Patents by Inventor Yuzo Masuda

Yuzo Masuda 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: 6179106
    Abstract: In a damper device in a lock-up clutch for a torque converter device, a projection is integrally formed at either the driving or driven plates and an arc-shaped expanded part is integrally formed at the other of the driving and driven plates. The arc-shaped expanded part is provided with a concave portion which has a circumferential end. The integral projection is fitted in the concave portion in such a manner that the maximum relative rotation between the driving and driven plates is attained when the integral projection is engaged with the circumferential end of the concave portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yuzo Masuda
  • Patent number: 5813506
    Abstract: A direct-coupled clutch for a torque converter 10 has a front cover 11, a piston clutch plate 12 having a frictional facing 12a, a turbine 13, a driven plate 14, secured to the piston clutch plate 12 for rotation in unison with the piston clutch plate, a disk 16 circumferentially movably arranged between the piston clutch plate 12 and the driven plate 14, a first resilient member 17 and a second resilient member 18 arranged between the piston clutch plate 12 and the turbine 13. The driven plate 14 has a first receiving part 15a and a second receiving part, formed radially more inwardly than the first receiving part, for carrying the second resilient member. The driven plate 14 has a first pawl for circumferentially compressing the second resilient member and a second pawl 14b formed radially more inwardly than the first pawl 14a. The disk 16 has a retainer 16a for circumferentially compressing the first resilient member 17. The clutch has a simplified structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1998
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroaki Maeda, Kazuo Ishikawa, Yuzo Masuda
  • Patent number: 5139122
    Abstract: A lock-up clutch in a torque converter includes a front cover connected to an input shaft, a piston disposed between the front cover and a torque converter mechanism that can be axially moved on an input shaft and can be engaged or disengaged with the front cover. A first member is disposed between the piston and the torque converter mechanism, a second member is provided at both sides of the first member and the second member is rotatable with respect to the first member for a first predetermined rotational angle. A first elastic member is disposed between the first member and the second member for elastically connecting the first member and the second member with each other and a second elastic member is provided inwardly of the first elastic member for elastically connecting the first member at a second predetermined rotational angle which is less than the first predetermined rotational angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1992
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroaki Maeda, Takahiro Misu, Masahiro Omura, Yuzo Masuda, Toshihiro Kobayashi