Patents by Inventor Atsuhiko Gotou

Atsuhiko Gotou 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).

  • Breather structure for transfer
    Patent number: 7114412
    Abstract: A first casing structure defines an atmospheric chamber between a transfer and a transmission. A second casing structure defines a transfer chamber containing a transfer mechanism of the transfer, and further defines a connecting passage through which the transfer chamber is connected to the atmospheric chamber. A gas-liquid separating device is interposed between the transfer chamber and the connecting passage so that the transfer chamber and the connecting passage are connected through the gas-liquid separating device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsuhiko Gotou, Hirotaka Kusukawa
  • Apparatus for estimating clutch temperature
    Patent number: 6769526
    Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for estimating clutch temperature estimates clutch temperatures that closely follow actual clutch temperature without a temperature sensor and at low cost. The apparatus employs method for calculating energy applied to the driving clutch according to the detected rotational speed difference and estimated torque and method for estimating a clutch temperature variation based on the calculated energy and estimating a clutch temperature based on the estimated clutch temperature variation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2004
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Norio Iida, Yoshiyuki Fukuda, Hirotaka Kusukawa, Atsuhiko Gotou, Shigeo Murata, Satoshi Mizuya
  • Apparatus for estimating clutch temperature
    Publication number: 20030150685
    Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for estimating clutch temperature estimates clutch temperatures that closely follow actual clutch temperature without a temperature sensor and at low cost. The apparatus employs method for calculating energy applied to the driving clutch according to the detected rotational speed difference and estimated torque and method for estimating a clutch temperature variation based on the calculated energy and estimating a clutch temperature based on the estimated clutch temperature variation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2002
    Publication date: August 14, 2003
    Inventors: Norio Iida, Yoshiyuki Fukuda, Hirotaka Kusukawa, Atsuhiko Gotou, Shigeo Murata, Satoshi Mizuya
  • Breather structure for transfer
    Publication number: 20030136219
    Abstract: A first casing structure defines an atmospheric chamber between a transfer and a transmission. A second casing structure defines a transfer chamber containing a transfer mechanism of the transfer, and further defines a connecting passage through which the transfer chamber is connected to the atmospheric chamber. A gas-liquid separating device is interposed between the transfer chamber and the connecting passage so that the transfer chamber and the connecting passage are connected through the gas-liquid separating device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2003
    Publication date: July 24, 2003
    Applicant: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsuhiko Gotou, Hirotaka Kusukawa
  • Front/rear wheel torque distribution control apparatus for four wheel drive vehicle
    Patent number: 6497301
    Abstract: To achieve a first object of the present invention, a starting time limit vehicle speed which preferentially permits a torque distribution to front and rear wheels at the time of starting of a vehicle is switched in accordance with a degree of a diameter difference. To achieve a second object of the present invention, when the vehicle makes a normal running with different-diameter tires mounted thereon, a front/rear wheel distribution torque caused by a front/rear wheel rotation speed difference owing to the different-diameter tires is limited by switching a torque gain depending on a degree of a diameter difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2002
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Norio Iida, Yoshiyuki Fukuda, Hirotaka Kusukawa, Atsuhiko Gotou, Satoshi Mizuya
  • Front/rear wheel torque distribution control apparatus for four wheel drive vehicle
    Publication number: 20020033291
    Abstract: To achieve a first object of the present invention, a starting time limit vehicle speed which preferentially permits a torque distribution to front and rear wheels at the time of starting of a vehicle is switched in accordance with a degree of a diameter difference. To achieve a second object of the present invention, when the vehicle makes a normal running with different-diameter tires mounted thereon, a front/rear wheel distribution torque caused by a front/rear wheel rotation speed difference owing to the different-diameter tires is limited by switching a torque gain depending on a degree of a diameter difference.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2001
    Publication date: March 21, 2002
    Applicant: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Norio Iida, Yoshiyuki Fukuda, Hirotaka Kusukawa, Atsuhiko Gotou, Satoshi Mizuya