Patents by Inventor Manabu Tateno

Manabu Tateno 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: 7640900
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a variable valve operating device and makes it possible to inhibit friction during driving force transmission and provide high durability through the use of a compact configuration. A first roller 170, which comes into contact with a drive cam surface 124 of a camshaft 120, has a larger diameter than a second roller 172, which comes into contact with a slide surface 156 of a swing member 150. A coupling shaft 174 couples the first roller 170 to the second roller 172 so that the rollers 170, 172 can rotate independently. The slide surface 156 is curved toward the drive cam surface 124.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Manabu Tateno, Shuichi Ezaki, Toshiaki Asada
  • Publication number: 20090320779
    Abstract: Disclosed is a variable valve mechanism for an internal combustion engine. The variable valve mechanism accurately adjusts the valve operating angle although its structure is simple. The variable valve mechanism includes a control pin 48, which is inserted into a pin insertion hole 38 in a control shaft 16; a bearing hole 44, which is formed in a control member 26; and an adjustment pin 50, which is rotatably supported by the bearing hole 44. The adjustment pin 50 comes into surface contact with the control pin 48 to inhibit the control member 26 from rotating relative to the control shaft 16. The valve operating angle is adjusted by replacing the adjustment pin 50 with another having a different dimension B. Such adjustment pin replacement changes the distance A between the center line of the bearing hole 44 and the center line of the control pin 48, thereby changing the relative angle ? between the control shaft 16 and control member 26.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2007
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Applicant: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Manabu Tateno, Shuichi Ezaki
  • Publication number: 20090277408
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a variable valve operating device and a valve opening amount adjustment method, and can accurately control the amount of in-cylinder air and the strength of a swirl flow. The variable valve operating device according to the present invention includes a valve mechanism that can select a dual valve variable control mode in which the valve opening amounts of a first valve and a second valve, which are of the same type and provided for the same cylinder, can be varied continuously or in multiple steps. A valve opening amount difference is provided when the valve opening amounts are minimized in the dual valve variable control mode so that the valve opening amount of the first valve is larger than that of the second valve. In addition, adjustments are made so that the minimum valve opening amount of the first valve does not vary from one cylinder to another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2006
    Publication date: November 12, 2009
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Manabu Tateno, Shuichi Ezaki, Toshiyuki Maehara
  • Publication number: 20090272351
    Abstract: A valve drive system comprises a power transmitting mechanism (13) that converts rotary motion of an electric motor (12) into opening and closing motion of an intake valve (3) provided in a cylinder (2) of an internal combustion engine (1) to transmit power from the electric motor (12) to the valve (3) via a cam (152); and a rotational angle restricting mechanism (16) that is provided in a motion transmission path that extends from the electric motor (12) to the cam (152) and restricts rotation of the cam (152) within a predetermined angular range that is set so that a piston (5) of the engine (1) and the intake valve (3) do not interfere with each other. The rotational angle restricting mechanism (16) comprises a flange (161) that rotates as a unit with a camshaft (151) and forms a slotted groove hole (161a) thereon; and a stopper pin (162) that is inserted into and retracted from the groove hole (161a).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2007
    Publication date: November 5, 2009
    Inventors: Shuichi Ezaki, Manabu Tateno, Akio Kidooka
  • Publication number: 20090255494
    Abstract: A worm gear is connected to an actuator and a worm wheel is connected to a. control shaft. The worm wheel has teeth formed only on a predetermined angular range thereof. The above-referenced angular range includes a required rotational range of the control shaft. The worm wheel is formed to be brought out of mesh with the worm gear outside the predetermined angular range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2006
    Publication date: October 15, 2009
    Applicant: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Manabu Tateno
  • Patent number: 7591238
    Abstract: The rotary motion of a camshaft is transmitted from a first drive cam to a slide surface of a swing cam arm via intermediate members so that the swing cam arm lifts a valve. In this instance, the operating characteristic of the valve changes when the rotation position of a control shaft changes to change the positions of the intermediate members on the slide surface. When the operating characteristic control mode for the valve is to be changed from variable control to fixed control, coupling means couples the swing cam arm and input arm, thereby causing a second drive cam to swing the swing cam arm. The setting for the lift amount of the valve that is obtained when the second drive cam swings the swing cam arm is not smaller than a maximum lift amount setting for a situation where the first drive cam swings the swing cam arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Manabu Tateno, Shuichi Ezaki
  • Publication number: 20090038567
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a variable valve operating device and makes it possible to inhibit friction during driving force transmission and provide high durability through the use of a compact configuration. A first roller 170, which comes into contact with a drive cam surface 124 of a camshaft 120, has a larger diameter than a second roller 172, which comes into contact with a slide surface 156 of a swing member 150. A coupling shaft 174 couples the first roller 170 to the second roller 172 so that the rollers 170, 172 can rotate independently. The slide surface 156 is curved toward the drive cam surface 124.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2005
    Publication date: February 12, 2009
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Manabu Tateno, Shuichi Ezaki, Toshiaki Asada
  • Publication number: 20090025666
    Abstract: The rotary motion of a camshaft is transmitted from a first drive cam to a slide surface of a swing cam arm via intermediate members so that the swing cam arm lifts a valve. In this instance, the operating characteristic of the valve changes when the rotation position of a control shaft changes to change the positions of the intermediate members on the slide surface. When the operating characteristic control mode for the valve is to be changed from variable control to fixed control, coupling means couples the swing cam arm and input arm, thereby causing a second drive cam to swing the swing cam arm. The setting for the lift amount of the valve that is obtained when the second drive cam swings the swing cam arm is not smaller than a maximum lift amount setting for a situation where the first drive cam swings the swing cam arm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2006
    Publication date: January 29, 2009
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Manabu Tateno, Shuichi Ezaki
  • Publication number: 20080302320
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a variable valve operating device and makes it possible to reduce the loss in driving force transmission from a camshaft to a valve during a valve lift. The rotary motion of a drive cam 122 is transmitted to a swing member 140 via intermediate rollers 172, 174. A coupling member 164 couples the intermediate rollers 172, 174 to a swing fulcrum 166 that is fastened to a control shaft 132. The swing fulcrum 166 is positioned eccentrically to the center of the control shaft 132. Further, when the control shaft 132 is positioned at a predetermined rotation position, the swing fulcrum 166 is positioned so that the control shaft 132 is placed between the swing fulcrum 166 and the intermediate rollers 172, 174. Preferably, the swing fulcrum 166, the control shaft 132, and the intermediate rollers 172, 174 are aligned.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2005
    Publication date: December 11, 2008
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Manabu Tateno, Toshiaki Asada, Shuichi Ezaki
  • Patent number: 7441521
    Abstract: A first arm member and a second arm member are provided. The first arm member is positioned between a cam and a valve body to oscillate in synchronism with the rotation of the cam. The second arm member changes the angle of the first arm member in accordance with the rotation angle of a control shaft. The temperature prevailing in the neighborhood of the control shaft and cam is detected. The rotation angle of the control shaft is corrected so as to avoid the influence of the detected temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshiaki Asada, Shuichi Ezaki, Manabu Tateno
  • Patent number: 7424873
    Abstract: Disclosed is a variable valve mechanism 10 for changing the lift amount and operating angle of an internal combustion engine valve disc 12.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2008
    Assignee: Toyota, Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shuichi Ezaki, Toshiaki Asada, Manabu Tateno
  • Publication number: 20080210208
    Abstract: A throttle operation is performed after an internal combustion engine is started. Then, temperature of a catalyst is obtained based on a signal output from a temperature sensor fitted to the catalyst. It is then determined whether the temperature obtained is equal to or higher than the activation temperature. If it is determined that the temperature of the catalyst has not reached the activation temperature, the throttle operation continues. On the other hand, if it is determined that the temperature of the catalyst is equal to or higher than the activation temperature, the non-throttle operation is performed instead of the throttle operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2006
    Publication date: September 4, 2008
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Manabu Tateno
  • Patent number: 7299775
    Abstract: A variable valve operating device is provided that allows an ideal valve timing-lift characteristic to be realized by associating a change in a valve timing with a change in a valve lift amount. A rotation motion of a drive cam is transmitted to a slide surface of a swing member via an intermediate member. Positions of the intermediate member on the slide surface are varied in association with the rotation of a control shaft by an interlock mechanism. The slide surface is formed to be curved toward the drive cam so that the distance from the center of a camshaft increases toward the farthest point from the swing center of the swing member within the area which the intermediate member contacts from the nearest point from the swing center of the swing member within the area which the intermediate member contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Manabu Tateno, Toshiaki Asada, Shuichi Ezaki
  • Publication number: 20070163523
    Abstract: Engaging portions 132c, each of which is engaged with a slider gear, are made of an iron based material, and coupler shafts 132d are made of an aluminum alloy material that is the same material as that of a cylinder head. Therefore, compared to a case where the control shaft 132 is entirely made of an iron based material, the thermal expansion coefficient of the control shaft 132 is closer to that of the cylinder head. Therefore, even if the ambient temperature changes, the position of each engaging portion 132c relative to the cylinder head is prevented from being displaced. Also, since the engaging portions 132c are made of an iron based material, the engaging portions 132c have a sufficient strength, which prevents the control shaft 132 from being deformed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2005
    Publication date: July 19, 2007
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Miyazato, Yuji Yoshihara, Fuminori Hosoda, Takahide Koshimizu, Koichi Shimizu, Manabu Tateno, Masaaki Tani
  • Patent number: 7213551
    Abstract: The present invention provides a compact variable valve operating device that is capable of mechanically changing the operating characteristic of a valve. The rotation motion of a camshaft is input to the valve via a swing member. A slide surface is formed on the swing member. Intermediate members are positioned in contact with both the slide surface and drive cam surface. A support member for supporting the intermediate members is mounted on a control member. The control member can rotate in relation to the camshaft and is interlocked with a control shaft via rotation interlock mechanisms. When the control member rotates in coordination with the rotation of the control shaft, the intermediate members move along the drive cam surface and slide surface. The operating characteristic of the valve then changes in coordination with a positional change of the intermediate members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2007
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshiaki Asada, Shuichi Ezaki, Manabu Tateno
  • Publication number: 20070095311
    Abstract: A variable valve operating device is provided that allows an ideal valve timing-lift characteristic to be realized by associating a change in a valve timing with a change in a valve lift amount. A rotation motion of a drive cam is transmitted to a slide surface of a swing member via an intermediate member. Positions of the intermediate member on the slide surface are varied in association with the rotation of a control shaft by an interlock mechanism. The slide surface is formed to be curved toward the drive cam so that the distance from the center of a camshaft increases toward the farthest point from the swing center of the swing member within the area which the intermediate member contacts from the nearest point from the swing center of the swing member within the area which the intermediate member contacts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2005
    Publication date: May 3, 2007
    Applicant: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Manabu Tateno, Toshiaki Asada, Shuichi Ezaki
  • Patent number: 7207300
    Abstract: Intake camshafts 10, 14 for driving valve bodies 32 (intake valve) are positioned in right- and left-hand banks, respectively. A variable valve mechanism 30 is positioned in each of the right- and left-hand banks in such a manner as to form mirror-image symmetry. The variable valve mechanism 30 includes a control shaft 60 for controlling the operating angle of the valve body. The respective control shafts in the right- and left-hand banks are controlled in symmetrical directions. The right- and left-hand intake camshafts 10, 14 rotate in opposite directions and at a speed that is synchronized with the speed of a crankshaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2007
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shuichi Ezaki, Toshiaki Asada, Manabu Tateno
  • Publication number: 20070062472
    Abstract: The present invention provides a compact variable valve operating device that is capable of mechanically changing the operating characteristic of a valve. The rotation motion of a camshaft is input to the valve via a swing member. A slide surface is formed on the swing member. Intermediate members are positioned in contact with both the slide surface and drive cam surface. A support member for supporting the intermediate members is mounted on a control member. The control member can rotate in relation to the camshaft and is interlocked with a control shaft via rotation interlock mechanisms. When the control member rotates in coordination with the rotation of the control shaft, the intermediate members move along the drive cam surface and slide surface. The operating characteristic of the valve then changes in coordination with a positional change of the intermediate members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2005
    Publication date: March 22, 2007
    Applicant: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshiaki Asada, Shuichi Ezaki, Manabu Tateno
  • Patent number: 7174887
    Abstract: A variable valve mechanism is installed to change the operating angle and lift amount of an intake valve in accordance with the rotation position of a control shaft. A worm wheel is secured to the control shaft. The worm wheel is coupled to a motor actuator via a worm gear. The motor actuator is controlled during a normal operation so that the rotation position of the control shaft changes within a normal rotation range. A low-end stopper and high-end stopper are installed outside the normal rotation range to mechanically restrict the rotation of the control shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shuichi Ezaki, Toshiaki Asada, Manabu Tateno
  • Publication number: 20060249109
    Abstract: Disclosed is a variable valve mechanism 10 for changing the lift amount and operating angle of an internal combustion engine valve disc 12.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2004
    Publication date: November 9, 2006
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shuichi Ezaki, Toshiaki Asada, Manabu Tateno