Patents by Inventor Yoji Kanehara

Yoji Kanehara 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: 11192406
    Abstract: A neutralization device that neutralizes static electricity on a portion of a vehicle exposed to outside. The neutralization device causes corona discharge according to a positive potential thereof. The neutralization device is attached to a surface exposed outwardly widthwise of the vehicle in at least one of an inner circumferential portion of a tire and a predetermined point of an outer surface of tire wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koshi Yamada, Yoji Kanehara, Toshio Tanahashi
  • Patent number: 10718299
    Abstract: An intake system of a vehicle, includes an air cleaner case, an air filter that is arranged inside the air cleaner case and positively charged, and a self discharge type static eliminator that decreases an amount of electrification charge on a wall surface of the air cleaner case within a limited range about a location where the self discharge type static eliminator is installed, when the self discharge type static eliminator is installed on the wall surface of the air cleaner case. An peripheral edge part of the air filter is held by an air filter holding part of the air cleaner case. The self discharge type static eliminator is installed on an outer wall surface of the air filter holding part of the air cleaner case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toshio Tanahashi, Yoji Kanehara, Koshi Yamada
  • Patent number: 10501034
    Abstract: A vehicle is provided in which separation of positively charged airflow from a positively charged surface of a vehicle body can be prevented. A vehicle body is insulated from a road surface, and positive static charges accumulate on the vehicle body during propulsion. The vehicle comprises a self-discharge device adapted to decrease a positive potential of a window pane at which positively charged airflow flowing along a vehicle surface deviates therefrom during propulsion by discharging the static electricity through the airflow to produce negative ions according to the positive potential of the window pane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toshio Tanahashi, Yoji Kanehara, Koshi Yamada
  • Patent number: 10384663
    Abstract: Provided is a vehicle electrification charge reducing apparatus, including: a steering operating device, a steering actuator; and a displacement transmitting system configured to transmit a displacement of the steering operating device to the steering actuator. At least one of the steering operating device, the steering actuator, or the displacement transmitting system includes two members that are engaged with each other through intermediation of a viscous lubricant agent so as to move relatively when the steering operating device is operated. A self-discharge type charge eliminator is fixed to a surface of a specific member forming the displacement transmitting system and the like, and the self-discharge type charge eliminator diselectrifies the specific member through self-discharge so as to decrease a charge amount of the specific member, to thereby decrease a difference in charge amount between the two members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koshi Yamada, Toshio Tanahashi, Hisashi Yabuki, Kazuhiko Omasa, Yoji Kanehara, Nagataka Sassa
  • Patent number: 10336270
    Abstract: A vehicle and a manufacturing method thereof is provided in which separation of positively charged airflow from a positively charged surface of a vehicle body can be prevented. A vehicle body is insulated from a road surface, and positive static charges accumulate on the vehicle body during propulsion. The vehicle comprises a self-discharge device that is adapted to decrease a positive potential of at least any one of specific points at which positively charged airflow flowing along a vehicle surface deviates therefrom, during propulsion of the vehicle, by discharging static electricity to produce negative ions according to the positive potential of the specific point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koshi Yamada, Toshio Tanahashi, Hisashi Yabuki, Kazuhiko Omasa, Yoji Kanehara, Nagataka Sassa, Naohiko Saito, Narito Fujii, Tsuyoshi Ohkita, Masaaki Morimoto, Kazuhiro Maeda, Taro Yamashita, Fumiatsu Suzuki
  • Patent number: 10315477
    Abstract: A vehicle suspension in which joint devices are interposed in coupling parts between a vehicle body and links serving as suspension components and coupling parts between the links and a wheel support component. Self-discharge type charge eliminators are provided on a surface of a specific component, which is at least one of the vehicle body, the links, the wheel support component, or the joint devices. The charge eliminator is configured to diselectrify the specific component by changing air around the charge eliminator to a negative air ion and attracting the air ion to positive electric charge of the specific component to neutralize the specific component, to thereby decrease a charge amount of the specific component and decrease charge amounts of rubber bushes and grease in the joint devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toshio Tanahashi, Yoji Kanehara, Koshi Yamada
  • Patent number: 10260565
    Abstract: A wheel support device for a vehicle includes a bearing that rotatably supports a wheel, and is lubricated by a lubricant, a bearing support member, and a self-discharge type charge eliminator provided on a surface of a particular member. The self-discharge type charge eliminator is configured to change air around the self-discharge type charge eliminator into negative air ions, and eliminate charge by causing the air ions to attract positive charges of the particular member for neutralization, so as to reduce the quantity of charge of the particular member, and thereby reduce the quantity of charge of the lubricant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toshio Tanahashi, Yoji Kanehara, Koshi Yamada
  • Patent number: 10207750
    Abstract: A vehicle in which separation of airflow from a vehicle surface can be prevented without causing disfigurement is provided. A vehicle body is insulated from a road surface, and positive static charges accumulate on the vehicle body during propulsion. The vehicle comprises a charge control device adapted to decrease the positive potential of a separation point at which positively charged airflow flowing along a vehicle surface deviates from the vehicle surface during propulsion by applying negative ions to an inner surface of the separation point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toshio Tanahashi, Yoji Kanehara, Koshi Yamada
  • Patent number: 10196959
    Abstract: A vehicle engine exhaust system includes an exhaust component and a non-conductive support member. The exhaust component is supported by a vehicle body via the non-conductive support member. The vehicle body and the exhaust component are positively charged. The vehicle engine exhaust system further includes a self discharge type static electricity eliminator that reduces, in a state where the self discharge type static electricity eliminator is installed on a non-conductive wall surface, an amount of electrification charge on the non-conductive wall surface within a limited area around a location where the self discharge type static electricity eliminator is installed. The self discharge type static electricity eliminator is installed on the non-conductive support member such that static electricity elimination is performed for the exhaust component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toshio Tanahashi, Yoji Kanehara, Koshi Yamada
  • Publication number: 20180297420
    Abstract: A neutralization device that neutralizes static electricity on a portion of a vehicle exposed to outside. The neutralization device causes corona discharge according to a positive potential thereof. The neutralization device is attached to a surface exposed outwardly widthwise of the vehicle in at least one of an inner circumferential portion of a tire and a predetermined point of an outer surface of tire wheel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2018
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koshi YAMADA, Yoji KANEHARA, Toshio TANAHASHI
  • Patent number: 10071699
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a power control unit having at least one of an inverter and a converter, a drive motor that produces torque for running the vehicle when electric power is supplied from the power control unit to the drive motor, a vehicle body kept insulated from a road surface, a case main body in which the power control unit is housed, a member that is connected to the case main body where the member is insulated from the case main body, or in a condition in which electric resistance is large, and a static eliminator that neutralizes and eliminates positive charges on the member and lowers a positive potential of the member, by self-discharge for producing negative air ions in outside air according to the positive potential of the member that is electrostatically charged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toshio Tanahashi, Yoji Kanehara, Koshi Yamada, Yuta Oshiro
  • Patent number: 10053161
    Abstract: A vehicle is provided in which separation of positively charged airflow from a positively charged surface of a vehicle body can be prevented. A vehicle body is insulated from a road surface, and positive static charges accumulate on the vehicle body during propulsion. The vehicle comprises an ionizing material that is charged negatively during propulsion to decrease the positive potential of a separation point at which positively charged airflow flowing along a vehicle surface deviates therefrom during propulsion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toshio Tanahashi, Yoji Kanehara, Koshi Yamada
  • Patent number: 10024284
    Abstract: In a tank which stores lubricating oil or fuel therein, a strainer for lubricating oil or fuel is arranged at the bottom portion of the inside of the tank. The tank and the lubricating oil or fuel which is stored in the tank carry a positive charge. A self-discharge type static eliminator is placed on the outer surface of the bottom floor of the tank which corresponds to the back side of the inside surface of the tank which faces the strainer to thereby eliminate static electricity from the lubricating oil or fuel which flows into the strainer by the self-discharge type static eliminator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toshio Tanahashi, Yoji Kanehara, Koshi Yamada
  • Patent number: 9955562
    Abstract: An engine comprising an engine body and a nonconductive engine part attached to the engine body which are positively charged. A self-discharge type static eliminator is provided which, if placed on the nonconductive engine part, can lower the amount of carried charge on the wall surface of the nonconductive engine part in a limited range centered about the location of the placement of the static eliminator. The self-discharge type static eliminator is placed on the outer wall surface of the connecting part of the engine part to the engine body to whereby eliminate a static electricity from the engine body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toshio Tanahashi, Yoji Kanehara, Koshi Yamada
  • Publication number: 20180086164
    Abstract: A vehicle suspension in which joint devices are interposed in coupling parts between a vehicle body and links serving as suspension components and coupling parts between the links and a wheel support component. Self-discharge type charge eliminators are provided on a surface of a specific component, which is at least one of the vehicle body, the links, the wheel support component, or the joint devices. The charge eliminator is configured to diselectrify the specific component by changing air around the charge eliminator to a negative air ion and attracting the air ion to positive electric charge of the specific component to neutralize the specific component, to thereby decrease a charge amount of the specific component and decrease charge amounts of rubber bushes and grease in the joint devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Publication date: March 29, 2018
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toshio TANAHASHI, Yoji KANEHARA, Koshi YAMADA
  • Patent number: 9909633
    Abstract: A braking force generation device of a vehicle includes a rotary member, a frictional member, a pressing device, and a self-discharge type static charge eliminator provided on a surface of a particular member. The self-discharge type static charge eliminator changes air around the self-discharge type static charge eliminator into negative air ions, according to the quantity of positive charge carried by the particular member, and eliminate charge by causing the negative air ions to attract the positive charges of the particular member for neutralization, so as to reduce a quantity of charge of the particular member, and thereby reduce a quantity of charge of the lubricant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toshio Tanahashi, Yoji Kanehara, Koshi Yamada
  • Patent number: 9903261
    Abstract: A vehicle cooling device includes: at least one of a radiator and a condenser; a fan cover including a fan configured to cool the at least one of the radiator and the condenser, the radiator, the condenser and the fan cover being positively charged; a connecting part that connects the at least one of the radiator and the condenser and the fan cover with each other; and a self-discharge static eliminator that is installed on a non-conductive wall surface of the connecting part, and is configured to decrease an electric charge amount of a part of the non-conductive wall surface within a limited range, centered on a location where the self-discharge static eliminator is installed, static elimination of the at least one of the radiator and the condenser being performed by the self-discharge static eliminator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toshio Tanahashi, Yoji Kanehara, Koshi Yamada
  • Patent number: 9827822
    Abstract: A damping force generation device for a vehicle includes a shock absorber including a cylinder and a piston. The shock absorber is coupled to a vehicle body, a wheel carrier, and the like at a rod part of the piston and the cylinder, respectively, and is configured to generate a damping force due to a flow resistance when oil passes through an orifice formed in the piston. Each of self-discharge type charge eliminators is fixed to a surface of a specific member being at least one of a component of the shock absorber or an auxiliary member connected to the component. The charge eliminator reduces positive electric charge that is charged to the specific member, to thereby reduce a charge amount of the oil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toshio Tanahashi, Yoji Kanehara, Koshi Yamada
  • Patent number: 9759171
    Abstract: An intake device for a vehicle, in which an intake passage wall surface defining an intake passage is charged with positive charges, includes: a self-discharge static eliminator that is provided on the intake passage wall surface and that decreases an electrification charge amount on that part of the intake passage wall surface which is within a limited range around a mounting part of the self-discharge static eliminator, by providing the self-discharge static eliminator on the intake passage wall surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toshio Tanahashi, Yoji Kanehara, Koshi Yamada
  • Publication number: 20160288844
    Abstract: A vehicle is provided in which separation of positively charged airflow from a positively charged surface of a vehicle body can be prevented. A vehicle body is insulated from a road surface, and positive static charges accumulate on the vehicle body during propulsion. The vehicle comprises an ionizing material that is charged negatively during propulsion to decrease the positive potential of a separation point at which positively charged airflow flowing along a vehicle surface deviates therefrom during propulsion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2016
    Publication date: October 6, 2016
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toshio TANAHASHI, Yoji KANEHARA, Koshi YAMADA