Patents by Inventor Yoichi Imgawa

Yoichi Imgawa 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: 6945215
    Abstract: A portable, operator-carried power tool having an implement supported on frame, and a lightweight, four-stroke, engine drivably connected to the implement. The engine has a crankshaft situated in a crankshaft housing and a cylinder block secured to the housing, the crankshaft being provided with a crankcase ventilation passage extending between the crankcase and an outlet end in communication with an air/fuel induction passage. A passage establishes communication between the interior of the crankcase and the valve chamber through a cam and cam gear region of the cylinder block. An oil mist generator is connected drivably to the crankshaft for agitating liquid oil in the crankcase to establish a lubricating oil mist. The crankcase, cam region and valve chamber form a containment whereby oil mist is distributed throughout the engine during operation regardless of angular orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Assignee: MTD Southwest, Inc.
    Inventors: Shiro Kawamoto, Harry Gene Rickard, John Sheldon, Yoichi Imgawa
  • Patent number: 6772726
    Abstract: An oil mist generator is connected drivably to the crankshaft for agitating liquid oil in the crankcase to establish a lubricating oil mist. The crankcase, the cam region and the valve chamber form a closed oil mist containment whereby lubricating oil mist is distributed throughout the engine during operation regardless of angular orientation of the engine. The crankshaft ventilation passage establishes lean crankcase gas distribution to the engine air/fuel intake. The crankcase is designed to avoid flow of liquid oil through the crankshaft passage when the engine is not running.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Assignee: MTD Southwest, Inc.
    Inventors: Shiro Kawamoto, Harry Gene Richard, John Sheldon, Yoichi Imgawa
  • Publication number: 20030213458
    Abstract: A portable, operator-carried power tool having an implement supported on an operator-carried frame, and a lightweight, four-stroke, internal combustion engine drivably connected to the implement and supported by the frame. The engine has a crankshaft situated in a crankshaft housing and a cylinder block secured to the crankshaft housing, the crankshaft being provided with a crankcase ventilation passage extending between the crankcase and an outlet end in communication with an air/fuel induction passage. A passage establishes communication between the interior of the crankcase and the valve chamber through a cam and cam gear region of the cylinder block. An oil mist generator is connected drivably to the crankshaft for agitating liquid oil in the crankcase to establish a lubricating oil mist. The crankcase, the cam region and the valve chamber form a closed oil mist containment whereby lubricating oil mist is distributed throughout the engine during operation regardless of angular orientation of the engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2003
    Publication date: November 20, 2003
    Applicant: MTD Southwest Inc.
    Inventors: Shiro Kawamoto, Harry Gene Rickard, John Sheldon, Yoichi Imgawa
  • Patent number: 6568364
    Abstract: An oil mist generator is connected drivably to the crankshaft for agitating liquid oil in the crankcase to establish a lubricating oil mist. The crankcase, the cam region and the valve chamber form a closed oil mist containment whereby lubricating oil mist is distributed throughout the engine during operation regardless of angular orientation of the engine. The crankshaft ventilation passage establishes lean crankcase gas distribution to the engine air/fuel intake. The crankcase is designed to avoid flow of liquid oil through the crankshaft passage when the engine is not running.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2003
    Assignee: MTD Southwest, Inc.
    Inventors: Shiro Kawamoto, Harry Gene Richard, John Sheldon, Yoichi Imgawa
  • Publication number: 20020121262
    Abstract: A portable, operator-carried power tool having an implement supported on an operator-carried frame, and a lightweight, four-stroke, internal combustion engine drivably connected to the implement and supported by the frame. The engine has a crankshaft situated in a crankshaft housing and a cylinder block secured to the crankshaft housing, the crankshaft being provided with a crankcase ventilation passage extending between the crankcase and an outlet end in communication with an air/fuel induction passage. A passage establishes communication between the interior of the crankcase and the valve chamber through a cam and cam gear region of the cylinder block. An oil mist generator is connected drivably to the crankshaft for agitating liquid oil in the crankcase to establish a lubricating oil mist. The crankcase, the cam region and the valve chamber form a closed oil mist containment whereby lubricating oil mist is distributed throughout the engine during operation regardless of angular orientation of the engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2002
    Publication date: September 5, 2002
    Applicant: MTD Southwest Inc.
    Inventors: Shiro Kawamoto, Harry Gene Richard, John Sheldon, Yoichi Imgawa
  • Patent number: 6374796
    Abstract: A portable, operator-carried power tool having an implement supported on an operator-carried frame, and a lightweight, four-stroke, internal combustion engine drivably connected to the implement and supported by the frame. The engine has a crankshaft situated in a crankshaft housing and a cylinder block secured to the crankshaft housing, the crankshaft being provided with a crankcase ventilation passage extending between the crankcase and an outlet end in communication with an air/fuel induction passage. A passage establishes communication between the interior of the crankcase and the valve chamber through a cam and cam gear region of the cylinder block. An oil mist generator is connected drivably to the crankshaft for agitating liquid oil in the crankcase to establish a lubricating oil mist. The crankcase, the cam region and the valve chamber form a closed oil mist containment whereby lubricating oil mist is distributed throughout the engine during operation regardless of angular orientation of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2002
    Assignee: MTD Southwest Inc.
    Inventors: Shiro Kawamoto, Harry Gene Richard, John Sheldon, Yoichi Imgawa
  • Patent number: 6039020
    Abstract: A portable, operator-carried power tool having an implement supported on an operator-carried frame, and a lightweight, four-stroke, internal combustion engine drivably connected to the implement and supported by the frame. The engine has a crankshaft situated in a crankshaft housing and a cylinder block secured to the crankshaft housing, the crankshaft being provided with a crankcase ventilation passage extending between the crankcase and an outlet end in communication with an air/fuel induction passage. A passage establishes communication between the interior of the crankcase and the valve chamber through a cam and cam gear region of the cylinder block. An oil mist generator is connected drivably to the crankshaft for agitating liquid oil in the crankcase to establish a lubricating oil mist. The crankcase, the cam region and the valve chamber form a closed oil mist containment whereby lubricating oil mist is distributed throughout the engine during operation regardless of angular orientation of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2000
    Assignee: Ryobi Outdoor Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Shiro Kawamoto, Harry Gene Richard, John Sheldon, Yoichi Imgawa