Abstract: A direct coupling clutch being assembled within a casing of a fluid coupling having an impeller mounted on the casing and a turbine supported on an output shaft of the fluid coupling. The direct coupling clutch includes a piston mounted slidably on a turbine hub in axial direction for engaging with and disengaging from a front cover of the casing and a damper device resiliently connecting the turbine hub and piston. The damper device includes an annular driven plate consisting of two guide plates secured concentrically with each other and having a first set and a second set of spaces arranged in double rows along two concentric circles, an annular drive plate having a set of openings arranged in a row along a first circle, a set of projections arranged in a row along a second circle, a first coil spring inserted in each of the first set of spaces and within each of the set of openings and a second coil spring inserted in each of the second set of spaces and between the projections.

Abstract: The transmission control device of the present invention comprises a main transmission and a sub transmission and has a first hydraulic switching device which is controlled by automatic operation for setting the shift range of the sub transmission and a second hydraulic switching device which controls the hydraulic pressure produced by the first hydraulic switching device, prohibits any speed change of the shift range, and controls other functions of the sub transmission. By the above-described structure, the transmission control device of the present invention is able to prohibit speed changes in the shift range and to control other functions of the sub transmission regardless of the automatic operation of the sub transmission, because the second hydraulic switching device can control the hydraulic pressure produced by the first hydraulic switching device even if the shift mechanism of the sub transmission is being operated by the first hydraulic switching device.

Abstract: The coefficient of friction of a road surface lying ahead of a four-wheel drive vehicle is predicted and, if control performed on the basis of the prediction is incorrect, the coefficient of friction of the road surface actually traversed by the vehicle is calculated, thereby revising the prediction so that the next prediction of coefficient of friction will be more accurate. Accordingly, control for changeover between two- and four-wheel drive or for locking a center differential mechanism can be made to conform to the road surface conditions immediately and in an appropriate manner to prevent skidding or lock-up of the tires and, hence, assure a safe and stable traveling state.

Abstract: Sun gears of a single planetary gear unit and a dual planetary gear unit are connected with respect to each other, carriers of the respective gear units in the connected state are connected to an output member, an input member is connected to a ring gear of the single planetary gear unit through a first clutch, to a sun gear through a second clutch and also to a ring gear of the dual planetary gear unit through a third clutch, and the sun gear and a ring gear of the dual planetary gear unit are stoppable by retaining means. When in forward travelling, the ring gear of the single or dual planetary gear unit is inputted with torque from the input member based on connection of the first and/or third clutch.

Abstract: A transmission control device in accordance with the present invention for controlling a transmission system which is composed of a main transmission and a sub transmission, has a first rotational speed detector which is disposed on the input side of the sub transmission and a second rotational speed detector which is disposed on the output side of the sub transmission, and is characterized in that one rotational speed detector is employed while the sub transmission is in a speed changing state and the other rotational speed detector is employed while the sub transmission is not in a speed changing state, thereby performing system control.

Abstract: An automatic transmission for a front-engine front-drive vehicle comprising a fluid coupling, a belt type continuously-variable speed transmission (C.V.T.), a planetary gear mechanism, a forward-reverse changeover mechanism and a differential device. The planetary gear mechanism includes first and second planetary gear sets, a first intermediate shaft connected to a ring gear of the first planetary gear set and a sun gear of the second planetary gear set, a second intermediate shaft connected to a planetary carrier of the first planetary gear set and a ring gear of the second planetary gear set, and an input shaft connected to an output C.V.T. The forward-reverse changeover mechanism includes a brake disposed between the output of the C.V.T.

Abstract: A lock-up clutch control device for an automatic transmission having a torque converter with a lock-up clutch and a speed changing gear mechanism including a sub-transmission unit and a main transmission unit. The device has a lock-up operation device for producing a control signal when the sub-transmission unit is in the higher speed mode or when the main transmission unit selects 2nd or a higher speed gear. The control signal is delivered to a lock-up relay valve which operates effectively while it receives the control signal. Therefore, the torque converter can be locked up at 2nd or higher speeds of the automatic transmission which, because of various combinations of the states of the sub-transmission and main transmission units, outputs multiple speed.

Abstract: A transmission system of the present invention which has a main transmission and a sub transmission includes a first output shaft speed detecting means for detecting the rotational speed of the output shaft of the main transmission and a second output shaft speed detecting means for detecting the rotational speed of the sub transmission. The thus arranged transmission system of this invention makes it possible to accurately detect the state of the main transmission by providing the first output shaft speed detecting means for detecting the rotational speed of the output shaft of the main transmission as well as the second output shaft speed detecting means for detecting the rotational speed of the output shaft of the sub transmission.

Abstract: A direct coupling clutch being assembled within a casing of a fluid coupling having an impeller mounted on the casing and a turbine rotatably supported within the casing. The direct coupling clutch includes a piston slidably mounted on a turbine hub in axial direction for engaging with and disengaging from a front cover of the casing and a unitary assembled damper device provided between the hub and piston. The damper device includes a driven plate consisting of two annular guide plates positioned concentrically with each other, an annular drive plate interposed between the guide plates and being slidable with respect to the guide plates in circumferential direction and two sets of coil springs arranged in double rows along two concentric circles between the guide plates and being compressed by relative rotation of the drive and driven plates.

Abstract: A transmission control device for controlling the operation of a transmission which is composed of a main transmission portion and a sub transmission portion which is capable of manual change-over is disclosed. The control device inhibits the shifting operation of one transmission while the other transmission is in operation.This structure of the control device avoids the occurrence of synchronization of the shifts made by means of the main transmission portion and the sub transmission portion, and thereby eliminates the amplification of transmission shock caused by the synchronization of the shifts of the main transmission portion and the sub transmission portion, whereby optimum shifting characteristics are obtained.

Abstract: A hydraulic control system for an automatic transmission of a motor vehicle, which is provided with a bleed valve in a fluid chamber of a particular shift valve for restricting pressure increase when line pressure is admitted thereinto for a jumping shift to a lower gear position by bleeding part of the admitted line pressure to limit the displacement of a spool of the shift valve and to hold same in an intermediate position until solenoid pressure turns from high to low level, causing the shift valve to retain temporarily an intermediate gear position to lessen the deceleration shock which would otherwise be imposed on the vehicle body.

Abstract: A vehicular continuously variable transmission comprising a V-belt drive continuously variable transmission and a power transmission splitting driving mechanism consisting of a combination of a fluid coupling and a planetary gearing and disposed between the output shaft of the continuously variable transmission of the vehicle and the V-belt drive continuously variable transmission.

Abstract: The transmission of the invention is capable of attaining a plurality of shift ranges by locking and releasing one or more elements of a gear mechanism to a casing of the transmission or by connecting and releasing the elements with the input shaft, the output shaft or into and out of engagement with each other. The control system for controlling the action of the elements of the gear set is a hydraulic control system having friction elements which achieve a higher speed range and a lower speed range of the transmission upon actuation by servo valves. An additional servo valve is included to work in opposition to one of the other servo valves and communicates with another of the servo valves. A communication control valve is disposed in a hydraulic line which communicates with another of the servo valves and with the servo valve acting in opposition so as to control the communication between these valves in response to a signal pressure developed by a signal pressure valve.

Abstract: An automatic transmission for a front-engine front-drive vehicle including a fluid coupling, a belt type continuously-variable speed transmission (CVT), a planetary gear mechanism, a forward-reverse changeover mechanism and a differential device. The forward-reverse changeover mechanism includes a brake disposed between the planetary gear mechanism and the output of CVT. The planetary gear mechanism is provided with a low-high speed changeover mechanism. Each of the clutch and the brake is provided with recesses in one part thereof and are provided with projections in the other part which can be fitted into the recesses, and the dimension of the outer diameter thereof is small as compared with that of clutches or brakes of the wet multiple-disc type.

Abstract: A speed change device for use in driving auxiliary machinery, comprising an auxiliary machinery driving pulley as an output member, an input member fixed to a driving shaft of an engine, a planetary gear transmission connecting changeably in speed between the auxiliary machinery driving pulley and the input member, and a hydraulic control unit for controlling the planetary gear transmission. The planetary gear transmission comprises a planetary gear set, a one-way clutch and a clutch equipped with a hydraulic servo. The hydraulic control unit has a centrifugal type governor valve which switches between feed and release a feed oil pressure to the hydraulic servo according to an increase or decrease in the number of revolutions of the driving shaft.

Abstract: A control apparatus in an automatic transmission includes first and second shift valves which are independently actuable to define four distinct states corresponding to four speed ranges of the transmission. In the first state, neither valve participates in achieving the first range. In the second state, only the first valve participates in achieving the second range. In the third state, only the second valve participates in achieving the third range. In the fourth state, both valves participate in locking a lock-up clutch by being fluidly interconnected by an interconnecting passage so as to define a signal pressure passage which conducts a signal pressure to a lock-up relay valve to implement a locking of the lock-up clutch.

Abstract: A control system for an automatic transmission equipped with a plurality of friction engaging devices for attaining a plurality of shift ranges by locking the elements of a gear mechanism, which is disposed between an input shaft and an output shaft, to a case, by bringing the elements into and out of engagement with the input shaft or output shaft, or into and out of engagement with each other, said friction engaging devices including a first friction engaging device (C2) which takes part in achieving a reverse shift, and a second friction engaging device (B2) which participates in achieving parking and reverse the control system includes an electronic control circuit means which controls the timing of the actuation of the first and second friction engaging devices upon shifting from parking to reverse range so as to mitigating shock upon gear shifting.

Abstract: An automatic transmission having: a torque converter; a first planetary gear set; a second planetary gear set, and friction elements operated by hydraulic servos.The first planetary gear set has a hydraulic servo drum D.sub.1 for a clutch C.sub.1 connected to an input shaft, a sun gear provided within drum D.sub.1 and connected to the input shaft by clutch C.sub.1, a carrier connected to an output shaft, a ring gear connected to the input shaft and an intermediate shaft, a clutch C.sub.2, provided in a hydraulic servo drum D.sub.2, pinions rotatably supported by the carrier, and the gear set is provided on the inner side of clutch C.sub.2.The second planetary gear set has a sun gear mounted on the intermediate shaft and connected to a common inner race of a one-way clutch F.sub.0, a one-way brake F.sub.1, a carrier connected to a ring gear, the ring gear is connected to the output shaft, the intermediate shaft and a brake B.sub.2, a one-way brake F.sub.2 in series with brake B.sub.

Abstract: An automatic transmission for a vehicle including a fluid coupling, a belt type continuously-variable speed transmission (CVT), a planetary gear mechanism and a differential device. The planetary gear mechanism includes a first input shaft and a second input shaft, wherein when the first input shaft is connected to an output shaft of CVT through a clutch, a forward range gear train is formed; whereas when the second input shaft is connected to the output of CVT by the clutch, a reverse range gear train is formed. A low-high speed changeover mechanism including a brake is provided in the planetary gear mechanism, and a first element and a second element of the planetary gear mechanism are selectively held in a stationary position by means of the brake to selectively form the forward range high-speed gear train and forward range low-speed gear train.

Abstract: A clutch piston slidably mounted for motion in the axial direction on the turbine shaft or the turbine runner of a torque converter comprising a pump, an impeller, a turbine runner and a stator. A direct coupling clutch is positioned between the clutch piston and the housing of a torque converter. Pressurized oil is supplied for releasing the clutch within an oil chamber between one side of the clutch piston and the housing. A converter pressure is continuously applied to the oil chamber and to the other side of the clutch piston, which is the operating chamber of the torque converter. Thereby, the direct coupling clutch is continuously released. When the automatic transmission is in a selected high speed position, a line pressure higher than the converter pressure, is applied to the operating chamber causing the direct coupling clutch to engage. Converter pressure is applied continuously to the operating chamber of the torque converter through one port of a check valve.