Patents by Inventor Nobumichi Hanawa
Nobumichi Hanawa 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: 9488243Abstract: A damper with a vehicle height adjusting function includes a damper body and a vehicle height adjusting mechanism adapted to adjust an axial length of the damper body. The damper body includes a cylinder, a head member having an annular shape and closing one end of the cylinder, a piston rod axially supported on an inner periphery of the head member and inserted in the cylinder so as to be movable in an axial direction, and a piston retained by the piston rod and partitioning an inside of the cylinder into two pressure chambers. The vehicle height adjusting mechanism includes a partition wall member defining a jack chamber in one of the pressure chambers and being capable of extending and contracting in the axial direction, and a pump supplying/discharging a working fluid into/from the jack chamber.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 2012Date of Patent: November 8, 2016Assignee: KYB CorporationInventors: Nobumichi Hanawa, Tsutomu Yoshimoto
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Publication number: 20140124311Abstract: A damper with a vehicle height adjusting function includes a damper body and a vehicle height adjusting mechanism adapted to adjust an axial length of the damper body. The damper body includes a cylinder, a head member having an annular shape and closing one end of the cylinder, a piston rod axially supported on an inner periphery of the head member and inserted in the cylinder so as to be movable in an axial direction, and a piston retained by the piston rod and partitioning an inside of the cylinder into two pressure chambers. The vehicle height adjusting mechanism includes a partition wall member defining a jack chamber in one of the pressure chambers and being capable of extending and contracting in the axial direction, and a pump supplying/discharging a working fluid into/from the jack chamber.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 19, 2012Publication date: May 8, 2014Applicant: KAYABA INDUSTRY CO., LTD.Inventors: Nobumichi Hanawa, Tsutomu Yoshimoto
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Patent number: 7896321Abstract: A spring force adjusting device for a hydraulic shock absorber includes a cover (13) having a tubular shape, which is arranged on an outer side of a rod (12), a suspension spring (2) arranged on outer peripheries of a cylinder (11) and the cover (13), a cam mechanism (3) which adjusts a spring force, which is arranged on the outer periphery of the cover (13), a top cap (5) mounted on a tip of the rod (12), a junction member (4) sandwiched between the top cap (5) and the cover (13), and a means for preventing relative rotations of the top cap (5), the cover (13), and the junction member (4).Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 2006Date of Patent: March 1, 2011Assignee: Kayaba Industry Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yuji Nakashima, Masaru Mishima, Nobumichi Hanawa, Yasuhiro Kitamura
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Patent number: 7878604Abstract: A damping force generating mechanism (V) comprises a front valve body (6) which allows working oil to flow from a first oil chamber (R1) to a second oil chamber (R2) under a predetermined resistance when lifted, and a rear valve body (7) which is disposed on the rear side of the front valve body (6) and allows working oil to flow from the second oil chamber (R1) to the first oil chamber (R1) under a predetermined resistance when lifted. An oil passage (5c) and a check valve (10) are provided to serve as a part of a flow path from the second oil chamber (R2) to the first oil chamber (R1). By disposing the oil passage (5d) in parallel with a center axis of the front valve body (6) and the rear valve body (7), the size of the damping force generating mechanism (V) can be reduced.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2008Date of Patent: February 1, 2011Assignee: Kayaba Industry Co., Ltd.Inventor: Nobumichi Hanawa
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Patent number: 7591352Abstract: A damping valve (102) comprises: a first valve element (16); a first valve seat (15) in which the first valve element (16) is seated; a second valve element (26) placed in series with the first valve element (16); a second valve seat (25), placed between the first and second valve elements (16) and (26), in which the second valve element (26) is seated; an biasing mechanism (30) for biasing the second valve element (26) toward the second valve seat (25) and biasing the first valve element (16) toward the first valve seat (15) via the second valve element (26); a first liquid chamber (106); a second liquid chamber (104); and a third liquid chamber (107).Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 2005Date of Patent: September 22, 2009Assignee: Kayaba Industry Co., Ltd.Inventor: Nobumichi Hanawa
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Patent number: 7441638Abstract: A front fork, which is interposed between a vehicle body and an axle to restrain a change in vehicle attitude, comprises a fork body (101) including a reservoir chamber (106) partially filled with gas and performing an expansion and contraction operation, a reservoir tank (102) partially filled with gas and communicating with the reservoir chamber (106) through a flow path (103) in which hydraulic oil flows, an on-off valve (35) switching between opening and closing of the flow path (103), and a relief valve (40) accepting flow of hydraulic oil from the reservoir chamber (106) toward the reservoir tank (102) when a pressure of the reservoir chamber (106) reaches a predetermined pressure.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 2005Date of Patent: October 28, 2008Assignee: Kayaba Industry Co., Ltd.Inventor: Nobumichi Hanawa
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Publication number: 20080223674Abstract: A damping force generating mechanism (V) comprises a front valve body (6) which allows working oil to flow from a first oil chamber (R1) to a second oil chamber (R2) under a predetermined resistance when lifted, and a rear valve body (7) which is disposed on the rear side of the front valve body (6) and allows working oil to flow from the second oil chamber (R1) to the first oil chamber (R1) under a predetermined resistance when lifted. An oil passage (5c) and a check valve (10) are provided to serve as a part of a flow path from the second oil chamber (R2) to the first oil chamber (R1). By disposing the oil passage (5d) in parallel with a center axis of the front valve body (6) and the rear valve body (7), the size of the damping force generating mechanism (V) can be reduced.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 13, 2008Publication date: September 18, 2008Applicant: KAYABA INDUSTRY CO., TLD.Inventor: Nobumichi Hanawa
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Patent number: 7231867Abstract: A rotary damper for damping oscillation of a motorcycle front tire includes a vane swingably mounted inside the rotary damper between left and right oil chambers, passages placing the oil chambers in fluid communication with one another, front chambers in communication with the passages to secure a pressure-receiving area adjacent the vane when the vane is at one of its extreme swing positions and begins swinging back towards the center of the damper, and grooves in fluid communication with the front chambers, wherein the grooves are formed shallower than the front chambers, and the passages are opened to the bottom of said grooves.Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 2006Date of Patent: June 19, 2007Assignees: Kayaba Industry Co., Ltd., Honda Motor Co., LtdInventors: Masaru Mishima, Nobumichi Hanawa, Takeshi Wakabayashi
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Publication number: 20070062770Abstract: A spring force adjusting device for a hydraulic shock absorber includes a cover (13) having a tubular shape, which is arranged on an outer side of a rod (12), a suspension spring (2) arranged on outer peripheries of a cylinder (11) and the cover (13), a cam mechanism (3) which adjusts a spring force, which is arranged on the outer periphery of the cover (13), a top cap (5) mounted on a tip of the rod (12), a junction member (4) sandwiched between the top cap (5) and the cover (13), and a means for preventing relative rotations of the top cap (5), the cover (13), and the junction member (4).Type: ApplicationFiled: September 19, 2006Publication date: March 22, 2007Applicant: KAYABA INDUSTRY CO., LTD.Inventors: Yuji Nakashima, Masaru Mishima, Nobumichi Hanawa, Yasuhiro Kitamura
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Publication number: 20060180416Abstract: A rotary damper for damping oscillation of a motorcycle front tire includes a vane swingably mounted inside the rotary damper between left and right oil chambers, passages placing the oil chambers in fluid communication with one another, front chambers in communication with the passages to secure a pressure-receiving area adjacent the vane when the vane is at one of its extreme swing positions and begins swinging back towards the center of the damper, and grooves in fluid communication with the front chambers, wherein the grooves are formed shallower than the front chambers, and the passages are opened to the bottom of said grooves.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 13, 2006Publication date: August 17, 2006Inventors: Masaru Mishima, Nobumichi Hanawa, Takeshi Wakabayashi
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Publication number: 20060124414Abstract: A front fork, which is interposed between a vehicle body and an axle to restrain a change in vehicle attitude, comprises a fork body (101) including a reservoir chamber (106) partially filled with gas and performing an expansion and contraction operation, a reservoir tank (102) partially filled with gas and communicating with the reservoir chamber (106) through a flow path (103) in which hydraulic oil flows, an on-off valve (35) switching between opening and closing of the flow path (103), and a relief valve (40) accepting flow of hydraulic oil from the reservoir chamber (106) toward the reservoir tank (102) when a pressure of the reservoir chamber (106) reaches a predetermined pressure.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 1, 2005Publication date: June 15, 2006Inventor: Nobumichi Hanawa
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Publication number: 20060113834Abstract: A damping valve (102) comprises: a first valve element (16); a first valve seat (15) in which the first valve element (16) is seated; a second valve element (26) placed in series with the first valve element (16); a second valve seat (25), placed between the first and second valve elements (16) and (26), in which the second valve element (26) is seated; an biasing mechanism (30) for biasing the second valve element (26) toward the second valve seat (25) and biasing the first valve element (16) toward the first valve seat (15) via the second valve element (26); a first liquid chamber (106); a second liquid chamber (104); and a third liquid chamber (107).Type: ApplicationFiled: November 29, 2005Publication date: June 1, 2006Inventor: Nobumichi Hanawa
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Patent number: 6824153Abstract: A steering device for a two-wheeler of the present invention includes: a frame; a support member for a front wheel; a steering shaft connecting the support member to the frame so as to be rotatable about an axis thereof; and a rotary type steering damper providing a hydraulic resistance force in no matter which direction the support member rotates with respect to the frame. The steering damper has a vane adapted to swing in synchronism with rotation of the support member, oil chambers defined on both sides of the vane and filled with working fluid, a flow passage causing working fluid to flow from one oil chamber to the other oil chamber as the vane swings, and a damping valve arranged in a flow passage for the working fluid, and an opening of the damping valve is varied by a signal from outside to thereby generate a damping force optimized according to the travel condition.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 2003Date of Patent: November 30, 2004Assignee: Kayaba Industry Co., Ltd.Inventors: Nobumichi Hanawa, Masaru Mishima
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Publication number: 20030234508Abstract: A steering device for a two-wheeler of the present invention includes: a frame; a support member for a front wheel; a steering shaft connecting the support member to the frame so as to be rotatable about an axis thereof; and a rotary type steering damper providing a hydraulic resistance force in no matter which direction the support member rotates with respect to the frame. The steering damper has a vane adapted to swing in synchronism with rotation of the support member, oil chambers defined on both sides of the vane and filled with working fluid, a flow passage causing working fluid to flow from one oil chamber to the other oil chamber as the vane swings, and a damping valve arranged in a flow passage for the working fluid, and an opening of the damping valve is varied by a signal from outside to thereby generate a damping force optimized according to the travel condition.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 19, 2003Publication date: December 25, 2003Inventors: Nobumichi Hanawa, Masaru Mishima
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Patent number: 5901821Abstract: A rotary damper for stabilizing a temperature characteristic while allowing a leakage of operating oil from a clearance between a basic portion of a rotor and a bearing end on the casing side for supporting said rotor with relative rotational motion between the casing and the rotor. Two sets of operating oil chambers (17a, 17b) and (18a, 18b) which alternately expand and contract with rotational displacement of (9) are connected by an interconnecting flowpassage (54) provided on the housing (2). A damping force generating mechanism (44) includes two sets of damping elements (43a, 43b) arranged midway on the interconnecting flowpassage (54). A flow resistance of operating oil passing through the interconnecting flowpassage (54) is imparted by the damping force generating mechanism (44) and the damping force regulating mechanisms (72, 73) to generate a predetermined damping force corresponding to the operating direction of the rotary damper.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 1997Date of Patent: May 11, 1999Assignee: Kayaba Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Nobumichi Hanawa
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Patent number: 5810129Abstract: A rotary damper for stabilization of a damping and temperature characteristic without impairing a temperature compensation function and facilitates a lubricating operation. The damper includes a bore for a damping force generating mechanism as a single communication flowpassage and a bore for a temperature compensation mechanism arranged in a line in a casing. The damping force generating mechanism is divided into two sets of damping elements with damping valves and return valves, arranged in series in the communication flowpassage with back surfaces of the damping valves and are oppositely positioned. A portion of the communication flowpassage between the damping valves is communicated with an oil chamber of a temperature compensation mechanism by an oil passage. A side panel is provided with a lubricating port toward the oil chamber of the temperature compensation mechanism.Type: GrantFiled: October 17, 1996Date of Patent: September 22, 1998Assignee: Kayaba Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Nobumichi Hanawa, Kozo Yamamoto, Toshihiro Yamada
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Patent number: 5456524Abstract: In a motorcycle provided with a brake, a link supporting brake caliper is fitted to a wheel axle such that it is free to oscillate, an oil chamber being provided which enlarges or contracts according to the oscillation of this link, and which is connected to a pressure passage supplying oil pressure to the brake caliper. An electromagnetic valve is provided for opening and shutting this pressure passage, and a mechanism for detecting a pre-lock condition of the wheel. By shutting the electromagnetic valve when a pre-lock condition is detected, oil pressure supply to the brake caliper is shut off, and rise of braking pressure is prevented. If the pre-lock condition persists after the oil pressure has been shut off, the oil chamber is enlarged by varying the oscillation angle of the link so as decrease the braking pressure and prevent the wheel from locking.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 1994Date of Patent: October 10, 1995Assignee: Kayaba Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Mitsuhiro Kashima, Nobumichi Hanawa
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Patent number: 5417482Abstract: In a motorcycle provided with a brake, a link supporting brake caliper is fitted to a wheel axle such that it is free to oscillate, an oil chamber being provided which enlarges or contracts according to the oscillation of this link, and which is connected to a pressure passage supplying oil pressure to the brake caliper. An electromagnetic valve is provided for opening and shutting this pressure passage, and a mechanism for detecting a pre-lock condition of the wheel. By shutting the electromagnetic valve when a pre-lock condition is detected, oil pressure supply to the brake caliper is shut off, and rise of braking pressure is prevented. If the pre-lock condition persists after the oil pressure has been shut off, the oil chamber is enlarged by varying the oscillation angle of the link so as decrease the braking pressure and prevent the wheel from locking.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 1992Date of Patent: May 23, 1995Assignee: Kayaba Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Mitsuhiro Kashima, Nobumichi Hanawa
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Patent number: 5133529Abstract: This invention relates to a seat damper which is adaptable for a seat supporting mechanism for a motor boat and the like. The damper has a supporting column structure and a lower bracket, the supporting column structure is comprised of an outer tube, a damper cylinder arranged within the outer tube, a hollow piston rod movably inserted into the damper cylinder through a piston, an attenuation force generating mechanism arranged within the damper cylinder and a height adjusting mechanism, and the supporting column structure is removably inserted into the lower bracket and fastened by a fastening member. The supporting column structure can be made into a cartridge form and the lower bracket can be standardized.Type: GrantFiled: August 21, 1990Date of Patent: July 28, 1992Assignee: Kayaba Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Mitsuhiro Kashima, Nobumichi Hanawa
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Patent number: 4944705Abstract: The invention consists of a novel tilt damper equipped with two oil chambers; one in the piston-rod extended position and the other in the piston-rod retracted position, which are respectively connected to a gas chamber through an oil passage where a relief valve and a check valve are provided. These valves are alternatively disengaged from the closed condition by an external operator. When these valves are open, oil flows freely into and out of them to allow gas pressure to drive the piston rod in the direction of extension. When only the check valve on the piston-rod oil chamber in the extended position is open, the tilt damper does not move in the direction of retraction. When overload is applied in the direction of extension of the piston rod, the tilt damper extends by applying a negative pressure to the oil chamber on the retraction part. When the overload is removed, the tilt damper automatically returns to the original position.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 1988Date of Patent: July 31, 1990Assignee: Kayaba Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Mitsuhiro Kashima, Nobumichi Hanawa