Patents by Inventor Hironori Asaoka

Hironori Asaoka 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: 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
  • Patent number: 11002340
    Abstract: An automatic transmission includes a main transmission and an auxiliary transmission. The auxiliary transmission includes an auxiliary-transmission-side planetary gear mechanism, a first clutch, and a second clutch. The auxiliary-transmission-side planetary gear mechanism is provided between a pair of main-transmission-side planetary gear mechanisms, and a part of the auxiliary-transmission-side planetary gear mechanism is located within the main transmission. The first clutch fixes rotation of a sun gear of the auxiliary-transmission-side planetary gear mechanism. The second clutch connects a ring gear of the auxiliary-transmission-side planetary gear mechanism with the sun gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hironori Asaoka, Atsushi Honda, Motoki Tabuchi, Daisuke Okamoto, Naoyuki Kishimoto, Tomoe Osada
  • Patent number: 10800255
    Abstract: An automatic transmission includes: a main transmission including a plurality of main transmission side planetary gear mechanisms; an auxiliary transmission having a rotation axis different from a rotation axis of the main transmission; and a low/high switching mechanism switching between a low mode and a high mode by engaging and disengaging an engaging device provided on the auxiliary transmission. Further, the low/high switching mechanism switches between the low mode and the high mode at a point where a gear ratio in the low mode coincides with a gear ratio in the high mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JISOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hironori Asaoka, Naoyuki Kishimoto
  • 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
  • Patent number: 10618400
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle includes: an engine including an output shaft configured to output a power; a damper placed on a first axis that is the same axis as the output shaft; a rotating machine placed on the first axis; a torque converter placed on the first axis; a transmission mechanism placed so that an input shaft of the transmission mechanism is positioned on a second axis that is an axis different from the first axis; a case in which the rotating machine and the transmission mechanism are accommodated; driving wheels attached to drive shafts; and an oil accumulated in a lower part of a space surrounded by the case and used for lubrication of the transmission mechanism, the oil being in contact with a part of the rotating machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tadashi Sekiguchi, Yoshio Itou, Tomoaki Yanagida, Tomoe Osada, 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: 10436313
    Abstract: The hydraulic control device includes: a mechanical variable-capacity oil pump; and an electronic control unit configured to calculate a target discharge volume of the mechanical variable-capacity oil pump using a plurality of parameters of the transmission, and control the mechanical variable-capacity oil pump based on the target discharge volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yu Nagasato, Hironori Asaoka, Yoshio Ito
  • Publication number: 20190283576
    Abstract: An automatic transmission includes: a main transmission including a plurality of main transmission side planetary gear mechanisms; an auxiliary transmission having a rotation axis different from a rotation axis of the main transmission; and a low/high switching mechanism switching between a low mode and a high mode by engaging and disengaging an engaging device provided on the auxiliary transmission. Further, the low/high switching mechanism switches between the low mode and the high mode at a point where a gear ratio in the low mode coincides with a gear ratio in the high mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2019
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hironori ASAOKA, Naoyuki KISHIMOTO
  • Publication number: 20190078661
    Abstract: An automatic transmission includes a main transmission and an auxiliary transmission. The auxiliary transmission includes an auxiliary-transmission-side planetary gear mechanism, a first clutch, and a second clutch. The auxiliary-transmission-side planetary gear mechanism is provided between a pair of main-transmission-side planetary gear mechanisms, and a part of the auxiliary-transmission-side planetary gear mechanism is located within the main transmission. The first clutch fixes rotation of a sun gear of the auxiliary-transmission-side planetary gear mechanism. The second clutch connects a ring gear of the auxiliary-transmission-side planetary gear mechanism with the sun gear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2018
    Publication date: March 14, 2019
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hironori ASAOKA, Atsushi HONDA, Motoki TABUCHI, Daisuke OKAMOTO, Naoyuki KISHIMOTO, Tomoe OSADA
  • Publication number: 20180201118
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle includes: an engine including an output shaft configured to output a power; a damper placed on a first axis that is the same axis as the output shaft; a rotating machine placed on the first axis; a torque converter placed on the first axis; a transmission mechanism placed so that an input shaft of the transmission mechanism is positioned on a second axis that is an axis different from the first axis; a case in which the rotating machine and the transmission mechanism are accommodated; driving wheels attached to drive shafts; and an oil accumulated in a lower part of a space surrounded by the case and used for lubrication of the transmission mechanism, the oil being in contact with a part of the rotating machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2018
    Publication date: July 19, 2018
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tadashi SEKIGUCHI, Yoshio Itou, Tomoaki Yanagida, Tomoe Osada, Hironori Asaoka
  • Publication number: 20180149263
    Abstract: The hydraulic control device includes: a mechanical variable-capacity oil pump; and an electronic control unit configured to calculate a target discharge volume of the mechanical variable-capacity oil pump using a plurality of parameters of the transmission, and control the mechanical variable-capacity oil pump based on the target discharge volume.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2017
    Publication date: May 31, 2018
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yu NAGASATO, Hironori ASAOKA, Yoshio ITO
  • Patent number: 9902389
    Abstract: A vehicle drive control device performs acceleration/deceleration running by alternately repeating acceleration running and deceleration running, wherein it compares between an efficiency of the motor at a first operation point determined by a rotation speed and a torque of a motor and an efficiency of the motor at a second operation point for outputting a higher torque than the first operation point, and if a difference between the efficiencies is greater than a determination value, the acceleration running at the second operation point and the deceleration running being repeated, the second operation point being set a maximum efficiency line of the motor with the rotation speed and the torque of the motor as parameters to perform the acceleration running, and if acceleration during the acceleration running becomes larger than an acceleration limit value, a rotating machine acting at least as an electric generator generating electricity to charge a battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Terufumi Miyazaki, Yukihiko Ideshio, Toshihiko Kamiya, Shingo Eto, Hironori Asaoka, Yasuyuki Kato, Seigo Kanou, Makoto Iwanaka
  • Patent number: 9180873
    Abstract: It is provided a control device of a hybrid vehicle having an engine, an electric motor, a clutch disposed in a power transmission path between the engine and the electric motor, and a hydraulic power transmission device with a lockup clutch disposed in a power transmission path between the electric motor and drive wheels, the control device being configured to engage the clutch and provide slip control of the lockup clutch when the engine is started from motor running using the electric motor, and to lower an engagement pressure of the lockup clutch as compared to the case of an engine start caused by an acceleration request from a driver if the start of the engine is an engine start caused by a request from a hybrid system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Terufumi Miyazaki, Yukihiko Ideshio, Toshihiko Kamiya, Shingo Eto, Hironori Asaoka
  • Patent number: 9169786
    Abstract: A control device of a vehicle engine comprises: an electric motor rotationally driving an engine to start the engine; a variable valve timing mechanism varying a valve timing of an intake valve of the engine; and an intermediate lock mechanism mechanically locking the valve timing at an intermediate position between a most delayed position and a most advanced position of the valve timing, if an output limitation of the electric motor is predicted at restart of the engine, the valve timing at the time of stop of the engine being locked at the intermediate lock position by the intermediate lock mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Terufumi Miyazaki, Yukihiko Ideshio, Toshihiko Kamiya, Shingo Eto, Hironori Asaoka, Yasuyuki Kato
  • Patent number: 9108635
    Abstract: It is provided a control device of a hybrid vehicle having a clutch in a power transmission path between an engine and a motor generator, the clutch controlling power transmission through the power transmission path depending on an engagement state, the hybrid vehicle interrupting the power transmission through the power transmission path by releasing the clutch during EV running while only the motor generator is used as a drive source for running, during the EV running while a release instruction for the clutch is output, if the engine being driven, a rotation speed of the engine is maintained within a predetermined rotation speed difference from a rotation speed of the motor generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Terufumi Miyazaki, Yukihiko Ideshio, Toshihiko Kamiya, Shingo Eto, Hironori Asaoka, Yasuyuki Kato
  • Patent number: 9097330
    Abstract: It is provided a vehicle power transmission device having a hydraulic power transmission device and a power transmission mechanism, the hydraulic power transmission device including an input-side rotating member that houses an output-side rotating member disposed with turbine blades and fluid flowing from pump blades to turbine blades, the vehicle power transmission device having an engine intermittent clutch and a lockup clutch disposed closer to an engine relative to the turbine blades in the input-side rotating member, one of the engine intermittent clutch and the lockup clutch being a single plate clutch, the vehicle power transmission device further comprising an electric motor, and the hydraulic power transmission device including a first damper inserted in a power transmission path between the crankshaft of the engine and the electric motor, and a second damper inserted in a power transmission path between the first damper and the output-side rotating member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yukihiko Ideshio, Terufumi Miyazaki, Toshihiko Kamiya, Shingo Eto, Hironori Asaoka, Yasuyuki Kato
  • Patent number: 9079583
    Abstract: In a case of engagement when a clutch K0 disposed between an engine 12 and a motor generator MG is engaged during EV running while a release instruction for the clutch K0 is output, drive of the engine 12 is changed such that a rotation speed NE of the engine 12 approaches a rotation speed NMG of the motor generator MG and, therefore, a drag torque of the engine 12 can be suppressed regardless of an engagement state of the clutch K0, and generation of longitudinal acceleration can be suppressed by reducing a slip time of the clutch K0. Therefore, a control device of a hybrid vehicle 10 can be provided that reduces a driver's uncomfortable feeling in a simplified manner in a case of wrong engagement of the clutch K0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Terufumi Miyazaki, Yukihiko Ideshio, Toshihiko Kamiya, Shingo Eto, Hironori Asaoka, Yasuyuki Kato
  • Patent number: 9031727
    Abstract: A vehicle running control device in a vehicle includes a power connecting/disconnecting device interrupting power transmission between an engine and drive wheels, the vehicle running control device providing free-run control of interrupting the power transmission with the power connecting/disconnecting device and stopping the engine during inertia running, the vehicle running control device being configured to determine a target vehicle deceleration at the start of the free-run control based on a vehicle speed and to estimate an estimated vehicle deceleration when the free-run control is started, before starting the free-run control, and when the estimated vehicle deceleration is closer to the target vehicle deceleration at the start of the free-run control, the free-run control being more easily provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Terufumi Miyazaki, Yukihiko Ideshio, Toshihiko Kamiya, Shingo Eto, Hironori Asaoka, Yasuyuki Kato
  • Patent number: 8974339
    Abstract: A vehicle power transmission device has a torque converter including an input-side rotating member, an output-side rotating member, a stator and a case including a first chamber and a second chamber separated by a bulkhead, and the first chamber and the second chamber being oil-tightly isolated from each other by an oil seal. The vehicle power transmission device is disposed with a thrust bearing between the input-side rotating member and the stator, which is disposed to partially or entirely overlap with the oil seal and a one way clutch disposed between the stator and a non-rotating member which supports the stator. A portion of the one way clutch protrudes toward the second chamber, the input-side rotating member having an annular projecting portion, and the annular projecting portion houses the thrust bearing and the portion of the one way clutch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yukihiko Ideshio, Terufumi Miyazaki, Toshihiko Kamiya, Shingo Eto, Hironori Asaoka, Yasuyuki Kato