Patents by Inventor Nozomi Okada

Nozomi Okada 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: 11473939
    Abstract: A crank angle detection device for an engine capable of achieving downsizing and enhancing appearance of the engine is provided. A crank angle detection device for an engine that includes a pulsar ring including a plurality of detection portions and rotating coaxially with a crank shaft of the engine, and a sensor detecting a passage state of the detection portions. Here, the pulsar ring is fixed to a crank web of the crank shaft. A weight for adjusting inertia balance of the crank shaft is fixed to the crank web arranged close to an end of the crank shaft in an axial direction. The weight has a shape obtained by increasing thickness of a part of the pulsar ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hayato Yamashiro, Kazuya Tajiri, Nozomi Okada
  • Patent number: 11035698
    Abstract: Provided is a crank angle detection device that includes an ACG rotor supported by an end of a crank shaft and configured to rotate integrally with the crank shaft, a metal-plate-made pulsar ring including a ring-shaped plate portion and a detected portion that includes a plurality of convex portions formed at an outer circumference of the ring-shaped plate portion, and being configured to rotate integrally with the ACG rotor with the ring-shaped plate portion fixed to the ACG rotor, and a magnetic sensor arranged at an outer circumference of the pulsar ring and configured to detect the detected portion. Such a crank angle detection device is capable of detecting a crank angle with high accuracy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toru Kisaichi, Nozomi Okada, Satoru Okada
  • Patent number: 10890230
    Abstract: A balance shaft structure includes a balance shaft including a balance weight, a driven gear to rotate the balance shaft by being engaged with a drive gear, a scissors mechanism, whose position in an axial direction is regulated, including a scissors gear to reduce backlash between the drive gear and the driven gear and an axially urging member to urge the scissors gear toward the driven gear in the axial direction, a first regulating portion to regulate an axially inner position of the scissors mechanism, and a second regulating portion fixed to the balance shaft on a side close to the shaft end part of the balance shaft beyond the first regulating portion and configured to regulate an axially outer position of the scissors mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuma Tanaka, Narumi Kato, Nozomi Okada, Junnosuke Ito
  • Patent number: 10801607
    Abstract: In an internal combustion engine for a saddle riding vehicle, in which a gear transmission and a shift drum of a shift change device is stored in a crankcase, the gear transmission having a plurality of transmission shafts parallel to a crankshaft extending in a vehicle width direction, a single pump shaft common to first and second oil pumps is rotatably supported by the crankcase. First oil pump rotors of the first oil pump are disposed at a mating face of a pair of left and right crankcase half bodies. A second oil pump rotor of the second oil pump is disposed between a pump gear and the first oil pump and at a side surface, on a side opposite to the mating face, of one crankcase half body out of the pair of left and right crankcase half bodies, the pump gear being arranged in the pump shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuma Tanaka, Nozomi Okada, Isao Azumagakito, Shigeru Awazu, Naoya Matsunaga
  • Publication number: 20200292358
    Abstract: A crank angle detection device for an engine capable of achieving downsizing and enhancing appearance of the engine is provided. A crank angle detection device for an engine that includes a pulsar ring including a plurality of detection portions and rotating coaxially with a crank shaft of the engine, and a sensor detecting a passage state of the detection portions. Here, the pulsar ring is fixed to a crank web of the crank shaft. A weight for adjusting inertia balance of the crank shaft is fixed to the crank web arranged close to an end of the crank shaft in an axial direction. The weight has a shape obtained by increasing thickness of a part of the pulsar ring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2020
    Publication date: September 17, 2020
    Inventors: Hayato YAMASHIRO, Kazuya TAJIRI, Nozomi OKADA
  • Patent number: 10690046
    Abstract: In an internal combustion engine for a saddle-ride type vehicle, in which a generator and a clutch are distributed and arranged on opposite sides in an axial direction of a crankshaft, a starting power transmission mechanism is arranged between a cylinder bore and the generator in a direction along an axis of the crankshaft, the starting power transmission mechanism transmitting starting power from a starter motor to the crankshaft, the starter motor being mounted on an outer surface of a crankcase. A crankcase cover covering the generator and the starting power transmission mechanism is mounted on the crankcase on a side opposite to the clutch. A release rod of a clutch release lever switching transmission and cutoff of power of the clutch is turnably supported to the crankcase cover at a side position of the generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Nozomi Okada, Hiroto Takeichi, Naoya Matsunaga, Kazuma Tanaka
  • Patent number: 10655512
    Abstract: In a valve train of an internal combustion engine, an input sprocket mounting portion is provided on one end of an exhaust camshaft, and a valve operating cam portion is formed on the other end of the camshaft. A decompression shaft of a decompression device is inserted in a decompression shaft hole, which is formed from the input sprocket mounting portion toward the valve operating cam portion. The decompression shaft hole is formed at a position offset from an axis of the camshaft. A camshaft inner oil passage is formed in the camshaft to extend from one end toward the other end of the camshaft in parallel arrangement to the decompression shaft hole to supply lubricant from the bearing journal portion to the bearing journal portion. The above arrangement makes it possible to supply a sufficient amount of lubricant oil to slide portions of the valve train of a saddle riding vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Nozomi Okada, Yosuke Hoi, Toru Kisaichi
  • Patent number: 10514085
    Abstract: A cam chain tensioner device of an internal combustion engine includes a cam chain tensioner, and a tensioner lifter pressing the cam chain tensioner to a cam chain. The tensioner lifter is mounted on an inclined upper surface of the cylinder head. The cylinder head has therein a valve train oil supply passage supplying oil from an oil pump to the valve train camshafts, and a tensioner lifter oil supply passage supplying oil to the tensioner lifter. The valve gear oil supply passage has a branching portion where the tensioner lifter oil supply passage branches. The branching portion is at a position higher than the tensioner lifter, and communicates with the tensioner lifter disposed at a position lower than the branching portion. It is thus possible to prevent fluttering of the cam chain and to reduce noise generated by the cam chain at the time of restart of the engine after it is stopped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Nozomi Okada, Yosuke Hoi, Isao Azumagakito, Shigeru Awazu
  • Patent number: 10443459
    Abstract: In an oil filter attaching structure for a vehicle-mounted internal combustion engine, an oil filter of the engine is installed in a filter case integrally formed with a crankcase cover of a crankcase. The crankcase cover is mounted on a side surface of the crankcase so as to cover an end of a crankshaft supported by the crankcase to extend in vehicle widthwise directions. An internal combustion engine accessory and a transmission clutch device are disposed inside of the crankcase cover in respective positions forward and rearward of the crankshaft. The oil filter and an oil supply port are disposed inside of the crankcase cover in respective positions upward and downward of the crankshaft. The oil filter attaching structure efficiently utilizes the space for making itself smaller in size and for better maintainability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Nozomi Okada, Hiroto Takeichi, Isao Azumagakito
  • Publication number: 20190301565
    Abstract: A balance shaft structure includes a balance shaft including a balance weight, a driven gear to rotate the balance shaft by being engaged with a drive gear, a scissors mechanism, whose position in an axial direction is regulated, including a scissors gear to reduce backlash between the drive gear and the driven gear and an axially urging member to urge the scissors gear toward the driven gear in the axial direction, a first regulating portion to regulate an axially inner position of the scissors mechanism, and a second regulating portion fixed to the balance shaft on a side close to the shaft end part of the balance shaft beyond the first regulating portion and configured to regulate an axially outer position of the scissors mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2019
    Publication date: October 3, 2019
    Inventors: Kazuma TANAKA, Narumi KATO, Nozomi OKADA, Junnosuke ITO
  • Publication number: 20190301897
    Abstract: Provided is a crank angle detection device that includes an ACG rotor supported by an end of a crank shaft and configured to rotate integrally with the crank shaft, a metal-plate-made pulsar ring including a ring-shaped plate portion and a detected portion that includes a plurality of convex portions formed at an outer circumference of the ring-shaped plate portion, and being configured to rotate integrally with the ACG rotor with the ring-shaped plate portion fixed to the ACG rotor, and a magnetic sensor arranged at an outer circumference of the pulsar ring and configured to detect the detected portion. Such a crank angle detection device is capable of detecting a crank angle with high accuracy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2019
    Publication date: October 3, 2019
    Inventors: Toru KISAICHI, Nozomi OKADA, Satoru OKADA
  • Patent number: 10408115
    Abstract: An electric generator for generating electric energy upon rotation of a crankshaft supported in a crankcase of an internal combustion engine has an outer rotor and an inner rotor. An electric generator cooling structure includes a first cooling oil passage and a second cooling oil passage that are branched from a lubricating oil passage of a lubricating system of the engine toward the electric generator. A first ejection port is defined in a downstream end of the first cooling oil passage for ejecting lubricating oil to an outer side surface of the outer rotor, and a second ejection port is defined in a downstream end of the second cooling oil passage for ejecting lubricating oil to the inner stator disposed in the outer rotor. The electric generator cooling structure can thus efficiently cool the electric generator in its entirety.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Nozomi Okada, Kazuma Tanaka, Hirota Takeichi
  • Patent number: 10385804
    Abstract: In a single cylinder internal combustion engine in which a plug hole is provided striding between a cylinder head and a head cover, and an intake side camshaft and an exhaust side camshaft are disposed at positions sandwiching the plug hole therebetween, a long hole portion formed long in a direction orthogonal to axes of the camshafts is formed as a part of the plug hole. A part of a plurality of cam holder attaching bolts used for fastening the cam holder to the cylinder head are disposed within the long hole portion. A breather chamber disposed around the long hole portion is formed between the head cover and a breather plate attached thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Nozomi Okada, Toru Kisaichi
  • Patent number: 10330043
    Abstract: In a saddle-ride type vehicle in which a cylinder head of a single-cylinder engine main unit has a front wall and a rear wall, an exhaust system being connected to the front wall and an intake system being connected to the rear wall, a joining surface of the cylinder head to a head cover is formed on a plane crossing a cylinder axis, the plane being inclined downward toward a front. Rotation axes of camshafts are arranged on the plane. An axis of a valve stem of a throttle valve is arranged on the plane. A curve cover curved so as to cover driven sprockets fixed to the camshafts is formed on one side in a vehicle width direction of the head cover. A drum housing box housing a throttle drum fixed to one end of the valve stem is arranged close to the curve cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Nozomi Okada, Yusaburo Tani, Yosuke Hoi, Tatsuhiko Asano, Shuichi Ishida, Isao Azumagakito
  • Patent number: 10309265
    Abstract: In a DOHC-type internal combustion engine in which a pair of intake valves and a pair of exhaust valves are disposed around a plug hole, and two pairs of rocker arms are respectively interposed between intake-side and exhaust-side camshafts and the intake valves and the exhaust valves, first and second support portions of one pair of the rocker arms are disposed between the intake valves and the exhaust valves in a direction orthogonal to axes of the intake-side and exhaust-side camshafts and around the plug hole, and the third and fourth support portions of an other pair of the rocker arms are disposed outside a region between the intake valves and the exhaust valves in the direction orthogonal to the axes of the intake-side and exhaust-side camshafts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nozomi Okada, Yosuke Hoi, Isao Azumagakito, Tsugumi Shinke
  • Patent number: 10132203
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine optimizing small-size arrangement of the valve drive mechanism, considering that the exhaust valve diameter is smaller than the intake valve diameter. Intake and exhaust valves are in a radial arrangement, intake and exhaust cam surfaces are inclined relative to intake and exhaust cam axes, intake and exhaust rocker arm support members are inclined correspondingly in the same way and disposed between an intake camshaft and an exhaust camshaft. Pivotal support base portions of intake rocker arms and pivotal support base portions of exhaust rocker arms are disposed such that the distances thereof from a joining surface joining a cylinder head and a cylinder body are different.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Nozomi Okada
  • Publication number: 20180283528
    Abstract: In an internal combustion engine for a saddle riding vehicle, in which a gear transmission and a shift drum of a shift change device is stored in a crankcase, the gear transmission having a plurality of transmission shafts parallel to a crankshaft extending in a vehicle width direction, a single pump shaft common to first and second oil pumps is rotatably supported by the crankcase. First oil pump rotors of the first oil pump are disposed at a mating face of a pair of left and right crankcase half bodies. A second oil pump rotor of the second oil pump is disposed between a pump gear and the first oil pump and at a side surface, on a side opposite to the mating face, of one crankcase half body out of the pair of left and right crankcase half bodies, the pump gear being arranged in the pump shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2018
    Publication date: October 4, 2018
    Inventors: Kazuma TANAKA, Nozomi OKADA, Isao AZUMAGAKITO, Shigeru AWAZU, Naoya MATSUNAGA
  • Publication number: 20180283506
    Abstract: A cam chain tensioner device of an internal combustion engine includes a cam chain tensioner, and a tensioner lifter pressing the cam chain tensioner to a cam chain. The tensioner lifter is mounted on an inclined upper surface of the cylinder head. The cylinder head has therein a valve train oil supply passage supplying oil from an oil pump to the valve train camshafts, and a tensioner lifter oil supply passage supplying oil to the tensioner lifter. The valve gear oil supply passage has a branching portion where the tensioner lifter oil supply passage branches. The branching portion is at a position higher than the tensioner lifter, and communicates with the tensioner lifter disposed at a position lower than the branching portion. It is thus possible to prevent fluttering of the cam chain and to reduce noise generated by the cam chain at the time of restart of the engine after it is stopped.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2018
    Publication date: October 4, 2018
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Nozomi OKADA, Yosuke HOI, Isao AZUMAGAKITO, Shigeru AWAZU
  • Publication number: 20180283243
    Abstract: In a valve train of an internal combustion engine, an input sprocket mounting portion is provided on one end of an exhaust camshaft, and a valve operating cam portion is formed on the other end of the camshaft. A decompression shaft of a decompression device is inserted in a decompression shaft hole, which is formed from the input sprocket mounting portion toward the valve operating cam portion. The decompression shaft hole is formed at a position offset from an axis of the camshaft. A camshaft inner oil passage is formed in the camshaft to extend from one end toward the other end of the camshaft in parallel arrangement to the decompression shaft hole to supply lubricant from the bearing journal portion to the bearing journal portion. The above arrangement makes it possible to supply a sufficient amount of lubricant oil to slide portions of the valve train of a saddle riding vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2018
    Publication date: October 4, 2018
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Nozomi OKADA, Yosuke HOI, Toru KISAICHI
  • Publication number: 20180274394
    Abstract: In a DOHC-type internal combustion engine in which a pair of intake valves and a pair of exhaust valves are disposed around a plug hole, and two pairs of rocker arms are respectively interposed between intake-side and exhaust-side camshafts and the intake valves and the exhaust valves, first and second support portions of one pair of the rocker arms are disposed between the intake valves and the exhaust valves in a direction orthogonal to axes of the intake-side and exhaust-side camshafts and around the plug hole, and the third and fourth support portions of an other pair of the rocker arms are disposed outside a region between the intake valves and the exhaust valves in the direction orthogonal to the axes of the intake-side and exhaust-side camshafts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2018
    Publication date: September 27, 2018
    Inventors: Nozomi OKADA, Yosuke HOI, Isao AZUMAGAKITO, Tsugumi SHINKE