Patents by Inventor Toichi Hirata

Toichi Hirata 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: 7493978
    Abstract: A traveling hydraulic working machine has a target revolution speed of an engine commanded by an input and sensors for detecting an operating situation of a hydraulic actuator and an operating situation of a traveling system. A prime-mover revolution speed control modifies the target revolution speed of the prime mover when the operating situation of the hydraulic actuator and the operating situation of the traveling system come into respective particular states, and controls the revolution speed of the prime mover, With the traveling hydraulic working machine, in the combined operation of traveling and working a hydraulic actuator, work can be performed on the basis of the engine revolution speed intended by an operator. When a working load varies, the engine revolution speed is automatically controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Assignee: Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Nakamura, Genroku Sugiyama, Kazunori Nakamura, Toichi Hirata
  • Patent number: 7493112
    Abstract: Assessment information needed to calculate a used vehicle assessment value of a hydraulic excavator 10 is input to a portable telephone 20 and is then transmitted from the portable telephone 20. The transmitted assessment information is received at a manufacturer's base station 40 at a remote location. The used vehicle assessment value of the hydraulic excavator 10 is calculated based upon the received assessment information, and history information and operation information on the hydraulic excavator 10 read out from an operation information database 43 and a history database 42 in correspondence to an ID number assigned to the hydraulic excavator which is included in the assessment information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignee: Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Adachi, Toichi Hirata, Genroku Sugiyama, Hiroshi Onoue, Hideo Karasawa, Koichi Shibata, Hiroshi Watanabe, Kiyoshi Ono, Osamu Tomikawa
  • Patent number: 7370475
    Abstract: A modification torque ?T and a torque converter speed ratio e is computed from input and output revolution speeds of a torque converter 31. A first determination coefficient ? corresponding to the speed ratio e, and a second determination coefficient ? corresponding to a pump pressure are computed. A selector 87 selects the smaller one of these coefficients as a determination coefficient ?, and the modification torque ?T is multiplied by ? to provide a modification torque ?TA. An adder 89 adds the modification torque ?TA (negative value) to a pump base torque TR to provide a modified pump base torque TRA, whereby a maximum pump absorption torque TRA is controlled so as to become TRA. The maximum pump torque reducing control can then be performed while accurately confirming a work situation during the combined operation of travel and a working actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignee: Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Nakamura, Kazunori Nakamura, Toichi Hirata, Genroku Sugiyama, Kentaro Itoga
  • Publication number: 20070202861
    Abstract: Assessment information needed to calculate a used vehicle assessment value of a hydraulic excavator 10 is input to a portable telephone 20 and is then transmitted from the portable telephone 20. The transmitted assessment information is received at a manufacturer's base station 40 at a remote location. The used vehicle assessment value of the hydraulic excavator 10 is calculated based upon the received assessment information, and history information and operation information on the hydraulic excavator 10 read out from an operation information database 43 and a history database 42 in correspondence to an ID number assigned to the hydraulic excavator which is included in the assessment information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2007
    Publication date: August 30, 2007
    Applicant: Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Adachi, Toichi Hirata, Genroku Sugiyama, Hiroshi Onoue, Hideo Karasawa, Koichi Shibata, Hiroshi Watanabe, Kiyoshi Ono, Osamu Tomikawa
  • Patent number: 7228125
    Abstract: Assessment information needed to calculate a used vehicle assessment value of a hydraulic excavator 10 is input to a portable telephone 20 and is then transmitted from the portable telephone 20. The transmitted assessment information is received at a manufacturer's base station 40 at a remote location. The used vehicle assessment value of the hydraulic excavator 10 is calculated based upon the received assessment information, and history information and operation information on the hydraulic excavator 10 read out from an operation information database 43 and a history database 42 in correspondence to an ID number assigned to the hydraulic excavator which is included in the assessment information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Assignee: Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Adachi, Toichi Hirata, Genroku Sugiyama, Hiroshi Onoue, Hideo Karasawa, Koichi Shibata, Hiroshi Watanabe, Kiyoshi Ono, Osamu Tomikawa
  • Patent number: 7171188
    Abstract: Provided is a communication system for working machines, which makes it possible to transmit desired messages from sites, where the working machines are arranged, to their corresponding work administration centers at timings as needed. When a mail switch 10 arranged on a working machine 7 is operated to send information to a server 1, a terminal user-company identification unit 14 identifies, on the basis of a terminal information database 18, a user to which the information so received is to be sent. A user-company-dependent mail selection unit 15 selects customer information 19a on the user from a customer database 19. At a transmission mail creation unit 16, a corresponding new message 16a is created. The mail is then transmitted from a mail output unit 17. In this manner, a desired message can be sent from each working machine 7 at a remote location to the corresponding user at a timing as needed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignee: Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Watanabe, Koichi Shibata, Genroku Sugiyama, Toichi Hirata, Hiroyuki Adachi, Hideki Komatsu, Yasushi Ochiai
  • Patent number: 7127888
    Abstract: A hydraulic drive unit is provided with a boom cylinder, an arm cylinder, a communication line communicating a rod chamber of the boom cylinder and a bottom chamber of the arm cylinder with each other, and a switching valve arranged on the communication line for communicating or shutting off the communication line in accordance with a rod pressure of the boom cylinder. When an arm-crowding single operation is performed and by its digging counterforce, a rod pressure of the boom cylinder rises to a high pressure of at least a predetermined pressure, the switching valve is changed over from a shut-off position to a communicating position to feed pressure oil from the rod chamber to the bottom chamber. The boom cylinder is hence caused to automatically extend, thereby avoiding lifting of a hydraulic excavator body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Assignee: Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yusuke Kajita, Kazunori Nakamura, Toichi Hirata
  • Publication number: 20060201147
    Abstract: A modification torque computing unit 83 computes a modification torque ?T and a torque converter speed ratio e is computed from input and output revolution speeds of a torque converter 31. A first determination coefficient ? corresponding to the speed ratio e, and a second determination coefficient ? corresponding to a pump pressure are computed. A selector 87 selects the smaller one of these coefficients as a determination coefficient ?, and the modification torque ?T is multiplied by ? to provide a modification torque ?TA. An adder 89 adds the modification torque ?TA (negative value) to a pump base torque TR to provide a modified pump base torque TRA, whereby a maximum pump absorption torque TRA is controlled so as to become TRA. The maximum pump torque reducing control can then be performed while accurately confirming a work situation during the combined operation of travel and a working actuator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2004
    Publication date: September 14, 2006
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Nakamura, Kazunori Nakamura, Toichi Hirata, Genroku Sugiyama, Kentaro Itoga
  • Patent number: 7050893
    Abstract: The present invention is applied to a system comprised of large number of hydraulic excavators 1 deployed at construction sites and a base station 16. Each hydraulic excavator 1 is provided with a storage unit (memory 402), a control unit (CPU 401) for executing the work operation and receiving as input a quantitative machine status relating to the work operation, and a communications device 42. The base station 16 is provided with a communications device 16a, a management server 17 for identifying the serial number of the hydraulic excavator 1 and transferring information, and a database 18 for storing various information. The control unit of the hydraulic excavator 1 and the management server 17 of the base station 16 transfer information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Watanabe, Koichi Shibata, Hiroyuki Adachi, Toichi Hirata, Genroku Sugiyama
  • Patent number: 7020553
    Abstract: A machine body controller 70A includes a modification control unit 70Ab for computing a torque modification value based on detected signals from environment sensors 75 to 83, and modifies a maximum absorption torque of a hydraulic pump controlled by a basic control unit 70Aa. An engine controller 70B includes a modification control unit 70Bb for computing an injection modification value based on detected the signals from the environment sensors 75 to 83, and modifies a fuel injection state of a fuel injection device 14 controlled by a basic control unit 70Ba. The controllers 70A, 70B further include computation element altering units 171, 181. A communication controller 70C downloads alteration data obtained from an external terminal 150 to the computation element altering units 171, 181, whereby corresponding computation elements contained in the modification control units 70Ab, 70Bb are altered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignee: Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazunori Nakamura, Toichi Hirata, Yasushi Arai, Yoichi Kowatari, Gen Yasuda, Hiroshi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 7010403
    Abstract: A construction machine comprises a location detector for detecting location information for the construction machine, a determination device for determining whether or not location information is to be transmitted and outputting a transmission signal if it is determined that information is to be transmitted, and a transmitter for transmitting the detected location information to a base station in response to the transmission signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2006
    Assignee: Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Adachi, Toichi Hirata, Genroku Sugiyama, Hiroshi Watanabe, Koichi Shibata, Hideki Komatsu
  • Patent number: 7002465
    Abstract: A security system of a construction machine of the present invention has a construction machine, a base station and a communication device. The construction machine comprises a data sending and receiving portion for sending first information, a storage portion for storing received information, and a control portion for controlling an operation of the construction machine. The base station receives the first information from the data sending and receiving portion of the construction machine and sends second information to the construction machine and manages the construction machine. It is configured so that the communication device is connected to the base station through a communication network and can send third information to the construction machine through the base station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2006
    Assignee: Hitachi Construction Machinery
    Inventors: Hideki Komatsu, Hiroyuki Adachi, Kazuhiro Shibamori, Koichi Shibata, Itsuo Kondo, Toshinori Kimura, Genroku Sugiyama, Toichi Hirata, Tadatoshi Shimamura, Yuji Nagashima, Hiroshi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 6998957
    Abstract: A security system for a construction machine including a construction machine equipped with a body controller for storing a first password, management apparatus arranged in a location apart from the construction machine and a portable communications unit for storing a second password provided communicably with the management apparatus and the body controller. The portable communications unit, receiving the first password from the management apparatus, replaces the second password with the first password. The body controller determines whether the second password output from the portable communications unit coincides with the first password. In case these passwords coincide with each other, an engine drive signal is output. Otherwise the engine is kept inoperable. This prevents possible theft of a construction machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Assignee: Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koichi Shibata, Kiyoshi Ono, Genroku Sugiyama, Osamu Tomikawa, Hiroyuki Adachi, Hideo Karasawa, Toichi Hirata, Hiroshi Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20050144938
    Abstract: To permit releasing an excessive rod pressure from a first hydraulic cylinder and also effectively using pressure oil of its rod chamber upon performing such an operation that pressure oil is fed to a bottom chamber of a second hydraulic cylinder, a hydraulic drive unit is provided with a boom cylinder, an arm cylinder, a communication line communicating a rod chamber of the boom cylinder and a bottom chamber of the arm cylinder with each other, and a switching valve arranged on the communication line for communicating or shutting off the communication line in accordance with a rod pressure of the boom cylinder. When an arm-crowding single operation is performed and by its digging counterforce, a rod pressure of the boom cylinder rises to a high pressure of at least a predetermined pressure, the switching valve is changed over from a shut-off position to a communicating position to feed pressure oil from the rod chamber of the boom cylinder to the bottom chamber of the arm cylinder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2003
    Publication date: July 7, 2005
    Applicant: Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yusuke Kajita, Kazunori Nakamura, Toichi Hirata
  • Patent number: 6907384
    Abstract: A method and system for managing a construction machine whereby working time for each of different parts of a hydraulic excavator is measured. Measured data is stored in a memory of a controller and then transferred to a base station computer via satellite communication to be stored in a database. At each repair/replacement of a part in each hydraulic excavator, the base station computer calculates, based on the operation data, a replacement time interval of the part on the basis of the working time per section to which the part belongs, and then stores and accumulates it. The base station computer also reads the stored data for each hydraulic excavator, determines, for each part, a replacement rate of the part having a substantially equal replacement time interval, and calculates a target replacement time interval of the part in accordance with the replacement time interval corresponding to a maximum replacement rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2005
    Assignee: Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Adachi, Toichi Hirata, Genroku Sugiyama, Hiroshi Watanabe, Koichi Shibata, Hideki Komatsu, Shuichi Miura, Koji Mitsuya, Yoshiaki Saito, Atsushi Sato
  • Patent number: 6898502
    Abstract: A function changing system of construction machinery includes a hydraulic excavator and a base station. The hydraulic excavator is deployed at a construction site and is provided with a rewritable memory storing control programs and/or data required for control of the machinery, a CPU for reading out the control programs from the memory and executing them, and a communications device The base station is provided with a communications device, a center server for identifying the serial number of the hydraulic excavator and transferring information with the control unit, and a database managed by the center server and storing control programs corresponding to the hydraulic excavator. When changing or switching an attachment of the hydraulic excavator, information is transferred with the center server of the base station and the control programs or data stored in the storage unit are rewritten to enable work suited to the changed part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Assignee: Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Watanabe, Koichi Shibata, Hiroyuki Adachi, Toichi Hirata, Genroku Sugiyama, Hideki Komatsu
  • Publication number: 20050071064
    Abstract: A machine body controller 70A includes a modification control unit 70Ab for computing a torque modification value based on detected signals from environment sensors 75 to 83, and modifies a maximum absorption torque of a hydraulic pump controlled by a basic control unit 70Aa. An engine controller 70B includes a modification control unit 70Bb for computing an injection modification value based on detected the signals from the environment sensors 75 to 83, and modifies a fuel injection state of a fuel injection device 14 controlled by a basic control unit 70Ba. The controllers 70A, 70B further include computation element altering units 171, 181. A communication controller 70C downloads alteration data obtained from an external terminal 150 to the computation element altering units 171, 181, whereby corresponding computation elements contained in the modification control units 70Ab, 70Bb are altered.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2003
    Publication date: March 31, 2005
    Inventors: Kazunori Nakamura, Toichi Hirata, Yasushi Arai, Yoichi Kowatari, Gen Yasuda, Hiroshi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 6832175
    Abstract: A hydraulic excavator 1 working in fields includes a controller 2 for measuring a working time for each of an engine 32, a front 15, a swing body 13, and a travel body 12, storing measured data in a memory of the controller 2, and then transferring it to a base station computer 3 via satellite communication, an FD, etc. The transferred data is stored as a database 100 in the base station computer 3. The base station computer 3 reads the data stored in the database 100 for each hydraulic excavator, calculates a working time of a part belonging to each section on the basis of the working time of that section, and compares the calculated working time with a preset target replacement time interval of the relevant part, thereby calculating a remaining time up to next replacement of the relevant part and managing the scheduled replacement timing thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Adachi, Toichi Hirata, Genroku Sugiyama, Hiroshi Watanabe, Shuichi Miura, Koji Mitsuya, Yoshiaki Saito, Atsushi Sato
  • Patent number: 6810362
    Abstract: A method and system for managing a construction machine and processing apparatus therefor includes a controller 2 mounted on a hydraulic excavator 1 working in fields. An operating time for each of an engine 32, a front 15, a swing body 13 and a travel body 12 is measured and stored in a memory of the controller 2. The measured data is transferred to a base station computer 3 and stored in a database 100 inside the base station computer 3. The base station computer 3 reads, per hydraulic excavator, the data stored in the database 100 and then prepares and outputs a distribution graph of the number of operated machines with respect to the working time (engine running time) of the hydraulic excavator. While looking at the distribution graph, a machine maker estimates the number of hydraulic excavators to be renewed and estimates the sales quantity of hydraulic excavators, thereby setting up a production plan of hydraulic excavators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2004
    Assignee: Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Adachi, Toichi Hirata, Genroku Sugiyama, Hiroshi Watanabe, Koichi Shibata, Hideki Komatsu
  • Publication number: 20040147250
    Abstract: Assessment information needed to calculate a used vehicle assessment value of a hydraulic excavator 10 is input to a portable telephone 20 and is then transmitted from the portable telephone 20. The transmitted assessment information is received at a manufacturer's base station 40 at a remote location. The used vehicle assessment value of the hydraulic excavator 10 is calculated based upon the received assessment information, and history information and operation information on the hydraulic excavator 10 read out from an operation information database 43 and a history database 42 in correspondence to an ID number assigned to the hydraulic excavator which is included in the assessment information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2003
    Publication date: July 29, 2004
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Adachi, Toichi Hirata, Genroku Sugiyama, Hiroshi Onoue, Hideo Karasawa, Koichi Shibata, Hiroshi Watanabe, Kiyoshi Ono, Osamu Tomikawa