Patents by Inventor Yoshikazu Kuroumaru

Yoshikazu Kuroumaru 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: 8727065
    Abstract: An electric power steering device includes a first housing that supports an output shaft rotatable together with a driven member with a first bearing placed there between and a second housing that rotatably supports a driving member. The first housing includes an eccentric engagement section that is eccentric with respect to a first bearing holding section holding the first bearing. The eccentric engagement section is fitted to an engagement section of the second housing. When the center-to-center distance between the driving member and the driven member is adjusted, the eccentric engagement section of the first housing is rotated with respect to the engagement section of the second housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshikazu Kuroumaru
  • Patent number: 8550205
    Abstract: A torque sensor and an electric motor are supported by a steering column by which a steering shaft is rotatably supported. On a control board on which a control circuit that controls driving of an electric motor is mounted, a first terminal group and a second terminal group that are selectively connected to the torque sensor are respectively provided at a first end portion and a second end portion in a first direction parallel to a central axis of the steering shaft. A third terminal group that is connectable to the electric motor is provided at one end portion (third end portion) in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshikazu Kuroumaru
  • Publication number: 20130048412
    Abstract: A torque sensor and an electric motor are supported by a steering column by which a steering shaft is rotatably supported. On a control board on which a control circuit that controls driving of an electric motor is mounted, a first terminal group and a second terminal group that are selectively connected to the torque sensor are respectively provided at a first end portion and a second end portion in a first direction parallel to a central axis of the steering shaft. A third terminal group that is connectable to the electric motor is provided at one end portion (third end portion) in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2012
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Applicant: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yoshikazu KUROUMARU
  • Publication number: 20120318092
    Abstract: A steering column includes an impact absorbing mechanism that absorbs an impact through contraction, that is, movement of an outer tube relative to an inner tube in the event of a secondary collision. Capsules are fixed to extended portions of a vehicle body-side bracket so as to be detachable when a load higher than or equal to a predetermined load, directed toward a front of a vehicle, is applied to the body-side bracket. Guide members oriented to extend toward the front of the vehicle are fixedly fastened, using bolts and nuts, to a mounting stay that constitutes a vehicle body with the capsules held therebetween. The steering column detached from the vehicle body-side bracket in the event of the secondary collision makes collapsing movement while the paired extended portions extending at both ends in a vehicle-width direction of the vehicle body-side bracket slide over upper faces of the guide members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2012
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Applicant: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yoshikazu KUROUMARU
  • Publication number: 20120241246
    Abstract: An electric power steering device includes a first housing that supports an output shaft rotatable together with a driven member with a first bearing placed there between and a second housing that rotatably supports a driving member. The first housing includes an eccentric engagement section that is eccentric with respect to a first bearing holding section holding the first bearing. The eccentric engagement section is fitted to an engagement section of the second housing. When the center-to-center distance between the driving member and the driven member is adjusted, the eccentric engagement section of the first housing is rotated with respect to the engagement section of the second housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Applicant: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yoshikazu Kuroumaru
  • Patent number: 8216104
    Abstract: A first gear set includes an input member that serves as a first gear and an inner ring that serves as a second gear. A first end of the inner ring is inclined with respect to the input member and is in mesh with the input member. The input member has a plurality of retention grooves that are formed in an input member body and a plurality of pins that are retained in the respective retention grooves and that respectively constitute teeth of the input member. The first end has a plurality of tooth grooves that are engageable with the pins. A resultant force of forces applied to each pin from the retention groove and the tooth groove urges the pin toward the retention groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignees: JTEKT Corporation, Ogino Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshikazu Kuroumaru, Masahide Nitano, Satoshi Motoyama, Makoto Yamasawa
  • Publication number: 20100179012
    Abstract: A first gear set includes an input member that serves as a first gear and an inner ring that serves as a second gear. A first end of the inner ring is inclined with respect to the input member and is in mesh with the input member. The input member has a plurality of retention grooves that are formed in an input member body and a plurality of pins that are retained in the respective retention grooves and that respectively constitute teeth of the input member. The first end has a plurality of tooth grooves that are engageable with the pins. A resultant force of forces applied to each pin from the retention groove and the tooth groove urges the pin toward the retention groove.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2010
    Publication date: July 15, 2010
    Applicant: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshikazu KUROUMARU, Masahide NITANO, Satoshi MOTOYAMA
  • Patent number: 7604088
    Abstract: An electric power steering system is provided which is capable of providing a favorable steering feeling without using compensation logics such as of inertia compensation and friction compensation. The electric power steering system includes road-noise suppression control means (213) for controlling a steering assist motor (9) in a manner to damp torque transmission in a higher frequency region representing road noises than a frequency region representing road information. A friction value of a steering mechanism (A) is decreased enough to allow the intrinsic vibrations of the steering mechanism (A) to appear. Rotor inertia of the steering assist motor (9) is set to a value small enough to allow the frequencies of the intrinsic vibrations to be present in the frequency region where the torque transmission is damped by the road-noise suppression control means (213).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignee: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventors: Katsutoshi Nishizaki, Shirou Nakano, Ken Matsubara, Toshiaki Oya, Yasuhiro Kamatani, Masahiko Sakamaki, Yoshikazu Kuroumaru, Shigeki Nagase, Takayasu Yamazaki, Yasuhiro Saitou, Takeshi Ueda
  • Patent number: 7600602
    Abstract: The invention provides a motor-driven power steering apparatus which can achieve a predetermined speed reduction ratio even in the case that the motor-driven power steering apparatus is constituted by a pair of spur gears or helical gears, and can secure a sufficient gear strength on the basis of a simple structure. In a motor-driven power steering apparatus in which a rotating torque of an electric motor (7) is transmitted to a steering shaft by a drive gear (6) provided in an output shaft of the electric motor (7) and a driven gear (5) provided in the steering shaft, and a speed reduction ratio is equal to or more than 3, the steering shaft and the output shaft of the electric motor (7) are arranged in almost parallel, a center distance between both the shafts is equal to or more than 35 mm and equal to or less than 90 mm, and the drive gear (6) is configured such that a number of teeth is equal to or more than 6 and equal to or less than 15, a module is equal to or more than 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshikazu Kuroumaru, Shirou Nakano, Katsutoshi Nishizaki
  • Patent number: 7536930
    Abstract: A reduction gear unit capable of reducing vibrations caused by gear rattle, while permitting some degree of backlash in a pair of gears, is provided. A reduction gear unit is so configured that a pinion shaft and a main gear shaft are disposed in parallel to each other, and a pinion 1 mounted on the pinion shaft and a main gear 2 mounted on the main gear shaft are arranged to mesh with each other, so as to transmit a rotation of the pinion shaft to the main gear shaft, and includes a housing 11 that encloses the pinion 1 and the main gear 2, where the housing 11 has an inner surface whose width, in a cross section perpendicular to an axial direction of the pinion shaft and the main gear shaft, perpendicular to an imaginary line that connects centers of the pinion shaft and the main gear shaft evenly increases from a pinion side toward a main gear side between ends of arcuate regions respectively enclosing the main gear and the pinion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2009
    Assignee: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshikazu Kuroumaru, Shirou Nakano, Katsutoshi Nishizaki
  • Patent number: 7520366
    Abstract: A second housing is aligned with a first housing at a predetermined position using positioning means that determines the mounting position of the housing with respect to the first housing at the predetermined position; steering shaft supporting sections and output shaft supporting sections are provided in the first housing and the second housing respectively while the housings being mounted using screws or the like; the second housing is removed temporarily from the first housing; a steering shaft and an output shaft are supported using the steering shaft supporting sections and the output shaft supporting sections; and the second housing is aligned again with the first housing at the predetermined position using the positioning means and mounted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Assignee: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshikazu Kuroumaru, Shirou Nakano, Katsutoshi Nishizaki
  • Publication number: 20080128196
    Abstract: A reduction gear mechanism includes mutually meshing smaller gear and larger gear with their shafts arranged parallel to each other; a first rotor which rotates together with the smaller gear; and a second rotor which rotates together with the larger gear, so as to generate sliding friction between the first rotor and itself in the reverse rotation direction of one of the smaller gear and larger gear. When a relative speed is generated between the smaller gear and larger gear by reverse rotation of one of the smaller gear and larger gear, resistance is applied to the reverse rotation of one of the gears and the relative speed is decreased to reduce rattling noise which is made when the surfaces of their teeth come into contact with each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2007
    Publication date: June 5, 2008
    Inventors: Yoshikazu Kuroumaru, Yasuhiro Kamatani, Takehiro Saruwatari, Hidetaka Otsuki, Takumi Otsuki
  • Publication number: 20070272471
    Abstract: A second housing is aligned with a first housing at a predetermined position using positioning means that determines the mounting position of the housing with respect to the first housing at the predetermined position; steering shaft supporting sections and output shaft supporting sections are provided in the first housing and the second housing respectively while the housings being mounted using screws or the like; the second housing is removed temporarily from the first housing; a steering shaft and an output shaft are supported using the steering shaft supporting sections and the output shaft supporting sections; and the second housing is aligned again with the first housing at the predetermined position using the positioning means and mounted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2005
    Publication date: November 29, 2007
    Inventors: Yoshikazu Kuroumaru, Shirou Nakano, Katsutoshi Nishizaki
  • Publication number: 20070235248
    Abstract: An electric power steering assembly includes an electric motor, a reduction mechanism for reducing the speed of an output rotation of the electric motor, and a reduction-mechanism housing accommodating therein the reduction mechanism. The electric motor includes: an output shaft rotatably supported by the reduction-mechanism housing, a motor housing formed integrally with the reduction-mechanism housing, a rotor, and a stator assembly accommodated in an annular space defined between the rotor and the motor housing. When the stator assembly is assembled in the annular space via an opening at an end portion of the motor housing, a guided portion on an outside circumference of a stator yoke is guided by a guide portion on an inside circumference of the motor housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2007
    Publication date: October 11, 2007
    Applicant: Koyo Seiko Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ken Matsubara, Yoshikazu Kuroumaru, Katsutoshi Nishizaki
  • Publication number: 20070170787
    Abstract: The invention provides a motor-driven power steering apparatus which can achieve a predetermined speed reduction ratio even in the case that the motor-driven power steering apparatus is constituted by a pair of spur gears or helical gears, and can secure a sufficient gear strength on the basis of a simple structure. In a motor-driven power steering apparatus in which a rotating torque of an electric motor (7) is transmitted to a steering shaft by a drive gear (6) provided in an output shaft of the electric motor (7) and a driven gear (5) provided in the steering shaft, and a speed reduction ratio is equal to or more than 3, the steering shaft and the output shaft of the electric motor (7) are arranged in almost parallel, a center distance between both the shafts is equal to or more than 35 mm and equal to or less than 90 mm, and the drive gear (6) is configured such that a number of teeth is equal to or more than 6 and equal to or less than 15, a module is equal to or more than 0.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2004
    Publication date: July 26, 2007
    Applicant: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshikazu Kuroumaru, Shirou Nakano, Katsutoshi Nishizaki
  • Patent number: 7235905
    Abstract: An electric power steering assembly includes an electric motor, a reduction mechanism for reducing the speed of an output rotation of the electric motor, and a reduction-mechanism housing accommodating therein the reduction mechanism. The electric motor includes: an output shaft rotatably supported by the reduction-mechanism housing, a motor housing formed integrally with the reduction-mechanism housing, a rotor, and a stator assembly accommodated in an annular space defined between the rotor and the motor housing. When the stator assembly is assembled in the annular space via an opening at an end portion of the motor housing, a guided portion on an outside circumference of a stator yoke is guided by a guide portion on an inside circumference of the motor housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Assignee: Koyo Seiko Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ken Matsubara, Yoshikazu Kuroumaru, Katsutoshi Nishizaki
  • Publication number: 20070006674
    Abstract: A reduction gear unit capable of reducing vibrations caused by gear rattle, while permitting some degree of backlash in a pair of gears, is provided. A reduction gear unit is so configured that a pinion shaft and a main gear shaft are disposed in parallel to each other, and a pinion 1 mounted on the pinion shaft and a main gear 2 mounted on the main gear shaft are arranged to mesh with each other, so as to transmit a rotation of the pinion shaft to the main gear shaft, and includes a housing 11 that encloses the pinion 1 and the main gear 2, where the housing 11 has an inner surface whose width, in a cross section perpendicular to an axial direction of the pinion shaft and the main gear shaft, perpendicular to an imaginary line that connects centers of the pinion shaft and the main gear shaft evenly increases from a pinion side toward a main gear side between ends of arcuate regions respectively enclosing the main gear and the pinion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2004
    Publication date: January 11, 2007
    Applicant: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshikazu Kuroumaru, Shirou Nakano, Katsutoshi Nishizaki
  • Publication number: 20060060414
    Abstract: An electric power steering system which assists in steering by driving an electric motor in accordance with an operation of a steering member, comprising a drive gear connected to a rotation shaft of the electric motor and a driven gear securely fitted on a steering shaft so as to mesh with the drive gear, wherein the driven gear includes a gear body and a ring element that is mounted on the gear body in such a manner as to slide relative to the gear body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2005
    Publication date: March 23, 2006
    Applicant: Koyo Seiko Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshikazu Kuroumaru, Shirou Nakano
  • Publication number: 20050116561
    Abstract: An electric power steering assembly includes an electric motor, a reduction mechanism for reducing the speed of an output rotation of the electric motor, and a reduction-mechanism housing accommodating therein the reduction mechanism. The electric motor includes: an output shaft rotatably supported by the reduction-mechanism housing, a motor housing formed integrally with the reduction-mechanism housing, a rotor, and a stator assembly accommodated in an annular space defined between the rotor and the motor housing. When the stator assembly is assembled in the annular space via an opening at an end portion of the motor housing, a guided portion on an outside circumference of a stator yoke is guided by a guide portion on an inside circumference of the motor housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2004
    Publication date: June 2, 2005
    Inventors: Ken Matsubara, Yoshikazu Kuroumaru, Katsutoshi Nishizaki
  • Patent number: 6892588
    Abstract: A first alternating signal of which phase changes according to changes in the rotation angle of a first shaft is output, and a second alternating signal of which phase changes according to changes in the rotation angle of a second shaft capable of rotating elastically with respect to the first shaft is output. A phase difference correspondence signal of which waveform changes according to changes in the phase difference between the first alternating signal and second alternating signal is output. A value corresponding to the torque transmitted by the first and second shafts is found from the phase difference correspondence signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2005
    Assignee: Koyo Seiko Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeki Nagase, Masahiko Sakamaki, Katsutoshi Nishizaki, Shirou Nakano, Yoshikazu Kuroumaru, Ken Matsubara