Patents by Inventor Masahiro Kawai

Masahiro Kawai 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: 9541147
    Abstract: A clutch unit includes a lever-side clutch section provided on an input side, for controlling rotational torque to be input through lever operation, and a brake-side clutch section provided on an output side, for transmitting the rotational torque from the lever-side clutch section to the output side, and interrupting rotational torque to be reversely input from the output side. The brake-side clutch section has a two-layer structure, in which two one-way clutches are arranged side by side in an axial direction. The first one-way clutch interrupts rotational torque in a forward direction, which is reversely input from the output side, through meshing of serrated projection and depression portions, whereas the second one-way clutch interrupts rotational torque in a backward direction, which is reversely input from the output side, through meshing of serrated projection and depression portions arranged in an opposite direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kouji Isoda, Takahide Saito, Masahiro Kawai, Yasumasa Hibi, Yumiko Mineno
  • Patent number: 9506794
    Abstract: A flow rate measuring device includes: a bypass passage; a flow rate detecting element; and a flow rate measuring circuit. The bypass passage includes: an inflow port; an outflow port; and a plurality of bent portions. The plurality of bent portions include first to third bent portions for forming U-shapes, and a fourth bent portion for bending the bypass passage bent at the third bent portion so as to be parallel to a mainstream flowing direction. The flow rate detecting element is arranged inside the bypass passage in a part after bending at the fourth bent portion. A route connecting the inflow port and the flow rate detecting element as a straight line is blocked by an inner wall surface of the bypass passage on an outer peripheral side, which is formed between the first bent portion and the second bent portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuto Akagi, Naoyuki Kishikawa, Hiroyuki Uramachi, Hiroshi Sakanoue, Masahiro Kawai, Yuji Ariyoshi
  • Publication number: 20160273949
    Abstract: Provided is an intake air temperature detection apparatus mounted integrally with a flow rate measurement apparatus, the intake air temperature detection apparatus having temperature measurement precision improved by increasing thermal responsiveness of an intake air temperature detection part that is arranged in a measurement passage of the flow rate measurement apparatus and detects a temperature of intake air, which is a fluid to be measured. The intake air temperature measurement apparatus includes: the intake air temperature detection part for detecting a temperature of the intake air in the measurement passage of the flow rate measurement apparatus; and an intake air temperature detection circuit part arranged in a circuit accommodating part of the flow rate measurement apparatus, for generating a signal obtained by carrying out phase lead correction on a signal representing a result of detection by the intake air temperature detection part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2015
    Publication date: September 22, 2016
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masahiro KAWAI, Yuji ARIYOSHI, Koji TANIMOTO, Shinichiro HIDAKA
  • Patent number: 9400198
    Abstract: In a flow sensor, an upstream heating element and a downstream heating element are disposed, respectively, upstream and downstream in a flow direction of a fluid so as to undergo mutual thermal interference. By controlling heating currents flown through the respective heating elements, an average temperature control portion maintains an average temperature of the two heating elements at a temperature predetermined degrees higher than a temperature of the fluid detected by a fluid temperature detection portion while a voltage ratio control portion performs control so that a temperature difference or a ratio of applied voltages between the two heating elements takes a predetermined value. A detection signal corresponding to a flow direction of the fluid is obtained from a state of the control on the heating currents and whether a flow direction of the fluid is forward or backward is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Otsuka, Yuji Ariyoshi, Masahiro Kawai, Shinichiro Hidaka
  • Publication number: 20160186820
    Abstract: A rotation transmission device is provided in which leakage of magnetism from an armature to a control retainer is reduced, and of which a two-way clutch can be operated accurately and reliably. This device includes a restricting arrangement for restricting the fitting amount between a coupling tube of the armature and a tubular portion of the control retainer such that a gap is defined between a back surface of the armature, with respect to its surface to be attracted to a rotor, and an end surface of the tubular portion, to prevent leakage of magnetism from the back surface of the armature to the end surface of the tubular portion when an electromagnet is energized and the armature is pulled to the rotor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2014
    Publication date: June 30, 2016
    Applicant: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Naotsugu KITAYAMA, Kyohei SASANUMA, Marina FUKUNARI, Takahide SAITO, Koji SATO, Masahiro KAWAI
  • Patent number: 9328686
    Abstract: A detection element portion is provided on an inner surface side of a plate as a wall surface portion defining a measurement passage in a flow measuring device. An intake-air temperature detection portion detecting a temperature of a fluid being measured is provided on one main surface of a substrate forming the detection element portion. A ventilation hole allowing a main passage in which the fluid being measured flows and the measurement passage to communicate is provided so as to penetrate through the plate. By achieving a state in which the substrate forming the detection element portion is installed so that an end thereof protrudes into the ventilation hole and a back surface of the end portion of the detection element portion where the intake-air temperature detection portion is formed is exposed toward the main passage, a response speed is enhanced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiro Kawai, Naoki Morinaga, Kazuhiko Otsuka, Yuji Ariyoshi
  • Publication number: 20160116314
    Abstract: A flow rate measuring device includes: a bypass passage; a flow rate detecting element; and a flow rate measuring circuit. The bypass passage includes: an inflow port; an outflow port; and a plurality of bent portions. The plurality of bent portions include first to third bent portions for forming U-shapes, and a fourth bent portion for bending the bypass passage bent at the third bent portion so as to be parallel to a mainstream flowing direction. The flow rate detecting element is arranged inside the bypass passage in a part after bending at the fourth bent portion. A route connecting the inflow port and the flow rate detecting element as a straight line is blocked by an inner wall surface of the bypass passage on an outer peripheral side, which is formed between the first bent portion and the second bent portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2015
    Publication date: April 28, 2016
    Inventors: Kazuto AKAGI, Naoyuki KISHIKAWA, Hiroyuki URAMACHI, Hiroshi SAKANOUE, Masahiro KAWAI, Yuji ARIYOSHI
  • Publication number: 20160097661
    Abstract: An environment sensor is mounted on a second surface of a circuit board that does not have a wire bonding pad, and is arranged in a measuring chamber that is disposed in a circuit board receiving portion. The measuring chamber has a communication port for communication with a main passage. According to this configuration, process addition attributable to integration between a flow rate measurement device and the environment sensor is not required. The environment sensor does not affect air flow in a bypass passage, and thus detection accuracy of a flow rate detection element that is arranged in the bypass passage does not decline.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2015
    Publication date: April 7, 2016
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Shinichiro HIDAKA, Yuji ARIYOSHI, Masahiro KAWAI, Kazuhiko OTSUKA, Naoyuki KISHIKAWA, Naoki MORINAGA
  • Publication number: 20160010702
    Abstract: A rotation transmission device is provided which generates less colliding sounds and vibrations. The rotation transmission device is configured such that when an electromagnet of an electromagnetic clutch is energized, an armature is attracted toward a rotor, so that a control retainer forming a two-way clutch is moved in the axial direction, whereby the control retainer and a rotary retainer are rotated relative to each other in the direction in which the circumferential widths of pockets decrease, thereby disengaging pairs of rollers from the inner periphery of an outer ring and the outer periphery of an inner ring. The rotation transmission device includes a shock absorbing member provided on the surface of the armature facing the rotor and configured to absorb impact force when the armature is attracted to the rotor by being elastically deformed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2014
    Publication date: January 14, 2016
    Inventors: Naotsugu KITAYAMA, Marina FUKUNARI, Kyohei SASANUMA, Koji AKIYOSHI, Masahiro KAWAI, Takahide SAITO, Koji SATO
  • Patent number: 9234817
    Abstract: Dust with various particle diameters entering a bypass passage, particularly, relatively large dust with a particle diameter of 100 to 200 ?m or so, is reliably caused to collide with a first step-shaped part, a second step-shaped part and a plate-like member to be sufficiently decelerated and reach a flow rate detecting device with low collision energy. This can prevent the flow rate detecting device from being damaged by collision of dust. Furthermore, the placement position of the plate-like member is optimized to suppress air turbulence at a flow rate detecting part, which achieves a good balance between flow rate detection accuracy and dust tolerance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Naoyuki Kishikawa, Yuji Ariyoshi, Masahiro Kawai, Hiroyuki Uramachi, Kazuto Akagi
  • Publication number: 20150330324
    Abstract: A detection element portion is provided on an inner surface side of a plate as a wall surface portion defining a measurement passage in a flow measuring device. An intake-air temperature detection portion detecting a temperature of a fluid being measured is provided on one main surface of a substrate forming the detection element portion. A ventilation hole allowing a main passage in which the fluid being measured flows and the measurement passage to communicate is provided so as to penetrate through the plate. By achieving a state in which the substrate forming the detection element portion is installed so that an end thereof protrudes into the ventilation hole and a back surface of the end portion of the detection element portion where the intake-air temperature detection portion is formed is exposed toward the main passage, a response speed is enhanced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2014
    Publication date: November 19, 2015
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masahiro KAWAI, Naoki MORINAGA, Kazuhiko OTSUKA, Yuji ARIYOSHI
  • Publication number: 20150300435
    Abstract: A clutch unit includes a lever-side clutch portion for controlling transmission and interruption of rotational torque to an output side through lever operation, and a brake-side clutch portion for transmitting torque input from the lever-side clutch portion to the output side and for interrupting torque reversely input from the output side. The lever-side clutch portion has an outer centering spring provided between a lever-side outer ring to be rotated through the lever operation and a cover restricted in rotation, for accumulating an elastic force obtained by torque input from the lever-side outer ring and for restoring the lever-side outer ring to a neutral state with the accumulated elastic force through releasing of the torque input from the lever-side outer ring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2015
    Publication date: October 22, 2015
    Applicant: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Koji SATO, Takahide SAITO, Masahiro KAWAI, Kouji ISODA, Naochika KUBOTA, Yumiko MINENO, Hiromitsu HAMAZAKI
  • Patent number: 9163686
    Abstract: A brake-side clutch section on an output side transmits rotational torque input from a lever-side clutch section on an input side, for controlling transmission and interruption of the rotational torque to the output side through lever operation, to the output side, and interrupts rotational torque reversely input from the output side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masahiro Kawai, Kouji Isoda, Naotsugu Kitayama
  • Publication number: 20150240897
    Abstract: A clutch unit includes a lever-side clutch portion for controlling transmission and interruption of rotational torque to an output side through lever operation, and a brake-side clutch portion for transmitting torque input from the lever-side clutch portion to the output side and for interrupting torque reversely input from the output side. The lever-side clutch portion has an outer centering spring provided between a lever-side outer ring to be rotated through the lever operation and a cover restricted in rotation, for accumulating an elastic force obtained by torque input from the lever-side outer ring and for restoring the lever-side outer ring to a neutral state with the accumulated elastic force through releasing of the torque input from the lever-side outer ring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2015
    Publication date: August 27, 2015
    Applicant: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Koji SATO, Takahide SAITO, Masahiro KAWAI, Kouji ISODA, Naochika KUBOTA, Yumiko MINENO, Hiromitsu HAMAZAKI
  • Publication number: 20150240896
    Abstract: A clutch unit includes a lever-side clutch portion for controlling transmission and interruption of rotational torque to an output side through lever operation, and a brake-side clutch portion for transmitting torque input from the lever-side clutch portion to the output side and for interrupting torque reversely input from the output side. The lever-side clutch portion has an outer centering spring provided between a lever-side outer ring to be rotated through the lever operation and a cover restricted in rotation, for accumulating an elastic force obtained by torque input from the lever-side outer ring and for restoring the lever-side outer ring to a neutral state with the accumulated elastic force through releasing of the torque input from the lever-side outer ring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2015
    Publication date: August 27, 2015
    Applicant: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Koji SATO, Takahide SAITO, Masahiro KAWAI, Kouji ISODA, Naochika KUBOTA, Yumiko MINENO, Hiromitsu HAMAZAKI
  • Publication number: 20150240898
    Abstract: A clutch unit includes a lever-side clutch portion for controlling transmission and interruption of rotational torque to an output side through lever operation, and a brake-side clutch portion for transmitting torque input from the lever-side clutch portion to the output side and for interrupting torque reversely input from the output side. The lever-side clutch portion has an outer centering spring provided between a lever-side outer ring to be rotated through the lever operation and a cover restricted in rotation, for accumulating an elastic force obtained by torque input from the lever-side outer ring and for restoring the lever-side outer ring to a neutral state with the accumulated elastic force through releasing of the torque input from the lever-side outer ring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2015
    Publication date: August 27, 2015
    Applicant: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Koji SATO, Takahide SAITO, Masahiro KAWAI, Kouji ISODA, Naochika KUBOTA, Yumiko MINENO, Hiromitsu HAMAZAKI
  • Patent number: 9074644
    Abstract: A clutch unit includes a lever-side clutch portion for controlling transmission and interruption of rotational torque to an output side through lever operation, and a brake-side clutch portion for transmitting torque input from the lever-side clutch portion to the output side and for interrupting torque reversely input from the output side. The lever-side clutch portion has an outer centering spring provided between a lever-side outer ring to be rotated through the lever operation and a cover restricted in rotation, for accumulating an elastic force obtained by torque input from the lever-side outer ring and for restoring the lever-side outer ring to a neutral state with the accumulated elastic force through releasing of the torque input from the lever-side outer ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Koji Sato, Takahide Saito, Masahiro Kawai, Kouji Isoda, Naochika Kubota, Yumiko Mineno, Hiromitsu Hamazaki
  • Publication number: 20150185061
    Abstract: In a flow sensor, an upstream heating element and a downstream heating element are disposed, respectively, upstream and downstream in a flow direction of a fluid so as to undergo mutual thermal interference. By controlling heating currents flown through the respective heating elements, an average temperature control portion maintains an average temperature of the two heating elements at a temperature predetermined degrees higher than a temperature of the fluid detected by a fluid temperature detection portion while a voltage ratio control portion performs control so that a temperature difference or a ratio of applied voltages between the two heating elements takes a predetermined value. A detection signal corresponding to a flow direction of the fluid is obtained from a state of the control on the heating currents and whether a flow direction of the fluid is forward or backward is determined.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2014
    Publication date: July 2, 2015
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuhiko OTSUKA, Yuji ARIYOSHI, Masahiro KAWAI, Shinichiro HIDAKA
  • Publication number: 20150101402
    Abstract: Dust with various particle diameters entering a bypass passage, particularly, relatively large dust with a particle diameter of 100 to 200 ?m or so, is reliably caused to collide with a first step-shaped part, a second step-shaped part and a plate-like member to be sufficiently decelerated and reach a flow rate detecting device with low collision energy. This can prevent the flow rate detecting device from being damaged by collision of dust. Furthermore, the placement position of the plate-like member is optimized to suppress air turbulence at a flow rate detecting part, which achieves a good balance between flow rate detection accuracy and dust tolerance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2014
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Naoyuki KISHIKAWA, Yuji ARIYOSHI, Masahiro KAWAI, Hiroyuki URAMACHI, Kazuto AKAGI
  • Publication number: 20150096859
    Abstract: A clutch unit includes a lever-side clutch section provided on an input side, for controlling rotational torque to be input through lever operation, and a brake-side clutch section provided on an output side, for transmitting the rotational torque from the lever-side clutch section to the output side, and interrupting rotational torque to be reversely input from the output side. The brake-side clutch section has a two-layer structure, in which two one-way clutches are arranged side by side in an axial direction. The first one-way clutch interrupts rotational torque in a forward direction, which is reversely input from the output side, through meshing of serrated projection and depression portions, whereas the second one-way clutch interrupts rotational torque in a backward direction, which is reversely input from the output side, through meshing of serrated projection and depression portions arranged in an opposite direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2013
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Applicant: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kouji Isoda, Takahide Saito, Masahiro Kawai, Yasumasa Hibi, Yumiko Mineno