Patents by Inventor Tetsuaki Shirai

Tetsuaki Shirai 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: 8303012
    Abstract: A pick-up style utility vehicle has a front seat, a rear seat, and a cargo bed in this order from a front of the vehicle. The cargo bed has at least left and right stationary side panels and expandable side panels that extend forward from the front ends of the stationary side panels. The cargo bed is changeable between an expanded state in which the cargo bed is expanded forward into a rear riding space in front of the cargo bed and a non-expanded state not occupying the rear riding space. The expandable side panels are rotatable about rotational shafts forward and rearward in a vehicle width direction so as to be shiftable between a position in the expanded state and a position in the non-expanded state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenichi Sumi, Yoshitaka Nishikawa, Tetsuaki Shirai
  • Publication number: 20110156442
    Abstract: A pick-up style utility vehicle according to the present invention has a front seat, a rear seat, and a cargo bed in this order from front. The cargo bed has at least left and right stationary side panels and expandable side panels extended forward from the front ends of the stationary side panels and is changeable between an expanded state in which the cargo bed is expanded forward to a rear riding space in front of the cargo bed and a non-expanded state not occupying the rear riding space. The expandable side panels are rotatable about rotational shafts forward and rearward in a vehicle width direction so as to be shiftable between a position in the expanded state and a position in the non-expanded state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2009
    Publication date: June 30, 2011
    Inventors: Kenichi Sumi, Yoshitaka Nishikawa, Tetsuaki Shirai
  • Patent number: 6725905
    Abstract: A radiator unit (10) includes a radiator core (14) and a fan shroud (16) surrounding a cooling fan (15). Radiator support members (40) are attached to an engine (1), lower end parts of the radiator core (14) are connected to lower positioning lugs (46) formed in the radiator support members (40) by plug-in structures each including a positioning pin (32) and the positioning lug (46) provided with a positioning hole (53), and upper end parts of the radiator core (14) are fastened to radiator holding lugs (45) formed in upper end parts of the radiator support members (40) with bolts (56). The fan shroud (16) is fastened together with the radiator core (14) to the radiator support members (40). An intake duct (25) connected to the air inlet (23) of an air cleaner (5) is formed integrally with the fan shroud (16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Michio Hirano, Tetsuaki Shirai
  • Patent number: 6655337
    Abstract: A V-type 2-cylinder engine capable of distributing air-fuel mixtures equally to each cylinder, having a fuel injection device compact in its arrangement by making effective use of a V-space between the cylinders, and having an improved assembly performance and low manufacturing cost. In the V-type 2-cylinder engine having a V-space between two cylinders, there are arranged fuel injectors disposed in the cylinders, respectively, and a common fuel pressure adjustor for adjusting the pressures of fuels to be fed to the fuel injectors. An injection fuel introduction portion of a fuel passage is formed in a throttle body forming a section of intake passages and having throttle valves. The fuel pressure adjustor is disposed in the injection fuel introduction portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Micho Hirano, Takemi Inoue, Tetsuaki Shirai
  • Patent number: 6630007
    Abstract: An air cleaner for an internal combustion engine facilitates is made compact and maintenance work for cleaning or replacing the cleaner element of the same. An air cleaner case (14) holding a cleaner element (13) is a three-part structure essentially consisting of a body (16) having opposite open ends and provided with an air inlet (40), a bottom wall (15) detachably joined to one of the opposite open ends of the body (16) and connected to the air intake passage of the carburetor (5), and a cover (17) detachably joined to the other open end of the body (16). The bottom wall (15), the body (16) and the cover (17) are fastened together by a stud bolt (25) and a fastening nut (37). The cover (17) has a concave part (44) defining a space for receiving the fastening nut (37) and provided with drain holes (50). When the air cleaner (4) is disposed above the carburetor (5), the drain holes (50) are positioned right above the fuel flow adjusting screws (11) of the carburetor (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2003
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Michio Hirano, Tetsuaki Shirai, Shinya Yoshidome
  • Patent number: 6626153
    Abstract: Provided a fuel injection industrial engine E capable of determining a fuel injection quantity and an injection timing by a simple structure. The engine E includes a fuel injector 6 for injecting a fuel into intake air; ignition coils 31 and 32 for activating ignition plugs by generating an ignition signal synchronized with the rotation of the engine E; and an injection control device 5 for controlling the injection quantity and the injection timing of the fuel injector 6 by determining the engine speed (or the rotating speed) and phase on the basis of an ignition current signal e extracted from a primary side of said ignition coils 31 and 32.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Micho Hirano, Takemi Inoue, Tetsuaki Shirai
  • Patent number: 6523506
    Abstract: A water-cooled V-type engine includes: a crankcase in which a crankshaft is rotatably disposed; two cylinders disposed on the crankcase so as to form V-shape; a starter disposed below one of the two cylinders; and a cooling system for cooling the engine with a cooling water. The cooling system includes: a radiator for cooling the cooling water; water jackets disposed on the two cylinders; and a thermostat disposed in a supply line having one end connected to a water outlet formed in a lower end part of the radiator and the other end connected to inlets of the water jackets. The thermostat is disposed below the other of the two cylinders. The engine can be formed in compact construction and the piping of the cooling system can be simplified since the starter and the thermostat are disposed below the tilted cylinders, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2003
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Michio Hirano, Takemi Inoue, Tetsuaki Shirai, Yukio Miki
  • Publication number: 20020179058
    Abstract: Provided a fuel injection industrial engine E capable of determining a fuel injection quantity and an injection timing by a simple structure. The engine E includes a fuel injector 6 for injecting a fuel into intake air; ignition coils 31 and 32 for activating ignition plugs by generating an ignition signal synchronized with the rotation of the engine E; and an injection control device 5 for controlling the injection quantity and the injection timing of the fuel injector 6 by determining the engine speed (or the rotating speed) and phase on the basis of an ignition current signal e extracted from a primary side of said ignition coils 31 and 32.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2002
    Publication date: December 5, 2002
    Applicant: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Michio Hirano, Takemi Inoue, Tetsuaki Shirai
  • Publication number: 20020170518
    Abstract: A V-type 2-cylinder engine capable of distributing air-fuel mixtures equally to each cylinder, having a fuel injection device compact in its arrangement by making effective use of a V-space between the cylinders, and having an improved assembly performance and low manufacturing cost. In the V-type 2-cylinder engine having a V-space between two cylinders, there are arranged fuel injectors disposed in the cylinders, respectively, and a common fuel pressure adjustor for adjusting the pressures of fuels to be fed to the fuel injectors. An injection fuel introduction portion of a fuel passage is formed in a throttle body forming a section of intake passages and having throttle valves. The fuel pressure adjustor is disposed in the injection fuel introduction portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2002
    Publication date: November 21, 2002
    Applicant: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Micho Hirano, Takemi Inoue, Tetsuaki Shirai
  • Patent number: 6415754
    Abstract: A rocker arm support mechanism includes a holding member (3), a rocker arm shaft (6) and a nut (31). The holding member (3) has a base wall fastened to an end surface of a cylinder head, and a pair of support walls (3a) each provided with a hole (28). The rocker arm shaft (6) includes an eccentric sleeve (15) having a bore (20) and a circumference (15a) eccentric to the bore (20), and a support shaft (14) passed through the hole (28) of one of the side walls (3a), the bore (20) of the eccentric sleeve (15) and the hole (28) of the other side wall (3a). The support shaft (14) is inserted in the bore (20) of the eccentric sleeve (15) and the eccentric sleeve (15) is restrained from turning relative to the support shaft (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2002
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Michio Hirano, Tetsuaki Shirai
  • Publication number: 20020033154
    Abstract: A rocker arm support mechanism includes a holding member (3), a rocker arm shaft (6) and a nut (31). The holding member (3) has a base wall fastened to an end surface of a cylinder head, and a pair of support walls (3a) each provided with a hole (28). The rocker arm shaft (6) includes an eccentric sleeve (15) having a bore (20) and a circumference (15a) eccentric to the bore (20), and a support shaft (14) passed through the hole (28) of one of the side walls (3a), the bore (20) of the eccentric sleeve (15) and the hole (28) of the other side wall (3a). The support shaft (14) is inserted in the bore (20) of the eccentric sleeve (15) and the eccentric sleeve (15) is restrained from turning relative to the support shaft (14).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2001
    Publication date: March 21, 2002
    Applicant: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Michio Hirano, Tetsuaki Shirai
  • Publication number: 20020023596
    Abstract: A water-cooled V-type engine includes: a crankcase in which a crankshaft is rotatably disposed; two cylinders disposed on the crankcase so as to form V-shape; a starter disposed below one of the two cylinders; and a cooling system for cooling the engine with a cooling water. The cooling system includes: a radiator for cooling the cooling water; water jackets disposed on the two cylinders; and a thermostat disposed in a supply line having one end connected to a water outlet formed in a lower end part of the radiator and the other end connected to inlets of the water jackets. The thermostat is disposed below the other of the two cylinders. The engine can be formed in compact construction and the piping of the cooling system can be simplified since the starter and the thermostat are disposed below the tilted cylinders, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2001
    Publication date: February 28, 2002
    Applicant: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Michio Hirano, Takemi Inoue, Tetsuaki Shirai, Yukio Miki
  • Publication number: 20020023731
    Abstract: Work for combining a radiator unit with an engine is facilitated, the number of parts is reduced and the engine can be formed in compact construction. A radiator unit (10) includes a radiator core (14) and a fan shroud (16) surrounding a cooling fan (15). Radiator support members (40) are attached to an engine (1), lower end parts of the radiator core (14) are connected to lower positioning lugs (46) formed in the radiator support members (40) by plug-in structures each including a positioning pin (32) and the positioning lug (46) provided with a positioning hole (53), and upper end parts of the radiator core (14) are fastened to radiator holding lugs (45) formed in upper end parts of the radiator support members (40) with bolts (56). The fan shroud (16) is fastened together with the radiator core (14) to the radiator support members (40). An intake duct (25) connected to the air inlet (23) of an air cleaner (5) is formed integrally with the fan shroud (16).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2001
    Publication date: February 28, 2002
    Applicant: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Michio Hirano, Tetsuaki Shirai
  • Publication number: 20020020157
    Abstract: An air cleaner for an internal combustion engine facilitates is made compact and maintenance work for cleaning or replacing the cleaner element of the same. An air cleaner case (14) holding a cleaner element (13) is a three-part structure essentially consisting of a body (16) having opposite open ends and provided with an air inlet (40), a bottom wall (15) detachably joined to one of the opposite open ends of the body (16) and connected to the air intake passage of the carburetor (5), and a cover (17) detachably joined to the other open end of the body (16). The bottom wall (15), the body (16) and the cover (17) are fastened together by a stud bolt (25) and a fastening nut (37). The cover (17) has a concave part (44) defining a space for receiving the fastening nut (37) and provided with drain holes (50). When the air cleaner (4) is disposed above the carburetor (5), the drain holes (50) are positioned right above the fuel flow adjusting screws (11) of the carburetor (5).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2001
    Publication date: February 21, 2002
    Applicant: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Michio Hirano, Tetsuaki Shirai, Shinya Yoshidome
  • Patent number: 4811705
    Abstract: An overhead valve engine including a bottom mounting part and a crankcase mounted on and extending upwardly from the mounting part. A crankshaft and a camshaft are rotatably mounted on the crankcase, the shafts being at substantially the same vertical height above the mounting part. A cylinder is formed in the crankcase and has a cylinder axis which slants at an angle of substantially 45.degree. upwardly and over said cam shaft. Air intake and exhaust valves are provided at the upper end of the cylinder, a curburetor is mounted on a side of the crankcase at a level which is below the valves, and an air inlet manifold extends from the air intake valve downwardly to the carburetor. Two push rods extend between the camshaft and the valves, and the air inlet manifold extends between the two push rods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 14, 1989
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiromi Ono, Tetsuaki Shirai
  • Patent number: 4688529
    Abstract: A lubricating system for an internal combustion engine is disclosed. This system includes a pair of passages formed between a crank chamber for reserving oil and an air-oil separating chamber accommodating a mechanism for actuating overhead valves. The pair of passages are constituted by a breather passage formed in the upper portion of a cylinder and the oil-returning passage formed in the lower portion of the cylinder. The breather passage has a valve for allowing a fluid to pass solely toward the air-oil separating chamber and a large oil-circulating resistance is imparted to the fluid flowing toward the air-oil separating chamber through the oil-returning passage, thereby circulating an oil mist in one direction only by using the reciprocal motion of each piston. Even when the engine is inclined, oil is prevented from flowing back from the crank chamber to the separating chamber through the oil-returning passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1986
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1987
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Mitadera, Tetsuaki Shirai, Tomozo Nakagawa, Naotake Nii, Kozo Watanabe
  • Patent number: 4672922
    Abstract: An air-cooled overhead-valve engine comprises a cooling fan connecting to one end portion of crankshaft and surrounding with fan casing, a combustion air intake port provided in the direction of downstream side of cooling air, and push rods for driving a cam arranged in opposite side to said intake port with relate to a center of cylinder. The engine can be used suitable to power lawn mowers and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1986
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1987
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tetsuaki Shirai
  • Patent number: 4537160
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to an air cleaner for use in an air-cooled engine including a cooling fan within a fan housing. The cleaner is connected to draw air from the housing, and includes a casing having a side wall, an air inlet opening in the fan housing, an air passage formed within the casing and extending from the inlet along the wall, the passage including a curved portion, and a narrow opening formed in the wall adjacent the curved portion. The curved passage causes dust particles to move by reason of inertia to the radially outer side of the passage and the particles are removed through the narrow opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 1984
    Date of Patent: August 27, 1985
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tetsuaki Shirai
  • Patent number: 4470389
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to a combined breather-lubricator system for an internal combustion engine having a horizontal cylinder, a crankcase, a vertical crankshaft journalled by an upper and a lower bearings in the crankcase, and a valve spring chamber in the crankcase.The system includes two breather passages. The first breather passage extends from the crankcase through a check valve and the spring chamber and opening into the atmosphere, the valve being adapted to pass fluid therethrough in the direction from the crankcase to the atmosphere. The second breather passage extends back from the atmosphere through an oil drain hole in the spring chamber into the crankcase.The system further includes a lubrication system connected to the first breather passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1983
    Date of Patent: September 11, 1984
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Mitadera, Tetsuaki Shirai, Fumikazu Miyanaga
  • Patent number: RE33978
    Abstract: An air-cooled overhead-valve engine comprises a cooling fan connecting to one end portion of crankshaft and surrounding with fan casing, a combustion air intake port provided in the direction of downstream side of cooling air, and push rods for driving a cam arranged in opposite side to said intake port with relate to a center of cylinder. The engine can be used suitable to power lawn mowers and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1992
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tetsuaki Shirai