Patents by Inventor Makoto TSUCHIHASHI

Makoto TSUCHIHASHI 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: 11486509
    Abstract: Provided are a check valve which can be easily mounted, a check valve structure which includes the check valve, and a hydraulic system which has the check valve structure. A check valve structure includes a partition wall for defining a first hole including a part of a hydraulic passage, and also includes a check valve inserted in the first hole, wherein the check valve structure is provided with: a base body having a base section which closes an open end of the first hole, and having a tubular section which has one end connected to the base section; and a sphere capable of making contact with the other end of the tubular section. The tubular section has formed therein a first through-hole communicating with a second hole connected to the first hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Makoto Tsuchihashi
  • Publication number: 20220025988
    Abstract: Provided are a check valve which can be easily mounted, a check valve structure which includes the check valve, and a hydraulic system which has the check valve structure. A check valve structure includes a partition wall for defining a first hole including a part of a hydraulic passage, and also includes a check valve inserted in the first hole, wherein the check valve structure is provided with: a base body having a base section which closes an open end of the first hole, and having a tubular section which has one end connected to the base section; and a sphere capable of making contact with the other end of the tubular section. The tubular section has formed therein a first through-hole communicating with a second hole connected to the first hole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2019
    Publication date: January 27, 2022
    Inventor: Makoto TSUCHIHASHI
  • Publication number: 20210237567
    Abstract: In a vehicle power unit, a differential gear (13) is housed in an interior of a motor housing (14) with an electric motor (11) and a reduction gear (12), an output shaft (33) extending from the differential gear (13) toward a vehicle width direction is housed in the interior of the motor housing, and an end part thereof in the vehicle width direction is supported on the motor housing via an output shaft bearing (37). Since the motor housing has a space (38) part between the electric motor and the output shaft, and oil that has lubricated the electric motor and been scattered passes the space part and is supplied to the output shaft bearing, the output shaft bearing supporting the output shaft of the differential gear can be reliably lubricated with a simple structure without forming within a wall part of the motor housing an oil passage for lubrication, without disposing in the interior of the motor housing an oil pipe for lubrication, and without carrying out lubrication using a lubricant such as a grease.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2019
    Publication date: August 5, 2021
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Makoto Tsuchihashi
  • Patent number: 11009129
    Abstract: A vehicle parking apparatus displaced across first and second cases joined together through joined surfaces. The vehicle parking apparatus includes a rotation member supported rotatably at the first case to rotate in accordance with parking activation command and parking release command, a parking rod extended from the first case to the second case and including a base portion supported rotatably at the rotation member to move to first direction and second direction by rotation of the rotation member, a parking pole supported swingably at the second case and brought into contact with a top portion of the parking rod to engage with and disengage from a parking gear in accordance with movement of the parking rod in the first direction and the second direction, and a plate shaped stay fixed to the first case and including a notch into which the parking rod is inserted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinji Kamiya, Makoto Tsuchihashi
  • Patent number: 10981600
    Abstract: A vehicle drive unit is supported by a vehicle frame of a vehicle. The vehicle drive unit includes a housing including a first case and a second case integrally joined together along a coupling plane to form a sealed space therein, a drive member accommodated in the sealed space to generate a travel driving force of the vehicle, and a mount member interposed between the housing and the vehicle frame to support the housing from the vehicle frame. The first case and the second case respectively include a first attachment portion and a second attachment portion to which the mount member is attached, and the first attachment portion and the second attachment portion are installed in a single region intersecting with the coupling plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi Yamada, Makoto Tsuchihashi, Makoto Nishida
  • Publication number: 20200300359
    Abstract: A vehicle parking apparatus displaced across first and second cases joined together through joined surfaces. The vehicle parking apparatus includes a rotation member supported rotatably at the first case to rotate in accordance with parking activation command and parking release command, a parking rod extended from the first case to the second case and including a base portion supported rotatably at the rotation member to move to first direction and second direction by rotation of the rotation member, a parking pole supported swingably at the second case and brought into contact with a top portion of the parking rod to engage with and disengage from a parking gear in accordance with movement of the parking rod in the first direction and the second direction, and a plate shaped stay fixed to the first case and including a notch into which the parking rod is inserted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2020
    Publication date: September 24, 2020
    Inventors: Shinji Kamiya, Makoto Tsuchihashi
  • Patent number: 10766354
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a motor configured to drive a vehicle wheel, a battery configured to supply electric power to the motor, and a radiator configured to exchange heat between a coolant for cooling the motor and outside air. The radiator is disposed below a floor surface of the vehicle and in a gap between the motor and the battery in a front-rear direction of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Keisuke Takai, Yuji Koga, Yoshiaki Konishi, Makoto Tsuchihashi
  • Publication number: 20200262481
    Abstract: A vehicle drive unit is supported by a vehicle frame of a vehicle. The vehicle drive unit includes a housing including a first case and a second case integrally joined together along a coupling plane to form a sealed space therein, a drive member accommodated in the sealed space to generate a travel driving force of the vehicle, and a mount member interposed between the housing and the vehicle frame to support the housing from the vehicle frame. The first case and the second case respectively include a first attachment portion and a second attachment portion to which the mount member is attached, and the first attachment portion and the second attachment portion are installed in a single region intersecting with the coupling plane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2020
    Publication date: August 20, 2020
    Inventors: Satoshi Yamada, Makoto Tsuchihashi, Makoto Nishida
  • Patent number: 10442282
    Abstract: A vehicle drive system includes a left-wheel drive unit having a first motor and a first transmission, a right-wheel drive unit having a second motor and a second transmission, and a motor control unit. Each of the first and second transmissions has a first to third rotational elements. The first motor is connected to the first rotational element of the first transmission. The second motor is connected to the first rotational element of the second transmission. The left wheel is connected to the second rotational element of the first transmission. The right wheel is connected to the second rotational element of the second transmission. The third rotational element of the first transmission and the third rotational element of the second transmission are coupled to each other. Each of the first and second transmissions has a fourth rotational element which is supported to revolve around by the second rotational element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sei Shinohara, Masatoshi Noguchi, Satoshi Andou, Makoto Tsuchihashi
  • Publication number: 20190299772
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a motor configured to drive a vehicle wheel, a battery configured to supply electric power to the motor, and a radiator configured to exchange heat between a coolant for cooling the motor and outside air. The radiator is disposed below a floor surface of the vehicle and in a gap between the motor and the battery in a front-rear direction of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2019
    Publication date: October 3, 2019
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Keisuke TAKAI, Yuji KOGA, Yoshiaki KONISHI, Makoto TSUCHIHASHI
  • Patent number: 9909629
    Abstract: A drive force transmission device provided in a vehicle includes a rotating shaft, a gear chamber, a first clutch chamber, a hydraulic oil supplier, an oil reservoir, and an oil temperature sensor. The rotating shaft extends in an axial direction and is rotatable around the axial direction to transmit a drive force to left and right drive wheels of the vehicle. The gear chamber houses a gear via which the drive force is to be transmitted to the rotating shaft. The drive force transmission device has a first side and a second side opposite to the first side with respect to the gear chamber in the axial direction. The first clutch chamber is disposed on the first side and houses a clutch that is to distribute the drive force transmitted from the rotating shaft to the left or right drive wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Makoto Tsuchihashi, Tetsuya Otani
  • Patent number: 9845007
    Abstract: A driving force distributing device includes a single pump for supplying control hydraulic pressure to each of first and second hydraulic clutches, an electric motor for driving the pump, a flow rate variable mechanism for changing a ratio of flow rate of hydraulic fluid supplied to each of the first and second hydraulic clutches and a controlling means for controlling the electric motor and the flow rate variable mechanism. The driving force distributing device can variably control a flow rate of hydraulic fluid supplied to first and second hydraulic clutches based on changing a ratio of flow rate of hydraulic fluid supplied to the first and second hydraulic clutches in the flow rate variable mechanism and a control of changing rotational speed of the pump using the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Makoto Tsuchihashi, Sachi Fujinuma
  • Publication number: 20170349038
    Abstract: A vehicle drive system includes a left-wheel drive unit having a first motor and a first transmission, a right-wheel drive unit having a second motor and a second transmission, and a motor control unit. Each of the first and second transmissions has a first to third rotational elements. The first motor is connected to the first rotational element of the first transmission. The second motor is connected to the first rotational element of the second transmission. The left wheel is connected to the second rotational element of the first transmission. The right wheel is connected to the second rotational element of the second transmission. The third rotational element of the first transmission and the third rotational element of the second transmission are coupled to each other. Each of the first and second transmissions has a fourth rotational element which is supported to revolve around by the second rotational element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2017
    Publication date: December 7, 2017
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sei Shinohara, Masatoshi Noguchi, Satoshi Andou, Makoto Tsuchihashi
  • Patent number: 9534678
    Abstract: In a power transmission device for a vehicle, a boss portion of a clutch guide, which is an input-side rotation member of a clutch unit, includes: a spline portion spline-connected to a small-diameter portion at one end of a center shaft which is an input shaft; and a fitting portion that extends further from the spline portion in an axial direction to contact the outer circumference of a medium-diameter portion of the center shaft. A recess functioning as a torque fuse is formed in the medium-diameter portion of the center shaft corresponding to the fitting portion. When the center shaft is severed or disconnected at the recess, the medium-diameter portion of the severed cut center shaft can still remain within the fitting portion, so that appropriate centering can be secured and stable self-propulsion of the vehicle can be secured without unwanted misalignment of the axis of rotation of the clutch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Satoshi Imamori, Makoto Tsuchihashi
  • Publication number: 20160325623
    Abstract: A driving force distributing device includes a single pump for supplying control hydraulic pressure to each of first and second hydraulic clutches, an electric motor for driving the pump, a flow rate variable mechanism for changing a ratio of flow rate of hydraulic fluid supplied to each of the first and second hydraulic clutches and a controlling means for controlling the electric motor and the flow rate variable mechanism. The driving force distributing device can variably control a flow rate of hydraulic fluid supplied to first and second hydraulic clutches based on changing a ratio of flow rate of hydraulic fluid supplied to the first and second hydraulic clutches in the flow rate variable mechanism and a control of changing rotational speed of the pump using the motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 24, 2014
    Publication date: November 10, 2016
    Inventors: Makoto TSUCHIHASHI, Sachi FUJINUMA
  • Publication number: 20160160980
    Abstract: In a power transmission device for a vehicle, a boss portion of a clutch guide, which is an input-side rotation member of a clutch unit, includes: a spline portion spline-connected to a small-diameter portion at one end of a center shaft which is an input shaft; and a fitting portion that extends further from the spline portion in an axial direction to contact the outer circumference of a medium-diameter portion of the center shaft. A recess functioning as a torque fuse is formed in the medium-diameter portion of the center shaft corresponding to the fitting portion. When the center shaft is severed or disconnected at the recess, the medium-diameter portion of the severed cut center shaft can still remain within the fitting portion, so that appropriate centering can be secured and stable self-propulsion of the vehicle can be secured without unwanted misalignment of the axis of rotation of the clutch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2015
    Publication date: June 9, 2016
    Applicant: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi IMAMORI, Makoto TSUCHIHASHI
  • Patent number: 9150118
    Abstract: A motor controller obtains: a first motor target rotation number, a first motor actual rotation number of a first motor, a second motor target rotation number, and a second motor actual rotation number of a second motor; determines a first rotation number difference between the first motor target rotation number and the first motor actual rotation number of the first motor, and a second rotation number difference between the second motor target rotation number and the second motor actual rotation number of the second motor, determines first and second rotation control torques based on a smaller one of the first rotation number difference and the second rotation number difference; and determines a first motor torque of the first motor and a second motor torque of the second motor based on the first and second rotation control torques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sei Shinohara, Satoshi Ando, Masatoshi Noguchi, Masakatsu Hori, Makoto Tsuchihashi
  • Publication number: 20150042245
    Abstract: A motor controller obtains: a first motor target rotation number, a first motor actual rotation number of a first motor, a second motor target rotation number, and a second motor actual rotation number of a second motor; determines a first rotation number difference between the first motor target rotation number and the first motor actual rotation number of the first motor, and a second rotation number difference between the second motor target rotation number and the second motor actual rotation number of the second motor, determines first and second rotation control torques based on a smaller one of the first rotation number difference and the second rotation number difference; and determines a first motor torque of the first motor and a second motor torque of the second motor based on the first and second rotation control torques.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2013
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sei Shinohara, Satoshi Ando, Masatoshi Noguchi, Masakatsu Hori, Makoto Tsuchihashi
  • Publication number: 20140290407
    Abstract: A drive force transmission device provided in a vehicle includes a rotating shaft, a gear chamber, a first clutch chamber, a hydraulic oil supplier, an oil reservoir, and an oil temperature sensor. The rotating shaft extends in an axial direction and is rotatable around the axial direction to transmit a drive force to left and right drive wheels of the vehicle. The gear chamber houses a gear via which the drive force is to be transmitted to the rotating shaft. The drive force transmission device has a first side and a second side opposite to the first side with respect to the gear chamber in the axial direction. The first clutch chamber is disposed on the first side and houses a clutch that is to distribute the drive force transmitted from the rotating shaft to the left or right drive wheels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2014
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Makoto TSUCHIHASHI, Tetsuya OTANI