Patents by Inventor Hiromichi Kimura
Hiromichi Kimura 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).
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Publication number: 20130305878Abstract: A vehicle drive device configured with an input member coupled to an internal combustion engine, a rotary electric machine, an output member coupled to wheels, and a power transfer mechanism that drivably couples the input member, the rotary electric machine, and the output member. An oil collecting portion is configured to collect oil supplied by rotation of the power transfer mechanism, The collected oil falling passage is configured to cause the oil collected by the oil collecting portion to flow downward to be supplied to a portion of a facing wall surface located above a cylindrical member. A communication oil passage communicates between the gap and the inside housing space is formed at a portion of abutment between the subject support bearing and the support projecting portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 16, 2012Publication date: November 21, 2013Applicants: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, AISIN AW CO., LTD.Inventors: Masamitsu Seno, Hirotaka Yata, Natsuki Sada, Takuya Komatsu, Tomoo Atarashi, Michinobu Suzuki, Hiromichi Kimura, Michitaka Tsuchida
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Publication number: 20130283972Abstract: A vehicle drive device configured with reduced axial dimensions, while still having appropriate lubrication. The vehicle drive device is configured with an input shaft coupled to an engine, a rotary electric machine, and an output shaft coupled to wheels. A power transfer mechanism couples input shaft, the rotary electric machine, and the output shaft. A case houses at least the rotary electric machine and the power transfer mechanism. An oil reserving portion capable of reserving oil supplied by rotation of the power transfer mechanism is provided above the rotor shaft inside the case. A communication oil passage is oriented between the oil reserving portion and an inner circumferential space formed inside the rotor shaft. The rotor shaft is disposed to be inserted into the inside housing space, and has a supply communication hole that communicates between the inner circumferential space and the inside housing space.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 30, 2012Publication date: October 31, 2013Applicants: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, AISIN AW CO., LTD.Inventors: Yoshihisa Yamamoto, Masamitsu Seno, Takuya Komatsu, Natsuki Sada, Hirotaka Yata, Tomoo Atarashi, Hiromichi Kimura, Takeshi Kuwahara, Tatsuo Obata, Michitaka Tsuchida, Yoshinori Morita, Shingo Kato
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Patent number: 8527130Abstract: A hybrid drive apparatus includes: a drive power source that includes an internal combustion engine, a first electric motor, and a second electric motor; a power transmission mechanism that includes a carrier, a sun gear, and a ring gear, and that is configured to rotate the output shaft of the internal combustion engine by the first electric motor; and plural bearings that each includes an outer ring member and an inner ring member fitted to the outer ring member through a rolling element, and that are provided apart from each other in an axial direction of the output shaft with the carrier being positioned between the bearings. An inner periphery of the outer ring member is positioned more inward in a radial direction of the ring gear relative to a meshing portion between inner teeth of the ring gear and outer teeth of one of the pinion gears.Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 2011Date of Patent: September 3, 2013Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Aisin AW Co., Ltd.Inventors: Takeshi Kitahata, Tatsuo Obata, Takeshi Kuwahara, Hiromichi Kimura, Toru Saito, Masahiro Tanae
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Patent number: 8509979Abstract: An object of the present invention is to detect the generation of a drag torque in a locking mechanism, in a hybrid vehicle in which a speed change mode can be changed between a fixed speed change mode and a stepless speed change mode by the action of the locking mechanism. In a hybrid vehicle, a brake mechanism is a wet multiplate brake apparatus and can selectively lock a motor generator. On the other hand, in a case where the drag torque is generated in the brake mechanism, if the motor generator is in a positive rotation state, an actual motor generator torque (first torque) is greater than a torque (less as a reaction torque, second torque) calculated from the operating condition of the hybrid vehicle by the amount of the drag torque. If the motor generator is in a negative rotation state, the first torque is less (greater as the reaction torque) than the second torque. The ECU uses this phenomenon to detect the drag torque.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 2010Date of Patent: August 13, 2013Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yoshihito Kanno, Hiroaki Ebuchi, Hirotatsu Kitabatake, Hiromichi Kimura, Yukihiko Ideshio, Tomohito Ono, Hideki Sano
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Patent number: 8469859Abstract: In a hybrid vehicle having a locking mechanism in which a play elimination process is required in the locking, a torque shock in the play elimination is reduced. In a hybrid vehicle 1 having a locking mechanism 700 which is a cam-lock type engaging apparatus, an ECU 100 performs MG1 locking control. In the control, play is formed between a cam 710 and a clutch plate 720 of the locking mechanism 700. The formed play is gradually reduced such that the torque shock in the play elimination does not occur due to the phase control of the cam 710, on the basis of an initial value of the amount of the play when the clutch plate 720 is bought into contact with a friction part 733 and a play elimination amount G.Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 2009Date of Patent: June 25, 2013Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hiromichi Kimura, Tomohito Ono, Yukihiko Ideshio, Hirotatsu Kitabatake, Hiroaki Ebuchi
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Publication number: 20130134010Abstract: Disclosed is a parking lock mechanism of a power transmission apparatus which can stably supply lubrication oil to the sliding surface of a parking cam to decrease the sliding resistance of the parking cam. The parking lock mechanism 52 includes a support portion 73 for positioning a sleeve 71 with respect to an extension housing 6, and a first guide rib 74 provided on the support portion 73 for catching oil circulating in a transaxle case 4 to supply the oil to the support portion 73. The sleeve 71 has an upper portion formed with a notch 71c for allowing a parking pawl 62 to be held in abutment with a parking cam 61. The oil caught by the first guide rib 74 is supplied through the support portion 73 and the notch 71c of the sleeve 71 to the sliding surface of the parking cam 61, viz., the sliding surface between the parking pawl 62 and the parking cam 61 and the sliding surface between the parking cam 61 and the sleeve 71.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 10, 2010Publication date: May 30, 2013Inventors: Hiromichi Kimura, Michitaka Tsuchida, Takeshi Kitahata, Tatsuo Obata, Yosuke Suzuki, Takeshi Kuwahara
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Publication number: 20130131941Abstract: It is provided a control device of a vehicle power transmission device including: a torque limiter device blocking transmission of a torque amount exceeding a predetermined torque with operation involving differential rotation between a first rotating member and a second rotating member; and an electric motor coupled to one of the first rotating member and the second rotating member in a power transmittable manner, wherein when a rotation speed difference is generated between the first rotating member and the second rotating member due to the operation of the torque limiter device, the electric motor is operated so as to suppress the rotation speed difference.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 21, 2010Publication date: May 23, 2013Inventors: Takeshi Kitahata, Tatsuo Obata, Hiromichi Kimura, Takeshi Kuwahara, Toru Saito, Masahiro Tanae
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Publication number: 20130116086Abstract: Providing a vehicular power transmitting system which includes a torque limiter device and which is configured to reduce deterioration of durability of a rotary member disposed between an engine and the torque limiter device. An inertia moment I1 of a first rotary portion 104 of a torque limiter device 24 about its axis (first axis RC1) is smaller than an inertia moment I2 of a second rotary portion 106 about its axis (first axis RC1), so that an inertia moment of rotary members between an input shaft 18 and the first rotary portion 104 can be reduced as compared with that where the above-indicated inertia moment I1 is larger than the inertia moment 12.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 13, 2010Publication date: May 9, 2013Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Akira Hibino, Michitaka Tsuchida, Hiromichi Kimura
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Publication number: 20120143422Abstract: A hybrid drive apparatus includes: a drive power source that includes an internal combustion engine, a first electric motor, and a second electric motor; a power transmission mechanism that includes a carrier, a sun gear, and a ring gear, and that is configured to rotate the output shaft of the internal combustion engine by the first electric motor; and plural bearings that each includes an outer ring member and an inner ring member fitted to the outer ring member through a rolling element, and that are provided apart from each other in an axial direction of the output shaft with the carrier being positioned between the bearings. An inner periphery of the outer ring member is positioned more inward in a radial direction of the ring gear relative to a meshing portion between inner teeth of the ring gear and outer teeth of one of the pinion gears.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 29, 2011Publication date: June 7, 2012Applicants: AISIN AW CO., LTD., TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Takeshi KITAHATA, Tatsuo OBATA, Takeshi KUWAHARA, Hiromichi KIMURA, Toru SAITO, Masahiro TANAE
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Publication number: 20120103749Abstract: A control device of a vehicle includes: power dividing mechanism that has a plurality of rotating elements rotated by torque output and transmitted from an engine and a first motor/generator and switches a transmission mode according to the engaging states of the respective rotating elements; and a clutch that has a first engaging member and a second engaging member having a backlash between them in a rotating direction thereof, and that sets a transmission mode to a fixed transmission ratio mode by engaging the first engaging member connected to one of the rotating elements with the second engaging member, and sets the transmission mode to a continuously variable transmission ratio mode by releasing the engagement. In the control device of a vehicle, the magnitude of the reversed rotating torque is reduced when the direction of rotating torque acting between the first and seconds engaging members.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 8, 2009Publication date: May 3, 2012Inventors: Hiromichi Kimura, Yukihiko Ideshio, Hiroaki Ebuchi, Tomohito Ono, Hirotatsu Kitabatake, Hideki Sano
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Publication number: 20120095635Abstract: An object of the present invention is to detect the generation of a drag torque in a locking mechanism, in a hybrid vehicle in which a speed change mode can be changed between a fixed speed change mode and a stepless speed change mode by the action of the locking mechanism. In a hybrid vehicle, a brake mechanism is a wet multiplate brake apparatus and can selectively lock a motor generator. On the other hand, in a case where the drag torque is generated in the brake mechanism, if the motor generator is in a positive rotation state, an actual motor generator torque (first torque) is greater than a torque (less as a reaction torque, second torque) calculated from the operating condition of the hybrid vehicle by the amount of the drag torque. If the motor generator is in a negative rotation state, the first torque is less (greater as the reaction torque) than the second torque. The ECU uses this phenomenon to detect the drag torque.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 27, 2010Publication date: April 19, 2012Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Yoshihito Kanno, Hiroaki Ebuchi, Hirotatsu Kitabatake, Hiromichi Kimura, Yukihiko Ideshio, Tomohito Ono, Hideki Sano
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Publication number: 20120028757Abstract: In a hybrid vehicle having a locking mechanism in which a play elimination process is required in the locking, a torque shock in the play elimination is reduced. In a hybrid vehicle 1 having a locking mechanism 700 which is a cam-lock type engaging apparatus, an ECU 100 performs MG1 locking control. In the control, play is formed between a cam 710 and a clutch plate 720 of the locking mechanism 700. The formed play is gradually reduced such that the torque shock in the play elimination does not occur due to the phase control of the cam 710, on the basis of an initial value of the amount of the play when the clutch plate 720 is bought into contact with a friction part 733 and a play elimination amount G.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 16, 2009Publication date: February 2, 2012Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Hiromichi Kimura, Tomohito Ono, Yukihiko Ideshio, Hirotatsu Kitabatake, Hiroaki Ebuchi
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Patent number: 8095255Abstract: In a hybrid vehicle provided with a power dividing mechanism comprising a clutch mechanism, an ECU performs speed-change control. In the control, the ECU performs an engage preparing process if it is necessary to engage clutch plates of the clutch mechanism with each other. In the process, the ECU switches a reference value which is referred in a feedback control for performing a rotation synchronization and a position synchronization for the clutch plates from a calculated value which is calculated from a pulse signal of first rotational sensor mounted the clutch plate to an estimated value which is estimated from a pulse signal of each of second and third rotational sensors for detecting rotational speed of each motor generators if clutch rotational speed as rotational speed corresponding to the clutch plate as an engagement element decreases to less than a criterion value.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2009Date of Patent: January 10, 2012Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hiroaki Ebuchi, Hiromichi Kimura, Hirotatsu Kitabatake, Takaji Umeno
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Publication number: 20110263372Abstract: In a lubrication structure of a differential gear unit, a case has a guide rib that extends over a certain area with respect to a rotation path of a head of a bolt when a ring gear rotates, and that protrudes out from the case toward the head of the bolt. Also, a through-hole that extends in a vertical direction is formed in an upper portion of a hollow supporting portion, and the guide rib has an oil reservoir that curves toward an upper end opening of the through-hole.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 29, 2011Publication date: October 27, 2011Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Hiromichi KIMURA, Takeshi KUWAHARA, Takeshi KITAHATA, Tatsuo OBATA, Masahiro TANAE
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Patent number: 8046143Abstract: An ECU executes a program including: a step of detecting a turbine revolution speed, a step of detecting an engine torque TE, a step of detecting a speed change ratio, a step of setting a range an enlarged slip region when a slip region enlargement condition is satisfied, and a step of enlarging the slip region toward a lock-up region side (high-load side).Type: GrantFiled: April 17, 2006Date of Patent: October 25, 2011Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kazuaki Nakamura, Hiromichi Kimura, Shun Minaki, Koji Oshima, Tomohiro Asami, Takahiro Kondo
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Publication number: 20110238275Abstract: An ECU executes a program including causing a brake to enter an engaged state, when first gear is implemented and when a difference between an output shaft rotation speed estimated from an input shaft rotation speed and a detected output shaft rotation speed is greater than a threshold value. When the brake enters the engaged state, the relative rotation between the inner race and the outer race of a one-way clutch is limited.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 10, 2011Publication date: September 29, 2011Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Kazuyuki Watanabe, Hiromichi Kimura, Koji Oshima, Masaru Morise, Hirofumi Onishi
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Patent number: 8010268Abstract: An ECU executes a program including causing a brake to enter an engaged state, when a first gear is implemented and when a difference between an output shaft rotation speed estimated from an input shaft rotation speed and a detected output shaft rotation speed is greater than a threshold value. When the brake enters the engaged state, the relative rotation between the inner race and the outer race of a one-way clutch is limited.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 2006Date of Patent: August 30, 2011Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kazuyuki Watanabe, Hiromichi Kimura, Koji Oshima, Masaru Morise, Hirofumi Onishi
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Publication number: 20110054727Abstract: A control apparatus is applied to a vehicle that has shift modes including the continuously variable shift mode, in which a ratio of the rotational speed of a power source to the rotational speed of a drive shaft is continuously adjusted, and the stepped shift mode, in which the ratio is fixed. The control apparatus includes a control unit that controls the torque that is output from the power source to make the time that is required to bring the drive torque of the drive shaft from a predetermined value to a target value in the stepped shift mode equal to the time that is required to bring the drive torque of the drive shaft from the predetermined value to the target value in the continuously variable shift mode. In this way, the difference in drivability between the continuously variable shift mode and the stepped shift mode is minimized.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 24, 2009Publication date: March 3, 2011Applicant: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hiroaki Ebuchi, Kouji Kawashima, Hiromichi Kimura, Tomoyuki Honda
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Patent number: 7841449Abstract: A lubrication structure of a transmission includes a gear chamber having an internal space storing lubricating oil, in which chamber a pressure is raised to a prescribed pressure, a gear chamber having an internal space communicating to the internal space through a communicating hole and attaining a pressure lower than the prescribed pressure, and an oil catch tank provided in the internal space at a position directly under the communicating hole and receiving the lubricating oil that flows into the internal space from the internal space through the communicating hole. With such a structure, a lubrication structure for a transmission capable of holding an oil level at a proper level with a simplified structure can be provided.Type: GrantFiled: September 7, 2005Date of Patent: November 30, 2010Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kazuaki Nakamura, Hiromichi Kimura, Kazuyuki Watanabe, Terufumi Miyazaki, Daisuke Kusamoto
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Patent number: 7833128Abstract: An ECU executes a program including detecting an engine speed; detecting a turbine speed; calculating a slip revolution speed of a torque converter as; calculating a hydraulic pressure control value based on the slip revolution speed and a map; and outputting a hydraulic pressure control signal to a linear solenoid. The map is set such that the hydraulic pressure control value is smaller as the slip revolution speed increases in positive values.Type: GrantFiled: March 1, 2006Date of Patent: November 16, 2010Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kazuaki Nakamura, Hiromichi Kimura, Koji Oshima, Tomohiro Asami, Takahiro Kondo