Patents by Inventor Masaki Numakura

Masaki Numakura 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: 20240308374
    Abstract: In a vehicle management device that is used in an electrified vehicle equipped with a power storage device, and sets, when the electrified vehicle is able to transmit and receive power to and from a predetermined facility, a charging start time for external charging for charging the power storage device using power from the predetermined facility, based on a next scheduled travel start time or a set time, when the electrified vehicle is able to transmit and receive the power to and from the predetermined facility, the charging start time is set based on scheduled charging power in the external charging, the scheduled charging power being determined within a range of allowable power of the predetermined facility.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2023
    Publication date: September 19, 2024
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masaki NUMAKURA
  • Patent number: 11933022
    Abstract: A tractor includes a working motor, a work machine including a roller configured to rotate by an output from the working motor, a support mechanism configured to support the work machine such that a working posture and a retracting posture are achievable, and a control device. The control device executes: an adherence amount acquisition process of acquiring an estimated adherence amount as an estimated value for the amount of mud attached to the roller; and a mud removal process of, when the estimated adherence amount is equal to or more than a determination adherence amount, removing the mud from the roller by driving the working motor in a state where the work machine takes the retracting posture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuki Sugo, Masaki Numakura, Makoto Hirai, Taiga Higuchi, Tomohiro Sato, Hiroyuki Azuma
  • Patent number: 11881062
    Abstract: Provided is a control device of a working vehicle including a prime mover and a driving mechanism that drives an implement based on power of the prime mover, wherein the control device is configured to obtain a steering angle of the working vehicle, and detect switching between tasks performed by the working vehicle in a farm field, when the steering angle is equal to or greater than a predetermined angle indicating the switching between tasks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuki Sugo, Makoto Hirai, Masaki Numakura, Tomohiro Sato, Taiga Higuchi, Hiroyuki Azuma
  • Publication number: 20220319248
    Abstract: Provided is a control device of a working vehicle including a prime mover and a driving mechanism that drives an implement based on power of the prime mover, wherein the control device is configured to obtain a steering angle of the working vehicle, and detect switching between tasks performed by the working vehicle in a farm field, when the steering angle is equal to or greater than a predetermined angle indicating the switching between tasks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2022
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Inventors: Yuki SUGO, Makoto HIRAI, Masaki NUMAKURA, Tomohiro SATO, Taiga HIGUCHI, Hiroyuki AZUMA
  • Publication number: 20220282452
    Abstract: A tractor includes a working motor, a work machine including a roller configured to rotate by an output from the working motor, a support mechanism configured to support the work machine such that a working posture and a retracting posture are achievable, and a control device. The control device executes: an adherence amount acquisition process of acquiring an estimated adherence amount as an estimated value for the amount of mud attached to the roller; and a mud removal process of, when the estimated adherence amount is equal to or more than a determination adherence amount, removing the mud from the roller by driving the working motor in a state where the work machine takes the retracting posture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2022
    Publication date: September 8, 2022
    Inventors: Yuki SUGO, Masaki NUMAKURA, Makoto HIRAI, Taiga HIGUCHI, Tomohiro SATO, Hiroyuki AZUMA
  • Patent number: 9587523
    Abstract: An oil control valve has a housing and a spool valve that is arranged in the housing and is movable in the axial direction. The movement range of the spool valve includes a first area and a second area. In the first area, a port that is connected to a lock mechanism opens to prevent the movement of a variable valve timing mechanism through drainage of oil from the lock mechanism. In the second area, oil is supplied and drained to and from the variable valve timing mechanism through a passage inside the spool valve. The first area exists at a position separated from the second area in the movement range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masaki Numakura, Yuu Yokoyama
  • Patent number: 9464542
    Abstract: A variable valve timing apparatus includes: a variable valve timing mechanism; an intermediate locking mechanism that locks the valve timing at an intermediate timing; and a hydraulic pressure supply device that hydraulically actuates these mechanisms. The hydraulic pressure supply device uses a single oil control valve to control a state where lubricating oil is supplied to or drained from each of an advance chamber, a retard chamber and an intermediate chamber of an intermediate locking mechanism. The oil control valve has first to fourth modes. The oil control valve advances the valve timing and actuates the intermediate locking mechanism in a projecting direction in the third mode, and, under a situation that the amount of lubricating oil supplied to the variable valve timing mechanism is smaller than that in the third mode, advances the valve timing and actuates the intermediate locking mechanism in a release direction in the fourth mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masaki Numakura, Yuu Yokoyama, Yoshiro Kamo
  • Patent number: 9175583
    Abstract: When a start-up failure occurs wherein an internal combustion engine equipped with a variable valve device does not transition to complete combustion before a first prescribed period ? elapses from the start of cranking in conjunction with fuel injection, a control unit for the internal combustion engine executes a start-up failure process addressing a state wherein the valve timing is different from a specific timing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toshio Imamura, Yoshiaki Miyazato, Yuu Yokoyama, Masaki Numakura, Yoshiki Endo
  • Publication number: 20150285105
    Abstract: An oil control valve has a housing and a spool valve that is arranged in the housing and is movable in the axial direction. The movement range of the spool valve includes a first area and a second area. In the first area, a port that is connected to a lock mechanism opens to prevent the movement of a variable valve timing mechanism through drainage of oil from the lock mechanism. In the second area, oil is supplied and drained to and from the variable valve timing mechanism through a passage inside the spool valve. The first area exists at a position separated from the second area in the movement range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2013
    Publication date: October 8, 2015
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masaki NUMAKURA, Yuu YOKOYAMA
  • Patent number: 9010289
    Abstract: In a hydraulic variable valve timing mechanism including a lock pin that locks a vane rotor and a housing against relative rotation in the most retarding phase, a specified angle ? is set so that release of the lock pin is started at a time when positive cam torque acts on the vane rotor. When the crank angle reaches the specified angle ?, supply of hydraulic pressure to the advancing oil chamber is started to release the lock pin from the engagement with the lock hole, thereby enabling a reliable release of the lock pin prior to start of change of valve timing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Haruhito Fujimura, Yuu Yokoyama, Masaki Numakura
  • Patent number: 8925503
    Abstract: A variable valve actuation device for an internal combustion engine includes a variable valve timing mechanism and a valve timing restricting mechanism. When the operating state of the variable valve timing mechanism is in the phase restricting state and the operating state of the variable valve timing mechanism is changed to the phase releasing state on the basis of pressing the accelerator pedal, a torque limiting control is then performed to limit an increase in the torque of the internal combustion engine. With this control the rate of increase of the torque is set less than the rate of increase of the torque corresponding to the operation of pressing the accelerator pedal by retarding and correcting the ignition timing. Thus, when the operating state of the variable valve timing mechanism is changed from the phase restricting state to the phase releasing state, thereby reducing discomfort experienced by the driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Miyazato, Toshio Imamura, Yuu Yokoyama, Masaki Numakura
  • Patent number: 8910617
    Abstract: If a relative rotational phase between a first rotor drivably connected to a crankshaft and a second rotor drivably connected to a camshaft is not an intermediate lock phase when an engine is started, a fuel injection starting timing is delayed more than that of the time when the relative rotational phase is the intermediate lock phase. The delay time is determined according to the working oil temperature of a valve timing mechanism during the engine start or the same oil temperature at the previous stop time of the engine, for example. As a result, the start of the engine can be completed as soon as possible while retaining the startability of the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuu Yokoyama, Masaki Numakura
  • Patent number: 8683968
    Abstract: Provided is a variable valve assembly for internal combustion engines which is capable of accurately determining whether an input rotational component and an output rotational component are fixed to each other. The variable valve assembly includes an intake camshaft for driving an intake valve and a crankshaft for driving the camshaft. The variable valve assembly has a function for changing the relative rotational phase of the intake camshaft with respect to the crankshaft and a function for fixing the intake camshaft to the crankshaft. The variable valve assembly determines whether the intake camshaft is fixed to the crankshaft, on the basis of a total amount of phase variation HCC or the amount of variation in the relative rotational phase of the intake camshaft with respect to the crankshaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuu Yokoyama, Masaki Numakura
  • Patent number: 8656876
    Abstract: A primary resilient member urges a primary limiting member into a recess in an inserting direction in a state where a rotational phase is a limited phase in a limited phase range. A relative slide gap is radially provided between the primary limiting member and a secondary limiting member at a location adjacent to a working chamber. First and second primary slide gaps are radially provided between the primary limiting member and radially opposed wall surface sections of the receiving hole. A secondary slide gap is radially provided between the secondary limiting member and a radially opposed wall surface section of the receiving hole. The relative slide gap is larger than the first and second primary slide gaps and the secondary slide gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignees: Denso Corporation, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshiki Fujiyoshi, Masaki Numakura, Yuu Yokoyama
  • Publication number: 20140048026
    Abstract: A variable valve actuation device for an internal combustion engine includes a variable valve timing mechanism and a valve timing restricting mechanism. When the operating state of the variable valve timing mechanism is in the phase restricting state and the operating state of the variable valve timing mechanism is changed to the phase releasing state on the basis of pressing the accelerator pedal, a torque limiting control is then performed to limit an increase in the torque of the internal combustion engine. With this control the rate of increase of the torque is set less than the rate of increase of the torque corresponding to the operation of pressing the accelerator pedal by retarding and correcting the ignition timing. Thus, when the operating state of the variable valve timing mechanism is changed from the phase restricting state to the phase releasing state, thereby reducing discomfort experienced by the driver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2011
    Publication date: February 20, 2014
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Miyazato, Toshio Imamura, Yuu Yokoyama, Masaki Numakura
  • Patent number: 8578900
    Abstract: A profile of a cam (33) of a camshaft (32) is set based on a relationship of a stop position of a vane rotor (36) at a most retarded phase relative to a housing rotor (37). In other words, the profile of the cam (33) arranged in the camshaft (32) is set so that a second opening (110B) of a communication passage (100), which opens in a second retardment chamber (52B), is located upward in a vertical direction from the axis C of the camshaft (32) when the camshaft (32) is at a neutral position, that is, when torque applied from the cam (33) to the camshaft (32) is the smallest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinichiro Kikuoka, Masaki Numakura
  • Publication number: 20130291835
    Abstract: When a start-up failure occurs wherein an internal combustion engine equipped with a variable valve device does not transition to complete combustion before a first prescribed period ? elapses from the start of cranking in conjunction with fuel injection, a control unit for the internal combustion engine executes a start-up failure process addressing a state wherein the valve timing is different from a specific timing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2011
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toshio Imamura, Yoshiaki Miyazato, Yuu Yokoyama, Masaki Numakura, Yoshiki Endo
  • Patent number: 8522737
    Abstract: An intermediate lock mechanism is formed by first and second lock pins, an advancement restricting groove, and a retardation restricting groove. The first and second lock pins are arranged in a vane rotor 2 and projectable and retractable independently from each other. The advancement restricting groove is formed in a cover and becomes engaged with the first lock pin when the first lock pin is projected, thereby locking, at an intermediate lock phase, rotation of the vane rotor to the advancing side. The retardation restricting groove is formed in a cam sprocket and becomes engaged with the second lock pin when the second lock pin is projected, thereby locking, at the intermediate lock phase, rotation of the vane rotor to the retarding side. In this manner, reliable locking is ensured, and chattering of the vane rotor is easily prevented when locking is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuu Yokoyama, Masaki Numakura
  • Publication number: 20130213326
    Abstract: In a hydraulic variable valve timing mechanism including a lock pin that locks a vane rotor and a housing against relative rotation in the most retarding phase, a specified angle ? is set so that release of the lock pin is started at a time when positive cam torque acts on the vane rotor. When the crank angle reaches the specified angle ?, supply of hydraulic pressure to the advancing oil chamber is started to release the lock pin from the engagement with the lock hole, thereby enabling a reliable release of the lock pin prior to start of change of valve timing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2010
    Publication date: August 22, 2013
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Haruhito Fujimura, Yuu Yokoyama, Masaki Numakura
  • Publication number: 20130055980
    Abstract: Provided is a variable valve assembly for internal combustion engines which is capable of accurately determining whether an input rotational component and an output rotational component are fixed to each other. The variable valve assembly includes an intake camshaft for driving an intake valve and a crankshaft for driving the camshaft. The variable valve assembly has a function for changing the relative rotational phase of the intake camshaft with respect to the crankshaft and a function for fixing the intake camshaft to the crankshaft. The variable valve assembly determines whether the intake camshaft is fixed to the crankshaft, on the basis of a total amount of phase variation HCC or the amount of variation in the relative rotational phase of the intake camshaft with respect to the crankshaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2010
    Publication date: March 7, 2013
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuu Yokoyama, Masaki Numakura