Patents by Inventor Kiyonori Kobayashi

Kiyonori Kobayashi 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: 6247571
    Abstract: A power transmitting mechanism is provided in which a driving member rotatingly transmitting power and a driven member receiving the transmitted power are arranged concentrically for rotation relative to each other. A torsion member is accommodated between the driving member and the driven member. A first hysteresis mechanism including at least one friction member is provided on the inner peripheral side of a spacing accommodating the torsion mechanism. The friction member of the first hysteresis mechanism may be split into a plurality of portions each passing through, with clearance, a respective hole or cut-out in the driven member. A second hysteresis mechanism including at least one friction member is arranged outside the space accommodating the torsion mechanism. The second hysteresis mechanism generates hysteresis separate from that generated by the first hysteresis mechanism. The torsion member may be plural torsion springs with differing spring constants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2001
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Mototaka Nakane, Masaru Ebata, Masakazu Kamiya, Kiyonori Kobayashi, Shuji Sadakari
  • Patent number: 5797474
    Abstract: A clutch disc is constructed to achieve superior performance by increasing the allowable torque or the angle of torsion of the damper plate. The clutch disc includes a clutch hub, a disc spring, and the damper plate interposed between the clutch hub and the disc spring. The damper plate is provided with an arc-like slit. In a portion of the slit proximate to the end of the slit at the peripheral or the inner peripheral side of the damper plate, the slit is centrifugally curved or curved toward the clutch axis such that both ends thereof are close to a radius of a concentric circle. According to another aspect of the invention, the damper plate is provided with a plurality of first rivets and a plurality of first rivet holes. The radii of the first rivet holes gradually decrease as the distance between the clutch axis and each hole decreases, whereas the radii increase gradually as the distance between the clutch axis and each hole increases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1998
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Mototaka Nakane, Kiyonori Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 5752885
    Abstract: A torque fluctuation absorbing apparatus includes a torque input member coaxially assembled with an output member through a plurality of circumferentially equally spaced resilient elements in such a manner that the resilient elements are enclosed by the torque input member and maintained in engagement with the torque input and output members to transmit input torque from the input member to the output member. The output member has a hub portion formed with a plurality of circumferentially equally spaced through holes through which a plurality of mounting bolts are inserted and threaded into a hub portion of the torque input member for connection to a drive shaft. The through holes of the output member are each formed to contain the head portion of one of the mounting bolts in such a manner as to permit relative rotaion of the torque input and output members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1998
    Assignees: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kiyonori Kobayashi, Makoto Takeuchi, Toshiaki Katsu
  • Patent number: 5454459
    Abstract: A torque fluctuation absorbing apparatus includes drive plates coupled to an input shaft from an engine, a flywheel supported rotatably on the input shaft, a driven disc radially outwardly extending between the opposed drive plates and fixed on the flywheel, and a pair of L-shape thrust members located in a space between the opposed drive plates and forming a liquid chamber. The lining secured to outer side surfaces of the thrust members are brought into frictional engagement with inner side surfaces of the drive plates when a liquid pressure in the chamber is increased and the thrust members are axially moved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 3, 1995
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shuji Sadakari, Masakazu Kamiya, Kiyonori Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 5195396
    Abstract: A torque variation absorbing device includes a first flywheel and a second flywheel which are rotatable relative to each other via a ball bearing. A hysteresis mechanism is disposed between the first flywheel and the second flywheel so that the first flywheel and the second flywheel are biased in directions away from each other. The ball bearing includes an outer race, an inner race, and a plurality of balls disposed in a space defined between the outer race and the inner race. A ball inlet groove is formed in each of the outer race and the inner race so that the each ball inlet groove opens toward the hysteresis mechanism. The hysteresis mechanism pushes the outer race and the outer race pushes the balls so that the pushed balls push the inner race in a direction away from the hysteresis mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1993
    Assignees: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masakazu Kamiya, Junji Kagiyama, Kiyonori Kobayashi, Masaki Hosono
  • Patent number: 5180334
    Abstract: A torque variation absorbing device comprises a driving plate, a flywheel which is rotatable relative to the driving plate through a bearing element in common axis, an elastic member which is disposed in a space defined between the driving plate and the flywheel, an inner peripheral portion of the elastic member secured to either the driving plate or the flywheel, and an outer peripheral surface corresponding to an inner peripheral surface of the other, a plate secured to an outer peripheral surface of the elastic member so as to correspond to the inner peripheral surface, a plurality of rotational members which are rotatably disposed between the plate and the inner peripheral surface in the circumferential direction in such a manner that each rotational member is depressed by the elastic force of the elastic member, and a clearance which is defined between the plate and the inner peripheral surface, and narrows toward both ends of the plate from a center of the plate so as to obtain a large relative angle of
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1993
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Mototaka Nakane, Kiyonori Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 5065642
    Abstract: An apparatus for absorbing torque vibration comprises inertial bodies comprising first and second flywheels, and a damper mechanism, torque limiting mechanism and hysteresis mechanism interposed between the first and second flywheels.The rotation is transmitted between both flywheels via damper mechanism, torque limiting mechanism and hysteresis mechanism. Resilient members are secured to spring seats, which are engaged with both ends of a spring of the damper mechanism, at an inner-half portion of the spring seat closer to the axis of said flywheels than an axial line of the spring. Excess compression of the resilient members is prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1990
    Date of Patent: November 19, 1991
    Assignees: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha Kariya, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Toyoto
    Inventors: Junji Kagiyama, Kiyonori Kobayashi, Mototaka Nakane, Masakazu Kamiya, Mitsuhiro Umeyama, Masaki Inui, Kaoru Wakahara, Masaki Hosono
  • Patent number: 5052244
    Abstract: A torque variation absorbing device includes a drive plate connected to a drive shaft, a first fly-wheel and a second-fly wheel integrally connected, and a damping mechanism arranged between the first fly-wheel and the second fly-wheel. The damping mechanism includes a coil spring with a first spring seat fitted into one side of the coil spring and a second spring seat fitted into the other side of the coil spring. A driven disk contacts the first spring seat and is rotatable with the fly-wheels. A first elastic member is provided on the driven disk for interacting with the first spring seat and a second elastic member is provided on the drive plate for interacting with the second spring seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1991
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masakazu Kamiya, Kiyonori Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 4932921
    Abstract: The torque variation absorbing device comprises a driving plate, a flywheel, and a spring mechanism, a damping and torque limiting mechanism and a hysteresis mechanism, installed between the driving plate and the flywheel. The damping and torque limiting mechanism is located radially inwardly of the spring mechanism. The damping and torque limiting mechanism includes a driven disk and a cone spring housing the flywheel. The driven disk is set to cross a center of an end face of the spring mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 12, 1990
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kiyonori Kobayashi, Masakazu Kamiya, Junji Kagiyama
  • Patent number: 4908003
    Abstract: A torque variation absorbing device includes a flywheel, a spring mechanism, a torque limiting mechanism and a hysteresis mechanism. The flywheel is divided into two parts to form an inertia body. One side of the inertia body is a drive side flywheel and the other is a driven side flywheel. The hysteresis mechanism includes a friction plate, a thrust plate and a cone spring. The thrust plate has a partially bent portion and the bent portion is received in a bolt hole of an inner body of the driven side flywheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 13, 1990
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kiyonori Kobayashi, Masakazu Kamiya, Junji Kagiyama
  • Patent number: 4899617
    Abstract: A rotary drive transmitting mechanism comprises a drive plate, a driven plate operably connected to a flywheel, and coil damping springs operably interposed between the drive and driven plates. Each end of the coil spring carries a seat which engages the drive plate or driven plate. Each seat has a surface which impacts against the respective plate. The surface includes concave and convex portions which mate with respective convex and concave portions of the drive plate or driven plate. The concave and convex portions include elastic layers for suppressing noise. Elastic layers are also provided on other surfaces of the seats which face each other through the spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 13, 1990
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kiyonori Kobayashi, Masakazu Kamiya, Junji Kagiyama
  • Patent number: 4887485
    Abstract: The torque variation absorbing device comprises a first flywheel, a second flywheel, a spring mechanism, a damping and torque limiting mechanism and a hysteresis mechanism. The hysteresis mechanism comprises a friction plate and a cone spring interposed between the first and second flywheels. The friction plate comprises a friction lining and a ring plate fastened to the friction lining. The ring plate has a connecting element to be connected with the first or second flywheel. A space is formed between the friction lining and the connecting element, and therefore, when the friction lining material is fastened, such as by hot-pressing or adhesive, to the ring plate, the space prevents friction lining material from flowing out before hardening and adhesive agent from spreading. In this arrangement of the device, when the friction force of the friction plate has worn the hysteresis mechanism is able to obtain a stable hysteresis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 19, 1989
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kiyonori Kobayashi, Masakazu Kamiya, Junji Kagiyama, Motoi Hyodo
  • Patent number: 4876917
    Abstract: The torque variation absorbing device comprises a driving plate, a flywheel, and a spring mechanism, a torque limiting mechanism and a hysteresis mechanism installed between the driving plate and the flywheel. The torque limiting mechanism is located radially inside of the spring mechanism and radially inside of an oil drain hole bored in the flywheel. The side plate at one side of the driving plate is bent toward the flywheel and covers a gap between the driving plate and the flywheel. The side plate at the other side of the driving plate is made of a steel plate and the load supporting points on both sides of the side plate are spaced from each other in the radial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 31, 1989
    Assignees: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shigetaka Aiki, Kiyonori Kobayashi, Satoshi Kato
  • Patent number: 4857032
    Abstract: A torque variation absorbing device comprises a driving member, a driven member and a damping mechanism and a torque limiting mechanism interposed between the driving member and the driven member. The damping mechanism comprises a coil spring extending in the circumferential direction of the device and seat members provided at both ends of the coil spring. A center of each end of the coil spring is positioned nearer to a center of mutual rotation between the driving member and the driven member than a center of inclining of the seat member. A ratio of driving side moment of inertia to the driven side moment of inertia is set between 0.7 and 1.4. Further, a gap is provided in the circumferential direction between the seat member of the damping mechanism and at least one of the driving member and the driven member to which the seat member is opposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 15, 1989
    Assignees: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shigetaka Aiki, Kiyonori Kobayashi, Satoshi Kato
  • Patent number: 4850932
    Abstract: A torque variation absorbing device for e.g. an automobile engine includes a hysteretic mechanism, a damper mechanism and a torque limiting mechanism which are disposed between two separate, concentric and rotatable inertial bodies. The damper mechanism comprises a plurality of elastic bodies disposed in series between the inertial bodies. A plurality of friction members and a plurality of floating disks are provided between the inertial bodies so that the floating disks may create a very small magnitude of hysteresis through the friction members and act upon at least one of the elastic bodies upon contraction of the latter to absorb any fine variation in torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1987
    Date of Patent: July 25, 1989
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Junji Kagiyama, Kiyonori Kobayashi, Masakazu Kamiya
  • Patent number: 4748868
    Abstract: The apparatus relates to a device for absorbing torque and includes a first flywheel connected to the output shaft of an engine. A second flywheel, concentric with the first flywheel, is supported by a bearing on the first flywheel. A spring mechanism, a hysteretic mechanism and a slip mechanism are provided between the first and second flywheels. A centrifugal clutch is provided between the first and second flywheels for engaging the first flywheel with the second flywheel when the rotating speed of the engine has increased to a predetermined level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1986
    Date of Patent: June 7, 1988
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kiyonori Kobayashi, Masakazu Kamiya, Junji Kagiyama
  • Patent number: 4727767
    Abstract: The torque variation absorbing device comprises a driving plate, a flywheel, and a spring mechanism, a torque limiting mechanism and a hysteresis mechanism installed between the driving plate and the flywheel. The torque limiting mechanism is located radially inside of the spring mechanism and radially inside of an oil drain hole bored in the flywheel. The side plate at one side of the driving plate is bent toward the flywheel and covers a gap between the driving plate and the flywheel. The side plate at the other side of the driving plate is made of a steel plate and the load supporting points on both sides of the side plate are spaced from each other in the radial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 1, 1988
    Assignees: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shigetaka Aiki, Kiyonori Kobayashi, Satoshi Kato
  • Patent number: 4663983
    Abstract: The torque variation absorbing device comprises a driving plate, a flywheel, and a spring mechanism, a damping and torque limiting mechanism and a hysteresis mechanism installed between the driving plate and the flywheel. The flywheel is divided into a flywheel body and a driven plate which are connected together by a bolt screwed into a bolt hole in the flywheel body and the driven plate. The bolt hole provided in the driven plate extends through the driven plate up to a sliding friction plane between the hysteresis mechanism and the driven plate. The dust generated by the friction of the hysteresis mechanism can be collected into the bolt hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1985
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1987
    Assignees: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kiyonori Kobayashi, Masakazu Kamiya, Satoshi Kato
  • Patent number: 4618048
    Abstract: A clutch assembly has first and second friction generating means for resisting movement of the clutch plate relative to a sub-plate, and movement of the sub-plate relative to the hub. Disposed between the hub flange and the friction lining carrier plates, the first and second friction generating means include a pair of control plates linked to form a control member, friction means, and axial force exerting means disposed so that the friction means are pressed against either the hub flange, a carrier plate, or a control plate, to generate frictional resistance force. The control member is made sufficiently rigid and is so arranged relative to the hub flange, friction means, force exerting means, and carrier plates, so that the force exerted by the axial force exerting means of the first friction generating means will not interfere with the force exerted by the axial force exerting means of the second friction generating means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1983
    Date of Patent: October 21, 1986
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kiyonori Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 4114740
    Abstract: A friction clutch having a flywheel, a pressure plate, an entrainer disc disposed in the space between the flywheel and the pressure plate and splined on an input shaft of a transmission, and a clutch plate spring for engaging the pressure plate, adapted for transmitting torque from the flywheel by resiliently clamping the entrainer disc, and characterized by provision for a resilient, vibration-dampening member which serves to normally urge the pressure plate to be displaced from the flywheel by the stored elastic energy of the resilient member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1977
    Date of Patent: September 19, 1978
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Teruo Sugiura, Hiromitsu Tsubouchi, Nobuyasu Ishida, Kiyonori Kobayashi