Patents by Inventor Rino Fukami

Rino Fukami 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: 11137023
    Abstract: A roller and cage assembly (1) includes a roller (2) and a cage (3). The cage has a plurality of annular portions (30), a plurality of pillars (31) that couple the plurality of annular portions, and a pocket (40) formed between adjacent pillars. The pillars include a protrusion (35) that protrudes from a side wall surface towards the pocket and contacts the roller, which side wall surface configures the pocket, and within the protrusion, a plane facing the roller in a circumferential direction has a first plane (36), and a second plane (37) connecting to the first plane, the first plane being a flat plane, and the second plane being a curved plane, or a flat plane inclined against the first plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masaru Tsuchiya, Rino Fukami
  • Publication number: 20200362911
    Abstract: A roller and cage assembly (1) includes a roller (2) and a cage (3). The cage has a plurality of annular portions (30), a plurality of pillars (31) that couple the plurality of annular portions, and a pocket (40) formed between adjacent pillars. The pillars include a protrusion (35) that protrudes from a side wall surface towards the pocket and contacts the roller, which side wall surface configures the pocket, and within the protrusion, a plane facing the roller in a circumferential direction has a first plane (36), and a second plane (37) connecting to the first plane, the first plane being a flat plane, and the second plane being a curved plane, or a flat plane inclined against the first plane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2018
    Publication date: November 19, 2020
    Inventors: Masaru TSUCHIYA, Rino FUKAMI
  • Publication number: 20180259011
    Abstract: Two sprag one-way clutch retainers each include sprag-receiving pockets for receiving sprags which are arranged along a circumferential direction and are equal in number to the sprags, and dummy pockets in the form of holes having both radially outer and inner ends open and arranged between the respective circumferentially adjacent pairs of the sprag-receiving pockets. One of the two retainers is an outer retainer positioned in a radially outer portion of the annular space of the sprag one-way clutch, and the other of the two retainers is an inner retainer positioned in a radially inner portion of the annular space. Each retainer has a junction formed by joining together two circumferential ends of a strip member to form the retainer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2016
    Publication date: September 13, 2018
    Applicant: NTN Corporation
    Inventor: Rino FUKAMI
  • Publication number: 20170254374
    Abstract: A ribbon spring of a sprag type one-way clutch is an elongated strip of sheet metal, and includes a plurality of pockets formed by punching so as to be spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction of the strip, to define bridges between respective adjacent pairs of the pockets. A tongue protrudes from one circumferential side of each bridge. The strip is mounted between an outer ring and an inner ring, while being bent in a circular shape such that sprags inserted in the respective pockets are biased by the respective tongues in the direction in which the sprags engage. Each tongue has a cut surface formed by shearing at its distal end, and including a droop. The strip is bent in the circular shape such that each droop is located on the radially outer side of the cut surface, and in contact with the sprag.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2015
    Publication date: September 7, 2017
    Applicant: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventor: Rino FUKAMI
  • Patent number: 9618041
    Abstract: A needle roller and cage assembly include a cage having a width larger than a diameter thereof. Pillar sections of the cage each include roller retaining portions on radially inner and outer sides with respect to a roller pitch circle diameter and an oblique portion through which the roller retaining portions are continuous with each other. The oblique portion includes a first relief portion formed therein, for avoiding interference with a needle roller. The adjacent pillar sections form a pocket having a rectangular shape therebetween. The pocket includes a second relief portion in each of four corners thereof. The second relief portion extends in the axial direction of the cage from a position at which a short side of the pocket is elongated in a circumferential direction of the cage to an outer end of the roller retaining portion on the radially outer side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiromitsu Kawai, Rino Fukami
  • Patent number: 9273725
    Abstract: A rolling contact bearing assembly includes a cage including two or more arcuate members each having a plurality of pockets defined therein for accommodating a corresponding number of rollers arranged consecutively in a circumferential direction to form a ring shaped assembly. The arcuate members are connected together by a retention ring, having an elasticity, over a circumference of the cage. The arcuate members are displaced radially outwardly against an elastic compressive force of the retention ring such that circumferential gaps are formed at joints between the neighboring arcuate members. The arcuate members are held in a condition movable in the circumferential direction by a distance equal to the size of the circumferential gaps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Rino Fukami, Shinji Oishi, Makoto Nishikawa, Tsutomu Nakagawa
  • Publication number: 20150252849
    Abstract: A needle roller and cage assembly include a cage having a width larger than a diameter thereof. Pillar sections of the cage each include roller retaining portions on radially inner and outer sides with respect to a roller pitch circle diameter and an oblique portion through which the roller retaining portions are continuous with each other. The oblique portion includes a first relief portion formed therein, for avoiding interference with a needle roller. The adjacent pillar sections form a pocket having a rectangular shape therebetween. The pocket includes a second relief portion in each of four corners thereof. The second relief portion extends in the axial direction of the cage from a position at which a short side of the pocket is elongated in a circumferential direction of the cage to an outer end of the roller retaining portion on the radially outer side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2013
    Publication date: September 10, 2015
    Applicant: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiromitsu KAWAI, Rino FUKAMI
  • Patent number: 9074621
    Abstract: The surfaces (2a) of at least rolling elements (2) of a roller bearing for transmissions or differentials of automobiles are provided with innumerable minute, recess-shaped cavities at random and the surface roughness parameter Ryni of the surfaces provided with the cavities is in the range of 0.4-1.0 ?m and the Sk value is not more than ?1.6.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takashi Tsujimoto, Rino Fukami
  • Patent number: 9033584
    Abstract: At least the surfaces of rolling elements of a rolling bearing are each randomly formed with an innumerable number of microconcave-like pits. The surface roughness parameter Ryni of the surfaces provided with the pits is in a range of 0.4 to 1.0 ?m, and the Sk value is ?1.6 or below.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takashi Tsujimoto, Rino Fukami, Seiji Kanbara
  • Patent number: 8968139
    Abstract: An object is to reduce various losses occurring in a speed-reduction/differential gear apparatus for electric vehicles including a planetary-gear speed reducer and a differential device, thereby improving transmission efficiency of the driving force and increasing travel distance of the electric vehicle per battery charge. A speed-reduction/differential gear apparatus for electric vehicles includes a planetary-gear speed reducer and a differential device. A planetary gear mechanism in the speed reducer includes a speed-reducer-side carrier which has its inner diameter surface supported by a speed-reducer-side carrier support bearing. The invention provides proper mesh between in the pair of engaging teeth, leading to decrease in loss torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Rino Fukami, Katsufumi Abe
  • Patent number: 8814440
    Abstract: A thrust roller bearing (21) comprises a plurality of rollers (23) and an annular retainer (11) having a plurality of pockets (14) for containing the rollers (23), not bent in a thickness direction and guided by the rollers. Each of first and second roller retaining parts (17a) and (17b) for retaining the roller (23) includes an arc-shaped curved line projecting toward the pocket in a cross section provided by cutting the retainer (11) by a plane containing the first and second roller retaining parts (17a) and (17b) and perpendicular to a center axis (30) of the roller (23).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventor: Rino Fukami
  • Publication number: 20140141918
    Abstract: An object is to reduce various losses occurring in a speed-reduction/differential gear apparatus for electric vehicles including a planetary-gear speed reducer and a differential device, thereby improving transmission efficiency of the driving force and increasing travel distance of the electric vehicle per battery charge. A speed-reduction/differential gear apparatus for electric vehicles includes a planetary-gear speed reducer and a differential device. A planetary gear mechanism in the speed reducer includes a speed-reducer-side carrier which has its inner diameter surface supported by a speed-reducer-side carrier support bearing. The invention provides proper mesh between in the pair of engaging teeth, leading to decrease in loss torque.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2012
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Inventors: Rino Fukami, Katsufumi Abe
  • Patent number: 8448430
    Abstract: A thrust roller bearing includes a plurality of rollers, a retainer, an annular first track ring having a track surface, an outer periphery flange part, and a first claw part, and an annular second track ring having a track surface, an inner periphery flange part, and a second claw part. Bearing internal gaps to allow the eccentric rotation of the first track ring and the second track ring are provided between the outer periphery flange part and an outer edge part of the retainer, and between the inner periphery flange part and an inner edge part of the retainer. In addition, at least one of the first and second claw parts is a projection part formed by a bending process. Furthermore, an edge part of the retainer opposed to the projection part has a first slope part formed at a corner part on the side opposed to the track surface, and a second slope part having a radial length relatively shorter than that of the first slope part, and formed at a corner part on the opposite side in a thickness direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Rino Fukami, Kazuyuki Yamamoto, Katsufumi Abe
  • Publication number: 20120207422
    Abstract: Two or more arcuate members (2A, 2B), each having a plurality of pockets (3) defined therein for accommodating corresponding rollers, are placed one above the other to form a ring shaped assembly and are subsequently connected non-separably together by means of a retention ring (4) to thereby complete the cage (1). The arcuate members (2A, 2B) are so connected together that its inner periphery may assume a position radially inwardly of the outer diameter of a shaft such that in a condition having been assembled onto the shaft, they can displace in a direction radially outwardly against an elastic compressive force of the retention ring (4) to invite a circumferential gap (S) at each joint between the arcuate members (2A, 2B).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2010
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Applicant: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Rino Fukami, Shinji Oishi, Makoto Nishikawa, Tsutomu Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 8197146
    Abstract: At least on a surface of a rolling element of a rolling bearing, innumerable minute concave recesses are randomly formed. An area percentage of the recesses on the surface having the recesses formed thereon is in a range from 5 to 20%, and a surface roughness parameter Rymax of the surface having the recesses formed thereon is in a range of 0.4 to 1.0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Tsujimoto, Rino Fukami
  • Patent number: 8118004
    Abstract: Provided are a rocker arm, a rocker shaft, a valve cap, an adjust screw, a pivot receiving member, and a valve of an arm type valve operating device that can suppress wear and pitching, and attain a long service life. A multiplicity of minute recesses are provided at random in contact portions with other members of those members. A surface provided with recesses has a surface roughness parameter Ryni that is in a range: 0.4 ?m?Ryni?1.0 ?m, and an Sk value of ?1.6 or less. Accordingly, contact surfaces exhibit a high oil-film-forming capacity, so a long service life is attained even under a condition of low viscosity, thin lubrication and extremely thin oil film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventor: Rino Fukami
  • Publication number: 20100247020
    Abstract: A thrust roller bearing (21) comprises a plurality of rollers (23) and an annular retainer (11) having a plurality of pockets (14) for containing the rollers (23), not bent in a thickness direction and guided by the rollers. Each of first and second roller retaining parts (17a) and (17b) for retaining the roller (23) includes an arc-shaped curved line projecting toward the pocket in a cross section provided by cutting the retainer (11) by a plane containing the first and second roller retaining parts (17a) and (17b) and perpendicular to a center axis (30) of the roller (23).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2008
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Inventor: Rino Fukami
  • Publication number: 20100058750
    Abstract: A thrust roller bearing includes a plurality of rollers, a retainer, an annular first track ring having a track surface, an outer periphery flange part, and a first claw part, and an annular second track ring having a track surface, an inner periphery flange part, and a second claw part. Bearing internal gaps to allow the eccentric rotation of the first track ring and the second track ring are provided between the outer periphery flange part and an outer edge part of the retainer, and between the inner periphery flange part and an inner edge part of the retainer. In addition, at least one of the first and second claw parts is a projection part formed by a bending process. Furthermore, an edge part of the retainer opposed to the projection part has a first slope part formed at a corner part on the side opposed to the track surface, and a second slope part having a radial length relatively shorter than that of the first slope part, and formed at a corner part on the opposite side in a thickness direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2007
    Publication date: March 11, 2010
    Inventors: Rino Fukami, Kazuyuki Yamamoto, Katsufumi Abe
  • Publication number: 20090266324
    Abstract: Provided are a rocker arm, a rocker shaft, a valve cap, an adjust screw, a pivot receiving member, and a valve of an arm type valve operating device that can suppress wear and pitching, and attain a long service life. A multiplicity of minute recesses are provided at random in contact portions with other members of those members. A surface provided with recesses has a surface roughness parameter Ryni that is in a range: 0.4 ?m?Ryni?1.0 ?m, and an Sk value of ?1.6 or less. Accordingly, contact surfaces exhibit a high oil-film-forming capacity, so a long service life is attained even under a condition of low viscosity, thin lubrication and extremely thin oil film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2006
    Publication date: October 29, 2009
    Inventor: Rino Fukami
  • Publication number: 20080260316
    Abstract: At least on a surface of a rolling element of a rolling bearing, innumerable minute concave recesses are randomly formed. An area percentage of the recesses on the surface having the recesses formed thereon is in a range from 5 to 20%, and a surface roughness parameter Rymax of the surface having the recesses formed thereon is in a range of 0.4 to 1.0.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2005
    Publication date: October 23, 2008
    Inventors: Takashi Tsujimoto, Rino Fukami