Patents by Inventor Kozo Yamamoto

Kozo Yamamoto 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).

  • Patent number: 11512763
    Abstract: A belt-type continuously variable transmission includes: a primary pulley; a secondary pulley; a belt wound along the primary pulley and the secondary pulley; and a casing accommodating the primary pulley and the secondary pulley. Further, the belt has, in a portion being wound along the secondary pulley, a radially outside end which may be located further radially outside than an outer circumference portion of the secondary pulley, and a distance from a rotation center of the secondary pulley to an internal surface of the casing in a first direction, which is along a straight line passing through rotation centers of the primary pulley and the secondary pulley, is shorter than a distance from the rotation center of the secondary pulley to the internal surface of the casing in a second direction which is orthogonal to the first direction at the rotation center of the secondary pulley.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kozo Yamamoto, Keisuke Ninomiya
  • Patent number: 11300168
    Abstract: An automatic transmission includes: a multi-disc brake including first and second friction engagement elements which are alternately arranged in an axial direction, and a tube that supplies lubricating oil to the first friction engagement element and the second friction engagement element in a transmission case. Further, the tube has injection holes that inject the lubricating oil toward a spline groove, which is fitted with spline teeth of the first friction engagement element on an inner peripheral surface of the transmission case, and the injection holes open toward a gap, which is formed between the spline groove and the spline teeth, and inject the lubricating oil to cause the lubricating oil to contact a surface of the spline groove located above the spline teeth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takashi Okubo, Kozo Yamamoto, Keisuke Ninomiya, Hironori Asaoka
  • Patent number: 11231105
    Abstract: An automatic transmission includes: a frictional engagement element including first and second annular friction plates; a pressing member moving in the axial direction relative to the transmission case and press the frictional engagement element in the axial direction; and a lubricating oil. Further, the transmission case includes a contact portion on the inner wall so that the contact portion is separated from a back surface of the pressing member when the frictional engagement element is in an engagement state and comes into contact with the back surface of the pressing member when the frictional engagement element is in a disengagement state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kozo Yamamoto, Keisuke Ninomiya, Hironori Asaoka
  • Publication number: 20210131534
    Abstract: A belt-type continuously variable transmission includes: a primary pulley; a secondary pulley; a belt wound along the primary pulley and the secondary pulley; and a casing accommodating the primary pulley and the secondary pulley. Further, the belt has, in a portion being wound along the secondary pulley, a radially outside end which may be located further radially outside than an outer circumference portion of the secondary pulley, and a distance from a rotation center of the secondary pulley to an internal surface of the casing in a first direction, which is along a straight line passing through rotation centers of the primary pulley and the secondary pulley, is shorter than a distance from the rotation center of the secondary pulley to the internal surface of the casing in a second direction which is orthogonal to the first direction at the rotation center of the secondary pulley.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2020
    Publication date: May 6, 2021
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kozo YAMAMOTO, Keisuke NINOMIYA
  • Patent number: 10697533
    Abstract: A power transmission system includes a first case, a second case, a first tube, and a shaft. The first tube is configured to supply a lubricating oil to a first bearing and a second bearing. A shaft is rotatably supported by the first bearing and the second bearing. The shaft is provided with a through-hole extending through the shaft in an axial direction of the shaft. The first tube is insertedly fixed to an insertion hole of the first case from an outside of a space where the shaft is disposed. The first tube includes a first opening and a second opening, the first opening is configured to supply the lubricating oil to the first bearing, and the second opening is configured to supply the lubricating oil to the second bearing via the through-hole of the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, AISIN AW CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kozo Yamamoto, Hideki Nakagawa, Hirofumi Nakada, Miki Natsume, Haruki Shirasaka
  • Publication number: 20200141457
    Abstract: An automatic transmission includes: a multi-disc brake including first and second friction engagement elements which are alternately arranged in an axial direction, and a tube that supplies lubricating oil to the first friction engagement element and the second friction engagement element in a transmission case. Further, the tube has injection holes that inject the lubricating oil toward a spline groove, which is fitted with spline teeth of the first friction engagement element on an inner peripheral surface of the transmission case, and the injection holes open toward a gap, which is formed between the spline groove and the spline teeth, and inject the lubricating oil to cause the lubricating oil to contact a surface of the spline groove located above the spline teeth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2019
    Publication date: May 7, 2020
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takashi OKUBO, Kozo YAMAMOTO, Keisuke NINOMIYA, Hironori ASAOKA
  • Publication number: 20200072341
    Abstract: An automatic transmission includes: a frictional engagement element including first and second annular friction plates; a pressing member moving in the axial direction relative to the transmission case and press the frictional engagement element in the axial direction; and a lubricating oil. Further, the transmission case includes a contact portion on the inner wall so that the contact portion is separated from a back surface of the pressing member when the frictional engagement element is in an engagement state and comes into contact with the back surface of the pressing member when the frictional engagement element is in a disengagement state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2019
    Publication date: March 5, 2020
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kozo YAMAMOTO, Keisuke NINOMIYA, Hironori ASAOKA
  • Patent number: 10393253
    Abstract: A transmission case include: a wall portion; a bearing portion having a through-hole penetrating through the wall portion such that a power transmission shaft is inserted into the through-hole, the bearing portion projecting from the wall portion in a cylindrical shape; and a rib projected from the wall portion in the same direction as a projection direction of the bearing portion, the rib having an arc portion. When viewed from a direction along the center line of the bearing portion, the wall portion includes i) a first wall portion in a region surrounded by the bearing portion, the arc portion of the rib and two common tangent lines to the bearing portion and the arc portion of the rib, and ii) a second wall portion in another region; and the first wall portion is offset in the projection direction of the bearing portion relative to the second wall portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, AISIN AW CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hideki Nakagawa, Kozo Yamamoto, Hirofumi Nakada, Haruki Shirasaka
  • Patent number: 10352431
    Abstract: The transmission case is provided with a bearing portion having a through hole in which a power transmission shaft is inserted, a fitting portion having a mating surface on which another member is superimposed, a plurality of fastening portions provided in the fitting portion, and ribs provided between the bearing portion and the fastening portions, respectively. The ribs are arranged between the bearing portion and the fastening portions, respectively, the fastening portions being other than the fastening portion that is the closest to the bearing portion amongst the plurality of fastening portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, AISIN AW CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hideki Nakagawa, Kozo Yamamoto, Hirofumi Nakada, Takeo Matsuo, Haruki Shirasaka
  • Patent number: 10215279
    Abstract: A hydraulic control device is disposed forward of a case housing a speed change mechanism in an on-vehicle state. A detent lever is fixed to the control shaft, has a first end connected to a parking rod, and includes a detent recess with which a detent mechanism is engaged. A swing lever includes a shaft serving as a swing center, a first extension extending from one end of the shaft, and a second extension extending from the other end of the shaft. The first extension is connected to a second end of the detent lever. The second extension is connected to a manual valve. An axial position of the manual valve changes in accordance with a rotation angle of the control shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignees: AISIN AW CO., LTD., TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuji Iwatsuru, Yuki Kadokura, Kozo Yamamoto, Hirofumi Nakada, Hideki Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 9851001
    Abstract: A drive unit for vehicles that prevents a blow out of lubrication oil from a breather during splash lubrication is provided. A partition plate is disposed along a flat face of a ring gear to divide an inner space of the chamber into a first reservoir in which the ring gear is disposed, and a second reservoir to which the lubrication oil partially flows thereinto to return to an oil pan. The partition plate comprises a main body disposed between the flat face of the ring gear and an inner face of the chamber opposed thereto, and a bent portion formed on an upper end of the main body to guide the lubrication oil scattered upwardly by a rotation of the ring gear in a direction away from the breather.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hideyuki Higashi, Kozo Yamamoto, Kazutoshi Motoike, Tetsuya Kohno
  • Patent number: 9845869
    Abstract: A mechanical oil pump, an electric oil pump, and a strainer are disposed inside a transmission case. As a suction oil passage that returns an excess hydraulic pressure in a hydraulic control device to the mechanical oil pump, a common oil passage extending from the hydraulic control device, a branch point, a first oil passage extending from the branch point to the mechanical oil pump, and a second oil passage extending from the branch point to the electric oil pump are formed in the transmission case. A meeting point where an inlet oil passage for suctioning oil via the strainer and the first oil passage of the suction oil passage meet is formed inside a pump body of the mechanical oil pump. Accordingly, the suction oil passage of the mechanical oil pump and an inlet oil passage of the electric oil pump have a portion in common.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignees: AISIN AW CO., LTD., TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Haruki Shirasaka, Yuji Iwatsuru, Tetsuya Maruyama, Kozo Yamamoto, Hirofumi Nakada
  • Publication number: 20170343101
    Abstract: A power transmission system includes a first case, a second case, a first tube, and a shaft. The first tube is configured to supply a lubricating oil to a first bearing and a second bearing. A shaft is rotatably supported by the first bearing and the second bearing. The shaft is provided with a through-hole extending through the shaft in an axial direction of the shaft. The first tube is insertedly fixed to an insertion hole of the first case from an outside of a space where the shaft is disposed. The first tube includes a first opening and a second opening, the first opening is configured to supply the lubricating oil to the first bearing, and the second opening is configured to supply the lubricating oil to the second bearing via the through-hole of the shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2017
    Publication date: November 30, 2017
    Applicants: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, AISIN AW CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kozo Yamamoto, Hideki Nakagawa, Hirofumi Nakada, Miki Natsume, Haruki Shirasaka
  • Publication number: 20170261093
    Abstract: A lubrication structure of a power transmission apparatus including a case member is provided. The lubrication structure includes a first oil passage, a second oil passage, and an oil passage pipe. The first oil passage is provided in the case member, and includes a first opening that opens at a wall surface of the case member. The second oil passage is provided in the case member, and includes a second opening that opens at the wall surface of the case member. The oil passage pipe is attached to the wall surface, and includes an end portion inserted into the second opening to be connected to the second oil passage. The oil passage pipe includes a through-hole that opens at an outer peripheral surface of the oil passage pipe. The through-hole is provided adjacent to the first opening such that oil is supplied from the through-hole into the first oil passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2017
    Publication date: September 14, 2017
    Applicants: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, AISIN AW CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kozo YAMAMOTO, Hideki NAKAGAWA, Hirofumi NAKADA, Yosuke ANAN, Haruki SHIRASAKA
  • Publication number: 20170211681
    Abstract: A transmission case include: a wall portion; a bearing portion having a through-hole penetrating through the wall portion such that a power transmission shaft is inserted into the through-hole, the bearing portion projecting from the wall portion in a cylindrical shape; and a rib projected from the wall portion in the same direction as a projection direction of the bearing portion, the rib having an arc portion. When viewed from a direction along the center line of the bearing portion, the wall portion includes i) a first wall portion in a region surrounded by the bearing portion, the arc portion of the rib and two common tangent lines to the bearing portion and the arc portion of the rib, and ii) a second wall portion in another region; and the first wall portion is offset in the projection direction of the bearing portion relative to the second wall portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2017
    Publication date: July 27, 2017
    Applicants: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, AISIN AW CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hideki NAKAGAWA, Kozo YAMAMOTO, Hirofumi NAKADA, Haruki SHIRASAKA
  • Publication number: 20170204960
    Abstract: The transmission case is provided with a bearing portion having a through hole in which a power transmission shaft is inserted, a fitting portion having a mating surface on which another member is superimposed, a plurality of fastening portions provided in the fitting portion, and ribs provided between the bearing portion and the fastening portions, respectively. The ribs are arranged between the bearing portion and the fastening portions, respectively, the fastening portions being other than the fastening portion that is the closest to the bearing portion amongst the plurality of fastening portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2017
    Publication date: July 20, 2017
    Applicants: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, AISIN AW CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hideki NAKAGAWA, Kozo YAMAMOTO, Hirofumi NAKADA, Takeo MATSUO, Haruki SHIRASAKA
  • Publication number: 20160319930
    Abstract: A mechanical oil pump, an electric oil pump, and a strainer are disposed inside a transmission case. As a suction oil passage that returns an excess hydraulic pressure in a hydraulic control device to the mechanical oil pump, a common oil passage extending from the hydraulic control device, a branch point, a first oil passage extending from the branch point to the mechanical oil pump, and a second oil passage extending from the branch point to the electric oil pump are formed in the transmission case. A meeting point where an inlet oil passage for suctioning oil via the strainer and the first oil passage of the suction oil passage meet is formed inside a pump body of the mechanical oil pump. Accordingly, the suction oil passage of the mechanical oil pump and an inlet oil passage of the electric oil pump have a portion in common.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2015
    Publication date: November 3, 2016
    Applicants: AISIN AW CO., LTD., TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Haruki SHIRASAKA, Yuji IWATSURU, Tetsuya MARUYAMA, Kozo YAMAMOTO, Hirofumi NAKADA
  • Publication number: 20160290504
    Abstract: A hydraulic control device is disposed forward of a case housing a speed change mechanism in an on-vehicle state. A detent lever is fixed to the control shaft, has a first end connected to a parking rod, and includes a detent recess with which a detent mechanism is engaged. A swing lever includes a shaft serving as a swing center, a first extension extending from one end of the shaft, and a second extension extending from the other end of the shaft. The first extension is connected to a second end of the detent lever. The second extension is connected to a manual valve. An axial position of the manual valve changes in accordance with a rotation angle of the control shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 24, 2014
    Publication date: October 6, 2016
    Applicants: AISIN AW CO., LTD., TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuji IWATSURU, Yuki KADOKURA, Kozo YAMAMOTO, Hirofumi NAKADA, Hideki NAKAGAWA
  • Patent number: 9441719
    Abstract: A lock-up device is disposed between a front cover and a turbine in a torque converter to mechanically connect the front cover and the turbine. The lock-up device includes a clutch part and a release part. The clutch part is disposed in a power transmission path from the front cover to the turbine and is configured to be in a clutch-on state of transmitting a power from the front cover to the turbine in a set posture. The release part is configured to be actuated by a hydraulic pressure being increased in a space on a turbine-side of the piston to turn the clutch part from the clutch-on state to a clutch-off state and to block transmission of the power from the front cover to the turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: EXEDY Corporation
    Inventors: Tatsuyuki Aoki, Kozo Yamamoto, Ken Mototsune, Yoshihiro Matsuoka
  • Patent number: 9404563
    Abstract: Power system including differential-mechanism, clutch-mechanism, power-mechanism and dog-clutch disposed between an input rotary member to receive drive-force from a drive power source and output rotary-member to transmit drive-force to drive-wheels, the differential-mechanism including an input rotary element, output rotary element and reaction rotary element; the clutch-mechanism connecting two rotary elements of the input, output and reaction rotary elements of the differential-mechanism, to each other, the power-mechanism having predetermined gear ratio, and dog-clutch selectively placing a power path between the output rotary element and output rotary-member, in power transmitting state and power cutoff state; transmitting drive-force to drive-wheels while the clutch-mechanisms and dog-clutch are placed in engaged states.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kozo Yamamoto, Michio Yoshida, Hirofumi Nakada, Kenji Matsuo, Mitsuhiro Fukao, Shuji Moriyama, Yuji Iwatsuru