Patents by Inventor Sunao Kitamura

Sunao Kitamura 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: 10982772
    Abstract: An eccentric valve has a drive mechanism, a drive force receiving part, a bearing for supporting a rotary shaft, and a return spring for generating a return spring force. During non-operation of the drive mechanism, the eccentric valve generates a separating-direction urging force to cause the rotary shaft to incline about the bearing serving as a fulcrum and urge the valve element in a direction away from the valve seat, the separating-direction urging force being a force caused by the return spring force. Either the valve element or the valve seat is provided with a sealing member to seal between the valve element and the valve seat during non-operation of the drive mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: AISAN KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Mamoru Yoshioka, Kasumi Mishima, Naruto Ito, Makoto Fukui, Takashige Inagaki, Sunao Kitamura, Hiroshi Misumi
  • Publication number: 20190257430
    Abstract: An eccentric valve has a drive mechanism, a drive force receiving part, a bearing for supporting a rotary shaft, and a return spring for generating a return spring force. During non-operation of the drive mechanism, the eccentric valve generates a separating-direction urging force to cause the rotary shaft to incline about the bearing serving as a fulcrum and urge the valve element in a direction away from the valve seal, the separating-direction urging force being a force caused by the return spring force. Either the valve element or the valve seat is provided with a sealing member to seal between the valve element and the valve seat during non-operation of the drive mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2019
    Publication date: August 22, 2019
    Applicant: AISAN KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Mamoru YOSHIOKA, Kasumi MISHIMA, Naruto ITO, Makoto FUKUI, Takashige INAGAKI, Sunao KITAMURA, Hiroshi MISUMI
  • Patent number: 10337622
    Abstract: An eccentric valve has a drive mechanism, a drive force receiving part, a bearing for supporting a rotary shaft, and a return spring for generating a return spring force. During non-operation of the drive mechanism, the eccentric valve generates a separating-direction urging force to cause the rotary shaft to incline about the bearing serving as a fulcrum and urge the valve element in a direction away from the valve seat, the separating-direction urging force being a force caused by the return spring force. Either the valve element or the valve seat is provided with a sealing member to seal between the valve element and the valve seat during non-operation of the drive mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: AISAN KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Mamoru Yoshioka, Kasumi Mishima, Naruto Ito, Makoto Fukui, Takashige Inagaki, Sunao Kitamura, Hiroshi Misumi
  • Publication number: 20190136981
    Abstract: In an EGR valve including a double eccentric valve, a passage is divided into upstream and downstream passages with the valve seat as the boundary and the valve element is disposed in the upstream passage. The valve element includes a first side part and a second side part that have as a boundary a virtual surface extending from the axis of the rotary shaft parallel to the direction in which the axis of the valve element extends. When the valve element rotates in the valve-opening direction from the fully closed state, the first side part rotates into the downstream passage and the second side part rotates into the upstream passage. A valve closing stopper is provided to be engageable with the first side part. A return spring for rotationally biasing the valve element in the fully closed state in the direction of valve-closing is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2017
    Publication date: May 9, 2019
    Applicant: AISAN KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takashige INAGAKI, Sunao KITAMURA, Shinji KAWAI, Naruto ITO, Mamoru YOSHIOKA
  • Patent number: 10260637
    Abstract: A double eccentric valve includes a first bearing and a second bearing spaced apart from each other along a center axis of a rotary shaft. When a motor is operated and the valve element is at a controlled folly-closed position corresponding to a fully-closed state, the rotary shaft is inclined about the first bearing serving as a fulcrum and is out of contact with the second bearing. When a valve opening degree is a predetermined opening degree corresponding to a valve open state of the valve element, the rotary shaft is restrained by the second bearing. In a small opening range between the valve opening degree at the controlled fully-closed position and the predetermined small opening degree, a variation amount in open area relative to a variation amount in valve opening degree is smaller than that in an opening range larger than the predetermined opening degree.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: AISAN KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroshi Misumi, Sunao Kitamura
  • Publication number: 20190056032
    Abstract: An eccentric valve has a drive mechanism, a drive force receiving part, a bearing for supporting a rotary shaft, and a return spring for generating a return spring force. During non-operation of the drive mechanism, the eccentric valve generates a separating-direction urging force to cause the rotary shaft to incline about the bearing serving as a fulcrum and urge the valve element in a direction away from the valve seat, the separating-direction urging force being a force caused by the return spring force. Either the valve element or the valve seat is provided with a sealing member to seal between the valve element and the valve seat during non-operation of the drive mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2016
    Publication date: February 21, 2019
    Applicant: AISAN KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Mamoru YOSHIOKA, Kasumi MISHIMA, Naruto ITO, Makoto FUKUI, Takashige INAGAKI, Sunao KITAMURA, Hiroshi MISUMI
  • Publication number: 20180224000
    Abstract: A double eccentric valve includes a first bearing and a second bearing spaced apart from each other along a center axis of a rotary shaft. When a motor is operated and the valve element is at a controlled folly-closed position corresponding to a fully-closed state, the rotary shaft is inclined about the first bearing serving as a fulcrum and is out of contact with the second bearing. When a valve opening degree is a predetermined opening degree corresponding to a valve open state of the valve element, the rotary shaft is restrained by the second bearing. In a small opening range between the valve opening degree at the controlled fully-closed position and the predetermined small opening degree, a variation amount in open area relative to a variation amount in valve opening degree is smaller than that in an opening range larger than the predetermined opening degree.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2018
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Applicant: AISAN KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroshi MISUMI, Sunao KITAMURA
  • Patent number: 10024438
    Abstract: A double eccentric valve includes: a drive mechanism which produces drive force for rotating a rotary shaft in a direction to open the valve; a drive force receiving unit provided integrally with the rotary shaft to receive the drive force; a bearing located between a valve element and the drive force receiving unit along the center axis of the rotary shaft to support the rotary shaft; and a return spring which produces return spring force for rotating the rotary shaft in a valve closing direction. The double eccentric valve is configured to generate a separating-direction biasing force which inclines the rotary shaft with the bearing at a fulcrum to bias the valve assembly away from a valve seat, the force being caused by the return spring force when the drive mechanism is not operated and acting in a direction perpendicular to the center axis of the bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: AISAN KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroshi Misumi, Sunao Kitamura
  • Patent number: 9995398
    Abstract: A double eccentric valve includes a valve seat having a seat surface, a valve element having an annular sealing surface, and a rotary shaft having an axis parallel to a radial direction of the valve element and offset from the center of a valve hole in a radial direction thereof. The sealing surface is positioned eccentrically from the axis toward an extending direction of an axis of the valve element. The valve element rotates about the axis of the rotary shaft between a fully-closed position in which the sealing surface is in surface contact with the seat surface and a fully-open position in which the sealing surface is furthest away from the seat surface. Simultaneously with start of rotation of the valve element from the fully-closed position, the sealing surface starts to separate from the seat surface and also move along rotation path about the axis of the rotary shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: AISAN KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroshi Misumi, Sunao Kitamura
  • Patent number: 9951876
    Abstract: A double eccentric valve includes a valve seat having a seat surface, a valve element having a sealing surface, a passage in which the valve seat and the valve element are arranged, and a rotary shaft which rotates the valve element attached to an attaching part of the rotary shaft. With respect to the valve element and the valve hole, a main axis of the rotary shaft is doubly eccentric in a passage direction and a direction perpendicular to the passage. By rotation about the main axis, the valve element moves between a fully closed position where the sealing surface contacts the seat surface and a fully open position where the sealing surface is furthest away from the seat surface. A second axis of the attaching part extends parallel to the main axis and eccentrically in a radial direction of the rotary shaft from the main axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: AISAN KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroshi Asanuma, Sunao Kitamura, Hiroshi Misumi
  • Publication number: 20170152953
    Abstract: A double eccentric valve includes: a drive mechanism which produces drive force for rotating a rotation shaft in a direction to open the valve; a drive force receiving unit provided integrally with the rotation shaft to receive the drive force; a bearing located between a valve element and the drive force receiving unit along the center axis of the rotation shaft to support the rotation shaft; and a return spring which produces return spring force for rotating the rotation shaft in a valve closing direction. The double eccentric valve is configured to generate a separating-direction biasing force which inclines the rotation shaft with the bearing at a fulcrum to bias the valve assembly away from a valve seat, the force being caused by the return spring force when the drive mechanism is not operated and acting in a direction perpendicular to the center axis of the bearing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2015
    Publication date: June 1, 2017
    Applicant: AISAN KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroshi MISUMI, Sunao KITAMURA
  • Publication number: 20160290514
    Abstract: A double eccentric valve includes a valve seat having a seat surface, a valve element having an annular sealing surface, and a rotary shaft having an axis parallel to a radial direction of the valve element and offset from the center of a valve hole in a radial direction thereof. The sealing surface is positioned eccentrically from the axis toward an extending direction of an axis of the valve element. The valve element rotates about the axis of the rotary shaft between a fully-closed position in which the sealing surface is in surface contact with the seat surface and a fully-open position in which the sealing surface is furthest away from the seat surface. Simultaneously with start of rotation of the valve element from the fully-closed position, the sealing surface starts to separate from the seat surface and also move along rotation path about the axis of the rotary shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 24, 2014
    Publication date: October 6, 2016
    Applicant: AISAN KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroshi MISUMI, Sunao KITAMURA
  • Publication number: 20160290513
    Abstract: A double eccentric valve includes a valve seat having a seat surface, a valve element having a sealing surface, a passage in which the valve seat and the valve element are arranged, and a rotary shaft which rotates the valve element attached to an attaching part of the rotary shaft. With respect to the valve element and the valve hole, a main axis of the rotary shaft is doubly eccentric in a passage direction and a direction perpendicular to the passage. By rotation about the main axis, the valve element moves between a fully closed position where the sealing surface contacts the seat surface and a fully open position where the sealing surface is furthest away from the seat surface. A second axis of the attaching part extends parallel to the main axis and eccentrically in a radial direction of the rotary shaft from the main axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 24, 2014
    Publication date: October 6, 2016
    Applicant: AISAN KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroshi ASANUMA, Sunao KITAMURA, Hiroshi MISUMI
  • Patent number: 9284923
    Abstract: A fuel vapor recovery apparatus to be mounted on a vehicle having a fuel tank has an adsorbent canister capable of adsorbing and desorbing fuel vapor vaporized in the fuel tank, a vapor path providing communication between the fuel tank and the adsorbent canister, a purge path providing communication between the adsorbent canister and an intake path of an internal combustion engine, a purge valve configured to open and close the purge path, a blocking valve configured to open and close the vapor path and having a valve body, and a regulator for controlling the purge valve and the blocking valve. The fuel tank is sealed when the blocking valve is closed. The fuel tank is configured to be depressurized by opening the blocking valve. The blocking valve is composed of a motor valve that has a driving motor and can adjust an opening amount by controlling a stroke of the valve body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: AISAN KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Junya Kimoto, Shinji Murai, Sunao Kitamura
  • Publication number: 20140102420
    Abstract: A fuel vapor recovery apparatus to be mounted on a vehicle having a fuel tank has an adsorbent canister capable of adsorbing and desorbing fuel vapor vaporized in the fuel tank, a vapor path providing communication between the fuel tank and the adsorbent canister, a purge path providing communication between the adsorbent canister and an intake path of an internal combustion engine, a purge valve configured to open and close the purge path, a blocking valve configured to open and close the vapor path and having a valve body, and a regulator for controlling the purge valve and the blocking valve. The fuel tank is sealed when the blocking valve is closed. The fuel tank is configured to be depressurized by opening the blocking valve. The blocking valve is composed of a motor valve that has a driving motor and can adjust an opening amount by controlling a stroke of the valve body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2013
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: Aisan Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Junya KIMOTO, Shinji MURAI, Sunao KITAMURA
  • Publication number: 20070236083
    Abstract: A negative pressure supply apparatus for brake booster, arranged to supply an intake-pipe negative pressure in an engine intake system to a brake booster mounted in a vehicle, comprises a negative pressure supply part communicated with a bypass passage which allows part of air flowing in the intake pipe to bypass the intake pipe and supplies the intake-pipe negative pressure to the brake booster; an air ejector part placed in the bypass passage to increase the intake-pipe negative pressure and supply the increased negative pressure to the brake booster; and an open/close device including a temperature-sensitive medium, the device being placed in the bypass passage upstream of the air ejector part and configured to open and close the bypass passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2007
    Publication date: October 11, 2007
    Applicant: AISAN KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yutaka Kawamori, Sunao Kitamura, Yoshiki Ito, Kiyoshi Tsukiji
  • Patent number: 7216625
    Abstract: A sensor for a throttle control device. The throttle control device includes a throttle body. A throttle valve is disposed within an intake air channel defined within the throttle body. A speed or gear reduction mechanism is coupled between a motor and the throttle valve. A sensor detects the rotational position, i.e., the rotational angle, of the motor and has a movable section and a fixed sensing section. The movable section is attached to a rotary shaft of the motor, so that the movable section rotates as the rotary shaft rotates. The fixed sensing section is mounted to the throttle body and is disposed within the movable section. By detecting the rotation of the motor a computing section can accurately determine the degree of opening of the throttle valve. The sensor outputs the degree of opening of the throttle valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Assignee: Aisan Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tsutomu Ikeda, Koji Yoshikawa, Sunao Kitamura
  • Publication number: 20060124106
    Abstract: A sensor for a throttle control device. The throttle control device includes a throttle body. A throttle valve is disposed within an intake air channel defined within the throttle body. A speed or gear reduction mechanism is coupled between a motor and the throttle valve. A sensor detects the rotational position, i.e., the rotational angle, of the motor and has a movable section and a fixed sensing section. The movable section is attached to a rotary shaft of the motor, so that the movable section rotates as the rotary shaft rotates. The fixed sensing section is mounted to the throttle body and is disposed within the movable section. By detecting the rotation of the motor a computing section can accurately determine the degree of opening of the throttle valve. The sensor outputs the degree of opening of the throttle valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2006
    Publication date: June 15, 2006
    Inventors: Tsutomu Ikeda, Koji Yoshikawa, Sunao Kitamura
  • Patent number: 7011074
    Abstract: A sensor for a throttle control device. The throttle control device includes a throttle body. A throttle valve is disposed within an intake air channel defined within the throttle body. A speed or gear reduction mechanism is coupled between a motor and the throttle valve. A sensor detects the rotational position, i.e., the rotational angle, of the motor and has a movable section and a fixed sensing section. The movable section is attached to a rotary shaft of the motor, so that the movable section rotates as the rotary shaft rotates. The fixed sensing section is mounted to the throttle body and is disposed within the movable section. By detecting the rotation of the motor a computing section can accurately determine the degree of opening of the throttle valve. The sensor outputs the degree of opening of the throttle valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2006
    Assignee: Aisan Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tsutomu Ikeda, Koji Yoshikawa, Sunao Kitamura
  • Patent number: 6860466
    Abstract: A throttle device with a throttle body and first and second supports supporting a motor for controlling the opening position of the throttle of a valve. The first and second supports support the motor from both sides of the motor in the longitudinal direction. At least one of the first and second supports may also elastically support the motor, and may be a metallic leaf spring disposed within the throttle body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2005
    Assignee: Aisan Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toru Sakurai, Tsutomu Nishitani, Sunao Kitamura