Patents by Inventor Shohei Kono

Shohei Kono 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: 12228058
    Abstract: A V-type engine, an outboard motor, and a ship capable of restricting exposure of a catalyst to water. The engine includes cylinders where pistons operate are arranged in a V-shape, a crankshaft driven by driving of the pistons is disposed vertically, and exhaust pipes communicating with exhaust openings in the respective banks of a cylinder head and a catalyst holder that holds a catalyst in a merge portion where the exhaust pipes are merged in a site located on an upper side of the banks are included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2025
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shohei Kono, Hirosuke Niwa, Hayate Araki
  • Patent number: 12158091
    Abstract: A V-type engine in which exhaust pipe arrangement is easily performed and purification of exhaust gas can be performed by a single catalyst. Cylinders where pistons operate are arranged in a V-shape, a crankshaft driven by the driving of the pistons is disposed vertically, exhaust pipes communicating with exhaust openings in the respective banks of a cylinder head are included, rear exhaust pipes in the respective banks are merged outside on a side of the crankshaft, and a catalyst holder that holds a catalyst is provided in a merge portion of the rear exhaust pipes. Since the rear exhaust pipes in the respective banks are merged and the catalyst holder is provided in this merge portion, exhaust gas from each bank can be purified by the single catalyst, so that the number of catalysts installed is reduced to thus be able to reduce manufacturing cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2024
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shohei Kono, Hirosuke Niwa, Hayate Araki
  • Publication number: 20240295186
    Abstract: A V-type engine in which exhaust pipe arrangement is easily performed even in a V-type engine and that can be downsized even when a catalyst is installed. The engine has cylinders where pistons operate are arranged in a V-shape, a crankshaft driven by the driving of the pistons is disposed vertically, exhaust pipes communicating with exhaust openings in the respective banks of a cylinder head are included, merging exhaust pipes (exhaust pipes) in the respective banks are drawn toward a side of the cylinder head to be merged, and a catalyst holder that holds a catalyst is provided in a merge portion of the merging exhaust pipes. In this manner, since the merging exhaust pipes in the respective banks are merged and the catalyst holder is provided in this merge portion, exhaust gas from each bank can be purified by the catalyst.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2021
    Publication date: September 5, 2024
    Inventors: Shohei Kono, Hirosuke Niwa, Hayate Araki
  • Publication number: 20240191648
    Abstract: A V-type engine in which exhaust pipe arrangement is easily performed and purification of exhaust gas can be performed by a single catalyst. Cylinders where pistons operate are arranged in a V-shape, a crankshaft driven by the driving of the pistons is disposed vertically, exhaust pipes communicating with exhaust openings in the respective banks of a cylinder head are included, rear exhaust pipes in the respective banks are merged outside on a side of the crankshaft, and a catalyst holder that holds a catalyst is provided in a merge portion of the rear exhaust pipes. Since the rear exhaust pipes in the respective banks are merged and the catalyst holder is provided in this merge portion, exhaust gas from each bank can be purified by the single catalyst, so that the number of catalysts installed is reduced to thus be able to reduce manufacturing cost.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2021
    Publication date: June 13, 2024
    Inventors: Shohei Kono, Hirosuke Niwa, Hayate Araki
  • Publication number: 20240183295
    Abstract: A V-type engine, an outboard motor, and a ship capable of restricting exposure of a catalyst to water. Cylinders where pistons operate are arranged in a V-shape, a crankshaft driven by driving of the pistons is disposed vertically, and exhaust pipes communicating with exhaust openings in the respective banks of a cylinder head and a catalyst holder that holds a catalyst in a merge portion where the exhaust pipes are merged in a site located on an upper side of the banks are included.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2021
    Publication date: June 6, 2024
    Inventors: Shohei Kono, Hirosuke Niwa, Hayate Araki
  • Publication number: 20240159183
    Abstract: An outboard motor in which an exhaust pipe arrangement is easily performed and the center of gravity can be lowered. Cylinders where pistons operate are arranged in a V-shape and a crankshaft driven by driving of the pistons is disposed vertically, and upper exhaust pipes (exhaust pipes) communicating with exhaust openings in the respective banks of a cylinder head and a catalyst holder that is provided in a position, which corresponds to a lower side of the cylinder, of the upper exhaust pipe and that holds a catalyst are included. In this manner, arrangement of the upper exhaust pipe and a lower exhaust pipe is easily performed while the catalytic effect is maintained and the center of gravity can be lowered, and also, the size and weight of the V-type engine can be reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2021
    Publication date: May 16, 2024
    Inventors: Shohei Kono, Hirosuke Niwa, Hayate Araki
  • Publication number: 20240151172
    Abstract: A V-type engine, an outboard motor, and a ship capable of restricting exposure of a catalyst to water. The engine includes cylinders where pistons operate are arranged in a V-shape, a crankshaft driven by driving of the pistons is disposed vertically, and exhaust pipes communicating with exhaust openings in the respective banks of a cylinder head and a catalyst holder that holds a catalyst in a merge portion where the exhaust pipes are merged in a site located on an upper side of the banks are included.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2021
    Publication date: May 9, 2024
    Inventors: Shohei Kono, Hirosuke Niwa, Hayate Araki
  • Patent number: 11555426
    Abstract: In an internal combustion engine, an oil return passage extending from a breather chamber can be formed without increasing the number of component parts and without increasing the size of the internal combustion engine. The internal combustion engine (1) comprises an engine block (30) defining a cylinder (2); a case member (19) fastened to a lower part of the engine block to define a crank chamber jointly with the engine block; a bearing member (50) fastened to the engine block in the crank chamber to rotatably support a crankshaft; a breather chamber (113) defined in the engine block; an inlet passage (112) formed in the engine block to communicate the crank chamber with the breather chamber; a connection pipe (114) communicating the breather chamber with an intake device; and an oil return passage (150) formed at least in the bearing member, and extending from a bottom part of the breather chamber to an oil return port (147) opening at an outer surface of the bearing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Shohei Kono
  • Publication number: 20220252000
    Abstract: An engine includes: a crankshaft disposed vertically; a piston that is connected to the crankshaft via a connecting rod and reciprocates in a cylinder; a cylinder head forming a combustion chamber of the cylinder at an end face of a movable portion of the piston; an intake valve and an exhaust valve disposed at the cylinder head, the intake valve being configured to take in fuel-air mixture, which is a mixture of fuel and air, the exhaust valve being configured to exhaust the fuel-air mixture; a low-rotation rocker arm (rocker arm) that drives the intake valve and the exhaust valve by rotation of a cam shaft; and a rocker shaft that supports the low-rotation rocker arm such that the low-rotation rocker arm is swingable, and an oil holding portion extending in an axial direction of the rocker shaft is provided between the rocker shaft and the low-rotation rocker arm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2021
    Publication date: August 11, 2022
    Inventors: Shohei Kono, Koji Nakagawa, Koji Kasai, Takaaki Kato, Masami Okubo, Gendai Matsuoka, Hideta Muramatsu
  • Publication number: 20210363901
    Abstract: In an internal combustion engine, an oil return passage extending from a breather chamber can be formed without increasing the number of component parts and without increasing the size of the internal combustion engine. The internal combustion engine (1) comprises an engine block (30) defining a cylinder (2); a case member (19) fastened to a lower part of the engine block to define a crank chamber jointly with the engine block; a bearing member (50) fastened to the engine block in the crank chamber to rotatably support a crankshaft; a breather chamber (113) defined in the engine block; an inlet passage (112) formed in the engine block to communicate the crank chamber with the breather chamber; a connection pipe (114) communicating the breather chamber with an intake device; and an oil return passage (150) formed at least in the bearing member, and extending from a bottom part of the breather chamber to an oil return port (147) opening at an outer surface of the bearing member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2017
    Publication date: November 25, 2021
    Inventor: Shohei KONO
  • Patent number: 11143139
    Abstract: Provided is an engine device that can enlarge a space inside a case without lowering support stiffness. An engine (2) is attached to a case (11) via support parts (81, 82). A rear lower portion support part (82), which is one of the support parts, includes an attachment rib (11b) as a mounting part provided in the case (11) and an attachment bracket (91) fastened to a bottom of a crankcase (46) by a fastening bolt (90) and attached to the attachment rib (11b). The fastening bolt (90) penetrates through a through hole (92a) provided in the attachment bracket (91) and is screwed into a screw hole (46e) formed obliquely inward at a corner of the bottom of the crankcase (46).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shohei Kono, Masashi Kai
  • Patent number: 11041417
    Abstract: In an internal combustion engine, a breather chamber can be formed without increasing the number of component parts. The internal combustion engine (1) comprises an engine block (30) defining a cylinder (2); a case member (19) fastened to a lower part of the engine block to define a crank chamber (4) jointly with the engine block; and a bearing member (50) fastened to the engine block in the crank chamber to rotatably support a crankshaft; wherein the engine block is provided with a central recess (134) formed in a part thereof to which the bearing member is fastened, a blow-by gas inlet passage (112, 116, 121) communicating the central recess with the crank chamber, and a blow-by gas return passage (122, 118) forming a part of a passage communicating the central recess with an intake device, the central recess and the bearing member jointly defining a central breather chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Shohei Kono
  • Publication number: 20200318507
    Abstract: In an internal combustion engine, a breather chamber can be formed without increasing the number of component parts. The internal combustion engine (1) comprises an engine block (30) defining a cylinder (2); a case member (19) fastened to a lower part of the engine block to define a crank chamber (4) jointly with the engine block; and a bearing member (50) fastened to the engine block in the crank chamber to rotatably support a crankshaft; wherein the engine block is provided with a central recess (134) formed in a part thereof to which the bearing member is fastened, a blow-by gas inlet passage (112, 116, 121) communicating the central recess with the crank chamber, and a blow-by gas return passage (122, 118) forming a part of a passage communicating the central recess with an intake device, the central recess and the bearing member jointly defining a central breather chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2017
    Publication date: October 8, 2020
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Shohei KONO
  • Publication number: 20200309062
    Abstract: Provided is an engine device that can enlarge a space inside a case without lowering support stiffness. An engine (2) is attached to a case (11) via support parts (81, 82). A rear lower portion support part (82), which is one of the support parts, includes an attachment rib (11b) as a mounting part provided in the case (11) and an attachment bracket (91) fastened to a bottom of a crankcase (46) by a fastening bolt (90) and attached to the attachment rib (11b). The fastening bolt (90) penetrates through a through hole (92a) provided in the attachment bracket (91) and is screwed into a screw hole (46e) formed obliquely inward at a corner of the bottom of the crankcase (46).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2017
    Publication date: October 1, 2020
    Inventors: Shohei KONO, Masashi KAI
  • Patent number: 10227902
    Abstract: The overhead camshaft engine (10) includes a cylinder block (11), a crankcase (12) attached to a lower part of the cylinder block to define a crankcase chamber (32), a bearing retaining member (60) attached to a part of the cylinder block, a crankshaft (20) rotatably supported by a pair of bearings (21, 22) supported by the cylinder block and the bearing retaining member, respectively, and a crankshaft pulley (53) attached to a part of the end of the crankshaft projecting outward from the bearing supported by the bearing retaining member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shohei Kono
  • Patent number: 10030547
    Abstract: In an overhead cam engine (10) having a first bearing (21) supported by the cylinder block (11), and a second bearing (22) supported by a bearing retaining member (60) attached to the cylinder block inside a crankcase chamber (12) for rotatably supporting a crankshaft (20), the crankshaft is provided with a reduced diameter portion (24b) having a smaller outer diameter than an adjoining part of the crankshaft on a side of the second bearing facing away from a cylinder (15) defined in the cylinder block, and a crankshaft pulley (53) is mounted on the reduced diameter portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shohei Kono
  • Publication number: 20170260881
    Abstract: In an overhead cam engine (10) having a first bearing (21) supported by the cylinder block (11), and a second bearing (22) supported by a bearing retaining member (60) attached to the cylinder block inside a crankcase chamber (12) for rotatably supporting a crankshaft (20), the crankshaft is provided with a reduced diameter portion (24b) having a smaller outer diameter than an adjoining part of the crankshaft on a side of the second bearing facing away from a cylinder (15) defined in the cylinder block, and a crankshaft pulley (53) is mounted on the reduced diameter portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2016
    Publication date: September 14, 2017
    Inventor: Shohei Kono
  • Publication number: 20170260880
    Abstract: The overhead camshaft engine (10) includes a cylinder block (11), a crankcase (12) attached to a lower part of the cylinder block to define a crankcase chamber (32), a bearing retaining member (60) attached to a part of the cylinder block, a crankshaft (20) rotatably supported by a pair of bearings (21, 22) supported by the cylinder block and the bearing retaining member, respectively, and a crankshaft pulley (53) attached to a part of the end of the crankshaft projecting outward from the bearing supported by the bearing retaining member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2016
    Publication date: September 14, 2017
    Inventor: Shohei Kono
  • Patent number: 8950547
    Abstract: An engine muffler includes a cylindrical muffler body whose interior is partitioned by at least one partition plate in a longitudinal direction of the muffler body into a plurality of expansion chambers. The muffler body is constructed of a plurality of divided muffler body members divided from each other in the longitudinal direction at the position of the partition plate, and a gap is provided between opposed end portions of the divided muffler body members. The partition plate has an annular section held in fitting engagement with the inner peripheral surface of at least one of the opposed end portions, and it is positioned in such a manner as to close the gap. The opposed end portions are welded, from a radially outward direction, to the outer peripheral surface of the annular section along their respective entire perimeters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroko Murakami, Hiroshi Mizuguchi, Shohei Kono, Yoshinobu Kondo
  • Publication number: 20140284138
    Abstract: An engine muffler includes a cylindrical muffler body whose interior is partitioned by at least one partition plate in a longitudinal direction of the muffler body into a plurality of expansion chambers. The muffler body is constructed of a plurality of divided muffler body members divided from each other in the longitudinal direction at the position of the partition plate, and a gap is provided between opposed end portions of the divided muffler body members. The partition plate has an annular section held in fitting engagement with the inner peripheral surface of at least one of the opposed end portions, and it is positioned in such a manner as to close the gap. The opposed end portions are welded, from a radially outward direction, to the outer peripheral surface of the annular section along their respective entire perimeters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2014
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroko Murakami, Hiroshi Mizuguchi, Shohei Kono, Yoshinobu Kondo