Abstract: To provide a power module driving control apparatus and a hybrid vehicle capable of obtaining sufficient accelerator response despite adoption of a speed sensing type clutch for connection and disconnection of a power drive between an engine side and a driving wheel side. When a rotational speed on an input side of a centrifugal clutch falls short of a set value, at which the clutch can be connected, and an acceleration request is made by a rider, a control unit controls a motor generator so as to bring the rotational speed on the input side of the clutch near to the set value. When the motor generator is made to function as a motor, rotation on the input side of the clutch is assisted. When the motor generator functions as a generator, an amount of electricity generated is decreased.

Abstract: To provide a control method for a power transmission device which can prevent the generation of impacts and noises when a speed change mechanism is changed over from a neutral state to a first speed gear without using a brake mechanism. In a control method of a power transmission device for controlling a power transmission device for transmitting a rotational power of a crankshaft of an internal combustion engine to an output side by way of a clutch mechanism and a speed change mechanism, the speed change mechanism is automatically changed over from a neutral state to a first speed gear during a period from a point in time Ts at which an ignition switch is turned on to a point in time at which an engine rotational speed arrives at a steady-state idling rotational speed Nid due to the starting of an internal combustion engine.

Abstract: A transmission controller for a continuously variable transmission system steadily returns a gear ratio toward the low-ratio range during deceleration, even in a hybrid vehicle which stops an engine during deceleration. A control unit determines the return-start number of revolutions of a driving pulley and the duty ratio of an actuator and issues a control instruction to the actuator which changes the gear ratio by varying the groove width of the driving pulley. The control instruction is issued after an engine stop instruction from a drive control element and the return-start number of revolutions is set higher as the gear ratio is closer to the top-ratio range.

Abstract: A control apparatus for a continuously variable transmission ensures good acceleration performance during staffing operations, and following an engine stall occurring before a gear ratio of the continuously variable transmission is shifted back to a low speed. The control apparatus includes sensors, a gear ratio return control unit, and a one-way clutch. One sensor detects a gear ratio of a continuously variable transmission. Another sensor detects whether an engine is in a stationary state. The gear ratio return control unit drives a motor in a backward direction when the engine is in the stationary state and the gear ratio of the continuously variable transmission is other than a low gear ratio. The one-way clutch turns idly relative to a backward drive of the output shaft. The gear ratio return control unit brings the motor to a stop when the gear ratio of the continuously variable transmission lowers sufficiently.

Abstract: To provide a power switchover apparatus for a hybrid vehicle, which can perform power switchover smoothly. Target follow-up control is started, and when the engine speed reaches a clutch-in speed of a starter clutch, the input power shaft of a continuously variable transmission starts rotation. The speed of the output power shaft also begins to gradually rise in response to the starting of rotation. The engine speed then reaches a target, and transmission ratio raising control of raising the transmission ratio based on the difference between the motor speed of a drive shaft and the speed of a driven side pulley is started. The motor speed Nm of the drive motor and the speed of the driven side power transmission pulley then become equal to each other and the one-way clutch is placed into a connected state. Consequently, the transmission ratio raising control is stopped and normal control is entered.

Abstract: To provide desired shaft torque to a drive wheel without increasing the number of parts or increasing the size of a motor, to improve cooling capability of a generator housed inside a transmission case, and to improve energy transmission efficiency and electrical generation efficiency in an engine unit of a hybrid vehicle. A power unit structure for a hybrid vehicle is provided with an engine, a continuously variable transmission, a driven shaft, a drive motor and a reduction gear mechanism. The drive motor is attached to the reduction gear mechanism.

Abstract: A battery mounting structure is provided for an electric vehicle which is operated using a motor as a driving source in which running wind is effectively utilized for cooling the batteries, and the cooling efficiency of a battery unit is enhanced. The electric vehicle is provided with a body frame where a front frame member extends from a head pipe diagonally downward toward the rear of the vehicle body. The battery mounting structure is attached to the front frame member of the body frame so that the cooling face of the battery unit is directly exposed to running wind. The battery mounting structure includes cooling fins which confront the running wind, and is covered by a body cover having louvered air intakes and air exhausts. The louvers direct the running wind smoothly to the cooling fins and protect the battery mounting structure.

Abstract: To efficiently cool accessory equipment used in controlling an electric motor of an electric vehicle. A storage box and a vehicle body cover are provided under a seat for a rider to sit thereon. The storage box and the vehicle body cover are formed in such a way as to surround the storage box. Driver units for controlling an electric motor as a power source are provided between the storage box and the vehicle body cover. The vehicle body cover is provided with intake ports for guiding headwind as cooling air for the driver units into the vehicle body cover and exhaust ports for discharging the headwind guided in through the intake ports to outside of the vehicle body cover.

Abstract: In order to do away with the need for a power source switching operation, and to improve motor regeneration charge efficiency in a hybrid vehicle, a one-way clutch is provided between an internal combustion engine and an electric drive motor.

Abstract: In a hydrostatic continuously variable transmission, a hydraulic pump is linked to a hydraulic motor by a hydraulic closed circuit to change the capacity of the hydraulic motor so as to change the speed of a motorcycle continuously. A clutch device comprising a clutch valve for connecting and disconnecting a high pressure side oil passage and a low pressure side oil passage constituting the hydraulic closed circuit. A governor mechanism for generating governor force corresponding to the input rotation speed of the hydraulic pump and applying this governor force in the closing direction of the clutch valve. A spring for giving urging force in the opening direction of the clutch valve, and a buffer mechanism having a variable oil chamber and an oil pool chamber for easing the opening and closing movements of the clutch valve activated according to the governor force and the urging force.

Abstract: To provide an arrangement structure for bearings which overlap in the axial direction. A driven shaft and an intermediate shaft are linked to each other and are disposed to be substantially parallel with respect to each other. The driven shaft and the intermediate shaft are rotatably supported via the radial ball bearings, respectively with the respective radial ball bearings being disposed so as to overlap partly with each other in an axial view. An inner wall portion for supporting the respective radial ball bearings is provided with the respective radial ball bearings being mounted to the inner wall portion substantially in the same direction.

Abstract: To achieve reduction in manufacturing costs of a one-way clutch device and to improve handleability of a motorcycle. A one-way clutch device includes an inner clutch and an outer clutch with rollers which are provided between the clutches. Weight members include weight main bodies coming into contact with the rollers with arm parts rotatably supported by the inner clutch. If the inner clutch rotates at a rotational speed above a predetermined rotational speed, the weight member moves the roller to a position where the roller allows a connection between the inner clutch and the outer clutch. Moreover, in a motorcycle, the inner clutch of the one-way clutch device is connected to an output side of a power transmission medium, and the outer clutch thereof is connected to a drive wheel.

Abstract: A vehicle having an electric generator control apparatus is provided for gradually reducing an engine load imposed due to electricity generation while a throttle valve is in the process of becoming fully open, thereby increasing a vehicle acceleration capability. The electric generator control apparatus is incorporated in a vehicle which has an ACG starter motor for generating electric power from power of an engine and supplying the generated electric power to a battery and other electric loads. When an engine throttle opening exceeds a preset value, the electric generator control apparatus continuously gradually reduces the amount of electric power generated by the ACG starter motor depending on the throttle opening in a fully opening direction which exceeds the preset value. The load imposed on the engine by electricity generation is gradually reduced, resulting in a corresponding increase in the acceleration capability of the vehicle.

Abstract: A hydrostatic continuously variable transmission includes a hydraulic pump and a hydraulic motor, supported by a common support shaft, and hydraulically connectable to each other through a hydraulic circuit including an inside passage and an outside passage. A clutch device includes a valve spool, which is slidably disposed in a hollow internal bore formed in the transmission support shaft. The valve spool is operable to make or interrupt fluid communication between the inside passage and the outside passage, according to the movement thereof. A governor mechanism is mounted to a pump casing of the hydraulic pump, and the governor mechanism generates a governor force corresponding to the rotating speed of a clutch cap, by use of centrifugal force generated by the rotation thereof. The valve spool is effectively moved in the hollow internal bore, using the governor force generated from the governor mechanism, to engage or disengage the clutch.

Abstract: An automatic engine shutdown apparatus for automatically shutting down an engine under a predetermined running or operating condition. The apparatus includes a vehicle speed sensor for detecting a vehicle speed, a throttle sensor for detecting a throttle opening, a travel history memory for storing a travel history of a vehicle, and an engine shutdown controller for automatically shutting down the engine depending on the vehicle speed, the throttle opening, and the travel history. The engine shutdown controller shuts down the engine after elapse of a standby time depending on the travel history since a predetermined engine shutdown condition has been satisfied. As a result, the automatic engine shutdown time is optimized depending on predetermined running or operating conditions of the vehicle.

Abstract: A control mechanism for a hybrid vehicle having a motor driving means enabling its running through an output of an electric motor, and an engine driving means enabling its running through an output of an engine, includes a throttle sensor and a driving change-over control unit having a mode map for determining each of working regions M, E of the motor driving unit and the engine driving unit in response to a sensing signal ? of the throttle sensor. The mode map is provided with a critical region Ma adjacent to the working region E of the engine driving unit in the working region M of the motor driving unit and an informing unit (display device) to inform a driver of a fact that the motor driving unit is being operated in the critical region Ma. The display device also indicates a battery residual amount.

Abstract: A hybrid vehicle includes an engine and a drive motor which adds power to power generated by the engine in a superimposed manner to assist the engine. A power control unit includes: a fourth rotor sensor as a vehicle speed sensor which detects vehicle speed of the hybrid vehicle; an accelerator sensor which detects an amount of accelerator operation; and an ECU having an assist map which determines an output command reference value for the drive motor based on the vehicle speed and the amount of accelerator operation. The ECU outputs, to the drive motor, a corrected output command value which is calculated by adding an additional value corresponding to a rate of change in the amount of accelerator operation, to the output command reference value obtained from the assist map.

Abstract: A performance control system is provided that is adapted to regulate the output of an engine while maintaining stable combustion whereby the perceived operational feel and exhaust efficiency is improved. The performance control system includes an accelerator position sensor for detecting the position of an accelerator by a driver, an electronically controlled throttle adjuster for adjusting the opening of a throttle valve mounted in the intake pipe of an engine with a motor, and a control unit for controlling the throttle adjuster based on the output of the accelerator position sensor. When the engine output, characterized by engine speed or vehicle speed, reaches a predetermined value, the opening of the throttle valve is reduced from the standard opening of the throttle valve, based on the position of the accelerator.

Abstract: A transmission controller for a continuously variable transmission system steadily returns a gear ratio toward the low-ratio range during deceleration, even in a hybrid vehicle which stops an engine during deceleration. A control unit determines the return-start number of revolutions of a driving pulley and the duty ratio of an actuator and issues a control instruction to the actuator which changes the gear ratio by varying the groove width of the driving pulley. The control instruction is issued after an engine stop instruction from a drive control element and the return-start number of revolutions is set higher as the gear ratio is closer to the top-ratio range.

Abstract: A transmission controller for a continuously variable transmission system steadily returns a gear ratio toward the low-ratio range, even after a driving pulley has stopped during sudden deceleration. A control unit is provided which drives an actuator to move a driving-pulley movable half part to a position in the low-ratio range when a vehicle speed sensor detects the sudden deceleration of a body, a pulley number-of-revolution sensor detects stopping of the driving pulley, and then a gear ratio sensor detects that the gear ratio of the continuously variable transmission system has not returned to the low-ratio range where a sufficient acceleration is obtainable at the time of restart. Upon detecting a restart, the control unit presses the driving-pulley movable half part onto a V-belt to prevent sliding therebetween and thereby reduce a loss in the transmission of a driving force at the time of restart.