Patents by Inventor Masashi Aikawa

Masashi Aikawa 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: 11815171
    Abstract: A differential device is provided with: an input case having an axially directed end face; a differential gear set with side gears allowing a differential motion therebetween; dog teeth toothed toward the end face on an output case; a clutch structure engageable with the dog teeth and so structured as to couple the output case or the second side gear with the input case when engaged; an axially movable clutch member including an internal end and an external end exposed to the exterior; an axially movable armature including a magnetic material and in contact with the external end; a solenoid supported away from the end face, the solenoid generating a magnetic flux to attract the armature and, via the clutch member, set the clutch structure in mesh with the dog teeth; and a spring biasing the clutch member in a contrary direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: GKN Automotive Limited
    Inventors: Masashi Aikawa, Ken Tsuchino, Masahiko Asahi
  • Publication number: 20230133653
    Abstract: A differential device is provided with: an input case having an axially directed end face; a differential gear set with side gears allowing a differential motion therebetween; dog teeth toothed toward the end face on an output case; a clutch structure engageable with the dog teeth and so structured as to couple the output case or the second side gear with the input case when engaged; an axially movable clutch member including an internal end and an external end exposed to the exterior; an axially movable armature including a magnetic material and in contact with the external end; a solenoid supported away from the end face, the solenoid generating a magnetic flux to attract the armature and, via the clutch member, set the clutch structure in mesh with the dog teeth; and a spring biasing the clutch member in a contrary direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2022
    Publication date: May 4, 2023
    Inventors: Masashi Aikawa, Ken Tsuchino, Masahiko Asahi
  • Patent number: 11207966
    Abstract: A power transmission device outputting torque from a first power source and a second power source to axles, is provided with: a first shaft coupled with the first power source; a differential configured to differentially distribute the torque to the axles; a first gear set configured to drivingly couple the first shaft with the differential; a second shaft coupled with the second power source; a second gear set drivingly coupled with the second shaft; a clutch configured to receive fluid pressure to drivingly and releasably couple the second gear set with the first gear set; and a pump driven by a third power source at least independent of the first power source and the clutch to generate the fluid pressure, the pump being disposed separate from the clutch and in fluid connection with the clutch to supply the fluid pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: GKN Automotive Limited
    Inventors: Masashi Aikawa, Takayuki Matsumoto, Atsushi Kawano, Son Duy Nguyen
  • Publication number: 20210001708
    Abstract: A power transmission device outputting torque from a first power source and a second power source to axles, is provided with: a first shaft coupled with the first power source; a differential configured to differentially distribute the torque to the axles; a first gear set configured to drivingly couple the first shaft with the differential; a second shaft coupled with the second power source; a second gear set drivingly coupled with the second shaft; a clutch configured to receive fluid pressure to drivingly and releasably couple the second gear set with the first gear set; and a pump driven by a third power source at least independent of the first power source and the clutch to generate the fluid pressure, the pump being disposed separate from the clutch and in fluid connection with the clutch to supply the fluid pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2020
    Publication date: January 7, 2021
    Inventors: Masashi Aikawa, Takayuki Matsumoto, Atsushi Kawano, Son Duy Nguyen
  • Patent number: 10828977
    Abstract: A power transmission device outputting torque from a first power source and a second power source to axles, is provided with: a first shaft coupled with the first power source; a differential configured to differentially distribute the torque to the axles; a first gear set configured to drivingly couple the first shaft with the differential; a second shaft coupled with the second power source; a second gear set drivingly coupled with the second shaft; a clutch configured to receive fluid pressure to drivingly and releasably couple the second gear set with the first gear set; and a pump driven by a third power source at least independent of the first power source and the clutch to generate the fluid pressure, the pump being disposed separate from the clutch and in fluid connection with the clutch to supply the fluid pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: GKN Automotive Ltd.
    Inventors: Masashi Aikawa, Takayuki Matsumoto, Atsushi Kawano, Son Duy Nguyen
  • Patent number: 10479199
    Abstract: A power transfer unit is comprised of: a hollow input shaft rotatable about the first axis; an intermediate shaft rotatable about the first axis; an output shaft in mesh with the intermediate shaft and rotatable about the second axis; a clutch coupling the input shaft with the intermediate shaft; an input member rotatable about the first axis and including an eccentric shaft eccentric from the first axis; a fixed member immovable about the first axis; an intermediate member fitting on the eccentric shaft to make an eccentric motion and meshing with the fixed member to make a rotary motion about the eccentric shaft; an output member engaging with and following the intermediate member; and a cam mechanism interposed between the output member and the clutch and converting the rotary motion of the output member into an axial motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: GKN Driveline Japan Ltd
    Inventors: Satoshi Niimura, Masashi Aikawa
  • Publication number: 20190070947
    Abstract: A power transmission device outputting torque from a first power source and a second power source to axles, is provided with: a first shaft coupled with the first power source; a differential configured to differentially distribute the torque to the axles; a first gear set configured to drivingly couple the first shaft with the differential; a second shaft coupled with the second power source; a second gear set drivingly coupled with the second shaft; a clutch configured to receive fluid pressure to drivingly and releasably couple the second gear set with the first gear set; and a pump driven by a third power source at least independent of the first power source and the clutch to generate the fluid pressure, the pump being disposed separate from the clutch and in fluid connection with the clutch to supply the fluid pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2018
    Publication date: March 7, 2019
    Inventors: Masashi Aikawa, Takayuki Matsumoto, Atsushi Kawano, Son Duy Nguyen
  • Publication number: 20180201128
    Abstract: A power transfer unit is comprised of: a hollow input shaft rotatable about the first axis; an intermediate shaft rotatable about the first axis; an output shaft in mesh with the intermediate shaft and rotatable about the second axis; a clutch coupling the input shaft with the intermediate shaft; an input member rotatable about the first axis and including an eccentric shaft eccentric from the first axis; a fixed member immovable about the first axis; an intermediate member fitting on the eccentric shaft to make an eccentric motion and meshing with the fixed member to make a rotary motion about the eccentric shaft; an output member engaging with and following the intermediate member; and a cam mechanism interposed between the output member and the clutch and converting the rotary motion of the output member into an axial motion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2018
    Publication date: July 19, 2018
    Inventors: Satoshi Niimura, Masashi Aikawa
  • Patent number: 9534663
    Abstract: A transmission device is comprised of a clutch disconnectably and drivingly coupling a first rotary member with a second rotary member; a motor including a rotor rotatable about an axis; an input member coupled with the rotor and rotatable about the axis, the input member including an eccentric shaft eccentric relative to the axis; a fixed member immovable about the axis; an intermediate member fitting with the eccentric shaft to make an eccentric motion and meshing with the fixed member to make a rotary motion about the eccentric shaft; an output member rotatable about the axis and fitting with and following the intermediate member; and a cam mechanism intervening between the output member and the clutch to convert a rotary motion of the output member into a motion in a direction along the axis to press the clutch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: GKN Driveline Japan Ltd.
    Inventors: Isao Hirota, Atsushi Tamura, Noboru Uchida, Takahiro Nagaoka, Masashi Aikawa
  • Publication number: 20160238107
    Abstract: A transmission device is comprised of a clutch disconnectably and drivingly coupling a first rotary member with a second rotary member; a motor including a rotor rotatable about an axis; an input member coupled with the rotor and rotatable about the axis, the input member including an eccentric shaft eccentric relative to the axis; a fixed member immovable about the axis; an intermediate member fitting with the eccentric shaft to make an eccentric motion and meshing with the fixed member to make a rotary motion about the eccentric shaft; an output member rotatable about the axis and fitting with and following the intermediate member; and a cam mechanism intervening between the output member and the clutch to convert a rotary motion of the output member into a motion in a direction along the axis to press the clutch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2016
    Publication date: August 18, 2016
    Inventors: Isao Hirota, Atsushi Tamura, Noboru Uchida, Takahiro Nagaoka, Masashi Aikawa
  • Patent number: 7990004
    Abstract: A reduction drive device is compact, hardly causes an electric motor thereof to vibrate, and has improved noise/vibration controllability. The reduction drive device includes the electric motor attached to a casing and capable of outputting torque, first and second reduction mechanisms supported by the casing, to reduce and transmit the rotational output of the electric motor, and a rear differential supported by the casing, to distribute the rotational output reduced by the first and second reduction mechanisms to a pair of axle shafts. Rotor, stator, and brush of the electric motor partly overlap the rear differential when seen in a rotation radius direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: GKN Driveline Torque Technology KK
    Inventors: Masashi Aikawa, Masayuki Sayama, Yoshiyuki Nakabayashi
  • Patent number: 7870941
    Abstract: An outer plate 31, which is used under a lubricated environment of a differential gear oil including a friction adjuster, is made of a SC tempered material which is subjected to nitriding treatment to suppress chemical adsorption of the friction adjuster. An inner plate 33 has paper on a surface thereof. The outer plate 31 and the inner plate 33 are provided to apply or release the torque between an outer differential case 3 and an inner differential case 5 of a rear differential device 1 having the outer differential case 3 and the inner differential case 5 capable of relatively rotating to the inside and the outside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: GKN Driveline Torque Technology KK
    Inventor: Masashi Aikawa
  • Patent number: 7592890
    Abstract: A magnetic-path member includes first and second magnetic portions positioned on inner and outer peripheral sides of the magnetic-path member respectively. The magnetic-path member includes a non-magnetic portion interposed between the first and second magnetic portions and coupling the first and second magnetic portions by heat sintering. Magnetic lines of force occurring from an electromagnet pass through the magnetic-path member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: GKN Driveline Torque Technology KK
    Inventors: Masashi Aikawa, Koji Iizuka, Masayuki Sayama, Katsuyoshi Koike
  • Publication number: 20090160274
    Abstract: A reduction drive device is compact, hardly causes an electric motor thereof to vibrate, and has improved noise/vibration controllability. The reduction drive device includes the electric motor attached to a casing and capable of outputting torque, first and second reduction mechanisms supported by the casing, to reduce and transmit the rotational output of the electric motor, and a rear differential supported by the casing, to distribute the rotational output reduced by the first and second reduction mechanisms to a pair of axle shafts. Rotor, stator, and brush of the electric motor partly overlap the rear differential when seen in a rotation radius direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2006
    Publication date: June 25, 2009
    Applicant: GKN Driveline Torque Technology KK
    Inventors: Masashi Aikawa, Masayuki Sayama, Yoshiyuki Nakabayashi
  • Patent number: 7223191
    Abstract: Between a speed reducing mechanism (15, 17, 19) for speed-reducing drive power of an electric motor and a differential apparatus (7) for distributing speed-reduced drive power to axle ends is disposed a clutch (5) configured for interruptive transmission of drive power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Assignee: Tochigi Fuji Sangyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masashi Aikawa, Nobushi Yamazaki
  • Patent number: D570749
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Youichi Sato, Dai Kimura, Hideki Nakamura, Masashi Aikawa
  • Patent number: D573511
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Youichi Sato, Dai Kimura, Tetsuji Kawakami, Ryuji Kumagai, Masashi Aikawa
  • Patent number: D711785
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Kouji Tabata, Yasutake Tsuchida, Takanori Tsubaki, Masashi Aikawa, Hideki Nakamura, Yoshito Iwauchi, Ryousuke Nozaki, Masanori Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: D745446
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Kousuke Takahashi, Yasutake Tsuchida, Kota Akagawa, Masashi Aikawa, Kazuya Hamada
  • Patent number: D760136
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Kousuke Takahashi, Yasutake Tsuchida, Masashi Aikawa, Shinichi Harada, Kouta Akagawa