Patents by Inventor Noboru Yokoya

Noboru Yokoya 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: 7255617
    Abstract: A personal watercraft can be rotated in a correct direction of rotation when the personal watercraft has been overturned, and can thereby be restored to a normal, upright position. The personal watercraft includes a vessel body, an engine, and an exhaust system. The exhaust system includes a muffler, disposed on a first side of the vessel body, and an exhaust pipe connected to the muffler and formed in an inverted U-shape. During operation of the engine, exhaust gas passes through the inverted-U-shaped exhaust pipe and is subsequently discharged to the outside environment via an exhaust port. The exhaust port is disposed on a second side of the vessel body opposite the first side. The vessel body has a hollow water-receiving portion formed therein, on the second side thereof. The water-receiving portion is adapted to be submerged under water when the personal watercraft is overturned in a body of water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Noboru Yokoya, Takeshi Kimishima, Yasunori Okazaki, Takeshi Koyabu
  • Patent number: 7168999
    Abstract: An exhaust gate valve apparatus of a water jet propulsion-driven watercraft is provided that is capable of positively closing an exhaust port with a valve body when an engine is stationary and widely opening the valve body when the engine runs. In the watercraft, an exhaust port of a tail pipe is arranged to face an opening in a top wall of a pump chamber. The exhaust gate valve apparatus includes a valve body, valve body support flange, pressure device, and a jet water expelling device. The valve body support flange attaches the valve body to the top wall. The pressure device urges the valve body to a closed position. The jet water expelling device diverts jet water from a water jet pump and opens the valve body using the jet water thus diverted, counteracting a pressing force of the pressure device and opening the valve body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Noboru Yokoya, Takeshi Kimishima, Yasunori Okazaki, Takeshi Koyabu
  • Patent number: 7156710
    Abstract: An exhaust system for a small-sized boat which can efficiently reduce exhaust noises in a low frequency band includes a water muffler provided at one location along exhaust pipes extending from an engine disposed in a boat body. The inside of the water muffler is divided into a single expansion chamber and a resonator chamber, and a front exhaust pipe coupled to the engine and a rear exhaust pipe opened to the outside of the boat are connected to the expansion chamber. Between the front exhaust pipe opened to the inside of the expansion chamber and the rear exhaust pipe, a water-controlling plate is provided in an upper side of the expansion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Noboru Yokoya, Takeshi Kimishima, Yasunori Okazaki, Takeshi Koyabu, Masatsugu Matsumoto, Yoshiaki Noda
  • Patent number: 7128018
    Abstract: The present invention relates to saddle-riding type watercraft and other small watercraft. In an embodiment, the invention is a small watercraft capable of reducing noise by utilizing the sponson. For example, a small watercraft is provided with a sponson made of synthetic resin, characterized in that within the sponson there has been fixed a weight matched to the frequency of the hull to thereby have a function as a dynamic damper. In an embodiment, the weight is a plate-shaped weight made of metal along the longitudinal direction of the sponson. In an embodiment, the weight is embedded in the sponson along the longitudinal direction thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Noboru Yokoya
  • Patent number: 7100146
    Abstract: A design system of an alignment mark for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes a memory which stores at least mark data including pattern information regarding plural kinds of marks and process data including condition information of manufacturing processes, and a first process simulator which simulates a substrate structure before patterning based on the process data, the substrate structure being formed in an identified manufacturing process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Takashi Sato, Takuya Kouno, Takashi Sakamoto, Yoshiyuki Shioyama, Tatsuhiko Higashiki, Ichiro Mori, Noboru Yokoya
  • Patent number: 7056174
    Abstract: The invention is directed at increasing the degree of freedom in layout of the resonator, and the exhaust system including the resonator will be improved. Also, the invention is directed at a resonator and exhaust system wherein when an attempt is made to raise the engine speed from the idling state, the engine speed will be smoothly raised. According to the invention, there is provided a bilge pump for draining water within a hull; cooling water is caused to flow within an exhaust pipe of an engine; and in the exhaust system, there is provided a resonator. The resonator is connected to the bilge pump through bilge pipes. The bilge pump is constructed of a jet propulsion pump to be driven by the engine. Even if the resonator is arranged below the water line, the water which accumulates within the resonator will be drained by the bilge pump, and it becomes possible to arrange the resonator below the water line without interfering with the function of the resonator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Noboru Yokoya, Takeshi Kimishima, Yasunori Okazaki, Takeshi Koyabu
  • Publication number: 20060063445
    Abstract: A personal watercraft can be rotated in a correct direction of rotation when the personal watercraft has been overturned, and can thereby be restored to a normal, upright position. The personal watercraft includes a vessel body, an engine, and an exhaust system. The exhaust system includes a muffler, disposed on a first side of the vessel body, and an exhaust pipe connected to the muffler and formed in an inverted U-shape. During operation of the engine, exhaust gas passes through the inverted-U-shaped exhaust pipe and is subsequently discharged to the outside environment via an exhaust port. The exhaust port is disposed on a second side of the vessel body opposite the first side. The vessel body has a hollow water-receiving portion formed therein, on the second side thereof. The water-receiving portion is adapted to be submerged under water when the personal watercraft is overturned in a body of water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2005
    Publication date: March 23, 2006
    Applicant: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Noboru Yokoya, Takeshi Kimishima, Yasunori Okazaki, Takeshi Koyabu
  • Publication number: 20060057909
    Abstract: An exhaust gate valve apparatus of a water jet propulsion-driven watercraft is provided that is capable of positively closing an exhaust port with a valve body when an engine is stationary and widely opening the valve body when the engine runs. In the watercraft, an exhaust port of a tail pipe is arranged to face an opening in a top wall of a pump chamber. The exhaust gate valve apparatus includes a valve body, valve body support flange, pressure device, and a jet water expelling device. The valve body support flange attaches the valve body to the top wall. The pressure device urges the valve body to a closed position. The jet water expelling device diverts jet water from a water jet pump and opens the valve body using the jet water thus diverted, counteracting a pressing force of the pressure device and opening the valve body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2005
    Publication date: March 16, 2006
    Applicant: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Noboru Yokoya, Takeshi Kimishima, Yasunori Okazaki, Takeshi Koyabu
  • Publication number: 20050039663
    Abstract: The present invention relates to saddle-riding type watercraft and other small watercraft. In an embodiment, the invention is a small watercraft capable of reducing noise by utilizing the sponson. For example, a small watercraft is provided with a sponson made of synthetic resin, characterized in that within the sponson there has been fixed a weight matched to the frequency of the hull to thereby have a function as a dynamic damper. In an embodiment, the weight is a plate-shaped weight made of metal along the longitudinal direction of the sponson. In an embodiment, the weight is embedded in the sponson along the longitudinal direction thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2004
    Publication date: February 24, 2005
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Noboru Yokoya
  • Publication number: 20050042950
    Abstract: The invention is directed at increasing the degree of freedom in layout of the resonator and the exhaust system device including the resonator will be improved. Also, the invention is directed at a resonator and exhaust system wherein when an attempt is made to raise the engine speed from the idling state, the engine speed will be smoothly raised. According to the invention, there is provided a bilge pump for draining water within a hull; cooling water is caused to flow within an exhaust pipe of an engine; and in the exhaust system, there is provided a resonator. The resonator is connected to the bilge pump through bilge pipes. The bilge pump is constructed of a jet propulsion pump to be driven by the engine. Even if the resonator is arranged below the water line, the water which accumulates within the resonator will be drained by the bilge pump, and it becomes possible to arrange the resonator below the water line without interfering with the function of the resonator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2004
    Publication date: February 24, 2005
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Noboru Yokoya, Takeshi Kimishima, Yasunori Okazaki, Takeshi Koyabu
  • Publication number: 20050020152
    Abstract: An exhaust system for a small-sized boat which can efficiently reduce exhaust noises in a low frequency band includes a water muffler provided at one location along exhaust pipes extending from an engine disposed in a boat body. The inside of the water muffler is divided into a single expansion chamber and a resonator chamber, and a front exhaust pipe coupled to the engine and a rear exhaust pipe opened to the outside of the boat are connected to the expansion chamber. Between the front exhaust pipe opened to the inside of the expansion chamber and the rear exhaust pipe, a water-controlling plate is provided in an upper side of the expansion chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2004
    Publication date: January 27, 2005
    Applicant: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Noboru Yokoya, Takeshi Kimishima, Yasunori Okazaki, Takeshi Koyabu, Masatsugu Matsumoto, Yoshiaki Noda
  • Publication number: 20040207856
    Abstract: A design system of an alignment mark for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes a memory which stores at least mark data including pattern information regarding plural kinds of marks and process data including condition information of manufacturing processes, and a first process simulator which simulates a substrate structure before patterning based on the process data, the substrate structure being formed in an identified manufacturing process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2003
    Publication date: October 21, 2004
    Inventors: Takashi Sato, Takuya Kouno, Takashi Sakamoto, Yoshiyuki Shioyama, Tatsuhiko Higashiki, Ichiro Mori, Noboru Yokoya
  • Patent number: 6800005
    Abstract: An exhaust system for a small watercraft wherein exhaust gas can flow smoothly includes a water muffler in the exhaust system for an engine incorporated in a small watercraft. An exhaust pipe is connected to the water muffler extending upwardly once and then extending downwardly in such a manner as to have a substantially U-shape. Spiral baffle plates are provided for spirally introducing exhaust gas on an inner face of the U-shaped exhaust pipe. Since the baffle plates are provided on the exhaust pipe, cooling water and exhaust gas can be separated from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2004
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Noboru Yokoya
  • Patent number: 6739921
    Abstract: An exhaust system for a small boat is constructed in such a manner that an exhaust pipe extends rearwardly from an engine provided in a hull of the boat. A water muffler is provided in the exhaust pipe, and exhaust gas is discharged through a water lock pipe extending upward from a water muffler. A water lock pipe has an inverted U-shape. A resonator chamber for attenuating resonance of the water lock pipe is provided in the water muffler. The resulting configuration provides an effective system for reducing exhaust noise emanating from the small boat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2004
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Jun Nakajima, Takayoshi Miura, Noboru Yokoya
  • Publication number: 20040048527
    Abstract: An exhaust system for a small watercraft wherein exhaust gas can flow smoothly includes a water muffler in the exhaust system for an engine incorporated in a small watercraft. An exhaust pipe is connected to the water muffler extending upwardly once and then extending downwardly in such a manner as to have a substantially U-shape. Spiral baffle plates are provided for spirally introducing exhaust gas on an inner face of the U-shaped exhaust pipe. Since the baffle plates are provided on the exhaust pipe, cooling water and exhaust gas can be separated from each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2003
    Publication date: March 11, 2004
    Inventor: Noboru Yokoya
  • Patent number: 6679742
    Abstract: To provide an exhaust structure for a jet propulsion watercraft which can simply achieve a reduction of the exhaust noise. In the exhaust structure for a jet propulsion watercraft, a water jet propeller is provided in a pump room of a watercraft body. An engine for driving the watercraft is connected to the water jet propeller. An exhaust opening of an exhaust pipe is attached to the engine and is exposed to a pump room. A resonator for sound deadening is provided for the exhaust pipe. Further, in the exhaust structure for a jet propulsion watercraft, the resonator is bent in a meandering state such that bent portions thereof are positioned adjacent to each other so that the entire resonator has a substantially flat plate-like configuration. The resonator having a plate-like configuration is laid along a ceiling wall of the pump room.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Noboru Yokoya, Takayoshi Miura, Masahiko Tsuchiya
  • Publication number: 20030060099
    Abstract: An exhaust system for a small boat is constructed in such a manner that an exhaust pipe extends rearwardly from an engine provided in a hull of the boat. A water muffler is provided in the exhaust pipe, and exhaust gas is discharged through a water lock pipe extending upward from a water muffler. A water lock pipe has an inverted U-shape. A resonator chamber for attenuating resonance of the water lock pipe is provided in the water muffler. The resulting configuration provides an effective system for reducing exhaust noise emanating from the small boat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2002
    Publication date: March 27, 2003
    Inventors: Jun Nakajima, Takayoshi Miura, Noboru Yokoya
  • Publication number: 20030013363
    Abstract: To provide an exhaust structure for a jet propulsion watercraft which can simply achieve a reduction of the exhaust noise. In the exhaust structure for a jet propulsion watercraft, a water jet propeller is provided in a pump room of a watercraft body. An engine for driving the watercraft is connected to the water jet propeller. An exhaust opening of an exhaust pipe is attached to the engine and is exposed to a pump room. A resonator for sound deadening is provided for the exhaust pipe. Further, in the exhaust structure for a jet propulsion watercraft, the resonator is bent in a meandering state such that bent portions thereof are positioned adjacent to each other so that the entire resonator has a substantially flat plate-like configuration. The resonator having a plate-like configuration is laid along a ceiling wall of the pump room.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2002
    Publication date: January 16, 2003
    Inventors: Noboru Yokoya, Takayoshi Miura, Masahiko Tsuchiya
  • Patent number: 6305307
    Abstract: A braking system for a small jet propulsion surfboard can be manufactured at reduced costs. The braking system includes left and right sponsons retractably attached to a surfboard body. Left and right locking units fix the sponsons to the surfboard body. An unlocking unit unlocks the lock units in order to free the sponsons from the surfboard body. A traction rope ensures that the freed sponsons remain connected to the surfboard body. The freed sponsons are pulled by the traction rope to thereby apply braking force to the jet propulsion surfboard. In an alternative embodiment, a system with a water-reversing cup can replace the sponsons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2001
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Noboru Yokoya
  • Patent number: 6290557
    Abstract: An exhaust system for a jet propulsion boat and a jet propulsion boat including the exhaust system. The exhaust system includes a muffler connected to the boat's engine by an exhaust pipe, and an auxiliary muffler connected to the muffler by a first connecting portion of a connecting pipe, A second connecting portion of the connecting pipe connects the auxiliary muffler to a tail pipe, through which exhaust gases travel to be exhausted into the water through a nozzle of a jet propulsion device. The auxiliary muffler is elevated with respect to the connecting pipe, which prevents the entry of water into the auxiliary muffler and a corresponding degradation of its sound reduction capability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2001
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Noboru Yokoya