Patents by Inventor Masanobu NAKABAYASHI

Masanobu NAKABAYASHI 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: 11167791
    Abstract: An articulated work vehicle in which front and rear frames are linked includes a joystick lever configured to be operated by an operator, a hydraulic actuator driven by hydraulic pressure, a control valve, a force imparting component, and a controller. The joystick lever is usable to set a target steering angle. The hydraulic actuator performs an articulation to change an actual steering angle of the front frame with respect to the rear frame in response to operation of the joystick lever. The control valve controls flow of fluid supplied to the hydraulic actuator so as to make the actual steering angle coincide with the target steering angle. The force imparting component applies an assisting force or a counterforce to operation of the joystick lever. The controller controls the force imparting component so as to generate resistance to operation of the joystick lever based on a start timing of an articulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: KOMATSU LTD.
    Inventors: Yuita Takenaka, Masanobu Nakabayashi, Masanori Ikari
  • Patent number: 10865543
    Abstract: An articulated work vehicle includes a hydraulic actuator, a control valve, a joystick lever, and a first link mechanism. A front frame is linked to a rear frame. The hydraulic actuator is configured to be driven by hydraulic pressure and configured to change a steering angle of the front frame with respect to the rear frame. The control valve is configured to control flow of fluid supplied to the hydraulic actuator. The joystick lever is disposed in a cab provided on the rear frame. The joystick lever is configured to be operated by an operator. The first link mechanism is disposed below the cab. The first link mechanism is configured to transmit an operation of the joystick lever to the control valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: KOMATSU LTD.
    Inventors: Yuita Takenaka, Masanobu Nakabayashi, Masanori Ikari
  • Patent number: 10850767
    Abstract: A work vehicle includes a hydraulic actuator, a hydraulic pump, an operation member, a control valve, an angular velocity corresponding value sensing unit, a notification component, and a controller. The actuator changes a steering angle based on a supplied fluid. The pump supplies fluid to the actuator. The operation member is operated by an operator when the steering angle is changed. The valve controls flow of fluid supplied from the pump to the actuator based on an amount the operation member is operated. The sensing unit senses a corresponding value corresponding to a steering angular velocity changed based on the flow of fluid. The notification component notifies that the corresponding value has reached a threshold value preset based on an upper limit of the steering angular velocity. The controller causes the notification component to perform a notification when it is detected that the corresponding value has reached the threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: KOMATSU LTD.
    Inventors: Yuita Takenaka, Masanori Ikari, Masanobu Nakabayashi
  • Patent number: 10794043
    Abstract: A work vehicle includes a hydraulic actuator, a control valve, a pressure sensing unit, a force imparting component, and a controller. The hydraulic actuator varies a steering angle. The control valve controls flow of fluid supplied to the hydraulic actuator. The operation member is configured to be operated by an operator and to control the control valve when varying the steering angle. The pressure sensing unit senses a pressure produced by the hydraulic actuator. The force imparting component imparts an assisting force or a counterforce to operation of the operation member. The controller controls the force imparting component so as to generate resistance to operation of the operation member based on a pressure value sensed by the pressure sensing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: KOMATSU LTD.
    Inventors: Yuita Takenaka, Masanori Ikari, Masanobu Nakabayashi
  • Patent number: 10730549
    Abstract: An articulated work vehicle with linked front and rear frames includes a joystick lever, a force imparting component, a speed sensor, and a controller. The joystick lever is configured to change a steering angle of the front frame with respect to the rear frame by operation by an operator. The force imparting component is configured to impart an assist force or a counterforce to operation of the joystick lever by the operator. The speed sensor is configured to sense speed of the work vehicle. The controller is configured to control the force imparting component so as to impart the assist force or the counterforce according to the speed sensed by the speed sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: KOMATSU LTD.
    Inventors: Yuita Takenaka, Masanobu Nakabayashi, Masanori Ikari
  • Patent number: 10562564
    Abstract: A work vehicle is articulated with a front frame and a rear frame linked to the front frame. The work vehicle includes a hydraulic actuator, a control valve, an operation member and a force imparting component. The hydraulic actuator is configured to be hydraulically driven to change a steering angle of the front frame with respect to the rear frame. The control valve is configured to control flow of fluid supplied to the hydraulic actuator. The operation member is linked to the control valve and configured to be operated by an operator. The force imparting component is configured to impart an assist force or a counterforce to an operation of the operation member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: KOMATSU LTD.
    Inventors: Masanori Ikari, Masanobu Nakabayashi, Yuita Takenaka, Masahiko Hamaguchi, Jun Itou, Kenichi Muramoto
  • Patent number: 10518803
    Abstract: An articulated work vehicle with linked front and rear frames includes a joystick lever, a hydraulic actuator, a control valve, a force imparting component, a joystick displacement sensor, a steering angle sensor, and a controller. The joystick lever is operated to allow a target steering angle to be set. The hydraulic actuator is driven hydraulically to change an actual steering angle. The control valve controls flow of fluid supplied to the hydraulic actuator to eliminate deviation between the target and actual steering angles. The force imparting component imparts an assist force or a counterforce to the operation of the joystick lever. The controller controls the force imparting component so that a counterforce is imparted to the operation of the joystick lever when the joystick lever has been operated in an opposite direction from a rotation direction of the front frame based on detections of the sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: KOMATSU LTD.
    Inventors: Yuita Takenaka, Masanobu Nakabayashi, Masanori Ikari
  • Patent number: 10384713
    Abstract: An articulated work vehicle with linked front and rear frames includes a joystick lever, a force imparting component, and a controller. The joystick lever can be moved to an inside or an outside with respect to an operator's seat by being operated by an operator, to change a steering angle of the front frame with respect to the rear frame. The force imparting component is configured to impart an assist force or a counterforce to an operation of the joystick lever by the operator. The controller controls the force imparting component so that an operating force required to move the joystick lever to the outside is different from an operating force required to move the joystick lever to the inside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: KOMATSU LTD.
    Inventors: Yuita Takenaka, Masanobu Nakabayashi, Masanori Ikari
  • Patent number: 10266200
    Abstract: An articulated work vehicle with linked front and rear frames includes a hydraulic actuator, a joystick lever operated by an operator, a control valve, a force imparting component, and a controller. The hydraulic actuator is driven hydraulically to change a steering angle of the front frame with respect to the rear frame. The control valve is linked to the joystick lever, to control flow of fluid supplied to the hydraulic actuator according to an operation amount of the joystick lever, and to restrict the operation amount of the joystick lever to a predetermined range. The force imparting component imparts an assist force or a counterforce to the operation of the joystick lever by the operator. The controller controls the force imparting component so as to decrease the assist force or increase the counterforce before the operation of the joystick lever is restricted by the control valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: KOMATSU LTD.
    Inventors: Yuita Takenaka, Masanobu Nakabayashi, Masanori Ikari
  • Publication number: 20190084615
    Abstract: A work vehicle includes a hydraulic actuator, a hydraulic pump, an operation member, a control valve, an angular velocity corresponding value sensing unit, a notification component, and a controller. The actuator changes a steering angle based on a supplied fluid. The pump supplies fluid to the actuator. The operation member is operated by an operator when the steering angle is changed. The valve controls flow of fluid supplied from the pump to the actuator based on an amount the operation member is operated. The sensing unit senses a corresponding value corresponding to a steering angular velocity changed based on the flow of fluid. The notification component notifies that the corresponding value has reached a threshold value preset based on an upper limit of the steering angular velocity. The controller causes the notification component to perform a notification when it is detected that the corresponding value has reached the threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2017
    Publication date: March 21, 2019
    Inventors: Yuita TAKENAKA, Masanori IKARI, Masanobu NAKABAYASHI
  • Publication number: 20190078299
    Abstract: A work vehicle includes a hydraulic actuator, a control valve, a pressure sensing unit, a force imparting component, and a controller. The hydraulic actuator varies a steering angle. The control valve controls flow of fluid supplied to the hydraulic actuator. The operation member is configured to be operated by an operator and to control the control valve when varying the steering angle. The pressure sensing unit senses a pressure produced by the hydraulic actuator. The force imparting component imparts an assisting force or a counterforce to operation of the operation member. The controller controls the force imparting component so as to generate resistance to operation of the operation member based on a pressure value sensed by the pressure sensing unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2017
    Publication date: March 14, 2019
    Applicant: KOMATSU LTD.
    Inventors: Yuita TAKENAKA, Masanori IKARI, Masanobu NAKABAYASHI
  • Publication number: 20190071119
    Abstract: An articulated work vehicle in which front and rear frames are linked includes a joystick lever configured to be operated by an operator, a hydraulic actuator driven by hydraulic pressure, a control valve, a force imparting component, and a controller. The joystick lever is usable to set a target steering angle. The hydraulic actuator performs an articulation to change an actual steering angle of the front frame with respect to the rear frame in response to operation of the joystick lever. The control valve controls flow of fluid supplied to the hydraulic actuator so as to make the actual steering angle coincide with the target steering angle. The force imparting component applies an assisting force or a counterforce to operation of the joystick lever. The controller controls the force imparting component so as to generate resistance to operation of the joystick lever based on a start timing of an articulation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2017
    Publication date: March 7, 2019
    Inventors: Yuita TAKENAKA, Masanobu NAKABAYASHI, Masanori IKARI
  • Publication number: 20190017245
    Abstract: An articulated work vehicle includes a hydraulic actuator, a control valve, a joystick lever, and a first link mechanism. A front frame is linked to a rear frame. The hydraulic actuator is configured to be driven by hydraulic pressure and configured to change a steering angle of the front frame with respect to the rear frame. The control valve is configured to control flow of fluid supplied to the hydraulic actuator. The joystick lever is disposed in a cab provided on the rear frame. The joystick lever is configured to be operated by an operator. The first link mechanism is disposed below the cab. The first link mechanism is configured to transmit an operation of the joystick lever to the control valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2017
    Publication date: January 17, 2019
    Inventors: Yuita TAKENAKA, Masanobu NAKABAYASHI, Masanori IKARI
  • Publication number: 20180105202
    Abstract: A work vehicle is articulated with a front frame and a rear frame linked to the front frame. The work vehicle includes a hydraulic actuator, a control valve, an operation member and a force imparting component. The hydraulic actuator is configured to be hydraulically driven to change a steering angle of the front frame with respect to the rear frame. The control valve is configured to control flow of fluid supplied to the hydraulic actuator. The operation member is linked to the control valve and configured to be operated by an operator. The force imparting component is configured to impart an assist force or a counterforce to an operation of the operation member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2016
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Inventors: Masanori IKARI, Masanobu NAKABAYASHI, Yuita TAKENAKA, Masahiko HAMAGUCHI, Jun ITOU, Kenichi MURAMOTO
  • Publication number: 20180105205
    Abstract: An articulated work vehicle with linked front and rear frames includes a joystick lever, a hydraulic actuator, a control valve, a force imparting component, a joystick displacement sensor, a steering angle sensor, and a controller. The joystick lever is operated to allow a target steering angle to be set. The hydraulic actuator is driven hydraulically to change an actual steering angle. The control valve controls flow of fluid supplied to the hydraulic actuator to eliminate deviation between the target and actual steering angles. The force imparting component imparts an assist force or a counterforce to the operation of the joystick lever. The controller controls the force imparting component so that a counterforce is imparted to the operation of the joystick lever when the joystick lever has been operated in an opposite direction from a rotation direction of the front frame based on detections of the sensors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2016
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Inventors: Yuita TAKENAKA, Masanobu NAKABAYASHI, Masanori IKARI
  • Publication number: 20180105203
    Abstract: An articulated work vehicle with linked front and rear frames includes a joystick lever, a force imparting component, and a controller. The joystick lever can be moved to an inside or an outside with respect to an operator's seat by being operated by an operator, to change a steering angle of the front frame with respect to the rear frame. The force imparting component is configured to impart an assist force or a counterforce to an operation of the joystick lever by the operator. The controller controls the force imparting component so that an operating force required to move the joystick lever to the outside is different from an operating force required to move the joystick lever to the inside.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2016
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Inventors: Yuita TAKENAKA, Masanobu NAKABAYASHI, Masanori IKARI
  • Publication number: 20180043929
    Abstract: An articulated work vehicle with linked front and rear frames includes a hydraulic actuator, a joystick lever operated by an operator, a control valve, a force imparting component, and a controller. The hydraulic actuator is driven hydraulically to change a steering angle of the front frame with respect to the rear frame. The control valve is linked to the joystick lever, to control flow of fluid supplied to the hydraulic actuator according to an operation amount of the joystick lever, and to restrict the operation amount of the joystick lever to a predetermined range. The force imparting component imparts an assist force or a counterforce to the operation of the joystick lever by the operator. The controller controls the force imparting component so as to decrease the assist force or increase the counterforce before the operation of the joystick lever is restricted by the control valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2016
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Inventors: Yuita TAKENAKA, Masanobu NAKABAYASHI, Masanori IKARI
  • Publication number: 20180037255
    Abstract: An articulated work vehicle with linked front and rear frames includes a joystick lever, a force imparting component, a speed sensor, and a controller. The joystick lever is configured to change a steering angle of the front frame with respect to the rear frame by operation by an operator. The force imparting component is configured to impart an assist force or a counterforce to operation of the joystick lever by the operator. The speed sensor is configured to sense speed of the work vehicle. The controller is configured to control the force imparting component so as to impart the assist force or the counterforce according to the speed sensed by the speed sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2016
    Publication date: February 8, 2018
    Inventors: Yuita TAKENAKA, Masanobu NAKABAYASHI, Masanori IKARI
  • Patent number: 9446669
    Abstract: A state display section of a work vehicle is configured to display whether an electricity storage apparatus is in an electricity charging or discharging state. A state determination unit is configured to determine the state to be displayed on the state display section on the basis of a parameter corresponding to electricity supplied to or discharged from the electricity storage apparatus. The state determination unit is configured to change a threshold for a parameter for determining if the state to be displayed on the state display section is to be set to the charging state (discharging state) based on whether or not the state displayed on the state display section most recently is the charging state (discharging state). Until a predetermined first time period elapses, the state determination section is configured to determine the state after the change as the state to be displayed on the state display section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: KOMATSU LTD.
    Inventors: Masanobu Nakabayashi, Shunsuke Miyamoto, Yasuki Kishimoto
  • Publication number: 20160144720
    Abstract: A state display section of a work vehicle is configured to display whether an electricity storage apparatus is in an electricity charging or discharging state. A state determination unit is configured to determine the state to be displayed on the state display section on the basis of a parameter corresponding to electricity supplied to or discharged from the electricity storage apparatus. The state determination unit is configured to change a threshold for a parameter for determining if the state to be displayed on the state display section is to be set to the charging state (discharging state) based on whether or not the state displayed on the state display section most recently is the charging state (discharging state). Until a predetermined first time period elapses, the state determination section is configured to determine the state after the change as the state to be displayed on the state display section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2014
    Publication date: May 26, 2016
    Applicant: KOMATSU LTD.
    Inventors: Masanobu NAKABAYASHI, Shunsuke MIYAMOTO, Yasuki KISHIMOTO