Patents by Inventor Kan Sasaki
Kan Sasaki 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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Patent number: 8874289Abstract: An apparatus, applied to a vehicle having an internal combustion engine and an electric motor as power sources, comprises a changeover mechanism which is able to change a connection state of an electric motor output shaft to any one of “an IN-Connection State” in which a power transmission path is provided between a transmission input shaft and the electric motor output shaft, “an OUT-Connection State” in which a power transmission path is provided between the transmission output shaft and the electric motor output shaft, and “a neutral state” in which no transmission path therebetween is provided. When a changeover condition is satisfied, a period is provided in which a sum Ts of an internal-combustion-engine-side-output-torque Te and an electric-motor-side-output-torque Tm coincides with a required driving torque Tr, and an electric motor torque continues to be zero.Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 2010Date of Patent: October 28, 2014Assignee: Aisin AI Co., Ltd.Inventors: Toshio Tanba, Kan Sasaki, Takeshige Miyazaki, Yousuke Hayashi, Hiroki Hatori
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Patent number: 8771135Abstract: [Subject] In a hybrid drive power apparatus, loss of drive power caused by drag torque of a friction clutch is decreased to reduce fuel consumption rate.Type: GrantFiled: April 17, 2009Date of Patent: July 8, 2014Assignees: Aisin AI Co., Ltd., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Aisin Seiki Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Toshio Tanba, Yuichi Fukuhara, Kan Sasaki, Mitsuhiro Tabata, Masahiro Omura
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Patent number: 8771143Abstract: In a hybrid power system, when a change-speed stage selected in one of gear-shift mechanisms for first and second drive trains is switched over to another change-speed stage in the other gear-shift mechanism, deceleration in rotation speed of an engine detected by a rotation speed sensor is compared with a preset upper limit. When the deceleration in rotation speed of the engine exceeds the upper limit, the motor-generator in drive connection with an input shaft of the second drive train is activated as an electric motor to cause load torque canceling or offsetting input torque applied to the input shaft of the other gear-shift mechanism from the engine, and engagement of the change-speed stage in the other gear-shift mechanism is released after the occurrence of the load torque.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2009Date of Patent: July 8, 2014Assignees: Aisin AI Co., Ltd., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Aisin Seiki Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Toshio Tanba, Yuichi Fukuhara, Kan Sasaki, Sachio Toyora, Masahiro Omura
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Publication number: 20130324359Abstract: A power transmission apparatus (11) for four-wheel-drive hybrid vehicle according to the present invention is characterized in that it comprises a front-wheel/rear-wheel driving-force distributor means (21) for distributing rotary powers, which are output from an internal combustion engine (31) as well as a rotary electric appliance (32), between front wheels (91) and rear wheels (93), and then transmitting the rotary powers to them; wherein the front-wheel/rear-wheel driving-force distributor means (21) sets up the following when braking a vehicle: a rear-wheel disconnection mode for disconnecting between the front-wheel/rear-wheel driving-force distributor means (21) and the rear wheels (93); a front-wheel connection mode for connecting between the front-wheel/rear-wheel driving-force distributor means (21) and the front wheels (91); and a regeneration mode for regenerating the rotary powers from the front wheels (91) by the rotary electric appliance (32).Type: ApplicationFiled: February 10, 2011Publication date: December 5, 2013Inventors: Kan Sasaki, Takeharu Koide, Hirokuni Miyano, Shinji Kitaoka
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Patent number: 8545365Abstract: An apparatus comprises a changeover mechanism which is able to change a connection state of an electric motor output shaft to any one from alternatives consisting of “an IN-Connection State” in which a power transmission path is provided between a transmission input shaft and the electric motor output shaft, “an OUT-Connection State” in which a power transmission path is provided between the transmission output shaft and the electric motor output shaft, and “a neutral connection state” in which no transmission path therebetween is provided. The changeover is carried out based on a combination (area) of a vehicle speed V and a required driving torque T. As for the changeover, an (first, second) IN-connection area is more enlarged and the OUT-Connection area and the neutral connection area are more narrowed, as a temperature of a lubricating oil is lower.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 2010Date of Patent: October 1, 2013Assignee: Aisin AI Co., Ltd.Inventors: Takeshige Miyazaki, Hiroki Hatori, Kan Sasaki, Toshio Tanba, Yousuke Hayashi
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Patent number: 8534162Abstract: A drive unit for a hybrid vehicle includes an engine mounted on a front portion of a vehicle, a motor mounted on the front portion of the vehicle, a transmission mounted on a rear portion of the vehicle, an auxiliary transmission connected to an output shaft of the engine and to an output shaft of the motor, and a connecting shaft connecting an output shaft of the auxiliary transmission to the transmission, wherein the motor is arranged to be closer to a rear portion of the auxiliary transmission than to a front portion of the auxiliary transmission in a front/rear direction of the vehicle and to be below the connecting shaft.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 2012Date of Patent: September 17, 2013Assignees: Aisin AI Co., Ltd., Aisin Seiki Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yosuke Hayashi, Kan Sasaki, Takeharu Koide, Akemi Okawa
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Patent number: 8480535Abstract: A hybrid-type power transmission in which an internal combustion engine and an electric rotating machine are used as a source of power for driving an output shaft through a change-speed mechanism. In the hybrid power transmission, the operation of the electric rotating machine is controlled in such a manner that the rotation speed of a rotor-side rotary member is synchronized with the rotation speed of an input-side or output-side rotary member when the rotation speed of the rotor-side rotary member becomes higher in a predetermined difference than the rotation speed of the input-side or output-side rotary member in shifting operation of a sleeve coupled with the rotor-side rotary member.Type: GrantFiled: February 3, 2010Date of Patent: July 9, 2013Assignee: Aisin Ai Co., Ltd.Inventors: Toshio Tanba, Kan Sasaki, Yousuke Hayashi, Yuichi Fukuhara
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Patent number: 8388496Abstract: An apparatus comprises a changeover mechanism which is able to change a connection state of an electric motor output shaft to any one from alternatives consisting of “an IN-Connection State” in which a power transmission path is provided between a transmission input shaft and the electric motor output shaft, “an OUT-Connection State” in which a power transmission path is provided between the transmission output shaft and the electric motor output shaft, and “a neutral state” in which no transmission path therebetween is provided. The changeover is carried out based on a combination (area) of a vehicle speed V and a required driving torque T. As for the changeover, a neutral area is enlarged so that a possibility of selecting the neutral state becomes higher, as a battery temperature is higher, or as an electric motor temperature is higher, or as a remaining battery level is larger.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 2010Date of Patent: March 5, 2013Assignee: Aisin AI Co., Ltd.Inventors: Takeshige Miyazaki, Hiroki Hatori, Kan Sasaki, Toshio Tanba, Yousuke Hayashi
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Patent number: 8352139Abstract: An apparatus comprises a changeover mechanism which is able to change a connection state of an electric motor output shaft to any one of “an IN-Connection State” in which a power transmission path is provided between a transmission input shaft and the electric motor output shaft, “an OUT-Connection State” in which a power transmission path is provided between the transmission output shaft and the electric motor output shaft, and “a neutral state” in which no transmission path therebetween is provided. When a kick-down-condition is satisfied, a changeover operation for changing an electric motor connection state to the OUT-Connection State is firstly performed. Thereafter, a gear position shifting operation for increasing a transmission reduction ratio is performed. After the kick-down-condition satisfied, an E/G side output torque Te and a M/G side output torque Tm is adjusted in such a manner that a sum Ts of Te and Tm continues to increase.Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 2010Date of Patent: January 8, 2013Assignee: Aisin AI Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hiroki Hatori, Takeshige Miyazaki, Kan Sasaki, Toshio Tanba, Yousuke Hayashi
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Publication number: 20120318099Abstract: A drive unit for a hybrid vehicle includes an engine mounted on a front portion of a vehicle, a motor mounted on the front portion of the vehicle, a transmission mounted on a rear portion of the vehicle, an auxiliary transmission connected to an output shaft of the engine and to an output shaft of the motor, and a connecting shaft connecting an output shaft of the auxiliary transmission to the transmission, wherein the motor is arranged to be closer to a rear portion of the auxiliary transmission than to a front portion of the auxiliary transmission in a front/rear direction of the vehicle and to be below the connecting shaft.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 15, 2012Publication date: December 20, 2012Inventors: Yosuke HAYASHI, Kan Sasaki, Takeharu Koide, Akemi Okawa
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Publication number: 20120312111Abstract: A power switcher mechanism (11) according to the present invention is characterized in that it includes an input shaft (2), a clutch (13), an output shaft (3), a change-speed mechanism (4), a rotary electric appliance (14), a rotary-electric-appliance shaft (5), and a deceleration means (6) capable of amplifying torques to be output from the rotary electric appliance (14), the deceleration means (6) having a transmission shaft (61), a transmission gear (62), an input-shaft transmission gear (63) that always meshes with one of gears (21 through 25) rotating integrally with the input shaft (2), and which is capable of rotating idly with respect to the transmission shaft (61), an output-shaft transmission gear (64) that always meshes with a gear (36a) rotating integrally with the output shaft (3), which always meshes with the gear (26) being capable of rotating idly with respect to the input shaft (2), and which is capable of rotating idly with respect to the transmission shaft (61), and a power switcher deviceType: ApplicationFiled: November 24, 2010Publication date: December 13, 2012Inventors: Daizo Ogino, Kan Sasaki
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Patent number: 8303464Abstract: An apparatus comprises a changeover mechanism which is able to change a connection state of an electric motor output shaft to any one of states including, “an IN-Connection State” in which a power transmission path is provided between a transmission input shaft and the electric motor output shaft, “an OUT-Connection State” in which a power transmission path is provided between the transmission output shaft and the electric motor output shaft, and “a neutral connection state” in which no transmission path therebetween is provided. The changeover is carried out based on a combination (area) of a vehicle speed V and a required driving torque T. As for the changeover, an IN-connection area, in which an electric-motor-driving-wheels-maximum-torque is larger than in an OUT-Connection State and in a neutral connection area, is enlarged.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 2010Date of Patent: November 6, 2012Assignee: Aisin AI Co., Ltd.Inventors: Takeshige Miyazaki, Hiroki Hatori, Kan Sasaki, Toshio Tanba, Yousuke Hayashi
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Publication number: 20120222518Abstract: A power switcher mechanism (3) according to the present invention is characterized in that it includes an input shaft (41), a first output shaft (42), a second output shaft (43), a first gear set (5) and a second gear set (6), and in that one of first-input-shaft gears for change-speed stages of the first gear set (5), that is, the first-input-shaft gear (412), is positioned between two second-input-shaft gears (413, 414) of the second gear set (6) in the axial direction of the input shaft (41).Type: ApplicationFiled: November 24, 2010Publication date: September 6, 2012Inventors: Daizo Ogino, Kan Sasaki, Hirokuni Miyano
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Patent number: 8210985Abstract: An apparatus comprises a changeover mechanism which is able to change a connection state of an electric motor output shaft to any one of states including, “an IN-Connection State” in which a power transmission path is provided between a transmission input shaft and the electric motor output shaft, “an OUT-Connection State” in which a power transmission path is provided between the transmission output shaft and the electric motor output shaft, and “a neutral state” in which no transmission path therebetween is provided. The changeover is carried out based on a combination of a vehicle speed V and a required driving torque T. When the vehicle starts to drive, “the IN-Connection State” is selected. After the start of the vehicle and while the vehicle speed V is increasing, the changeovers to “the OUT-Connection State”, “the IN-Connection State”, and “the neutral state” are sequentially carried out.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 2010Date of Patent: July 3, 2012Assignee: Aisin AI Co., Ltd.Inventors: Toshio Tanba, Kan Sasaki, Takeshige Miyazaki, Yousuke Hayashi
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Publication number: 20110185847Abstract: [Subject] In a hybrid drive power apparatus, distortional oscillation of power transfer shafts caused by fluctuation in output torque of an engine is restrained to prevent the occurrence of unpleasant noises such as hitting noise of gear teeth, harsh noise in the vehicle body and the like.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 3, 2009Publication date: August 4, 2011Applicants: AISIN AI CO., LTD., TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KASIHAInventors: Toshio Tanba, Yuichi Fukuhara, Kan Sasaki, Koji Murakami, Masahiro Omura
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Publication number: 20110179905Abstract: In a hybrid power system, when a change-speed stage selected in one of gear-shift mechanisms for first and second drive trains is switched over to another change-speed stage in the other gear-shift mechanism, deceleration in rotation speed of an engine detected by a rotation speed sensor is compared with a preset upper limit. When the deceleration in rotation speed of the engine exceeds the upper limit, the motor-generator in drive connection with an input shaft of the second drive train is activated as an electric motor to cause load torque canceling or offsetting input torque applied to the input shaft of the other gear-shift mechanism from the engine, and engagement of the change-speed stage in the other gear-shift mechanism is released after the occurrence of the load torque.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 30, 2009Publication date: July 28, 2011Inventors: Toshio Tanba, Yuichi Fukuhara, Kan Sasaki, Sachio Toyora, Masahiro Omura
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Publication number: 20110174557Abstract: [Subject]To rapidly rise a temperature of lubricant in a transmission housing of a hybrid drive power apparatus when the lubricant temperature is lower than a preset lower limit value.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 17, 2009Publication date: July 21, 2011Applicants: AISIN AI CO., LTD., TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Toshio Tanba, Yuichi Fukuhara, Kan Sasaki, Hiroshi Sato, Masahiro Omura
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Publication number: 20110174558Abstract: [Subject] In a hybrid drive power apparatus, loss of drive power caused by drag torque of a friction clutch is decreased to reduce fuel consumption rate.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 17, 2009Publication date: July 21, 2011Applicant: Aisin AI Co.,Ltd.Inventors: Toshio Tanba, Yuichi Fukuhara, Kan Sasaki, Mitsuhiro Tabata, Masahiro Omura
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Publication number: 20110118925Abstract: A power switcher mechanism includes an internal combustion engine, a generator motor, a controller and a power interrupter. The internal combustion engine outputs a power. The generator motor carries out electric power generation as well as outputs a power when a power is input. The controller selects and then controls the internal combustion engine and the generator motor as a driving source for running. The power interrupter connects the generator motor with a power transmission route for transmitting the power and then disconnects the generator motor from the power transmission route, or vice versa, intermittently. The controller activates the power interrupter and then deactivates it, or vice versa, intermittently, with reference to information on road conditions, information on traffic conditions or information on vehicular conditions.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 18, 2010Publication date: May 19, 2011Inventor: Kan SASAKI
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Publication number: 20110073393Abstract: [Assignment] To provide a power transmission apparatus for hybrid vehicle, power transmission apparatus which can not only carry out change-speed operations smoothly without ever interrupting the transmission of rotary power while making use of the merit of using a plurality of motors combinedly, and which is but also smaller in size, lighter in weight and more inexpensive than conventional ones; and then to provide a method of change-speed operation for the same. [Means for Solution] It is equipped with: a power switcher mechanism 2 for selectively transmitting a rotary power of a primary motor (e.g., engine 91; a first input shaft 3, and a second input shaft 4, the first input shaft 3 and the second input shaft 4 that are coupled to the power switcher mechanism 2 selectively, the first input shaft 3 being further connected with a secondary motor (e.g.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 1, 2009Publication date: March 31, 2011Inventor: Kan Sasaki