Patents by Inventor Masayuki Furutani

Masayuki Furutani 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: 11808202
    Abstract: An engine crank pulley structure disposed at a vehicle front side of a longitudinal engine includes: a front pulley that transmits crank rotational force to the water pump via a belt; a rear pulley that is disposed at a vehicle rear side of the front pulley and transmits a crank rotational force to a compressor via a belt; and a connecting portion that connects the front pulley and the rear pulley, the connecting portion crushing and deforming in a vehicle front-rear direction as a collision load toward the vehicle rear side is applied to it. An outer diameter of the front pulley is smaller than an inner diameter of the rear pulley.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Masayuki Furutani, Koichi Hirata, Satoshi Nishizaka, Kazuhiro Tokushima, Yuzo Fujino
  • Publication number: 20230138220
    Abstract: A vehicle front structure comprises a beam member positioned in front of a sub frame and having a closed-cross section extending in a vehicle width direction and a plate member extending forwardly from the beam member. The plate member comprises a fixation portion fixed to the beam member, a body portion extending forwardly from the fixation portion, and a front end portion positioned at a front end of the body portion and configured to have higher rigidity against a load applied in a longitudinal direction than the body portion. The front end portion of the plate member comprises an upper section located at a higher level than the body portion and a lower section located at a lower level than the body portion. The upper section is positioned on a vehicle forward side of the lower section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2022
    Publication date: May 4, 2023
    Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masayuki FURUTANI, Ryo ANDO, Reiko YOSHIURA
  • Publication number: 20230133324
    Abstract: A vehicle front structure comprises a beam member and a plate member. The plate member comprises a vertical face portion, a body portion extending forwardly from the vertical face portion, a front end portion positioned at a front end of the body portion, and a protrusion face portion provided to be forwardly spaced apart from the vertical face portion. The front end portion comprises an upper section located at a higher level than the body portion. The protrusion face portion comprises a protrusion-face-portion upper section located at a higher level than an upper end of the upper section and a protrusion-face-portion lower section located at a lower level than the upper end of the upper section. The protrusion-face-portion lower section is configured to have lower strength against a collision load applied from a vehicle forward side than the protrusion-face-portion upper section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2022
    Publication date: May 4, 2023
    Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masayuki FURUTANI, Ryo ANDO, Reiko YOSHIURA
  • Publication number: 20230125271
    Abstract: A muscle enhancer containing a polyamine and a branched-chain amino acid as active ingredients. The polyamine may be one or more of putrescine, spermidine, and spermine, and may be derived from a yeast belonging to the genus Saccharomyces. The muscle enhancer may also comprise a crystalline polysaccharide. The muscle enhancer may be present in a food or a drink.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2021
    Publication date: April 27, 2023
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenji NAKAMURA, Masayuki FURUTANI, Tomokazu TACHIKAWA
  • Publication number: 20230122937
    Abstract: A body fat reducer containing a polyamine and a branched-chain amino acid as active ingredients. The polyamine may be one or more of putrescine, spermidine, and spermine, and may be derived from yeast. The body fat reducer may also comprise a crystalline polysaccharide. The body fat reducer may be present in a food or a drink.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2021
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenji NAKAMURA, Masayuki FURUTANI, Tomokazu TACHIKAWA
  • Publication number: 20230106302
    Abstract: There are provided a vehicle-body member provided at a vehicle-body front portion, a bumper-face support member supporting a bumper face in front of the vehicle-body member, and plural brackets fixedly connecting the vehicle-body member and the bumper-face support member. The bracket comprises an inclination portion which is inclined such that a front side thereof is positioned on an inward or outward side, in the vehicle width direction, of the bracket, a high-rigidity portion, at least part of which is positioned at the inclination portion and which is configured to have high rigidity against an input of a load applied in a vehicle longitudinal direction, and a fragile portion which is configured to be deformable by receiving the input of the load applied in the vehicle longitudinal direction. The high-rigidity portion and the fragile portion are provided adjacently to each other in the vehicle longitudinal direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2022
    Publication date: April 6, 2023
    Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kuniyoshi TASHIRO, Masayuki FURUTANI
  • Patent number: 11560866
    Abstract: Removal and breakage of fuel piping during a vehicle front collision is prevented for an engine mounted longitudinally in an engine compartment. Embodiments include a side structure of the engine having an alternator in front of an intake manifold and fuel piping behind the intake manifold so as to extend in the vertical direction. The intake manifold includes a plurality of independent intake pipe portions each having one end portion connected to one side of the engine in a vehicle width direction, and a surge tank portion to which the other end portions of the independent intake pipe portions are connected. As seen from the rear side, a portion of the fuel piping closer to the surge tank portion is located closer to the one side of the engine in the vehicle width direction than the surge tank portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masayuki Furutani, Takuya Yamada
  • Patent number: 11549470
    Abstract: Interference between an intake manifold and a fuel pipe during a vehicle front collision is prevented in an engine which is longitudinally mounted in an engine room. A vehicle component is arranged on the front side of an intake manifold, and a fuel pipe is arranged on the rear side of the intake manifold. The intake manifold includes a mounting portion on the intake-air downstream end side of a plurality of independent intake pipe portions and connects each of the plurality of independent intake pipe portions to a portion of the engine on one side of the engine in the vehicle width direction. The mounting portion has a front-side mounting portion relatively positioned on the front side and a rear-side mounting portion relatively positioned on the rear side, and the rear-side mounting portion has a higher rigidity than the front-side mounting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masayuki Furutani, Akira Ichigi, Masahiro Nishioka, Takuya Yamada
  • Publication number: 20220381207
    Abstract: Removal and breakage of fuel piping during a vehicle front collision is prevented for an engine mounted longitudinally in an engine compartment. Embodiments include a side structure of the engine having an alternator in front of an intake manifold and fuel piping behind the intake manifold so as to extend in the vertical direction. The intake manifold includes a plurality of independent intake pipe portions each having one end portion connected to one side of the engine in a vehicle width direction, and a surge tank portion to which the other end portions of the independent intake pipe portions are connected. As seen from the rear side, a portion of the fuel piping closer to the surge tank portion is located closer to the one side of the engine in the vehicle width direction than the surge tank portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2022
    Publication date: December 1, 2022
    Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masayuki FURUTANI, Takuya YAMADA
  • Publication number: 20220381206
    Abstract: Interference between an intake manifold and a fuel pipe during a vehicle front collision is prevented in an engine which is longitudinally mounted in an engine room. A vehicle component is arranged on the front side of an intake manifold, and a fuel pipe is arranged on the rear side of the intake manifold. The intake manifold includes a mounting portion on the intake-air downstream end side of a plurality of independent intake pipe portions and connects each of the plurality of independent intake pipe portions to a portion of the engine on one side of the engine in the vehicle width direction. The mounting portion has a front-side mounting portion relatively positioned on the front side and a rear-side mounting portion relatively positioned on the rear side, and the rear-side mounting portion has a higher rigidity than the front-side mounting portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2022
    Publication date: December 1, 2022
    Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masayuki FURUTANI, Akira ICHIGI, Masahiro NISHIOKA, Takuya YAMADA
  • Publication number: 20220381208
    Abstract: Interference between an intake manifold and a fuel pipe during a vehicle front collision is prevented in an engine which is longitudinally mounted in an engine room. A vehicle component is arranged on the front side of the intake manifold, and the fuel pipe is arranged on the rear side of the intake manifold. The intake manifold includes a plurality of independent intake pipe portions arranged side by side in the vehicle front-rear direction which branch for each of the cylinders of the engine; and a plurality of coupling portions that each couple adjacent independent intake pipe portions to each other in an integral manner A first coupling portion of the plurality of coupling portions positioned on the frontmost side has a lower rigidity than a third coupling portion of the plurality of coupling portions positioned the rearmost side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2022
    Publication date: December 1, 2022
    Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masayuki FURUTANI, Akira ICHIGI, Masahiro NISHIOKA, Takuya YAMADA
  • Patent number: 11512673
    Abstract: Interference between an intake manifold and a fuel pipe during a vehicle front collision is prevented in an engine which is longitudinally mounted in an engine room. A vehicle component is arranged on the front side of the intake manifold, and the fuel pipe is arranged on the rear side of the intake manifold. The intake manifold includes a plurality of independent intake pipe portions arranged side by side in the vehicle front-rear direction which branch for each of the cylinders of the engine; and a plurality of coupling portions that each couple adjacent independent intake pipe portions to each other in an integral manner A first coupling portion of the plurality of coupling portions positioned on the frontmost side has a lower rigidity than a third coupling portion of the plurality of coupling portions positioned the rearmost side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masayuki Furutani, Akira Ichigi, Masahiro Nishioka, Kakuya Yamada
  • Publication number: 20220316392
    Abstract: An engine crank pulley structure disposed at a vehicle front side of a longitudinal engine includes: a front pulley that transmits crank rotational force to the water pump via a belt; a rear pulley that is disposed at a vehicle rear side of the front pulley and transmits a crank rotational force to a compressor via a belt; and a connecting portion that connects the front pulley and the rear pulley, the connecting portion crushing and deforming in a vehicle front-rear direction as a collision load toward the vehicle rear side is applied to it. An outer diameter of the front pulley is smaller than an inner diameter of the rear pulley.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2020
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Inventors: Masayuki Furutani, Koichi Hirata, Satoshi Nishizaka, Kazuhiro Tokushima, Yuzo Fujino
  • Patent number: 11285797
    Abstract: A side part structure of an engine having cylinders lined up in a front-and-rear direction of a vehicle body, is provided. The structure includes auxiliary machinery disposed in a front part of one side wall part of the engine in a vehicle width direction, a fuel system component disposed in a rear part of the side wall part, an intercooler disposed between the auxiliary machinery and the fuel system component, and a first protector member disposed between the intercooler and the fuel system component. At least a front part of the first protector member is formed so as to be separated from the side wall part as it extends rearward. A front part of the intercooler is disposed rearward of the auxiliary machinery and the intercooler is disposed along the first protector member so as to be separated from the side wall part as it extends rearward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Masayuki Furutani, Akira Noomo, Yuta Morinaga, Masahiko Tanisho, Tsuyoshi Kouno
  • Publication number: 20210086603
    Abstract: A side part structure of an engine having cylinders lined up in a front-and-rear direction of a vehicle body, is provided. The structure includes auxiliary machinery disposed in a front part of one side wall part of the engine in a vehicle width direction, a fuel system component disposed in a rear part of the side wall part, an intercooler disposed between the auxiliary machinery and the fuel system component, and a first protector member disposed between the intercooler and the fuel system component. At least a front part of the first protector member is formed so as to be separated from the side wall part as it extends rearward. A front part of the intercooler is disposed rearward of the auxiliary machinery and the intercooler is disposed along the first protector member so as to be separated from the side wall part as it extends rearward.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2020
    Publication date: March 25, 2021
    Inventors: Masayuki Furutani, Akira Noomo, Yuta Morinaga, Masahiko Tanisho, Tsuyoshi Kouno
  • Patent number: 10913347
    Abstract: An engine is a rear exhaust engine provided with an exhaust system component on a rear side in a vehicle front-rear direction. This engine includes a first flow rectifying member, provided above the engine, that subjects traveling wind to flow rectification so that the traveling wind flows rearward and a second flow rectifying member, disposed adjacently to a rear side of the first flow rectifying member, that subjects the traveling wind, subjected to flow rectification by the first flow rectifying member, to flow rectification so that the traveling wind is directed to the exhaust system component, in which fuel system components are disposed below the first flow rectifying member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Ken Saito, Takashi Kashiwabara, Masayuki Furutani, Ryosuke Kawafune
  • Publication number: 20200347806
    Abstract: Disclosed is an engine which comprises: an engine body comprising a cylinder head and a cylinder block; an inlet duct attached to the engine body; and a fuel system component disposed between the engine body and the inlet duct, wherein the inlet duct is disposed on a vehicle forward side of the engine body when mounted to a vehicle, and wherein the inlet duct has: a fuel system component-corresponding portion located in a zone overlapping the fuel system component when viewed from the vehicle forward side, and a region located adjacent to the fuel system component-corresponding portion and having a lower rigidity than the fuel system component-corresponding portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 25, 2018
    Publication date: November 5, 2020
    Inventors: Masahiko TANISHO, Nozomu HACHIYA, Ken YOSHIDA, Masayuki FURUTANI, Masahiro NISHIOKA, Jun NISHIKAWA
  • Publication number: 20200031217
    Abstract: An engine is a rear exhaust engine provided with an exhaust system component on a rear side in a vehicle front-rear direction. This engine includes a first flow rectifying member, provided above the engine, that subjects traveling wind to flow rectification so that the traveling wind flows rearward and a second flow rectifying member, disposed adjacently to a rear side of the first flow rectifying member, that subjects the traveling wind, subjected to flow rectification by the first flow rectifying member, to flow rectification so that the traveling wind is directed to the exhaust system component, in which fuel system components are disposed below the first flow rectifying member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2018
    Publication date: January 30, 2020
    Inventors: Ken Saito, Takashi Kashiwabara, Masayuki Furutani, Ryosuke Kawafune
  • Patent number: 10094512
    Abstract: An accessory support structure for a vehicle engine includes a pair of accessory-side supports provided on the engine accessory, and a pair of engine-side supports provided on the engine body. The engine-side supports each have a shaft hole into which a bolt is inserted, a slot closer to the engine body than the shaft hole is, and extending substantially horizontally, and an intermediate portion interposed between the shaft hole and the slot to restrict movement of the bolt. The engine-side supports each remove a restriction imposed by the intermediate portion and guide the bolt from the shaft hole to the slot if an external force acting on the alternator toward the engine body exceeds a predetermined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tadatomo Toda, Seiji Namba, Masayuki Furutani, Keiichi Kamimura
  • Publication number: 20180066577
    Abstract: An accessory support structure for a vehicle engine includes a pair of accessory-side supports provided on the engine accessory, and a pair of engine-side supports provided on the engine body. The engine-side supports each have a shaft hole into which a bolt is inserted, a slot closer to the engine body than the shaft hole is, and extending substantially horizontally, and an intermediate portion interposed between the shaft hole and the slot to restrict movement of the bolt. The engine-side supports each remove a restriction imposed by the intermediate portion and guide the bolt from the shaft hole to the slot if an external force acting on the alternator toward the engine body exceeds a predetermined threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2017
    Publication date: March 8, 2018
    Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tadatomo TODA, Seiji NAMBA, Masayuki FURUTANI, Keiichi KAMIMURA