Patents by Inventor Toru Segawa
Toru Segawa 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).
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Publication number: 20090050400Abstract: The vehicle front side end portion of a lower column tube 2 is bent and fixed to the vehicle rear side end of a gear housing 13 by a screw bolt 18. A seal member 20 is press-fitted and fixed at a predetermined position between a radially inner circumference of the vehicle front side portion of the lower column tube 2 and an input shaft 4. The lower column tube 2 is fixedly secured to the gear housing 13, whereby the lower column tube 2 is positioned, and the seal member 20 is fixed between the input shaft 4 and the lower column tube 2. Components for torque sensing disposed in the gear housing 13 are arranged side by side along a radial direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 15, 2006Publication date: February 26, 2009Applicant: NSK LTD.Inventor: Toru Segawa
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Patent number: 7490695Abstract: A small gap is formed between a worm shaft 3 and a second bearing 20, so that the worm shaft can be tilted relative to the inner ring 20a of the second bearing 20 without fail when preloaded by a torsion spring 14. An elastic member 41 is provided in at least portion of a circumferential groove 40 in the small gap. The worm shaft 3 and the inner ring 20a of the second bearing 20 are not in contact with each other, and their metallic clank in the small gap can be prevented. By providing a projecting portion(s) 3b on one side or both sides, with respect to the axial direction, of the circumferential groove 40, the small gap between the worm shaft 3 and the inner ring 20a of the second bearing 20 can be made large, and it is possible to enlarge the range over which the worm shaft 3 can swing.Type: GrantFiled: June 8, 2005Date of Patent: February 17, 2009Assignee: NSK Ltd.Inventor: Toru Segawa
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Patent number: 7455148Abstract: A torsion coil spring 30 applies an elastic force to a worm shaft 29 in a direction towards a worm wheel, via a pre-load pad 70. The pre-load pad 70 restricts displacement in relation to the widthwise direction, by one side face portion of a holder 61 fixed to a gear housing 22. Due to the elastic deformation of the pre-load pad 70 itself based on the elastic force of the torsion coil spring 30, the side face of the pre-load pad 70 is abutted against the one side face portion of the holder 61, so that a gap between the pre-load pad 70 and the one side face portion is minimized. As a result, the occurrence of a teeth fitting noise in the worm reduction gear 16 is suppressed.Type: GrantFiled: May 10, 2007Date of Patent: November 25, 2008Assignees: NSK Ltd., NSK Steering Systems Co., Ltd.Inventors: Toru Segawa, Kazuo Chikaraishi
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Patent number: 7455149Abstract: A torsion coil spring 30 applies an elastic force to a worm shaft 29 in a direction towards a worm wheel, via a pre-load pad 70. The pre-load pad 70 restricts displacement in relation to the widthwise direction, by one side face portion of a holder 61 fixed to a gear housing 22. Due to the elastic deformation of the pre-load pad 70 itself based on the elastic force of the torsion coil spring 30, the side face of the pre-load pad 70 is abutted against the one side face portion of the holder 61, so that a gap between the pre-load pad 70 and the one side face portion is minimized. As a result, the occurrence of a teeth fitting noise in the worm reduction gear 16 is suppressed.Type: GrantFiled: May 10, 2007Date of Patent: November 25, 2008Assignees: NSK Ltd., NSK Steering Systems Co., Ltd.Inventors: Toru Segawa, Kazuo Chikaraishi
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Publication number: 20080217097Abstract: An assist apparatus for electric-powered power steering apparatus is provided to have a torque sensor, steering shaft, preload pad 70, a torsion coil spring 30, and an electric motor 31. With the preload pad 70 and torsion coil spring 30, an elastic force is applied to the worm shaft 29 in the direction toward the worm wheel 28, whereby noises due to colliding teeth are prevented from occurring in the meshing portion between the worm wheel 28 and worm shaft 29.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 20, 2008Publication date: September 11, 2008Applicant: NSK LTD.Inventor: Toru SEGAWA
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Patent number: 7360467Abstract: A torsion coil spring 30 applies an elastic force to a worm shaft 29 in a direction towards a worm wheel, via a pre-load pad 70. The pre-load pad 70 restricts displacement in relation to the widthwise direction, by one side face portion of a holder 61 fixed to a gear housing 22. Due to the elastic deformation of the pre-load pad 70 itself based on the elastic force of the torsion coil spring 30, the side face of the pre-load pad 70 is abutted against the one side face portion of the holder 61, so that a gap between the pre-load pad 70 and the one side face portion is minimized. As a result, the occurrence of a teeth fitting noise in the worm reduction gear 16 is suppressed.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 2004Date of Patent: April 22, 2008Assignees: NSK, Ltd., NSK Steering Systems Co., Ltd.Inventors: Toru Segawa, Kazuo Chikaraishi
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Publication number: 20080035413Abstract: Male splines 21 and 23 formed in both the end parts of a torsion bar 5 are fitted and fixed to female splines 22 and 24 formed in an input shaft 2 and an output shaft 3. Further, the number of irregularities of protruding and recessed shaped stoppers 18 and 19 is the same as the number of irregularities of the male splines 21 and 23 formed on the torsion bar 5. The male splines 21 and 23 of both the end parts of the torsion bar 5 have the same phase. Accordingly, even when the torsion bar 5 and both the shafts 2 and 3 are attached to any phase, an angle regulated by the stoppers 18 and 19 when both the shafts 2 and 3 are distorted is substantially the same angle in right and left with respect to a neutral position.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 21, 2005Publication date: February 14, 2008Applicant: NSK LTD.Inventors: Toru Segawa, Hiroshi Eda
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Patent number: 7309068Abstract: A rubber gasket to be disposed in a compressed state between separators of a fuel cell includes a sealing portion having a sectional shape of a two-projection structure with a first projection having a curved slope of a first curvature radius (D), and a second projection provided on the first projection and having a second curvature radius (H). A pedestal portion extends in a horizontal direction with a predetermined thickness continuously from a foot portion of the curved slope of the first projection and has a flat bottom surface.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 2004Date of Patent: December 18, 2007Assignees: Nichias Corporation, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Toru Segawa, Atsushi Omura, Katsuya Kusuno, Tetsuo Ohinata, Chisato Kato, Toshiyuki Suzuki, Naohiro Takeshita, Yasuyuki Asai
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Publication number: 20070251757Abstract: A torsion coil spring 30 applies an elastic force to a worm shaft 29 in a direction towards a worm wheel, via a pre-load pad 70. The pre-load pad 70 restricts displacement in relation to the widthwise direction, by one side face portion of a holder 61 fixed to a gear housing 22. Due to the elastic deformation of the pre-load pad 70 itself based on the elastic force of the torsion coil spring 30, the side face of the pre-load pad 70 is abutted against the one side face portion of the holder 61, so that a gap between the pre-load pad 70 and the one side face portion is minimized. As a result, the occurrence of a teeth fitting noise in the worm reduction gear 16 is suppressed.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 10, 2007Publication date: November 1, 2007Applicant: NSK LTD.Inventors: Toru Segawa, Kazuo Chikaraishi
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Publication number: 20070251758Abstract: A torsion coil spring 30 applies an elastic force to a worm shaft 29 in a direction towards a worm wheel, via a pre-load pad 70. The pre-load pad 70 restricts displacement in relation to the widthwise direction, by one side face portion of a holder 61 fixed to a gear housing 22. Due to the elastic deformation of the pre-load pad 70 itself based on the elastic force of the torsion coil spring 30, the side face of the pre-load pad 70 is abutted against the one side face portion of the holder 61, so that a gap between the pre-load pad 70 and the one side face portion is minimized. As a result, the occurrence of a teeth fitting noise in the worm reduction gear 16 is suppressed.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 10, 2007Publication date: November 1, 2007Applicants: NSK LTD., NSK Steering Systems Co., Ltd.Inventors: Toru Segawa, Kazuo Chikaraishi
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Publication number: 20070209864Abstract: In an electric power steering apparatus in which steering torque applied on a steering wheel is detected by a torque sensor, and a steering assist torque is generated by an electric motor in accordance with the detected steering torque and transmitted to an output shaft of a steering mechanism with a speed reduced by a worm gear mechanism, the gear meshing position in the worm gear mechanism and the position of the torque sensor are arranged to be substantially coincide with each other with respect to the axial direction of the output shaft. Alternatively, a worm wheel of the worm gear mechanism is directly supported on a housing in a rotatable manner by means of a bearing. A steering shaft and an input shaft of a power assist section are fixedly connected in close contact attained by plastic deformation.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 5, 2005Publication date: September 13, 2007Inventors: Toru Segawa, Hiroshi Eda, Kazuo Chikaraishi, Kenji Someya, Toshiyuki Onizuka
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Patent number: 7188700Abstract: Provided is an electric power steering apparatus comprising a housing, a motor attached to this housing and transmitting an auxiliary steering force to a rotary shaft through a motor shaft, a worm formed on or fitted on the rotary shaft and having a gear portion formed of a metal or a resin, rolling bearings provided in the housing, disposed respectively in positions on both sides of the worm and rotatably supporting the rotary shaft, an output shaft transmitting a steering force for steering an axle and rotatably supported in a predetermined position of the housing, and a worm wheel formed on or fitted on the output shaft in a way that meshes with the worm and having a gear portion formed of the resin, wherein a pre-load mechanism for applying a pre-load acting towards the worm wheel is provided at a shaft end portion, distal from the motor, of the rotary shaft.Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 2006Date of Patent: March 13, 2007Assignee: NSK Ltd.Inventors: Hiroshi Eda, Toru Segawa
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Patent number: 7183681Abstract: In an electric power steering apparatus that generates an auxiliary steering torque by a brushless motor in response to a steering torque applied on a steering wheel and transmits it to an output shaft of a steering mechanism while reducing it by means of a reduction gear, the apparatus comprises a rotor (10) to which a cylindrical permanent magnet for rotational driving (12) and a member to be detected (13) for detection of a rotational angle of the rotor are attached and a cylindrical stator (30) opposed to the rotor in which a laminated core (16) on which a coil is wound, detection means (17) for detecting the rotational angle of the rotor by the member to be detected and a terminal (19) for providing connection to the coil are integrally formed by resin molding. At least one bearing (8, 9) for rotatably supporting the rotor is disposed radially inside the stator and between the permanent magnet for rotational driving and the member to be detected.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2005Date of Patent: February 27, 2007Assignees: NSK Ltd., NSK Steering Systems Co., Ltd.Inventors: Toru Segawa, Yushi Momo, Hiroshi Eda, Takayoshi Kanazawa, Masaru Wada
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Patent number: 7100734Abstract: An assist apparatus for electric-powered power steering apparatus is provided to have a torque sensor, steering shaft, preload pad 70, a torsion coil spring 30, and an electric motor 31. With the preload pad 70 and torsion coil spring 30, an elastic force is applied to the worm shaft 29 in the direction toward the worm wheel 28, whereby noises due to colliding teeth are prevented from occurring in the meshing portion between the worm wheel 28 and worm shaft 29.Type: GrantFiled: July 17, 2003Date of Patent: September 5, 2006Assignee: NSK Ltd.Inventor: Toru Segawa
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Publication number: 20060191738Abstract: Provided is an electric power steering apparatus comprising a housing, a motor attached to this housing and transmitting an auxiliary steering force to a rotary shaft through a motor shaft, a worm formed on or fitted on the rotary shaft and having a gear portion formed of a metal or a resin, rolling bearings provided in the housing, disposed respectively in positions on both sides of the worm and rotatably supporting the rotary shaft, an output shaft transmitting a steering force for steering an axle and rotatably supported in a predetermined position of the housing, and a worm wheel formed on or fitted on the output shaft in a way that meshes with the worm and having a gear portion formed of the resin, wherein a pre-load mechanism for applying a pre-load acting towards the worm wheel is provided at a shaft end portion, distal from the motor, of the rotary shaft.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 12, 2006Publication date: August 31, 2006Inventors: Hiroshi Eda, Toru Segawa
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Patent number: 7077235Abstract: Provided is an electric power steering apparatus comprising a housing, a motor attached to this housing and transmitting an auxiliary steering force to a rotary shaft through a motor shaft, a worm formed on or fitted on the rotary shaft and having a gear portion formed of a metal or a resin, rolling bearings provided in the housing, disposed respectively in positions on both sides of the worm and rotatably supporting the rotary shaft, an output shaft transmitting a steering force for steering an axle and rotatably supported in a predetermined position of the housing, and a worm wheel formed on or fitted on the output shaft in a way that meshes with the worm and having a gear portion formed of the resin, wherein a pre-load mechanism for applying a pre-load acting towards the worm wheel is provided at a shaft end portion, distal from the motor, of the rotary shaft.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 2002Date of Patent: July 18, 2006Assignee: NSK Ltd.Inventors: Hiroshi Eda, Toru Segawa
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Publication number: 20060117889Abstract: A torsion coil spring 30 applies an elastic force to a worm shaft 29 in a direction towards a worm wheel, via a pre-load pad 70. The pre-load pad 70 restricts displacement in relation to the widthwise direction, by one side face portion of a holder 61 fixed to a gear housing 22. Due to the elastic deformation of the pre-load pad 70 itself based on the elastic force of the torsion coil spring 30, the side face of the pre-load pad 70 is abutted against the one side face portion of the holder 61, so that a gap between the pre-load pad 70 and the one side face portion is minimized. As a result, the occurrence of a teeth fitting noise in the worm reduction gear 16 is suppressed.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 24, 2004Publication date: June 8, 2006Applicants: NSK LTD., NSK Steering Systems Co., Ltd.Inventors: Toru Segawa, Kazuo Chikaraishi
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Publication number: 20060086559Abstract: A steering device comprises an upper steering shaft, a lower steering shaft for transmitting rotations of the upper steering shaft to a steering gear, an engaging projection provided on a fitted-in portion of the upper shaft, an engaging groove provided on a fitted-in portion of the lower shaft for engaging with the engaging projection with a clearance of a rotational direction and a rotational direction biasing member, provided on the fitted-in portion, for giving a biasing force of a rotational direction between the upper and lower steering shafts.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 21, 2005Publication date: April 27, 2006Inventors: Toru Segawa, Hiroshi Eda, Kazuo Chikaraishi
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Publication number: 20060027417Abstract: An assist apparatus for electric-powered power steering apparatus is provided to have a torque sensor, steering shaft, preload pad 70, a torsion coil spring 30, and an electric motor 31. With the preload pad 70 and torsion coil spring 30, an elastic force is applied to the worm shaft 29 in the direction toward the worm wheel 28, whereby noises due to colliding teeth are prevented from occurring in the meshing portion between the worm wheel 28 and worm shaft 29.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 10, 2005Publication date: February 9, 2006Inventor: Toru Segawa
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Publication number: 20050224278Abstract: A small gap is formed between a worm shaft 3 and a second bearing 20, so that the worm shaft can be tilted relative to the inner ring 20a of the second bearing 20 without fail when preloaded by a torsion spring 14. An elastic member 41 is provided in at least portion of a circumferential groove 40 in the small gap. The worm shaft 3 and the inner ring 20a of the second bearing 20 are not in contact with each other, and their metallic clank in the small gap can be prevented. By providing a projecting portion(s) 3b on one side or both sides, with respect to the axial direction, of the circumferential groove 40, the small gap between the worm shaft 3 and the inner ring 20a of the second bearing 20 can be made large, and it is possible to enlarge the range over which the worm shaft 3 can swing.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 8, 2005Publication date: October 13, 2005Inventor: Toru Segawa