Patents by Inventor Kiyoshi Okubo

Kiyoshi Okubo 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).

  • Publication number: 20240130241
    Abstract: The magnetostrictive member is formed of a single crystal of an iron-based alloy having magnetostrictive characteristics, is a plate-like body having a long-side direction and a short-side direction, and has a lattice constant of a <100> orientation in the short-side direction larger than a lattice constant of a <100> orientation in the long-side direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2022
    Publication date: April 18, 2024
    Applicant: SUMITOMO METAL MINING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Okubo, Kazutaka Osako, Kiyoshi Izumi
  • Publication number: 20240099146
    Abstract: The magnetostrictive member is formed of a single crystal of an iron-based alloy having magnetostrictive characteristics, is a plate-like body having a long-side direction and a short-side direction, and has a lattice constant of a <100> orientation in the long-side direction not larger than a lattice constant average calculated from lattice constants of <100> orientations in three directions, or the long-side direction, the short-side direction, and a direction orthogonal to the long-side direction and the short-side direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2022
    Publication date: March 21, 2024
    Applicant: SUMITOMO METAL MINING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Okubo, Kazutaka Osako, Kiyoshi Izumi
  • Patent number: 7104893
    Abstract: A wheel-driving unit and a method for manufacturing the same. The circumferential-direction widths of teeth respectively constituting a male spline portion (47a) and a female spline portion (48a) are varied gradually in the respective axial directions of the male and female spline portions (47a), (48a). The directions where the widths of the teeth respectively constituting the male and female spline portions (47a), (48a) increase in the axial direction are set so as to differ from each other, whereby the spline teeth are engaged with each other in a wedge-like manner. A retaining ring (33b) is bridgingly interposed between the outer peripheral surface of the outer end portion of the spline shaft (17) and the inner peripheral surface of the near-to-outer-end portion of the spline hole (14) to thereby prevent the spline shaft (17) from slipping out of the spline hole (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideo Ouchi, Takeo Ohkuma, Kiyoshi Okubo
  • Patent number: 7069764
    Abstract: A hollow rack shaft is manufactured through a first step, a second step and a third step. At the first step, the plate-like workpiece of substantial rectangular shape is press formed into a gutter-like shape. The first die set used at this step is provided with slant die surfaces for canceling elastic recovering generated at the workpiece when the workpiece is removed from the first die set. At the second step, a row of rack teeth is press-formed on the flat bottom portion of the workpiece formed in the first step. The die set used at the second step is provided with a recess for releasing surplus workpiece material within the die clearance at a stroke end of the pressworking. At the third step, each of a pair of legs of the workpiece is bent in a semi-circular shape so as to be butted to each other. At this time, a mandrel is inserted between the legs of the workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Tsubouchi, Kiyoshi Okubo, Yasushi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 6959676
    Abstract: A sheet metal rocker arm manufactured by the steps of punching one metal plate to form a blank having a predetermined contour and through holes, and subjecting this blank to a bending work based on a press work to form a pair of side walls parallel to each other and a connecting portion for connecting the both ends of the side walls in the width direction thereof. This rocker arm is also provided with at least a pair of though holes formed at positions which are aligned with each other on the both side walls and at least one engagement portion provided in a part of the connecting portion. The thickness of at least one engagement portion, is formed to be greater than the thickness of the both side walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2005
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Okubo, Shoichi Abe, Satoshi Kadokawa, Hiroshi Iwasa
  • Publication number: 20050159227
    Abstract: It is an object of the invention to provide a wheel-driving unit which is small in size and weight, can facilitate its assembling operation, and can prevent generation of jarring teeth striking sounds, and a method for manufacturing the same. The circumferential-direction widths of teeth respectively constituting a male spline portion (47a) formed in the outer peripheral surface of a spline shaft (17) and a female spline portion (48a) formed in the inner peripheral surface of a spline hole (14) are varied gradually in the respective axial directions of the male and female spline portions (47a), (48a). The directions where the widths of the teeth respectively constituting the male and female spline portions (47a), (48a) increase in the axial direction are set so as to differ from each other, whereby the spline teeth respectively constituting the male and female spline portions (47a), (48a) are engaged with each other in a wedge-like manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2005
    Publication date: July 21, 2005
    Inventors: Hideo Ouchi, Takeo Ohkuma, Kiyoshi Okubo
  • Patent number: 6898853
    Abstract: A hollow rack shaft is manufactured through a first step, a second step and a third step. At the first step, the plate-like workpiece of substantial rectangular shape is press-formed into a gutter-like shape. At the second step, a row of rack teeth is press-formed by a preliminary forming step and a main forming step on the flat bottom portion of the workpiece formed in the first step. The die set used at the second step is provided with a recess for releasing surplus workpiece material within the die clearance at a stroke end of the pressworking and each die set is divided into a plurality of segments at the recess. At the third step, each of a pair of legs of the workpiece is bent in a semi-circular shape so as to be butted to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2005
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Tsubouchi, Kiyoshi Okubo, Yasushi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 6845560
    Abstract: Methods are provided for forming a hollow rack shaft from a workpiece comprising a rectangular plate. The workpiece is first bent into a gutter-like shape using a first die set. Rack teeth are then press-formed in a portion of the gutter-like shape using a second die set. The legs, or sides, of the workpiece are then bent around a mandrel into a semi-circular shape so as to butt against each other. Preferably, the die sets and mandrel may be adapted to improve the resulting hollow rack shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2005
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Tsubouchi, Kiyoshi Okubo, Yasushi Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20040216711
    Abstract: A sheet metal rocker arm manufactured by the steps of punching one metal plate to form a blank having a predetermined contour and through holes, and subjecting this blank to a bending work based on a press work to form a pair of side walls parallel to each other and a connecting portion for connecting the both ends of the side walls in the width direction thereof. This rocker arm is also provided with at least a pair of though holes formed at positions which are aligned with each other on the both side walls and at least one engagement portion provided in a part of the connecting portion. The thickness of at least one engagement portion, is formed to be greater than the thickness of the both side walls.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2003
    Publication date: November 4, 2004
    Applicant: NSK Ltd.
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Okubo, Shoichi Abe, Satoshi Kadokawa, Hiroshi Iwasa
  • Publication number: 20040170401
    Abstract: A hollow rack shaft is manufactured through a first step, a second step and a third step. At the first step, the plate-like workpiece of substantial rectangular shape is press formed into a gutter-like shape. The first die set used at this step is provided with slant die surfaces for canceling elastic recovering generated at the workpiece when the workpiece is removed from the first die set. At the second step, a row of rack teeth is press-formed on the flat bottom portion of the workpiece formed in the first step. The die set used at the second step is provided with a recess for releasing surplus workpiece material within the die clearance at a stroke end of the pressworking. At the third step, each of a pair of legs of the workpiece is bent in a semi-circular shape so as to be butted to each other. At this time, a mandrel is inserted between the legs of the workpiece.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2004
    Publication date: September 2, 2004
    Applicant: NSK LTD.
    Inventors: Akira Tsubouchi, Kiyoshi Okubo, Yasushi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 6782598
    Abstract: A workpiece for a hollow rack shaft is a substantially rectangular plate. The opposite two sides of this workpiece are respectively provided with a complementary profile composed of the continuation of a convex portion and a concave portion and when the workpiece is cylindrically formed, the profiles are mutually engaged. As the width of a part the width of which is the largest in the convex portion is larger than that of a part the width of which is the smallest in the concave portion, the two sides are prevented from being detached after engagement. Further, the opposite convex portion and concave portion are mutually caulked and hereby, mutual gap is removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Tsubouchi, Kiyoshi Okubo, Yasushi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 6782772
    Abstract: The object of the invention is to provide a rack shaft having two rack teeth groups and hollowed throughout the whole body, to lightweightize the shaft and to reduce the cost. The two rack teeth groups are located longitudinally apart from each other and have phase difference related to an angle around the axis of the shaft. After the two rack teeth groups are formed simultaneously or sequentially by die forming on the flat bottoms of the workpiece beforehand gutter-shaped, the legs of the gutter-shaped workpiece are bent to butt to each other and, thereby, a tubular body of the shaft is given to the workpiece. The centers of the material are offset beforehand corresponding to the phase difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Tsubouchi, Kiyoshi Okubo, Yasushi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 6779271
    Abstract: A hollow rack shaft is manufactured through a first step, a second step and a third step. At the first step, the plate-like workpiece of substantial rectangular shape is press formed into a gutter-like shape. The first die set used at this step is provided with slant die surfaces for canceling elastic recovering generated at the workpiece when the workpiece is removed from the first die set. At the second step, a row of rack teeth is press-formed on the flat bottom portion of the workpiece formed in the first step. The die set used at the second step is provided with a recess for releasing surplus workpiece material within the die clearance at a stroke end of the pressworking. At the third step, each of a pair of legs of the workpiece is bent in a semi-circular shape so as to be butted to each other. At this time, a mandrel is inserted between the legs of the workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2004
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Tsubouchi, Kiyoshi Okubo, Yasushi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 6763739
    Abstract: The object of the invention is to provide a rack shaft having two rack teeth groups and hollowed throughout the whole body, to lightweightize the shaft and to reduce the cost. The two rack teeth groups are located longitudinally apart from each other and have phase difference related to an angle around the axis of the shaft. After the two rack teeth groups are formed simultaneously or sequentially by die forming on the flat bottoms of the workpiece beforehand gutter-shaped, the legs of the gutter-shaped workpiece are bent to butt to each other and, thereby, a tubular body of the shaft is given to the workpiece. The centers of the material are offset beforehand corresponding to the phase difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Tsubouchi, Kiyoshi Okubo, Yasushi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 6672266
    Abstract: A sheet metal rocker arm manufactured by the steps of punching one metal plate to form a blank having a predetermined contour and through holes, and subjecting this blank to a bending work based on a press work to form a pair of side walls parallel to each other and a connecting portion for connecting the both ends of the side walls in the width direction thereof. This rocker arm is also provided with at least a pair of though holes formed at positions which are aligned with each other on the both side walls and at least one engagement portion provided in a part of the connecting portion. The thickness of at least one engagement portion, is formed to be greater than the thickness of the both side walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Okubo, Shoichi Abe, Satoshi Kadokawa, Hiroshi Iwasa
  • Publication number: 20030213321
    Abstract: The object of the invention is to provide a rack shaft having two rack teeth groups and hollowed throughout the whole body, to lightweightize the shaft and to reduce the cost. The two rack teeth groups are located longitudinally apart from each other and have phase difference related to an angle around the axis of the shaft. After the two rack teeth groups are formed simultaneously or sequentially by die forming on the flat bottoms of the workpiece beforehand gutter-shaped, the legs of the gutter-shaped workpiece are bent to butt to each other and, thereby, a tubular body of the shaft is given to the workpiece. The centers of the material are offset beforehand corresponding to the phase difference.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2003
    Publication date: November 20, 2003
    Applicant: NSK Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Tsubouchi, Kiyoshi Okubo, Yasushi Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20030209100
    Abstract: A workpiece for a hollow rack shaft is a substantially rectangular plate. The opposite two sides of this workpiece are respectively provided with a complementary profile composed of the continuation of a convex portion and a concave portion and when the workpiece is cylindrically formed, the profiles are mutually engaged. As the width of a part the width of which is the largest in the convex portion is larger than that of a part the width of which is the smallest in the concave portion, the two sides are prevented from being detached after engagement. Further, the opposite convex portion and concave portion are mutually caulked and hereby, mutual gap is removed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2003
    Publication date: November 13, 2003
    Applicant: NSK Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Tsubouchi, Kiyoshi Okubo, Yasushi Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20030196469
    Abstract: A hollow rack shaft is manufactured through a first step, a second step and a third step. At the first step, the plate-like workpiece of substantial rectangular shape is press formed into a gutter-like shape. The first die set used at this step is provided with slant die surfaces for canceling elastic recovering generated at the workpiece when the workpiece is removed from the first die set. At the second step, a row of rack teeth is press-formed on the flat bottom portion of the workpiece formed in the first step. The die set used at the second step is provided with a recess for releasing surplus workpiece material within the die clearance at a stroke end of the pressworking. At the third step, each of a pair of legs of the workpiece is bent in a semi-circular shape so as to be butted to each other. At this time, a mandrel is inserted between the legs of the workpiece.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2002
    Publication date: October 23, 2003
    Applicant: NSK LTD.
    Inventors: Akira Tsubouchi, Kiyoshi Okubo, Yasushi Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20030146591
    Abstract: It is an object of the invention to provide a wheel-driving unit which is small in size and weight, can facilitate its assembling operation, and can prevent generation of jarring teeth striking sounds, and a method for manufacturing the same.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2002
    Publication date: August 7, 2003
    Inventors: Hideo Ouchi, Takeo Ohkuma, Kiyoshi Okubo
  • Patent number: RE39647
    Abstract: The disk has a traction surface having a concave-arc-shaped cross section which is interposed between a small diameter end portion and a large diameter end portion. In the central portion of the end face of the disk on the small diameter end portion side, there is formed a through hole which extends through the disk up to the large diameter end portion side end face of the disk, while the inner peripheral surface of the through hole is used as an inside diameter surface of the disk. Here, when, among metal flows existing in the disk, a metal flow, which has such a positional relationship with respect to the surface of the disk that an angle ? formed between a metal flow on the traction surface side and the tangent of the traction surface is smaller than or equal to 30 degrees, is defined as a “metal flow along the disk surface”, the disk is structured such that the “metal flow along the disk surface” exists at least in the traction surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2007
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Okubo, Akira Tsubouchi, Takashi Imanishi, Nobuo Gotou