Patents by Inventor Mitsuo Kawamura
Mitsuo Kawamura 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: 11641146Abstract: Provided is a wheel bearing apparatus with a generator that can have a simplified structure to reduce costs and is capable of preventing electrolytic corrosion. The wheel bearing apparatus with a generator includes a wheel bearing and a generator. The generator includes a stator attached to a fixed wheel and a motor rotor attached to a rotating wheel and is of an outer-rotor type in which the stator is located on an outer periphery of the wheel bearing, and the motor rotor is located radially outside of the stator. The wheel bearing apparatus with the generator further includes at least one conducting unit that conducts a current between the fixed wheel and the rotating wheel.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 2019Date of Patent: May 2, 2023Assignee: NTN CORPORATIONInventors: Hiroki Yabuta, Mitsuo Kawamura, Kentaro Nishikawa
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Patent number: 11634021Abstract: The power device for a vehicle includes: a wheel bearing including a stationary ring and a rotary ring having a hub flange, the rotary ring being rotatably supported by the stationary ring via rolling element, the hub flange being configured to be attached with a wheel of a vehicle and a brake rotor; and a generator including a stator attached to the stationary ring of the wheel bearing and a rotor attached to the rotary ring of the wheel bearing, wherein the rotor includes a soft magnetic material part, magnets, and a resin material part that is integrally molded with the soft magnetic material part and the magnets.Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 2020Date of Patent: April 25, 2023Assignee: NTN CORPORATIONInventors: Mitsuo Kawamura, Kentaro Nishikawa, Yuuji Yada, Yasuyuki Fujita, Hiroki Yabuta
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Patent number: 11577598Abstract: A wheel support bearing assembly includes a wheel support bearing and a power unit. The power unit is that of an outer rotor design in which a stator is located at an outer periphery of the wheel support bearing and a rotor is located radially outward of the stator. A radial extension of the entire power unit is sized to be radially inward of a peripheral section of a brake rotor. An entirety of the power unit, excluding a mount part thereof to a hub flange, is sized to be situated in an axial range between the hub flange and a mount surface, on an inboard side of the wheel support bearing. The rotor includes an outer shell magnetic body, which is made from soft magnetic material and forms an outer shell of the power unit, and permanent magnets that are provided to the outer shell magnetic body.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2020Date of Patent: February 14, 2023Assignee: NTN CORPORATIONInventors: Mitsuo Kawamura, Kentaro Nishikawa, Taisuke Igi, Yuuji Yada, Yasuyuki Fujita, Hiroki Yabuta
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Publication number: 20220320919Abstract: The stator core is divided into an annular part and a plurality of teeth, including a tooth main part and a distal end part, having a larger circumferential width than a circumferential width of the tooth main part, and the annular part includes a plurality of fitting grooves, in the circumferential direction on an outer peripheral surface, extending in an axial direction and having a sectional shape with a narrowed part on an open side. Each of the teeth includes, at a base end part, a fitting part having a sectional shape that allows the fitting part, fitted into a fitting groove, inserted into the fitting groove of the annular part in the axial direction fitted to the annular part in an undetachable manner in a radial direction, and the fitting part has a maximum width in the circumferential direction smaller than the circumferential width of the tooth main part.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 17, 2022Publication date: October 6, 2022Applicant: NTN CORPORATIONInventor: Mitsuo KAWAMURA
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Patent number: 11447003Abstract: The vehicle power device includes: a wheel bearing including a stationary ring and a rotary ring; and a motor including a stator and a rotor. The stator and the rotor of the motor generator have a smaller diameter than that of an outer peripheral part of the brake rotor, and an entirety of the motor, excluding a mounting part to the hub flange, is located within an axial range between the hub flange and an outboard-side surface of a chassis frame component. An insulating layer is interposed between the stationary ring and the stator.Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 2020Date of Patent: September 20, 2022Assignee: NTN CORPORATIONInventors: Hiroki Yabuta, Kentaro Nishikawa, Mitsuo Kawamura, Yasuyuki Fujita, Yuuji Yada
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Publication number: 20210075289Abstract: Provided is a motor which includes a stator that can be received in a limited housing space and is capable of providing an increased output without increasing an axial length of the stator; a vehicle power unit including the motor; a generator; as well as a vehicle wheel bearing assembly with the generator. The motor generator includes: a stator including a stator core having an annular shape and stator coils wound around the stator core; and a rotor located opposite to the stator in a radial direction. Each of the stator coils includes coil ends that protrude with respect to an axial width of the stator core in an axial direction. A bus bar is connected to a wiring connection part at the coil ends, and the bus bar is disposed within an axial width of the stator core.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 19, 2020Publication date: March 11, 2021Applicant: NTN CORPORATIONInventors: Yuuji YADA, Kentaro NISHIKAWA, Mitsuo KAWAMURA
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Patent number: 10836247Abstract: A vehicle power assist system can be applied to a vehicle with a driven wheel (4) that is mechanically unconnected to a main drive source (5) such as an internal combustion engine. The driven wheel (4) is supported by a wheel support bearing assembly (31) to which a drive assist, motor generator (8) is mounted. A rotor of the motor generator (8) is directly fixed to a rotational ring of the wheel support bearing assembly (31) without interposition of a speed reducing mechanism or a speed increasing mechanism. The vehicle power assist system includes a power storage unit (19) configured to store a regenerative power generated by the motor generator (8) and to supply the stored power to the motor generator (8).Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 2019Date of Patent: November 17, 2020Assignee: NTN CORPORATIONInventors: Mitsuo Kawamura, Kentaro Nishikawa, Tomomi Ishikawa, Yasuyuki Fujita
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Publication number: 20200276896Abstract: The power device for a vehicle includes: a wheel bearing including a stationary ring and a rotary ring having a hub flange, the rotary ring being rotatably supported by the stationary ring via rolling element, the hub flange being configured to be attached with a wheel of a vehicle and a brake rotor; and a generator including a stator attached to the stationary ring of the wheel bearing and a rotor attached to the rotary ring of the wheel bearing, wherein the rotor includes a soft magnetic material part, magnets, and a resin material part that is integrally molded with the soft magnetic material part and the magnets.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 16, 2020Publication date: September 3, 2020Applicant: NTN CORPORATIONInventors: Mitsuo KAWAMURA, Kentaro NISHIKAWA, Yuuji YADA, Yasuyuki FUJITA, Hiroki YABUTA
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Patent number: 10752104Abstract: An auxiliary power unit equipped wheel support bearing assembly is provided which includes a wheel support bearing assembly and an auxiliary power unit. The auxiliary power unit is of a direct drive design that includes a stator mounted to a stationary ring of the wheel support bearing assembly and a motor rotor mounted to a rotational ring of the wheel support bearing assembly. An entirety of the auxiliary power unit is sized to extend less than an outer peripheral segment of a brake rotor, with the outer peripheral segment defining an area against which a brake caliper is intended to be pushed. The auxiliary power unit is, with respect to an axial direction, sized to be situated between a hub flange of the wheel support bearing assembly and a mounting face of the wheel support bearing assembly for mounting to a vehicle body of a vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: March 21, 2019Date of Patent: August 25, 2020Assignee: NTN CORPORATIONInventors: Mitsuo Kawamura, Kentaro Nishikawa, Tomomi Ishikawa, Takushi Matsuto
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Publication number: 20200238817Abstract: The vehicle power device includes: a wheel bearing including a stationary ring and a rotary ring; and a motor including a stator and a rotor. The stator and the rotor of the motor generator have a smaller diameter than that of an outer peripheral part of the brake rotor, and an entirety of the motor, excluding a mounting part to the hub flange, is located within an axial range between the hub flange and an outboard-side surface of a chassis frame component. An insulating layer is interposed between the stationary ring and the stator.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 16, 2020Publication date: July 30, 2020Applicant: NTN CORPORATIONInventors: Hiroki YABUTA, Kentaro NISHIKAWA, Mitsuo KAWAMURA, Yasuyuki FUJITA, Yuuji YADA
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Publication number: 20200198456Abstract: A wheel support bearing assembly includes a wheel support bearing and a power unit. The power unit is that of an outer rotor design in which a stator is located at an outer periphery of the wheel support bearing and a rotor is located radially outward of the stator. A radial extension of the entire power unit is sized to be radially inward of a peripheral section of a brake rotor. An entirety of the power unit, excluding a mount part thereof to a hub flange, is sized to be situated in an axial range between the hub flange and a mount surface, on an inboard side of the wheel support bearing. The rotor includes an outer shell magnetic body, which is made from soft magnetic material and forms an outer shell of the power unit, and permanent magnets that are provided to the outer shell magnetic body.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 5, 2020Publication date: June 25, 2020Applicant: NTN CORPORATIONInventors: Mitsuo KAWAMURA, Kentaro NISHIKAWA, Taisuke IGI, Yuuji YADA, Yasuyuki FUJITA, Hiroki Yabuta
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Publication number: 20200112229Abstract: Provided is a wheel bearing apparatus with a generator that can have a simplified structure to reduce costs and is capable of preventing electrolytic corrosion. The wheel bearing apparatus with a generator includes a wheel bearing and a generator. The generator includes a stator attached to a fixed wheel and a motor rotor attached to a rotating wheel and is of an outer-rotor type in which the stator is located on an outer periphery of the wheel bearing, and the motor rotor is located radially outside of the stator. The wheel bearing apparatus with the generator further includes at least one conducting unit that conducts a current between the fixed wheel and the rotating wheel.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 6, 2019Publication date: April 9, 2020Applicant: NTN CORPORATIONInventors: Hiroki YABUTA, Mitsuo KAWAMURA, Kentaro NISHIKAWA
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Patent number: 10487870Abstract: The present invention provides a foil bearing (10), including: a top foil portion (Tf); and a back foil portion (Bf), which is arranged on a back of the top foil portion (Tf), and is configured to elastically support the top foil portion (Tf), wherein the back foil portion (Bf) includes: an intermediate portion (23) being flat; first projecting portions (21) projecting on a front side of the intermediate portion (23); and second projecting portions (22) projecting on a back side of the intermediate portion (23).Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2016Date of Patent: November 26, 2019Assignee: NTN CORPORATIONInventors: Masato Yoshino, Hiroki Fujiwara, Mitsuo Kawamura
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Publication number: 20190248225Abstract: An auxiliary power unit equipped wheel support bearing assembly is provided which includes a wheel support bearing assembly and an auxiliary power unit. The auxiliary power unit is of a direct drive design that includes a stator mounted to a stationary ring of the wheel support bearing assembly and a motor rotor mounted to a rotational ring of the wheel support bearing assembly. An entirety of the auxiliary power unit is sized to extend less than an outer peripheral segment of a brake rotor, with the outer peripheral segment defining an area against which a brake caliper is intended to be pushed. The auxiliary power unit is, with respect to an axial direction, sized to be situated between a hub flange of the wheel support bearing assembly and a mounting face of the wheel support bearing assembly for mounting to a vehicle body of a vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 21, 2019Publication date: August 15, 2019Applicant: NTN CORPORATIONInventors: Mitsuo Kawamura, Kentaro Nishikawa, Tomomi Ishikawa, Takushi Matsuto
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Publication number: 20190217696Abstract: A vehicle power assist system can be applied to a vehicle with a driven wheel (4) that is mechanically unconnected to a main drive source (5) such as an internal combustion engine. The driven wheel (4) is supported by a wheel support bearing assembly (31) to which a drive assist, motor generator (8) is mounted. A rotor of the motor generator (8) is directly fixed to a rotational ring of the wheel support bearing assembly (31) without interposition of a speed reducing mechanism or a speed increasing mechanism. The vehicle power assist system includes a power storage unit (19) configured to store a regenerative power generated by the motor generator (8) and to supply the stored power to the motor generator (8).Type: ApplicationFiled: March 20, 2019Publication date: July 18, 2019Applicant: NTN CORPORATIONInventors: Mitsuo KAWAMURA, Kentaro NISHIKAWA, Tomomi ISHIKAWA, Yasuyuki FUJITA
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Publication number: 20180355909Abstract: The present invention provides a foil bearing (10), including: a top foil portion (Tf); and a back foil portion (Bf), which is arranged on a back of the top foil portion (Tf), and is configured to elastically support the top foil portion (Tf), wherein the back foil portion (Bf) includes: an intermediate portion (23) being flat; first projecting portions (21) projecting on a front side of the intermediate portion (23); and second projecting portions (22) projecting on a back side of the intermediate portion (23).Type: ApplicationFiled: November 16, 2016Publication date: December 13, 2018Inventors: Masato YOSHINO, Hiroki FUJIWARA, Mitsuo KAWAMURA
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Patent number: 10132358Abstract: A rolling bearing that can easily achieve the higher lubricating characteristic including the smaller rotational torque while employing the existing bearing shape and lubricant is provided. A rolling bearing 1 includes: an inner ring 2 and an outer ring 3 as a race ring; a plurality of rolling elements 4 held between the inner and outer rings; a retainer 5 that retains the rolling elements 4; a sealing member 11 provided at openings on opposite ends in an axial direction of the inner ring 2 and the outer ring 3; and grease 12 to be enclosed in an in-bearing space. At least one member selected from the inner ring 2, the outer ring 3, the retainer 5, and the sealing member 11 is provided with a flocking part 6 formed by flocking fiber on a surface of the member which is in contact with the grease 12.Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 2015Date of Patent: November 20, 2018Assignee: NTN CORPORATIONInventors: Mitsuo Kawamura, Tomohiko Obata
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Patent number: 9689422Abstract: A foil bearing unit includes: a first foil holder formed of a single component; a radial bearing foil mounted to an inner peripheral surface of the first foil holder; a thrust bearing foil mounted to an end surface of the first foil holder; and an inner member including: a shaft portion; and a flange portion projecting radially outward from the shaft portion. The inner member is supported in a radial direction by a fluid pressure that is generated in a radial bearing gap between a bearing surface of the radial bearing foil and an outer peripheral surface of the shaft portion, and the inner member is further supported in a thrust direction by a fluid pressure that is generated in a thrust bearing gap between a bearing surface of the thrust bearing foil and one end surface of the flange portion.Type: GrantFiled: August 27, 2014Date of Patent: June 27, 2017Assignee: NTN CORPORATIONInventors: Masato Yoshino, Mitsuo Kawamura, Hiroki Fujiwara
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Publication number: 20170152891Abstract: A rolling bearing that can easily achieve the higher lubricating characteristic including the smaller rotational torque while employing the existing bearing shape and lubricant is provided. A rolling bearing 1 includes: an inner ring 2 and an outer ring 3 as a race ring; a plurality of rolling elements 4 held between the inner and outer rings; a retainer 5 that retains the rolling elements 4; a sealing member 11 provided at openings on opposite ends in an axial direction of the inner ring 2 and the outer ring 3; and grease 12 to be enclosed in an in-bearing space. At least one member selected from the inner ring 2, the outer ring 3, the retainer 5, and the sealing member 11 is provided with a flocking part 6 formed by flocking fiber on a surface of the member which is in contact with the grease 12.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 20, 2015Publication date: June 1, 2017Inventors: Mitsuo KAWAMURA, Tomohiko OBATA
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Publication number: 20160186799Abstract: A foil bearing unit includes: a first foil holder formed of a single component; a radial bearing foil mounted to an inner peripheral surface of the first foil holder; a thrust bearing foil mounted to an end surface of the first foil holder; and an inner member including: a shaft portion; and a flange portion projecting radially outward from the shaft portion. The inner member is supported in a radial direction by a fluid pressure that is generated in a radial bearing gap between a bearing surface of the radial bearing foil and an outer peripheral surface of the shaft portion, and the inner member is further supported in a thrust direction by a fluid pressure that is generated in a thrust bearing gap between a bearing surface of the thrust bearing foil and one end surface of the flange portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 24, 2014Publication date: June 30, 2016Inventors: Masato YOSHINO, Mitsuo KAWAMURA, Hiroki FUJIWARA