Patents by Inventor Soichiro Sumida

Soichiro Sumida 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: 10612653
    Abstract: A rear surface of a metal element (23) includes first contact portions (C1) formed on both right and left end sides of an ear portion (26), a second contact portion (C2) formed in a neck portion (25), and a third contact portion (C3) formed in a central portion in a transverse direction in the vicinity of a locking edge (29) of a body portion (24). The first contact portions (C1), the second contact portion (C2), and the third contact portion (C3) can come into contact with a front surface of another adjacent metal element (23) on a rear side. A plate thickness of the metal element (23) in the second contact portion (C2) is smaller than the plate thickness of the metal element (23) in the first contact portions (C1) and is greater than the plate thickness of the metal element (23) in the third contact portion (C3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toru Yagasaki, Soichiro Sumida
  • Patent number: 10591021
    Abstract: First and second inclined faces of an inclined face extending radially inward and rearward from a rocking edge formed so as to coincide with a front edge of a saddle face of a body part of a metal element are molded by press forming a metal element material using a mold. An inclined face-corresponding part of the metal element material, which corresponds to the inclined face of the metal element, includes a first inclined face-corresponding portion inclined rearward at a first inclination angle from a rocking edge-corresponding part, and a second inclined face-corresponding portion inclined rearward at a second inclination angle, which is larger than the first inclination angle, from a radially inner end of the first inclined face-corresponding portion. The mold includes a first inclined face-molding portion inclined rearward at the first inclination angle from a rocking edge-molding portion abutting against the rocking edge-corresponding part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Soichiro Sumida, Toru Yagasaki
  • Patent number: 10094446
    Abstract: In a metal belt for a continuously variable transmission having a saddle face of a metal element and a rocking edge positioned at substantially the same position in the radial direction, a rocking edge is provided at a radially outer end of a front face of a body part, the rocking edge being a fulcrum for pitching of the metal element of the metal belt which is wound around a drive pulley and a driven pulley and transmits a driving force between the two pulleys, and a recess is provided extending from a front face of a neck part to a front face of the body part. Thus, it is possible to minimize a space created between the front and rear metal elements and reduce the bending stress applied to the metal elements, thereby minimizing degradation of the power transmission efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toru Yagasaki, Soichiro Sumida
  • Publication number: 20180141101
    Abstract: An inclined surface corresponding portion (30?) of a metal element raw material (23?) and inclined surface forming portions (47b, 47c) of dies (47, 49) are parallel to each other and are in contact with each other without gap. Therefore, a press load required while forming a metal element (23) is suppressed to a minimum and durability of the dies (47, 49) is enhanced. In addition, recess portions (24a, 26a) are formed on both rear surfaces of an ear portion (26) and a body portion (24) of the metal element (23) through pressing by using the dies (47, 49). Therefore, the sizes of both the recess portions (24a, 26a) are adjusted to change radially inward/outward distributions of the press loads on the dies (47, 49), so that it is possible to prevent the dies from tilting and to reduce a difference in radially inward/outward plate thickness of the metal element (23).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2017
    Publication date: May 24, 2018
    Applicant: Honda Motor Co.,Ltd.
    Inventors: Soichiro SUMIDA, Toru YAGASAKI
  • Publication number: 20180128370
    Abstract: A rear surface of a metal element (23) includes first contact portions (C1) formed on both right and left end sides of an ear portion (26), a second contact portion (C2) formed in a neck portion (25), and a third contact portion (C3) formed in a central portion in a transverse direction in the vicinity of a locking edge (29) of a body portion (24). The first contact portions (C1), the second contact portion (C2), and the third contact portion (C3) can come into contact with a front surface of another adjacent metal element (23) on a rear side. A plate thickness of the metal element (23) in the second contact portion (C2) is smaller than the plate thickness of the metal element (23) in the first contact portions (C1) and is greater than the plate thickness of the metal element (23) in the third contact portion (C3).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2017
    Publication date: May 10, 2018
    Applicant: Honda Motor Co.,Ltd.
    Inventors: Toru YAGASAKI, Soichiro SUMIDA
  • Publication number: 20180003298
    Abstract: The present invention addresses problems of decrease in coefficient of friction and transmission efficiency, and increase in wear of a pulley and a metal element caused by a stopper regulating a moving end of a movable side pulley half of a belt type continuously variable transmission. In a belt type continuously variable transmission in which a metal belt is wound around a drive pulley and a driven pulley, in LOW change gear ratio, a movable side pulley half of the drive pulley is not confined in axial direction, and the movable side pulley half of the driven pulley abuts the closing stopper to regulate movement in closing direction, and in OD change gear ratio, the movable side pulley half of the drive pulley is not confined in the axial direction, and the movable side pulley half of the driven pulley abuts an opening stopper to regulate movement in opening direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2017
    Publication date: January 4, 2018
    Applicant: Honda Motor Co.,Ltd.
    Inventors: Toru YAGASAKI, Soichiro SUMIDA, Ryohta AOKI, Shigeru KANEHARA
  • Patent number: 9772005
    Abstract: A continuously variable transmission metal element includes a first ring slot, a second ring slot, a neck portion, an ear portion, and a body portion. The body portion includes an inclined surface. A plate thickness of the continuously variable transmission metal element in a longitudinal direction at an inner end of the inclined surface in a radial direction is larger than a distance between a first metal mold molding surface of a first metal mold and a second metal mold molding surface of a second metal mold in the longitudinal direction at a position corresponding to the inner end of the inclined surface. The first metal mold and the second metal mold constitute a metal mold to press a roughly formed metal element material between the first metal mold molding surface and the second metal mold molding surface so as to provide the continuously variable transmission metal element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toru Yagasaki, Soichiro Sumida
  • Patent number: 9714690
    Abstract: A metal belt for a continuously variable transmission includes a metal element wound around a drive pulley and a driven pulley and transmits a driving force between the two pulleys, in which a rocking edge is provided at the radially outer end of a front face of a body part. The rocking edge being a fulcrum for pitching of the metal element, and a recess is formed in a rear face of a neck part, and therefore, when the metal element on the rear side is displaced toward the radially outer side with respect to the metal element on the front side, the rocking edge of the metal element on the rear side enters a ring slot and the recess of the metal element on the front side, and the metal element on the rear side moves so as to be closer to the metal element on the front side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toru Yagasaki, Soichiro Sumida
  • Publication number: 20170159752
    Abstract: First and second inclined faces of an inclined face extending radially inward and rearward from a rocking edge formed so as to coincide with a front edge of a saddle face of a body part of a metal element are molded by press forming a metal element material using a mold. An inclined face-corresponding part of the metal element material, which corresponds to the inclined face of the metal element, includes a first inclined face-corresponding portion inclined rearward at a first inclination angle from a rocking edge-corresponding part, and a second inclined face-corresponding portion inclined rearward at a second inclination angle, which is larger than the first inclination angle, from a radially inner end of the first inclined face-corresponding portion. The mold includes a first inclined face-molding portion inclined rearward at the first inclination angle from a rocking edge-molding portion abutting against the rocking edge-corresponding part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2016
    Publication date: June 8, 2017
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Soichiro Sumida, Toru Yagasaki
  • Patent number: 9556931
    Abstract: An element 40 for a metallic belt in a belt-type continuously variable transmission has a structure in which: a belt radial outer portion 46b of a metallic belt 7 is linearly shaped to come into line contact with a pulley radial inner portion 11a which is a constant-angle inclined generatrix portion of a pulley 5 or 8; a projecting portion 48 located below a locking edge portion 44a and extending inward in the belt radial direction is provided at each of the lower ends of both side edges of the element 40; and when the element 40 and a pulley radial outer portion 11b which is a curved generatrix portion of the pulley 5 or 8 contact each other, the projecting portion 48 bends inward in the axial direction of the pulley 5 or 8.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Soichiro Sumida, Toru Yagasaki
  • Publication number: 20160281819
    Abstract: A continuously variable transmission metal element includes a first ring slot, a second ring slot, a neck portion, an ear portion, and a body portion. The body portion includes an inclined surface. A plate thickness of the continuously variable transmission metal element in a longitudinal direction at an inner end of the inclined surface in a radial direction is larger than a distance between a first metal mold molding surface of a first metal mold and a second metal mold molding surface of a second metal mold in the longitudinal direction at a position corresponding to the inner end of the inclined surface. The first metal mold and the second metal mold constitute a metal mold to press a roughly formed metal element material between the first metal mold molding surface and the second metal mold molding surface so as to provide the continuously variable transmission metal element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2016
    Publication date: September 29, 2016
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toru YAGASAKI, Soichiro SUMIDA
  • Patent number: 9334923
    Abstract: A metal belt is wound around a drive pulley and a driven pulley of a continuously variable transmission. Since intervals between multiple adjuster metal element groups are set so as to avoid that the number of the adjuster metal element groups simultaneously existing on a driving-side chord portion of the metal belt between the drive pulley and the driven pulley is 2 or more, it is possible to prevent large vibration which would occur if two or more adjuster metal element groups would exist on the driving-side chord portion of the metal belt. Furthermore, since the multiple adjuster metal elements are distributionally disposed in the multiple adjuster metal element groups, it is possible to decrease imbalance among the adjuster metal element groups, compared with a case where all the adjuster metal elements are disposed in a single adjuster metal element group. Thereby, the vibration can be reduced more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toru Yagasaki, Soichiro Sumida
  • Publication number: 20160102732
    Abstract: In a metal belt for a continuously variable transmission having a saddle face of a metal element and a rocking edge positioned at substantially the same position in the radial direction, a rocking edge is provided at a radially outer end of a front face of a body part, the rocking edge being a fulcrum for pitching of the metal element of the metal belt which is wound around a drive pulley and a driven pulley and transmits a driving force between the two pulleys, and a recess is provided extending from a front face of a neck part to a front face of the body part. Thus, it is possible to minimize a space created between the front and rear metal elements and reduce the bending stress applied to the metal elements, thereby minimizing degradation of the power transmission efficiency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2014
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toru Yagasaki, Soichiro Sumida
  • Patent number: 9279475
    Abstract: An element for a metallic belt in a continuously variable transmission capable of reducing misalignment while ensuring friction force in a small diameter state is provided. An element 40 for a metallic belt in a belt-type continuously variable transmission has a structure in which a side edge of the element 40 of a metallic belt 7 that contacts a drive pulley 5 and a driven pulley 8 includes: a belt radial outer portion 46b that is located on a radial outer side of the metallic belt 7 and linearly shaped to follow a radial inner portion 11a as a constant-angle inclined generatrix portion; and a belt radial inner portion 46a that is located on a radial inner side of the metallic belt 7 and curved to taper inward in the belt radial direction to gradually increase an inclination angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Soichiro Sumida, Toru Yagasaki
  • Publication number: 20160053852
    Abstract: A metal belt for a continuously variable transmission includes a metal element wound around a drive pulley and a driven pulley and transmits a driving force between the two pulleys, in which a rocking edge is provided at the radially outer end of a front face of a body part. The rocking edge being a fulcrum for pitching of the metal element, and a recess is formed in a rear face of a neck part, and therefore, when the metal element on the rear side is displaced toward the radially outer side with respect to the metal element on the front side, the rocking edge of the metal element on the rear side enters a ring slot and the recess of the metal element on the front side, and the metal element on the rear side moves so as to be closer to the metal element on the front side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2014
    Publication date: February 25, 2016
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toru YAGASAKI, Soichiro SUMIDA
  • Publication number: 20150276016
    Abstract: A metal belt is wound around a drive pulley and a driven pulley of a continuously variable transmission. Since intervals between multiple adjuster metal element groups are set so as to avoid that the number of the adjuster metal element groups simultaneously existing on a driving-side chord portion of the metal belt between the drive pulley and the driven pulley is 2 or more, it is possible to prevent large vibration which would occur if two or more adjuster metal element groups would exist on the driving-side chord portion of the metal belt. Furthermore, since the multiple adjuster metal elements are distributionally disposed in the multiple adjuster metal element groups, it is possible to decrease imbalance among the adjuster metal element groups, compared with a case where all the adjuster metal elements are disposed in a single adjuster metal element group. Thereby, the vibration can be reduced more.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2015
    Publication date: October 1, 2015
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toru Yagasaki, Soichiro Sumida
  • Publication number: 20150105194
    Abstract: An element for a metallic belt in a continuously variable transmission capable of reducing misalignment while ensuring friction force in a small diameter state is provided. An element 40 for a metallic belt in a belt-type continuously variable transmission has a structure in which a side edge of the element 40 of a metallic belt 7 that contacts a drive pulley 5 and a driven pulley 8 includes: a belt radial outer portion 46b that is located on a radial outer side of the metallic belt 7 and linearly shaped to follow a radial inner portion 11a as a constant-angle inclined generatrix portion; and a belt radial inner portion 46a that is located on a radial inner side of the metallic belt 7 and curved to taper inward in the belt radial direction to gradually increase an inclination angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2012
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Soichiro Sumida, Toru Yagasaki
  • Publication number: 20150080157
    Abstract: An element 40 for a metallic belt in a belt-type continuously variable transmission has a structure in which: a belt radial outer portion 46b of a metallic belt 7 is linearly shaped to come into line contact with a pulley radial inner portion 11a which is a constant-angle inclined generatrix portion of a pulley 5 or 8; a projecting portion 48 located below a locking edge portion 44a and extending inward in the belt radial direction is provided at each of the lower ends of both side edges of the element 40; and when the element 40 and a pulley radial outer portion 11b which is a curved generatrix portion of the pulley 5 or 8 contact each other, the projecting portion 48 bends inward in the axial direction of the pulley 5 or 8.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2013
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Inventors: Soichiro Sumida, Toru Yagasaki