Patents by Inventor Masana OKAI
Masana OKAI 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: 20240272115Abstract: A gas sensor is configured to inhibit wear of a metal member contacting with a member containing ceramic. The gas sensor comprising: a separator containing ceramic; and a metal holder contacting with the separator, wherein the metal holder is a disc spring, and an inner circumferential end on a projecting surface side of the metal holder forms the contact part.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 5, 2024Publication date: August 15, 2024Applicant: Niterra Co., Ltd.Inventors: Masana OKAI, Takehiro OBA, Masaaki ANDO
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Publication number: 20240175843Abstract: A gas sensor (1) including: a sensor element (21); a tubular casing (81); a lead wire (71); and an elastic member (85) having a terminal passage hole (85h) through which the lead wire passes, the terminal passage hole having two or more annular projecting ridges (85R1-85R2) on an inner surface thereof, the elastic member being placed on a rear-end of the casing and sealing the opening (81e), wherein the casing is reduced in diameter by a crimping portion (81c) so that the projecting ridges contact with an outer surface of the lead wire in an airtight state, and when the elastic member is viewed in a state of being removed from the casing, an inner diameter d1 of a first projecting ridge which is the projecting ridge on a most-front-end side is smallest among inner diameters of all the projecting ridges.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 21, 2023Publication date: May 30, 2024Applicant: NITERRA CO., LTD.Inventors: Masana OKAI, Kensuke MIZUTANI, Ryoji AOKI, Yusuke ANDO
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Patent number: 11933750Abstract: A ceramic member unit includes at least insertion members and a ceramic member having insertion sections into which the insertion members are inserted respectively. Each of the insertion sections has at least an insertion opening which opens on a deeper side of an introduction opening in the surface of the ceramic member while communicating with the introduction opening and into which the insertion member can be inserted. The insertion section further has taper hole portions becoming narrower toward the insertion opening in a communication region between the introduction opening and the insertion opening. The taper hole portions are connected to the insertion opening while increasing in a taper angle toward the insertion opening.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2019Date of Patent: March 19, 2024Assignee: NITERRA CO., LTD.Inventors: Masana Okai, Kouji Matsuo, Daisuke Tahira
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Patent number: 11821865Abstract: A gas sensor including: a sensor element extending in an axial direction; a metal shell surrounding and supporting the sensor element; an exterior tube that is tubular and is mounted to a rear end of the metal shell; a metal terminal including a first end connected to a lead wire and a second end electrically connected to the sensor element; a separator that is tubular and is disposed in the exterior tube and contains the metal terminal and the sensor element; and a holder being in contact with the separator in the axial direction. The holder includes ribs formed in a frontward face or a rearward face of the holder and arranged at predetermined intervals in a circumferential direction. Each of the ribs occupies a region having a length equal to or greater than a thickness of the holder, as viewed in the axial direction.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2019Date of Patent: November 21, 2023Assignee: NITERRA CO., LTD.Inventors: Masana Okai, Takehiro Oba, Daisuke Tahira, Masashi Nomura
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Publication number: 20230074136Abstract: A gas sensor (200) including a sensor element (10) having electrode pads (11a-12b); a separator (166); and a plurality of metal terminals (21a, 21b, 22a, 22b) each having a body portion (21a1) and a front end portion (21a2), and being insulated from each other by the separator. The separator has an element storage portion (168) penetrating in the axial-line direction or recessed toward a rear side from a front facing surface of the separator, the element storage portion has a first storage space (168a) at a front side thereof and a second storage space (168b) at a rear side thereof, the second storage space has a rotation restriction wall (168w) configured such that a relative rotation allowable angle 2? between the sensor element and the separator is smaller than in the first storage space, and the rear end side of the sensor element is stored in the second storage space.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 22, 2021Publication date: March 9, 2023Applicant: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.Inventors: Daisuke MATSUYAMA, Kunihiko YONEZU, Masashi NOMURA, Yuto INOSE, Masana OKAI
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Publication number: 20220026388Abstract: A gas sensor including a plate-shaped sensor element having an electrode pad on an outer surface of the sensor element on a rear end side thereof, and a metal terminal member electrically connected to the electrode pad. The metal terminal member includes a body portion and an element abutting portion extending from the body portion and bent toward the electrode pad. A portion of the element abutting portion is in contact with the electrode pad in a state in which the element abutting portion is elastically deflected. The element abutting portion has a flat main surface facing the sensor element, and a sloping surface provided on at least one of end portions in a width direction of the metal terminal member. The sloping surface is connected to the main surface and extends toward an opposite side in a thickness direction of the element abutting portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 8, 2019Publication date: January 27, 2022Applicant: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.Inventors: Takehiro OBA, Masana OKAI
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Publication number: 20210349051Abstract: A gas sensor is configured to inhibit wear of a metal member contacting with a member containing ceramic. The gas sensor comprising: a first member containing ceramic; and a metal member contacting with the first member, wherein a hardness h1 of a contact part of the metal member contacting with the first member is greater than a hardness h2 of a reference part exhibiting a maximum thickness of the metal member.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 16, 2020Publication date: November 11, 2021Applicant: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.Inventors: Masana OKAI, Takehiro OBA, Masaaki ANDO
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Publication number: 20210247339Abstract: A ceramic member unit includes at least insertion members and a ceramic member having insertion sections into which the insertion members are inserted respectively. Each of the insertion sections has at least an insertion opening which opens on a deeper side of an introduction opening in the surface of the ceramic member while communicating with the introduction opening and into which the insertion member can be inserted. The insertion section further has taper hole portions becoming narrower toward the insertion opening in a communication region between the introduction opening and the insertion opening. The taper hole portions are connected to the insertion opening while increasing in a taper angle toward the insertion opening.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 8, 2019Publication date: August 12, 2021Applicant: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.Inventors: Masana OKAI, Kouji MATSUO, Daisuke TAHIRA
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Publication number: 20210072177Abstract: A gas sensor including: a sensor element extending in an axial direction; a metal shell surrounding and supporting the sensor element; an exterior tube that is tubular and is mounted to a rear end of the metal shell; a metal terminal including a first end connected to a lead wire and a second end electrically connected to the sensor element; a separator that is tubular and is disposed in the exterior tube and contains the metal terminal and the sensor element; and a holder being in contact with the separator in the axial direction. The holder includes ribs formed in a frontward face or a rearward face of the holder and arranged at predetermined intervals in a circumferential direction. Each of the ribs occupies a region having a length equal to or greater than a thickness of the holder, as viewed in the axial direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 8, 2019Publication date: March 11, 2021Applicant: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.Inventors: Masana OKAI, Takehiro OBA, Daisuke TAHIRA, Masashi NOMURA