Patents by Inventor Noriyuki Maekawa

Noriyuki Maekawa 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).

  • Publication number: 20210190025
    Abstract: The conventional penetration control has a problem that the penetrations of all the injection holes change. An object of the invention is to provide a fuel injection valve having a simple structure and capable of selectively controlling a penetration force of spray injected in a piston direction by a lift amount. In order to solve the above problem, the fuel injection valve of the invention is a fuel injection valve for injecting fuel to a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine, which includes a valve body that is lifted by any one of a first lift amount of a maximum valve body lift amount and a second lift amount smaller than the first lift amount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2018
    Publication date: June 24, 2021
    Applicant: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomoyuki HOSAKA, Eiji ISHII, Kazuki YOSHIMURA, Noriyuki MAEKAWA
  • Patent number: 10859047
    Abstract: A drive unit of a fuel injection device includes a driver circuit. The driver circuit opens and closes a valve element of the fuel injection device by supplying a drive current to the fuel injection device. The driver circuit supplies the drive current to open the valve element and sets the drive current to zero in an intermediate lift area. The intermediate lift area is an area is which a lift amount of the valve element is smaller than a maximum target lift amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryo Kusakabe, Motoyuki Abe, Yoshihito Yasukawa, Noriyuki Maekawa, Takuya Mayuzumi, Tohru Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 10837118
    Abstract: Provided is a surface treated steel sheet for a fuel tank, the surface treated steel sheet including: a Zn plated layer or a Zn—Ni alloy plated layer which is formed on at least a surface of the steel sheet to be an inner surface of the fuel tank; and a chromate-free chemical conversion coating layer containing a water-and-oil repellent, the chromate-free chemical conversion coating layer being placed over the Zn plated layer or the Zn—Ni alloy plated layer on the surface to be the inner surface of the fuel tank. A water contact angle on a surface of the chromate-free chemical conversion coating layer is more than or equal to 70 degrees and an n-hexadecane contact angle on the surface of the chromate-free chemical conversion coating layer is more than or equal to 30 degrees and less than or equal to 70 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: NIPPON STEEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kiyokazu Ishizuka, Noriyuki Maekawa, Hiroaki Uramoto, Hidetoshi Shindo, Ikuo Kikuchi, Kenichiro Matsumura
  • Publication number: 20200284368
    Abstract: Provided is a high-pressure fuel supply pump and a method of manufacturing thereof which can suppress the progress of corrosion and cavitation erosion even when the pressure becomes higher, or when biofuel or a fuel having a high oil content of biofuel is used. Therefore, the high-pressure fuel supply pump includes a discharge valve 51b that discharges fuel, and a discharge valve seat 51a on which the discharge valve 51b is seated. The base material of the discharge valve 51b and the discharge valve seat 51a is a steel material. On the surface of the discharge valve 51b, a Co-based alloy layer 70b and a Cr-enriched portion 70b1 having a higher Cr concentration than the surrounding Co-based alloy layer 70b are formed. The Co-based alloy layer 70a is formed on the surface of the discharge valve seat 51a.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2018
    Publication date: September 10, 2020
    Applicant: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Mina AMO, Kenya OHASHI, Arata KAGIYAMA, Koichi YAMAKA, Noriyuki MAEKAWA
  • Patent number: 10731594
    Abstract: Provided is a control device of a fuel injection device which can stabilize a behavior of a valve even when a voltage of a voltage source varies, and can reduce a deviation of an injection amount. The fuel injection device includes a valve and a coil which generates a magnetic attraction force to attract a movable element which drives the valve. A control device applies a predetermined voltage to the coil on the basis of an injection pulse, causes a drive current to flow to the coil until the drive current reaches a maximum current, drives the valve by attracting the movable element, and injects fuel. The drive current flowing to the coil is lowered from the maximum current before the valve reaches a desired maximum lift position, and a constant voltage lower than a predetermined voltage or 0 V is continuously applied to the coil until the valve reaches the desired maximum lift position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryo Kusakabe, Masayuki Saruwatari, Noriyuki Maekawa
  • Publication number: 20200240380
    Abstract: Dispersibility of fuel in a combustion chamber is improved while adhesion of the fuel to a structure in the combustion chamber is suppressed, and a combustion state of the fuel in the combustion chamber is improved, thereby improving fuel efficiency and suppressing incomplete combustion. Therefore, in a fuel injection valve provided with the plurality of fuel injection holes surrounded by a seat portion, the fuel injection holes have different penetrations. At least one high-pressure fuel injection hole having the longest penetration and low-pressure fuel injection holes excluding the fuel injection hole are included. Among the inter-inlet distances of the adjacent fuel injection holes, an inter-inlet distance between the fuel injection hole and the fuel injection holes adjacent thereto is widest.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2018
    Publication date: July 30, 2020
    Inventors: Takaki ITAYA, Noriyuki MAEKAWA, Takao MIYAKE
  • Patent number: 10697067
    Abstract: A steel sheet for a fuel tank according to the present invention includes: a Zn—Ni alloy plated layer placed on one surface or each of both surfaces of a base metal; and a chromate-free chemical conversion coating film which is placed over the Zn—Ni alloy plated layer. The Zn—Ni alloy plated layer has a crack starting from an interface with the chromate-free chemical conversion coating film and reaching an interface with the steel sheet, the chromate-free chemical conversion coating film consists of an organosilicon compound consisting of a condensation polymer of a silane coupling agent, a phosphoric acid compound and/or a phosphonic acid compound, a vanadium compound, and a titanium compound and/or a zirconium compound, and a concentration of a total of amounts in terms of metal, per surface, of the phosphoric acid compound and/or the phosphonic acid compound+the vanadium compound+the titanium compound and/or the zirconium compound, is 5 mass % to 20 mass %.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: NIPPON STEEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kiyokazu Ishizuka, Noriyuki Maekawa, Hiroaki Uramoto, Masahiro Fuda, Ikuro Yamaoka, Kenichiro Matsumura
  • Patent number: 10688755
    Abstract: A steel sheet for a fuel tank includes: a Zn—Ni alloy plated layer which is placed on one surface or each of both surfaces of a base metal and formed on at least one surface; and an inorganic chromate-free chemical conversion coating film which is placed over the Zn—Ni alloy plated layer. The Zn—Ni alloy plated layer has a crack starting from an interface between the Zn—Ni alloy plated layer and the inorganic chromate-free chemical conversion coating film and reaching an interface between the Zn—Ni alloy plated layer and the steel sheet, and a water contact angle on a surface of the inorganic chromate-free chemical conversion coating film is more than or equal to 50 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: NIPPON STEEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kiyokazu Ishizuka, Noriyuki Maekawa, Hiroaki Uramoto, Masahiro Fuda, Ikuro Yamaoka, Kenichiro Matsumura
  • Patent number: 10634105
    Abstract: One passage for swirling is formed in an orifice plate fixed on a nozzle body. Two swirl chambers in which fuel is caused to swirl so that the fuel has swirling force are provided at an end of the one passage for swirling on the downstream side of the flow direction of fuel. Therefore, the collision between the swirling flow in the swirl chamber and the fuel flowing in the passage for swirling is mitigated, and the swirling flow can be smoothly produced to promote pulverization of sprays injected from fuel injection ports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshio Okamoto, Yoshihito Yasukawa, Noriyuki Maekawa, Nobuaki Kobayashi, Takahiro Saito
  • Publication number: 20200088122
    Abstract: Provided is a control device of a fuel injection device which can stabilize a behavior of a valve even when a voltage of a voltage source varies, and can reduce a deviation of an injection amount. A control device 150 of a fuel injection device 101 includes a valve 214, a coil 205 which generates a magnetic attraction force to attract a movable member 202 which drives the valve 214, and a voltage source. The fuel injection device 101 applies a voltage to the coil 205 on the basis of an injection pulse, causes a drive current to flow to the coil 205 until the current becomes a maximum current to attract the movable member 202, and drives the valve 214 to inject fuel. The drive current flowing to the coil 205 or a voltage of the voltage source is detected before the injection pulse is stopped. In a case where the detected drive current or the voltage is equal to or less than a setting, a width of the injection pulse or an injection pulse different from the injection pulse is corrected to be long.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2017
    Publication date: March 19, 2020
    Applicant: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Ryo KUSAKABE, Masayuki SARUWATARI, Noriyuki MAEKAWA
  • Publication number: 20200049118
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a fuel injection valve that can be used in a gasoline engine and can take fuel into an injection hole with a small pressure loss near a seat portion on which a valve is seated. Thus, the present invention provides a fuel injection valve for a gasoline engine which includes: a plurality of injection holes; and a seat portion that opens and closes a fuel passage to the plurality of injection holes in cooperation with a valve. At least one fuel injection hole among the plurality of injection holes is configured in a shape such that an injection hole inlet has a long axis and a short axis, and the long axis is directed in a direction in which an extension line intersects with the seat portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2018
    Publication date: February 13, 2020
    Inventors: Takaki ITAYA, Tomoyuki HOSAKA, Noriyuki MAEKAWA, Takao MIYAKE
  • Publication number: 20190331055
    Abstract: Provided is a control device of a fuel injection device which can stabilize a behavior of a valve even when a voltage of a voltage source varies, and can reduce a deviation of an injection amount. The fuel injection device includes a valve and a coil which generates a magnetic attraction force to attract a movable element which drives the valve. A control device applies a predetermined voltage to the coil on the basis of an injection pulse, causes a drive current to flow to the coil until the drive current reaches a maximum current, drives the valve by attracting the movable element, and injects fuel. The drive current flowing to the coil is lowered from the maximum current before the valve reaches a desired maximum lift position, and a constant voltage lower than a predetermined voltage or 0 V is continuously applied to the coil until the valve reaches the desired maximum lift position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2017
    Publication date: October 31, 2019
    Inventors: Ryo KUSAKABE, Masayuki SARUWATARI, Noriyuki MAEKAWA
  • Publication number: 20190218637
    Abstract: A manufacturing method of a steel component includes: heating a steel sheet in a carburizing atmosphere to form a carburized layer on a surface of the steel sheet, the steel sheet having: a chemical composition represented by: in mass %, C: 0.0005 to 0.1%; Si: 0.01 to 2.0%; Mn: 0.05 to 3.0%; Al: 0.9% or less; P: 0.05% or less; S: 0.01% or less; Ti: 0.0 to 0.2%; Nb: 0.0 to 0.1%; Cr: 0 to 2%; Mo: 0.0 to 0.2%; B: 0.000 to 0.005%; and the balance: Fe and impurities; and a steel structure represented by ferrite with an area fraction of 70% or more; and forming the steel sheet by using metal dies, and performing quenching on the steel sheet in a state of housing the steel sheet in the metal dies to transform the carburized layer into martensite and make a part of the steel sheet on the further inside than the carburized layer to be a steel structure represented by ferrite with an area fraction of 50% or more.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2016
    Publication date: July 18, 2019
    Applicant: NIPPON STEEL & SUMITOMO METAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Riki OKAMOTO, Nobusato KOJIMA, Kazuo HIKIDA, Noriyuki MAEKAWA
  • Publication number: 20180363608
    Abstract: A drive unit of a fuel injection device includes a driver circuit. The driver circuit opens and closes a valve element of the fuel injection device by supplying a drive current to the fuel injection device. The driver circuit supplies the drive current to open the valve element and sets the drive current to zero in an intermediate lift area. The intermediate lift area is an area is which a lift amount of the valve element is smaller than a maximum target lift amount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2018
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Inventors: Ryo KUSAKABE, Motoyuki ABE, Yoshihito YASUKAWA, Noriyuki MAEKAWA, Takuya MAYUZUMI, Tohru ISHIKAWA
  • Patent number: 10082117
    Abstract: A method of controlling a fuel injection device that can control a small amount of injection is provided. A fuel injection device for use in an internal combustion engine, includes: a valve body that can open and close a fuel passage, a needle that transfers a force with the valve body, and executes valve opening/closing operation, and an electromagnet that includes a coil and a magnetic core provided as a driver for driving the needle, and a cylindrical nozzle holder disposed on an outer periphery of the magnetic core and the needle, in which a current is supplied to the coil to exert a magnetic attractive force between the magnetic core and the needle to open the valve body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryo Kusakabe, Motoyuki Abe, Yoshihito Yasukawa, Noriyuki Maekawa, Takuya Mayuzumi, Tohru Ishikawa
  • Publication number: 20180002813
    Abstract: A steel sheet for a fuel tank according to the present invention includes: a Zn—Ni alloy plated layer placed on one surface or each of both surfaces of a base metal; and a chromate-free chemical conversion coating film which is placed over the Zn—Ni alloy plated layer. The Zn—Ni alloy plated layer has a crack starting from an interface with the chromate-free chemical conversion coating film and reaching an interface with the steel sheet, the chromate-free chemical conversion coating film consists of an organosilicon compound consisting of a condensation polymer of a silane coupling agent, a phosphoric acid compound and/or a phosphonic acid compound, a vanadium compound, and a titanium compound and/or a zirconium compound, and a concentration of a total of amounts in terms of metal, per surface, of the phosphoric acid compound and/or the phosphonic acid compound+the vanadium compound+the titanium compound and/or the zirconium compound, is 5 mass % to 20 mass %.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2016
    Publication date: January 4, 2018
    Applicant: NIPPON STEEL & SUMITOMO METAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kiyokazu ISHIZUKA, Noriyuki MAEKAWA, Hiroaki URAMOTO, Masahiro FUDA, Ikuro YAMAOKA, Kenichiro MATSUMURA
  • Publication number: 20170362732
    Abstract: Provided is a surface treated steel sheet for a fuel tank, the surface treated steel sheet including: a Zn plated layer or a Zn—Ni alloy plated layer which is formed on at least a surface of the steel sheet to be an inner surface of the fuel tank; and a chromate-free chemical conversion coating layer containing a water-and-oil repellent, the chromate-free chemical conversion coating layer being placed over the Zn plated layer or the Zn—Ni alloy plated layer on the surface to be the inner surface of the fuel tank. A water contact angle on a surface of the chromate-free chemical conversion coating layer is more than or equal to 70 degrees and an n-hexadecane contact angle on the surface of the chromate-free chemical conversion coating layer is more than or equal to 30 degrees and less than or equal to 70 degrees.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2016
    Publication date: December 21, 2017
    Applicant: NIPPON STEEL & SUMITOMO METAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kiyokazu ISHIZUKA, Noriyuki MAEKAWA, Hiroaki URAMOTO, Hidetoshi SHINDO, Ikuo KIKUCHI, Kenichiro MATSUMURA
  • Publication number: 20170361571
    Abstract: A steel sheet for a fuel tank includes: a Zn—Ni alloy plated layer which is placed on one surface or each of both surfaces of a base metal and formed on at least one surface; and an inorganic chromate-free chemical conversion coating film which is placed over the Zn—Ni alloy plated layer. The Zn—Ni alloy plated layer has a crack starting from an interface between the Zn—Ni alloy plated layer and the inorganic chromate-free chemical conversion coating film and reaching an interface between the Zn—Ni alloy plated layer and the steel sheet, and a water contact angle on a surface of the inorganic chromate-free chemical conversion coating film is more than or equal to 50 degrees.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2016
    Publication date: December 21, 2017
    Applicant: NIPPON STEEL & SUMITOMO METAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kiyokazu ISHIZUKA, Noriyuki MAEKAWA, Hiroaki URAMOTO, Masahiro FUDA, Ikuro YAMAOKA, Kenichiro MATSUMURA
  • Patent number: 9541048
    Abstract: A fuel injection valve realizing improved circumferential uniformity of swirling fuel is provided. The fuel injection valve includes a swirling chamber having an inner peripheral wall whose curvature is gradually larger from upstream to downstream, a path for swirling which, having a fuel flow-in region formed along a valve axis direction, guides fuel to the swirling chamber, and a fuel injection orifice open into the swirling chamber. In the fuel injection valve, the path for swirling is inclined toward the fuel injection orifice formed on a downstream side of the swirling chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshio Okamoto, Kazuki Yoshimura, Noriyuki Maekawa, Nobuaki Kobayashi, Eiji Ishii, Takahiro Saito
  • Publication number: 20160305385
    Abstract: One passage for swirling is formed in an orifice plate fixed on a nozzle body. Two swirl chambers in which fuel is caused to swirl so that the fuel has swirling force are provided at an end of the one passage for swirling on the downstream side of the flow direction of fuel. Therefore, the collision between the swirling flow in the swirl chamber and the fuel flowing in the passage for swirling is mitigated, and the swirling flow can be smoothly produced to promote pulverization of sprays injected from fuel injection ports.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2016
    Publication date: October 20, 2016
    Inventors: Yoshio OKAMOTO, Yoshihito YASUKAWA, Noriyuki MAEKAWA, Nobuaki KOBAYASHI, Takahiro SAITO