Patents by Inventor Kunitoshi Inoue

Kunitoshi Inoue 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: 6164662
    Abstract: An engine gasket flattens the surface pressure occurring around holes, prevents the occurrence of impressions in and damage to a cylinder block and a cylinder head, and secures a stable sealing performance. This metal gasket has elastic metal plates and an intermediate metal plate interposed between these elastic metal plates. The elastic metal plates are provided with full beads along the circumferences of the holes so that the ridge portions of the full beads contact the intermediate metal plate. The intermediate plate has, on regions which are between the holes and full beads of the elastic metal plates, half beads extending toward the elastic metal plates. The elastic metal plates are folded back along the circumferences of the holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2000
    Assignee: Nippon Gasket Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Uemura, Tomoyoshi Ogaeri, Kenji Ishida, Kunitoshi Inoue
  • Patent number: 6135459
    Abstract: In this metal gasket, the stopper plate stacked on the bead base plates has its reduced thickness portionwhose thickness is smaller than the thickness of the stopper plate body-folded back to form a stopper portion. This structure provides the stopper portion with a limited stopper function with fewer parts. Between a pair of bead base plates that seal around the bore holes of the metal gasket is clamped an intermediate plate as the stopper plate. Around the bore holes in the intermediate plate are arranged folded portions, whose total thickness is larger than the thickness of the stopper plate body, to restrict the deformation of the beads. The folded portions are formed by folding back fold parts onto base parts that are thinner than the stopper plate body. This structure can limit the step height (stopper height) of the intermediate plate without using other parts such as metal plates or stopper pieces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2000
    Assignee: Nippon Gasket Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Hiramatsu, Kenji Ishida, Kunitoshi Inoue
  • Patent number: 5626350
    Abstract: A metal gasket comprising an elastic metal plate including beads formed around cylinder bore holes of a multiple-cylinder engine, wherein each bead comprises an independent bead formed around each hole, a common bead between an adjacent pair of holes and junction beads connecting the independent bead and the common bead. The metal gasket controls a spring constant at the junction beads to a suitable value by specifying the shape of the junction beads, reduces a peak value of a face-to-face pressure at the junction beads, reduces also drop of the face-to-face pressure occurring in the junction beads and at their boundary, and makes uniform the face-to-face pressure in the vicinity of the junction beads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 6, 1997
    Assignee: Nippon Gasket Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Kubouchi, Kunitoshi Inoue
  • Patent number: 5626348
    Abstract: The metal gasket according to the present invention is formed by bead base plates comprising elastic metal plates having beads and auxiliary beads along the circumferences of holes, and an intermediate plate interposed between these bead base plates. The stoppers and stepped portions formed on the intermediate plate prevent the total compression of the beads on the bead base plates when the metal gasket is tightened, and enable the irregularity of the opposed surfaces of a cylinder head and a cylinder block to be offset. The auxiliary beads provided on the bead base plates display the sealing performance with respect to the beads and minimize the dead spaces around the holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 6, 1997
    Assignee: Nippon Gasket Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazukuni Takada, Kenji Kubouchi, Kunitoshi Inoue, Tadayoshi Akutsu, Masahiko Miura
  • Patent number: 5609345
    Abstract: This metal gasket comprises a pair of bead plates on which beads are formed so as to extend along the circumferences of combustion chamber holes, and an intermediate plate interposed between the bead plates. The intermediate plate is provided on the parts thereof which are closer to the combustion chamber holes than to the beads on the bead plates with stopper portions comprising stepped portions. These stopper portions constitute compensation portions for the beads on the bead plates. The compensation portions prevent a total compression of the beads on the bead plates when the metal gasket is tightened, offset the irregularity of opposed surfaces of a cylinder head and a cylinder block, improve the sealability with respect to the beads, and protect the beads against corrosion and compression.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 11, 1997
    Assignee: Nippon Gasket Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiko Miura, Tadayoshi Akutsu, Kazukuni Takada, Kunitoshi Inoue, Kenji Kubouchi, Yoshikazu Shinpo, Kazuya Nakata
  • Patent number: 5586776
    Abstract: A metal gasket for a cylinder head includes a superposed assembly of an elastic metal base plate having a plurality of beads formed along a plurality of juxtaposed holes for combustion chambers, an elastic metal adjusting plate having a plurality of beads formed along a plurality of juxtaposed holes for combustion chambers, and a grommet having a plurality of juxtaposed holes for combustion chambers which are smaller in diameter than the holes in the base and adjusting plates. The grommet is folded about the edges of the holes in the adjusting plate lying between the base plate and the grommet in intimate contact therewith, so that the holes in the base and adjusting plates and the grommet may be aligned to form a plurality of bores.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 24, 1996
    Assignee: Nippon Gasket Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Kubouchi, Yuji Fukui, Kunitoshi Inoue
  • Patent number: 5584490
    Abstract: This metal gasket is formed by laminating a pair of bead plates and a pair of intermediate plates, and capable of setting the temperature distribution thereof uniform by efficiently cooling high-temperature regions which are in the vicinity of swirl chambers without causing a decrease in the rigidity and strength thereof. The portions of the bead plates which are in the vicinity of the parts thereof in which the swirl chambers are positioned are provided with coolant-contact areas surrounded by half beads formed on the bead plates, these coolant-contact areas being provided with holes. The wall surfaces of these holes directly contact the cooling water flowing in a water jacket in a cylinder head, and fulfil the function of radiating the heat transmitted from a high-temperature combustion gas thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 17, 1996
    Assignee: Nippon Gasket Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kunitoshi Inoue, Masahiko Miura, Kazukuni Takada, Hideo Yamamoto, Michio Katoh, Tetsuhiro Hosokawa, Hitoshi Shimamura
  • Patent number: 5544901
    Abstract: This metal gasket for chain case-carrying engines is capable of reliably preventing the entry of an oil into height different parts, which occur on abutting surfaces of a cylinder block and a chain case, even when the oil deposited on the chain case scatters during a movement of a chain, and improving the reliability thereof owing to its durability. This metal gasket has first and second elastic metal plates provided with beads extending along an opening, in which the chain moves, and an intermediate plate provided with bores packed with seal members for sealing the height different parts occurring at the abutting surfaces of the chain case and cylinder block. The second elastic metal plate is provided with recesses formed by cutting out the portions thereof in which the seal members are positioned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 13, 1996
    Assignee: Nippon Gasket Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Kubouchi, Yuji Fukui, Kunitoshi Inoue
  • Patent number: 5516124
    Abstract: A metal gasket comprising an elastic metal plate including beads formed around cylinder bore holes of a multiple-cylinder engine, wherein each bead comprises an independent bead formed around each hole, a common bead between an adjacent pair of holes and junction beads connecting the independent bead and the common bead. The metal gasket controls a spring constant at the junction beads to a suitable value by specifying the shape of the junction beads, reduces a peak value of a face-to-face pressure at the junction beads and makes uniform the face-to-face pressure in the vicinity of the junction beads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 14, 1996
    Assignee: Nippon Gasket Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Kubouchi, Kunitoshi Inoue
  • Patent number: 5348315
    Abstract: The metallic gasket consists of a first elastic metallic plate having beads and folded portions and a second elastic metallic plate having beads, laminated on each other. The folded portions are formed by bending the plate alone the circumferences of cylinder bore holes, and the beads are formed on the portions of the plate spaced from the circumferences of the cylinder bore holes at a predetermined distance in the radially outward direction thereof, whereby double annular seal portions are formed. The projecting portions of the beads on the second elastic metallic plate are fitted in or brought into contact with the recessed portions or projecting portions of the beads on the first elastic metallic plate. The spring constant of the gasket becomes equal to the sum of those of the two plates, and this enables the stress carried by the plates to be lessened, and the durability of the gasket to be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 20, 1994
    Assignee: Nippon Gasket Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeru Kawaguchi, Kenji Kubouchi, Hiroshi Uemura, Kunitoshi Inoue
  • Patent number: 5310196
    Abstract: At the portions of the metallic gasket according to the present invention which are around perforations the inner diameter of which is smaller than that of holes for combustion chamber, the thickness of at least the folded portions and the portions of an elastic metallic plate on which these folded portions are laminated are reduced to a level in the range from a level not higher than that of the thickness of said metallic plate to a level not lower than that of a half of the thickness of said metallic plate. These thickness-reduced portions of the metallic plate are bent onto the bead-ridge-carrying side thereof to form folded portions, whereby the thickness of the folded portions is reduced to provide a difference in height between the folded portions and the bead-surrounding portions of the metallic plate. The metallic plate is heat treated after the folding step has been completed, to regulate the hardness of the metallic plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 10, 1994
    Assignee: Nippon Gasket Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeru Kawaguchi, Kenji Kubouchi, Hiroshi Uemura, Kunitoshi Inoue
  • Patent number: 5294135
    Abstract: This invention provides a metal gasket and its production method which prevents damage to folded portions by fold-machining and damage to metal materials after fastening, and expands the range of selection of materials for elastic metal plates, by reducing the thickness of a predetermined region of a elastic metal plate at which folded portions are to be formed. The thickness of the folded portion of the elastic metal plate is reduced from the folding side in an inner region of folded base portions and in regions in which folded free ends are positioned. Bend-machining is made gently at the folded base portions subjected to fold-bend machining, and the folded base portions each have a gap there-inside. The folded free ends do not come into contact with the elastic metal plate due to recessed surfaces. Accordingly, cracks and wrinkles do not occur at the folded base portions, and the folded free ends do not leave friction traces on the elastic metal plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 15, 1994
    Assignee: Nippon Gasket Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Kubouchi, Hiroshi Uemura, Shigeru Kawaguchi, Kunitoshi Inoue
  • Patent number: 5294134
    Abstract: In the metallic gasket according to the present invention, beads are formed on the circumferential portions of the first cylinder bore-aligned holes in the base member, and folded portions are formed on the auxiliary member by merely folding back the inner edge sections of the second cylinder bore-aligned holes therein so as not to embrace the bead-carrying base member, the auxiliary member being laminated on the side of the base member from which the beads project. In this metallic gasket, the folded portions of the auxiliary member restrict the deformation of the beads to minimize the occurrence of fatigue and cracks in the beads, whereby the sealing function of the gasket is improved with uniform and proper surface pressure distribution maintained. Soft members are provided between the main portion of the auxiliary member and the folded portions thereof so as to secure proper surface pressure distribution in the metallic gasket in accordance with the rigidity of the cylinder head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 15, 1994
    Assignee: Nippon Gasket Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeru Kawaguchi, Kenji Kubouchi, Masahiko Miura, Kunitoshi Inoue
  • Patent number: 5286039
    Abstract: This metal gasket interposes a regulation plate having compression stop portions and beads between first and second elastic metal plates the convexities of beads of which face one another. The compression stop portions prevent complete compression of each bead and absorbs any irregularity between opposed fitting surfaces around holes for a combustion chamber. An intermediate plate having an offset portion is sandwiched between the regulation plate and the second elastic metal plate. The offset portion is shaped to a height smaller than the thickness of the compression stop portions and regulates the degree of compression of each bead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 15, 1994
    Assignee: Nippon Gasket Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeru Kawaguchi, Kenji Kubouchi, Naoki Ii, Kunitoshi Inoue
  • Patent number: 5281464
    Abstract: A structure for finding wrong assemblage of the metallic laminate type gasket according to the present invention is composed of a plurality of component sheets overlapping each other, in which small holes for finding wrong assemblage in number one less than the number of sheets to be laminated are bored on each sheet at a part so that, unless any one of the sheets is absent, the small holes are prevented from joining in line like one through hole, whereby whether lamination of the sheets is as complete as designed or not can be confirmed and, when any one of the sheets is absent and small holes join in line like one through hole to pierce through all sheets, wrong assemblage can be confirmed by mechanical or electrical means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 25, 1994
    Assignee: Nippon Gasket Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenichi Sekioka, Kunitoshi Inoue
  • Patent number: 5087058
    Abstract: Disclosed is a metal gasket for a manifold produced by laminating a plurality of bead plates having bead portions which are bent at a predetermined radius of curvature R and by setting the ratio R/t of the radius of curvature R to the thickness t of the bead plates to the range of 7 to 15. Therefore, the radius of curvature of the bent portions of the bead plates to the thickness can be made relatively great and the bent portions of the bead plates become smooth. As a result, when the metal gasket is tightened between a cylinder head and an exhaust manifold, the contact portions of the bead plates are expanded and the stress and face-to-face pressure occurring at the contact portions can be reduced. Accordingly, the stress acting on the bead plates can be made lower than a reference value, the increase of the facet-face pressure can be restricted to within a predetermined range and the stress and face-to-face pressure of the bead portions forming a seal surface can be kept within suitable ranges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 11, 1992
    Assignee: Nippon Gasket Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiko Miura, Shigeru Kawaguchi, Kunitoshi Inoue, Hideo Yamamoto, Ken Ohkura
  • Patent number: 4964293
    Abstract: This invention discloses the method of manufacturing metallic gaskets which are properly prestressed by a load which is determined according to a stress calculation. In the process of applying prestresses to the gaskets, a die formed to a thickness smaller than the thickness of the metallic gasket material--which has a bead portion and is coated with resin such as a fluoroelastomer--is placed close to and surrounding the outer circumference of the metallic gasket material or inside the holes formed in the metallic gasket material. Then, the tension side of the bead portion of the metallic gasket material is prestressed by a stress greater than a specified stress that will occur when the metallic gasket is used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 23, 1990
    Assignee: Nippon Gasket Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kunitoshi Inoue, Shigeru Kawaguchi, Kazuhiro Nomoto