Patents by Inventor Kiyoshige Yamauchi

Kiyoshige Yamauchi 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: 20090317177
    Abstract: The present invention provides a constant velocity universal joint having a recess-projection engagement configuration in which backlash at a shaft connecting region does not easily occur, and an inner joint component and a shaft can be firmly connected. In the constant velocity universal joint of the present invention, the inner joint component and the shaft 5 fitted into an axis hole 22 of the inner joint component are connected by the recess-projection engagement configuration. Engagement contacting regions 38 of projections 35 and recesses 36 corresponding thereto are in close contact over the whole region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2008
    Publication date: December 24, 2009
    Inventors: Tohru Nakagawa, Yuichi Asano, Hiroshi Kawamura, Kiyoshige Yamauchi, Masahiro Ozawa, Kisao Yamazaki, Taku Itagaki
  • Publication number: 20090239669
    Abstract: A joint assembly has a secured type constant velocity universal joint, a slide type constant velocity universal joint, and substantially cylindrical elastomer unit covers. The secured type constant velocity universal joint includes one outer joint member formed with a plurality of curved and axially extending first track grooves on its inner circumference. A joint inner ring is formed on its outer circumference with second track grooves opposite to the first track grooves. Torque transmitting balls are contained within ball tracks formed by the first and second track grooves. A cage rollably holds the torque transmitting balls within the ball tracks. A drive shaft has one end connected to the joint inner ring. A boot is mounted on the drive shaft and on an outer circumference at an opened side of the one outer joint member. The slide type constant velocity universal joint includes a boot mounted on the drive shaft and on an outer circumference at an opened side of the outer joint member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2009
    Publication date: September 24, 2009
    Applicant: NTN Corporation
    Inventor: Kiyoshige Yamauchi
  • Publication number: 20090136168
    Abstract: A wheel bearing apparatus for a driving wheel is formed as a unit of a wheel hub, a double row rolling bearing and a constant velocity universal joint. The double row rolling bearing has an outer member with a body mounting flange mounted on a knuckle and double row outer raceway surfaces. An inner member includes the wheel hub and an outer joint member of the constant velocity universal joint. The wheel hub has an inner raceway surface corresponding to one of the double row outer raceway surfaces. The outer joint member has another inner raceway surface corresponding to the other of the double row outer raceway surfaces. Double row rolling elements are rollably arranged between the outer and inner raceway surfaces. Seals are mounted in an annular space opening formed between the outer member and the inner member. A sensor is fit into a mounting aperture formed in the knuckle. A pulser ring is mounted on the outer circumferential surface of the outer joint member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2009
    Publication date: May 28, 2009
    Applicant: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kawamura, Shigeaki Fukushima, Kiyoshige Yamauchi, Masahiro Ozawa, Mitsuru Umekida
  • Publication number: 20090069100
    Abstract: A joint assembly has a pair of constant velocity universal joints and a connecting drive shaft. A cover unit protects the constant velocity universal joints and prevents hanging down of the joints under their own weight. The unit cover is arranged to cover the outer circumferential surfaces of the pair of constant velocity universal joints and boots. The unit cover is formed from elastomer material by injection molding. The cover unit inner circumferential surface has a configuration corresponding to the outline configurations of the pair of constant velocity universal joints and the boots.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2008
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Applicant: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Mitsuru Umekida, Shigeaki Fukushima, Kiyoshige Yamauchi, Masahiro Ozawa, Hiroshi Kawamura
  • Publication number: 20090046975
    Abstract: An axle module with a bearing apparatus has an outer joint member 14 axially secured relative to a wheel hub 1 by a caulked portion 13. The caulked portion 12 is formed by plastically deforming the end portion of a shaft portion 20 of the outer joint member 14 onto the end face 12 of the wheel hub 1. A pitch circle diameter PCDi of the inner side ball group is larger than a pitch circle diameter PCDo of the outer side ball group. The size of all the balls 6a, 6b is the same. The number of balls 6b of the inner side ball group is set larger than the number of balls 6a of the outer side ball group.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2008
    Publication date: February 19, 2009
    Applicant: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kawamura, Shigeaki Fukushima, Kiyoshige Yamauchi, Masahiro Ozawa, Mitsuru Umekida
  • Publication number: 20070204461
    Abstract: Provided is a method of manufacturing a bearing device for a wheel provided with: a hub wheel (2) having a flange (1) extending radially outward; a constant-speed universal joint (4) having an outer joint member (3) fixed to the hub wheel (2) ; an external member (5) disposed on outer periphery sides of the hub wheel (2) and the outer joint member (3); and rolling bodies (6) interposed between the external member (5) and the hub wheel (2) and between the external member (5) and the outer joint member (3), respectively. The method includes: assembling the hub wheel (2), the constant-speed universal joint (4), the external member (5), and the rolling bodies (6) to produce a subassembly body (S); and machining a mounting surface (21) of the flange (1) of the hub wheel (2) to which a brake rotor is attached, while the hub wheel (2) and the outer joint member (3) are rotated about an axis (O) of the subassembly body (S) with the external member (5) of the subassembly body (S) being fixed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2007
    Publication date: September 6, 2007
    Inventors: Taku Nishiki, Kiyoshige Yamauchi, Mitsuru Umekida
  • Patent number: 7220183
    Abstract: A bearing apparatus for a driving wheel of a vehicle has a wheel hub (1), a constant velocity universal joint (3) and a double row rolling bearing (2) assembled as a unit. The wheel hub (1) and the outer joint member (14) of the constant velocity universal joint (3) are fitted to each other. At least one of the inner raceway surface (1a) of the double row rolling bearing (2) is formed on the wheel hub. A hardened irregular portion (5) is formed on the inner circumferential surface of the wheel hub (1). The wheel hub 1 and the outer joint member (14) are integrally connected via plastic deformation of a fitting portion (17b) of the outer joint member. The hardened irregular portion (5) bites into the surface of the fitting (17b). A connected portion of the wheel hub and outer joint member has a plastic deformed connection mechanism having an axial pull-out proof force more than 160 kN.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2007
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Shigeaki Fukushima, Noriaki Ida, Kiyoshige Yamauchi, Masahiro Ozawa
  • Publication number: 20040121847
    Abstract: A bearing apparatus for a driving wheel of a vehicle has a wheel hub (1), a constant velocity universal joint (3) and a double row rolling bearing (2) assembled as a unit. The wheel hub (1) and the outer joint member (14) of the constant velocity universal joint (3) are fitted to each other. At least one of the inner raceway surface (1a) of the double row rolling bearing (2) is formed on the wheel hub. A hardened irregular portion (5) is formed on the inner circumferential surface of the wheel hub (1). The wheel hub 1 and the outer joint member (14) are integrally connected via plastic deformation of a fitting portion (17b) of the outer joint member. The hardened irregular portion (5) bites into the surface of the fitting (17b). A connected portion of the wheel hub and outer joint member has a plastic deformed connection mechanism having an axial pull-out proof force more than 160 kN.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2003
    Publication date: June 24, 2004
    Inventors: Shigeaki Fukushima, Noriaki Ida, Kiyoshige Yamauchi, Masahiro Ozawa
  • Patent number: 6464034
    Abstract: An electrically powered steering device comprises a ball screw mechanism for transmitting a steering force from a steering wheel to steerable vehicle wheels. The ball screw mechanism includes a rotary nut 11 having a nut body 11a in which a circulating passage 15 is formed so as to extend axially thereof, and end caps 14a and 14b secured respectively to opposite ends of the nut body 11a. Each of the end caps 14a and 14b has defined therein respective guideways 17a and 17b for balls 13 that communicate opposite ends of the circulating tunnel 14 with a ball rolling passage 12. The end caps 14a and 14b and the nut body 11a are made of a sintered alloy. The nut body 11a has an outer periphery of one end thereof that is axially progressively reduced in diameter to define a tapered surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2002
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Masaaki Toda, Koji Tateishi, Isamu Yoshida, Kiyoshige Yamauchi, Morihisa Yoshioka