Patents by Inventor Hiromitsu Nitani

Hiromitsu Nitani 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: 11067166
    Abstract: A hydraulic control unit of a vehicle drive system including an automatic transmission, and an oil pump device, includes: a first electromagnetic valve; a second electromagnetic valve; first and second oil passages; a third oil passage; a manual valve operated to connect and disconnect the first and third oil passages and a drain oil passage to and from each other, in response to an operation of a manually operated shifting device by a vehicle operator, such that the first oil passage is connected to the third oil passage when the shifting device is placed in a first operating position, while the first oil passage is connected to the drain oil passage when the shifting device is placed in a second operating position; an accumulator connected to the first oil passage; and a check valve provided in the second oil passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, AISIN AW CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Daiki Koyama, Yusuke Ohgata, Yoshinobu Soga, Shuji Moriyama, Hiromitsu Nitani, Tetsuya Yamamoto, Kenichi Tsuchida, Takahiro Kokubu, Toshiaki Hayashi, Koji Makino, Yuta Seriguchi
  • Publication number: 20200378494
    Abstract: A vehicle drive-force transmitting apparatus including: a mode switching clutch; a torque converter; a lock-up clutch included in the torque converter; a switching solenoid valve configured to output a switching pressure for switching an operating mode of the mode switching clutch between a one-way mode and a lock mode; and a lock-up clutch control valve configured to switch an operating state of the lock-up clutch between an engaged state and a released state. The mode switching clutch is to be placed in the lock mode when the switching pressure is supplied from the switching solenoid valve to the mode switching clutch. The lock-up clutch control valve is configured to receive the switching pressure supplied from the switching solenoid valve, and to switch the operating state of the lock-up clutch to the released state when the switching pressure is supplied to the lock-up clutch control valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2020
    Publication date: December 3, 2020
    Applicant: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiromitsu NITANI, Yusuke OHGATA, Yoshinobu SOGA, Shinji OITA
  • Publication number: 20200248783
    Abstract: A vehicle power transmission device includes: an input shaft; an output shaft; a first power transmission path configured to transmit power between the input shaft and the output shaft; and a second power transmission path configured to transmit power between the input shaft and the output shaft. The first power transmission path includes a mode-switching clutch configured to be switched between a one-way mode and a free mode, the one-way mode being a mode in which power acting in a forward rotation direction is transmitted while power acting in a reverse rotation direction is interrupted, and the free mode being a mode in which power acting in the forward rotation direction and power acting in the reverse rotation direction are interrupted. The second power transmission path includes a control clutch configured such that a torque capacity of the control clutch is controllable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2019
    Publication date: August 6, 2020
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yusuke Ohgata, Shinji Oita, Hiromitsu Nitani, Megumi Fujikawa, Yoshihiro Oishi
  • Patent number: 10662977
    Abstract: A vehicle hydraulic system includes: (a) a hydraulic pump device to be driven by a vehicle drive source to eject a working fluid through first and second outlet ports; (b) a first line passage that guides the working fluid ejected through the first outlet port, with a hydraulic pressure being regulated to a relatively high value; (c) a downstream-side passage in which the hydraulic pressure is regulated to a relatively low value; (d) a path-switching valve device configured to allow the working fluid ejected through the second outlet port, to flow into the first line passage, when the hydraulic pressure is lower than a predetermined value, and configured to allow the working fluid ejected through the second outlet port, to flow into the downstream-side passage, when the hydraulic pressure is higher than the predetermined value; and (e) a bypass passage provided between the second outlet port and the downstream-side passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yusuke Ohgata, Hiromitsu Nitani
  • Patent number: 10641266
    Abstract: A transfer device that includes a case that houses a transfer mechanism; a strainer that suctions oil stored in a lower portion of the case; a valve body that has a hydraulic supply circuit that supplies a hydraulic pressure to the transfer mechanism and a suction oil path that discharges an extra hydraulic pressure that is extra for the hydraulic supply circuit; a first suction inlet that communicates with one of the suction oil path and the strainer and a second suction inlet that communicates with the other of the suction oil path and the strainer, and a balanced vane pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignees: AISIN AW CO., LTD., TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Mitsuhiro Takeda, Yoshihiro Mizuno, Tetsuya Kohno, Yoshinobu Soga, Syuji Moriyama, Hiromitsu Nitani, Takafumi Inagaki
  • Publication number: 20200132187
    Abstract: A hydraulic control unit of a vehicle drive system including an automatic transmission, and an oil pump device, includes: a first electromagnetic valve; a second electromagnetic valve; first and second oil passages; a third oil passage; a manual valve operated to connect and disconnect the first and third oil passages and a drain oil passage to and from each other, in response to an operation of a manually operated shifting device by a vehicle operator, such that the first oil passage is connected to the third oil passage when the shifting device is placed in a first operating position, while the first oil passage is connected to the drain oil passage when the shifting device is placed in a second operating position; an accumulator connected to the first oil passage; and a check valve provided in the second oil passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2019
    Publication date: April 30, 2020
    Applicants: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, AISIN AW CO., LTD
    Inventors: Daiki KOYAMA, Yusuke Ohgata, Yoshinobu Soga, Shuji Moriyama, Hiromitsu Nitani, Tetsuya Yamamoto, Kenichi Tsuchida, Takahiro Kokubu, Toshiaki Hayashi, Koji Makino, Yuta Seriguchi
  • Publication number: 20200124172
    Abstract: A vehicle drive-force transmitting apparatus defines drive-force transmitting paths provided between input and output shafts. The drive-force transmitting paths include a first drive-force transmitting path provided with first and auxiliary engagement devices, such that the auxiliary engagement device is located between the first engagement device and the output shaft in the first drive-force transmitting path. The first drive-force transmitting path is established by engagement of the first engagement device operated by a hydraulic pressure which is controlled by an on-off solenoid valve, such that a drive force is to be transmitted along the first drive-force transmitting path through the first and auxiliary engagement devices when the first drive-force transmitting path is established. The auxiliary engagement device transmits a drive force during a driving state of the vehicle and cuts off transmission of the drive force during a driven state of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2019
    Publication date: April 23, 2020
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiromitsu NITANI, Yusuke OHGATA, Yoshinobu SOGA, Shinji OITA
  • Patent number: 10626985
    Abstract: A hydraulic control device that includes a second solenoid valve that is capable of supplying a resisting pressure that maintains the switching valve in the non-reverse state against the reverse range pressure, wherein the switching valve is maintained in the non-reverse state by supplying the resisting pressure from the second solenoid valve while a travel range is switched to at least a reverse range during forward travel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignees: AISIN AW CO., LTD., TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuharu Asai, Makoto Sawada, Kyohei Suzumura, Mitsuhiro Fukao, Kenichi Tsuchida, Yoshimitsu Hyodo, Toshiaki Hayashi, Fumiaki Aikawa, Yuta Seriguchi, Syuji Moriyama, Yoshinobu Soga, Hiromitsu Nitani
  • Patent number: 10626989
    Abstract: A hydraulic control device where the engagement pressure which is supplied from the first solenoid valve is supplied to the synchronization mechanism in the case where the signal pressure is not supplied to the switching valve, and the engagement pressure which is supplied from the first solenoid valve is supplied to the engagement element and the source pressure is supplied to the synchronization mechanism as the engagement pressure in the case where the signal pressure is supplied to the switching valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignees: AISIN AW CO., LTD., TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kenichi Tsuchida, Toshiaki Hayashi, Masafumi Takasu, Yuta Seriguchi, Masashi Takizawa, Syuji Moriyama, Takafumi Inagaki, Yoshinobu Soga, Yoshihiro Mizuno, Hiromitsu Nitani
  • Patent number: 10557547
    Abstract: A hydraulic control device includes: a pressure regulation valve that regulates a hydraulic pressure of oil supplied from an oil pump; a discharge oil passage through which the oil discharged from a fluid coupling flows when a lockup clutch is disengaged; a lubrication oil passage that supplies the oil from the discharge oil passage to a location to be lubricated; a return oil passage that returns the oil drained from the pressure regulation valve to a suction port of the oil pump; a connection oil passage that connects the lubrication oil passage and the return oil passage; and a flow direction regulation valve that is provided in the connection oil passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignees: AISIN AW CO., LTD., TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kenichi Tsuchida, Toshiaki Hayashi, Yoichiro Kimura, Syuji Moriyama, Yoshinobu Soga, Hiromitsu Nitani, Takafumi Inagaki, Tetsuya Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 10428936
    Abstract: A hydraulic control device that includes a source pressure generating valve that generates a source pressure; a solenoid valve that can supply the engagement pressure based on the source pressure; and a supply pressure switching valve that can be switched between a first state where the supply pressure switching valve can supply the engagement pressure to the second engagement element and a second state where the supply pressure switching valve can supply the source pressure to the second engagement element, the supply pressure switching valve being in the first state when the solenoid valve is operating normally, and being switched to the second state in case of abnormality in the solenoid valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignees: AISIN AW CO., LTD., TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kenichi Tsuchida, Toshiaki Hayashi, Yuta Seriguchi, Masafumi Takasu, Yoichiro Kimura, Kenichi Ishii, Syuji Moriyama, Yoshinobu Soga, Hiromitsu Nitani, Takafumi Inagaki
  • Patent number: 10295048
    Abstract: A vehicle transmission having a valve body disposed adjacently to and in parallel with a side cover covering a front or rear side or a side surface of a transmission case in a vehicle width direction in a vehicle-mounted state, the side cover connected to the transmission case, in which an electromagnetic valve is included on the side cover side of the valve body, when viewed in a direction horizontal and parallel to mating surfaces of the transmission case and the side cover, a strainer for removing a foreign material in a hydraulic oil is disposed between the side cover and the valve body to overlap with at least a portion of the electromagnetic valve, and the strainer has an inflow portion for allowing the hydraulic oil to flow in disposed vertically above an oil surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, AISIN AW CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shuji Moriyama, Takafumi Inagaki, Yoshinobu Soga, Yoshihiro Mizuno, Hiromitsu Nitani, Yuji Iwatsuru
  • Patent number: 10260623
    Abstract: A vehicle transmission having a valve body disposed adjacently to and in parallel with a side cover covering a front or rear side or a side surface of a transmission case in a vehicle width direction in a vehicle-mounted state, the side cover connected to the transmission case, in which an electromagnetic valve is included on the side cover side of the valve body, when viewed in a direction horizontal and parallel to mating surfaces of the transmission case and the side cover, a strainer for removing a foreign material in a hydraulic oil is disposed between the side cover and the valve body to overlap with at least a portion of the electromagnetic valve, and the strainer has an inflow portion for allowing the hydraulic oil to flow in disposed vertically above an oil surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, AISIN AW CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shuji Moriyama, Takafumi Inagaki, Yoshinobu Soga, Yoshihiro Mizuno, Hiromitsu Nitani, Yuji Iwatsuru
  • Publication number: 20190093677
    Abstract: A vehicle hydraulic system includes: (a) a hydraulic pump device to be driven by a vehicle drive source to eject a working fluid through first and second outlet ports; (b) a first line passage that guides the working fluid ejected through the first outlet port, with a hydraulic pressure being regulated to a relatively high value; (c) a downstream-side passage in which the hydraulic pressure is regulated to a relatively low value; (d) a path-switching valve device configured to allow the working fluid ejected through the second outlet port, to flow into the first line passage, when the hydraulic pressure is lower than a predetermined value, and configured to allow the working fluid ejected through the second outlet port, to flow into the downstream-side passage, when the hydraulic pressure is higher than the predetermined value; and (e) a bypass passage provided between the second outlet port and the downstream-side passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2018
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yusuke OHGATA, Hiromitsu NITANI
  • Publication number: 20190063598
    Abstract: A hydraulic control device includes: a pressure regulation valve that regulates a hydraulic pressure of oil supplied from an oil pump; a discharge oil passage through which the oil discharged from a fluid coupling flows when a lockup clutch is disengaged; a lubrication oil passage that supplies the oil from the discharge oil passage to a location to be lubricated; a return oil passage that returns the oil drained from the pressure regulation valve to a suction port of the oil pump; a connection oil passage that connects the lubrication oil passage and the return oil passage; and a flow direction regulation valve that is provided in the connection oil passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2017
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Applicants: AISIN AW CO., LTD., TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kenichi TSUCHIDA, Toshiaki HAYASHI, Yoichiro KIMURA, Syuji MORIYAMA, Yoshinobu SOGA, Hiromitsu NITANI, Takafumi INAGAKI, Tetsuya YAMAMOTO
  • Patent number: 10174822
    Abstract: A hydraulic control device for an automatic transmission where the spool is locked at the first position and the switching pressure can regulate the belt holding force of the primary pulley or the secondary pulley without switching a position of the spool when the engagement pressure is supplied to the second working oil chamber, and the spool is not locked at the first position and the switching pressure can switch the spool to the second position against the urging member when the engagement pressure is not supplied to the second working oil chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignees: AISIN AW CO., LTD., TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kenichi Tsuchida, Toshiaki Hayashi, Masafumi Takasu, Yuta Seriguchi, Masashi Takizawa, Takafumi Inagaki, Yoshinobu Soga, Syuji Moriyama, Yoshihiro Mizuno, Hiromitsu Nitani
  • Patent number: 10119580
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a continuously variable transmission, a gear mechanism and a controller. The continuously variable transmission and the gear mechanism are provided in parallel with each other between an input shaft and an output shaft. The controller is configured to i) when the vehicle travels in a state where both a first clutch and a third clutch provided on the gear mechanism side are released, gradually increase a hydraulic pressure of the first clutch such that the first clutch is engaged, ii) calculate a command hydraulic pressure for setting the first clutch to a pressure regulating state on the basis of a command hydraulic pressure of the first clutch at a timing at which the amount of change in an output-side rotation speed of the first clutch becomes larger than a predetermined value, and iii) control the first clutch by using the calculated command hydraulic pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuya Sakamoto, Atsushi Ayabe, Hiromitsu Nitani, Hiroki Kondo, Kenji Matsuo, Mitsuhiro Fukao
  • Patent number: 10118619
    Abstract: In a control device for a vehicle including: a dog clutch mechanism that is disposed in a power transmission path in which a driving force is transmitted from an engine to a wheel and is operated by a hydraulic actuator; and an electric oil pump that supplies hydraulic pressure to the hydraulic actuator, rotation of the engine is stopped in a state in which the dog clutch mechanism is engaged by the hydraulic pressure supplied from the electric oil pump at a time during an engine stop operation, the rotation of the engine is started in the state in which the dog clutch mechanism is engaged by the hydraulic pressure supplied from the electric oil pump at a time during an engine restart operation, hence occurrence of up-lock of the dog clutch mechanism is prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kenji Matsuo, Akira Hino, Hiroki Kondo, Mitsuhiro Fukao, Daisuke Inoue, Atsushi Ayabe, Hiromitsu Nitani, Kazuya Sakamoto
  • Publication number: 20180313444
    Abstract: A hydraulic control device that includes a second solenoid valve that is capable of supplying a resisting pressure that maintains the switching valve in the non-reverse state against the reverse range pressure, wherein the switching valve is maintained in the non-reverse state by supplying the resisting pressure from the second solenoid valve while a travel range is switched to at least a reverse range during forward travel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2016
    Publication date: November 1, 2018
    Applicants: AISIN AW CO., LTD., TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuharu ASAI, Makoto SAWADA, Kyohei SUZUMURA, Mitsuhiro FUKAO, Kenichi TSUCHIDA, Yoshimitsu HYODO, Toshiaki HAYASHI, Fumiaki AIKAWA, Yuta SERIGUCHI, Syuji MORIYAMA, Yoshinobu SOGA, Hiromitsu NITANI
  • Publication number: 20180202541
    Abstract: A hydraulic control device that includes a source pressure generating valve that generates a source pressure; a solenoid valve that can supply the engagement pressure based on the source pressure; and a supply pressure switching valve that can be switched between a first state where the supply pressure switching valve can supply the engagement pressure to the second engagement element and a second state where the supply pressure switching valve can supply the source pressure to the second engagement element, the supply pressure switching valve being in the first state when the solenoid valve is operating normally, and being switched to the second state in case of abnormality in the solenoid valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2016
    Publication date: July 19, 2018
    Applicants: AISIN AW CO., LTD., TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kenichi TSUCHIDA, Toshiaki HAYASHI, Yuta SERIGUCHI, Masafumi TAKASU, Yoichiro KIMURA, Kenichi ISHII, Syuji MORIYAMA, Yoshinobu SOGA, Hiromitsu NITANI, Takafumi INAGAKI