Patents by Inventor Satoaki Ichi

Satoaki Ichi 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: 11781642
    Abstract: A power unit includes at least one drive source that outputs rotational power to a drive target other than pumps; a first pump rotationally driven by the rotational power of the drive source; a second pump rotationally driven by the rotational power of the drive source, the second pump being different form the first pump; and a power transmission structure that transmits the rotational power of the drive source to the first and second pumps. The power transmission structure includes transmission components and transmits the rotational power to the first pump through one of the transmission components and to the second pump through another of the transmission components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: KAWASAKI MOTORS, LTD.
    Inventors: Masaki Nishiyabu, Satoaki Ichi, Kyohei Izumi
  • Patent number: 11578767
    Abstract: An oil feed structure includes: a hydraulic clutch; a power transmitting shaft coupled to the hydraulic clutch; a valve element inserted into the power transmitting shaft, and a spring configured to bias the valve element. The valve element includes: a pressure receiving surface facing in an axial direction of the power transmitting shaft and configured to receive hydraulic pressure of a hydraulic pressure oil passage; and a port communicable with a clutch lubrication hole of the power transmitting shaft. The spring biases the valve element toward the hydraulic pressure oil passage against the hydraulic pressure received by the pressure receiving surface. When clutch operating hydraulic pressure changes, the valve element moves in the axial direction to change an opening degree of communication between the port and the clutch lubrication hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: KAWASAKI MOTORS, LTD.
    Inventors: Masaki Nishiyabu, Satoaki Ichi, Jun Tominaga
  • Patent number: 11447001
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle includes: a crankcase having a main chamber formed in a case body and accommodating at least a crankshaft, an input shaft, an output shaft, and a gear train, the crankcase further having a subsidiary chamber formed between the case body and a cover and accommodating at least a main clutch; a rotary member disposed in the subsidiary chamber so as to be capable of power transmission to the input shaft; and a power transmission member that transmits drive power from a drive motor to the rotary member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: KAWASAKI MOTORS, LTD.
    Inventors: Masaki Nishiyabu, Satoaki Ichi, Kyohei Izumi, Katsuya Sano, Yuji Hida
  • Patent number: 11415219
    Abstract: A straddle vehicle includes: a shift drum that makes a shift change of a transmission including a plurality of gear trains; a transmission case enclosing the shift drum, the transmission case including a side wall portion provided with an insertion hole into which an end portion of the shift drum is inserted; and an actuator unit secured to an outer surface of the side wall portion, the actuator unit including a drive shaft that outputs drive power to rotate the shift drum, the drive shaft having the same rotational axis as the shift drum and being connected to the shift drum on the rotational axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: KAWASAKI MOTORS, LTD.
    Inventors: Katsuya Sano, Masaki Nishiyabu, Satoaki Ichi, Kyohei Izumi, Yuji Hida
  • Publication number: 20220178436
    Abstract: A power unit includes at least one drive source that outputs rotational power to a drive target other than pumps; a first pump rotationally driven by the rotational power of the drive source; a second pump rotationally driven by the rotational power of the drive source, the second pump being different form the first pump; and a power transmission structure that transmits the rotational power of the drive source to the first and second pumps. The power transmission structure includes transmission components and transmits the rotational power to the first pump through one of the transmission components and to the second pump through another of the transmission components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2021
    Publication date: June 9, 2022
    Inventors: Masaki NISHIYABU, Satoaki ICHI, Kyohei IZUMI
  • Patent number: 11273698
    Abstract: A crankcase includes: a main body portion aligned with a drive motor in a direction perpendicular to a motor drive shaft; and an extended portion continuous with the main body portion and located lateral to a motor housing, the extended portion receiving insertion of one end of the motor drive shaft. A power transmission mechanism that transmits power from the motor drive shaft to an input shaft is located partly in a first region defined by the main body portion and partly in a second region defined by the extended portion and communicating with the first region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masaki Nishiyabu, Satoaki Ichi, Kyohei Izumi, Yuji Hida
  • Publication number: 20210310525
    Abstract: An oil feed structure includes: a hydraulic clutch; a power transmitting shaft coupled to the hydraulic clutch; a valve element inserted into the power transmitting shaft, and a spring configured to bias the valve element. The valve element includes: a pressure receiving surface facing in an axial direction of the power transmitting shaft and configured to receive hydraulic pressure of a hydraulic pressure oil passage; and a port communicable with a clutch lubrication hole of the power transmitting shaft. The spring biases the valve element toward the hydraulic pressure oil passage against the hydraulic pressure received by the pressure receiving surface. When clutch operating hydraulic pressure changes, the valve element moves in the axial direction to change an opening degree of communication between the port and the clutch lubrication hole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2021
    Publication date: October 7, 2021
    Inventors: Masaki NISHIYABU, Satoaki ICHI, Jun TOMINAGA
  • Publication number: 20210010591
    Abstract: A straddle vehicle includes: a shift drum that makes a shift change of a transmission including a plurality of gear trains; a transmission case enclosing the shift drum, the transmission case including a side wall portion provided with an insertion hole into which an end portion of the shift drum is inserted; and an actuator unit secured to an outer surface of the side wall portion, the actuator unit including a drive shaft that outputs drive power to rotate the shift drum, the drive shaft having the same rotational axis as the shift drum and being connected to the shift drum on the rotational axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2020
    Publication date: January 14, 2021
    Inventors: Katsuya SANO, Masaki NISHIYABU, Satoaki ICHI, Kyohei IZUMI, Yuji HIDA
  • Publication number: 20210001707
    Abstract: A crankcase includes: a main body portion aligned with a drive motor in a direction perpendicular to a motor drive shaft; and an extended portion continuous with the main body portion and located lateral to a motor housing, the extended portion receiving insertion of one end of the motor drive shaft. A power transmission mechanism that transmits power from the motor drive shaft to an input shaft is located partly in a first region defined by the main body portion and partly in a second region defined by the extended portion and communicating with the first region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2020
    Publication date: January 7, 2021
    Inventors: Masaki NISHIYABU, Satoaki ICHI, Kyohei IZUMI, Yuji HIDA
  • Publication number: 20210001706
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle includes: a crankcase having a main chamber formed in a case body and accommodating at least a crankshaft, an input shaft, an output shaft, and a gear train, the crankcase further having a subsidiary chamber formed between the case body and a cover and accommodating at least a main clutch; a rotary member disposed in the subsidiary chamber so as to be capable of power transmission to the input shaft; and a power transmission member that transmits drive power from a drive motor to the rotary member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2020
    Publication date: January 7, 2021
    Inventors: Masaki NISHIYABU, Satoaki ICHI, Kyohei IZUMI, Katsuya SANO, Yuji HIDA
  • Patent number: 10711886
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a transmission; a shift operation member configured to be operated by a rider; a manual shift driving force transmission mechanism which transmits an operation force generated by the rider's operation of the shift operation member, to the transmission, as a shift driving force; a transmission actuator; an automatic shift driving force transmission mechanism which transmits a driving force generated by the transmission actuator to the manual shift driving force transmission mechanism, as the shift driving force, and the automatic shift driving force transmission mechanism includes a one-direction transmission section which prevents transmission of an operation of the manual shift driving force transmission mechanism to the transmission actuator, the operation being caused by the rider's operation of the shift operation member, the one-direction transmission section being configured to transmit the driving force generated by the transmission actuator to the manual shift driving force transmis
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Satoaki Ichi, Jun Tominaga, Yoshimoto Matsuda
  • Publication number: 20190301602
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a transmission; a shift operation member configured to be operated by a rider; a manual shift driving force transmission mechanism which transmits an operation force generated by the rider's operation of the shift operation member, to the transmission, as a shift driving force; a transmission actuator; an automatic shift driving force transmission mechanism which transmits a driving force generated by the transmission actuator to the manual shift driving force transmission mechanism, as the shift driving force, and the automatic shift driving force transmission mechanism includes a one-direction transmission section which prevents transmission of an operation of the manual shift driving force transmission mechanism to the transmission actuator, the operation being caused by the rider's operation of the shift operation member, the one-direction transmission section being configured to transmit the driving force generated by the transmission actuator to the manual shift driving force transmis
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Publication date: October 3, 2019
    Inventors: Satoaki Ichi, Jun Tominaga, Yoshimoto Matsuda
  • Patent number: 10138823
    Abstract: This supercharger for a motorcycle is driven by power of a crankshaft of a combustion engine, and compresses intake air to be supplied to the combustion engine. The supercharger has an impeller of a centrifugal type, and an intake air control valve is disposed on the upstream side of the impeller of the supercharger with respect to a flow direction of the intake air. The intake air control valve is disposed so as to face a suction port of the supercharger in the flow direction of the intake air. The intake air control valve adjusts the amount of the intake air flowing into the impeller, and in addition, provides a preswirl to the intake air flowing into the impeller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Satoaki Ichi, Toshiro Inoue
  • Patent number: 9957928
    Abstract: A supercharging system for a combustion engine of a motorcycle includes a supercharger which pressurizes intake air and supplies the intake air to the combustion engine, an air intake chamber which is connected to downstream of the supercharger, a relief passage which relieves the high-pressure intake air within the air intake chamber, and a relief valve which is provided on the relief passage. The air intake chamber is disposed above the combustion engine, and the relief passage is disposed below an upper end of the air intake chamber. The relief passage is connected to a front surface of the air intake chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Watanabe, Hisatoyo Arima, Satoaki Ichi, Yoshinobu Tanaka
  • Patent number: 9909544
    Abstract: A motorcycle includes a supercharger to pressurize an intake air and supplying it to a combustion engine and an air intake chamber disposed downstream of the supercharger. The air intake chamber is made of a metallic material and has a capacity of an interior space thereof which is within the range of three to eight times the displacement of the combustion engine. The dimension from an upstream end portion on an inlet side of the interior space of the air intake chamber to a downstream end portion on an outlet side of the interior space of such air intake chamber is chosen to be three or more times the inner diameter of an outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Watanabe, Hisatoyo Arima, Satoaki Ichi, Yoshinobu Tanaka
  • Patent number: 9885325
    Abstract: An air intake chamber is disposed at a location downstream of a supercharger and upstream of a throttle body. The air intake chamber serves to accumulate an intake air pressurized by the supercharger. This air intake chamber includes a confronting portion, which has an outlet and overlaps the throttle body, and a connecting portion that connects between the confronting portion and a discharge port of the supercharger. The connecting portion has an outlet side opening set to be larger than an inlet side opening thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Watanabe, Hisatoyo Arima, Satoaki Ichi, Yoshinobu Tanaka
  • Patent number: 9850863
    Abstract: An air intake duct of a motorcycle extends rearwardly from a front portion of a motorcycle body so as to pass laterally of the left side of a motorcycle frame structure, and incoming wind is supplied as an intake air through the air intake duct to a combustion engine. The air intake duct is divided in a widthwise direction of the motorcycle. An upper dividing face of the air intake duct is disposed inward of an intermediate position, in a motorcycle widthwise direction, of the air intake duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shohei Naruoka, Hisatoyo Arima, Satoaki Ichi, Hiroyuki Watanabe, Kozo Arai, Yoshinobu Tanaka
  • Patent number: 9677516
    Abstract: A combustion engine of a motorcycle has an engine rotary shaft extending in a vehicle widthwise direction. Incoming wind taken in from a front of a steering handle that is positioned in front of the combustion engine, is introduced through an air intake duct to the combustion engine. The air intake duct extends from the front of the steering handle to a rearward of a cylinder block so as to pass above a radiator and pass laterally of one side of the cylinder block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shohei Naruoka, Hisatoyo Arima, Satoaki Ichi, Hiroyuki Watanabe, Kozo Arai, Yoshinobu Tanaka
  • Patent number: 9651005
    Abstract: An air intake duct, of a saddle-riding type vehicle, in which a flow velocity of an intake air is less likely to be reduced to enable prevention of reduction of an efficiency of a supercharger, is provided. The air intake duct of a motorcycle serves to supply incoming wind as the intake air to the supercharger for a combustion engine. The air intake duct has a passage area that is gradually reduced from an air intake port at a front portion toward a downstream portion connected to the supercharger at a rear portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shohei Naruoka, Hisatoyo Arima, Satoaki Ichi, Hiroyuki Watanabe, Kozo Arai, Yoshinobu Tanaka
  • Patent number: 9638149
    Abstract: An air intake duct of a motorcycle forms an air intake passage for supplying an intake air to a supercharger. The air intake duct forms a curve portion and is connected to the supercharger. The air intake passage has a transverse cross-section which is shaped such that a dimension in an orthogonal direction that is orthogonal to a radial direction of the curve portion is gradually reduced from the center of the curve portion toward an outer side, in the radial direction, of the curve portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shohei Naruoka, Hisatoyo Arima, Satoaki Ichi, Hiroyuki Watanabe, Kozo Arai, Yoshinobu Tanaka