Patents by Inventor Kotofumi Yanai

Kotofumi Yanai 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: 20200318720
    Abstract: Provided are an actuator for a link mechanism for an internal combustion engine and a wave gear speed reducer, which improve both input efficiency and driving efficiency. According to the invention, the wave gear speed reducer is configured so that a flexible external gear is bent into an elliptical shape using a wave generating device rotated by an input shaft to partially engage external teeth of the flexible external gear with internal teeth of an internal gear portion, and further configured so that an engaging part between the flexible external gear and the internal gear portion is rotated. The external teeth are larger in curvature than the internal teeth in a contact portion between the internal and external teeth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2017
    Publication date: October 8, 2020
    Applicant: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Ken Bryan IKEGUCHI, Kotofumi YANAI
  • Patent number: 10508594
    Abstract: Provided is an actuator for a link mechanism for an internal combustion engine, which can be prevented from being increased in size in an axial direction. The actuator for a link mechanism for an internal combustion engine of the present invention includes: a wave gear type speed reducer configured to reduce a rotation speed of an electric motor, and to transmit the rotation speed to the control shaft; and a housing to which the electric motor and the wave gear type speed reducer are fixed, the wave gear type speed reducer including: an inner gear, which is fixed to the housing, has inner teeth meshed with the flexible outer gear, and is made of an iron-based metal material, the actuator including a stopper mechanism, which is provided to each of the inner gear and the control shaft, and is configured to restrict relative rotation of a predetermined amount or more when the inner gear and the control shaft are held in abutment against each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Kotofumi Yanai, Kishiro Nagai, Junichiro Onigata
  • Patent number: 10480402
    Abstract: Provided is an actuator of a link mechanism for an internal combustion engine, in which a speed reducer is sufficiently lubricated. The actuator includes an oil passage formed in a control shaft for changing the posture of a control link and configured to feed lubricant oil to the speed reducer; and an open portion which opens to face the speed reducer in one end side located on the speed reducer side, and which is in communication with the oil passage in the other end side. An inner diameter of the one end side of the open portion is larger than an outer diameter of one end side of the oil passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Suda, Kotofumi Yanai, Kishiro Nagai
  • Publication number: 20190063310
    Abstract: Provided is an actuator for a link mechanism for an internal combustion engine, which can be prevented from being increased in size in an axial direction. The actuator for a link mechanism for an internal combustion engine of the present invention includes: a wave gear type speed reducer configured to reduce a rotation speed of an electric motor, and to transmit the rotation speed to the control shaft; and a housing to which the electric motor and the wave gear type speed reducer are fixed, the wave gear type speed reducer including: an inner gear, which is fixed to the housing, has inner teeth meshed with the flexible outer gear, and is made of an iron-based metal material, the actuator including a stopper mechanism, which is provided to each of the inner gear and the control shaft, and is configured to restrict relative rotation of a predetermined amount or more when the inner gear and the control shaft are held in abutment against each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2017
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Applicant: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Kotofumi YANAI, Kishiro NAGAI, Junichiro ONIGATA
  • Publication number: 20180223730
    Abstract: Provided is an actuator of a link mechanism for an internal combustion engine, in which a speed reducer is sufficiently lubricated. The actuator includes an oil passage formed in a control shaft for changing the posture of a control link and configured to feed lubricant oil to the speed reducer; and an open portion which opens to face the speed reducer in one end side located on the speed reducer side, and which is in communication with the oil passage in the other end side. An inner diameter of the one end side of the open portion is larger than an outer diameter of one end side of the oil passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2016
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Applicant: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshihiro SUDA, Kotofumi YANAI, Kishiro NAGAI
  • Patent number: 8829751
    Abstract: An electric motor includes a motor casing formed with a shaft insertion hole and a motor output shaft extending in the shaft insertion hole and projecting to a speed reducing mechanism. An annular oil seal is disposed between the shaft insertion hole and the motor output shaft and the annular oil seal includes an annular seal retainer buried in the annular oil seal for reinforcement. A C-shaped stopper member extending circumferentially from a first end to a second end spaced from the first end, is held in a holding portion or a fitting groove of the shaft insertion hole, and arranged to prevent movement of the oil seal toward the speed reducing mechanism. The stopper member includes a plurality of beam segments confronting the seal retainer from an axial direction of the motor output shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Mikihiro Kajiura, Shinichi Kawada, Kotofumi Yanai, Hiroyuki Nemoto
  • Publication number: 20120112585
    Abstract: An electric motor includes a motor casing formed with a shaft insertion hole and a motor output shaft extending in the shaft insertion hole and projecting to a speed reducing mechanism. An annular oil seal is disposed between the shaft insertion hole and the motor output shaft and the annular oil seal includes an annular seal retainer buried in the annular oil seal for reinforcement. A C-shaped stopper member extending circumferentially from a first end to a second end spaced from the first end, is held in a holding portion or a fitting groove of the shaft insertion hole, and arranged to prevent movement of the oil seal toward the speed reducing mechanism. The stopper member includes a plurality of beam segments confronting the seal retainer from an axial direction of the motor output shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2011
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Applicant: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Mikihiro KAJIURA, Shinichi Kawada, Kotofumi Yanai, Hiroyuki Nemoto