Abstract: An oil pressure generator 20 includes a drive gear 30, a driven gear 32, and a crescent 34, which constitute a gear pump unit, as well as one-way clutches 36 and 38 that respectively interlock with two rotating shafts 42 and 46 when the rotating shafts 42 and 46 rotate in an identical direction relative to the drive gear 30. In case that both the rotating shafts 42 and 46 rotate in the interlocking direction, the corresponding one-way clutch interlocks with the rotating shaft having a greater revolving speed, thereby driving the drive gear 30. This structure enables the oil pressure generator 20 to produce an oil pressure through rotation of the rotating shaft having a greater revolving speed out of the two rotating shafts 42 and 46.

Abstract: A hybrid drive system including an engine and an electric motor at least one of which is operated as drive power source to drive a motor vehicle in a selected one of different operation modes. The system is adapted to prevent concurrent operations to change the operation mode and the speed ratio of a power transmitting device or the ratio of torque distribution to front and rear drive wheels, or concurrent operations to change the operation mode and switch the power transmitting device from a non-drive state to a drive state, for avoiding a shock due to a torque variation which would arise from the concurrent operations. The system is alternatively adapted to cut a power transfer from the drive power source to the power transmitting device, or hold the output of the drive power source substantially constant, when the power transmitting device is switched from the non-drive state to the drive state.

Abstract: Apparatus for controlling a vehicle hybrid drive system having a transmission disposed between a vehicle drive wheel and an assembly of an engine and a motor/generator, the apparatus including a torque reduction control device for reducing an input torque of the transmission during a shifting action of the transmission, wherein the torque reduction control device includes a first torque reducing device for reducing the input torque by controlling the engine, a second torque reducing device for reducing the input torque by controlling the motor/generator, and a torque reduction mode selecting device for enabling the first torque reducing device and/or the second torque reducing device to operate to reduce the input torque, according to a predetermined selecting condition.

Abstract: A hybrid drive system for a motor vehicle, including a drive power source consisting of an engine operated by combustion of a fuel, and an electric motor operated with an electric energy, and a controller for selectively establishing a plurality of operation modes in which the drive power source is placed in respective different operating states, and wherein the controller includes a drive force control device for controlling the hybrid drive system so as to produce a substantially constant drive force for driving the vehicle, under the same running condition of the vehicle, irrespective of the currently established operation mode.

Abstract: A controller for a hybrid vehicle (HV) idles first an internal combustion engine (ICE) when it is determined in advance that a load on the HV or a motor will increase, and thereafter switches to a travelling mode in which the ICE is used. Based on output of a vehicle weight sensor, a gradient sensor, a towing sensor, a start/power mode switch and other on-board sensors or switches, it is determined in advance that a load on the HV or the motor will increase. Otherwise, based on information obtained from a navigation system or from another vehicle to be towed, it is determined in advance that a load on the HV or the motor will increase. Based on a difference of output between an open air temperature sensor and a cabin temperature sensor, a load on an on-board appliance is detected, and based on the detected load, it is determined in advance that a load on the HV or the motor will increase. Thus, a delay in following the ICE in response to the switching of travelling modes can be decreased or remedied.

Abstract: A hybrid drive system for a motor vehicle, including an engine, a motor/motor, an automatic transmission disposed between the engine and a vehicle drive wheel, a regenerative braking device for applying to the vehicle a regenerative braking force corresponding to an amount of electric energy generated by the motor/generator during an operation of the motor/generator by a kinetic energy of the running vehicle, and at least one of (a) a shift inhibiting device for inhibiting a shifting action of the automatic transmission during an operation of the regenerative braking device so as to prevent a change of an engine braking force applied to the vehicle, (b) a braking shift control device which is operated when the regenerative braking device is inoperable to provide the required regenerative braking force, for changing the speed ratio of the automatic transmission to increase the engine braking force, or operated prior to the operation of the regenerative braking device, for controlling the speed ratio of the tra

Abstract: A power transmitting system for a motor vehicle having a manually operated member for selecting one of operating states of the power transmitting system, which include a neutral state, wherein a power transmitting path between a drive power source and a drive wheel of the motor vehicle is electrically disconnected by a first power disconnecting device, and is mechanically disconnected by a second power disconnecting device which is operated in response to an operation the manually operated member to the neutral state. Also disclosed is a hybrid drive system including a start-up control device operated upon operation of the manually operated member from a non-drive state to a drive state, for controlling the reaction torque of a motor/generator to rise according to one of predetermined rise characteristics which is selected depending upon a vehicle running condition.

Abstract: A hybrid drive system for outputting the power of an internal combustion engine and the power of a motor generator through a transmission. The transmission includes an input shaft and an output shaft. The motor generator is arranged to have an input/output motor shaft in parallel with the input shaft and the output shaft. The internal combustion engine is arranged to have its output crankshaft on the same axis as that of the input shaft.

Abstract: Hybrid drive system for a motor vehicle, wherein an automatic transmission disposed between a drive wheel of the vehicle and a drive power source including an engine and an electric motor is controlled by a shift control device, to change the speed ratio according to a normal shift pattern in a normal vehicle operating state, and according to a special shift pattern in a predetermined special vehicle operating state such that the speed ratio according to the special shift pattern is smaller than the speed ratio according to the normal shift pattern, and wherein at least the engine is selected by a substitute drive power source selecting device, as the drive power source for driving the vehicle in the special operating state in which the automatic transmission is controlled according to the special shift pattern.

Abstract: A hybrid drive system for a motor vehicle, having an engine operated by combustion of a fuel, an electric energy storage device for storing an electric energy, a motor/generator connected to the electric energy storage device, and a synthesizing/distributing mechanism which includes a first rotary element, a second rotary element connected to the motor/generator, and a third rotary element, and an output member connected to the third rotary element, wherein a first clutch is provided for connecting the first rotary element and the engine, and a second clutch is provided for connecting two elements of the first, second and third rotary elements of the synthesizing/distributing mechanism, for rotation of the two elements as a unit.

Abstract: A hybrid drive system for a motor vehicle, having a power drive state in which there is available a power drive mode in which an engine and an electric motor are both operated as a drive power source for driving the vehicle, and wherein a manually operated power drive selector is provided for selecting the power drive mode, and a power drive restricting device is provided to inhibit the vehicle from being driven in the power drive state and therefore in the power drive mode if the power drive selector is not manually operated. The hybrid drive system may have an engine assist drive mode in which the electric motor is operated as an auxiliary drive power source, together with the engine operated as a primary drive power source, according to a selected one of different drivability modes of the vehicle selected by a manually operated drivability performance selector.

Abstract: A shift control apparatus for controlling a variable-speed ratio automatic transmission of a motor vehicle having an engine, and a motor/generator which function as a vehicle driving electric motor and/or an electric generator, the automatic transmission being operatively connected to a drive wheel and an assembly of the engine and the motor/generator, the shift control apparatus including a target determining device for determining a pattern of change of a target value of the rotating speed of a rotary member of the automatic transmission or a target value of the output torque of the automatic transmission, during a shifting action thereof, and a motor torque feedback control device for feedback controlling a torque of the motor/generator during the shifting action of the automatic transmission such that the rotating speed of the rotary member or the output torque changes according to the pattern of change of the target value.

Abstract: A starting control apparatus of the present invention prevents a variation in output torque of an internal combustion engine at a time of starting the internal combustion engine, while effectively reducing an emission. In response to a requirement for starting an engine (150) (S212), a controller (180) calculates an idle revolving speed Ni that is a target at a starting time and a required amount of the air Qi for maintaining the idle revolving speed Ni (S213). The idle revolving speed Ni and the required amount of the air Qi are respectively set equal to a target engine speed Ne* and a target amount of air intake Q* (S214). The controller (180) sets torque command values Tm1* and Tm2* of first and second motors MG1 and MG2, in order to enable the motors MG1 and MG2 to generate a cranking torque required for revolving the engine (150) at the target revolving speed Ne* (S216 and S218), and controls the first motor MG1 and the second motor MG2 (S220 and S222).

Abstract: A drive control apparatus for an automotive vehicle having an electric motor and an engine operated by combustion of a fuel, the drive control apparatus including a drive source selecting device for selecting an engine drive mode or a motor drive mode on the basis of a first value in the engine drive mode of a physical quantity relating to a condition of the engine and a second value of the same physical quantity reflecting energy conversion efficiencies of the electric motor, an electric generator and an electric energy storage device during an electricity generating mode. The physical quantity is preferably a fuel consumption amount by the engine. The drive control apparatus may also include an engine output determining device that optimizes the efficiency of the system by determining the output of the engine so as to power the vehicle and also provide surplus power to operate the electric generator and charge the electric energy storage device.

Abstract: An electromagnetic surface wave guideline that is formed by intertwisting dielectrics while providing a periodic structure like a rope and arranging conductors in a period harmonizing with the structure, and is suitable for such a use that entry of various objects including human beings and animals into a specific area for instance, and an object detecting device using the guideline

Abstract: A method of continuously degassing water in which the vapor phase components melted in the water are continuously degassed by heating the water and reducing the pressure of the water. An in-line heater is used to continuously mix saturated steam into water supplied continuously, to heat said water and to accelerate the foaming of the vapor phase components melted in the water by cavitation caused by the mixing of said saturated steam. Thereafter the water is degassed automatically while being pooled in a degassing tank under atmospheric pressure.