Patents by Inventor Toshimasa Kotani
Toshimasa Kotani 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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Patent number: 11655770Abstract: An engine is provided, which includes an engine body including a cylinder provided with intake and exhaust ports and intake and exhaust valves, intake and exhaust passages, a turbocharger including a turbine provided to the exhaust passage and a compressor provided to the intake passage, and a variable phase mechanism configured to change open/close timings of the intake valve while maintaining an open period of the intake valve at a 270° C.A or larger. A geometric compression ratio of the cylinder is 11:1 or higher. In a high-load range, the variable phase mechanism sets the intake valve close timing to be after an intake BDC and to make a ratio of a retarded amount of the intake closing to the geometric compression ratio be 4.58 or above and 6.67 or below, and sets the intake valve open timing to be before a close timing of the exhaust valve.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2022Date of Patent: May 23, 2023Assignee: Mazda Motor CorporationInventors: Naohiro Yamaguchi, Mitsunori Wasada, Satoshi Imamura, Toshimasa Kotani
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Patent number: 11635041Abstract: An engine is provided, which includes an engine body including a plurality of cylinders, each of the cylinders being provided with an intake port, an exhaust port, an intake valve, and an exhaust valve, an intake passage and an exhaust passage connected to the engine body, and a turbocharger including a turbine provided to the exhaust passage and a compressor provided to the intake passage. A geometric compression ratio of the cylinder is 11:1 or higher. An open period of the intake valve is a range of 270° or larger by a crank angle. The exhaust passage includes a plurality of independent exhaust passages, each communicating with the exhaust port of one cylinder or with the exhaust ports of two or more cylinders of which timings of exhaust strokes are discontinuous from each other, and connecting the engine body to the turbine.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2022Date of Patent: April 25, 2023Assignee: Mazda Motor CorporationInventors: Naohiro Yamaguchi, Mitsunori Wasada, Satoshi Imamura, Toshimasa Kotani
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Publication number: 20220282674Abstract: An engine is provided, which includes an engine body including a cylinder provided with intake and exhaust ports and intake and exhaust valves, intake and exhaust passages, a turbocharger including a turbine provided to the exhaust passage and a compressor provided to the intake passage, and a variable phase mechanism configured to change open/close timings of the intake valve while maintaining an open period of the intake valve at a 270° C.A or larger. A geometric compression ratio of the cylinder is 11:1 or higher. In a high-load range, the variable phase mechanism sets the intake valve close timing to be after an intake BDC and to make a ratio of a retarded amount of the intake closing to the geometric compression ratio be 4.58 or above and 6.67 or below, and sets the intake valve open timing to be before a close timing of the exhaust valve.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 31, 2022Publication date: September 8, 2022Inventors: Naohiro Yamaguchi, Mitsunori Wasada, Satoshi Imamura, Toshimasa Kotani
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Publication number: 20220282686Abstract: An engine is provided, which includes an engine body including a plurality of cylinders, each of the cylinders being provided with an intake port, an exhaust port, an intake valve, and an exhaust valve, an intake passage and an exhaust passage connected to the engine body, and a turbocharger including a turbine provided to the exhaust passage and a compressor provided to the intake passage. A geometric compression ratio of the cylinder is 11:1 or higher. An open period of the intake valve is a range of 270° or larger by a crank angle. The exhaust passage includes a plurality of independent exhaust passages, each communicating with the exhaust port of one cylinder or with the exhaust ports of two or more cylinders of which timings of exhaust strokes are discontinuous from each other, and connecting the engine body to the turbine.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 31, 2022Publication date: September 8, 2022Inventors: Naohiro Yamaguchi, Mitsunori Wasada, Satoshi Imamura, Toshimasa Kotani
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Patent number: 10047645Abstract: A valve train device for an engine includes: a shaft portion; a cam element portion which is mounted on the shaft portion; and an operation member. The cam element portion includes a first end surface cam and a second end surface cam. Each of the first end surface cam and the second end surface cam includes a lift portion. The operation member includes a first operation member and a second operation member. The first operation member causes the cam element portion to move in a first direction, and the second operation member causes the cam element portion to move in a second direction. The first end surface cam includes a first slope portion, and guides the first operation member radially outwardly; and a displacement allowing portion which is formed adjacent to the first slope portion, and allows relative displacement between the first operation member, and the cam element portion.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 2015Date of Patent: August 14, 2018Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATIONInventors: Akitomo Takagi, Toshimasa Kotani
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Publication number: 20170191387Abstract: A valve train device for an engine includes: a shaft portion; a cam element portion which is mounted on the shaft portion; and an operation member. The cam element portion includes a first end surface cam and a second end surface cam. Each of the first end surface cam and the second end surface cam includes a lift portion. The operation member includes a first operation member and a second operation member. The first operation member causes the cam element portion to move in a first direction, and the second operation member causes the cam element portion to move in a second direction. The first end surface cam includes a first slope portion, and guides the first operation member radially outwardly; and a displacement allowing portion which is formed adjacent to the first slope portion, and allows relative displacement between the first operation member, and the cam element portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 27, 2015Publication date: July 6, 2017Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATIONInventors: Akitomo TAKAGI, Toshimasa KOTANI
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Patent number: 9574465Abstract: A cam element portions is configured such that respective maximum lift portions (lift ending points) of both-side end-face cams thereof are provided at respective phases which are different from each other in a rotational direction and that a maximum value of a length, in an axial direction, between respective cam faces of the both-side end-face cams which are provided at the same phase is set to be a distance, in the axial direction, between a first operational member and a second operational member or smaller. Accordingly, in a valve gear of an engine in which cams operative to control opening/closing of a valve are switchable, it can be properly prevented that a camshaft locks and stop rotating because of an operational malfunction of an operational member or the like.Type: GrantFiled: August 14, 2014Date of Patent: February 21, 2017Assignee: Mazda Motor CorporationInventors: Akitomo Takagi, Toshimasa Kotani, Shunsuke Habara, Takashi Kashiwabara
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Patent number: 9546578Abstract: A valve operating system for an engine is provided. The system includes first and second detent mechanisms for holding a cam element at a first position when the cam element is shifted to one side in camshaft directions, and at a second position when the cam element is shifted to the other side. The detent mechanisms include first and second detent cams and first and second pushing members, respectively. The first detent cam includes first and second grooves and a first top portion. The second detent cam includes third and fourth grooves and a second top portion. The first and second grooves have inclining portions extending from the first top portion toward bottoms thereof, inclining with respect to the camshaft directions, respectively. The third and fourth grooves have inclining portions extending from the second top portion toward bottoms thereof, inclining with respect to the camshaft directions, respectively.Type: GrantFiled: January 15, 2015Date of Patent: January 17, 2017Assignee: Mazda Motor CorporationInventors: Akitomo Takagi, Toshimasa Kotani
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Patent number: 9347342Abstract: A cam element portion comprises a slant portion (reverse-rotation return slope portion), which is positioned on a rotary-delay side from a maximum-lift portion (lift ending point) of an end-face cam and slants inward toward the rotary-delay side from an outer peripheral face of the end-face cam. Accordingly, in a valve gear of an engine in which cams operative to control opening/closing of a valve are switchable, it can be properly prevented that the cam element portion is switched unexpectedly and improperly or an operational member breaks down which are possibly caused by an engine's reverse rotation.Type: GrantFiled: August 14, 2014Date of Patent: May 24, 2016Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATIONInventors: Toshimasa Kotani, Akitomo Takagi, Shunsuke Habara, Takashi Kashiwabara
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Publication number: 20150204219Abstract: A valve operating system for an engine is provided. The system includes first and second detent mechanisms for holding a cam element at a first position when the cam element is shifted to one side in camshaft directions, and at a second position when the cam element is shifted to the other side. The detent mechanisms include first and second detent cams and first and second pushing members, respectively. The first detent cam includes first and second grooves and a first top portion. The second detent cam includes third and fourth grooves and a second top portion. The first and second grooves have inclining portions extending from the first top portion toward bottoms thereof, inclining with respect to the camshaft directions, respectively. The third and fourth grooves have inclining portions extending from the second top portion toward bottoms thereof, inclining with respect to the camshaft directions, respectively.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 15, 2015Publication date: July 23, 2015Inventors: Akitomo Takagi, Toshimasa Kotani
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Publication number: 20150075468Abstract: A cam element portions is configured such that respective maximum lift portions (lift ending points) of both-side end-face cams thereof are provided at respective phases which are different from each other in a rotational direction and that a maximum value of a length, in an axial direction, between respective cam faces of the both-side end-face cams which are provided at the same phase is set to be a distance, in the axial direction, between a first operational member and a second operational member or smaller. Accordingly, in a valve gear of an engine in which cams operative to control opening/closing of a valve are switchable, it can be properly prevented that a camshaft locks and stop rotating because of an operational malfunction of an operational member or the like.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 14, 2014Publication date: March 19, 2015Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATIONInventors: Akitomo TAKAGI, Toshimasa KOTANI, Shunsuke HABARA, Takashi KASHIWABARA
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Publication number: 20150075467Abstract: A cam element portion comprises a slant portion (reverse-rotation return slope portion), which is positioned on a rotary-delay side from a maximum-lift portion (lift ending point) of an end-face cam and slants inward toward the rotary-delay side from an outer peripheral face of the end-face cam. Accordingly, in a valve gear of an engine in which cams operative to control opening/closing of a valve are switchable, it can be properly prevented that the cam element portion is switched unexpectedly and improperly or an operational member breaks down which are possibly caused by an engine's reverse rotation.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 14, 2014Publication date: March 19, 2015Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATIONInventors: Toshimasa KOTANI, Akitomo TAKAGI, Shunsuke HABARA, Takashi KASHIWABARA
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Patent number: 8511263Abstract: A pump attaching portion is formed at a specified outside portion of an engine body beside a boss portion of a cylinder-head fastening bolt in such a manner that the pump attaching portion is continuous from the boss portion. The pump attaching portion has an attachment face, which contains a cooling-water introducing port, which is located on the outside of the flange wall and faces toward an engine front side in such a manner that the position of the attachment face is retreated from the flange wall. Accordingly, the sufficient pump-support rigidity can be ensured, restraining the pump attaching portion from projecting greatly toward the side of the engine body.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2010Date of Patent: August 20, 2013Assignee: Mazda Motor CorporationInventors: Yuichi Ayukawa, Ryotaro Nishida, Toshimasa Kotani
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Publication number: 20100313829Abstract: A pump attaching portion is formed at a specified outside portion of an engine body beside a boss portion of a cylinder-head fastening bolt in such a manner that the pump attaching portion is continuous from the boss portion. The pump attaching portion has an attachment face, which contains a cooling-water introducing port, which is located on the outside of the flange wall and faces toward an engine front side in such a manner that the position of the attachment face is retreated from the flange wall. Accordingly, the sufficient pump-support rigidity can be ensured, restraining the pump attaching portion from projecting greatly toward the side of the engine body.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 30, 2010Publication date: December 16, 2010Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATIONInventors: Yuichi AYUKAWA, Ryotaro NISHIDA, Toshimasa KOTANI
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Patent number: 7739991Abstract: A rocker cam is comprised of a first split body and a second split body, which are joined with a joint split face that contains an axial line of a cam shaft. The first split body has a first pin support portion that supports one end portion of the connection pin, and the second split body has a second pin support portion that is located so as to face the first pin support portion and supports the other end portion of the connection pin. The connection pin is supported at the first and second pin support portions at its both end portions. Accordingly, a separation force that acts on the first and second split bodies of the rocker cam during its repeated rocking movement can be reduced without improperly increasing its rigidity.Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 2008Date of Patent: June 22, 2010Assignee: Mazda Motor CorporationInventors: Toshimasa Kotani, Hirokazu Matsuura, Shinichi Sugihara
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Publication number: 20080184946Abstract: A rocker cam is comprised of a first split body and a second split body, which are joined with a joint split face that contains an axial line of a cam shaft. The first split body has a first pin support portion that supports one end portion of the connection pin, and the second split body has a second pin support portion that is located so as to face the first pin support portion and supports the other end portion of the connection pin. The connection pin is supported at the first and second pin support portions at its both end portions. Accordingly, a separation force that acts on the first and second split bodies of the rocker cam during its repeated rocking movement can be reduced without improperly increasing its rigidity.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 14, 2008Publication date: August 7, 2008Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATIONInventors: Toshimasa KOTANI, Hirokazu MATSUURA, Shinichi SUGIHARA