Abstract: A drive system provides a smooth start for a vehicle and converts excess kinetic energy accompanying the difference in speed between the engine and the drive wheels occurring during starting into electrical energy for storage in a battery. The drive system includes a gearbox having at least a first gear element connected to an output shaft of an engine, a second gear element connected to a drive wheel of a vehicle and a third gear element for, by applying a braking torque to the third gear element, reducing the speed of rotation input from the first gear element and outputting it to the second gear element. An engaging element provides selective connection to any of the gear elements for mechanically connecting the output shaft of the engine to the drive wheel.

Abstract: Seal rings are set in oil grooves which are situated at both sides of two oil passages communicating two hydraulic actuators which operate oppositely. First and second seal rings oil-tightly seal between the first oil passage and sleeve, while third and fourth seal rings oil-tightly seal between the second oil passage and the sleeve. Accordingly even if oil flows oppositely in each of two oil passages due to the opposing motions of the two contiguous hydraulic actuators, not oil leakage occurs. Furthermore, a draining groove is situated between the oil grooves in which the second and third seal rings are installed.

Abstract: Thrust force generated by a hydraulic actuator is absorbed in a attachment device for a four speed automatic transmission mechanism. When hydraulic pressure is applied to the hydraulic actuator to engage a third and a fourth clutches, pressing force from a piston works on a strut member situated between the third and fourth clutches as a compression force, while a force working on a drum member as a tension force, so that these forces are counterbalanced and absorbed in the attachment device. Consequently, one directional move of the attachment device is supported by a little force such as contacting a snap ring and a thrust washer to a clutch drum, on the other hand, another move of the attachment device is supported by a little force such as connecting the drum member and a big ring gear by a snap ring.

Abstract: A centrifugal hydraulic pressure cancel chamber is arranged at the back of a second piston member of a second hydraulic actuator for the second clutch. A first piston member of a first hydraulic actuator for a first clutch is situated behind the second piston. A centrifugal hydraulic pressure cancel plate is set at an inner periphery on a rotating member to prohibit axial movement and set at an outside periphery in a inside of the piston member oil-tightly. The inside surface of the second piston member and the cancel plate compose the centrifugal hydraulic pressure cancel chamber. A spring is placed between the second piston member and the cancel plate, and the centrifugal hydraulic cancel chamber and the spring work correspondingly to the first and the second piston members.

Abstract: A hydraulic control device which has a check valve controlling hydraulic pressure to a hydraulic actuator. Hydraulic pressure is selectively supplied to one of plural oil passages having different capacity orifices by a switching valve which switches high speed rotation mode and low speed rotation mode. A hydraulic power source and plural oil passages having different capacity orifices are connected to the switching valve which is controlled by hydraulic pressure varying according to vehicle speed. When rotation of the input shaft is low, the switching valve is connected to the oil passage having small capacity orifice, then hydraulic pressure is supplied to the hydraulic actuator through the orifice of small capacity. At this stage, as centrifugal force working on the ball in the check valve is low, the check valve is closed by even small amount of oil supply through the small capacity orifice, and raises hydraulic pressure in the actuator, so the clutch is engaged smoothly.

Abstract: A rotation detecting sensor is situated on the inside of a sleeve, so that the sensor detects a detected member, such as an input shaft and the like for an automatic transmission, from the inside of the sleeve. A hub projected toward inside a case is constituted, a sleeve enclosing the hub is fixed on the rotating shaft, the rotation detecting sensor is installed on the hub so that the sensor faces a detected member constituted on the inner surface of the sleeve. By this, the rotating shaft such as the input shaft and the like rotates with being supported by the hub of the case, and the sleeve fixed on the rotating shaft rotates together. The detected member is detected by the rotation detecting sensor placed at the hub.

Abstract: An intake adapter is provided on an oil intake opening formed in a transaxle casing. A tightly sealed space in communication with an oil pump is provided in the lower part of the transaxle housing, formed in such a manner that it can be opened by the removal of a cover member which is secured to the transaxle casing in a freely mountable and removable manner. An oil strainer is housed in the tightly sealed space and an intake adapter is provided in communication with the tightly space and an oil sump. As a result the oil in the oil sump is taken into the intake opening of the oil strainer from the adapter, and foreign matter such as iron particles and the like is removed in a filter element and the filtered oil is supplied to an oil pump.

Abstract: A hydraulic servo for friction coupling devices of automatic transmissions, the hydraulic servo comprising: an annular drum including outer and inner cylinders and a side wall connecting the two cylinders together and mounted fixedly or rotatably within an automatic transmission case; an intermediate cylinder mounted concentrically in a predetermined position between the outer and inner cylinders of the drum; a return biasing means located between the intermediate and inner cylinders; and a connecting member securely connecting the return biasing means to a piston.

Abstract: An automatic transmission which is provided which has a transfer device between the speed change gears and an overdrive, said transfer device having an output gear which engages an input gear of a differential gear coaxially connected to an output shaft of the speed change gears.