Patents by Inventor Kichio Nakajima

Kichio Nakajima 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: 9403526
    Abstract: A vehicle control device 50, a controller 100, an inverter control device 30 and a steering control device 32 constitute a control device that executes control to give a yaw moment to a vehicle 1 so as to make the vehicle 1 travel while meandering around the center of trolley wires 3R and 3L based on image information acquired by a camera 15. The control device converts an image acquired by the camera 15 into coordinate information, calculates at least one representative point of the vehicle 1 and at least one target point situated on the trolley wire 3R/3L based on the coordinate information, sets a fluctuating point which fluctuates with reference to the target point, and executes control to give a yaw moment to the vehicle 1 so that the representative point approaches the fluctuating point. With this configuration, uneven wear of the sliders can be prevented and the operating load on the driver during the trolley traveling can be lightened considerably.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinjiro Saito, Kichio Nakajima
  • Patent number: 9321354
    Abstract: A control device which executes the following control based on image information acquired by a camera: When the vehicle is traveling outside a trolley wire linkage section C, the control device executes control to give a yaw moment to the vehicle so that the vehicle travels while tracing a trolley wire 3R/3L. When the vehicle is traveling in the trolley wire linkage section C, the control device performs control not to execute the control to give the yaw moment. Further, the control device converts the acquired image information into coordinate information. Based on the coordinate information, when the vehicle is traveling outside the trolley wire linkage section C, the control device calculates a representative point of the vehicle and a target point situated on the trolley wire 3R/3L and gives a yaw moment to the vehicle so that the representative point approaches the target point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinjiro Saito, Kichio Nakajima
  • Patent number: 9079502
    Abstract: Provided is an electrically driven vehicle that is capable of suppressing drive wheel slippage without increasing the pitching vibration of the vehicle. The electrically driven vehicle having electric motors (1, 4), drive wheels (3, 6) driven by the electric motors respectively, and, when at least one of the drive wheels slips, an electric motor control device (40) for reducing the torque of at least one of the electric motors that drives the at least one wheel slipped, and for restoring the torque of the at least one electric motor when the slippage is stopped includes a pitching detection device (26) for detecting the amplitude of pitching vibration to which the vehicle is subjected. The amount of torque of the at least one electric motor to be restored by the electric motor control device over a predetermined period of time after the slippage is stopped varies depending on whether or not the amplitude A detected by the pitching detection device is greater than an assessment value A1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: HITACHI CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Akira Kikuchi, Tomohiko Yasuda, Takayuki Sato, Kichio Nakajima, Hiroyuki Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 9014898
    Abstract: A vehicle control device 50, a controller 100, an inverter control device 30 and a steering control device 32 constitute a control device 200 which controls elevation of sliders 4Ra and 4La of power collectors 4R and 4L based on information detected by a trolley wire detecting device (camera) 15. The control device 200 calculates positional relationship between a slider and a trolley wire 3R/3L based on the information detected by the trolley wire detecting device. When the slider has deviated from a prescribed range for being in contact with the trolley wire, the control device executes control to prohibit an operation for elevating the sliders or to lower the sliders when the sliders have been elevated. With this configuration, an electrically driven dump truck capable of lightening the operating load on the driver during the trolley traveling is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinjiro Saito, Kichio Nakajima
  • Patent number: 8935033
    Abstract: A vehicle control device 50, a controller 100, an inverter control device 30 and a steering control device 32 constitute a control device 200 which executes control to give a yaw moment to a vehicle 1 to make the vehicle 1 travel while tracing a trolley wire 3R, 3L based on image information detected by a camera 15. The control device 200 converts an image acquired by the camera 15 into coordinate information, calculates at least one representative point of the vehicle 1 and at least one target point situated on the trolley wire 3R, 3L based on the coordinate information, and executes the control to give a yaw moment to the vehicle 1 so that the representative point approaches the target point. With this configuration, an electrically driven dump truck capable of lightening the operating load on the driver during the trolley traveling is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinjiro Saito, Kichio Nakajima
  • Patent number: 8925661
    Abstract: Wheel drive motors (8) constituted of electric motors for driving rear wheels (7) are provided on a vehicle body (2) of a dump truck (1). Each wheel drive motor (8) is connected to a main power generator (12) through a bidirectional converter (20) and the like and driven by power supplied from the main power generator (12). A resistor (21) that consumes regenerative power from each wheel drive motor (8) is connected to the bidirectional converter (20). Cooling air is supplied to the resistor (21) from a blower (24). Operations of a switch (23) of the resistor (21) and the blower (24) are controlled by a controller (28). A mode selecting switch (29) for selecting a heating mode (A), a blowing mode (B), and a heating and blowing mode (C) is connected to the controller (28).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshikazu Minoshima, Kichio Nakajima
  • Patent number: 8880261
    Abstract: An electrically driven vehicle equipped with electric motors (1, 4) for driving or braking drive wheels (3, 6), and an electric motor controller (33) for controlling the electric motors includes: wheel speed detectors (9 to 12) for detecting the wheel speed of the drive wheels and that of idler wheels (7, 8); computing means (22 to 28, 35 to 38) for computing the slip ratio of the drive wheels based on the wheel speed of the drive wheels and that of the idler wheels; and a determiner (29) for determining that the drive wheels are slipping if the slip ratio exceeds a slip ratio determination value. If the wheel speed of the idler wheels is lower than set speeds Va2, Vb2, then the determiner (29) changes the slip ratio determination value to a value having as the same sign as, and a larger absolute value than, the values ?a2, ?b2 used when the wheel speed of the idler wheels is higher than the set speeds Va2, Vb2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kobayashi, Akira Kikuchi, Tomohiko Yasuda, Takayuki Satou, Kichio Nakajima
  • Publication number: 20140224609
    Abstract: In the present invention, a vehicle control device 50, a controller 100, an inverter control device 30 and a steering control device 32 constitute a control device which executes the following control based on image information acquired by a camera 15: When the vehicle 1 is traveling outside a trolley wire linkage section C, the control device executes control to give a yaw moment to the vehicle 1 so that the vehicle 1 travels while tracing a trolley wire 3R/3L. When the vehicle 1 is traveling in the trolley wire linkage section C, the control device performs control not to execute the control to give the yaw moment. Further, the control device converts the acquired image information into coordinate information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2012
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: HITACHI CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shinjiro Saito, Kichio Nakajima
  • Publication number: 20140095006
    Abstract: A vehicle control device 50, a controller 100, an inverter control device 30 and a steering control device 32 constitute a control device that executes control to give a yaw moment to a vehicle 1 so as to make the vehicle 1 travel while meandering around the center of trolley wires 3R and 3L based on image information acquired by a camera 15. The control device converts an image acquired by the camera 15 into coordinate information, calculates at least one representative point of the vehicle 1 and at least one target point situated on the trolley wire 3R/3L based on the coordinate information, sets a fluctuating point which fluctuates with reference to the target point, and executes control to give a yaw moment to the vehicle 1 so that the representative point approaches the fluctuating point. With this configuration, uneven wear of the sliders can be prevented and the operating load on the driver during the trolley traveling can be lightened considerably.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2012
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: HITACHI CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shinjiro Saito, Kichio Nakajima
  • Publication number: 20140032028
    Abstract: A vehicle control device 50, a controller 100, an inverter control device 30 and a steering control device 32 constitute a control device 200 which executes control to give a yaw moment to a vehicle body 1 to make the vehicle body 1 travel while tracing a trolley wire 3R, 3L based on image information detected by a camera 15. The control device 200 converts an image acquired by the camera 15 into coordinate information, calculates at least one representative point of the vehicle body 1 and at least one target point situated on the trolley wire 3R, 3L based on the coordinate information, and executes the control to give a yaw moment to the vehicle body 1 so that the representative point approaches the target point. With this configuration, an electrically driven dump truck capable of lightening the operating load on the driver during the trolley traveling is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2012
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Applicant: HITACHI CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shinjiro Saito, Kichio Nakajima
  • Publication number: 20140005871
    Abstract: A vehicle control device 50, a controller 100, an inverter control device 30 and a steering control device 32 constitute a control device 200 which controls elevation of sliders 4Ra and 4La of power collectors 4R and 4L based on information detected by a trolley wire detecting device (camera) 15. The control device 200 calculates positional relationship between a slider and a trolley wire 3R/3L based on the information detected by the trolley wire detecting device. When the slider has deviated from a prescribed range for being in contact with the trolley wire, the control device executes control to prohibit an operation for elevating the sliders or to lower the sliders when the sliders have been elevated. With this configuration, an electrically driven dump truck capable of lightening the operating load on the driver during the trolley traveling is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2012
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Applicant: HITACHI CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shinjiro Saito, Kichio Nakajima
  • Publication number: 20130226388
    Abstract: Provided is an electrically driven vehicle that is capable of suppressing drive wheel slippage without increasing the pitching vibration of the vehicle. The electrically driven vehicle having electric motors (1, 4), drive wheels (3, 6) driven by the electric motors respectively, and, when at least one of the drive wheels slips, an electric motor control device (40) for reducing the torque of at least one of the electric motors that drives the at least one wheel slipped, and for restoring the torque of the at least one electric motor when the slippage is stopped includes a pitching detection device (26) for detecting the amplitude of pitching vibration to which the vehicle is subjected. The amount of torque of the at least one electric motor to be restored by the electric motor control device over a predetermined period of time after the slippage is stopped varies depending on whether or not the amplitude A detected by the pitching detection device is greater than an assessment value A1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2011
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Inventors: Akira Kikuchi, Tomohiko Yasuda, Takayuki Sato, Kichio Nakajima, Hiroyuki Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20130144480
    Abstract: An electrically driven vehicle equipped with electric motors (1, 4) for driving or braking drive wheels (3, 6), and an electric motor controller (33) for controlling the electric motors includes: wheel speed detectors (9 to 12) for detecting the wheel speed of the drive wheels and that of idler wheels (7, 8); computing means (22 to 28, 35 to 38) for computing the slip ratio of the drive wheels based on the wheel speed of the drive wheels and that of the idler wheels; and a determiner (29) for determining that the drive wheels are slipping if the slip ratio exceeds a slip ratio determination value. If the wheel speed of the idler wheels is lower than set speeds Va2, Vb2, then the determiner (29) changes the slip ratio determination value to a value having as the same sign as, and a larger absolute value than, the values ?a2, ?b2 used when the wheel speed of the idler wheels is higher than the set speeds Va2, Vb2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2011
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kobayashi, Akira Kikuchi, Tomohiko Yasuda, Takayuki Satou, Kichio Nakajima
  • Publication number: 20130075170
    Abstract: Wheel drive motors (8) constituted of electric motors for driving rear wheels (7) are provided on a vehicle body (2) of a dump truck (1). Each wheel drive motor (8) is connected to a main power generator (12) through a bidirectional converter (20) and the like and driven by power supplied from the main power generator (12). A resistor (21) that consumes regenerative power from each wheel drive motor (8) is connected to the bidirectional converter (20). Cooling air is supplied to the resistor (21) from a blower (24). Operations of a switch (23) of the resistor (21) and the blower (24) are controlled by a controller (28). A mode selecting switch (29) for selecting a heating mode (A), a blowing mode (B), and a heating and blowing mode (C) is connected to the controller (28).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2011
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Applicant: HITACHI CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toshikazu Minoshima, Kichio Nakajima
  • Patent number: 8319621
    Abstract: A vehicle which evaluates tire wear properly even in a road condition that tires easily slip or lock up. The vehicle, which has a driven wheel and a driving wheel with tires attached thereto, includes: a revolution speed detector for detecting revolution speeds of the driven and driving wheels; a wheel speed detector for detecting wheel speeds of the driven and driving wheels based on the detected revolution speed data of the driven and driving wheels; a wheel speed ratio detector for detecting a wheel speed ratio between the driven and driving wheels based on the detected wheel speed data of the driven and driving wheels; and a tire condition evaluator for outputting an evaluation result indicating that the tire(s) attached to the driven wheel and/or driving wheel is(are) worn when the wheel speed ratio is higher than a preset threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Kikuchi, Motoo Futami, Toshikazu Minoshima, Tomohiko Yasuda, Takayuki Sato, Kichio Nakajima
  • Publication number: 20120279793
    Abstract: Provided is an electrically driven vehicle capable of suppressing drive wheel slipping, even in low-speed regions where wheel speeds are undetectable. The vehicle has driven wheels 7, 8 and drive wheels 3, 6, and the drive wheels 3, 6 are driven by electric motors 1, 4. The vehicle further includes a motor controller 22 which, if wheel speeds of the driven wheels 7, 8 that are detected by speed detectors 11, 12, or a body speed of the vehicle that is detected by a vehicle body speed detector 41 is less than a first setting value, regulates a torque that is output from the motors 1, 4, in order that wheel speeds of the drive wheels 3, 6 are less than a second setting value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2010
    Publication date: November 8, 2012
    Inventors: Akira Kikuchi, Tomohiko Yasuda, Takayuki Sato, Kichio Nakajima
  • Patent number: 8249765
    Abstract: Engine driving characteristics are achieved for driving a hydraulic system during non-traveling and traveling in an electrically driven dump truck. When a shift lever 16 is located at a neutral position, the target revolution speed Nr1 corresponding to the operation amount (p) of an accelerator pedal 1 is calculated on the basis of first target revolution speed characteristics (Nr1(p)) which are suitable for driving of a hydraulic pump for working so that an electronic governor 4a is controlled on the basis of this target revolution speed. When the shift lever 16 is located at a forward position, the target revolution speed Nr2 corresponding to the operation amount of the accelerator pedal 1 is calculated on the basis of second target revolution speed characteristics (Nr2(p)) which are suitable for driving of electric motors 12R, 12L so that the electronic governor 4a is controlled on the basis of this target revolution speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuo Tanaka, Yutaka Watanabe, Kichio Nakajima, Tomohiko Yasuda, Takashi Yagyu
  • Patent number: 8151915
    Abstract: An electric drive vehicle having a power generator coupled to an engine, a first power converter connected with the power generator for converting the AC power generated by the power generator to DC power, a second power converter connected with the first power converter, for converting the DC power to AC power, a power consuming device for consuming the DC power, connected to a DC circuit between the first and second power converters, an electric motor connected with the second power converter, and at least one wheel driven by the electric motor, wherein the vehicle has a first control mode for controlling the output of the electric motor and a second control mode for controlling the power consumed by the power consuming device, and the second control mode performs such control that the operations of the second power converter and the electric motor in the first control mode are simulated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Kikuchi, Keizo Shimada, Kichio Nakajima, Toshikazu Minoshima, Tomohiko Yasuda, Takashi Ikimi
  • Publication number: 20100256848
    Abstract: A drive assist device for a diesel-electric driven truck is provided to guide and assist a driver in starting to coast so that appropriate coasting deceleration suitable for load weight is realized. The drive assist device includes a course information database that stores information about a course, a truck body information database that stores information about the truck body, a current location determination unit that calculates current location information, a coast initiation timing calculation unit that calculates timing of coasting based on a current location and velocity of the truck and a target velocity at a predetermined point ahead of the truck, those of which being obtained from the databases and input information, the timing of coasting being used to achieve the target velocity at the predetermined point and a guidance unit that informs a truck driver of the timing of coasting according to an output of the calculation unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2010
    Publication date: October 7, 2010
    Inventors: Masataka SASAKI, Akira Kikuchi, Motoo Futami, Kichio Nakajima, Tomohiko Yasuda
  • Publication number: 20100238007
    Abstract: A vehicle which evaluates tire wear properly even in a road condition that tires easily slip or lock up. The vehicle, which has a driven wheel and a driving wheel with tires attached thereto, includes: a revolution speed detector for detecting revolution speeds of the driven and driving wheels; a wheel speed detector for detecting wheel speeds of the driven and driving wheels based on the detected revolution speed data of the driven and driving wheels; a wheel speed ratio detector for detecting a wheel speed ratio between the driven and driving wheels based on the detected wheel speed data of the driven and driving wheels; and a tire condition evaluator for outputting an evaluation result indicating that the tire(s) attached to the driven wheel and/or driving wheel is(are) worn when the wheel speed ratio is higher than a preset threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2010
    Publication date: September 23, 2010
    Inventors: Akira KIKUCHI, Motoo Futami, Toshikazu Minoshima, Tomohiko Yasuda, Takayuki Sato, Kichio Nakajima