Patents by Inventor Masafumi Kawakami
Masafumi Kawakami 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).
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Publication number: 20240101220Abstract: A motor unit includes: a case; a motor housed in the case; an input shaft; an output body; and a speed reducer mechanism. The input shaft penetrates through the case in an axial direction and is arranged to be rotatable around an axis defining the axial direction. The output body is arranged in the case to be rotatable around the axis. The speed reducer mechanism is housed in the case and reduces a rotational speed of the motor and transmits rotational force with the rotational speed thus reduced to the output body. The speed reducer mechanism includes only one pair of gears meshing with each other.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 24, 2021Publication date: March 28, 2024Applicant: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.Inventor: Masafumi KAWAKAMI
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Publication number: 20230106924Abstract: A motor unit for use in an electric bicycle, the motor unit including a motor configured to drive a wheel of the electric bicycle in rotation. The motor unit includes a shell which at least partially houses the motor. The motor includes a rotary shaft, a rotor coupled to the rotary shaft to rotate along with the rotary shaft, and a stator arranged to surround the rotor. The stator is partially resin-molded and has a metallic surface exposed on an outer periphery thereof. A pin is interposed between the shell and the stator.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 9, 2022Publication date: April 6, 2023Inventors: Masato NISHIMORI, Masafumi KAWAKAMI, Ryohei ADACHI, Fuhito UMEGAKI, Takehiro YAMAGUCHI
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Publication number: 20230099314Abstract: A motor unit for use in an electric bicycle includes a motor, a switching element, a board, and a case. The switching element has the motor driven. The board has a principal surface and a reverse surface. The principal surface includes a mounting surface to mount the switching element thereon. The reverse surface faces opposite from the principal surface. The case houses the board therein. The board further has a through hole provided to penetrate through the board from the mounting surface through the reverse surface and a sheet of metal foil covering an inner peripheral surface of the through hole at least partially. The switching element is thermally connected to the sheet of metal foil. A part, located opposite from the switching element with respect to the board, of the case is thermally connected to the sheet of metal foil.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 18, 2022Publication date: March 30, 2023Inventors: Shigeru IDO, Masafumi KAWAKAMI, Takanori NAKANO
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Publication number: 20230043659Abstract: A motor unit, which is an example of an embodiment, includes a motor including a motor shaft, a rotor fixed to the motor shaft, and a stator, and a control board, the control board being disposed with at least a part of the control board overlapping the motor when viewed in a motor axial direction. A sensor that detects a magnetic field of the motor shaft, the rotor, or a rotating body rotating together with the motor shaft, and a control element that controls the motor using detection information of the sensor, are mounted on the control board. The control board includes a signal line that connects the sensor and the control element. The signal line includes an arcuate wiring section bent to be convex in a radial direction outer side of a circle centering on a shaft core of the motor shaft.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 2, 2022Publication date: February 9, 2023Inventors: Shigeru IDO, Masafumi KAWAKAMI, Takanori NAKANO
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Publication number: 20230043341Abstract: A motor unit includes a case, a motor, an input shaft, an input body, an output body, and a speed reducer mechanism. The input shaft penetrates through the case in an axial direction and is arranged to be rotatable. The input body is disposed along an outer peripheral surface of the input shaft and rotates along with the input shaft. The output body is arranged along the outer peripheral surface of the input shaft to be rotatable and receives rotational force from the input body. The case includes a first bearing, a second bearing, and a third bearing. The first bearing is located at one end in an axial direction and supports a rotary shaft unit including the input shaft, the input body, and the output body. The second bearing is located at the other end in the axial direction and supports the rotary shaft unit. The third bearing is located between the first bearing and the second bearing in the axial direction and supports at least one of the input body or the output body.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 13, 2019Publication date: February 9, 2023Inventor: Masafumi KAWAKAMI
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Publication number: 20230015750Abstract: A power transmission unit is used for generating auxiliary driving force for an electric bicycle, and includes a motor, an input structure, a speed reducer, a case, a bearing, and a bearing support portion. The motor includes a motor shaft. The input structure includes an input shaft and configured to rotate along with the input shaft, the input shaft being caused to rotate by external force transmitted thereto. Thea speed reducer mechanism is configured to transmit a rotational power of the motor shaft while reducing a rotational speed. The case houses the motor, the input structure, and the speed reducer mechanism. The case includes a first divided part and a second divided part. The bearing is located inside the case. The bearing supporting portion, to which the bearing is attached, supports the speed reducer mechanism. The bearing supporting portion is attached to the first divided part.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 17, 2022Publication date: January 19, 2023Inventors: Masafumi KAWAKAMI, Takanori NAKANO
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Publication number: 20220009588Abstract: A power transmission unit for electric bicycles includes an input structure, an output structure, a torque detection unit, a detection target, and a detection unit. The input structure includes an input shaft. The input shaft is caused to rotate by external force transmitted thereto. The input structure rotates along with the input shaft. The output structure outputs rotational power by rotating along with the input structure. The torque detection unit is provided on an outer periphery of the input structure. The detection target rotates either along with, or while interlocking with, the input structure. The detection unit detects a rotational state of the detection target. At least part of the torque detection unit and at least part of the detection target overlap with each other when viewed perpendicularly to a rotational axis of the input structure.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 12, 2019Publication date: January 13, 2022Inventors: Masafumi KAWAKAMI, Takanori NAKANO
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Publication number: 20210269118Abstract: A motor unit for use in electric bicycles, the motor unit comprising: a motor having a rotary shaft; a unit case to house the rotary shaft partially; an input shaft arranged in the unit case to penetrate through the unit case and to be rotatable around an axis; an input body configured to rotate along with the input shaft; an output body configured to rotate around the axis upon receiving rotational force of the input body; and a control board housed in the unit case and configured to control rotation of the motor. The unit case includes: a first heat dissipating portion connected to a first surface of the control board; and a second heat dissipating portion connected to a second surface opposite from the first surface of the control board.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 26, 2019Publication date: September 2, 2021Inventors: Masato NISHIMORI, Masafumi KAWAKAMI, Ryohei ADACHI, Fuhito UMEGAKI, Takehiro YAMAGUCHI
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Publication number: 20210214043Abstract: A motor unit includes a substrate, a motor, and at least one conductive member. The substrate has a first surface and a second surface aligned in a thickness direction of the substrate. The motor includes at least one terminal, and in the thickness direction of the substrate, the motor is disposed closer to the second surface than to the first surface. The at least one conductive member is mounted on the first surface. The substrate has at least one through part which extends from the first surface through the second surface and in which the at least one terminal or the at least one conductive member is inserted. The at least one conductive member is at least partially deformable and is connected to the at least one terminal.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 8, 2019Publication date: July 15, 2021Inventors: Masato NISHIMORI, Masafumi KAWAKAMI
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Patent number: 9758213Abstract: Provided is an electric assist bicycle that can apply a sufficient auxiliary driving force with a satisfactory gear change, preclude problems caused by interference between a mount or a battery and a front derailleur, and prevent a reduction in torque transmission efficiency. A cylindrical human-power transmission member that receives a transmitted human driving force is disposed on the outer periphery of a crank shaft, and a combined-force transmission member that receives the combined force of a human driving force and an auxiliary driving force from a motor is disposed on the outer periphery of the crank shaft. The electric assist bicycle includes a speed reduction mechanism that has pairs of reduction gears and a selection clutch engageable with the reduction gears, combines the human driving force and the auxiliary driving force, and changes gears for the combined force of the human driving force and the auxiliary driving force.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 2013Date of Patent: September 12, 2017Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.Inventor: Masafumi Kawakami
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Patent number: 9718514Abstract: An electrically assisted bicycle is provided with a so-called single-shaft motor drive unit that can satisfactorily keep torque detection capability. The outer periphery of a crankshaft 7a has a cylindrical human-power transmission member 28 having a torque sensor 31 for detecting a human driving force and a combined force member 29 that combines a human driving force and an auxiliary driving force from a motor 21. A one-way clutch is not provided on a driving force transmission path including the crankshaft 7a, the human-power transmission member 28, and the combined force member 28. The human-power transmission member 28 and the combined force member 29 are always rotated in response to a rotation of the crankshaft 7a.Type: GrantFiled: July 11, 2012Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.Inventors: Masafumi Kawakami, Munehiro Date
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Patent number: 9434446Abstract: An electric bicycle is provided that can increase the diameter of the joining section between a crankshaft and a crank arm, suppress an increase in manufacturing cost, and minimize a size increase of a hanger with a torque sensor disposed in the hanger. A crankshaft 17 is divided into a crankshaft body 17A on the periphery of which a torque sensor 23 is disposed, and an auxiliary crankshaft 17B connected to one side of the crankshaft body 17A. A diameter D1 of the joining section between the auxiliary crankshaft 17B and a crank arm 18B and a diameter D3 of the joining section between the crankshaft body 17A and a crank arm 18A are larger than a diameter D2 of the connecting section between the crankshaft body 17A and the auxiliary crankshaft 17B.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2012Date of Patent: September 6, 2016Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.Inventor: Masafumi Kawakami
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Patent number: 9381972Abstract: A power-assisted bicycle is provided to satisfactorily keep torque detection capability while reducing the pedal force of a pedal during pedaling if a battery has run out. A cylindrical human-power transmission member 28 having a magneto-striction generation portion 31b of a torque sensor 31 is disposed on the outer periphery of a crankshaft 7a. A combined force member 29 for combining a human driving force and an auxiliary driving force is disposed on the outer periphery of the crankshaft 7a. An auxiliary-driving-force transmission path from a motor 21 to the combined force member 29 has a deceleration mechanism 25 that includes a plurality of reduction gears 36c and 36d and reduction gear support shafts 36a and 36b. A one-way clutch 37 for interrupting a human driving force is disposed between the reduction gears 36c and 36d and the reduction gear support shafts 36a and 36b.Type: GrantFiled: February 17, 2015Date of Patent: July 5, 2016Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.Inventors: Masafumi Kawakami, Munehiro Date
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Publication number: 20160167733Abstract: Provided is an electric assist bicycle that can apply a sufficient auxiliary driving force with a satisfactory gear change, preclude problems caused by interference between a mount or a battery and a front derailleur, and prevent a reduction in torque transmission efficiency. A cylindrical human-power transmission member that receives a transmitted human driving force is disposed on the outer periphery of a crank shaft, and a combined-force transmission member that receives the combined force of a human driving force and an auxiliary driving force from a motor is disposed on the outer periphery of the crank shaft. The electric assist bicycle includes a speed reduction mechanism that has pairs of reduction gears and a selection clutch engageable with the reduction gears, combines the human driving force and the auxiliary driving force, and changes gears for the combined force of the human driving force and the auxiliary driving force.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 16, 2013Publication date: June 16, 2016Inventor: Masafumi Kawakami
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Publication number: 20150191215Abstract: An electrically assisted bicycle is provided with a so-called single-shaft motor drive unit that can satisfactorily keep torque detection capability. The outer periphery of a crankshaft 7a has a cylindrical human-power transmission member 28 having a torque sensor 31 for detecting a human driving force and a combined force member 29 that combines a human driving force and an auxiliary driving force from a motor 21. A one-way clutch is not provided on a driving force transmission path including the crankshaft 7a, the human-power transmission member 28, and the combined force member 28. The human-power transmission member 28 and the combined force member 29 are always rotated in response to a rotation of the crankshaft 7a.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 11, 2012Publication date: July 9, 2015Applicant: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.Inventors: Masafumi Kawakami, Munehiro Date
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Publication number: 20150158550Abstract: A power-assisted bicycle is provided to satisfactorily keep torque detection capability while reducing the pedal force of a pedal during pedaling if a battery has run out. A cylindrical human-power transmission member 28 having a magneto-striction generation portion 31b of a torque sensor 31 is disposed on the outer periphery of a crankshaft 7a. A combined force member 29 for combining a human driving force and an auxiliary driving force is disposed on the outer periphery of the crankshaft 7a. An auxiliary-driving-force transmission path from a motor 21 to the combined force member 29 has a deceleration mechanism 25 that includes a plurality of reduction gears 36c and 36d and reduction gear support shafts 36a and 36b. A one-way clutch 37 for interrupting a human driving force is disposed between the reduction gears 36c and 36d and the reduction gear support shafts 36a and 36b.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 17, 2015Publication date: June 11, 2015Inventors: Masafumi KAWAKAMI, Munehiro DATE
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Publication number: 20150020621Abstract: An electric bicycle is provided that can increase the diameter of the joining section between a crankshaft and a crank arm, suppress an increase in manufacturing cost, and minimize a size increase of a hanger with a torque sensor disposed in the hanger. A crankshaft 17 is divided into a crankshaft body 17A on the periphery of which a torque sensor 23 is disposed, and an auxiliary crankshaft 17B connected to one side of the crankshaft body 17A. A diameter D1 of the joining section between the auxiliary crankshaft 17B and a crank arm 18B and a diameter D3 of the joining section between the crankshaft body 17A and a crank arm 18A are larger than a diameter D2 of the connecting section between the crankshaft body 17A and the auxiliary crankshaft 17B.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 8, 2012Publication date: January 22, 2015Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATIONInventor: Masafumi Kawakami
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Patent number: 4664167Abstract: A radial tire for industrial vehicles such as a forklift truck, shovel truck, and straddle carrier which are used for cargo handling, having a tread reinforced with a plurality of stiff cord layers placed one over the other such as steel cord which is superior in cut resistance, said cord layers being arranged between said carcass ply and said tread and in proximity to said carcass ply, said tread having a large number of stepwise grooves arranged in the circumferential direction of the tire, characterized in that the raised portion divided by the stepwise grooves has at least one secondary groove which has a narrower groove width, and is superior in traction and braking performance, cut resistance, puncture resistance, wear resistance, heat resistance, and lateral stability.Type: GrantFiled: December 24, 1985Date of Patent: May 12, 1987Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.Inventors: Masafumi Kawakami, Takashi Nishimura
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Patent number: D289889Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 1984Date of Patent: May 19, 1987Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.Inventors: Takashi Nishimura, Masafumi Kawakami
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Patent number: D290828Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 1984Date of Patent: July 14, 1987Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.Inventors: Takashi Nishimura, Masafumi Kawakami