Patents by Inventor Naoki Tomiyama

Naoki Tomiyama 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: 11215234
    Abstract: A centering structure is provided in a device including a first member with an inner peripheral surface and a second member with an outer peripheral surface opposed to the inner peripheral surface. The centering structure includes outer peripheral cam surfaces circumferentially aligned on the inner peripheral surface of the first member, inner peripheral cam surfaces opposed to the outer peripheral cam surfaces, and rolling elements. The inner peripheral cam surfaces form accommodation spaces together with the outer peripheral cam surfaces therebetween. The rolling elements are disposed in the accommodation spaces. Each rolling element rolls along each outer peripheral cam surface and each inner peripheral cam surface. The rolling elements move the first or second member in a direction to cause a center of the inner peripheral surface and a center of the outer peripheral surface to be matched when the first and second members are rotated relative to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: EXEDY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Naoki Tomiyama
  • Publication number: 20210033150
    Abstract: A centering structure is provided in a device including a first member with an inner peripheral surface and a second member with an outer peripheral surface opposed to the inner peripheral surface. The centering structure includes outer peripheral cam surfaces circumferentially aligned on the inner peripheral surface of the first member, inner peripheral cam surfaces opposed to the outer peripheral cam surfaces, and rolling elements. The inner peripheral cam surfaces form accommodation spaces together with the outer peripheral cam surfaces therebetween. The rolling elements are disposed in the accommodation spaces. Each rolling element rolls along each outer peripheral cam surface and each inner peripheral cam surface. The rolling elements move the first or second member in a direction to cause a center of the inner peripheral surface and a center of the outer peripheral surface to be matched when the first and second members are rotated relative to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2020
    Publication date: February 4, 2021
    Inventor: Naoki TOMIYAMA
  • Patent number: 10648533
    Abstract: A torque fluctuation inhibiting device includes a mass body, a centrifugal element and a cam mechanism. The mass body is disposed in alignment with a rotor in an axial direction, and is rotatable relatively to the rotor. The cam mechanism includes a cam and a cam follower. When relative displacement occurs between the rotor and the mass body due to a centrifugal force that acts on the centrifugal element, the cam mechanism converts the centrifugal force into a circumferential force directed to reduce the relative displacement. Guide parts are provided on both ends of the centrifugal element. Each guide part makes contact with a member adjacent thereto in an opposite position to a contact point between the cam and the cam follower through a center of gravity of the centrifugal element when the relative displacement occurs between the rotor and the mass body in the rotational direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: EXEDY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Naoki Tomiyama
  • Patent number: 10626950
    Abstract: A torque fluctuation inhibiting device includes a mass body, a centrifugal element and a cam mechanism. The mass body is disposed to be rotatable with a rotor and be rotatable relatively to the rotor. The centrifugal element is disposed to receive a centrifugal force to be generated by rotation of the rotor and the mass body. When a relative displacement is produced between the rotor and the mass body in a rotational direction, the cam mechanism converts the centrifugal force that acts on the centrifugal element into a circumferential force directed to reduce the relative displacement. Additionally, when the torque fluctuations inputted to the rotor have a predetermined magnitude or greater, the cam mechanism makes the mass body freely rotate with respect to the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: EXEDY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naoki Tomiyama, Yoshiyuki Hagihara, Koichi Higuchi
  • Patent number: 10626949
    Abstract: A torque fluctuation inhibiting device includes a mass body, first and second centrifugal elements, and first and second cam mechanisms. The mass body is rotatable with a rotor and is also rotatable relatively to the rotor. Each of the first and second centrifugal elements receives a centrifugal force to be generated by rotation of the rotor and the mass body. When a relative displacement is produced between the rotor and the mass body in a rotational direction, the first cam mechanism converts the centrifugal force that acts on the first centrifugal element into a first circumferential force directed to reduce the relative displacement. When the relative displacement is produced between the rotor and the mass body in the rotational direction, the second cam mechanism converts the centrifugal force that acts on the second centrifugal element into a second circumferential force directed to reduce the relative displacement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: EXEDY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naoki Tomiyama, Yoshiyuki Hagihara, Koichi Higuchi
  • Patent number: 10619702
    Abstract: A torque fluctuation inhibiting device inhibits torque fluctuations in a rotor to which a torque is inputted. The torque fluctuation inhibiting device includes a mass body, a centrifugal element and a cam mechanism. The mass body is disposed to be rotatable with a rotor and be rotatable relatively to the rotor. The centrifugal element is disposed to receive a centrifugal force to be generated by rotation of the rotor and the mass body. The cam mechanism converts the centrifugal force acting on the centrifugal element into a circumferential force when a relative displacement is produced between the rotor and the mass body in a rotational direction. The circumferential force is directed to reduce the relative displacement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: EXEDY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naoki Tomiyama, Yoshiyuki Hagihara, Koichi Higuchi
  • Publication number: 20190383353
    Abstract: A torque fluctuation inhibiting device is disclosed. The device includes a mass body, centrifugal elements, guide members, and cam mechanisms. The mass body is rotatable in accordance with and relative to the rotor. The centrifugal elements are radially movable, and disposed to receive a centrifugal force by the rotor and the mass body. The guide members are provided on circumferential ends of each centrifugal element, and guide movement of each centrifugal element while supported by one of the rotor and the mass body. The cam mechanisms convert the centrifugal force into a circumferential force when a relative displacement occurs between the rotor and the mass body while the centrifugal force acts on each centrifugal element. The cam mechanisms each include a cam provided on the other of the rotor and the mass body, and a cam follower disposed on a straight line connecting the guide members in each centrifugal element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2019
    Publication date: December 19, 2019
    Inventor: Naoki TOMIYAMA
  • Patent number: 10508708
    Abstract: A torque fluctuation inhibiting device is disclosed. The device includes a mass body, centrifugal elements, guide members, and cam mechanisms. The mass body is rotatable in accordance with and relative to the rotor. The centrifugal elements are radially movable, and disposed to receive a centrifugal force by the rotor and the mass body. The guide members are provided on circumferential ends of each centrifugal element, and guide movement of each centrifugal element while supported by one of the rotor and the mass body. The cam mechanisms convert the centrifugal force into a circumferential force when a relative displacement occurs between the rotor and the mass body while the centrifugal force acts on each centrifugal element. The cam mechanisms each include a cam provided on the other of the rotor and the mass body, and a cam follower disposed on a straight line connecting the guide members in each centrifugal element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: EXEDY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Naoki Tomiyama
  • Patent number: 10487911
    Abstract: A device for inhibiting torque fluctuations includes a mass body disposed in alignment with a rotor in an axial direction. The mass body is rotatable with the rotor, and is also rotatable relatively to the rotor. The device includes a centrifugal element that receives a centrifugal force to be generated by rotation of the rotor and the mass body. A cam mechanism includes a cam and a cam follower. The cam mechanism converts the centrifugal force that acts on the centrifugal element into a circumferential force when a relative displacement is produced between the rotor and the mass body in a rotational direction. The circumferential force is directed to reduce the relative displacement. The cam is provided on the centrifugal element or one of the rotor and the mass body, the cam follower is provided on the one of the rotor and the mass body or the centrifugal element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: EXEDY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naoki Tomiyama, Yoshiyuki Hagihara, Koichi Higuchi
  • Publication number: 20190186593
    Abstract: A torque fluctuation inhibiting device includes a first rotating body, a second rotating body, a centrifugal element, a support portion, and a displacement inhibiting mechanism. Torque is input to the first rotating body. The centrifugal element is subject to centrifugal force due to rotation of the first rotating body and moves in a direction different from a direction in which the centrifugal force acts. The support portion is provided in the first rotating body or the second rotating body and moveably guides the centrifugal element in the direction different from the direction in which the centrifugal force acts on the centrifugal element. The displacement inhibiting mechanism generates circumferential force which reduces a relative displacement of the first rotating body and the second rotating body when the centrifugal element moves in the direction different from the direction in which the centrifugal force acts on the centrifugal element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2018
    Publication date: June 20, 2019
    Inventors: Yuki KAWAHARA, Naoki TOMIYAMA, Yusuke TOMITA
  • Publication number: 20190078644
    Abstract: A torque fluctuation inhibiting device includes a mass body, a centrifugal element and a cam mechanism. The mass body is disposed in alignment with a rotor in an axial direction, and is rotatable relatively to the rotor. The cam mechanism includes a cam and a cam follower. When relative displacement occurs between the rotor and the mass body due to a centrifugal force that acts on the centrifugal element, the cam mechanism converts the centrifugal force into a circumferential force directed to reduce the relative displacement. Guide parts are provided on both ends of the centrifugal element. Each guide part makes contact with a member adjacent thereto in an opposite position to a contact point between the cam and the cam follower through a center of gravity of the centrifugal element when the relative displacement occurs between the rotor and the mass body in the rotational direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2017
    Publication date: March 14, 2019
    Applicant: Exedy Corporation
    Inventor: Naoki TOMIYAMA
  • Patent number: 10184542
    Abstract: A torque fluctuation inhibiting device includes a mass body, a plurality of centrifugal elements, an actuation preventing mechanism and a cam mechanism. The mass body is rotatable with a rotor, and is rotatable relatively to the rotor. Each of the centrifugal elements is disposed to receive a centrifugal force to be generated by rotation of the rotor and the mass body, and is movable in a radial direction. The actuation preventing mechanism restricts at least one of the centrifugal elements from moving outward in the radial direction when the rotor or the mass body is rotated at a predetermined speed or greater. The cam mechanism converts the centrifugal force into a circumferential force with use of actuation of the plurality of centrifugal elements moved in the radial direction by the centrifugal force when a relative displacement is produced between the rotor and the mass body in a rotational direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: EXEDY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naoki Tomiyama, Yoshiyuki Hagihara, Koichi Higuchi
  • Publication number: 20180306272
    Abstract: A torque fluctuation inhibiting device includes a mass body, a centrifugal element and a cam mechanism. The mass body is disposed to be rotatable with a rotor and be rotatable relatively to the rotor. The centrifugal element is disposed to receive a centrifugal force to be generated by rotation of the rotor and the mass body. When a relative displacement is produced between the rotor and the mass body in a rotational direction, the cam mechanism converts the centrifugal force that acts on the centrifugal element into a circumferential force directed to reduce the relative displacement. Additionally, when the torque fluctuations inputted to the rotor have a predetermined magnitude or greater, the cam mechanism makes the mass body freely rotate with respect to the rotor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2016
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Inventors: Naoki TOMIYAMA, Yoshiyuki HAGIHARA, Koichi HIGUCHI
  • Publication number: 20180306270
    Abstract: A torque fluctuation inhibiting device includes a mass body, a plurality of centrifugal elements, an actuation preventing mechanism and a cam mechanism. The mass body is rotatable with a rotor, and is rotatable relatively to the rotor. Each of the centrifugal elements is disposed to receive a centrifugal force to be generated by rotation of the rotor and the mass body, and is movable in a radial direction. The actuation preventing mechanism restricts at least one of the centrifugal elements from moving outward in the radial direction when the rotor or the mass body is rotated at a predetermined speed or greater. The cam mechanism converts the centrifugal force into a circumferential force with use of actuation of the plurality of centrifugal elements moved in the radial direction by the centrifugal force when a relative displacement is produced between the rotor and the mass body in a rotational direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2016
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Inventors: Naoki TOMIYAMA, Yoshiyuki HAGIHARA, Koichi HIGUCHI
  • Publication number: 20180298979
    Abstract: A torque fluctuation inhibiting device inhibits torque fluctuations in a rotor to which a torque is inputted. The torque fluctuation inhibiting device includes a mass body, a centrifugal element and a cam mechanism. The mass body is disposed to be rotatable with a rotor and be rotatable relatively to the rotor. The centrifugal element is disposed to receive a centrifugal force to be generated by rotation of the rotor and the mass body. The cam mechanism converts the centrifugal force acting on the centrifugal element into a circumferential force when a relative displacement is produced between the rotor and the mass body in a rotational direction. The circumferential force is directed to reduce the relative displacement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2016
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Inventors: Naoki TOMIYAMA, Yoshiyuki HAGIHARA, Koichi HIGUCHI
  • Patent number: 10047844
    Abstract: A dynamic damper device occupies a small space in an axial direction and can achieve a reduction in weight. The dynamic damper device is mounted to a turbine shell of a torque converter, and includes a damper plate, an inertia ring and a plurality of torsion springs. The damper plate is fixed to the turbine shell and is configured to be rotated. The inertia ring has spring accommodation parts and slider accommodation parts along a circumferential direction, and is disposed to be rotatable relative to the damper plate. The plurality of torsion springs are disposed in the spring accommodation parts of the inertia ring, and elastically couple the damper plate and the inertia ring in a rotational direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: EXEDY Corporation
    Inventor: Naoki Tomiyama
  • Patent number: 10030740
    Abstract: A lock-up device includes an output rotary member rotatable relatively to a clutch portion and coupled to a turbine. A plurality of torque transmission elastic members elastically and rotation-directionally couple the clutch portion and the output rotary member. An intermediate member rotatable relatively to the clutch portion and the output rotary member causes at least two of the plural torque transmission elastic members to act in a series-like manner. A dynamic damper device includes a first inertia ring, a second inertia ring and a plurality of dynamic damper elastic members, the first and second inertia rings axially split and having pairs of accommodation recesses axially opposed to each other, the plural dynamic damper elastic members accommodated in the pairs of the accommodation recesses of the first and second inertia rings and elastically coupling the intermediate member and the first and second inertia rings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: EXEDY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Naoki Tomiyama
  • Publication number: 20180187745
    Abstract: A device for inhibiting torque fluctuations includes a mass body disposed in alignment with a rotor in an axial direction. The mass body is rotatable with the rotor, and is also rotatable relatively to the rotor. The device includes a centrifugal element that receives a centrifugal force to be generated by rotation of the rotor and the mass body. A cam mechanism includes a cam and a cam follower. The cam mechanism converts the centrifugal force that acts on the centrifugal element into a circumferential force when a relative displacement is produced between the rotor and the mass body in a rotational direction. The circumferential force is directed to reduce the relative displacement. The cam is provided on the centrifugal element or one of the rotor and the mass body, the cam follower is provided on the one of the rotor and the mass body or the centrifugal element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2016
    Publication date: July 5, 2018
    Inventors: Naoki TOMIYAMA, Yoshiyuki HAGIHARA, Koichi HIGUCHI
  • Publication number: 20180163815
    Abstract: A torque fluctuation inhibiting device includes a mass body, first and second centrifugal elements, and first and second cam mechanisms. The mass body is rotatable with a rotor and is also rotatable relatively to the rotor. Each of the first and second centrifugal elements receives a centrifugal force to be generated by rotation of the rotor and the mass body. When a relative displacement is produced between the rotor and the mass body in a rotational direction, the first cam mechanism converts the centrifugal force that acts on the first centrifugal element into a first circumferential force directed to reduce the relative displacement. When the relative displacement is produced between the rotor and the mass body in the rotational direction, the second cam mechanism converts the centrifugal force that acts on the second centrifugal element into a second circumferential force directed to reduce the relative displacement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2016
    Publication date: June 14, 2018
    Inventors: Naoki TOMIYAMA, Yoshiyuki HAGIHARA, Koichi HIGUCHI
  • Patent number: 9945444
    Abstract: A lock-up device includes a drive plate, a driven plate, first torsion springs, second torsion springs, a spring holder and a rotation restricting unit. The rotation restricting unit is configured to restrict and bring the first torsion spring in each group and the second torsion spring in each group to a deactivated state by at least either of engagement of the spring holder with the driven plate or engagement of the drive plate with the spring holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: EXEDY Corporation
    Inventor: Naoki Tomiyama