Patents by Inventor Satoshi Aiba

Satoshi Aiba 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: 5890984
    Abstract: A differential apparatus (7) comprises: a differential casing (21) rotated by an engine power; a plurality of pinion gears (65, 66) slidably housed in accommodation holes (63, 64) formed in the differential casing: a pair of side gears (35, 37) geared with each other via the pinion gears, two opposing end surfaces thereof being slid relative each other, either directly or via a thrust washer (61); and a block member (47, 91, 97) interposed between two inner circumferential surfaces of the two side gears so as to center the side gears, respectively. In particular, at least one oil sump (77, 79; 95; 101) is formed between the block member and the side gears, to supply lubricant to sliding portions between the block member (47, 91, 97) and the side gears (35, 37) and between two opposing end surfaces of the two side gears, by a centrifugal force generated by the rotating differential casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1999
    Assignee: Tochigi Fuji Sangyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masao Teraoka, Satoshi Aiba, Kenji Hiraishi, Shuhei Ono
  • Patent number: 5868643
    Abstract: A differential apparatus includes a differential casing, a pair of side gears and plural pairs of pinion gears. The pinion gears are accommodated in bores formed in the differential casing, respectively. Each pinion gear has an outer diameter smaller than that of a standard gear to be determined corresponding to predetermined gear specifications. With such a forming of the pinion gears, the tip circular thickness of each pinion gear is increased, so that surface pressure at respective tips of the pinion gears is reduced to improve the seizure resistant capability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1999
    Assignee: Tochigi Fuji Sangyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masao Teraoka, Satoshi Aiba, Kenji Hiraishi
  • Patent number: 5735765
    Abstract: A differential apparatus (7) comprises: a differential casing (21) rotated by an engine power; a plurality of pinion gears (65, 66) slidably housed in accommodation holes (63, 64) formed in the differential casing: a pair of side gears (35, 37) geared with each other via the pinion gears, two opposing end surfaces thereof being slid relative to other either directly or via a thrust washer (61); and a block member (47, 91, 97) interposed between two inner circumferential surfaces of the two side gears so as to center the side gears, respectively. In particular, at least one oil sump (77, 79; 95; 101) is formed between the block member and the side gears, to supply lubricant to sliding portions between the block member (47, 91, 97) and the side gears (35, 37) and between two opposing end surfaces of the two side gears, by a centrifugal force generated by the rotating differential casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Assignee: Tochigi Fuji Sangyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masao Teraoka, Satoshi Aiba, Hiraishi Kenji, Kazumitsu Ugajin, Shuhei Ono
  • Patent number: 5711737
    Abstract: A differential apparatus includes a differential casing, a pair of side gears and plural pairs of pinion gears. The pinion gears are accommodated in bores formed in the differential casing, respectively. On the side wall of the differential casing a plurality of lubrication holes are formed for introducing the lubrication oil into the differential casing. Each lubrication hole is arranged so that a center thereof is positioned in the vicinity of a meshing point of the pinion gears. In operation, due to the screw pumping effect of the pinion gears, plenty of lubrication oil is introduced into meshing portions of the pinion gears.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 27, 1998
    Assignee: Tochigi Fuji Sangyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masao Teraoka, Osamu Ishikawa, Satoshi Aiba, Kenji Hiraishi
  • Patent number: 5674146
    Abstract: A differential gear apparatus includes a differential case 21 having casing members 31,33 fixed by a tightening member 35 and driven by an engine to be rotated, side gears 37,39 on the wheel side, pinion gears 57,59 for linking the gears 37,39 with each other, and receiving bores 53,55 formed of first and second wall surfaces 77,79,83,85 which are respectively formed in the casing members 31,33 for receiving the pinion gears 57,59 slidably and rotatably therein, wherein wall surfaces 77,79 occupy semicircles or more of the receiving bores 53,55, and curvatures of the wall surfaces 83,85 are set to be larger than those of the wall surfaces 77,79 and wherein distances between the wall surfaces 83,85 and the pinion gears 57,59 are set to be longer than distances between the wall surfaces 77,79 and the pinion gears 57,59 in contacting areas of respective wall surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 7, 1997
    Assignee: Tochigi Fuji Sangyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideo Hayakawa, Seiki Numao, Satoshi Aiba, Kenji Hiraishi
  • Patent number: 5458547
    Abstract: A differential apparatus comprises: a differential casing; a first side gear rotatably arranged within the differential casing and connected to the first shaft; a second side gear rotatably arranged within the differential casing in parallel to the first side gear and connected to the second shaft; at least one short pinion gear housed in a bore formed in the differential casing so as to be rotated within the bore and around the first and second side gears together with the differential casing; at least one long pinion gear housed in another bore formed in the differential casing in parallel to and in mesh with the short pinion gear so as to be rotated within the bore and around the first and second side gears together with the differential casing; and a viscous coupling. The first and second side gears are geared to each other through the short and long pinion gears so as to be rotated differentially relative to each other, when the short and long pinion gears are driven by the differential casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 17, 1995
    Assignee: Tochigifujisangyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masao Teraoka, Satoshi Aiba, Kenji Hiraishi, Shuhei Ono