Patents by Inventor Yoshimoto Matsuda

Yoshimoto Matsuda 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).

  • Four-cycle engine and motorcycle comprising four-cycle engine
    Patent number: 7367328
    Abstract: A four-cycle engine including an engine case configured to accommodate a crankshaft; a pump configured to suction air from an inner space of the engine case; and an air suction passage through which the inner space inner space of the engine case and the pump communicate with each other; wherein the air suction passage extends to the pump through an upper region of the engine case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshimoto Matsuda
  • Engine for a leisure vehicle
    Patent number: 7363903
    Abstract: An engine for a leisure vehicle including a crankcase having at least two crankcase portions, a plurality of main journal fastener bolts by which the two crankcase portions are coupled to each other such that a crankshaft is rotatably mounted between the two crankcase portions, an oil pump disposed below the plurality of main journal fastener bolts and a vicinity of the main journal fastener bolts, and a water pump disposed laterally of the oil pump in such a manner that a rotational shaft of the water pump is coaxial with a rotational shaft of the oil pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshimoto Matsuda
  • Engine and motorcycle
    Publication number: 20080087246
    Abstract: A multiple-cylinder DOHC engine, including a cylinder head block, a first camshaft that is mounted on the cylinder head block and is configured to drive one of an intake valve and an exhaust valve mounted on the cylinder head block, a second camshaft that is mounted on the cylinder head block and is configured to drive the other one of an intake valve and an exhaust valve, a camshaft drive system that is mounted at an end portion of the first camshaft in an axial direction thereof and is configured to drive the first camshaft, and a driving power transmission mechanism that is disposed at a center portion of the first and second camshafts in the axial direction to transmit a driving power from the first camshaft to the second camshaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2007
    Publication date: April 17, 2008
    Applicant: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshimoto Matsuda
  • Crankshaft of engine
    Patent number: 7350498
    Abstract: A crankshaft equipped in an engine, including an oil passage through which oil is drawn from a crank journal to a crank pin. The oil passage has an inlet formed at a peripheral region of the crank journal. When a plane including a center axis of the crank journal and a center axis of the crank pin crosses a peripheral surface of the crank journal at two cross portions, the inlet is located to be spaced apart in an opposite direction to a rotational direction of the crank journal from a journal side cross portion located on an opposite side of the crank pin with respect to the center axis of the crank journal. The oil passage is configured to extend to be spaced apart from the center axis of the crank journal as seen from a direction of the center axis of the crankshaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshimoto Matsuda
  • Leisure vehicle with an electronic throttle control system
    Patent number: 7325533
    Abstract: A leisure vehicle comprising an electronic control throttle system of an engine in which an actuator drives a throttle valve in response to an operation signal according to an operation amount of a throttle operation device, the electronic control throttle system including a throttle valve controller configured to send a control signal to the actuator to drive the throttle valve. The throttle valve controller is configured to give a gain to compensate for a deviation between a target opening degree of the throttle valve that is set based on the operation amount of the throttle operation device and an actual opening degree of the throttle valve which is a detected opening degree of the throttle valve. The throttle valve controller is configured to set the gain that causes the throttle valve to enter an overshooting region that exceeds a fully open position in a movement range of the throttle valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshimoto Matsuda
  • Exhaust pipe collecting structure of multiple cylinder engine and personal watercraft
    Patent number: 7287373
    Abstract: An exhaust pipe collecting structure for a multi-cylinder engine unit having multiple cylinders including a first exhaust pipe group and a second exhaust pipe group, each of which has two exhaust pipes selected from four exhaust pipes respectively connected to the four cylinders; a first exhaust sub-collecting pipe cast integrally with the first exhaust pipe group, a second exhaust sub-collecting pipe cast integrally with the second exhaust pipe group, a first joint portion located at a downstream end portion of the first exhaust sub-collecting pipe, and a second joint portion located at a downstream end portion of the second exhaust sub-collecting pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshimoto Matsuda
  • Engine for leisure vehicle
    Patent number: 7287511
    Abstract: An engine for a leisure vehicle equipped with an electronic control throttle system configured to operate an actuator based on a drive signal sent from a controller to the actuator in response to a rider's operation of a throttle operation device to cause a throttle valve of an air-intake device to open or close, including a first throttle position sensor configured to detect a movement position of the throttle valve; and a detection device configured to detect at least a predetermined position in an open state or a closed state of the throttle valve; wherein the controller determines a deviation between the predetermined position and the movement position of the throttle valve, compensates for a deviation by adjusting the drive signal based on a deviation if the deviation is above a preset value, and sends the adjusted drive signal to the actuator to cause the throttle valve to open or close.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshimoto Matsuda
  • Air-intake device of engine for leisure vehicle and engine
    Patent number: 7249587
    Abstract: An air-intake device of an engine for a leisure vehicle, in which at least two air-intake passages are arranged within an engine body of the engine, is disclosed, including an air-intake pipe through which fresh air is supplied to the at least two air-intake passages arranged within the engine body, and a throttle valve openably mounted within a passage of the air-intake pipe. Typically, the air-intake pipe is structured such that the passage has a cross-section of a non-perfect circle shape and an outer periphery of the air-intake pipe has a cross-section of a circle shape with a continuously varying positive curvature. Typically, the throttle valve has a valve disc of a non-perfect circle shape conforming to the shape of the cross-section of the passage of the air-intake pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2007
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshimoto Matsuda
  • Throttle valve control device for leisure vehicle
    Patent number: 7237528
    Abstract: A multi-cylinder engine for driving a vehicle is provided. The multi-cylinder engine includes a plurality of cylinders. The engine also includes a multi-throttle valve device having a plurality of air-intake passages, each of which being configured to lead air to the respective cylinder, and a plurality of throttle valves, each of which being configured to open and close the respective air-intake passage. At least one of the throttle valves is configured to be opened and closed independently of at least one of the other throttle valves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshimoto Matsuda
  • Twincam engine and motorcycle comprising the same
    Publication number: 20070144477
    Abstract: A twincam engine including a rocker arm configured to transmit rotation of a cam to reciprocate at least one of intake and exhaust valves, the rocker arm being pivotally attached to a cylinder head between a center axis of a valve stem of the intake valve and a center axis of a valve stem of the exhaust valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2006
    Publication date: June 28, 2007
    Inventor: Yoshimoto Matsuda
  • Leisure vehicle
    Publication number: 20070119419
    Abstract: A leisure vehicle comprising an electronic control throttle system of an engine in which an actuator drives a throttle valve in response to an operation signal according to an operation amount of a throttle operation device, the electronic control throttle system including a throttle valve controller configured to send a control signal to the actuator to drive the throttle valve. The throttle valve controller is configured to give a gain to compensate for a deviation between a target opening degree of the throttle valve that is set based on the operation amount of the throttle operation device and an actual opening degree of the throttle valve which is a detected opening degree of the throttle valve. The throttle valve controller is configured to set the gain that causes the throttle valve to enter an overshooting region that exceeds a fully open position in a movement range of the throttle valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2006
    Publication date: May 31, 2007
    Inventor: Yoshimoto Matsuda
  • Four-cycle engine and motorcycle comprising four-cycle engine
    Publication number: 20070107688
    Abstract: A four-cycle engine of the present invention comprises a gas exhaust outlet that is formed on an upper region of a crankcase to exhaust a gas from the interior of the crankcase to outside; and a rotatable shaft disposed in close proximity to the gas exhaust outlet in the interior of the crankcase. The gas exhaust outlet is configured to open toward a region in the interior of the crankcase, the region extending from a line segment connecting the gas exhaust outlet to a rotational center axis of the shaft, in a rotational direction of the shaft at a cross point where the line segment crosses an outer peripheral surface of the shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2006
    Publication date: May 17, 2007
    Inventors: Yoshimoto Matsuda, Seiji Azuma
  • Engine for a leisure vehicle
    Publication number: 20070101966
    Abstract: An engine for a leisure vehicle including a crankcase having at least two crankcase portions, a plurality of main journal fastener bolts by which the two crankcase portions are coupled to each other such that a crankshaft is rotatably mounted between the two crankcase portions, an oil pump disposed below the plurality of main journal fastener bolts and a vicinity of the main journal fastener bolts, and a water pump disposed laterally of the oil pump in such a manner that a rotational shaft of the water pump is coaxial with a rotational shaft of the oil pump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2006
    Publication date: May 10, 2007
    Inventor: Yoshimoto Matsuda
  • Four-cycle engine and motorcycle comprising four-cycle engine
    Publication number: 20070095335
    Abstract: A four-cycle engine including an engine case configured to accommodate a crankshaft; a pump configured to suction air from an inner space of the engine case; and an air suction passage through which the inner space inner space of the engine case and the pump communicate with each other; wherein the air suction passage extends to the pump through an upper region of the engine case.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2006
    Publication date: May 3, 2007
    Inventor: Yoshimoto Matsuda
  • Fuel injection engine and motorcycle comprising fuel injection engine
    Publication number: 20070095305
    Abstract: An air fuel injection engine including an air-intake passage configured to guide air taken in from outside to a combustion chamber formed by a cylinder block and a cylinder head, a fuel injector configured to inject fuel to an interior of the air-intake passage, and a water jacket through which cooling water flows to cool the air-intake passage. As viewed in a plane crossing an air flow direction in the air-intake passage and passing through a predetermined region of an inner wall of the air-intake passage, the predetermined region including a crossing point at which a fuel injection center line of the fuel injected from the fuel injector crosses the inner wall of the air-intake passage, the water jacket is configured to extend away from the crossing point along a circumferential direction of the air-intake passage, from a region near the predetermined region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2006
    Publication date: May 3, 2007
    Inventor: Yoshimoto Matsuda
  • Small internal combustion engine
    Publication number: 20070068479
    Abstract: A small internal combustion engine including a crankcase, a crankshaft rotatably mounted in an interior of the crankcase by crankshaft bearings of the crankcase, a first oil passage disposed below the crankshaft bearings to extend substantially in parallel with the crankshaft, the first oil passage being configured to feed lubricating oil to the crankshaft bearings, and a second oil passage disposed at a location higher than the first oil passage to extend substantially in parallel with the first oil passage, the second oil passage being configured to feed the lubricating oil to a component other than the crankshaft bearings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2006
    Publication date: March 29, 2007
    Inventor: Yoshimoto Matsuda
  • Engine combustion controlling method, device and motorcycle
    Publication number: 20070068469
    Abstract: A method, a device utilizing the method, and a motorcycle equipped with the device are provided, of controlling combustion of an engine to have an engine beat different from an equally-intervalled combustion. The method of controlling combustions of an engine having three or more pistons of cylinders per crankshaft includes causing simultaneous combustions of two cylinders among the three or more cylinders, the two cylinders having the same crank phase angle, causing a combustion of at least one -other cylinder, and in the process of said combustion offsetting a crank phase angle by a first crank phase angle, and repeating from the combustions of the first two cylinders further offsetting the crank phase angle by a second crank phase angle from the first crank phase angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2006
    Publication date: March 29, 2007
    Inventor: Yoshimoto Matsuda
  • Engine for leisure vehicle
    Publication number: 20070068490
    Abstract: An engine for a leisure vehicle equipped with an electronic control throttle system configured to operate an actuator based on a drive signal sent from a controller to the actuator in response to a rider's operation of a throttle operation device to cause a throttle valve of an air-intake device to open or close, including a first throttle position sensor configured to detect a movement position of the throttle valve; and a detection device configured to detect at least a predetermined position in an open state or a closed state of the throttle valve; wherein the controller determines a deviation between the predetermined position and the movement position of the throttle valve, compensates for a deviation by adjusting the drive signal based on a deviation if the deviation is above a preset value, and sends the adjusted drive signal to the actuator to cause the throttle valve to open or close.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2006
    Publication date: March 29, 2007
    Inventor: Yoshimoto Matsuda
  • Transmission and motorcycle comprising the same
    Publication number: 20070026994
    Abstract: A transmission configured to change a gear position by rotation of a shift drum operative in association with an operation of a change pedal, including a potentiometer configured to detect a rotational angle of the shift drum; and a determiner configured to determine a gear position based on whether or not a value of a signal output from the potentiometer falls within a determination band having a predetermined range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2006
    Publication date: February 1, 2007
    Inventors: Yoshimoto Matsuda, Takao Kaneko
  • Engine for leisure vehicle
    Publication number: 20060283418
    Abstract: An engine for a leisure vehicle including a crank chamber in which a crankshaft is disposed, a transmission chamber in which a transmission unit of the vehicle is disposed, the transmission unit having an input shaft that is coupled to the crankshaft and configured to be driven by the crankshaft, a cylinder extending from the crank chamber, and a cylinder head attached to the cylinder. The crank chamber is located above the transmission chamber, and the cylinder is disposed in such a manner that an axial direction thereof is oriented in a substantially longitudinal direction of a vehicle body of the leisure vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2006
    Publication date: December 21, 2006
    Inventors: Yoshimoto Matsuda, Sosuke Kinouchi