Patents by Inventor Yoshihiro Fukano

Yoshihiro Fukano 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: 20050040354
    Abstract: A pilot-controlled electromagnetic valve is capable of preventing tilting of a piston and of shortening the piston with a simplified arrangement and allows a main valve element to be moved by actuation of a manual controller by transmitting the motion of the manual controller to both the piston and the main valve element. A partition is formed between a piston chamber and a manual controller chamber. A guide hole is formed in the partition. A guide projection is formed on the left side of the piston. The guide projection is inserted through the guide hole to project into the manual controller chamber. The manual controller having a sloped surface is reciprocatably provided in the manual controller chamber. Actuation of the manual controller causes the sloped surface to contact the sloped portion of the guide projection, thereby enabling both the piston and the main valve element to be moved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2004
    Publication date: February 24, 2005
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Fukano, Masayuki Oshima
  • Publication number: 20050006609
    Abstract: A suck back valve includes an ON/OFF valve mechanism which opens/closes a fluid passage by displacing a valve member together with a first piston under an action of a pressure fluid supplied into a first cylinder chamber, and a suck back mechanism which has a suction member formed deformably in a flow chamber to suck a pressure fluid contained in the fluid passage by displacing the suction member together with a second piston under an action of the pressure fluid supplied to a second cylinder chamber. The ON/OFF valve mechanism and the suck back mechanism are assembled coaxially and integrally.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2004
    Publication date: January 13, 2005
    Applicant: SMC Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Fukano
  • Patent number: 6832788
    Abstract: Engaging holes are disposed on both sides of an upper surface of a body of a manifold and are spaced from an axis of the body by a predetermined distance. A solenoid-operated valve is installed to the manifold. Shaft sections of a U-shaped connecting pin are inserted into the engaging hole of the body and another engaging hole of an adjacent manifold respectively. A connecting plate is installed to connect engaging projections which are formed at a second end of the body and a second end of the adjacent manifold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2004
    Assignee: SMC Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Fukano, Masami Yoshida, Noriya Sasaki
  • Patent number: 6830368
    Abstract: A mixing valve comprises a valve body and a plurality of helical members. An agitation chamber is formed in the valve body. The plurality of helical members are disposed substantially in parallel in the valve body and have a number corresponding to a number of fluid supply ports. The plurality of helical members have helical passages on their outer circumferential surfaces and have ends facing the agitation chamber. Fluids are supplied from the fluid supply ports and pass through the helical passages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: SMC Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Fukano
  • Patent number: 6764060
    Abstract: A flow rate control valve includes a rotary driving source driven by an electric signal, a first movable member screwed axially displaceably in a screw hole by a rotary action of the rotary driving source, a second movable member displaced together with the first movable member, a diaphragm connected to the second movable member, a valve seat on which the diaphragm is seated, and a first fluid port and a second fluid port to which a pressure fluid is supplied or from which the pressure fluid is discharged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Assignee: SMC Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Fukano, Kousaku Inamoto
  • Patent number: 6755354
    Abstract: A suck back valve has a volume-varying mechanism including a cylindrical flexible member which has a flow chamber formed therein for communicating with a fluid passage having a first port and a fluid passage having a second port, a fixing member which fixes a part of the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical flexible member to a joint section, and a hook member which increases the volume of the flow chamber by expanding and deforming the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical flexible member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2004
    Assignee: SMC Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Fukano, Tadashi Uchino
  • Patent number: 6752375
    Abstract: A solenoid-operated valve includes a bonnet, a cap member which is disposed in the bonnet, a fixed iron core which is connected to a central portion of the cap member, a movable iron core which is provided under the fixed iron core, which is displaceable under the exciting action of a coil, and which has an inclined surface having gradually contracted diameters, an annular sleeve which is disposed to surround an outer circumferential surface of the movable iron core, and a spring member which is interposed between an annular projection of the movable iron core and an annular groove of the sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2004
    Assignee: SMC Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Fukano
  • Publication number: 20040100097
    Abstract: A tube joint comprises a nut member which connects a tube to a joint body, collet sections which fasten the tube by fastening pawls for being pressed radially inwardly by a pressing section of the nut member to bite into an outer circumferential surface of a diametrally expanded section of the tube, and an annular projection which abuts against an annular step of the joint body and which regulates a screwing amount of the nut member on the joint body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2003
    Publication date: May 27, 2004
    Applicant: SMC Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Fukano, Tadashi Uchino
  • Publication number: 20040099311
    Abstract: A piston is arranged in a connecting body. A first diaphragm is provided at a lower portion of a shaft which is displaceable in the axial direction together with the piston. A second diaphragm is provided at an upper position spaced by a predetermined distance from the first diaphragm so that the second diaphragm is substantially in parallel to the first diaphragm. When the fluid permeates through the first diaphragm, the fluid is blocked by the second diaphragm. A buffering spring member is installed in a space which is defined between the second diaphragm and a first skirt section formed to extend radially outwardly from a main body section of the first diaphragm, and the pressing force exerted on the first diaphragm and the second diaphragm is reduced thereby.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2003
    Publication date: May 27, 2004
    Applicant: SMC Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Fukano, Tadashi Uchino
  • Publication number: 20040076526
    Abstract: A constant rate discharge pump comprises a rotary shaft which is rotatable together with a rotary driving source, a piston which is displaceable in an axial direction in a pump chamber of a body by the rotation of the rotary shaft and which has a tapered surface having diameters reduced downwardly on an outer circumference thereof, and a skirt section which is disposed on the piston and which extends radially outwardly. The constant rate discharge pump further includes a valve plug membrane of a resin material which is displaceable together with the piston, and a pressure sensor installed in the body which detects a pressure of a fluid flowing through the pump chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2003
    Publication date: April 22, 2004
    Applicant: SMC Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Fukano, Takamitsu Suzuki
  • Patent number: 6719268
    Abstract: A solenoid-operated valve comprises first and second elastic ring members each of which is made of an elastic material such as rubber, which retain a peripheral edge of a diaphragm, and which are flexibly bent in accordance with displacement of the diaphragm. A pair of lip sections is formed on the first and second elastic ring members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignee: SMC Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Fukano, Tadashi Uchino
  • Publication number: 20040046405
    Abstract: In a suction device, a suction head is alternately connected to a negative pressure source and a positive pressure source by means of a switching valve, a light-weight workpiece is sucked by and released from the suction head. When the suction head and the positive pressure source are connected to each other by means of the switching valve to release the workpiece, a releasing pressure is instantaneously supplied to the suction head. The magnitude of the releasing pressure is set to a value equal to or less than the atmospheric pressure and set to a value which is necessary for the workpiece to drop by its own weight from the suction head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2003
    Publication date: March 11, 2004
    Applicant: SMC Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Fukano, Shoichi Makado
  • Patent number: 6666429
    Abstract: A flow rate control valve includes a coil disposed in a first body, a movable iron core axially displaceable under a magnetically exciting action of the coil, a fixed iron core fixed in the first body, a fluid supply port supplied with a fluid, a fluid discharge port discharging the fluid, a projection formed for a diaphragm which is connected to the movable iron core and which is formed of an elastic member, a valve seat for the projection to be inserted therein, and a spring which urges the movable iron core to separate from the fixed iron core in a non-excited state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2003
    Assignee: SMC Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Fukano, Kousaku Inamoto
  • Publication number: 20030201012
    Abstract: A check valve device includes a valve section of a valve plug arranged in a fluid passage of a body, the valve plug being in a valve-opened state when separated from a seat section, and the valve plug being in a valve-closed state when seated on the seat section, and an elastic member which urges the valve section by the spring property of bent spring sections so that the valve section is seated on the seat section. The body, the valve plug, and the elastic member are formed of resin materials.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2003
    Publication date: October 30, 2003
    Applicant: SMC Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Fukano
  • Publication number: 20030201015
    Abstract: An indicator-equipped flow regulating valve includes a valve body through which a fluid flows, a connecting body connected to an upper portion of the valve body, a housing connected to an upper portion of the connecting body, a piston arranged in the connecting body and the housing and displaceable when pressed by the pilot air, a shaft connected to the piston, a diaphragm connected to a lower end of the shaft and seated on a valve seat formed in the valve body, a flow regulating section regulating the flow rate of the fluid flowing through the valve body, and an indicator section indicating an opened/closed state of the diaphragm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2003
    Publication date: October 30, 2003
    Applicant: SMC Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Fukano
  • Publication number: 20030197369
    Abstract: Engaging holes are disposed on both sides of an upper surface of a body of a manifold and are spaced from an axis of the body by a predetermined distance. A solenoid-operated valve is installed to the manifold. Shaft sections of a U-shaped connecting pin are inserted into the engaging hole of the body and another engaging hole of an adjacent manifold respectively. A connecting plate is installed to connect engaging projections which are formed at a second end of the body and a second end of the adjacent manifold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2003
    Publication date: October 23, 2003
    Applicant: SMC Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Fukano, Masami Yoshida, Noriya Sasaki
  • Publication number: 20030178504
    Abstract: A suck back valve has a volume-varying mechanism including a cylindrical flexible member which has a flow chamber formed therein for communicating with a fluid passage having a first port and a fluid passage having a second port, a fixing member which fixes a part of the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical flexible member to a joint section, and a hook member which increases the volume of the flow chamber by expanding and deforming the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical flexible member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2003
    Publication date: September 25, 2003
    Applicant: SMC Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Fukano, Tadashi Uchino
  • Patent number: 6612538
    Abstract: A two-way valve has a valve mechanism comprising a displacement mechanism for opening and closing a fluid passage by an action of a pilot pressure from a pilot port. The pilot port is formed on an annular member disposed between a body and a bonnet and is rotatable circumferentially by the annular member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: SMC Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Fukano, Tadashi Uchino
  • Patent number: 6585226
    Abstract: A first displacement mechanism disposed on the axially lower side includes a first piston, a piston rod displaceable integrally with the first piston, and a diaphragm connected to the piston rod. A second displacement mechanism disposed on the axially upper side includes a second piston for moving the piston rod to slide along a through-hole. A displacement amount of the first piston and a displacement amount of the second piston are different.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: SMC Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Fukano, Tadashi Uchino
  • Publication number: 20030102040
    Abstract: A manifold connected to a solenoid-operated valve which has a connector having a plurality of fluid passages for supplying and discharging a fluid under pressure to and from the solenoid-operated valve, includes a body having a substantially rectangular shape, an engaging groove defined in an upper surface of the body, a mount hole defined in the body, and a stopper member. The stopper member is inserted in the mount hole, and has an end retained in the mount hole. The stopper member has an extensible resilient spring arm and an engaging hole defined in the stopper member for receiving and engaging the connector of the solenoid-operated valve when the stopper member is displaced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2002
    Publication date: June 5, 2003
    Applicant: SMC Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Fukano, Masami Yoshida, Noriya Sasaki