Patents by Inventor Kentarou Nishikawa

Kentarou 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: 7882752
    Abstract: The wheel support bearing assembly is for rotatably supporting a vehicle wheel relative to an automotive vehicle body, which includes an outer member having an inner periphery formed with a plurality of rows of raceway surfaces, an inner member having raceway surfaces formed therein in face-to-face relation with the raceway surfaces in the outer member, and a plurality of rows of rolling elements interposed between those raceway surfaces, respectively; a sensor unit including a sensor mounting member and a strain sensor fitted to the sensor mounting member, the sensor unit being fitted to a stationary member, which is one of the outer member and the inner member; and wherein the sensor mounting member includes at least two contact fixing portion relative to the stationary member and the strain sensor is arranged at at least one location between the contact fixing portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Takayoshi Ozaki, Tomomi Ishikawa, Kentarou Nishikawa
  • Patent number: 7878713
    Abstract: A sensor-incorporated wheel support bearing assembly, enabling a load sensor to be compactly installed on the vehicle and capable of detecting a load on a wheel with good sensitivity includes a ring member, affixed to a stationary member, which has at an intermediate portion thereof a first non-contact ring portion not in contact with the stationary member, at one end a first contact ring portion in contact with the stationary member, and at the other end the following (A) or (B): (A) a second non-contact ring portion having a wall thickness greater than that of the first non-contact ring portion; (B) a second contact ring portion in contact with the stationary member. A strain sensor is fitted to; in (A), the first non-contact ring portion, and in (B), the first non-contact ring portion or first contact ring portion, which has smaller wall thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Takayoshi Ozaki, Tomomi Ishikawa, Kentarou Nishikawa
  • Patent number: 7856893
    Abstract: To provide a sensor incorporated wheel support bearing assembly, in which a load sensor can be compactly installed in an automotive vehicle, the load acting on the vehicle wheel can be detected with high sensitivity and the manufacturing cost can be reduced, the bearing assembly having a plurality of rows of rolling elements interposed between an outer member and an inner member includes a sensor unit fitted to one of the outer member and the inner member, which serves as a stationary member. The sensor unit includes a sensor mounting member and a strain sensor fitted thereto. The sensor mounting member has two contact fixing portions fixed to the outer member and a first contact fixing portion is fixed to a flange surface of the outer member and a second contact fixing portion is fixed to a peripheral surface of the outer member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Takayoshi Ozaki, Tomomi Ishikawa, Kentarou Nishikawa, Toru Takahashi, Yujiro Ono, Takayuki Norimatsu
  • Publication number: 20100303394
    Abstract: A sensor-equipped wheel support bearing assembly capable of accurately detecting load acting on the vehicle wheel by reducing concentration of strain on a cutout portion corner area of a strain generating member in a sensor unit is provided. The wheel support bearing assembly having rolling elements interposed between rolling surfaces in outer and inner members, includes at least one sensor unit provided in a stationary member, which is one of the outer and inner members. The sensor unit includes a strain generating member, having two or more contact fixing segments secured to the stationary member in contact therewith, and a sensor fitted to the strain generating member for detecting a strain in the strain generating member. The strain generating member has a cutout portion between the contact fixing segments, and corner area of such cutout portion is of an arcuately sectioned shape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2008
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Inventors: Hiroshi Isobe, Kentarou Nishikawa, Toru Takahashi
  • Patent number: 7819026
    Abstract: A sensor-equipped wheel support bearing assembly, enabling the cost during the mass production to be reduced, includes an outer member, an inner member, a plurality of rolling elements interposed between the opposed raceway surfaces. One of the outer member and the inner member, which serves as a stationary member, is fitted with a sensor mounting member provided with a strain sensor. The sensor mounting member is further provided with a status detecting sensor to detect different status other than a strain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Takayoshi Ozaki, Tomomi Ishikawa, Kentarou Nishikawa
  • Patent number: 7780358
    Abstract: A sensor-incorporated wheel support bearing assembly (18) includes an outer member (1) having an inner peripheral surface formed with double rows of raceway surfaces (4), an inner member (2) having an outer peripheral surface formed with raceway surfaces (5) opposed to the raceway surfaces (4) in the outer member (1), and double rows of rolling elements (3) interposed between the raceway surfaces (4) and (5) in the outer and inner members (1) and (2). Rings (9A) and (9B) each having an outer peripheral surface tapered is secured to the inner member (2). A displacement sensor (10) confronting the tapered outer peripheral surfaces of the rings (9A) and (9B) is mounted on the outer member (11) or a member (17) rigidly secured to the outer member (1) for measuring the distance between such displacement sensor (10) and the rings (9A) and (9B).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Takayoshi Ozaki, Tomomi Ishikawa, Kentarou Nishikawa
  • Patent number: 7762128
    Abstract: In a wheel support bearing assembly including a plurality of rolling elements (5) interposed between an outer member (1) and an inner member (2), a sensor unit (21) is fitted to one of the outer member and the inner member, which serves as a stationary member. The sensor unit includes a sensor mounting member (22) and a strain sensor (23) fitted to the sensor mounting member. The sensor mounting member has a plurality of contact fixing portions (22a, 22b) that are fixed to at least two locations spaced a distant from each other in a direction circumferentially of the outer member. A cutout (24) is provided in the outer member at respective positions corresponding to the neighboring contact fixing portions of the sensor mounting member, so as to extend in an axial direction. The strain sensor is arranged intermediate between the neighboring contact fixing portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Takayoshi Ozaki, Tomomi Ishikawa, Kentarou Nishikawa
  • Publication number: 20100135604
    Abstract: A sensor-equipped bearing for a wheel rotatably supporting the wheel relative to a vehicle body includes an outer member (1) provided with a double-row raceway surface (3) on an inner periphery thereof, an inner member (2) provided with raceway surfaces (4) opposing to the raceway surfaces (3) of the outer member (1), one of the outer and inner members serving as a stationary member, double-row rolling elements (5) interposed between the outer and inner raceway surfaces, a sensor fitting member (22) fixed to a peripheral surface of the stationary member, and a plurality of strain sensors (23) attached to the sensor fitting member (22) for measuring a strain thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2006
    Publication date: June 3, 2010
    Inventors: Takayoshi Ozaki, Tomomi Ishikawa, Kentarou Nishikawa
  • Publication number: 20100102801
    Abstract: A rotation detecting sensor, having excellent sealing capability to prevent water ingress from outside, being so robust that no damage occur in sensor component parts and circuits due to external force and/or thermal strains resulting from self-heating or change in ambient temperature, and inexpensive to manufacture, is provided. The rotation detecting sensor is fixed to a sensor fixing member to be fitted to a wheel support bearing assembly. A sensor unit, including a magnetic sensor element, a cable and a substrate, is fixed to the sensor fixing member through the substrate. A molding segment molded of a molding material bonded with the substrate is provided around the sensor unit. The substrate has a metallic pattern portion formed as a metallic coating on a substrate surface in the vicinity of an electroconductive pattern portion and the molding material is bonded to the metallic pattern portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2008
    Publication date: April 29, 2010
    Applicant: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Toru Takahashi, Kentarou Nishikawa
  • Publication number: 20100046871
    Abstract: To provide a sensor equipped wheel support bearing assembly, in which a load sensor can be installed compactly in an automotive vehicle, maintaining a high sensitivity while damage and/or malfunction caused by the external environments and/or the electromagnetic noises are avoided, with low manufacturing cost. This bearing assembly includes outer and inner members having respective rolling surfaces and a plurality of rows of rolling elements interposed between those rolling surfaces. A strain sensor unit including a sensor element is fitted to one of the outer and inner members, which is a stationary member, for example, the outer member. A sensor mounting surface of the strain sensor unit fitted with the sensor element has a covering member made of a resin, which is over-molded, or an elastomer bonded by vulcanization, so as to cover the sensor element sealingly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2008
    Publication date: February 25, 2010
    Applicant: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takayuki Norimatsu, Toru Takahashi, Kazuo Komori, Kazuhiro Baba, Kentarou Nishikawa
  • Publication number: 20100013463
    Abstract: A rotation detecting sensor (A) is fixed to a sensor fixing member (7), through which it is fitted to a wheel support bearing assembly for detecting the rotation of a rotatable ring of the wheel support bearing assembly. A sensor unit (B) is made up of a sensor element (1) of a magnetic type for detecting an annular to-be-detected element of a rotatable ring, a cable (10) for feeding an output signal of the sensor element (1) to an outside, and a substrate (11) having an electroconductive segment (3) for electrically connecting an electrode (2) of the sensor element (1) with a core line (4) of the cable (10). This sensor unit (B) is fixed to the sensor fixing member (7) by means of the substrate (11). A molding portion (8) is provided around the sensor unit (B) and molded with a thermoplastic elastomer or a rubber material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2009
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Applicant: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takayoshi Ozaki, Toru Takahashi, Kentarou Nishikawa
  • Publication number: 20100014087
    Abstract: A lubricant deterioration detecting device includes an arcuate optical fiber (4) having one end positioned in face-to-face relation with a light emitting element and also having the opposite end positioned in face-to-face relation with a light receiving element, and a measuring gap (7) for intervening a lubricating agent (5) is provided in a portion of the arcuate optical fiber (4). In the vicinity of the measuring gap (7), a resistance element (15), the amount of deformation of which varies with change in state of lubrication performed with the lubricating agent, is provided for flowing of the lubricating agent (5) within the measuring gap (7).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2009
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Applicant: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toru Takahashi, Kentarou Nishikawa
  • Publication number: 20090301222
    Abstract: There is provided a sensor equipped wheel support bearing assembly with rolling elements interposed between outer and inner members and with a strain sensor fixed to a stationary member served by one of the outer and inner members. The strain sensor includes a strain generating member and a sensor element secured thereto. The strain generating member has first and second contact fixing segments respectively associated with a flanged face provided in the outer member and a peripheral surface of the stationary member. These contact fixing segments have a joint region therebetween having a bent portion convexed toward the outer member. A location in the strain generating member where the sensor element is secured is on the first contact fixing segment side of the bent portion and yet in the vicinity of the bent portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2008
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Inventors: Toru Takahashi, Kentarou Nishikawa, Takayuki Norimatsu, Yujiro Ono
  • Publication number: 20090199660
    Abstract: To provide a sensor incorporated wheel support bearing assembly, in which a load sensor can be compactly installed in an automotive vehicle, the load acting on the vehicle wheel can be detected with high sensitivity and the manufacturing cost can be reduced, the bearing assembly having a plurality of rows of rolling elements interposed between an outer member and an inner member includes a sensor unit fitted to one of the outer member and the inner member, which serves as a stationary member. The sensor unit includes a sensor mounting member and a strain sensor fitted thereto. The sensor mounting member has two contact fixing portions fixed to the outer member and a first contact fixing portion is fixed to a flange surface of the outer member and a second contact fixing portion is fixed to a peripheral surface of the outer member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2007
    Publication date: August 13, 2009
    Inventors: Takayoshi Ozaki, Tomomi Ishikawa, Kentarou Nishikawa, Toru Takahashi, Yujiro Ono, Takayuki Norimatsu
  • Publication number: 20090175568
    Abstract: To provide a sensor equipped wheel support bearing assembly, in which a load sensor can be snugly and neatly installed in automotive vehicle and which detects the load or the like acting on a vehicle wheel and requires an inexpensive cost in mass production. A sensor unit is fitted to an outer member as a stationary member of the bearing assembly. The sensor unit includes a sensor mounting member having bolt insertion holes alignable with vehicle body fitting holes of the outer member, and a strain sensor fitted to the sensor mounting member. This sensor unit is sandwiched between the outer member and a knuckle and is fitted by means of bolts inserted through the vehicle body fitting holes and the bolt insertion holes. The sensor unit has a portion that is greater in a radial direction than a flange of the outer member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2007
    Publication date: July 9, 2009
    Applicant: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takayoshi Ozaki, Tomomi Ishikawa, Kentarou Nishikawa
  • Publication number: 20090129712
    Abstract: A sensor-incorporated wheel support bearing assembly, enabling a load sensor to be compactly installed on the vehicle and capable of detecting a load on a wheel with good sensitivity includes a ring member, affixed to a stationary member, which has at an intermediate portion thereof a first non-contact ring portion not in contact with the stationary member, at one end a first contact ring portion in contact with the stationary member, and at the other end the following (A) or (B): (A) a second non-contact ring portion having a wall thickness greater than that of the first non-contact ring portion; (B) a second contact ring portion in contact with the stationary member. A strain sensor is fitted to; in (A), the first non-contact ring portion, and in (B), the first non-contact ring portion or first contact ring portion, which has smaller wall thickness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2006
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Inventors: Takayoshi Ozaki, Tomomi Ishikawa, Kentarou Nishikawa
  • Publication number: 20090120184
    Abstract: A sensor-equipped wheel support bearing assembly, enabling the cost during the mass production to be reduced, includes an outer member (1), an inner member (2), a plurality of rolling elements (3) interposed between the opposed raceway surfaces. One of the outer member (1) and the inner member (2), which serves as a stationary member, is fitted with a sensor mounting member (22) provided with a strain sensor (23). The sensor mounting member (22) is further provided with a status detecting sensor (24) for detecting different status other than a strain.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2006
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Applicant: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Takayoshi Ozaki, Tomomi Ishikawa, Kentarou Nishikawa
  • Publication number: 20090114004
    Abstract: In a wheel support bearing assembly including a plurality of rolling elements (5) interposed between an outer member (1) and an inner member (2), a sensor unit (21) is fitted to one of the outer member and the inner member, which serves as a stationary member. The sensor unit includes a sensor mounting member (22) and a strain sensor (23) fitted to the sensor mounting member. The sensor mounting member has a plurality of contact fixing portions (22a, 22b) that are fixed to at least two locations spaced a distant from each other in a direction circumferentially of the outer member. A cutout (24) is provided in the outer member at respective positions corresponding to the neighboring contact fixing portions of the sensor mounting member, so as to extend in an axial direction. The strain sensor is arranged intermediate between the neighboring contact fixing portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2007
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Inventors: Takayoshi Ozaki, Tomomi Ishikawa, Kentarou Nishikawa
  • Publication number: 20090097791
    Abstract: To provide a sensor equipped wheel support bearing assembly, in which the sensor for detecting the load can be snugly and neatly installed in an automotive vehicle, the load acting on the vehicle wheel can be detected with high sensitivity and the cost of manufacture can be reduced during a mass production. The sensor unit 21 is mounted on an outer member 1, which is a stationary member of the wheel support bearing assembly. The sensor unit 21 includes a sensor mounting member 22 and at least one or more strain sensors 23 fitted to the sensor mounting member 22. The outer member 1 includes a knuckle contact portion contactable with a knuckle 16 and is provided with a cutout portion 17 defined in a portion of the knuckle contact portion 1a.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2007
    Publication date: April 16, 2009
    Applicant: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takayoshi Ozaki, Tomomi Ishikawa, Kentarou Nishikawa
  • Publication number: 20090080822
    Abstract: In a wheel support bearing assembly having rows of rolling elements (3) interposed between an outer member (1) and an inner member (2), spacers (27) are interposed between vehicle body fitting holes (9) in the outer member (1), which is a stationary member, and a knuckle (25). A sensor unit (16) including a sensor mounting member (17) and a strain sensor (18) is fitted to the outer member (1). The sensor mounting member (17) has at least two contact fixing portions (17a, 17b) fixed to the outer member (1) and, also, has at least one recess (17c) between the neighboring contact fixing portions (17a, 17b), the strain sensor (18) being disposed in this recess (17c).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2006
    Publication date: March 26, 2009
    Inventors: Takayoshi Ozaki, Tomomi Ishikawa, Kentarou Nishikawa