Hiroki Kamikawa

Title: Hiroki Kamikawa: Outboard Motor Inventor

Introduction

Hiroki Kamikawa is an inventor associated with Suzuki Motor Corporation in Hamamatsu, Japan. His patent work includes an outboard motor transmission and shifting system. The available information identifies 1 patent associated with him.

Latest Patents

Kamikawa’s patent, “Outboard motor,” describes a system that transfers power from an engine to a propeller through upper and lower shafts and a transmission mechanism. The mechanism uses upper, lower, and intermediate gears, while a shift device controls how power is transmitted.

The shift device includes a shift shaft, a cam mechanism, an operation portion, a shift slider, a dog clutch, and a connector pin. Rotation of the shift shaft moves the operation portion vertically, allowing the dog clutch to connect with the appropriate gear. The shift slider is positioned either above the upper gear or below the lower gear.

Career Highlights

Kamikawa’s documented patent contribution focuses on the design of an outboard motor’s transmission and shifting components. The invention describes how these parts work together to select a gear connection and transmit engine power toward the propeller.

Collaborations

The provided information lists Sho Okamoto and Yuki Eidome as Kamikawa’s coworkers. It does not specify their roles in the patent or whether they collaborated on the invention.

Conclusion

Hiroki Kamikawa’s recorded patent highlights a mechanical approach to outboard motor gear selection, combining a multi-gear transmission with a vertically operated shifting mechanism.