Patents by Inventor Tomoko Baba

Tomoko Baba 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).

  • Publication number: 20230251152
    Abstract: The rotational torque inspection method for a bearing device comprises: a press-fitting step (S02); a first bearing preload value calculation step (S03) for calculating a first bearing preload value (P1); a post-press-fit rotational torque measurement step (S05) for measuring a post-press-fit rotational torque (Ta); a crimping step (S06) for crimping the small diameter step part to the inner ring; a post-crimping rotational torque measurement step (S07) for measuring a post-crimping rotational torque (Tb); a second bearing preload value calculation step (S08) for calculating a second bearing preload value (P2); and a determination step (S09) for determining the suitability of the preload depending on whether or not the second bearing preload value (P2) is within a range of a reference value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2021
    Publication date: August 10, 2023
    Inventors: Shun TAMAKI, Masaaki HAYASHI, Sadayuki KUBOTA, Tomoko BABA
  • Patent number: 11015651
    Abstract: A bearing device for a vehicle wheel includes an outer member which is a plastic work piece in which an open hole in an outer-side end part is pushed out from inner sides, and an outer periphery of the outer member has a bulged part that is enlarged radially outward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomoko Baba, Chinami Kitanaka
  • Patent number: 10302126
    Abstract: A bearing device for wheels is configured so as to reduce an amount of deformation of an opening of an outer member while minimizing an increase in overall weight, thus preventing a deterioration in rolling fatigue life. The bearing device for wheels is provided with an outer member having double-row outer rolling surfaces, a hub ring having a wheel mounting flange and having a small-diameter stepped section, and an inner member constituted by at least one inner ring press-fitted over the small-diameter stepped section, the inner member having double-row inner rolling surfaces facing the double-row outer rolling surfaces. A band-shaped section having a predetermined band width and protruding radially by a protrusion amount is formed on at least a part of the wheel mounting flange-side outer peripheral portion of the opening of the outer member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazunari Yamamoto, Tomoko Baba
  • Publication number: 20190093703
    Abstract: A bearing device 1 for a vehicle wheel, wherein an outer member 2 (specifically, a work piece W serving as the material for the outer member 2) is a plastic work piece in which an open hole (specifically, an open hole Wh of the work piece W) in an outer-side end part is pushed out from the inner sides, and the outer periphery of the outer member 2 has a thick part 2f that is enlarged radially outward.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2017
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Inventors: Tomoko BABA, Chinami KITANAKA
  • Publication number: 20180231054
    Abstract: The present invention addresses the problem of providing a bearing device for wheels, the bearing device for wheels being configured so as to reduce an amount of deformation of an opening of an outer member while minimizing an increase of an overall the weight, thus preventing a deterioration in rolling fatigue life. A bearing device for wheels is provided with: an outer member having double-row outer rolling surfaces; a hub ring having a wheel mounting flange and having a small-diameter stepped section; and an inner member constituted by at least one inner ring press-fitted over the small-diameter stepped section, the inner member having double-row inner rolling surfaces facing the double-row outer rolling surfaces. A band-shaped section having a predetermined band width and protruding radially by a protrusion amount is formed on at least a part of the wheel mounting flange-side outer peripheral portion of the opening of the outer member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2016
    Publication date: August 16, 2018
    Inventors: Kazunari YAMAMOTO, Tomoko BABA
  • Patent number: 9751361
    Abstract: A wheel bearing has a seal device formed as a pack seal with an annular sealing plate and slinger. The sealing plate has a metal core and an integrally adhered sealing member. The sealing member has a base portion, side lip and radial lip. The base portion covers an inner circumferential surface of the metal core. The radial lip slidingly contacts the cylindrical portion of the slinger. A garter spring is mounted on the radial lip. A tightening force of the garter spring is set to 50% or more of a total tightening force of the radial lip. The tightening force of the radial lip without the garter spring is set to 3N or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Makoto Seki, Tomoko Baba
  • Publication number: 20150028663
    Abstract: A wheel bearing has a seal device formed as a pack seal with an annular sealing plate and slinger. The sealing plate has a metal core and an integrally adhered sealing member. The sealing member has a base portion, side lip and radial lip. The base portion covers an inner circumferential surface of the metal core. The radial lip slidingly contacts the cylindrical portion of the slinger. A garter spring is mounted on the radial lip. A tightening force of the garter spring is set to 50% or more of a total tightening force of the radial lip. The tightening force of the radial lip without the garter spring is set to 3 N or more.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2014
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventors: MAKOTO SEKI, Tomoko Baba
  • Patent number: 8915649
    Abstract: A wheel bearing apparatus has a protecting cover formed from non-magnetic steel sheet with a cup-shaped configuration. The protective cover has a cylindrical fitting portion, a disk-shaped shield portion, a radially reducing portion, a stepped portion and a bottom portion. The cylindrical fitting portion is press-fit into the inner circumference of the inner-side end of the outer member. The disk-shaped shielding portion extends radially inward from the fitting portion, via the radially reducing portion. The inner-side surface of the shielding portion is arranged close to or in contact with a rotation speed detecting sensor. The bottom portion is continuous with the shielding portion, via the stepped portion to close the inner-side end of the inner member. A full deflection of the side surface of the shielding portion that is caused by a load the same as that applied to the protecting cover when it is press-fit into the outer member is limited to a predetermined value or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Makoto Seki, Yasuhiro Aritake, Tomoko Baba, Tadashi Mitsuishi
  • Patent number: 8690449
    Abstract: A wheel bearing apparatus has a protecting cover formed from non-magnetic material with a substantially dish-shaped configuration. A cylindrical fitting portion is adapted to be press-fit onto the inner circumference of the inner-side end of the outer member. A disc-shaped shielding portion extends radially inward from the fitting portion, via a radially tapered portion. A bottom portion extends from the shielding portion, via a stepped portion. A flat relief portion is formed between the radially tapered portion and the shielding portion. The relief portion is parallel with the shielding portion. The relief portion is set slightly back from the shielding portion toward the radially tapered portion. An elastic member is integrally adhered to the outer circumference of the radially tapered portion. The elastic member elastically contacts with the inner circumference of the inner-side end of the outer member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Makoto Seki, Tomoko Baba
  • Publication number: 20140010487
    Abstract: A wheel bearing apparatus has a protecting cover formed from non-magnetic steel sheet with a cup-shaped configuration. The protective cover has a cylindrical fitting portion, a disk-shaped shield portion, a radially reducing portion, a stepped portion and a bottom portion. The cylindrical fitting portion is press-fit into the inner circumference of the inner-side end of the outer member. The disk-shaped shielding portion extends radially inward from the fitting portion, via the radially reducing portion. The inner-side surface of the shielding portion is arranged close to or in contact with a rotation speed detecting sensor. The bottom portion is continuous with the shielding portion, via the stepped portion to close the inner-side end of the inner member. A full deflection of the side surface of the shielding portion that is caused by a load the same as that applied to the protecting cover when it is press-fit into the outer member is limited to a predetermined value or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2013
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Inventors: Makoto SEKI, Yasuhiro ARITAKE, Tomoko BABA, Tadashi MITSUISHI
  • Publication number: 20130195389
    Abstract: A wheel bearing apparatus has a protecting cover formed from non-magnetic material with a substantially dish-shaped configuration. A cylindrical fitting portion is adapted to be press-fit onto the inner circumference of the inner-side end of the outer member. A disc-shaped shielding portion extends radially inward from the fitting portion, via a radially tapered portion. A bottom portion extends from the shielding portion, via a stepped portion. A flat relief portion is formed between the radially tapered portion and the shielding portion. The relief portion is parallel with the shielding portion. The relief portion is set slightly back from the shielding portion toward the radially tapered portion. An elastic member is integrally adhered to the outer circumference of the radially tapered portion. The elastic member elastically contacts with the inner circumference of the inner-side end of the outer member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Applicant: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Makoto SEKI, Tomoko BABA
  • Patent number: 8267591
    Abstract: A wheel bearing seal (7, 19, 20) has an annular sealing plate (10 or 21) and a slinger (11 or 11?). The sealing plate (10 or 21) has a metal core (12 or 22) and sealing member (13 or 23). The sealing member (13 or 23) has a first side lip (13a or 23a), a second side lip (13b or 23b), and a grease lip (13c or 23c). The slinger (11 or 11?) has a cylindrical portion (11a or 11a?) and an upstanding portion (11b, 11b?). The first and second side lips (13a or 23a and 13b or 23b) slidably contact the upstanding portion. The grease lip (13c or 23c) slidably contacts with the cylindrical portion (11 a or 11a?). A relationship, F1+F2?1.5×F3, exists between contacting loads F1 and F2, respectively, of the first and second side lips (13a or 23a and 13b or 23b) and a fastening force F3 of the grease lip (13c or 23c).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Tomoko Baba, Kazuo Komori
  • Publication number: 20110262069
    Abstract: A wheel bearing seal (7, 19, 20) has an annular sealing plate (10 or 21) and a slinger (11 or 11?). The sealing plate (10 or 21) has a metal core (12 or 22) and sealing member (13 or 23). The sealing member (13 or 23) has a first side lip (13a or 23a), a second side lip (13b or 23b), and a grease lip (13c or 23c). The slinger (11 or 11?) has a cylindrical portion (11a or 11a?) and an upstanding portion (11b, 11b?). The first and second side lips (13a or 23a and 13b or 23b) slidably contact the upstanding portion. The grease lip (13c or 23c) slidably contacts with the cylindrical portion (11 a or 11a?). A relationship, F1+F2?1.5×F3, exists between contacting loads F1 and F2, respectively, of the first and second side lips (13a or 23a and 13b or 23b) and a fastening force F3 of the grease lip (13c or 23c).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2011
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Applicant: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Tomoko Baba, Kazuo Komori
  • Patent number: 7832942
    Abstract: A vehicle wheel bearing apparatus has an outer member and an inner member. The inner member has a wheel hub and at least one inner ring fit onto a cylindrical portion of the wheel hub or an outer raceway surface of a constant velocity universal joint. Double row rolling element groups are freely rollably contained between said inner and outer raceway surfaces of the inner member and the outer member. A pitch circle diameter of the ball element group near to the wheel mounting flange is larger than that of the double row ball group away from the wheel mounting flange. A maximum diameter of the outer raceway surface of the smaller diameter side of the double row outer raceway surfaces of the outer member is substantially the same as an inner diameter of a shoulder portion of the outer diameter side. The size of each rolling element of the group near to the wheel mounting flange is different from that of each rolling element of the group away from the wheel mounting flange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuo Komori, Tomoko Baba, Masahiro Kiuchi
  • Publication number: 20090154864
    Abstract: A vehicle wheel bearing apparatus has an outer member and an inner member. The inner member has a wheel hub and at least one inner ring fit onto a cylindrical portion of the wheel hub or an outer raceway surface of a constant velocity universal joint. Double row rolling element groups are freely rollably contained between said inner and outer raceway surfaces of the inner member and the outer member. A pitch circle diameter of the ball element group near to the wheel mounting flange is larger than that of the double row ball group away from the wheel mounting flange. A maximum diameter of the outer raceway surface of the smaller diameter side of the double row outer raceway surfaces of the outer member is substantially the same as an inner diameter of a shoulder portion of the outer diameter side. The size of each rolling element of the group near to the wheel mounting flange is different from that of each rolling element of the group away from the wheel mounting flange.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2009
    Publication date: June 18, 2009
    Applicant: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuo Komori, Tomoko Baba, Masahiro Kiuchi
  • Patent number: D817821
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomoko Baba, Kazunari Yamamoto