Patents by Inventor Tatsuo Hirai

Tatsuo Hirai 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: 9776453
    Abstract: A tightening device and a tightening method are able to check that a fastening member has been fastened to a desired set torque or greater after being tightened, without loosening the fastening member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignees: FUJI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA, TONE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Katsuhiro Fujimoto, Toshihiko Kushida, Tatsuo Hirai, Yukio Torigai, Tatsuo Nakahata, Manabu Saito, Masao Watanabe
  • Patent number: 9645026
    Abstract: A tightening device is able to check that a fastening member has been fastened to a desired set torque or greater after being tightened, without loosening the fastening member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignees: TONE CO., LTD., FUJI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Katsuhiro Fujimoto, Toshihiko Kushida, Tatsuo Hirai, Yukio Torigai, Tatsuo Nakahata, Manabu Saito, Masao Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20150122522
    Abstract: A tightening device and a tightening method are able to check that a fastening member has been fastened to a desired set torque or greater after being tightened, without loosening the fastening member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2014
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Applicants: FUJI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA, TONE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: KATSUHIRO FUJIMOTO, TOSHIHIKO KUSHIDA, TATSUO HIRAI, YUKIO TORIGAI, TATSUO NAKAHATA, MANABU SAITO, MASAO WATANABE
  • Publication number: 20150114138
    Abstract: A tightening device is able to check that a fastening member has been fastened to a desired set torque or greater after being tightened, without loosening the fastening member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2014
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Applicants: TONE CO., LTD., FUJI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: KATSUHIRO FUJIMOTO, TOSHIHIKO KUSHIDA, TATSUO HIRAI, YUKIO TORIGAI, TATSUO NAKAHATA, MANABU SAITO, MASAO WATANABE
  • Patent number: 8264374
    Abstract: There is provided a wireless data transmitting and receiving system that wirelessly transmits a signal regarding a torque acting on a rotary shaft and/or a rotation angle of the rotary shaft from a data transmitting unit disposed in the rotary shaft to a data receiving unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Maeda Metal Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takayoshi Obatake, Yasunobu Kaneyama, Toshihiko Kushida, Tatsuo Hirai
  • Patent number: 7992455
    Abstract: A tightening torque measuring unit capable of reducing errors with respect to either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction as soon as possible is provided. A tightening torque measuring unit 10, installed in a tightening device, includes a torque sensor 12 that detects a tightening torque and an amplifier that amplifies an output from the torque sensor 12. The amplifier 40 or 42 applies a different gain to the output from the torque sensor depending on whether the tightening direction of the tightening apparatus is clockwise or counterclockwise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Maeda Metal Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshihiko Kushida, Tatsuo Hirai
  • Patent number: 7886635
    Abstract: A bolt or nut tightening device having an outer shaft and an inner shaft rotatable in directions opposite to each other, the outer shaft having a reaction receiver projecting therefrom sideways and provided with a tightening torque measuring unit, the tightening torque measuring unit comprising a strain sensor, a circuit board, an indicator, a battery, a case for accommodating the circuit board, the indicator and the battery, and a mount tubular member fitted around and rotatable with the outer shaft, the case being attached to an outer peripheral portion of the mount tubular member and projecting toward the same direction as the reaction receiver, the case being so sized as to be hidden by a contour of the reaction receiver and being so positioned as to be hidden behind the reaction receiver when seen from the forward end side of the engaging portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Maeda Metal Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasunobu Kaneyama, Tatsuo Hirai
  • Publication number: 20100265097
    Abstract: There is provided a wireless data transmitting and receiving system that wirelessly transmits a signal regarding a torque acting on a rotary shaft and/or a rotation angle of the rotary shaft from a data transmitting unit disposed in the rotary shaft to a data receiving unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2010
    Publication date: October 21, 2010
    Inventors: TAKAYOSHI OBATAKE, Yasunobu Kaneyama, Toshihiko Kushida, Tatsuo Hirai
  • Publication number: 20100199816
    Abstract: A bolt or nut tightening device has an outer shaft and an inner shaft rotatable in directions opposite to each other, the outer shaft having a reaction receiver projecting therefrom sideways, the inner shaft being provided with an engaging portion engageable with a bolt or nut to be tightened, the bolt or nut tightening device being provided on the outer shaft with a tightening torque measuring unit, which comprises a strain sensor, a circuit board, an indicator, a battery, and a case for accommodating the circuit board, the indicator and the battery, the case being attached to the outer shaft, projecting toward the same direction as the reaction receiver, and being so sized as to be hidden by a contour of the reaction receiver and so positioned as to be hidden behind the reaction receiver when seen from the forward end side of the engaging portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2010
    Publication date: August 12, 2010
    Inventors: Yasunobu Kaneyama, Tatsuo Hirai
  • Patent number: 7757587
    Abstract: A bolt or nut tightening device has an outer shaft and an inner shaft rotatable in directions opposite to each other, the outer shaft having a reaction receiver projecting therefrom sideways, the inner shaft being provided with an engaging portion engageable with a bolt or nut to be tightened, the bolt or nut tightening device being provided on the outer shaft with a tightening torque measuring unit, which comprises a strain sensor, a circuit board, an indicator, a battery, and a case for accommodating the circuit board, the indicator and the battery, the case being attached to the outer shaft, projecting toward the same direction as the reaction receiver, and being so sized as to be hidden by a contour of the reaction receiver and so positioned as to be hidden behind the reaction receiver when seen from the forward end side of the engaging portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Maeda Metal Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasunobu Kaneyama, Tatsuo Hirai
  • Publication number: 20090308178
    Abstract: A tightening torque measuring unit capable of reducing errors with respect to either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction as soon as possible is provided. A tightening torque measuring unit 10, installed in a tightening device, includes a torque sensor 12 that detects a tightening torque and an amplifier that amplifies an output from the torque sensor 12. The amplifier 40 or 42 applies a different gain to the output from the torque sensor depending on whether the tightening direction of the tightening apparatus is clockwise or counterclockwise.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2009
    Publication date: December 17, 2009
    Inventors: Toshihiko Kushida, Tatsuo Hirai
  • Publication number: 20080098863
    Abstract: A bolt or nut tightening device comprises the combination of input means and a tightening assisting unit having an outer shaft and an inner shaft coupled to a planetary gear mechanism coaxially therewith and rotatable in directions opposite to each other, the outer shaft having a reaction receiver projecting therefrom sideways, the inner shaft being provided with an engaging portion engageable with a bolt or nut to be tightened. The outer shaft is provided with a tightening torque measuring unit, which comprises a strain gauge or like strain sensor provided on the outer shaft, a circuit board for converting the amount of strain of the outer shaft as detected by the strain sensor to an amount of tightening torque, an indicator for indicating the amount of tightening torque, a battery, and a case for accommodating the circuit board, the indicator and the battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2007
    Publication date: May 1, 2008
    Applicant: Maeda Metal Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: YASUNOBU KANEYAMA, TATSUO HIRAI
  • Patent number: 7275450
    Abstract: A tightening torque measuring unit (4) has an inner shaft (31) connectable to a first output shaft (12) of a tightening device main body (1) and an outer shaft (32) connectable to a second output shaft (13) of the body. The inner shaft (31) is provided with a tightening socket (21), and the outer shaft (32) with a reaction force receiver (22). The outer shaft (32) has strain gauges (47), and an indicator (5) for converting an amount of strain detected by the gauges into a corresponding tightening torque value. Since the reaction force receiver (22) can be attached to the measuring unit (4), the tightening reaction force is prevented from acting to knock down the receiver (22), enabling the unit (4) to measure tightening torque, with the device main body (1), the measuring unit (4) and the socket (21) positioned in alignment with the axis of the nut to be tightened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Maeda Metal Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tatsuo Hirai, Yasunobu Kaneyama
  • Publication number: 20060005637
    Abstract: A tightening torque measuring unit (4) has an inner shaft (31) connectable to a first output shaft (12) of a tightening device main body (1) and an outer shaft (32) connectable to a second output shaft (13) of the body. The inner shaft (31) is provided with a tightening socket (21), and the outer shaft (32) with a reaction force receiver (22). The outer shaft (32) has strain gauges (47), and an indicator (5) for converting an amount of strain detected by the gauges into a corresponding tightening torque value. Since the reaction force receiver (22) can be attached to the measuring unit (4), the tightening reaction force is prevented from acting to knock down the receiver (22), enabling the unit (4) to measure tightening torque, with the device main body (1), the measuring unit (4) and the socket (21) positioned in alignment with the axis of the nut to be tightened.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2005
    Publication date: January 12, 2006
    Applicant: MAEDA METAL INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Tatsuo Hirai, Yasunobu Kaneyama
  • Patent number: D551998
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Maeda Metal Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tatsuo Hirai, Yasunobu Kaneyama
  • Patent number: D605539
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: Maeda Metal Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tatsuo Hirai, Yasunobu Kaneyama