Patents by Inventor Yuichi Kitao

Yuichi Kitao 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: 4798260
    Abstract: A steering apparatus for a front wheel drive tractor comprising, at each of opposite lateral sides thereof, a front axle, a front axle case housing the front axle, a kingpin, a transmission case provided in an outer end region of the front axle case to be pivotable about the kingpin, and a front wheel attached to the transmission case and including a hub shaft. The kingpin is operatively connected to the front axle through a bevel gear transmission, and the hub shaft is operatively connected to the kingpin through a bevel gear transmission and a planetary reduction mechanism. The front wheel has a substantially zero camber angle, and the kingpin is inclined such that a lower portion of the transmission case disposed inwardly with respect to a center of the tractor is substantially contained inside a rim of the front wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1986
    Date of Patent: January 17, 1989
    Assignee: Kubota, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaru Nakata, Yuichi Kitao
  • Patent number: 4792010
    Abstract: A four wheel drive vehicle comprising an engine, a transmission connected to the engine, a front wheel drive line, a rear wheel drive line, and an automatic switch mechanism for operatively connecting the front wheel and rear wheel drive lines to the transmission to selectively provides a two wheel drive mode and a four wheel drive mode. The front wheel drive line and the rear wheel drive lines are constructed such that front wheels are driven at a lower speed than rear wheels. The automatic switch mechanism includes an input portion connected to the transmission, a first output portion connected to the front wheel drive line, a second output portion connected to the rear wheel drive line, and a clutch for connecting the first and second output portions to the input portion. The clutch is operable to disconnect the first output portion from the input portion upon receipt of a torque exceeding a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 20, 1988
    Assignee: 501 Kubota, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuichi Kitao, Akio Inamori