Patents by Inventor Nobuto Kozakura

Nobuto Kozakura 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: 6805646
    Abstract: In a double-sided meshing type silent chain, guide plates each having a flat back face formed on one side thereof and a pair of pin-accommodation holes formed therein are disposed at opposite widthwise ends of the chain with the pin-accommodation holes press-fit with connecting pins which are each adapted to articulately connect two adjacent rows of link plates with each other in an interleaved fashion. The guide plates do not take part in meshing engagement with a sprocket but operate to guide the travel of the chain stably without causing flattering or vibration. The guide plates further serves as a strengthening member of the chain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2004
    Assignee: Tsubakimoto Chain Co.
    Inventors: Nobuto Kozakura, Toshifumi Sato
  • Publication number: 20030104891
    Abstract: In a silent chain, the inner, toothed, plates and the outer guide plates are formed so that, when the centers of the holes for receiving connecting pins are disposed on a straight pitch line, the back surfaces of the guide plate are lower than the back surfaces of the inner plates by at least ½ of the difference between the inner diameters of the pin holes of the inner plates and the outer diameter of the connecting pins. As a result, the backs of the guide plates are either in flush relationship with, or below the backs of the inner plates. Pressure exerted by a guide on the back of the chain is distributed uniformly over a large area, and concentrated loads on the guide plates, which can cause dislodgment of the pins from the pin holes in the guide plates are avoided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2002
    Publication date: June 5, 2003
    Inventors: Toyonaga Saitoh, Nobuto Kozakura
  • Patent number: 6533691
    Abstract: Each link plate of a low noise silent chain has an inside meshing surface formed on the inside flank of each link tooth. The inside meshing surface includes a convexly arcuate mesh start portion disposed on a tip side of each link tooth, and a convexly arcuate mesh guide portion disposed on a root side of each link tooth. The arcuate mesh guide portion has a radius of curvature and a circular arc length which are greater than a radius of curvature and a circular arc length, respectively, of the convexly arcuate mesh start portion. When the silent chain engages a sprocket, the engagement proceeds smoothly and continuously from the inside meshing surface to the outside meshing surface. This contributes to the reduction of the noise level of the silent chain as a whole through suppression of meshing sound of the outside meshing surface and vibratory chain noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2003
    Assignee: Tsubakimoto Chain Co.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Horie, Kazumasa Matsuno, Shigekazu Fukuda, Takayuki Funamoto, Yoshinori Iwasaki, Nobuto Kozakura, Toyonaga Saito
  • Publication number: 20020132690
    Abstract: A silent chain comprises a link assembly including at least two inner link plates each having a pair of teeth and bushing holes and connected and fixed to each other with a pair of bushings press-fit into said respective bushing holes, an intermediate link plate including a pair of teeth and bushing holes, and a guide plate including a pair of pin holes. The members are combined and articulably connected to by other with connecting pins. A row of link assemblies is disposed in the center with respect to the width direction of the chain and extends along the longitudinal direction of the chain. The intermediate link plates are disposed on both sides of the link assembly and guide plates are disposed on outer sides of each of the intermediate link plates. Each bushing in the link assembly disposed between said intermediate link plates has a length substantially equal to the spacing space between the intermediate link plates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2002
    Publication date: September 19, 2002
    Inventors: Tadasu Suzuki, Nobuto Kozakura, Osamu Okabe
  • Patent number: 6440022
    Abstract: A double-meshing-type silent chain includes link plates having the identical side profile. Each link plate has two meshing teeth and a flat back face formed opposite to the meshing teeth. Two kinds of links are alternately arranged in the longitudinal direction of the chain, while the adjacent links are connected by pins. In one kind of link, an odd number of the link plates are disposed in the width direction of the chain. In the other kind of link, an even number of the link plates are disposed in the width direction of the chain. In each link, the link plates are oriented such that the meshing teeth of link plates located at widthwise opposite ends project outwardly with respect to the chain and the meshing teeth of the remaining link plates project inwardly with respect to the chain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignee: Tsubakimoto Chain Co.
    Inventors: Kouichi Ichikawa, Nobuto Kozakura, Tsutomu Haginoya, Toyonaga Saitou
  • Patent number: 6419604
    Abstract: A double-meshing-type silent chain of a silent chain drive includes link plates having the identical side profile. Each link plate has two meshing teeth and a flat back face formed opposite to the meshing teeth. Two kinds of links are alternately arranged in the longitudinal direction of the chain, while the adjacent links are connected by pins. In one kind of link, an odd number of the link plates are disposed in the width direction of the chain. In the other kind of link, an even number of the link plates are disposed in the width direction of the chain. In each link, the link plates are oriented such that the meshing teeth of link plates located at widthwise opposite ends project outwardly with respect to the chain and the meshing teeth of the remaining link plates project inwardly with respect to the chain. Various types of sprockets used for meshing with the double-meshing-type silent chain are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2002
    Assignee: Tsubakimoto Chain Co.
    Inventors: Toyonaga Saito, Nobuto Kozakura, Koichi Ichikawa, Tsutomu Haginoya
  • Publication number: 20020025870
    Abstract: In a double-sided meshing type silent chain, guide plates each having a flat back face formed on one side thereof and a pair of pin-accommodation holes formed therein are disposed at opposite widthwise ends of the chain with the pin-accommodation holes press-fit with connecting pins which are each adapted to articulately connect two adjacent rows of link plates with each other in an interleaved fashion. The guide plates do not take part in meshing engagement with a sprocket but operate to guide the travel of the chain stably without causing flattering or vibration. The guide plates further serves as a strengthening member of the chain.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2001
    Publication date: February 28, 2002
    Inventors: Nobuto Kozakura, Toshifumi Sato
  • Publication number: 20020013191
    Abstract: A double-meshing-type silent chain of a silent chain drive includes link plates having the identical side profile. Each link plate has two meshing teeth and a flat back face formed opposite to the meshing teeth. Two kinds of links are alternately arranged in the longitudinal direction of the chain, while the adjacent links are connected by pins. In one kind of link, an odd number of the link plates are disposed in the width direction of the chain. In the other kind of link, an even number of the link plates are disposed in the width direction of the chain. In each link, the link plates are oriented such that the meshing teeth of link plates located at widthwise opposite ends project outwardly with respect to the chain and the meshing teeth of the remaining link plates project inwardly with respect to the chain. Various types of sprockets used for meshing with the double-meshing-type silent chain are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2001
    Publication date: January 31, 2002
    Applicant: Tsubakimoto Chain Co.
    Inventors: Toyonaga Saito, Nobuto Kozakura, Koichi Ichikawa, Tsutomu Haginoya
  • Patent number: 6334829
    Abstract: A double-meshing-type silent chain of a silent chain drive includes link plates having the identical side profile. Each link plate has two meshing teeth and a flat back face formed opposite to the meshing teeth. Two kinds of links are alternately arranged in the longitudinal direction of the chain, while the adjacent links are connected by pins. In one kind of link, an odd number of the link plates are disposed in the width direction of the chain. In the other kind of link, an even number of the link plates are disposed in the width direction of the chain. In each link, the link plates are oriented such that the meshing teeth of link plates located at widthwise opposite ends project outwardly with respect to the chain and the meshing teeth of the remaining link plates project inwardly with respect to the chain. Various types of sprockets used for meshing with the double-meshing-type silent chain are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2002
    Assignee: Tsubakimoto Chain Co.
    Inventors: Toyonaga Saito, Nobuto Kozakura, Koichi Ichikawa, Tsutomu Haginoya
  • Publication number: 20010023212
    Abstract: Each link plate of a low noise silent chain has an inside meshing surface formed on the inside flank of each link tooth. The inside meshing surface includes a convexly arcuate mesh start portion disposed on a tip side of each link tooth, and a convexly arcuate mesh guide portion disposed on a root side of each link tooth. The arcuate mesh guide portion has a radius of curvature and a circular arc length which are greater than a radius of curvature and a circular arc length, respectively, of the convexly arcuate mesh start portion. When the silent chain engages a sprocket, the engagement proceeds smoothly and continuously from the inside meshing surface to the outside meshing surface. This contributes to the reduction of the noise level of the silent chain as a whole through suppression of meshing sound of the outside meshing surface and vibratory chain noise.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2001
    Publication date: September 20, 2001
    Inventors: Hiroshi Horie, Kazumasa Matsuno, Shigekazu Fukuda, Takayuki Funamoto, Yoshinori Iwasaki, Nobuto Kozakura, Toyonaga Saito
  • Publication number: 20010003718
    Abstract: A transmission chain includes a plurality of cylindrical hollow bushes each of which has an outer circumferential surface press-fitted into a bush hole formed in at least one plate, as well as an inner circumferential surface rotatably supported by an outer circumferential surface of a pin. The at least one plate is arranged at such a position relative to a corresponding bush as to prevent a center portion of the bush from expanding radially outward even when the bush is press-fitted into the plate. Since deformation of a bush during press-insertion of the bush into the plates can be prevented and thus the parallelism of the inner circumferential surface of the bush is maintained, elongation of the chain which would otherwise occur due to wear at the initial stage of use of the chain is suppressed effectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 1998
    Publication date: June 14, 2001
    Applicant: ARMSTRONG, WESTERMAN, HATTORI, McLELAND & NAUGHTON
    Inventors: KOUICHI ICHIKAWA, NOBUTO KOZAKURA, TSUTOMU HAGINOYA, TOYONAGA SAITOU
  • Patent number: 6142902
    Abstract: A double-meshing-type silent chain includes link plates having the identical side profile. Each link plate has two meshing teeth and a flat back face formed opposite to the meshing teeth. Two kinds of links are alternately arranged in the longitudinal direction of the chain, while the adjacent links are connected by pins. In one kind of link, an odd number of the link plates are disposed in the width direction of the chain. In the other kind of link, an even number of the link plates are disposed in the width direction of the chain. In each link, the link plates are oriented such that the meshing teeth of link plates located at widthwise opposite ends project outwardly with respect to the chain and the meshing teeth of the remaining link plates project inwardly with respect to the chain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2000
    Assignee: Tsubakimoto Chain Co.
    Inventors: Kouichi Ichikawa, Nobuto Kozakura, Tsutomu Haginoya, Toyonaga Saitou
  • Patent number: 6112510
    Abstract: A silent-chain transmission apparatus includes a silent chain and a sprocket. The silent chain is formed of a plurality of plates, each of which has a pair of link teeth each having an inner crotch and an outer flank. The plates are connected through use of connection pins. The sprocket has sprocket teeth that come into meshing engagement with the link teeth of the silent chain. Each of the inner crotches has a projection that is formed on a tooth tip side with respect to a working pitch line and has a straightly profiled portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2000
    Assignee: Tsubakimoto Chain Co.
    Inventors: Kouichi Ichikawa, Makoto Kanehira, Tsutomu Haginoya, Nobuto Kozakura, Kenshi Suzuki, Masatoshi Sonoda
  • Patent number: 6068568
    Abstract: A silent chain is provided which has reduced elongation based on wear and which is capable of maintaining a high accuracy over a long period of time in use. The inner surfaces of pin holes formed in at least joint trains of plates have been subjected to shaving, and a hard layer of at least one hard metal carbide selected from a group including CrC, TiC, VC and NbC, is formed on the surface of each pin. By shaving the inner surface of each pin hole, the surface pressure applied between the pin hole inner surface and the pin inserted therein becomes lower, whereby the wear of the pin and the pin hole is diminished. Further, since the hard layer on the pin surface is very hard and is chemically stable, the affinity of each plate for the inner surface of each pin hole formed therein is small. Thus, even under the condition of boundary lubrication, it is difficult for adhesion to occur between the pin hole inner surface and the pin inserted therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Assignee: Tsubakimoto Chain Co.
    Inventors: Nobuto Kozakura, Toyonaga Saito, Tsutomu Haginoya, Takero Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 5989141
    Abstract: A silent chain can prevent the link plates from rupturing and stretching in the longitudinal direction to the chain. The silent chain is formed such that the thickness of both the outer link plates of the joint link row having fewer plates on the connecting pin is made larger than any of thicknesses of the guide plates and the thicknesses of the other link plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignee: Tsubakimoto Chain Co.
    Inventors: Nobuto Kozakura, Tsutomu Haginoya, Masaaki Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 5989140
    Abstract: A both-side meshing type silent chain is provided which not only permits improvement in durability of a tensioner and a chain guide, but also permits a high-speed and smooth transfer of power. The both-side meshing type silent chain has a high durability and includes a plurality of articular train plates and a plurality of guide train plates. Each of the plurality of articular train plates and the plurality of guide train plates have main teeth for engagement with a sprocket disposed on an inner peripheral side of a chain. The plurality of articular train plates are alternately connected to the plurality of guide train plates with pins. Guide plates, which are guided by side faces of the teeth of the sprocket, are disposed on both outer sides of each of the plurality of guide train plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignee: Tsubakimoto Chain Co.
    Inventors: Koichi Ichikawa, Nobuto Kozakura, Tsutomu Haginoya
  • Patent number: 5967926
    Abstract: A double-sided meshing type silent chain which permits improvement in service life of the shoe of a chain guide for example, also permits a smooth and high-speed transmission of power, and which has a high durability. A plurality of articular train plates and a plurality of guide train plates are alternately connected together with pins, the plates being formed on the front side with main teeth for engagement with a sprocket located on an inner peripheral side of the chain, and guide plates, whose inner faces are abutted against and guided by side faces of the teeth of the sprocket, are disposed on both outer sides of the plural guide train plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1999
    Assignee: Tsubakimoto Chain Co.
    Inventors: Nobuto Kozakura, Nobuhiro Odai, Tsutomu Haginoya
  • Patent number: 5234383
    Abstract: In a fluid tensioner of the piston and cylinder type an annular element is provided either on the piston or on the wall of the cylinder. In the case of an annular element on the wall of the piston, the annular element has a coefficient of linear expansion greater than that of the wall of the cylinder. In the case of an annular element on the wall of the cylinder, the annular element has a coefficient of linear expansion less than that of the piston material. In both cases, the annular element provides compensation for changes in hydraulic fluid viscosity to maintain a constant leak-down rate, allows for flexibility in the choice of piston, rod and cylinder materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1993
    Assignee: Tsubakimoto Chain Co.
    Inventors: Norio Harada, Nobuto Kozakura, Katsuya Nakakubo
  • Patent number: 5181889
    Abstract: A hydraulic fluid tensioner for a toothed belt, having a piston with a piston-carried ball and seat check valve, utilizes a ball pressing spring having a spring force more than 30 times the weight of the ball and less than 60% of force resulting from the hydraulic pressure acting on the ball and urging the check valve open as the piston moves in the projecting direction. The spring force prevents rapid accelerating movement of the piston, or vibrations of the tensioner, from causing irregular piston movements resulting in noise and vibration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1993
    Assignee: Tsubakimoto Chain Co.
    Inventors: Masao Maruyama, Nobuto Kozakura, Katsuya Nakakubo
  • Patent number: 5167402
    Abstract: In a hydraulic tensioner, shock absorber or lash adjuster having a plunger in a cylinder filled with hydraulic fluid, and having a coiled compression spring acting on the plunger in a pressure chamber on one side of the plunger, air scavenging through the restricted space between the plunger and the cylinder wall is improved by providing radial grooves either on a face of the plunger contacted by the spring, or on the spring-contacting face of a plug which is located between the spring and the plunger. The radial grooves enable air to escape from the interior of the coil spring and move toward the cylinder wall. The grooves increase in depth proceeding from the interior of the spring toward the exterior thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1992
    Assignee: Tsubakimoto Chain Co.
    Inventors: Katsuya Nakakubo, Norio Harada, Nobuto Kozakura