Patents by Inventor Makoto Hirai

Makoto Hirai 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: 20190031372
    Abstract: An object is to provide a holding fixture fixing apparatus which can ensure positioning accuracy and shape accuracy of a moving holding fixture, thus allowing an aircraft panel to be assembled with high accuracy. A holding fixture fixing apparatus includes a plurality of fixing units configured to support and fix a holding fixture, which holds a fuselage panel having a curved shape in cross section, from a lower surface of the holding fixture, the fixing units being provided on an installation surface, wherein the plurality of fixing units are provided corresponding to at least four corners of the lower surface of the holding fixture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2016
    Publication date: January 31, 2019
    Inventors: Makoto HIRAI, Hiroki AZUMA, Michinobu TAKAHAGI
  • Publication number: 20190023417
    Abstract: An object is to simplify a structure of a holding fixture which holds the shape of an aircraft panel, and to hold the aircraft panel in an appropriate shape. A holding fixture includes: a plurality of gripping units configured to grip edge portions on two opposite sides of a fuselage panel including a skin; and a support body configured to integrally support the plurality of gripping units, the support body being provided corresponding to the fuselage panel to be gripped by the plurality of gripping units, wherein the plurality of gripping units hold the fuselage panel such that the gripping units grip the edge portions of the fuselage panel, and the fuselage panel has a curved shape in cross section taken in a direction perpendicular to a one axis direction, and the holding fixture is configured to be conveyable in a state of holding the fuselage panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2016
    Publication date: January 24, 2019
    Inventors: Makoto HIRAI, Hiroki AZUMA, Takuya GOTO, Sachio TAKEYAMA
  • Publication number: 20180339380
    Abstract: In order to hold a long member without using a fixing jig and without deforming the long member in holding the long member, a long member assembling device is provided with: multiple hand parts for gripping a long member; and arm parts and trunk parts for moving the hand parts to adjust the positions of the hand parts gripping the long member. The hand parts have a configuration such that, when the positions thereof are adjusted by the arm parts and the trunk parts, the hand parts are capable of moving in the longitudinal direction of the long member while gripping the long member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2016
    Publication date: November 29, 2018
    Inventors: Takahiro INAGAKI, Toshihiro TOMBE, Takuya GOTO, Makoto HIRAI, Naoki GOTO, Masanobu MIZUKAMI, Katsumi NAKAMURA
  • Publication number: 20180154524
    Abstract: To hold a long member in the original shape of the long member at a precise position, a long member assembling device has: a plurality of hand parts configured to grip a long member; arm parts and trunk parts configured to move the hand parts to adjust the positions of the plurality of hand parts gripping the long member; a storage unit in which the original shape of the long member is stored; and a control unit configured to, on the basis of the original shape of the long member stored in the storage unit, drive the arm parts and the trunk parts to adjust the positions of the plurality of hand parts gripping the long member such that the shape of the long member gripped by the plurality of hand parts matches the original shape of the long member stored in the storage unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2016
    Publication date: June 7, 2018
    Inventors: Toshihiro TOMBE, Takuya GOTO, Takahiro INAGAKI, Makoto HIRAI, Naoki GOTO, Masanobu MIZUKAMI, Katsumi NAKAMURA
  • Publication number: 20180147729
    Abstract: A long member assembling device has hand parts configured to grip a long member, arm parts and trunk parts configured to adjust a position of each of the hand parts, a hand part configured to grip the long member, the hand part numbering less than the hand parts, an arm part and a trunk part configured to move the hand part and adjust a position of the hand part gripping the long member, the arm part and the trunk part having higher positioning accuracy than the hand parts, and a control unit configured to, on the basis of an original shape of the long member stored in a memory, drive the arm parts and the trunk parts to adjust the positions of the hand parts and the hand part such that the shape of the long member gripped by the hand parts matches the original shape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2016
    Publication date: May 31, 2018
    Inventors: Toshihiro TOMBE, Naoki GOTO, Makoto HIRAI, Takuya GOTO, Takahiro INAGAKI
  • Patent number: 9956888
    Abstract: A power supply system includes a plurality of electrical storage devices, a distributor configured to distribute electric power between the plurality of electrical storage devices in a desired distribution mode, and an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit configured to (i) set the desired distribution mode based on at least one of a magnitude relation between first rates of change in dischargeable power of the corresponding electrical storage device to a charge state value indicating a remaining level of charge of the corresponding electrical storage device, or a magnitude relation between second rates of change in chargeable power of the corresponding electrical storage device to the charge state value, and (ii) control the distributor such that electric power is distributed in the set distribution mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toru Ando, Makoto Hirai
  • Publication number: 20180104778
    Abstract: A production facility is provided with: an AGV for transporting a plurality of fuselage panels of multiple types having different shapes in a mixed state on a previously determined transport path; a plurality of A/Rs for riveting the fuselage panels; work areas set so as to correspond to the respective A/Rs in which the A/Rs move to rivet the fuselage panels; and a buffer area, set beforehand in the transport path adjacent to the work area, to which the A/R corresponding to the adjacent work area moves so as to rivet the fuselage panel. When there is no fuselage panel to be riveted in the work area adjacent to the buffer area and the fuselage panel to be riveted is present in the buffer area, a control device moves the A/R corresponding to the work area adjacent to the buffer area to the buffer area to rivet the fuselage panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2016
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Inventors: Makoto HIRAI, Takuya GOTO, Tsuyoshi KANEKO, Katsumi NAKAMURA
  • Publication number: 20180104777
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an assembly manufacturing device and an assembly manufacturing method capable of reducing error when the actual position of a long member is detected, and precisely setting a reference point and a coordinates system. The long member assembly apparatus provides a plurality of hand parts for gripping a long member, a touch plate for securing the first end of the long member and restricting the movement of the long member in the longitudinal direction, a laser tracker for detecting the installation position of the touch plate, and a reference determining part for determining reference coordinates or reference point to be used in for adjusting the position of the hand parts, based on the installation position of the touch plate detected by the laser tracker.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2016
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Toshihiro TOMBE, Naoki GOTO, Makoto HIRAI
  • Patent number: 9796375
    Abstract: A control system for a hybrid vehicle configured to reduce frequency of establishing an engine braking force is provided. The control system is configured to operate a first motor as a motor to increase torque of an output member while halting the output shaft of the engine by a brake, and to increase the deceleration torque of the second motor, if a state of charge of the battery is higher than a predetermined threshold level when deceleration of the hybrid vehicle is demanded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Oshiumi, Makoto Hirai, Koji Hokoi, Takanori Aoki, Hideo Nakatsukasa
  • Patent number: 9758156
    Abstract: A control system for a hybrid vehicle configured to reduce frequency of establishing an engine braking force is provided. The control system is configured to operate a first motor as a motor to increase torque of an output member while halting the output shaft of the engine by a brake, and to increase the deceleration torque of the second motor, if a state of charge of the battery is higher than a predetermined threshold level when deceleration of the hybrid vehicle is demanded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Oshiumi, Makoto Hirai, Koji Hokoi, Takanori Aoki, Hideo Nakatsukasa
  • Patent number: 9682698
    Abstract: A control system for hybrid vehicles that prevents an occurrence of shock resulting from manually shifting an operating mode is provided. The control system is configured to switch an operating mode between HV mode in which the vehicle is powered mainly by the engine and EV mode in which the vehicle is powered mainly by said motor in response to a manual switching operation. The control system delays a startup of the engine until satisfaction of a predetermined running condition, if the manual switching operation is executed to shift from the EV mode to the HV mode under a condition that the running condition falls within a region where both of the HV mode and the EV mode are selectable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuma Aoki, Koji Hokoi, Takanori Aoki, Makoto Hirai
  • Publication number: 20170101028
    Abstract: An electrical source control apparatus controls an electrical source system having an electrical power converter. The electrical power converter changes an operation mode between a first mode in which the electrical power conversion is performed with electricity storage apparatuses being electrically connected in series and a second mode in which the electrical power conversion is performed with the electricity storage apparatuses being electrically connected in parallel. The electrical source control apparatus has: a first changing device which changes an electrical power limiting value representing an allowable electrical power which can be inputted to or outputted from the electrical source system from the second limiting value to the first limiting value; and a second changing device which changes the operation mode from the second mode to the first mode after the electrical power limiting value is changed to the first limiting value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2015
    Publication date: April 13, 2017
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Makoto HIRAI, Toru ANDO
  • Publication number: 20170022916
    Abstract: In a controller and a control method for a power converter of a vehicle, the power converter has a first operation mode and a second operation mode defining power supply modes of first and second DC power supplies with respect to a load. The first operation mode is an operation mode set when the first and second DC power supplies are electrically connected in series to an electric wire electrically connected to the load. The second operation mode is an operation mode set when the first and second DC power supplies are electrically connected in parallel to the electric wire. The controller includes an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit is configured to execute warm-up promotion control of a catalytic device. The electronic control unit is configured to set the operation mode of the power converter to the second operation mode when executing the warm-up promotion control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2014
    Publication date: January 26, 2017
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Makoto HIRAI, Toru ANDO
  • Publication number: 20170008415
    Abstract: A power supply system includes a plurality of electrical storage devices, a distributor configured to distribute electric power between the plurality of electrical storage devices in a desired distribution mode, and an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit configured to (i) set the desired distribution mode based on at least one of a magnitude relation between first rates of change in dischargeable power of the corresponding electrical storage device to a charge state value indicating a remaining level of charge of the corresponding electrical storage device, or a magnitude relation between second rates of change in chargeable power of the corresponding electrical storage device to the charge state value, and (ii) control the distributor such that electric power is distributed in the set distribution mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2014
    Publication date: January 12, 2017
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toru ANDO, Makoto HIRAI
  • Patent number: 9487209
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle includes: an electricity storage device configured to output electric power to and receives electric power from a vehicle-driving electric motor and to be charged with electricity generated by using output of an engine; an external charging portion that charges the electricity storage device with electric power supplied from outside the vehicle; and a control device that controls switching between the traveling of the vehicle which does not use the engine but uses the electric motor and the traveling which uses the engine. The control device restrains the traveling that uses the engine, during a period until charging is newly executed by the external charging portion, if degree of execution of the traveling that uses the engine following previous execution of the external charging is greater than a predetermined degree.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Makoto Hirai
  • Publication number: 20160318505
    Abstract: A control system for hybrid vehicles that prevents an occurrence of shock resulting from manually shifting an operating mode is provided. The control system is configured to switch an operating mode between HV mode in which the vehicle is powered mainly by the engine and EV mode in which the vehicle is powered mainly by said motor in response to a manual switching operation. The control system delays a startup of the engine until satisfaction of a predetermined running condition, if the manual switching operation is executed to shift from the EV mode to the HV mode under a condition that the running condition falls within a region where both of the HV mode and the EV mode are selectable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2016
    Publication date: November 3, 2016
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuma AOKI, Koji HOKOI, Takanori AOKI, Makoto HIRAI
  • Publication number: 20160318420
    Abstract: A vehicle control system to prevent a shortage of driving force during shifting from single-motor mode to dual-motor mode is provided. The control system is applied to a vehicle having at least two motors. The vehicle control system is configured to start the first motor to shift the operating mode to the first mode upon exceedance of a threshold value of a required driving force under the second mode, and the threshold value is set to be smaller than a maximum driving force to be generated by the second motor propelling the vehicle under the second mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2016
    Publication date: November 3, 2016
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Makoto HIRAI, Yasuhiro OSHIUMI, Takanori AOKI, Koji HOKOI
  • Patent number: 9440729
    Abstract: In a high-lift-device, a wing, and noise reduction device for a high-lift-device that are capable of reducing noise generated when a flap is extended, preventing deterioration of aerodynamics characteristic when retracting the flap, and preventing an increase in weight, a flap main body (5) disposed so as to be extendable/retractable relative to a main wing and a protruding portion (6A-1) that smoothly protrudes at least at the vicinity of one end portion of a positive-pressure surface (PS) of the flap main body (5) in a direction away from the flap main body (5) are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Makoto Hirai, Keizo Takenaka, Taro Imamura, Kazuomi Yamamoto, Yuzuru Yokokawa
  • Publication number: 20160257297
    Abstract: A control system for a hybrid vehicle configured to reduce frequency of establishing an engine braking force is provided. The control system is configured to operate a first motor as a motor to increase torque of an output member while halting the output shaft of the engine by a brake, and to increase the deceleration torque of the second motor, if a state of charge of the battery is higher than a predetermined threshold level when deceleration of the hybrid vehicle is demanded.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2016
    Publication date: September 8, 2016
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasuhiro OSHIUMI, Makoto HIRAI, Koji HOKOI, Takanori AOKI, Hideo NAKATSUKASA
  • Patent number: 9132833
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle includes an engine including a purification device, a motor, a battery, a navigation system, and a controller. The controller is configured to set a predetermined section, which is an initial section of a hybrid traveling priority section in a travel plan, for a warm-up section for warming up the purification device. The controller is configured to reset the travel plan by changing any one of an electric traveling priority sections before the predetermined section to the hybrid traveling priority section when a traveling load of the predetermined section is higher than a predetermined load corresponding to an output limit of the battery. The controller is configured to reset the section changed to the hybrid traveling priority section for the warm-up section for warming up the purification device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koji Hokoi, Makoto Hirai