Patents by Inventor Michita Kono
Michita Kono 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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Patent number: 11674593Abstract: A working vehicle includes: a vehicle body; a linkage device configured to link a working device to the vehicle body; a prime mover provided on the vehicle body; a traveling device configured to cause the vehicle body to travel; a transmission device configured to transmit power from the prime mover to the traveling device and perform a speed change process to change a speed of the vehicle body; an increase-in-speed detection device configured to detect an increase in speed of the vehicle body; and a speed change restraint unit configured such that, during the speed change process performed by the transmission device, when the increase in speed detected by the increase-in-speed detection device has become equal to or greater than a threshold, the speed change restraint unit stops the speed change process performed by the transmission device.Type: GrantFiled: October 7, 2021Date of Patent: June 13, 2023Assignee: KUBOTA CORPORATIONInventors: Hitoshi Azuma, Michita Kono, Hiroshi Sota
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Publication number: 20230019973Abstract: A working vehicle includes an operator seat and an armrest arranged on a side of the operator seat. The armrest includes an upper surface on which an operation tool arrangement portion is arranged, the operation tool arrangement portion arranging an operation tool, and a side surface having a concave portion. The concave portion is located on an area overlapping, in a front-to-back direction, with another area including the operation tool arrangement portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 14, 2022Publication date: January 19, 2023Applicant: KUBOTA CORPORATIONInventors: Takashi KOSAKI, Takuya INAMORI, Yoshihiko KUROSHITA, Michita KONO, Yuji IMANAGA
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Patent number: 11541951Abstract: A working vehicle includes an operator seat, an armrest arranged on a side of the operator seat, and a speed shifter to change a traveling speed. The armrest includes an operation lever to be swung back and forth to cause the speed shifter to perform acceleration and deceleration, and an operation switch to be pressed to cause the speed shifter to perform acceleration and deceleration.Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 2020Date of Patent: January 3, 2023Assignee: KUBOTA CORPORATIONInventors: Takashi Kosaki, Takuya Inamori, Yoshihiko Kuroshita, Michita Kono, Yuji Imanaga
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Patent number: 11388853Abstract: A vehicle includes; a vehicle body on which the motor is mounted; an apparatus provided to the traveling vehicle body and also driven by drive power from the motor; an apparatus that performs work on a field; an apparatus that changes the speed of drive power input from the motor and transmits the drive power; a tool that includes speed change stages and is also capable of speed change operation of the speed change apparatus by human operation; a controller that, when the number of speed change stages is changed based on human operation of the speed change operation tool, outputs to the speed change apparatus a speed change command for each predefined number of stages and is also capable of outputting the speed change command for each defined speed change interval; and an operation mechanism that enables adjustment of the speed change interval.Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 2019Date of Patent: July 19, 2022Assignee: KUBOTA CORPORATIONInventors: Tetsuo Yamaguchi, Yoshihiko Kuroshita, Hitoshi Azuma, Michita Kono, Shinji Ohara
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Publication number: 20220112950Abstract: A working vehicle comprises: a vehicle body; a linkage device configured to link a working device to the vehicle body; a prime mover provided on the vehicle body; a traveling device configured to cause the vehicle body to travel; a transmission device configured to transmit power from the prime mover to the traveling device and perform a speed change process to change a speed of the vehicle body; an increase-in-speed detection device configured to detect an increase in speed of the vehicle body; and a speed change restraint unit configured such that, during the speed change process performed by the transmission device, when the increase in speed detected by the increase-in-speed detection device has become equal to or greater than a threshold, the speed change restraint unit stops the speed change process performed by the transmission device.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 7, 2021Publication date: April 14, 2022Applicant: KUBOTA CORPORATIONInventors: Hitoshi AZUMA, Michita KONO, Hiroshi SOTA
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Patent number: 11268614Abstract: A working vehicle includes a traveling clutch to be switched between an engaging state and a disengaging state, a brake to brake the traveling device according to an operation of a brake operator, and a controller to perform a braking control to perform the braking, and an auto-switching controller to switch the traveling clutch from the engaging state to the disengaging state. The controller performs a first processing to switch the traveling clutch from the engaging state to the disengaging state when the brake operator is operated in a case where the auto-switching control is valid and a vehicle speed is less than a threshold, and a second processing to prevent the traveling clutch from being switched from the engaging state to the disengaging state even when the brake operator is operated in a case where the vehicle speed is equal to or higher than the threshold.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 2020Date of Patent: March 8, 2022Assignee: KUBOTA CORPORATIONInventors: Yoshihiko Kuroshita, Tetsuo Yamaguchi, Michita Kono, Hitoshi Azuma, Shinji Ohara
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Patent number: 11247557Abstract: A working vehicle includes a PTO shaft to transmit power of a propulsion shaft, a PTO clutch including a first rotor to be rotated by the power of the propulsion shaft, a second rotor to transmit the power to the PTO shaft, a press to be moved by a pressure of operation fluid between an engaging side on which the first rotor is engaged with the second rotor and a disengaging side, and a PTO brake to brake the PTO shaft when the press is positioned on the disengaging side, a control valve to control the pressure of the operation fluid to be applied to the PTO clutch, a rate setter to set a reducing rate at which the pressure of the operation fluid is reduced, and a controller to control the control valve based on the reducing rate.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 2020Date of Patent: February 15, 2022Assignee: KUBOTA CORPORATIONInventors: Hitoshi Azuma, Tetsuo Yamaguchi, Shinji Ohara, Yoshihiko Kuroshita, Michita Kono
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Publication number: 20210139089Abstract: A working vehicle includes an operator seat, an armrest arranged on a side of the operator seat, and a speed shifter to change a traveling speed. The armrest includes an operation lever to be swung back and forth to cause the speed shifter to perform acceleration and deceleration, and an operation switch to be pressed to cause the speed shifter to perform acceleration and deceleration.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 27, 2020Publication date: May 13, 2021Applicant: KUBOTA CORPORATIONInventors: Takashi KOSAKI, Takuya INAMORI, Yoshihiko KUROSHITA, Michita KONO, Yuji IMANAGA
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Publication number: 20200391589Abstract: A working vehicle includes a PTO shaft to transmit power of a propulsion shaft, a PTO clutch including a first rotor to be rotated by the power of the propulsion shaft, a second rotor to transmit the power to the PTO shaft, a press to be moved by a pressure of operation fluid between an engaging side on which the first rotor is engaged with the second rotor and a disengaging side, and a PTO brake to brake the PTO shaft when the press is positioned on the disengaging side, a control valve to control the pressure of the operation fluid to be applied to the PTO clutch, a rate setter to set a reducing rate at which the pressure of the operation fluid is reduced, and a controller to control the control valve based on the reducing rate.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 5, 2020Publication date: December 17, 2020Inventors: Hitoshi AZUMA, Tetsuo YAMAGUCHI, Shinji OHARA, Yoshihiko KUROSHITA, Michita KONO
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Publication number: 20200393041Abstract: A working vehicle includes a traveling clutch to be switched between an engaging state and a disengaging state, a brake to brake the traveling device according to an operation of a brake operator, and a controller to perform a braking control to perform the braking, and an auto-switching controller to switch the traveling clutch from the engaging state to the disengaging state. The controller performs a first processing to switch the traveling clutch from the engaging state to the disengaging state when the brake operator is operated in a case where the auto-switching control is valid and a vehicle speed is less than a threshold, and a second processing to prevent the traveling clutch from being switched from the engaging state to the disengaging state even when the brake operator is operated in a case where the vehicle speed is equal to or higher than the threshold.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 5, 2020Publication date: December 17, 2020Inventors: Yoshihiko KUROSHITA, Tetsuo YAMAGUCHI, Michita KONO, Hitoshi AZUMA, Shinji OHARA
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Publication number: 20190350121Abstract: A vehicle includes; a vehicle body on which the motor is mounted; an apparatus provided to the traveling vehicle body and also driven by drive power from the motor; an apparatus that performs work on a field; an apparatus that changes the speed of drive power input from the motor and transmits the drive power; a tool that includes speed change stages and is also capable of speed change operation of the speed change apparatus by human operation; a controller that, when the number of speed change stages is changed based on human operation of the speed change operation tool, outputs to the speed change apparatus a speed change command for each predefined number of stages and is also capable of outputting the speed change command for each defined speed change interval; and an operation mechanism that enables adjustment of the speed change interval.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 17, 2019Publication date: November 21, 2019Applicant: KUBOTA CORPORATIONInventors: Tetsuo YAMAGUCHI, Yoshihiko KUROSHITA, Hitoshi AZUMA, Michita KONO, Shinji OHARA
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Patent number: 9776615Abstract: Disclosed is a hybrid work vehicle capable of smooth work travel using a work device with a low output internal combustion engine, while avoiding battery exhaustion. The vehicle includes an internal combustion engine that supplies drive power to a travel device and a work device via power transmission means, a motor generator that is driven by a battery, a load information generation part that generates load information representing a sudden increase in rotational load, an assist characteristic determination part that determines motor assist characteristics defining an assist amount and an assist time period of assist control based on load information, and a motor control unit that controls the motor generator based on the motor assist characteristics.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2013Date of Patent: October 3, 2017Assignee: Kubota CorporationInventors: Yushi Matsuzaki, Yoshitomo Fujimoto, Michita Kono, Shigeki Hayashi, Atsushi Shinkai, Keishiro Nishi, Hisao Mukai
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Patent number: 9694679Abstract: A drive control system for a work vehicle is provided with a power transmission device that drives front wheels and rear wheels, a request determination unit, and a drive mode control unit. The power transmission device has a drive mode switching mechanism that performs drive mode switching between a four-wheel drive mode in which drive power is transmitted to front wheels and rear wheels and a two-wheel drive mode in which drive power is transmitted to only the rear wheels. The request determination unit determines a necessity for an increase in drive power on a contact area of the work vehicle, and outputs an increase request based on the determination result. The drive mode control unit outputs a drive mode switching request for switching to the four-wheel drive mode to the drive mode switching mechanism, in response to output of the increase request.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2015Date of Patent: July 4, 2017Assignee: Kubota CorporationInventors: Akihiro Matsuzaki, Satoshi Yoshikawa, Michita Kono
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Patent number: 9561789Abstract: A hybrid work vehicle is provided with an internal combustion engine for supplying driving force to a running device and a work implement via a transmission shaft, a motor generator for assisting the internal combustion engine by outputting power to the transmission shaft, and a battery for receiving charging electricity from the motor generator and giving driving electricity to the motor generator. A load information generation unit generates load information indicating a rotational load received by the internal combustion engine when in a constant-speed control mode for maintaining a constant number of revolutions of the internal combustion engine, based on an input parameter, and an assistance calculation unit calculates an amount of assistance for internal combustion engine by the motor generator, based on the load information when in the constant-speed control mode.Type: GrantFiled: August 27, 2012Date of Patent: February 7, 2017Assignee: Kubota CorporationInventors: Keishiro Nishi, Hidetoshi Hana, Atsushi Shinkai, Hisao Mukai, Michita Kono, Yushi Matsuzaki, Yoshitomo Fujimoto, Susumu Umemoto, Shigeki Hayashi, Norio Obata, Toshikazu Kawamoto, Nobushige Ichikawa
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Publication number: 20160046278Abstract: Disclosed is a hybrid work vehicle capable of smooth work travel using a work device with a low output internal combustion engine, while avoiding battery exhaustion. The vehicle includes an internal combustion engine that supplies drive power to a travel device and a work device via power transmission means, a motor generator that is driven by a battery, a load information generation part that generates load information representing a sudden increase in rotational load, an assist characteristic determination part that determines motor assist characteristics defining an assist amount and an assist time period of assist control based on load information, and a motor control unit that controls the motor generator based on the motor assist characteristics.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 14, 2013Publication date: February 18, 2016Applicant: KUBOTA CORPORATIONInventors: Yushi Matsuzaki, Yoshitomo Fujimoto, Michita Kono, Shigeki Hayashi, Atsushi Shinkai, Keishiro Nishi, Hisao Mukai
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Publication number: 20160001655Abstract: A drive control system for a work vehicle is provided with a power transmission device that drives front wheels and rear wheels, a request determination unit, and a drive mode control unit. The power transmission device has a drive mode switching mechanism that performs drive mode switching between a four-wheel drive mode in which drive power is transmitted to front wheels and rear wheels and a two-wheel drive mode in which drive power is transmitted to only the rear wheels. The request determination unit determines a necessity for an increase in drive power on a contact area of the work vehicle, and outputs an increase request based on the determination result. The drive mode control unit outputs a drive mode switching request for switching to the four-wheel drive mode to the drive mode switching mechanism, in response to output of the increase request.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 10, 2015Publication date: January 7, 2016Inventors: Akihiro Matsuzaki, Satoshi Yoshikawa, Michita Kono
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Patent number: 9096127Abstract: A drive control system for a work vehicle is provided with a power transmission device that drives front wheels and rear wheels, a request determination unit, and a drive mode control unit. The power transmission device has a drive mode switching mechanism that performs drive mode switching between a four-wheel drive mode in which drive power is transmitted to front wheels and rear wheels and a two-wheel drive mode in which drive power is transmitted to only the rear wheels. The request determination unit determines a necessity for an increase in drive power on a contact area of the work vehicle, and outputs an increase request based on the determination result. The drive mode control unit outputs a drive mode switching request for switching to the four-wheel drive mode to the drive mode switching mechanism, in response to output of the increase request.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2013Date of Patent: August 4, 2015Assignee: Kubota CorporationInventors: Akihiro Matsuzaki, Satoshi Yoshikawa, Michita Kono
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Publication number: 20140148984Abstract: A hybrid work vehicle is provided with an internal combustion engine for supplying driving force to a running device and a work implement via a transmission shaft, a motor generator for assisting the internal combustion engine by outputting power to the transmission shaft, and a battery for receiving charging electricity from the motor generator and giving driving electricity to the motor generator. A load information generation unit generates load information indicating a rotational load received by the internal combustion engine when in a constant-speed control mode for maintaining a constant number of revolutions of the internal combustion engine, based on an input parameter, and an assistance calculation unit calculates an amount of assistance for internal combustion engine by the motor generator, based on the load information when in the constant-speed control mode.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 27, 2012Publication date: May 29, 2014Applicant: KUBOTA CORPORATIONInventors: Keishiro Nishi, Hidetoshi Hana, Atsushi Shinkai, Hisao Mukai, Michita Kono, Yushi Matsuzaki, Yoshitomo Fujimoto, Susumu Umemoto, Shigeki Hayashi, Norio Obata, Toshikazu Kawamoto, Nobushige Ichikawa
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Publication number: 20140129106Abstract: A drive control system for a work vehicle is provided with a power transmission device that drives front wheels and rear wheels, a request determination unit, and a drive mode control unit. The power transmission device has a drive mode switching mechanism that performs drive mode switching between a four-wheel drive mode in which drive power is transmitted to front wheels and rear wheels and a two-wheel drive mode in which drive power is transmitted to only the rear wheels. The request determination unit determines a necessity for an increase in drive power on a contact area of the work vehicle, and outputs an increase request based on the determination result. The drive mode control unit outputs a drive mode switching request for switching to the four-wheel drive mode to the drive mode switching mechanism, in response to output of the increase request.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 11, 2013Publication date: May 8, 2014Applicant: Kubota CorporationInventors: Akihiro Matsuzaki, Satoshi Yoshikawa, Michita Kono