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).

  • Patent number: 9464612
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a fuel injection valve that is made superior in atomization performance by preventing an influence of minute deformation occurring when an orifice plate is assembled to a nozzle body, thereby reducing fuel leakage from a swirling passage to increase the strength of a swirl flow. The valve includes a valve body openable and closable to jet fuel; a nozzle body having a valve seat surface capable of coming into contact with the valve body to block the jet of fuel; and an orifice plate disposed downstream of the valve seat surface and having a plurality of fuel injection holes adapted to jet swirl fuel. The nozzle body has an end face portion with a downwardly convex inclined surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshio Okamoto, Nobuya Sekiyama, Yoshihito Yasukawa, Noriyuki Maekawa, Nobuaki Kobayashi, Takahiro Saito
  • Publication number: 20160230722
    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: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2016
    Publication date: August 11, 2016
    Inventors: Ryo KUSAKABE, Motoyuki ABE, Yoshihito YASUKAWA, Noriyuki MAEKAWA, Takuya MAYUZUMI, Tohru ISHIKAWA
  • Patent number: 9404456
    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: January 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshio Okamoto, Yoshihito Yasukawa, Noriyuki Maekawa, Nobuaki Kobayashi, Takahiro Saito
  • Patent number: 9347393
    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: June 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryo Kusakabe, Motoyuki Abe, Yoshihito Yasukawa, Noriyuki Maekawa, Takuya Mayuzumi, Tohru Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 9322375
    Abstract: A fuel injection valve realizing improved circumferential uniformity of swirling fuel is provided. The fuel injection valve includes swirling chambers each having an inner peripheral wall whose curvature is gradually larger from upstream to downstream, paths for swirling each of which, having a fuel flow-in region formed along a valve axis direction, guides fuel to the associated one of the swirling chambers, and fuel injection orifices open into the associated swirling chambers, respectively. In the fuel injection valve, a curved portion is formed on the bottom, in a sectional view along the valve axis direction, of an inlet portion of each of the paths for swirling so as to change the fuel flow in each of the paths for swirling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshio Okamoto, Kazuki Yoshimura, Noriyuki Maekawa, Nobuaki Kobayashi, Eiji Ishii, Takahiro Saito
  • Patent number: 9309853
    Abstract: A fuel injection valve which has: swirl chambers each having an inner wall whose curvature is gradually increased from upstream to downstream along fuel flow; passages for swirling motion, the passages permitting introduction of fuel into the swirl chambers; fuel injection holes opening into the swirl chambers and including at least two narrow-angle injection holes and a wide-angle injection hole from which at least two narrow-angle sprays and a wide-angle spray are respectively ejected; and an orifice plate provided with the injection holes. The narrow-angle injection holes are spaced a given distance from the center of the orifice plate. The wide-angle injection hole is formed on a line perpendicularly intersecting a line segment that interconnects the centers of the narrow-angle injection holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshio Okamoto, Yoshihito Yasukawa, Noriyuki Maekawa, Nobuaki Kobayashi, Takahiro Saito
  • Patent number: 9103309
    Abstract: A fuel injection valve is disclosed with enhanced uniformity of a swirl flow in the circumferential direction. The valve includes a swirling chamber having an inner wall surface with a helical curve and a swirling passage for guiding fuel into the chamber. The valve is formed such that the center of a circle as the basis of the helical curve and the center of a fuel injection hole open in the swirling chamber align with one another. The joint between the passage for swirling and the inner circumferential wall on the downstream side of the chamber at which both walls intersect is positioned between a line from the center of the hole to a point at which the curvature of the swirling chamber shape starts to change; and a tangent line of the side wall of the hole so drawn that it is in parallel to the line segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuki Yoshimura, Yoshio Okamoto, Eiji Ishii, Noriyuki Maekawa, Takahiro Saito, Atsushi Nakai
  • Patent number: 8960157
    Abstract: The drive device is configured to, during a time interval between an earlier fuel injection (first fuel injection) and a later fuel injection (second fuel injection), supply an electromagnetic coil with an intermediate current at a voltage with a level of not opening the valve. Further, the drive device sets a voltage application for supplying the intermediate current to initiate before a valve closing in the earlier fuel injection and terminate before half a period of time between a first instant when the valve is closed in the earlier fuel injection and a second instant when a supply of a drive current for opening the valve is initiated in the later fuel injection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryo Kusakabe, Motoyuki Abe, Hideharu Ehara, Tohru Ishikawa, Noriyuki Maekawa, Takuya Mayuzumi
  • Publication number: 20150021414
    Abstract: A fuel injection valve includes: a swirl chamber having an inner peripheral wall formed to be gradually increased in curvature toward a downstream side from an upstream side; a swirl passage, through which a fuel is introduced into the swirl chamber; and a fuel injection port opened to the swirl chamber, wherein the swirl chamber and the swirl passage are formed so that a side wall of the swirl passage connected to a downstream end side of the swirl chamber, or an extension thereof is made not to intersect a downstream side portion of the inner peripheral wall of the swirl chamber, or an extension thereof,
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2014
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Inventors: Yoshihito YASUKAWA, Yoshio OKAMOTO, Takahiro SAITO, Masanori ISHIKAWA, Eiji ISHII, Nobuaki KOBAYASHI, Noriyuki MAEKAWA
  • Patent number: 8888021
    Abstract: A fuel injection valve includes: a swirl chamber having an inner peripheral wall formed to be gradually increased in curvature toward a downstream side from an upstream side; a swirl passage, through which a fuel is introduced into the swirl chamber; and a fuel injection port opened to the swirl chamber, wherein the swirl chamber and the swirl passage are formed so that a side wall of the swirl passage connected to a downstream end side of the swirl chamber, or an extension thereof is made not to intersect a downstream side portion of the inner peripheral wall of the swirl chamber, or an extension thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshihito Yasukawa, Yoshio Okamoto, Takahiro Saito, Masanori Ishikawa, Eiji Ishii, Nobuaki Kobayashi, Noriyuki Maekawa
  • Patent number: 8882003
    Abstract: A fuel injector has a swirl generator located downstream from a valve seat. A fuel injection hole is connected to a downstream side of the swirl generator. The swirl generator includes a swirl chamber having an involute or a spiral shape and the fuel injection hole bored at a bottom or the swirl chamber and a swirl generation use passage connected to the upstream side of the swirl chamber for introducing fuel into the swirl chamber. The bottom of the swirl chamber is provided with a step height so as to make a level difference in which the bottom of the swirl chamber is lower than a bottom of the swirl generation use passage, and the step height is formed at a position where fuel flowing into the swirl chamber from the swirl generation use passage meets fuel turning in the swirl chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshio Okamoto, Yoshihito Yasukawa, Noriyuki Maekawa, Nobuaki Kobayashi, Takahiro Saito
  • Publication number: 20140251262
    Abstract: A fuel injection valve realizing improved circumferential uniformity of swirling fuel is provided. The fuel injection valve includes swirling chambers each having an inner peripheral wall whose curvature is gradually larger from upstream to downstream, paths for swirling each of which, having a fuel flow-in region formed along a valve axis direction, guides fuel to the associated one of the swirling chambers, and fuel injection orifices open into the associated swirling chambers, respectively. In the fuel injection valve, a curved portion is formed on the bottom, in a sectional view along the valve axis direction, of an inlet portion of each of the paths for swirling so as to change the fuel flow in each of the paths for swirling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2014
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshio OKAMOTO, Kazuki YOSHIMURA, Noriyuki MAEKAWA, Nobuaki KOBAYASHI, Eiji ISHII, Takahiro SAITO
  • Publication number: 20140251264
    Abstract: A fuel injection valve realizing improved circumferential uniformity of swirling fuel is provided. The fuel injection valve includes swirling chambers each having an inner peripheral wall whose curvature is gradually larger from upstream to downstream, paths for swirling each of which, having a fuel flow-in region formed along a valve axis direction, guides fuel to the associated one of the swirling chambers, and fuel injection orifices open into the associated swirling chambers, respectively. In the fuel injection valve, the paths for swirling are interconnected in a central portion of an orifice plate and are smaller in height toward where they are interconnected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2014
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshio OKAMOTO, Kazuki YOSHIMURA, Noriyuki MAEKAWA, Nobuaki KOBAYASHI, Eiji ISHII, Takahiro SAITO
  • Publication number: 20140251263
    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: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2014
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshio OKAMOTO, Kazuki YOSHIMURA, Noriyuki MAEKAWA, Nobuaki KOBAYASHI, Eiji ISHII, Takahiro SAITO
  • Publication number: 20140027541
    Abstract: A fuel injection valve which ensures improved uniformity of a swirl flow in a circumferential direction. It includes: a valve element provided movably; a nozzle body with an opening downstream, including a valve seat face for the valve element to rest on in a valve closed state; a swirling path communicating with the opening of the nozzle body, located downstream of the opening; a swirling chamber located downstream of the swirling path, in which fuel is swirled and given a swirling force; and a fuel injection hole formed at the bottom of the swirling chamber to inject fuel outward. The swirling chamber has an inner wall surface which makes a spiral curve. The swirling chamber and the fuel injection hole are formed so that the center of a base circle for the spiral curve coincides with the center of the fuel injection hole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2013
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Applicant: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshio OKAMOTO, Yoshihito YASUKAWA, Noriyuki MAEKAWA, Eiji ISHII, Kazuki YOSHIMURA, Takahiro SAITO, Nobuaki KOBAYASHI
  • Publication number: 20140027542
    Abstract: A fuel injection valve is disclosed with enhanced uniformity of a swirl flow in the circumferential direction. The valve includes a swirling chamber having an inner wall surface with a helical curve and a swirling passage for guiding fuel into the chamber. The valve is formed such that the center of a circle as the basis of the helical curve and the center of a fuel injection hole open in the swirling chamber align with one another. The joint between the passage for swirling and the inner circumferential wall on the downstream side of the chamber at which both walls intersect is positioned between a line from the center of the hole to a point at which the curvature of the swirling chamber shape starts to change; and a tangent line of the side wall of the hole so drawn that it is in parallel to the line segment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2013
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Applicant: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuki YOSHIMURA, Yoshio OKAMOTO, Eiji ISHII, Noriyuki MAEKAWA, Takahiro SAITO, Atsushi NAKAI
  • Publication number: 20130255640
    Abstract: A fuel injection valve which has: swirl chambers each having an inner wall whose curvature is gradually increased from upstream to downstream along fuel flow; passages for swirling motion, the passages permitting introduction of fuel into the swirl chambers; fuel injection holes opening into the swirl chambers and including at least two narrow-angle injection holes and a wide-angle injection hole from which at least two narrow-angle sprays and a wide-angle spray are respectively ejected; and an orifice plate provided with the injection holes. The narrow-angle injection holes are spaced a given distance from the center of the orifice plate. The wide-angle injection hole is formed on a line perpendicularly intersecting a line segment that interconnects the centers of the narrow-angle injection holes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2013
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshio OKAMOTO, Yoshihito YASUKAWA, Noriyuki MAEKAWA, Nobuaki KOBAYASHI, Takahiro SAITO
  • Publication number: 20130256428
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a fuel injection valve that is made superior in atomization performance by preventing an influence of minute deformation occurring when an orifice plate is assembled to a nozzle body, thereby reducing fuel leakage from a swirling passage to increase the strength of a swirl flow. The valve includes a valve body openable and closable to jet fuel; a nozzle body having a valve seat surface capable of coming into contact with the valve body to block the jet of fuel; and an orifice plate disposed downstream of the valve seat surface and having a plurality of fuel injection holes adapted to jet swirl fuel. The nozzle body has an end face portion with a downwardly convex inclined surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2013
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshio OKAMOTO, Nobuya SEKIYAMA, Yoshihito YASUKAWA, Noriyuki MAEKAWA, Nobuaki KOBAYASHI, Takahiro SAITO
  • Patent number: 8371515
    Abstract: An injector used for an internal combustion engine includes a valve needle which closes a fuel passage by contacting a valve seat and opens the fuel passage by separating from the valve seat. A coil and a magnetic core are provided to drive the valve needle, and an anchor is held in a relatively displaceable state with respect to the valve needle. A first biasing device biases the valve needle in a direction opposite to a direction of a drive force, and a second biasing device biases the anchor in the direction of the drive force with a set load smaller than that of the first biasing device. A restricting feature restricts relative displacement of the anchor with respect to the valve needle in the direction of the drive force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Motoyuki Abe, Masahiko Hayatani, Atsushi Sekine, Yasuo Namaizawa, Tohru Ishikawa, Noriyuki Maekawa
  • Publication number: 20130026256
    Abstract: A fuel injector has a swirl generator located downstream from a valve seat. A fuel injection hole is connected to a downstream side of the swirl generator. The swirl generator includes a swirl chamber having an involute or a spiral shape and the fuel injection hole bored at a bottom or the swirl chamber and a swirl generation use passage connected to the upstream side of the swirl chamber for introducing fuel into the swirl chamber. The bottom of the swirl chamber is provided with a step height so as to make a level difference in which the bottom of the swirl chamber is lower than a bottom of the swirl generation use passage, and the step height is formed at a position where fuel flowing into the swirl chamber from the swirl generation use passage meets fuel turning in the swirl chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2012
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Applicant: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshio OKAMOTO, Yoshihito Yasukawa, Noriyuki Maekawa, Nobuaki Kobayashi, Takahiro Saito