Patents by Inventor Noriaki Takano

Noriaki Takano 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: 9027425
    Abstract: A transmission device for an internal combustion engine for preventing components thereof from being damaged for making the components smaller in size and weight, reducing a load and a time required to shift gear positions for increased operability and for reducing overall size and weight. A transmission device for an internal combustion engine includes a shift drum angularly movable by a star-shaped drum plate that is turned when a change spindle is turned and a stopper roller for limiting the star-shaped drum plate against turning movement. The star-shaped drum plate includes peaks corresponding to a plurality of gear positions and valleys interposed between the peaks. A selected one of the valleys includes a curved wall for being more gently contacted by the stopper roller than curved surfaces of the other valleys which are contacted by the stopper roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsushi Ogasawara, Noriaki Takano, Eiichi Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20130247703
    Abstract: A transmission device for an internal combustion engine for preventing components thereof from being damaged for making the components smaller in size and weight, reducing a load and a time required to shift gear positions for increased operability and for reducing overall size and weight. A transmission device for an internal combustion engine includes a shift drum angularly movable by a star-shaped drum plate that is turned when a change spindle is turned and a stopper roller for limiting the star-shaped drum plate against turning movement. The star-shaped drum plate includes peaks corresponding to a plurality of gear positions and valleys interposed between the peaks. A selected one of the valleys includes a curved wall for being more gently contacted by the stopper roller than curved surfaces of the other valleys which are contacted by the stopper roller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Atsushi OGASAWARA, Noriaki TAKANO, Eiichi SUZUKI
  • Patent number: 7314115
    Abstract: A lubricating system for an internal combustion engine includes a recovery pump by which a lubricating oil dropping to and dwelling in a bottom portion of a crankcase after lubricating individual portions of the internal combustion engine is sucked through a pump suction port opened in the bottom portion of the crankcase and is fed to a lubricating oil tank. A supply pump is provided for supplying the lubricating oil from the oil tank to the individual portions of the internal combustion engine. The lubricating tank is integral with the crankcase and is partitioned from a crank chamber by a partition wall projecting from the inside wall of the crankcase. The lubricating system includes an overflow oil passage through which the lubricating oil that flows over the upper edge of a partition wall of the lubricating tank is led to a suction port of the recovery pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2008
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsuhiko Ito, Noriaki Takano, Shinya Koyama
  • Patent number: 6889806
    Abstract: To provide a vehicular two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive switching system the configuration of which is simple and which can be built with minor changes to the existing configuration. The switching system hardly generates any noise and can be individually lubricated in a state separated from the other actuating parts. A vehicular two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive switching system according to the present invention is provided with an outer ring connected to a driving shaft and an inner ring connected to a driven shaft. A plurality of engaging/disengaging members are provided for connecting or disconnecting the shafts by being connected or disconnected to/from the respective opposite surfaces. A switching mechanism is provided for selectively positioning the drive shaft and the driven shaft in a position in which they are connected and in a position in which they are disconnected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2005
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akio Handa, Noriaki Takano, Bunzo Seki
  • Publication number: 20040108166
    Abstract: A lubricating system for an internal combustion engine includes a recovery pump by which a lubricating oil dropping to and dwelling in a bottom portion of a crankcase after lubricating individual portions of the internal combustion engine is sucked through a pump suction port opened in the bottom portion of the crankcase and is fed to a lubricating oil tank. A supply pump is provided for supplying the lubricating oil from the oil tank to the individual portions of the internal combustion engine. The lubricating tank is integral with the crankcase and is partitioned from a crank chamber by a partition wall projecting from the inside wall of the crankcase. The lubricating system includes an overflow oil passage through which the lubricating oil that flows over the upper edge of a partition wall of the lubricating tank is led to a suction port of the recovery pump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2003
    Publication date: June 10, 2004
    Inventors: Katsuhiko Ito, Noriaki Takano, Shinya Koyama
  • Publication number: 20040097321
    Abstract: To provide a vehicular two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive switching system the configuration of which is simple and which can be built with minor changes to the existing configuration. The switching system hardly generates any noise and can be individually lubricated in a state separated from the other actuating parts. A vehicular two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive switching system according to the present invention is provided with an outer ring connected to a driving shaft and an inner ring connected to a driven shaft. A plurality of engaging/disengaging members are provided for connecting or disconnecting the shafts by being connected or disconnected to/from the respective opposite surfaces. A switching mechanism is provided for selectively positioning the drive shaft and the driven shaft in a position in which they are connected and in a position in which they are disconnected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2003
    Publication date: May 20, 2004
    Applicant: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akio Handa, Noriaki Takano, Bunzo Seki
  • Patent number: 6698563
    Abstract: To provide a vehicular two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive switching system the configuration of which is simple and which can be built with minor changes to the existing configuration. The switching system hardly generates any noise and can be individually lubricated in a state separated from the other actuating parts. A vehicular two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive switching system according to the present invention is provided with an outer ring connected to a driving shaft and an inner ring connected to a driven shaft. A plurality of engaging/disengaging members are provided for connecting or disconnecting the shafts by being connected or disconnected to/from the respective opposite surfaces. A switching mechanism is provided for selectively positioning the drive shaft and the driven shaft in a position in which they are connected and in a position in which they are disconnected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akio Handa, Noriaki Takano, Bunzo Seki
  • Patent number: 6679348
    Abstract: A vehicular two-wheel/four-wheel drive switching device for selectively transmitting power or disconnecting the transmission of rotary power to a power transmission system having a driving shaft connected to the drive side and a driven shaft fitted to the driving shaft via respective inner and outer rings having an annular clearance therebetween. Plural connecting/disconnecting members provided in the clearance between the inner and outer rings for connecting or disconnecting the driving shaft and the driven shaft are fitted or disconnected to/from respective opposite surfaces in response to a switching mechanism for selectively positioning the connecting/disconnecting members in a position in which the driving shaft and the driven shaft are connected and in a position in which they are disconnected. A casing encloses the switching device, and an oil seal is provided in two locations at an interval in the longitudinal direction of the driven shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignees: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Akio Handa, Noriaki Takano, Bunzo Seki
  • Patent number: 6516686
    Abstract: To provide a motive-power transmission device for a vehicle including a torque converter, a gearbox, and a clutch for cutting off the transmission of motive power between the input shaft of the gearbox and the turbine of the torque converter. The gearbox is accommodated in the crankcase, and the motive-power transmission device is compact in the axial direction of the crankshaft. A motive-power transmission device for a vehicle includes the crankshaft and the input shaft of the gearbox journaled freely rotatably in the crankcase, their axes being parallel to each other; the torque converter is mounted on one end portion of the crankshaft; and the clutch is separated along the axial direction of the crankshaft from the torque converter and so mounted on one end portion of the input shaft that part of the clutch overlaps the torque converter as seen in the axial direction of the crankshaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Hori, Takashi Shichinohe, Tohru Nishi, Noriaki Takano
  • Patent number: 6484607
    Abstract: A gear transmission for keeping a load in balance at both ends of a crank shaft in an all-terrain saddle type vehicle provided with a transmitting unit capable of transmitting power from the crank shaft to the gear transmission and a generator connected to the crank shaft. A torque converter is provided with a lock-up clutch mounted on the crank case side of the torque converter and capable of directly connecting a pump to a turbine. A driving gear fixed to the turbine and capable of transmitting the output of the torque converter to the gear transmission is mounted on one end side of a crank shaft outside the crank case such that the lock-up clutch is sandwiched between the torque converter and the driving gear. A generator is mounted on the other end side of the crank shaft outside the crank case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Shichinohe, Yoshiaki Hori, Noriaki Takano
  • Patent number: 6443278
    Abstract: In a power transmission apparatus for a vehicle having a hydraulic pressure type clutch capable of switching to transmit and cut power between a crankshaft of an engine and driving wheels and a clutch control valve for controlling hydraulic pressure provided to the clutch, the operational characteristic of the hydraulic pressure clutch is made variable and an adjuster mechanism for compensating for a wear amount of clutch plates is dispensed with. A clutch control valve includes a valve housing having an input port connected to a hydraulic pump and an output port connected to a clutch. A spool is capable of switching to communicate and cut the input port and the output port and is slidably fitted in the valve housing. Furthermore, a linear solenoid is coaxially connected to the spool and is capable of controlling output hydraulic pressure from the output port to a value in accordance with input current of the linear solenoid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Hori, Noriaki Takano
  • Patent number: 6443275
    Abstract: In a power transmission apparatus for a vehicle having a gear transmission capable of transmitting power from a crankshaft of an engine to driving wheels by selectively establishing a plurality of shift stages of gear trains and a clutch for cutting power transmission from the crankshaft to the gear transmission in operating to shift the power transmission, when the clutch is operated to cut or connect in cooperation with the shift operation of the gear transmission, shift operability is promoted while avoiding an increase in weight. A gear transmission is shifted by a first actuator and a clutch is driven by a second actuator which is independent of the first actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Hori, Takashi Shichinohe, Tohru Nishi, Noriaki Takano
  • Publication number: 20020112553
    Abstract: To provide a vehicular two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive switching system the configuration of which is simple and which can be built with minor changes to the existing configuration. The switching system hardly generates any noise and can be individually lubricated in a state separated from the other actuating parts. A vehicular two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive switching system according to the present invention is provided with an outer ring connected to a driving shaft and an inner ring connected to a driven shaft. A plurality of engaging/disengaging members are provided for connecting or disconnecting the shafts by being connected or disconnected to/from the respective opposite surfaces. A switching mechanism is provided for selectively positioning the drive shaft and the driven shaft in a position in which they are connected and in a position in which they are disconnected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2002
    Publication date: August 22, 2002
    Inventors: Akio Handa, Noriaki Takano, Bunzo Seki
  • Publication number: 20020100629
    Abstract: A vehicular two-wheel/four-wheel drive switching device for selectively transmitting power or disconnecting the transmission of rotary power to a power transmission system having a driving shaft connected to the drive side and a driven shaft fitted to the driving shaft via respective inner and outer rings having an annular clearance therebetween. Plural connecting/disconnecting members provided in the clearance between the inner and outer rings for connecting or disconnecting the driving shaft and the driven shaft are fitted or disconnected to/from respective opposite surfaces in response to a switching mechanism for selectively positioning the connecting/disconnecting members in a position in which the driving shaft and the driven shaft are connected and in a position in which they are disconnected. A casing encloses the switching device, and an oil seal is provided in two locations at an interval in the longitudinal direction of the driven shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2002
    Publication date: August 1, 2002
    Applicant: HONDA GIKEN KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA, NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akio Handa, Noriaki Takano, Bunzo Seki
  • Publication number: 20020046893
    Abstract: A two/four-wheel drive switching device for a vehicle which permits a rear brake an engine brake to be applied to front and rear wheels even in a two-wheel drive mode and which can minimize a switching noise. A switching unit permits and inhibits the transfer of power in a power transfer mechanism and is provided with a drive shaft. A driven shaft is fitted on the drive shaft through an annular clearance. An odd number of engaging/disengaging members are disposed in the clearance between the drive shaft and the driven shaft to connect and disconnect both shafts. A switching mechanism is provided for locating the engaging/disengaging members selectively in a position in which the drive shaft and the driven shaft are connected together and a position in which both shafts are disconnected from each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2001
    Publication date: April 25, 2002
    Inventors: Akio Handa, Noriaki Takano
  • Patent number: 6354417
    Abstract: The transmission includes a number of male dowels disposed on gear shifters for engaging female dowels on gears. The male dowels are arranged in sets of high and low male dowels, the high and low male dowels being alternately arranged on a side surface of a gear shifter. The male dowels have curved engaging surfaces for engaging respective female dowels. The contact point between the male dowels and the female dowels is radially outward from a radial center of the male dowels, so that a thicker portion of the male dowels absorbs the impact between male and female dowel. The low male dowels need not be machined, which reduces the cost of producing the transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2002
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Satoru Narita, Noriaki Takano
  • Patent number: 6332444
    Abstract: A power unit includes an engine portion and a transmission portion. The bottom portion of a crankcase of the power unit is formed into a shape, in which the right and left sides thereof are tilted downwardly toward a central portion. A main shaft, a counter shaft, and an output shaft of a transmission chamber are disposed one above the other on a right side of a crankshaft. An oil tank is disposed on a right side of the transmission. A bulkhead divides the transmission chamber from the oil tank. The oil tank is formed into an approximately crescent shape with its lower end extending under the output shaft. A suction port of a feed pump is provided in the lowest portion of the crescent shaped oil tank. An oil inlet is provided directly over the oil tank. An overflow hole for allowing oil to overflow into a transmission chamber is provided in the bulkhead. An oil pump is provided in the crank case on the left side of the crank shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Satoru Narita, Toshiyuki Kubota, Noriaki Takano
  • Publication number: 20010020402
    Abstract: A gear transmission for keeping a load in balance at both ends of a crank shaft in an all-terrain saddle type vehicle provided with a transmitting unit capable of transmitting power from the crank shaft to the gear transmission and a generator connected to the crank shaft. A torque converter is provided with a lock-up clutch mounted on the crank case side of the torque converter and capable of directly connecting a pump to a turbine. A driving gear fixed to the turbine and capable of transmitting the output of the torque converter to the gear transmission is mounted on one end side of a crank shaft outside the crank case such that the lock-up clutch is sandwiched between the torque converter and the driving gear. A generator is mounted on the other end side of the crank shaft outside the crank case.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2000
    Publication date: September 13, 2001
    Inventors: Takashi Shichinohe, Yoshiaki Hori, Noriaki Takano