Koji Irikura

6536212, Mar 25, 2003

Jul 11, 2001

09/901656

Koji Irikura - Morristown TN
Mike Chisman - Morristown TN

Tuff Torq Corporation - Morristown TN

F16D 3102

60469, 60487

An operation mechanism for a variable displacement hydraulic pump. The hydraulic pump is disposed in a housing filled with first fluid. A capacity regulating member is provided on the hydraulic pump in the housing for changing the discharge amount of the hydraulic pump. An operation member is operationally connected to the capacity regulating member. The operation member is to be manipulated outside the housing. A resistive device is interposed between the operation member and the capacity regulating member for making the motion of the capacity regulating member slow. The resistive device is an assembly unit comprising a casing, a piston slidably disposed in the casing, and second fluid sealed in the casing. The second fluid is different from the first fluid. The casing is fitted into the hole provided in the housing.

7179190, Feb 20, 2007

May 4, 2006

11/417158

Koji Irikura - Morristown TN, US

F16H 48/06

475230

A lower cost differential gear assembly capable of inputting driving force through a differential gear, whose teeth have sufficient strength is provided. To achieve the object, the differential gear is constructed by engaging a gear part provided with teeth at equal intervals on one of its perimeter surfaces, and a support part pivotally supported by right and left axles through engagement of a spline. Accordingly, the gear part can be formed from a high strength material and the support part can be formed from a lower cost material.

7234299, Jun 26, 2007

Mar 31, 2006

11/278243

Koji Irikura - Morristown TN, US
Ryota Ohashi - Hyogo, JP
Hiroshi Tottori - Hyogo, JP

F16D 39/00

60454, 60468, 60487

An integrated hydraulic transaxle (IHT) comprises a hydrostatic transmission (HST), an axle driven by the HST, and a housing incorporating the HST and the axle. The HST includes a variable displacement hydraulic pump driven by a prime mover, and a hydraulic motor fluidly connected to the hydraulic pump. The hydraulic pump has a trunnion type movable swash plate. The internal displacement of the hydraulic motor is larger than the internal displacement of the hydraulic pump so as to increase the hydraulic deceleration activity of the HST. In the IHT, a mechanical deceleration drive train is interposed between the hydraulic motor and the axle. The mechanical deceleration activity of the mechanical deceleration drive train is reduced so far as the increase of the hydraulic deceleration activity of the HST.

7458431, Dec 2, 2008

Apr 5, 2006

11/397796

Koji Irikura - Morristown TN, US

Kanzaki Kokyukoki Mfg. Co., Ltd.

B60K 17/356
B62D 7/16

180 626, 180305, 280 93506

A vehicle comprises a steering operation device, a pair of running-driving wheels, which differentially drive when the steering operation device is manipulated, a pair of steerable running wheels interlocking with the steering operation device, and a steering mechanism interposed between the steering operation device and the pair of running-driving wheels. The steering mechanism includes a pair of drive gears interlocking with the steering operation device and a pair of follower gears interlocking with the respective steerable running wheels. The drive gears mesh with the respective follower gears so as to control lateral turning of the respective steerable running wheels. A gear radius of the drive gear may be greater than that of the follower gear meshing with it. A gear ratio between the mutually meshing drive and follower gears may be variable. The lateral turning centers of both the steerable running wheels may coincide with each other, and further coincide with a lateral turning center of the vehicle body caused by differential rotation of the running-driving wheels.

7484365, Feb 3, 2009

Mar 9, 2007

11/684188

Norihiro Ishii - Hyogo-ken, JP
Koji Irikura - Morristown TN, US

Kanzaki Kokyukoki Mfg. Co., Ltd.

F16D 39/00

60487, 92 122

An axle driving apparatus comprises a housing. The housing contains a hydrostatic transmission, a differential unit driven by the hydrostatic transmission, a pair of axles mutually differentially connected through the differential unit, and a restricting mechanism for selectively restricting differential motion of the axles by manual operation. The differential unit comprises a ring gear serving as an input gear and a pair of bevel gears which can be differentially rotated by rotation of the ring gear. The restricting mechanism engages one of the bevel gears with the ring gear. If a pair of differential side gears fixed on the respective axles serve as the bevel gears, the restricting mechanism engages one of the bevel gear to the ring gear through a claw clutch or a friction clutch.

7490708, Feb 17, 2009

Mar 24, 2006

11/277433

Koji Irikura - Morristown TN, US
Donald Wieber - Bean Station TN, US

Kanzaki Kokyukoki Mfg. Co., Ltd.

F16D 41/067
F16H 48/16

192 38, 192 50, 74650

A bidirectional overrunning clutch comprising an input gear, a pair of hubs, and a roller assembly is provided. Each hub is engaged to an end of one of a pair of shaft segments of a primary drive axle. The roller assembly is disposed within the input gear and about at least a portion of each hub. The roller assembly includes rollers disposed within recesses of the roller assembly. The roller assembly also includes a spring extending from the roller assembly to exert frictional forces between the roller assembly and the hubs. In operation, rotation of the input gear causes rotation of the roller assembly. Thereafter, rotation of the roller assembly causes rotation of the hubs via the engagements between the rollers and the hubs.

7493975, Feb 24, 2009

Mar 23, 2007

11/690459

Koji Irikura - Morristown TN, US

Kanzaki Kokyukoki Mfg. Co., Ltd.

B62D 7/15
B62D 7/16

180 632, 180307, 280 93506

A vehicle comprises a steering operation device, a pair of running-driving wheels, which differentially drive when the steering operation device is manipulated, a pair of steerable running wheels interlocking with the steering operation device, and a steering mechanism interposed between the steering operation device and the pair of running-driving wheels. The steering mechanism includes a pair of drive gears interlocking with the steering operation device and a pair of follower gears interlocking with the respective steerable running wheels. The drive gears mesh with the respective follower gears so as to control lateral turning of the respective steerable running wheels. A gear radius of the drive gear may be greater than that of the follower gear meshing with it. A gear ratio between the mutually meshing drive and follower gears may be variable. The lateral turning centers of both the steerable running wheels may coincide with each other, and further coincide with a lateral turning center of the vehicle body caused by differential rotation of the running-driving wheels.

7493998, Feb 24, 2009

Mar 28, 2005

11/090097

Koji Irikura - Morristown TN, US
Donald Wieber - Bean Station TN, US

Kanzaki Kokyukoki Mfg. Co., Ltd.

F16D 41/067
F16H 48/16

192 38, 192 50, 74650

A bi-directional overrunning clutch comprising an input gear, a pair of hubs, and a roller assembly is provided. Each hub is engaged to an end of one of a pair of shaft segments of a primary drive axle. The roller assembly is disposed within the input gear and about at least a portion of each hub. The roller assembly includes spring pins, extending from the roller assembly, with ball locks adapted to engage detents on the surface of each hub, so as to form spring pin engagements between the roller assembly and the hubs. In operation, rotation of the input gear causes rotation of the roller assembly. Thereafter, rotation of the roller assembly causes rotation of the hubs via the spring pin engagements. The spring pins, however, are generally adapted to disengage the spring pin engagements when one of the hubs rotates faster than the other hub.