Abstract: A method of grinding an annular surface into a flat annular surface, in which a front cover for a torque converter is formed by means of press-forming and the thus press-formed front cover is supported floatingly on a supporting table and pressed against an annular grinding stone to be ground.

Abstract: A fluid torque converter equipped with a direct-coupling clutch comprising a front cover fixed to the pump impeller of the fluid torque converter, and a clutch disk axially slidably mounted on the output shaft of the fluid torque converter and disposed between the front cover and the turbine runner.A friction plate affixed to a friction surface formed on the front cover is divided into two portions, namely, a radially outer portion made of a frictional material having a large coefficient of dynamical friction and a large heat capacity and a radially inner portion made of a frictional material having a large coefficient of statical friction and a high compressive strength.

Abstract: A control system for continuously variable transmission for vehicles is provided with an electric circuit receiving input signals of vehicle running conditions and a hydraulic control circuit. The hydraulic control circuit comprises a reduction ratio control device controlled by the electric control circuit and regulating the hydraulic pressure supplied to the hydraulic servo system of the input pulley and changing the reduction ratio between the input and output shafts of a V-belt type continuously variable transmission, and a shift control mechanism controlled by the electric control circuit and regulating the rise time of hydraulic pressure supplied to the hydraulic servo system of friction engaging elements connected to a planetary gear set changing forward and reverse drives.

Abstract: A working fluid distributing system for a continuously-variable speed automatic transmission comprising a fluid coupling; a belt drive continuously-variable speed transmission means including a primary variable-pitch pulley, a secondary variable-pitch pulley and an endless belt interconnecting the primary and the secondary variable-pitch pulleys and capable of attaining continuously-variable speed drive; a change-direction gear train; and a hydraulic control circuit for supplying the working fluid to the component brakes and clutches.The working fluid distributing system further comprises a supporting collar attached to the wall portion of the housing of the automatic transmission, which wall portion being disposed perpendicularly to the input shaft of the belt drive transmission means. The supporting collar rotatably supports, on the outer surface thereof, the pump impeller of the fluid coupling and, on the inner surface thereof, the input shaft.

Abstract: A continuously-variable speed automatic transmission, comprising a fluid coupling, a belt drive transmission means including a primary variable-pitch pulley, a secondary variable-pitch pulley and a belt interconnecting the primary and the secondary variable-pitch pulley and capable of attaining continuously-variable speed drive, and a change-direction gear train.The primary variable-pitch pulley is mounted on an intermediate shaft which is adapted to be freely rotatable and arranged coaxially with an input shaft connected with the turbine runner of the fluid coupling.The secondary variable-pitch pulley is mounted on the output shaft of the transmission, which is supported on the housing of the transmission rotatably and in parallel with the intermediate shaft.The change-direction gear train is connected at the input end thereof with the input shaft and at the output end thereof with the intermediate shaft.

Abstract: In a belt type stepless shifter, movable flanges of pulleys are driven by hydraulic cylinders, and each of the cylinders is provided with a plurality of pressure carrying surfaces disposed in the axial direction, thereby a great amount of torque can be transmitted at low hydraulic pressure or at a small outer diameter. The belt type stepless shifter is adapted for use in a transmission apparatus of vehicles.

Abstract: The shift valve operates in response to a governor pressure counteracting a throttle pressure and in response to a detent pressure used in a kickdown operation. The valve is capable of shifting up from a first speed range to a second speed range as well as shifting down from second speed to the first speed under control of the shift valve. The 1-2 shift valve comprises a spool having a pressure bearing surface adapted to receive either the throttle pressure or the detent pressure. In the first speed position, the spool closes off the detent line pressure and receives the throttle pressure on the pressure bearing surface. On the other hand, at the second speed position, the spool closes off the throttle pressure line and receives the detent pressure on the pressure bearing surface.

Abstract: In the four-wheel drive transfer apparatus for the automotive vehicle's automatic transmission which includes input shaft, a first output shaft coaxially aligned with the input shaft and normally having a power transmission from the input shaft, and a second output shaft in parallel with the first output shaft and having a power transmission from the input shaft when the four-wheel drive is selected, the improvement further includes a wet-type multiple-disc clutch member, a wet-type multiple-disc brake member, and a planetary gear set interposed between the input shaft and the first and second output shafts and containing gearing elements selectively operated by the clutch member and brake member so that the gearing elements engage with or disengage from each other, whereby the clutch member causes the input shaft and the second output shaft to engage with each other so as to switch between the two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive during the vehicle running conditions and enable the transfer apparatus to prov

Abstract: A connector for electric cables used in a hydraulic control system of an automatic transmission includes a sealing member comprising a cylindrical sealing outer cylinder adapted to be fixed in a hole formed in the housing of the hydraulic control system and a sealing partition member having a short cylinder of a small diameter and a plurality of partition walls extending radially from the short cylinder, and two rubber bushings. The free ends of Teflon coated cables, are pulled out through the hole in the housing and are passed through through holes, respectively, of a rubber bushing. The free ends of polyethylene coated cables, are passed through through holes, respectively, of the other rubber bushing, are pulled out through the cavity of the outer cylinder, and are electrically connected to the respective free ends of the corresponding Teflon coated cables by means of joint terminals.

Abstract: An electromagnetic valve without an independent casing is provided. The electromagnetic valve includes the housing of a hydraulic control system in which the electromagnetic valve is functionally and physically incorporated. The housing has perpendicularly intersecting first and second wall surfaces and includes a cylindrical cavity bored into the second wall surface with the central longitudinal axis of the cavity being disposed parallel to the first wall surface. A linear groove is formed into the first wall surface perpendicularly to the center axis of the cylindrical cavity and communicates with the cylindrical cavity. A valve port, directly in the housing or in a valve seat member fitted into the housing in alignment with the central longitudinal axis of the cavity, communicates with a fluid conduit in the housing. Valve components are located in the cavity and externally of the cavity is a retainer which engages the components in compression making contact through the linear groove.

Abstract: A four wheel drive torque transfer mechanism with a hydraulic control system is switchable between two wheel drive and four wheel drive during running of a vehicle having an automatic transmission.When a two wheel drive mode of operation is selected, the hydraulic control system automatically actuates the torque transfer mechanism to provide a four wheel drive operation if a governor output responsive to vehicle speed, falls below a predetermined level, and to provide a two wheel drive operation if a governor output exceeds the predetermined level.

Abstract: Pressurized lubricant from a vehicle transmission is inputted to a lubrication system of a four-wheel drive torque transfer mechanism through a cental oil passage in the transmission's output shaft. The transmission shaft coaxially joins with a shaft of the four-wheel drive torque transfer mechanism, said shaft also having a central oil passage. Lubricant leaves the central passage of the torque transfer mechanism shaft through radial oil passages to lubricate bearings and friction surfaces. Pump or splash lubrication is not used in the lubrication system for the four-wheel drive torque transfer mechanism.

Abstract: The automatic transmission comprises a torque converter having a pump, a turbine, a stator and a direct-coupling clutch adapted to engage the pump with the transmission casing, and a transmission gear having multiple forward gears and a reverse gear. A lockup control valve comprising a spool on which a governor pressure and the force of a spring act oppositely, and a switch valve adapted to change-over the oil-hydraulic circuits for the release or the engagement of the direct-coupling clutch, are provided for the oil-hydraulic control circuit of the automatic transmission. The direct-coupling clutch can become engaged only if the governor pressure should exceed a predetermined pressure and the transmission be in a select high speed range.

Abstract: A four wheel drive torque transfer device is switchable between two wheel drive and four wheel drive during running operation of a vehicle having an automatic transmission. A reducer permits direct coupling or reduced speed drives. A parking gear associating with the transfer device requires only small modification to the conventional parking mechanism.

Abstract: A planetary gear transmission changing forward and reverse drives for vehicles comprises one wet-type brake, one wet-type clutch and a planetary gear set, and is controlled by one shift control valve and one solenoid valve operated by an electric control circuit. Hydraulic pressure supplied to the wet-type brake and the wet-type clutch is regulated in independent oil chambers respectively, resulting in effects of accurate hydraulic pressure regulation and simple structure without wrong operation.

Abstract: A pressure regulating device for use in a hydraulic control system for an automatic transmission having a torque convertor, a gear transmission and an hydraulic control system provides a first pressure regulating valve for regulating the pressurized fluid output from a pump to a line pressure level, and applying the line pressure to the hydraulic control system. A second pressure regulating valve regulates the pressure of an excess portion of fluid supplied to the hydraulic control system from the first pressure regulating valve, and supplies the excess fluid to the torque convertor and regions requiring lubrication. Overheating of fluid in the torque convertor is prevented at low pressures by a bypass passage which assures at least a minimum fluid flow through the torque convertor at all times.

Abstract: A hydraulic control system for an automatic transmission including a fluid coupling type torque converter, and a gear system provided with two or more frictional devices adapted to establish two or more speed conditions.

Abstract: An electronic control system is provided which controls the locking and unlocking of a variable speed automatic transmission. A hydraulic control circuit comprising a plurality of hydraulic pressure controlling valves, a plurality of flow path switching means and a plurality of solenoid valves is provided to control the engagement of the clutches and brakes of the automatic transmission. The electronic control system detects a slope, modifies a portion of standard data in a manner corresponding to the detected slope to produce shift reference data which is then written into a read-write memory, compares the actual speed stage, throttle opening and vehicle speed against the shift reference data to determine the speed stage to which the transmission is to be shifted and controls the energization of the solenoid valves to change or shift the speed stage.

Abstract: An overdrive unit in an automatic transmission having a planetary gear set including a helical gear and a thrust bearing interposed between the sun gear and revolving carrier for supporting any thrust loads produced between the sun gear and the carrier, thereby reducing the amount of any external force to be exerted on the outer race of the one-way clutch and thus improving the durability of the one-way clutch.

Abstract: A hydraulic circuit system in the automatic transmission has a hydraulic line or passage through which a hydraulic fluid delivered from a hydraulic power source or a hydraulic fluid output provided by a regulator valve is directly supplied to a torque converter, so that the overheat that may otherwise occur in the hydraulic fluid within the torque converter during the low engine output can effectively be prevented.