an axial range between the hub flange and a mount surface, on an inboard side of the wheel support bearing. The rotor includes an outer shell magnetic body, which is made from soft magnetic material and forms an outer shell of the power unit, and permanent magnets that are provided to the outer shell magnetic body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mitsuo Kawamura, Kentaro Nishikawa, Taisuke Igi, Yuuji Yada, Yasuyuki Fujita, Hiroki Yabuta
  • Publication number: 20220314783
    Abstract: The vehicle power device (1) includes a wheel bearing (2) and an electric motor (3) including a stator (18) and a rotor (19). The wheel bearing (2) includes an outer ring (4) and an inner ring (5) rotatably supported by the outer ring (4) through rolling elements (6), the inner ring (5) including a hub flange (7) configured to be attached with a wheel of a vehicle. The vehicle power device includes: a rotor case (15) that covers the electric motor (3) and an inboard-side part of the wheel bearing located on an inboard side with respect to the hub flange (7) to define a separated space therein; and an annular seal component (Sc) that covers, from the inboard side of the hub flange (7), head parts (13a) of a plurality of hub bolts (13) press-fitted into the hub flange (7) and a surrounding area thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2022
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Applicant: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuuji YADA, Kentaro NISHIKAWA
  • Patent number: 11447003
    Abstract: The vehicle power device includes: a wheel bearing including a stationary ring and a rotary ring; and a motor including a stator and a rotor. The stator and the rotor of the motor generator have a smaller diameter than that of an outer peripheral part of the brake rotor, and an entirety of the motor, excluding a mounting part to the hub flange, is located within an axial range between the hub flange and an outboard-side surface of a chassis frame component. An insulating layer is interposed between the stationary ring and the stator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroki Yabuta, Kentaro Nishikawa, Mitsuo Kawamura, Yasuyuki Fujita, Yuuji Yada
  • Publication number: 20210362585
    Abstract: The vehicle power device includes: a wheel bearing; and an electric motor including a stator and a rotor. The vehicle power device includes a rotor casing that is a cover member covering the electric motor and a part of the wheel bearing, the part being located on an inboard side with respect to the hub flange, such that a separated space is defined inside the cover member. A seal member configured to prevent entry of moisture from a press-fitting part where a hub bolt is press-fitted into a bolt hole provided in the hub flange is disposed near the press-fitting part. The hub flange is formed with an annular groove coaxial with the hub bolt in an area where a head of the hub bolt comes into contact with an inboard-side surface of the hub flange, and the seal member having a ring shape is disposed in the annular groove.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2021
    Publication date: November 25, 2021
    Applicant: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuuji YADA, Kentaro NISHIKAWA
  • Patent number: 11097768
    Abstract: A supplemental turning function-equipped hub unit includes: a hub unit body including a hub bearing; and a unit support member configured to be mounted through a suspension device, the unit support member supporting the hub unit body through rotation-permitting support components at two upper and lower portions of the hub unit body such that the hub unit body is rotatable about a supplemental turning axis. A supplemental turning force receiving part is provided on a side part of the hub unit body, which part is configured to receive a force that causes the hub unit body to rotate about the supplemental turning axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hirokazu Ooba, Tomomi Ishikawa, Kentaro Nishikawa, Satoshi Utsunomiya, Yusuke Ohata, Taisuke Igi, Norio Ishihara
  • Publication number: 20210075289
    Abstract: Provided is a motor which includes a stator that can be received in a limited housing space and is capable of providing an increased output without increasing an axial length of the stator; a vehicle power unit including the motor; a generator; as well as a vehicle wheel bearing assembly with the generator. The motor generator includes: a stator including a stator core having an annular shape and stator coils wound around the stator core; and a rotor located opposite to the stator in a radial direction. Each of the stator coils includes coil ends that protrude with respect to an axial width of the stator core in an axial direction. A bus bar is connected to a wiring connection part at the coil ends, and the bus bar is disposed within an axial width of the stator core.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2020
    Publication date: March 11, 2021
    Applicant: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuuji YADA, Kentaro NISHIKAWA, Mitsuo KAWAMURA
  • Publication number: 20210070163
    Abstract: Provided is a vehicle power unit as well as a vehicle wheel bearing assembly with a generator which allow a wheel bearing to be easily replaced and thereby can suppress the costs of replacement components. The vehicle power unit includes: a wheel bearing including an outer ring and a hub axle that includes a hub flange and is rotatably supported by the outer ring through a rolling element, the hub flange being configured to be attached with a wheel and a brake rotor of a vehicle; and a motor or a generator including a stator located on an outer periphery of the outer ring and a rotor located on an outer periphery of the stator and attached to the hub axle. The vehicle includes a knuckle provided with a wheel bearing fixing member. The outer ring or the stator is removably fixed to the wheel bearing fixing member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2020
    Publication date: March 11, 2021
    Applicant: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuuji YADA, Kentaro NISHIKAWA
  • Patent number: 10836247
    Abstract: A vehicle power assist system can be applied to a vehicle with a driven wheel (4) that is mechanically unconnected to a main drive source (5) such as an internal combustion engine. The driven wheel (4) is supported by a wheel support bearing assembly (31) to which a drive assist, motor generator (8) is mounted. A rotor of the motor generator (8) is directly fixed to a rotational ring of the wheel support bearing assembly (31) without interposition of a speed reducing mechanism or a speed increasing mechanism. The vehicle power assist system includes a power storage unit (19) configured to store a regenerative power generated by the motor generator (8) and to supply the stored power to the motor generator (8).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mitsuo Kawamura, Kentaro Nishikawa, Tomomi Ishikawa, Yasuyuki Fujita
  • Publication number: 20200276896
    Abstract: The power device for a vehicle includes: a wheel bearing including a stationary ring and a rotary ring having a hub flange, the rotary ring being rotatably supported by the stationary ring via rolling element, the hub flange being configured to be attached with a wheel of a vehicle and a brake rotor; and a generator including a stator attached to the stationary ring of the wheel bearing and a rotor attached to the rotary ring of the wheel bearing, wherein the rotor includes a soft magnetic material part, magnets, and a resin material part that is integrally molded with the soft magnetic material part and the magnets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2020
    Publication date: September 3, 2020
    Applicant: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mitsuo KAWAMURA, Kentaro NISHIKAWA, Yuuji YADA, Yasuyuki FUJITA, Hiroki YABUTA
  • Patent number: 10752104
    Abstract: An auxiliary power unit equipped wheel support bearing assembly is provided which includes a wheel support bearing assembly and an auxiliary power unit. The auxiliary power unit is of a direct drive design that includes a stator mounted to a stationary ring of the wheel support bearing assembly and a motor rotor mounted to a rotational ring of the wheel support bearing assembly. An entirety of the auxiliary power unit is sized to extend less than an outer peripheral segment of a brake rotor, with the outer peripheral segment defining an area against which a brake caliper is intended to be pushed. The auxiliary power unit is, with respect to an axial direction, sized to be situated between a hub flange of the wheel support bearing assembly and a mounting face of the wheel support bearing assembly for mounting to a vehicle body of a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mitsuo Kawamura, Kentaro Nishikawa, Tomomi Ishikawa, Takushi Matsuto
  • Publication number: 20200238817
    Abstract: The vehicle power device includes: a wheel bearing including a stationary ring and a rotary ring; and a motor including a stator and a rotor. The stator and the rotor of the motor generator have a smaller diameter than that of an outer peripheral part of the brake rotor, and an entirety of the motor, excluding a mounting part to the hub flange, is located within an axial range between the hub flange and an outboard-side surface of a chassis frame component. An insulating layer is interposed between the stationary ring and the stator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2020
    Publication date: July 30, 2020
    Applicant: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroki YABUTA, Kentaro NISHIKAWA, Mitsuo KAWAMURA, Yasuyuki FUJITA, Yuuji YADA
  • Publication number: 20200198456
    Abstract: A wheel support bearing assembly includes a wheel support bearing and a power unit. The power unit is that of an outer rotor design in which a stator is located at an outer periphery of the wheel support bearing and a rotor is located radially outward of the stator. A radial extension of the entire power unit is sized to be radially inward of a peripheral section of a brake rotor. An entirety of the power unit, excluding a mount part thereof to a hub flange, is sized to be situated in an axial range between the hub flange and a mount surface, on an inboard side of the wheel support bearing. The rotor includes an outer shell magnetic body, which is made from soft magnetic material and forms an outer shell of the power unit, and permanent magnets that are provided to the outer shell magnetic body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2020
    Publication date: June 25, 2020
    Applicant: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mitsuo KAWAMURA, Kentaro NISHIKAWA, Taisuke IGI, Yuuji YADA, Yasuyuki FUJITA, Hiroki Yabuta
  • Publication number: 20200122771
    Abstract: A supplemental turning function-equipped hub unit includes: a hub unit body including a hub bearing; and a unit support member configured to be mounted through a suspension device, the unit support member supporting the hub unit body through rotation-permitting support components at two upper and lower portions of the hub unit body such that the hub unit body is rotatable about a supplemental turning axis. A supplemental turning force receiving part is provided on a side part of the hub unit body, which part is configured to receive a force that causes the hub unit body to rotate about the supplemental turning axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Publication date: April 23, 2020
    Applicant: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hirokazu OOBA, Tomomi Ishikawa, Kentaro Nishikawa, Satoshi Utsunomiya, Yusuke Ohata, Taisuke Igi, Norio Ishihara
  • Publication number: 20200112229
    Abstract: Provided is a wheel bearing apparatus with a generator that can have a simplified structure to reduce costs and is capable of preventing electrolytic corrosion. The wheel bearing apparatus with a generator includes a wheel bearing and a generator. The generator includes a stator attached to a fixed wheel and a motor rotor attached to a rotating wheel and is of an outer-rotor type in which the stator is located on an outer periphery of the wheel bearing, and the motor rotor is located radially outside of the stator. The wheel bearing apparatus with the generator further includes at least one conducting unit that conducts a current between the fixed wheel and the rotating wheel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2019
    Publication date: April 9, 2020
    Applicant: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroki YABUTA, Mitsuo KAWAMURA, Kentaro NISHIKAWA
  • Patent number: 10408709
    Abstract: Provided is a device for determining a wheel fastening state that allows a wheel fastening state to be monitored during running. The device includes a sensor unit (3) that is attachable to and detachable from a wheel fastening part, an information terminal (4) that is an in-vehicle device (4A) or a portable terminal (4B), and a server (30). The terminal (4) includes a measurement instruction module (23) to read vehicle state data from a control and communication system (5) of a vehicle and send an instruction for to measurement to the sensor unit (3) at determined timing. The server (30) includes a first information processing module (32) configured to determine an abnormality of a fastening state of the wheel fastening part by comparing the measurement data with accumulated data that is measured under the same condition and stored in the past.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasutaka Kusumi, Yuichiro Noro, Hiroya Kato, Kentaro Nishikawa
  • Publication number: 20190248225
    Abstract: An auxiliary power unit equipped wheel support bearing assembly is provided which includes a wheel support bearing assembly and an auxiliary power unit. The auxiliary power unit is of a direct drive design that includes a stator mounted to a stationary ring of the wheel support bearing assembly and a motor rotor mounted to a rotational ring of the wheel support bearing assembly. An entirety of the auxiliary power unit is sized to extend less than an outer peripheral segment of a brake rotor, with the outer peripheral segment defining an area against which a brake caliper is intended to be pushed. The auxiliary power unit is, with respect to an axial direction, sized to be situated between a hub flange of the wheel support bearing assembly and a mounting face of the wheel support bearing assembly for mounting to a vehicle body of a vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2019
    Publication date: August 15, 2019
    Applicant: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mitsuo Kawamura, Kentaro Nishikawa, Tomomi Ishikawa, Takushi Matsuto