Patents by Inventor Tomohide Aoki

Tomohide Aoki 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: 8608012
    Abstract: An automotive fuel tank is provided in which a plurality of mounting members are provided on a built-in part which are fusion bonded to an inner surface of an outer wall of the fuel tank so as to attach the built-in part in place in the fuel tank. An abutment portion is formed on the mounting member which is brought into abutment with an inner surface of the outer wall of the fuel tank. The abutment portion has formed thereon an abutment surface which is made to tightly stick to the inner surface of the outer wall of the fuel tank and elongated projections which project from the abutment surface, whose cross section at their distal end portions is of triangular shape and which penetrate into an interior of the outer wall of the fuel tank, and a height of an apex of the elongated projection from the abutment surface is in the range of 30% to 70% of a thickness of the outer wall of the fuel tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: FTS Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomohide Aoki, Tomohisa Imaeda
  • Patent number: 8608011
    Abstract: A fuel tank capable of strongly fusion-bonding a built-in part to an inner surface of an outer wall thereof while protecting the outer wall even when an impact, etc. are applied thereto. In the fuel tank for a motor vehicle, which is formed by blow molding, in which the built-in part is mounted, and which has the outer wall composed of a synthetic resin, a plurality of mounting members adapted to mount the built-in part to the fuel tank are provided on the built-in part so as to be fusion-bonded to the inner surface of the outer wall of the fuel tank. An abutment portion is formed on each of the mounting members for contacting the inner surface of the outer wall of the fuel tank, and an abutment surface and a plurality of abutment pins, each projecting from the abutment surface, are formed in the abutment portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: FTS Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshiaki Asahara, Tomohide Aoki, Yasuyuki Washiyama
  • Patent number: 8202078
    Abstract: A blow molding device capable of securely closing a lower end of a parison to prevent the parison from being crushed. The blow molding device includes a blow mold and a parison holding unit. The parison holding unit includes an inner holding plate adapted to be inserted in an interior of the lower end of the parison, and an outer holding plate adapted to hold an outer surface of the lower end of the parison, and the outer holding plate has a recess conforming to a configuration of the inner holding plate and is split into a plurality of holding plate members such that each of the split holding plate members is capable of sliding to hold the lower end of the parison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: FTS Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomohide Aoki, Takahisa Majima, Soji Hamaji
  • Patent number: 8191568
    Abstract: A fuel tank capable of attaching functional parts and tubes in an interior thereof. In a fuel tank for a motor vehicle, which is formed by blow molding for attachment of a built-in part in an interior thereof, and of which an outer wall composed of a synthetic resin has an opening, a functional part adapted to discharge fluid from the interior of the fuel tank or feed fluid therein is attached to the built-in part, a tube adapted to discharge fluid from the interior of the fuel tank or feed fluid therein is connected to the functional part, and a tube connector is attached to an end of the tube. A temporal holding connector is formed integrally with the built-in part, the tube connector is attached to the temporal holding connector, and after blow molding, the tube connector is detached from the temporal holding connector and is attached to a tank cap adapted to close the opening of the fuel tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignees: Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd., FTS Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukiharu Takeuchi, Norihiro Yamada, Hideyuki Tsuzuki, Tomohide Aoki
  • Patent number: 8105528
    Abstract: An automotive fuel tank fabrication apparatus is provided. The automotive fuel tank has a blow mold and a built-in part holding unit. The built-in part holding unit includes a plurality of holding rods for holding a built-in part. The holding rods are made to freely advance and retreat in such a manner as to hold the built-in part in a position where the built-in part confronts cavities when the blow mold is opened and to retreat from the blow mold when the blow mold is closed with the built-in part left positioned in an interior of a parison. The holding rods are formed in such a manner that their diameters are reduced as they extend towards distal ends thereof and are inserted into insertion holes formed in the built-in part so as to hold the built-in part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: FTS Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomohide Aoki, Yoshinari Yoshida
  • Publication number: 20110226777
    Abstract: A fuel tank capable of strongly fusion-bonding a built-in part to an inner surface of an outer wall thereof while protecting the outer wall even when an impact, etc. are applied thereto. In the fuel tank for a motor vehicle, which is formed by blow molding, in which the built-in part is mounted, and which has the outer wall composed of a synthetic resin, a plurality of mounting members adapted to mount the built-in part to the fuel tank are provided on the built-in part so as to be fusion-bonded to the inner surface of the outer wall of the fuel tank. An abutment portion is formed on each of the mounting members for contacting the inner surface of the outer wall of the fuel tank, and an abutment surface and a plurality of abutment pins, each projecting from the abutment surface, are formed in the abutment portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2011
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Applicant: FTS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toshiaki Asahara, Tomohide Aoki, Yasuyuki Washiyama
  • Patent number: 7886759
    Abstract: A fuel cutoff valve comprises a casing and a float mechanism having a float and a seat portion. An upper vent hole is formed in the upper wall portion of the float, and a side portion communication hole is formed in the side wall portion. The passage area of the side portion communication hole is set so as to allow a large volume of vapors entering the float chamber to escape into the valve chamber. The passage area of the upper vent hole is set so that vapor entering the float chamber when the vehicle inclines escapes into the valve chamber, and the float chamber fills with fuel lifting the float, whereas when the vehicle turns sharply, the float is lifted without the float chamber filling with fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Keiji Miyoshi, Tomohide Aoki, Shinobu Kagamiuchi
  • Publication number: 20100092593
    Abstract: A blow molding device capable of securely closing a lower end of a parison to prevent the parison from being crushed. The blow molding device includes a blow mold and a parison holding unit. The parison holding unit includes an inner holding plate adapted to be inserted in an interior of the lower end of the parison, and an outer holding plate adapted to hold an outer surface of the lower end of the parison, and the outer holding plate has a recess conforming to a configuration of the inner holding plate and is split into a plurality of holding plate members such that each of the split holding plate members is capable of sliding to hold the lower end of the parison.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2009
    Publication date: April 15, 2010
    Applicant: FTS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tomohide Aoki, Takahisa Majima, Soji Hamaji
  • Publication number: 20090230133
    Abstract: A fuel tank capable of attaching functional parts and tubes in an interior thereof. In a fuel tank for a motor vehicle, which is formed by blow molding for attachment of a built-in part in an interior thereof, and of which an outer wall composed of a synthetic resin has an opening, a functional part adapted to discharge fluid from the interior of the fuel tank or feed fluid therein is attached to the built-in part, a tube adapted to discharge fluid from the interior of the fuel tank or feed fluid therein is connected to the functional part, and a tube connector is attached to an end of the tube. A temporal holding connector is formed integrally with the built-in part, the tube connector is attached to the temporal holding connector, and after blow molding, the tube connector is detached from the temporal holding connector and is attached to a tank cap adapted to close the opening of the fuel tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2009
    Publication date: September 17, 2009
    Applicants: TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTD., FTS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yukiharu Takeuchi, Norihiro Yamada, Hideyuki Tsuzuki, Tomohide Aoki
  • Publication number: 20090162472
    Abstract: An automotive fuel tank fabrication apparatus is provided. The automotive fuel tank has a blow mold and a built-in part holding unit. The built-in part holding unit includes a plurality of holding rods for holding a built-in part. The holding rods are made to freely advance and retreat in such a manner as to hold the built-in part in a position where the built-in part confronts cavities when the blow mold is opened and to retreat from the blow mold when the blow mold is closed with the built-in part left positioned in an interior of a parison. The holding rods are formed in such a manner that their diameters are reduced as they extend towards distal ends thereof and are inserted into insertion holes formed in the built-in part so as to hold the built-in part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2008
    Publication date: June 25, 2009
    Applicant: FTS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tomohide Aoki, Yoshinari Yoshida
  • Publication number: 20090139994
    Abstract: An automotive fuel tank is provided in which a plurality of mounting members are provided on a built-in part which are fusion bonded to an inner surface of an outer wall of the fuel tank so as to attach the built-in part in place in the fuel tank. An abutment portion is formed on the mounting member which is brought into abutment with an inner surface of the outer wall of the fuel tank. The abutment portion has formed thereon an abutment surface which is made to tightly stick to the inner surface of the outer wall of the fuel tank and elongated projections which project from the abutment surface, whose cross section at their distal end portions is of triangular shape and which penetrate into an interior of the outer wall of the fuel tank, and a height of an apex of the elongated projection from the abutment surface is in the range of 30% to 70% of a thickness of the outer wall of the fuel tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2008
    Publication date: June 4, 2009
    Applicant: FTS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tomohide Aoki, Tomohisa Imaeda
  • Patent number: 7418975
    Abstract: A fuel cutoff valve of the invention attached to an upper portion of a fuel tank includes a casing, a first part supported by multiple legs, a second part, and a spring. The second part is located below the first part in a vertically movable manner and has multiple air holes formed in a top plate to communicate with a buoyancy chamber. When the fuel level in the fuel tank rises to submerge the second part and reach the first part, the first part rises by its buoyancy to close a connection conduit. In the event of an abrupt rise of the fuel level at a high increase rate, for example, by a sudden turn of the vehicle, the second part rises by the increased buoyancy of the buoyancy chamber by the air retained in the buoyancy chamber and presses the first part up to close the connection conduit. The fuel cutoff valve of the invention promptly closes in response to a heavy ruffle of the fuel level by a sudden turn of the vehicle, so as to prevent the outflow of the fuel from the fuel tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masanori Nojiri, Tomohide Aoki
  • Patent number: 7320769
    Abstract: A welding joint 10 for a fuel tank reduces the amount of fuel vapor in the fuel tank that escapes into the atmosphere. The fuel tank welding joint 10 a joint main body 20 and a barrier layer laminated on the surface of the joint main body 20. The joint main body 20 is formed of a first resin material weldable to the wall of the fuel tank FT, and the barrier layer 30 is formed of a second resin material that is adhesively and chemically reactive with the first resin material and that is more fuel-impermeable than the first resin material. An end portion 34 formed so as to be exposed to the outside at the end of a tube portion 24 is formed on the barrier layer 30. When the barrier layer 30 is injection molded on the surface of the joint main body 20, the end portion 34 is formed by the flow of the second resin material through the end of the tube portion 24 to increase the adhesive strength of the end face where the parts are joined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2008
    Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomohide Aoki, Hiroaki Kito, Hiroshi Nishi, Masayuki Nakagawa
  • Publication number: 20070186973
    Abstract: A fuel cutoff valve comprises a casing and a float mechanism having a float and a seat portion. An upper vent hole is formed in the upper wall portion of the float, and a side portion communication hole is formed in the side wall portion. The passage area of the side portion communication hole is set so as to allow a large volume of vapors entering the float chamber to escape into the valve chamber. The passage area of the upper vent hole is set so that vapor entering the float chamber when the vehicle inclines escapes into the valve chamber, and the float chamber fills with fuel lifting the float, whereas when the vehicle turns sharply, the float is lifted without the float chamber filling with fuel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2007
    Publication date: August 16, 2007
    Applicant: TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Keiji Miyoshi, Tomohide Aoki, Shinobu Kagamiuchi
  • Patent number: 7188613
    Abstract: A fuel valve comprises a first valve chamber and a second valve chamber within a casing, where a first valve mechanism and a second valve mechanism are housed in the respective valve chambers. A first float of the first valve mechanism rises when the fuel level reaches a first liquid level, to close a first connection conduit. The second valve mechanism rises to close a second connection conduit when a second liquid level, which is higher than the first liquid level is reached. A valve conduit, which acts as a restriction path, is provided between the first valve chamber and the second valve chamber. The valve conduit is formed with a conduit area that is less than that of the first connection conduit, so as to increase the pressure within the fuel tank when the first connection conduit is closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Natsushi Miura, Tomohide Aoki
  • Patent number: 7152586
    Abstract: A fuel cut-off valve 100 of the invention is attached to an upper portion of a fuel tank and connects and disconnects inside with and from outside of the fuel tank according to the fuel level in the fuel tank. In the fuel cut-off valve 100 of the invention, a valve casing 110 forms a first valve chest 120 and a second valve chest 130 connected to the fuel tank and has an inter-valve chest flow passage 112 connecting the first valve chest 120 to the second valve chest 130 and a canister connection port 102 connecting the second valve chest 120 to a canister placed outside the fuel tank. A first float 124 and a second float 134 are respectively located in the first valve chest 120 and in the second valve chest 130. When the fuel level in the fuel tank rises to reach a preset first level FL1, the first float 124 moves up to close an opening 122 and thereby close the inter-valve chest flow passage 112.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomohide Aoki, Natsushi Miura
  • Publication number: 20060213555
    Abstract: A fuel valve comprises a first valve chamber and a second valve chamber within a casing, where a first valve mechanism and a second valve mechanism are housed in the respective valve chambers. A first float of the first valve mechanism rises when the fuel level reaches a first liquid level, to close a first connection conduit. The second valve mechanism rises to close a second connection conduit when a second liquid level, which is higher than the first liquid level is reached. A valve conduit, which acts as a restriction path, is provided between the first valve chamber and the second valve chamber. The valve conduit is formed with a conduit area that is less than that of the first connection conduit, so as to increase the pressure within the fuel tank when the first connection conduit is closed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2006
    Publication date: September 28, 2006
    Applicant: TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Natsushi Miura, Tomohide Aoki
  • Publication number: 20060065305
    Abstract: A fuel cutoff valve of the invention attached to an upper portion of a fuel tank includes a casing, a first float supported by multiple legs, a second float, and a spring. The second float is located below the first float in a vertically movable manner and has multiple air holes formed in a top plate to communicate with a buoyancy chamber. When the fuel level in the fuel tank rises to submerge the second float and reach the first float, the first float rises by its buoyancy to close a connection conduit. In the event of an abrupt rise of the fuel level at a high increase rate, for example, by a sudden turn of the vehicle, the second float rises by the increased buoyancy of the buoyancy chamber by the air retained in the buoyancy chamber and presses the first float up to close the connection conduit. The fuel cutoff valve of the invention promptly closes in response to a heavy ruffle of the fuel level by a sudden turn of the vehicle, so as to prevent the outflow of the fuel from the fuel tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2005
    Publication date: March 30, 2006
    Inventors: Masanori Nojiri, Tomohide Aoki
  • Patent number: 7013908
    Abstract: An apparatus is for inhibiting fuels from flowing out of fuel tanks, and includes a cover, a breather pipe, an upper case, a lower case, and a floating valve. The upper case is welded to the breather pipe in an airtight manner so as to form a chamber for holding the lower case, in which the floating valve is accommodated, therein. Moreover, the breather pipe is welded to the cover in an airtight manner. The apparatus not only obviates O-rings but also is downsized, because the upper case and the breather pipe are sealed by welding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2006
    Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Keiji Miyoshi, Norihiro Yamada, Keisuke Yoshida, Tomohide Aoki
  • Publication number: 20060042690
    Abstract: A fuel cut-off valve 100 of the invention is attached to an upper portion of a fuel tank and connects and disconnects inside with and from outside of the fuel tank according to the fuel level in the fuel tank. In the fuel cut-off valve 100 of the invention, a valve casing 110 forms a first valve chest 120 and a second valve chest 130 connected to the fuel tank and has an inter-valve chest flow passage 112 connecting the first valve chest 120 to the second valve chest 130 and a canister connection port 102 connecting the second valve chest 120 to a canister placed outside the fuel tank. A first float 124 and a second float 134 are respectively located in the first valve chest 120 and in the second valve chest 130. When the fuel level in the fuel tank rises to reach a preset first level FL1, the first float 124 moves up to close an opening 122 and thereby close the inter-valve chest flow passage 112.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2005
    Publication date: March 2, 2006
    Inventors: Tomohide Aoki, Natsushi Miura