Patents by Inventor Mashu Kurata

Mashu Kurata 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: 20240133333
    Abstract: [Task] A task is to make a V-type engine compact while suppressing the decrease in the output thereof. [Solution] A V-type engine 1 includes an engine body (3) including a crankcase (7) configured to rotatably support a crankshaft (11), and a pair of cylinder banks (8, 9) extending from the crankcase (7), a pair of exhaust pipes (31, 32) connected to the pair of cylinder banks (8, 9), a catalyst pipe (34) connected to the pair of exhaust pipes (31, 32), and a catalyst (33) accommodated in the catalyst pipe (34), wherein each of the pair of exhaust pipes (31, 32) is connected to the catalyst pipe (34) on an upstream side of the catalyst (33) in an exhaust direction, and the catalyst pipe (34) is arranged adjacently to the pair of cylinder banks (8, 9).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2021
    Publication date: April 25, 2024
    Inventors: Sayaka YASOSHINA, Atsuki SUGIHARA, Mashu KURATA, Takahiro TSUCHIYAMA
  • Patent number: 11181037
    Abstract: A two-stroke engine includes: a scavenging port communicating with a crank chamber and a side portion of a cylinder, and switchably brought into communication with or shut off from the cylinder by a piston; and multiple fuel injection valves for injecting fuel into the scavenging port. Since the fuel injection valves inject fuel into the scavenging port, there is no need to apply a high pressure injection system. By causing the start of fuel injection to be delayed from a timing at which the scavenging port is opened, fresh air is sent into the cylinder at an early stage of scavenging, and air-fuel mixture is sent into the cylinder at a late stage of scavenging. Thereby, even in a long-stroke engine, stratified scavenging is performed to suppress blow-by of air-fuel mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Mashu Kurata
  • Publication number: 20210285362
    Abstract: A two-stroke engine includes: a scavenging port communicating with a crank chamber and a side portion of a cylinder, and switchably brought into communication with or shut off from the cylinder by a piston; and multiple fuel injection valves for injecting fuel into the scavenging port. Since the fuel injection valves inject fuel into the scavenging port, there is no need to apply a high pressure injection system. By causing the start of fuel injection to be delayed from a timing at which the scavenging port is opened, fresh air is sent into the cylinder at an early stage of scavenging, and air-fuel mixture is sent into the cylinder at a late stage of scavenging. Thereby, even in a long-stroke engine, stratified scavenging is performed to suppress blow-by of air-fuel mixture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2017
    Publication date: September 16, 2021
    Inventor: Mashu Kurata
  • Patent number: 10502103
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine having an internal space including a crankcase chamber includes an oil tank, a first passage communicating a lower part of the internal space with a gas phase part of the oil tank, a first check valve provided in the first passage to permit a flow from the internal space to the oil tank, a second passage communicating the gas phase part with the internal space, a second check valve provided in the second passage to permit a flow from the second passage to the internal space, a third passage communicating a liquid phase part of the oil tank with the second passage, a third check valve provided in the third passage to permit a flow from the oil tank to the second passage, and a flow regulator valve provided in the third passage for regulating a flow of lubricating oil flowing through the third passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Mashu Kurata
  • Publication number: 20190368407
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine that can ensure an adequate cooling performance by using a small number of component parts, and can be minimized in size. The cooling device includes a boiling water cooling device including a water jacket, coolant piping, steam piping and a radiator, an air cooling fan connected to one end of a crankshaft projecting from an outer surface of the engine main body, and a cover member provided on the engine main body so as to cover the air cooling fan, and define a cooling air passage extending to a radiator core.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2017
    Publication date: December 5, 2019
    Inventors: Mashu Kurata, Yoshikazu Yamada
  • Patent number: 10221732
    Abstract: A lubrication system for an engine is provided which includes an oil tank, a first passage communicating a bottom part of the crankcase chamber with an upper part of the oil tank, a first check valve provided in the first passage to permit a flow from the crankcase chamber to the oil tank but not in a reverse direction, a second passage communicating an upper part of the oil tank with an upper part of the crankcase chamber, a second check valve provided in the second passage to permit a flow from the oil tank to the crankcase chamber but not in a reserve direction and a third passage communicating a lower part of the oil tank with the second passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Mashu Kurata
  • Publication number: 20180163584
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine having an internal space including a crankcase chamber includes an oil tank, a first passage communicating a lower part of the internal space with a gas phase part of the oil tank, a first check valve provided in the first passage to permit a flow from the internal space to the oil tank, a second passage communicating the gas phase part with the internal space, a second check valve provided in the second passage to permit a flow from the second passage to the internal space, a third passage communicating a liquid phase part of the oil tank with the second passage, a third check valve provided in the third passage to permit a flow from the oil tank to the second passage, and a flow regulator valve provided in the third passage for regulating a flow of lubricating oil flowing through the third passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2017
    Publication date: June 14, 2018
    Inventor: Mashu Kurata
  • Patent number: 9938890
    Abstract: A uniflow two-stroke engine includes: a cylinder receiving a piston such that the piston can reciprocate therein and defining a combustion chamber above the piston; an exhaust port having one end in communication with an upper end portion of the cylinder; a scavenging port having a scavenging orifice at one end, the scavenging orifice being in communication with a lower part of a side portion of the cylinder such that the scavenging port is selectively brought into communication with and shut off from the combustion chamber by the piston; and an exhaust gas recirculation passage having one end in communication with a part of the side portion of the cylinder above the scavenging port and the other end in communication with the scavenging port such that the exhaust gas recirculation passage is selectively brought into communication with and shut off from the combustion chamber by the piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Mashu Kurata, Yoshikazu Yamada
  • Patent number: 9938889
    Abstract: A two-stroke engine includes: an intake passage that opens out to a crank chamber; a first one-way valve provided in the intake passage and permits a flow of fluid toward the crank chamber; a scavenging port having an upstream end communicating with the crank chamber and a downstream end that opens out in a wall defining a side portion of a cylinder, wherein the downstream end communicates with a combustion chamber defined above the piston at least when the piston is at a bottom dead center, and communicates with a part of the cylinder below the piston at least when the piston is at a top dead center; and an air supply passage that communicates a part of the intake passage which is located downstream of the first one-way valve with an upstream portion of the scavenging port so as to supply air to the scavenging port during air intake.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Mashu Kurata, Toru Kawai
  • Patent number: 9926821
    Abstract: In a cylinder lubrication system for a two-stroke engine, a plurality of lubricating oil supply openings (78) open out in the inner circumferential surface of the cylinder (42) at a point lower than a top ring (22b) of a piston (22) located at a bottom dead center. The lubricating oil supply openings are configured to provide a larger amount of lubricating oil in the thrust side and anti-thrust side of the cylinder than in a remaining part of the cylinder. Thereby, the consumption of lubricating oil and the emission of undesired substances can be minimized while providing an optimum lubrication of the sliding part between the piston and the cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshikazu Yamada, Mashu Kurata
  • Patent number: 9885275
    Abstract: Provided is a compact boiling cooling system for an internal combustion engine that can operate in a stable manner. A lower end (4c) of a water jacket (4) of an engine (1) is connected to a lower tank (7c) of a radiator (7), and an upper end (4d) of a water jacket is connected to an upper part (7a) of the radiator. A substantially entire part of the radiator is located above the upper end of the coolant jacket so that the boiling cooling water is forwarded from the upper end of the water jacket to the upper part of the radiator, and the cooling water condensed in the radiator is forwarded from the lower end of the radiator to the lower end of the water jacket under the gravitational force without requiring a pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO, LTD.
    Inventor: Mashu Kurata
  • Patent number: 9695738
    Abstract: A uniflow two-stroke engine, includes: a cylinder receiving a piston such that the piston can reciprocate therein; an exhaust port provided in an upper end part of the cylinder; and a scavenging port that is provided in a lower side wall portion of the cylinder so as to be opened and closed by the piston, wherein a downstream portion of the scavenging port that opens out to the cylinder includes a guide member that gives a downward velocity component to a gas flow entering the cylinder from the scavenging port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Mashu Kurata, Toru Kawai
  • Patent number: 9546632
    Abstract: In a two-stroke engine including a scavenging port (43b) having an open end (42d) opening out in a side wall of the cylinder bore (3a) and communicating with a crank chamber (2a), the open end being configured to be closed and opened by the piston (22), a fuel injection device (71) is mounted on the engine main body so as to inject fuel onto a back side of the piston and/or a part of the side wall of the cylinder bore located under the piston via the open end of the scavenging port or via the open lower end of the cylinder bore. The fuel deposited on the surfaces of the piston and the cylinder inner wall promotes the cooling of such parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshikazu Yamada, Mashu Kurata
  • Publication number: 20160258344
    Abstract: Provided is a compact boiling cooling system for an internal combustion engine that can operate in a stable manner. A lower end (4c) of a water jacket (4) of an engine (1) is connected to a lower tank (7c) of a radiator (7), and an upper end (4d) of a water jacket is connected to an upper part (7a) of the radiator. A substantially entire part of the radiator is located above the upper end of the coolant jacket so that the boiling cooling water is forwarded from the upper end of the water jacket to the upper part of the radiator, and the cooling water condensed in the radiator is forwarded from the lower end of the radiator to the lower end of the water jacket under the gravitational force without requiring a pump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2016
    Publication date: September 8, 2016
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Mashu Kurata
  • Patent number: 9429067
    Abstract: Provided is a two stroke engine that can vary the timing of opening and closing the scavenging port (43) by using a highly simple structure. An end of the scavenging port (43) on the side of the combustion chamber (44) is defined by scavenging orifices (42c) formed in a cylinder sleeve (42), and a shutter (73, 74) is provided on the cylinder sleeve so as to selectively project into the scavenging orifices (42c) from an upper edge (42d) thereof by moving along an axial line (3X) of the cylinder bore (3a).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshikazu Yamada, Mashu Kurata
  • Publication number: 20160230622
    Abstract: A lubrication system for an engine is provided which includes an oil tank, a first passage communicating a bottom part of the crankcase chamber with an upper part of the oil tank, a first check valve provided in the first passage to permit a flow from the crankcase chamber to the oil tank but not in a reverse direction, a second passage communicating an upper part of the oil tank with an upper part of the crankcase chamber, a second check valve provided in the second passage to permit a flow from the oil tank to the crankcase chamber but not in a reserve direction and a third passage communicating a lower part of the oil tank with the second passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2016
    Publication date: August 11, 2016
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Mashu Kurata
  • Patent number: 9359920
    Abstract: An OHV engine comprises a first and second cam carried by a camshaft rotatably supported by a crankcase to be rotatively actuated by a crankshaft, first and second lower rocker arms pivotally supported by a lower rocker shaft adjacent to each other, and configured to be actuated by the first and second cams, respectively, a clutch member mounted on the second rocker arm in an axially slidable and rotationally fast manner, the clutch member being axially moveable between an engaged position and a disengaged position, the clutch member being provided with an engagement recess configured to receive a corresponding engagement projection of the first lower rocker arm for a joint pivotal movement of the first and second lower rocker arms when the clutch member is at the engaged position, and an actuator for causing the clutch member to move axially between the engaged position and the disengaged position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshikazu Yamada, Mashu Kurata
  • Publication number: 20160032816
    Abstract: A uniflow two-stroke engine includes: a cylinder receiving a piston such that the piston can reciprocate therein and defining a combustion chamber above the piston; an exhaust port having one end in communication with an upper end portion of the cylinder; a scavenging port having a scavenging orifice at one end, the scavenging orifice being in communication with a lower part of a side portion of the cylinder such that the scavenging port is selectively brought into communication with and shut off from the combustion chamber by the piston; and an exhaust gas recirculation passage having one end in communication with a part of the side portion of the cylinder above the scavenging port and the other end in communication with the scavenging port such that the exhaust gas recirculation passage is selectively brought into communication with and shut off from the combustion chamber by the piston.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2015
    Publication date: February 4, 2016
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Mashu Kurata, Yoshikazu Yamada
  • Publication number: 20150260083
    Abstract: A two-stroke engine includes: an intake passage that opens out to a crank chamber; a first one-way valve provided in the intake passage and permits a flow of fluid toward the crank chamber; a scavenging port having an upstream end communicating with the crank chamber and a downstream end that opens out in a wall defining a side portion of a cylinder, wherein the downstream end communicates with a combustion chamber defined above the piston at least when the piston is at a bottom dead center, and communicates with a part of the cylinder below the piston at least when the piston is at a top dead center; and an air supply passage that communicates a part of the intake passage which is located downstream of the first one-way valve with an upstream portion of the scavenging port so as to supply air to the scavenging port during air intake.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2015
    Publication date: September 17, 2015
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Mashu Kurata, Toru Kawai
  • Publication number: 20150260082
    Abstract: A uniflow two-stroke engine, includes: a cylinder receiving a piston such that the piston can reciprocate therein; an exhaust port provided in an upper end part of the cylinder; and a scavenging port that is provided in a lower side wall portion of the cylinder so as to be opened and closed by the piston, wherein a downstream portion of the scavenging port that opens out to the cylinder includes a guide member that gives a downward velocity component to a gas flow entering the cylinder from the scavenging port.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2015
    Publication date: September 17, 2015
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Mashu Kurata, Toru Kawai