Patents by Inventor Yoshiro Kamo

Yoshiro Kamo 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: 20230402694
    Abstract: A battery pack comprises: a plurality of battery modules (or stacks) stacked in a Z direction, and each including a plurality of metal foils (or metal plates) stacked in the Z direction. The battery pack also comprises a resin portion bonded to a peripheral portion of the plurality of battery modules, and a case that houses the plurality of battery modules. The battery pack also comprises a stopper (or a regulating portion) that is disposed in the case so as to face the resin portion. In a direction in which the resin portion and the stopper face each other, the resin portion has a width equal to or larger than a distance between the resin portion and the stopper.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2023
    Publication date: December 14, 2023
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yoshiro KAMO
  • Publication number: 20230395927
    Abstract: A power storage device includes: a power storage stack including a plurality of power storage modules arranged in a first direction; a pair of restraint plates sandwiching the power storage stack in the first direction; a pair of side wall portions opposite to each other in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, with the power storage stack located in between; and a plurality of stoppers located outside each of opposite sides of the power storage stack in the second direction and arranged between the power storage stack and each side wall portion. On an outer main surface of each restraint plate, a plurality of reinforcing portions arranged in a third direction orthogonal to the first and second directions are disposed, and each stopper is disposed at a position overlapping, in the first direction, a corresponding reinforcing portion of the plurality of reinforcing portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2023
    Publication date: December 7, 2023
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yoshiro KAMO
  • Patent number: 11283119
    Abstract: A battery device includes a battery stack having battery cells, a first end member fixture, a second end member fixture, a temperature adjusting member for cooling the battery stack, and an external force applying device which applies a force to a specific battery cell of the battery cells via a first in-between part and/or a second in-between part. The first in-between part is a part located at a position closer to a center part between both ends of the first end member fixture than the both ends thereof. The second in-between part is a part located at a position closer to a center part between both ends of the second end member fixture than the both ends thereof. The force applied by the external force applying device is a force for causing the specific battery cell to move toward the temperature adjusting member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshiro Kamo, Nobuyoshi Fujiwara
  • Patent number: 11283126
    Abstract: A power storage device including: at least one power storage module disposed between a first frame and a second frame disposed at an interval from each other, the power storage module including a plurality of power storage cells arranged in sequence, the first frame and the second frame provided in a vehicle or the power storage device; and a fixture, wherein: the power storage module is fixed to the first frame by the fixture, and is not fixed to the second frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yoshiro Kamo
  • Publication number: 20200235445
    Abstract: A battery device includes a battery stack having battery cells, a first end member fixture, a second end member fixture, a temperature adjusting member for cooling the battery stack, and an external force applying device which applies a force to a specific battery cell of the battery cells via a first in-between part and/or a second in-between part. The first in-between part is a part located at a position closer to a center part between both ends of the first end member fixture than the both ends thereof. The second in-between part is a part located at a position closer to a center part between both ends of the second end member fixture than the both ends thereof. The force applied by the external force applying device is a force for causing the specific battery cell to move toward the temperature adjusting member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2019
    Publication date: July 23, 2020
    Applicant: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshiro Kamo, Nobuyoshi Fujiwara
  • Patent number: 10711692
    Abstract: A gear drive mechanism is provided with a gear drive pin provided at the second gear, a first movable member and second movable member configured to be able to move to the gear drive pin side, a first guide groove formed at the first movable member and engaged with the gear drive pin when making the eccentric member rotate toward a low compression ratio position, and a second guide groove formed at the second movable member and engaging with the gear drive pin when making the eccentric member rotate toward the high compression ratio position and wherein the mechanism makes the gear drive pin moving relative to a counterweight move along the first guide groove and the second guide groove so as to make the second gear rotate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshiro Kamo, Akio Kidooka
  • Patent number: 10634069
    Abstract: A control apparatus is applied to an internal combustion engine equipped with a plurality of cylinders, a variable valve actuation system capable of switching the operation mode of intake and exhaust valve between an inactive mode and an active mode on a cylinder-by-cylinder basis, and a fuel injection valve capable of supplying fuel to each cylinder. When the engine speed is equal to or lower than a first engine speed, the control apparatus performs cylinder deactivation in the internal combustion engine by skip firing control. When the engine speed is higher than the first engine speed, the control apparatus performs cylinder deactivation in the internal combustion engine by fixed deactivated cylinder control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshiro Kamo, Masatoshi Sugiura
  • Patent number: 10408126
    Abstract: A variable length connecting rod includes a connecting rod body, an eccentric member, a switching mechanism and a stopping mechanism. The eccentric member is provided at a small diameter end of the connecting rod body. The eccentric member rotates such that an effective length of the variable length connecting rod is varied. The switching mechanism includes a hydraulic piston connected to the eccentric member. The eccentric member reaches a first position when the switching mechanism is in a first state. The eccentric member reaches a second position when the switching mechanism is in a second state. The stopping mechanism includes a stopping member that abuts against or engages with the eccentric member or the hydraulic piston such that the eccentric member is maintained at an intermediate position between the first position and the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shuichi Ezaki, Akio Kidooka, Yoshiro Kamo
  • Patent number: 10393012
    Abstract: The internal combustion engine comprises: operating members and operating by a predetermined pressure or more of oil pressure; a hydraulic oil path supplying hydraulic oil to the operating members through crank journals; a lubricating oil path supplying lubricating oil to crankpins through the crank journals; a hydraulic control valve linearly controlling an oil pressure supplied to the operating members due to change of that opening degree; and a control device. The control device controls the opening degree of the hydraulic control valve so that when operating the operating members, the predetermined pressure or more of oil pressure is supplied to the operating members, and controls the opening degree of the hydraulic control valve so that when not operating the operating members, less than the predetermined pressure of oil pressure is supplied to the operating members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshiro Kamo, Shuichi Ezaki, Akio Kidooka
  • Publication number: 20190221796
    Abstract: A power storage device including: at least one power storage module disposed between a first frame and a second frame disposed at an interval from each other, the power storage module including a plurality of power storage cells arranged in sequence, the first frame and the second frame provided in a vehicle or the power storage device; and a fixture, wherein: the power storage module is fixed to the first frame by the fixture, and is not fixed to the second frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2019
    Publication date: July 18, 2019
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yoshiro KAMO
  • Publication number: 20180334970
    Abstract: A control apparatus is applied to an internal combustion engine equipped with a plurality of cylinders, a variable valve actuation system capable of switching the operation mode of intake and exhaust valve between an inactive mode and an active mode on a cylinder-by-cylinder basis, and a fuel injection valve capable of supplying fuel to each cylinder. When the engine speed is equal to or lower than a first engine speed, the control apparatus performs cylinder deactivation in the internal combustion engine by skip firing control. When the engine speed is higher than the first engine speed, the control apparatus performs cylinder deactivation in the internal combustion engine by fixed deactivated cylinder control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2018
    Publication date: November 22, 2018
    Inventors: Yoshiro Kamo, Masatoshi Sugiura
  • Patent number: 10119462
    Abstract: A variable length connecting rod comprises a connecting rod body, an eccentric member, a hydraulic cylinder, a hydraulic piston, a check valve, a switching mechanism and a hydraulic mechanism. The check valve permits a flow of hydraulic oil from a primary side of the check valve to a secondary side of the check valve and prohibits the flow from the secondary side to the primary side. The switching mechanism comprises a single switching pin. The connecting rod body is formed with first to fourth oil paths. The switching pin is switched between a first position making the first oil path communicate with the fourth oil path and making the second oil path communicate with the third oil path, and a second position making the first oil path communicate with the third oil path and making the second oil path communicate with the fourth oil path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shuichi Ezaki, Yoshiro Kamo, Akio Kidooka
  • Patent number: 10082073
    Abstract: A variable length connecting rod includes a connecting rod body, an eccentric member, a first piston mechanism, a second piston mechanism and a flow-direction switching mechanism. The eccentric member, the first piston member, the second piston member and the flow-direction switching mechanism are provided in the connecting rod body. The first piston mechanism and the second piston mechanism are configured to pivot the eccentric member. The connecting rod body has a control oil passage that communicates with a first opening of the connecting rod and the flow-direction switching mechanism. The flow-direction switching mechanism is switched between the first state and the second state by switching pins. The switching pins are disposed in the connecting rod body such that directions in which the switching pins are operated are angled with respect to a plane perpendicular to an axis of the first opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shuichi Ezaki, Yoshiro Kamo, Akio Kidooka
  • Publication number: 20180258846
    Abstract: A gear drive mechanism is provided with a gear drive pin provided at the second gear, a first movable member and second movable member configured to be able to move to the gear drive pin side, a first guide groove formed at the first movable member and engaged with the gear drive pin when making the eccentric member rotate toward a low compression ratio position, and a second guide groove formed at the second movable member and engaging with the gear drive pin when making the eccentric member rotate toward the high compression ratio position and wherein the mechanism makes the gear drive pin moving relative to a counterweight move along the first guide groove and the second guide groove so as to make the second gear rotate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2018
    Publication date: September 13, 2018
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshiro KAMO, Akio KIDOOKA
  • Patent number: 10036313
    Abstract: A variable compression ratio internal combustion engine comprises a crankshaft and a connecting rod. The connecting rod comprises a connecting rod body, a first hydraulic cylinder, a first hydraulic piston, a second hydraulic cylinder, a second hydraulic piston, a linking member, a hydraulic oil path, and a spool between a first operating position permitting supply of hydraulic oil from the second hydraulic cylinder to the first hydraulic cylinder, and a second operating position permitting supply of hydraulic oil from the first hydraulic cylinder to the second hydraulic. The variable compression ratio internal combustion engine further comprises a biasing member arranged inside the crank pin and biasing the spool so as to selectively switch a position of the spool between the first operating position and the second operating position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yoshiro Kamo
  • Patent number: 9958004
    Abstract: A variable length connecting rod which can change the effective length comprises a connecting rod body, an eccentric member which is attached at the small end to the connecting rod body to be able to swivel and which changes the effective length of a variable length connecting rod when swiveled, one piston mechanism which has one hydraulic cylinder which is provided in the connecting rod body and one hydraulic piston which slides in the hydraulic cylinder, a direction switching mechanism which switches between supply and discharge of hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic cylinder, and a hydraulic fluid supply source which supplies the hydraulic cylinder with hydraulic fluid. The piston mechanism is configured so that the eccentric member swivels in one direction if hydraulic fluid is supplied to the hydraulic cylinder and so that the eccentric member swivels in the other direction if hydraulic fluid is discharged from the hydraulic cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shuichi Ezaki, Akio Kidooka, Yoshiro Kamo
  • Publication number: 20170356335
    Abstract: A variable length connecting rod includes a connecting rod body, an eccentric member, a first piston mechanism, a second piston mechanism and a flow-direction switching mechanism. The eccentric member, the first piston member, the second piston member and the flow-direction switching mechanism are provided in the connecting rod body. The first piston mechanism and the second piston mechanism are configured to pivot the eccentric member. The connecting rod body has a control oil passage that communicates with a first opening of the connecting rod and the flow-direction switching mechanism. The flow-direction switching mechanism is switched between the first state and the second state by switching pins. The switching pins are disposed in the connecting rod body such that directions in which the switching pins are operated are angled with respect to a plane perpendicular to an axis of the first opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2015
    Publication date: December 14, 2017
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shuichi EZAKI, Yoshiro KAMO, Akio KIDOOKA
  • Publication number: 20170342896
    Abstract: A variable length connecting rod includes a connecting rod body, an eccentric member, a switching mechanism and a stopping mechanism. The eccentric member is provided at a small diameter end of the connecting rod body. The eccentric member rotates such that an effective length of the variable length connecting rod is varied. The switching mechanism includes a hydraulic piston connected to the eccentric member. The eccentric member reaches a first position when the switching mechanism is in a first state. The eccentric member reaches a second position when the switching mechanism is in a second state. The stopping mechanism includes a stopping member that abuts against or engages with the eccentric member or the hydraulic piston such that the eccentric member is maintained at an intermediate position between the first position and the second position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2015
    Publication date: November 30, 2017
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shuichi EZAKI, Akio KIDOOKA, Yoshiro KAMO
  • Publication number: 20170328276
    Abstract: A variable compression ratio internal combustion engine comprises a crankshaft and a connecting rod. The connecting rod comprises a connecting rod body, a first hydraulic cylinder, a first hydraulic piston, a second hydraulic cylinder, a second hydraulic piston, a linking member, a hydraulic oil path, and a spool between a first operating position permitting supply of hydraulic oil from the second hydraulic cylinder to the first hydraulic cylinder, and a second operating position permitting supply of hydraulic oil from the first hydraulic cylinder to the second hydraulic. The variable compression ratio internal combustion engine further comprises a biasing member arranged inside the crank pin and biasing the spool so as to selectively switch a position of the spool between the first operating position and the second operating position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2017
    Publication date: November 16, 2017
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yoshiro KAMO
  • Publication number: 20170248074
    Abstract: A variable length connecting rod comprises a connecting rod body, an eccentric member, a hydraulic cylinder, a hydraulic piston, a check valve, a switching mechanism and a hydraulic mechanism. The check valve permits a flow of hydraulic oil from a primary side of the check valve to a secondary side of the check valve and prohibits the flow from the secondary side to the primary side. The switching mechanism comprises a single switching pin. The connecting rod body is formed with first to fourth oil paths. The switching pin is switched between a first position making the first oil path communicate with the fourth oil path and making the second oil path communicate with the third oil path, and a second position making the first oil path communicate with the third oil path and making the second oil path communicate with the fourth oil path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2017
    Publication date: August 31, 2017
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shuichi EZAKI, Yoshiro KAMO, Akio KIDOOKA