Patents by Inventor Shigeru Tokumoto

Shigeru Tokumoto 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: 7367315
    Abstract: The invention provides a throttle valve control apparatus provided with a throttle sensor which is in trouble at a low possibility and has a long service life, whereby an accurate output of a throttle opening degree can be obtained. The throttle valve control apparatus of an internal combustion engine has a throttle opening degree sensor constituted by an non-contact sensor using hole elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Assignees: Hitachi, Ltd., Hitachi Car Engineering Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Eisuke Wayama, Toshifumi Usui, Yoshikatsu Hashimoto, Shigeru Tokumoto, Yasuo Saito
  • Patent number: 7231903
    Abstract: A returning spring of the electronic control throttle and a default spring for securing an initial opening degree (default opening degree) of the throttle valve have diameters different from each other, and both of the springs are held around a shaft of the throttle valve shaft and arranged between a gear attached to the throttle valve shaft and a wall portion of the throttle body. A shaft supporting gap of the throttle valve shaft is filled with an air leak preventing material, and a minimum opening degree for control of the throttle valve is set to a value larger than an amount of overshoot of the throttle valve occurring when opening degree of the throttle valve is changed from a maximum opening degree on control purpose of the throttle valve to the minimum opening degree.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2007
    Assignees: Hitachi, Ltd., Hitachi Car Engineering Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Eisuke Wayama, Toshifumi Usui, Shigeru Tokumoto, Yasuo Saito
  • Publication number: 20070012288
    Abstract: The invention provides a throttle valve control apparatus provided with a throttle sensor which is in trouble at a low possibility and has a long service life, whereby an accurate output of a throttle opening degree can be obtained. The throttle valve control apparatus of an internal combustion engine ahs a throttle opening degree sensor constituted by a non-contact sensor using hole elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2006
    Publication date: January 18, 2007
    Applicants: HITACHI LTD., HITACHI CAR ENGINEERING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Eisuke Wayama, Toshifumi Usui, Yoshikatsu Hashimoto, Shigeru Tokumoto, Yasuo Saito
  • Patent number: 7152581
    Abstract: The invention provides a throttle valve control apparatus provided with a throttle sensor which is in trouble at a low possibility and has a long service life, whereby an accurate output of a throttle opening degree can be obtained. The throttle valve control apparatus of an internal combustion engine has a throttle opening degree sensor constituted by an non-contact sensor using hole elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignees: Hitachi, Ltd., Hitachi Car Engineering Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Eisuke Wayama, Toshifumi Usui, Yoshikatsu Hashimoto, Shigeru Tokumoto, Yasuo Saito
  • Publication number: 20060272615
    Abstract: The invention provides a throttle valve control apparatus provided with a throttle sensor which is in trouble at a low possibility and has a long service life, whereby an accurate output of a throttle opening degree can be obtained. The throttle valve control apparatus of an internal combustion engine has a throttle opening degree sensor constituted by an non-contact sensor using hole elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2006
    Publication date: December 7, 2006
    Applicants: Hitachi, Ltd., Hitachi Car Engineering Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Eisuke Wayama, Toshifumi Usui, Yoshikatsu Hashimoto, Shigeru Tokumoto, Yasuo Saito
  • Patent number: 7093581
    Abstract: The invention provides a throttle valve control apparatus provided with a throttle sensor which is in trouble at a low possibility and has a long service life, whereby an accurate output of a throttle opening degree can be obtained. The throttle valve control apparatus of an internal combustion engine has a throttle opening degree sensor constituted by a non-contact sensor using hall elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignees: Hitachi, Ltd., Hitachi Car Engineering Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Eisuke Wayama, Toshifumi Usui, Yoshikatsu Hashimoto, Shigeru Tokumoto, Yasuo Saito
  • Patent number: 7055498
    Abstract: In a throttle body there are provided a throttle valve for controlling the flow of intake air in an internal combustion engine, an electrically-driven actuator for actuating the throttle valve, and a reduction gear mechanism for the actuator, and a receptacle portion for receiving the reduction gear mechanism therein is formed in a side wall of the throttle body. A cover which covers the receptacle portion is attached to a side wall of the throttle body. The throttle assembly of the invention is provided with a potentiometer type sensor for detecting the degree of opening of the throttle valve, the sensor comprising a slider and a resistor, the slider being adapted to slide on the resistor and mounted to a peripheral surface of a driven gear so that a tip end thereof faces in a radial direction of a throttle valve shaft, the driven gear being disposed on the throttle valve shaft side of the reduction gear mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignees: Hitachi, Ltd., Hitachi Car Engineering Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshikatsu Hashimoto, Toshifumi Usui, Shigeru Tokumoto, Yasuo Saito, Eisuki Wayama
  • Publication number: 20050178359
    Abstract: A returning spring 7 of the electronic control throttle and a default spring 8 for securing an initial opening degree (default opening degree) of the throttle valve 3 have diameters different from each other, and both of the springs 7, 8 are held around a shaft of the throttle valve shaft 3 and arranged between a gear 43 attached to the throttle valve shaft 3 and a wall portion of the throttle body 100. A shaft supporting gap of the throttle valve shaft 3 is filled with an air leak preventing material, and a minimum opening degree on control purpose of the throttle valve is set to a value larger than an amount of overshoot of the throttle valve occurring when opening degree of the throttle valve is changed from a maximum opening degree on control purpose of the throttle valve to the minimum opening degree.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2005
    Publication date: August 18, 2005
    Inventors: Eisuke Wayama, Toshifumi Usui, Shigeru Tokumoto, Yasuo Saito
  • Publication number: 20040154589
    Abstract: The invention provides a throttle valve control apparatus provided with a throttle sensor which is in trouble at a low possibility and has a long service life, whereby an accurate output of a throttle opening degree can be obtained. The throttle valve control apparatus of an internal combustion engine has a throttle opening degree sensor constituted by an non-contact sensor using hole elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2004
    Publication date: August 12, 2004
    Applicants: Hitachi, Ltd., Hitachi Car Engineering Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Eisuke Wayama, Toshifumi Usui, Yoshikatsu Hashimoto, Shigeru Tokumoto, Yasuo Saito
  • Publication number: 20040149262
    Abstract: The invention provides a throttle valve control apparatus provided with a throttle sensor which is in trouble at a low possibility and has a long service life, whereby an accurate output of a throttle opening degree can be obtained. The throttle valve control apparatus of an internal combustion engine has a throttle opening degree sensor constituted by an non-contact sensor using hole elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2003
    Publication date: August 5, 2004
    Applicants: HITACHI LTD., HITACHI CAR ENGINEERING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Eisuke Wayama, Toshifumi Usui, Yoshikatsu Hashimoto, Shigeru Tokumoto, Yasuo Saito
  • Publication number: 20040123838
    Abstract: In a throttle body there are provided a throttle valve for controlling the flow of intake air in an internal combustion engine, an electrically-driven actuator for actuating the throttle valve, and a reduction gear mechanism for the actuator, and a receptacle portion for receiving the reduction gear mechanism therein is formed in a side wall of the throttle body. A cover which covers the receptacle portion is attached to a side wall of the throttle body. The throttle assembly of the invention is provided with a potentiometer type sensor for detecting the degree of opening of the throttle valve, the sensor comprising a slider and a resistor, the slider being adapted to slide on the resistor and mounted to a peripheral surface of a driven gear so that a tip end thereof faces in a radial direction of a throttle valve shaft, the driven gear being disposed on the throttle valve shaft side of the reduction gear mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2003
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Applicants: HITACHI LTD., HITACHI CAR ENGINEERING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshikatsu Hashimoto, Toshifumi Usui, Shigeru Tokumoto, Yasuo Saito, Eisuke Wayama
  • Publication number: 20040060542
    Abstract: A returning spring 7 of the electronic control throttle and a default spring 8 for securing an initial opening degree (default opening degree) of the throttle valve 3 have diameters different from each other, and both of the springs 7, 8 are held around a shaft of the throttle valve shaft 3 and arranged between a gear 43 attached to the throttle valve shaft 3 and a wall portion of the throttle body 100. A shaft supporting gap of the throttle valve shaft 3 is filled with an air leak preventing material, and a minimum opening degree on control purpose of the throttle valve is set to a value larger than an amount of overshoot of the throttle valve occurring when opening degree of the throttle valve is changed from a maximum opening degree on control purpose of the throttle valve to the minimum opening degree.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2003
    Publication date: April 1, 2004
    Applicants: Hitachi, Ltd., Hitachi Car Engineering Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Eisuke Wayama, Toshifumi Usui, Shigeru Tokumoto, Yasuo Saito
  • Patent number: 6701892
    Abstract: The invention provides a throttle valve control apparatus provided with a throttle sensor which is in trouble at a low possibility and has a long service life, whereby an accurate output of a throttle opening degree can be obtained. The throttle valve control apparatus of an internal combustion engine has a throttle opening degree sensor constituted by an non-contact sensor using hole elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignees: Hitachi, Ltd., Hitachi Car Engineering Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Eisuke Wayama, Toshifumi Usui, Yoshikatsu Hashimoto, Shigeru Tokumoto, Yasuo Saito
  • Patent number: 6694947
    Abstract: A returning spring of the electronic control throttle and a default spring for securing an initial opening degree (default opening degree) of the throttle valve have diameters different from each other, and both of the springs are held around a shaft of the throttle valve shaft and arranged between a gear attached to the throttle valve shaft and a wall portion of the throttle body. A shaft supporting gap of the throttle valve shaft is filled with an air leak preventing material, and a minimum opening degree of the throttle valve is set to a value larger than an amount of overshoot of the throttle valve occurring when the opening degree of the throttle valve is changed from a maximum opening degree to the minimum opening degree.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignees: Hitachi, Ltd., Hitachi Car Engineering Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Eisuke Wayama, Toshifumi Usui, Shigeru Tokumoto, Yasuo Saito
  • Patent number: 6691678
    Abstract: In a throttle body there are provided a throttle valve for controlling the flow of intake air in an internal combustion engine, and an electrically-driven actuator for actuating the throttle valve. A cover, which covers a receptacle portion, is attached to a side wall of the throttle body. The throttle assembly of the invention is provided with a potentiometer type sensor for detecting the degree of opening of the throttle valve, the sensor comprising a slider and a resistor, the slider being adapted to slide on the resistor and mounted to a peripheral surface of a driven gear so that a tip end thereof faces in a radial direction of a throttle valve shaft. The resistor is constituted by a curved resistor which confronts the slider in the said radial direction. A wall portion which holds the curved resistor is formed by molding integrally with the aforesaid cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignees: Hitachi, Ltd., Hitachi Car Engineering Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshikatsu Hashimoto, Toshifumi Usui, Shigeru Tokumoto, Yasuo Saito, Eisuke Wayama
  • Patent number: 6691681
    Abstract: A throttle device is provided for driving to open and close a throttle valve which controls an intake air flow rate of an internal combustion engine via an electric actuator. A motor casing receives a motor forming the electric actuator, and a gear casing receives gear mechanism transmitting a driving force of the motor to a valve shaft. Both casings are integrally formed within a throttle body. A motor insertion opening of the motor casing is opened to the gear casings. The motor is mounted by securing a motor bracket by tightening threaded fasteners into a plurality of threaded holes formed on the peripheral edges of the motor insertion opening. The motor bracket has a curved edge between one thread fastening position to another thread fastening position, and the gear casing is provided a curved portion adapting to said curved edge of the motor bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignees: Hitachi, Ltd., Hitachi Car Engineering Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Eisuke Wayama, Toshifumi Usui, Shigeru Tokumoto, Yasuo Saito
  • Patent number: 6684850
    Abstract: An electrically-controlled throttle valve apparatus includes a motor, a speed reducing mechanism for reducing rotation speed transmitted from the motor, a throttle valve connected to the speed reducing mechanism, and a force applying device applying force to the throttle valve in the direction of returning the valve to its initial position and adjusting the opening of the throttle valve by driving the motor. Parameters of the motor, the speed reducing mechanism, and the force applying device have values such that the operation time t from the minimum to the maximum throttle valve opening, which is determined by an evaluation equation obtained from equations of throttle valve motion, is less than a prescribed target throttle valve operation time t*. Furthermore, resistance and an induction voltage constant of the motor are determined to satisfy a constraint equation obtained based on Ohm's law.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignees: Hitachi, Ltd., Hitachi Car Engineering Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takehiko Kowatari, Yuzo Kadomukai, Shigeru Tokumoto, Yasuo Saito, Toshifumi Usui, Masaru Ito
  • Publication number: 20030178003
    Abstract: A returning spring 7 of the electronic control throttle and a default spring 8 for securing an initial opening degree (default opening degree) of the throttle valve 3 have diameters different from each other, and both of the springs 7, 8 are held around a shaft of the throttle valve shaft 3 and arranged between a gear 43 attached to the throttle valve shaft 3 and a wall portion of the throttle body 100. A shaft supporting gap of the throttle valve shaft 3 is filled with an air leak preventing material, and a minimum opening degree on control purpose of the throttle valve is set to a value larger than an amount of overshoot of the throttle valve occurring when opening degree of the throttle valve is changed from a maximum opening degree on control purpose of the throttle valve to the minimum opening degree.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2003
    Publication date: September 25, 2003
    Applicant: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Eisuke Wayama, Toshifumi Usui, Shigeru Tokumoto, Yasuo Saito
  • Publication number: 20030172905
    Abstract: A returning spring 7 of the electronic control throttle and a default spring 8 for securing an initial opening degree (default opening degree) of the throttle valve 3 have diameters different from each other, and both of the springs 7, 8 are held around a shaft of the throttle valve shaft 3 and arranged between a gear 43 attached to the throttle valve shaft 3 and a wall portion of the throttle body 100. A shaft supporting gap of the throttle valve shaft 3 is filled with an air leak preventing material, and a minimum opening degree on control purpose of the throttle valve is set to a value larger than an amount of overshoot of the throttle valve occurring when opening degree of the throttle valve is changed from a maximum opening degree on control purpose of the throttle valve to the minimum opening degree.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2003
    Publication date: September 18, 2003
    Applicant: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Eisuke Wayama, Toshifumi Usui, Shigeru Tokumoto, Yasuo Saito
  • Publication number: 20030136377
    Abstract: An electrically-controlled throttle valve apparatus includes a motor, a speed reducing mechanism for reducing rotation speed transmitted from the motor, a throttle valve connected to the speed reducing mechanism, and a force applying device applying force to the throttle valve in the direction of returning the valve to its initial position and adjusting the opening of the throttle valve by driving the motor. Parameters of the motor, the speed reducing mechanism, and the force applying device have values such that the operation time t from the minimum to the maximum throttle valve opening, which is determined by an evaluation equation obtained from equations of throttle valve motion, is less than a prescribed target throttle valve operation time t*. Furthermore, resistance and an induction voltage constant of the motor are determined to satisfy a constraint equation obtained based on Ohm's law.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2003
    Publication date: July 24, 2003
    Inventors: Takehiko Kowatari, Yuzo Kadomukai, Shigeru Tokumoto, Yasuo Saito, Toshifumi Usui, Masaru Ito