Patents by Inventor Naoki Sugano

Naoki Sugano 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: 20120285152
    Abstract: Provided is an apparatus to lower a load, comprising a hydraulic pump, a hydraulic actuator having first and second ports, a manipulation device, a hydraulic circuit including meter-in and meter-out flow passages for the first and second ports respectively and a regeneration flow passage with a check valve, a control valve, a meter-out flow controller adjusting a meter-out flow rate according to the manipulation device, a back pressure valve, and a non-regeneration operation relief valve whose set pressure is not less than a sum of a minimum set pressure of the back pressure valve, an inlet-outlet pressure difference of the meter-out flow controller when the meter-out flow rate is maximum and a discharge flow rate of the hydraulic pump is maximum, and an actuator pressure difference for driving the hydraulic actuator with no load, and not less than a maximum set pressure of the back pressure valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2012
    Publication date: November 15, 2012
    Applicants: Kobelco Cranes Co., Ltd., Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho
    Inventors: Naoki SUGANO, Satoshi Maekawa, Katsuki Yamagata, Takaharu Michida, Hiroo Kondo, Naoya Kitazumi, Naoto Hori
  • Publication number: 20120143460
    Abstract: An engine control apparatus includes a governor and a controller which derives a lever operation-related rotational speed control target value derives an accelerator operation-related rotational speed control target value-corresponding to a detected operation amount of the accelerator member, based on an accelerator operation/rotational speed correlation function defining a relationship between the rotational speed control target value and the operation amount of the accelerator member; performs a lower value selection for selecting a lower one of the derived lever operation-related rotational speed control target value and accelerator operation-related rotational speed control target value; and causes the governor to control the rotational speed of the engine such that the rotational speed of the engine is set to the rotational speed control target value selected by the lower value selection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2011
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Applicants: Kobelco Cranes Co., Ltd., KABUSHIKI KAISHA KOBE SEIKO SHO (KOBE STEEL, LTD.)
    Inventors: Naoki SUGANO, Satoshi Maekawa, Takahiro Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20100089049
    Abstract: A hydraulic drive device capable of utilizing return oil effectively while maintaining a driven speed of a hydraulic actuator, as well as a working machine having the hydraulic drive device, are provided. The hydraulic drive device includes a controller. During an external force applying period in which a return oil pressure exceeds a discharge pressure from a hydraulic pump, the controller specifies a regenerating flow rate capable of being conducted to a regeneration oil passage and a surplus flow rate other than the regenerating flow rate on the basis of power required of the hydraulic pump out of return oil other than return oil which is conduced to a tank through a control valve, then conducts the return oil of the regenerating flow rate to the regeneration oil passage and controls an MO valve and a regulator so that the return oil of the surplus flow rate is conducted to an outlet oil passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2007
    Publication date: April 15, 2010
    Applicant: KOBELCO CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuuji Matsuura, Naoki Sugano, Takao Nanjo, Hiroshi Togo, Hidekazu Oka
  • Patent number: 7659677
    Abstract: To stop, in an emergency, a revolving superstructure quickly from rotating while preventing damage of a mechanical brake. A revolving superstructure is driven swiveling using a permanent magnetic-type swiveling electric motor; in an emergency, such as a malfunction in a drive or control system for the swiveling electric motor, allowing electric power generated in the electric motor due to inertial rotation to be consumed in an external braking resistor so as to make an electric braking action; and a mechanical brake is activated to stop the rotation and hold the stopped revolving superstructure when a rotation speed of the revolving superstructure becomes equal to or lower than a preset value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignees: Kobelco Construction Machinery Co., Ltd., Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho (Kobe Steel, Ltd.)
    Inventors: Hideaki Yoshimatsu, Masayuki Komiyama, Naoki Sugano, Koji Inoue
  • Patent number: 7610755
    Abstract: With respect to a method of controlling a pump flow rate of a hydraulic pump, a method having a small flow rate command value is selected between a pressure feedback control for controlling the pump flow rate based on a set pressure (a cutoff pressure) and a pump pressure, and, an ordinary control for controlling the pump flow rate based on operation information, and in a case that the pressure feedback control is selected, a flow rate increasing control for increasing the flow rate command value after the case with the passage of time is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: Kobelco Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Etsujiro Imanishi, Naoki Sugano, Takao Nanjo, Hidekazu Oka
  • Patent number: 7421890
    Abstract: A tire HIL simulator is provided which is capable of, in a testing apparatus where a vehicle model is incorporated into a tire testing apparatus, reproducing the behavior of a tire which corresponds to the three-dimensional behavior of a vehicle, even if a three-dimensional vehicle model is used. As a device for resolving this, this tire HIL simulator includes a tire testing apparatus 2 and a controller 3 connected mutually. The tire testing apparatus 2 conducts a running test on a tire 4a using a mimic road surface body 4, and includes a side force measuring device 37 for measuring a tire side force and each actuator which gives a contact load, a side-slip angle and a camber angle, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2008
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho, The University of Tokyo
    Inventors: Etsujiro Imanishi, Koichi Honke, Akira Tsutsui, Naoki Sugano, Takao Nanjo, Yoshihiro Suda
  • Patent number: 7392653
    Abstract: A hydraulic control system for a working machine according to the present invention comprises a hydraulic pump for supplying working oil to a hydraulic actuator through a control valve, a relief mechanism disposed on the discharge side of the pump, the relief mechanism assuming an open state when a pump discharge pressure which varies according to the pump flow rate exceeds a predetermined pressure and assuming a closed state when the pump discharge pressure becomes the predetermined one or lower, an ordinary control means for controlling the pump flow rate in accordance with working information, and a pressure feedback control means for controlling the pump flow rate in accordance with the pump discharge pressure. In this system, out of controls performed by both control means, control wherein the flow rate by one control becomes smaller than that of the other is selected, thereby opening/closing control of the relief mechanism is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: Kobelco Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Naoki Sugano
  • Publication number: 20070273316
    Abstract: To stop, in an emergency, a revolving superstructure quickly from rotating while preventing damage of a mechanical brake. A revolving superstructure is driven swiveling using a permanent magnetic-type swiveling electric motor; in an emergency, such as a malfunction in a drive or control system for the swiveling electric motor, allowing electric power generated in the electric motor due to inertial rotation to be consumed in an external braking resistor so as to make an electric braking action; and a mechanical brake is activated to stop the rotation and hold the stopped revolving superstructure when a rotation speed of the revolving superstructure becomes equal to or lower than a preset value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2005
    Publication date: November 29, 2007
    Applicants: KOBELCO CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY CO., LTD., Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho (Kobe Steel, Ltd.)
    Inventors: Hideaki Yoshimatsu, Masayuki Komiyama, Naoki Sugano, Koji Inoue
  • Publication number: 20070256484
    Abstract: A tire HIL simulator is provided which is capable of, in a testing apparatus where a vehicle model is incorporated into a tire testing apparatus, reproducing the behavior of a tire which corresponds to the three-dimensional behavior of a vehicle, even if a three-dimensional vehicle model is used. As a device for resolving this, this tire HIL simulator includes a tire testing apparatus 2 and a controller 3 connected mutually. The tire testing apparatus 2 conducts a running test on a tire 4a using a mimic road surface body 4, and includes a side force measuring device 37 for measuring a tire side force and each actuator which gives a contact load, a side-slip angle and a camber angle, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2005
    Publication date: November 8, 2007
    Inventors: Etsujiro Imanishi, Koichi Honke, Akira Tsutsui, Naoki Sugano, Takao Nanjo, Yoshihiro Suda
  • Publication number: 20070204606
    Abstract: With respect to a method of controlling a pump flow rate of a hydraulic pump, a method having a small flow rate command value is selected between a pressure feedback control for controlling the pump flow rate based on a set pressure (a cutoff pressure) and a pump pressure, and, an ordinary control for controlling the pump flow rate based on operation information, and in a case that the pressure feedback control is selected, a flow rate increasing control for increasing the flow rate command value after the case with the passage of time is performed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2007
    Publication date: September 6, 2007
    Applicant: KOBELCO CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Etsujiro Imanishi, Naoki Sugano, Takao Nanjo, Hidekazu Oka
  • Patent number: 7174711
    Abstract: A hydraulic control system of the present invention comprising control valves for controlling the direction and flow rate of pressure oil discharged from a hydraulic pump, hydraulic actuators which the pressure oil is fed to and controlled by the control valves, the hydraulic actuators including hydraulic cylinders and a hydraulic motor, and a first return passage provided as a passage for returning return oil present at the head side of one of the hydraulic cylinders to the tank, the first return passage being in communication with the tank, and a second return passage for returning return oil from each of the other hydraulic actuators including the hydraulic motor except for the hydraulic cylinders to the tank, the second return passage having a back pressure check valve and a replenishing passage, the replenishing passage being configured so as to provide a back pressure developed by the back pressure check valve to the low pressure side of each of the other hydraulic actuators to prevent cavitations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: Kobelco Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takao Nanjo, Naoki Sugano, Etsujiro Imanishi, Yutaka Toji, Hidekazu Oka
  • Patent number: 7067999
    Abstract: In a neutral range preset, there are set a zone for stopping and holding a rotating body only by a mechanical brake, a zone for holding the body only by performing position holding control, and a zone for simultaneously exerting both effects, i.e., the effect of the mechanical brake and the effect of the holding control. On-the-spot holding torque generated when the position holding control is performed is stored. The higher of the on-the-spot holding torque stored and accelerating torque according to an operation amount of the body at a rotation starting time is set as electric motor torque for acceleration. When performing a pressing work including pressing a bucket against an object for work, torque control is carried out according to the operation amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignees: Kobelco Construction Machinery Co., Ltd., Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoki Sugano, Koji Inoue, Hideaki Yoshimatsu, Mamoru Uejima
  • Patent number: 6981371
    Abstract: A control device for a working machine according to the present invention comprises a capacity variable pump for supplying working oil, a controller for controlling the discharge amount of the pump, a control valve for controlling the working oil discharged from the pump, a hydraulic actuator operated by the working oil from the control valve, an operating lever for operating the hydraulic actuator, and a relief valve to be operated when the pressure of the working oil is a relief pressure or more. The controller has a dynamic emulation model of a hydraulic driving device, and is constituted to estimate the pressure oil flow rate passing through the relief valve from the emulation model according to the operation amount of the operating lever, and to control the pump flow rate of the pump so that the relief flow rate estimation value gets close to zero. According to this, relief loss can be precisely reduced without generating a response delay or pressure loss, and the power can be saved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Assignee: Kobelco Construction Machinery Co., LTD
    Inventors: Etsujiro Imanishi, Naoki Sugano, Takao Nanjo
  • Publication number: 20050253542
    Abstract: In a neutral range preset, there are set a zone for stopping and holding a rotating body only by a mechanical brake, a zone for holding the body only by performing position holding control, and a zone for simultaneously exerting both effects, i.e., the effect of the mechanical brake and the effect of the holding control. On-the-spot holding torque generated when the position holding control is performed is stored. The higher of the on-the-spot holding torque stored and accelerating torque according to an operation amount of the body at a rotation starting time is set as electric motor torque for acceleration. When performing a pressing work including pressing a bucket against an object for work, torque control is carried out according to the operation amount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2003
    Publication date: November 17, 2005
    Applicants: KOBELCO CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY CO., LTD, KABUSHIKI KAISHA KOBE SEIKO SHO
    Inventors: Naoki Sugano, Koji Inoue, Hideaki Yoshimatsu, Mamoru Uejima
  • Publication number: 20050237021
    Abstract: In a construction machine comprising an electric motor 6 for driving a rotational system, an operating member for instructing an operation of the electric motor 6, and a controller 9 for controlling the electric motor 6 according to an operation command from the operating member, the controller 9 has an emulation model 9a for simulating dynamic characteristics of a hydraulic rotation driving device in real time, and a target value for control is calculated from the emulation model 9a according to the operation command from the operating member to control the electric motor 6. Accordingly, the electric motor can mildly respond to the operation of a lever in an intermediate range and swiftly respond to a quick operation of the lever.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2003
    Publication date: October 27, 2005
    Applicant: KOBELCO CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY CO., LTD
    Inventors: Naoki Sugano, Hideaki Yoshimatsu, Mamoru Uejima, Koji Inoue
  • Publication number: 20050229594
    Abstract: A hydraulic control system of the present invention comprising control valves for controlling the direction and flow rate of pressure oil discharged from a hydraulic pump, hydraulic actuators which the pressure oil is fed to and controlled by the control valves, the hydraulic actuators including hydraulic cylinders and a hydraulic motor, and a first return passage provided as a passage for returning return oil present at the head side of one of the hydraulic cylinders to the tank, the first return passage being in communication with the tank, and a second return passage for returning return oil from each of the other hydraulic actuators including the hydraulic motor except for the hydraulic cylinders to the tank, the second return passage having a back pressure check valve and a replenishing passage, the replenishing passage being configured so as to provide a back pressure developed by the back pressure check valve to the low pressure side of each of the other hydraulic actuators to prevent cavitations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2005
    Publication date: October 20, 2005
    Applicant: KOBELCO CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takao Nanjo, Naoki Sugano, Etsujiro Imanishi, Yutaka Toji, Hidekazu Oka
  • Publication number: 20050204735
    Abstract: A hydraulic control system for a working machine according to the present invention comprises a hydraulic pump for supplying working oil to a hydraulic actuator through a control valve, a relief mechanism disposed on the discharge side of the pump, the relief mechanism assuming an open state when a pump discharge pressure which varies according to the pump flow rate exceeds a predetermined pressure and assuming a closed state when the pump discharge pressure becomes the predetermined one or lower, an ordinary control means for controlling the pump flow rate in accordance with working information, and a pressure feedback control means for controlling the pump flow rate in accordance with the pump discharge pressure. In this system, out of controls performed by both control means, control wherein the flow rate by one control becomes smaller than that of the other is selected, thereby opening/closing control of the relief mechanism is performed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2005
    Publication date: September 22, 2005
    Applicant: KOBELCO CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Naoki Sugano
  • Patent number: 6837140
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a control system and method for a hydraulic working machine characterized by having a construction wherein a flow discharge control valve is disposed in a discharge-side pipe line of a main flow control valve, the amount of operation of an operating lever is converted to a pilot pressure by a remote controlled valve, the pilot pressure is then input to a controller and is calculated into a pressure change speed as operation speed, in a pressure change speed calculator, further, the operation speed is calculated into an electromagnetic valve current in an electromagnetic valve current calculator, then the electromagnetic proportional valve current is output to an electromagnetic proportional valve from a command unit, and the degree of opening of the discharge flow control valve is controlled with a secondary pressure in the electromagnetic proportional valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2005
    Assignee: Kobelco Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hidekazu Oka, Kazuhiko Fujii, Naoki Sugano, Etsujiro Imanishi
  • Publication number: 20040231326
    Abstract: A control device for a working machine according to the present invention comprises a capacity variable pump for supplying working oil, a controller for controlling the discharge amount of the pump, a control valve for controlling the working oil discharged from the pump, a hydraulic actuator operated by the working oil from the control valve, an operating lever for operating the hydraulic actuator, and a relief valve to be operated when the pressure of the working oil is a relief pressure or more. The controller has a dynamic emulation model of a hydraulic driving device, and is constituted to estimate the pressure oil flow rate passing through the relief valve from the emulation model according to the operation amount of the operating lever, and to control the pump flow rate of the pump so that the relief flow rate estimation value gets close to zero. According to this, relief loss can be precisely reduced without generating a response delay or pressure loss, and the power can be saved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2004
    Publication date: November 25, 2004
    Applicant: KOBELCO CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY CO., LTD
    Inventors: Etsujiro Imanishi, Naoki Sugano, Takao Nanjo
  • Publication number: 20030145721
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a control system and method for a hydraulic working machine characterized by having a construction wherein a flow discharge control valve is disposed in a discharge-side pipe line of a main flow control valve, the amount of operation of an operating lever is converted to a pilot pressure by a remote controlled valve, the pilot pressure is then input to a controller and is calculated into a pressure change speed as operation speed, in a pressure change speed calculator, further, the operation speed is calculated into an electromagnetic valve current in an electromagnetic valve current calculator, then the electromagnetic proportional valve current is output to an electromagnetic proportional valve from a command unit, and the degree of opening of the discharge flow control valve is controlled with a secondary pressure in the electromagnetic proportional valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2003
    Publication date: August 7, 2003
    Applicant: KOBELCO CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY CO., LTD
    Inventors: Hidekazu Oka, Kazuhiko Fujii, Naoki Sugano, Etsujiro Imanishi