Patents by Inventor Hiroto Hashimoto

Hiroto Hashimoto 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: 10137767
    Abstract: A power transmission unit that can prevent an entrance of excessive torque to the powertrain is provided. The power transmission unit includes a transmission that transmits torque between an engine and drive wheels; a locking device that selectively halts a rotation of an output shaft of the engine; a transmission case holding a first motor, a second motor, the transmission, and the locking device; a first torque limiter disposed between the engine and the locking device to restrict torque transmitted between the drive wheels and the engine; and a second torque limiter held in the transmission case to restrict torque transmitted between the drive wheels and the locking device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroto Hashimoto, Tomohito Ono, Hiroaki Kimura
  • Publication number: 20180334025
    Abstract: A drive unit for a hybrid vehicle that enables downsizing and cost reduction of an oil supply mechanism to be achieved. The drive unit includes: a first feeding line for supplying a first motor and a differential mechanism with oil discharged from a first oil pump; and a second feeding line for supplying a second motor with oil discharged from a second oil pump, the oil being supplied via an oil cooler that cools the oil. A passage between from the second oil pump to the second motor in the second feeding line and a passage between from the first oil pump to the first motor and the differential mechanism in the first feeding line, are independent of each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2018
    Publication date: November 22, 2018
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroto HASHIMOTO, Hiroaki KIMURA, Tomohito ONO
  • Patent number: 10030724
    Abstract: An engagement device includes: a first member including a plurality of engaged teeth; a second member arranged coaxially with the first member, the second member including a plurality of engaging teeth; a rotation unit configured to relatively rotate the first member and the second member about an axis; a movement unit configured to relatively move the first member and the second member in an axial direction; and a control unit configured to control operations of the rotation unit and the movement unit, and the engaged teeth are formed on the first member at a side opposing the second member along a circumferential direction around the axis, and the engaging teeth are formed on the second member at a side opposing the first member along the circumferential direction around the axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroaki Ebuchi, Yuji Iwase, Hidekazu Nagai, Hiroto Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 9963148
    Abstract: A control device for a vehicle is provided. The control device includes an electronic control unit that is configured to: exert the torque of an input member on a fixed member and a rotating member such that the fixed member and the rotating member are separated from each other, when the thrust is exerted for making the engagement teeth mesh with each other; estimate an inclination angle of tooth surfaces based on a relative movement amount between the fixed member and the rotating member, and a relative rotational amount between the fixed member and the rotating member; estimate a frictional coefficient of the tooth surfaces based on the inclination angle; and control the thrust of the actuator according to the frictional coefficient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroto Hashimoto, Akira Murakami, Hiroaki Kimura, Tomohito Ono
  • Publication number: 20180029590
    Abstract: A control system for a hybrid vehicle configured to promptly disengage a clutch for halting an engine is provided. A clutch device comprises a reciprocating member having tapered reciprocating teeth, and a rotary member having tapered teeth opposed to the tapered rotary teeth. A controller is configured to turn off an actuator to eliminate the electromagnetic attraction thereby allowing the engine to be started, and to apply a torque of the first motor to the clutch device after the actuator is turned off thereby disengaging the reciprocating teeth from the rotary teeth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2017
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroto HASHIMOTO, Hiroaki KIMURA, Tomohito ONO, Takuya IGUCHI
  • Patent number: 9816570
    Abstract: An electromagnetic actuator includes an electromagnetic coil, fixed portions placed around the electromagnetic coil, and a movable portion including a magnetic circuit of the electromagnetic coil together with the fixed portions. The movable portion is configured to operate an operated member by moving in a predetermined direction due to an electromagnetic force generated in the magnetic circuit. The movable portion includes a first member and a second member. The first member and the second member are supported respectively by the fixed portions. The first member and the second member are incorporated to each other by sandwiching the operated member from both sides in the predetermined direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroaki Ebuchi, Yuji Iwase, Shotaro Kato, Hidekazu Nagai, Hiroto Hashimoto
  • Publication number: 20170291504
    Abstract: A control system for a vehicle having two motors is provided to limit damage on rotary members even if an excessive torque is applied from drive wheels. The control system comprises a first motor, a second motor, and a locking mechanism, and a differential mechanism disposed between the first motor and the drive wheels. The locking mechanism halts one of rotary elements of a differential mechanism when torque of the rotary member is small, and allows the rotary element to rotate when the torque of the rotary member is large. A controller is configured to increase power output of the first motor and decrease power output of the second motor during propulsion on an uneven road surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2017
    Publication date: October 12, 2017
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroaki KIMURA, Tomohito ONO, Hiroto HASHIMOTO
  • Publication number: 20170267246
    Abstract: A control device for a vehicle is provided. The control device includes an electronic control unit that is configured to: exert the torque of an input member on a fixed member and a rotating member such that the fixed member and the rotating member are separated from each other, when the thrust is exerted for making the engagement teeth mesh with each other; estimate an inclination angle of tooth surfaces based on a relative movement amount between the fixed member and the rotating member, and a relative rotational amount between the fixed member and the rotating member; estimate a frictional coefficient of the tooth surfaces based on the inclination angle; and control the thrust of the actuator according to the frictional coefficient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2017
    Publication date: September 21, 2017
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroto HASHIMOTO, Akira MURAKAMI, Hiroaki KIMURA, Tomohito ONO
  • Patent number: 9695889
    Abstract: An intermesh engagement device includes an intermesh engagement mechanism, a moving member, an actuator configured to apply a thrust to a moving member in an engaging direction, a transmission spring configured to transmit the thrust of the actuator from the moving member to a sleeve, a return spring, a stopper, and an electronic control unit configured to control the actuator. The electronic control unit is configured to execute first control for setting the thrust of the actuator to a thrust in a first region, and, when a halfway stopped state has occurred through the first control, execute second control for setting a thrust larger than the thrust in the first control. The first region is a range in which the thrust is larger than an urging force of the return spring and is smaller than the sum of the urging force of the return spring and a maximum urging force of the transmission spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroaki Ebuchi, Makoto Funahashi, Yuji Iwase, Shotaro Kato, Hidekazu Nagai, Hiroto Hashimoto
  • Publication number: 20170097086
    Abstract: A cooling system for a power transmission unit that can cool a cooling site effectively is provided. The cooling system comprises: an oil pump; an oil cooler that cools the oil delivered from the oil pump; a first oil pipe for delivering the oil from the oil pump to the oil cooler; a second oil pipe for delivering the oil cooled by the oil cooler to a heat generating element. A housing chamber includes a high-temperature section where the heat generating element is arranged, and a low-temperature section. The second oil pipe is arranged in the housing chamber while passing through the low-temperature section, and an opening is formed on the second oil pipe in such a manner as to open toward the heat generating element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2016
    Publication date: April 6, 2017
    Applicant: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomohito ONO, Hiroto HASHIMOTO, Hiroaki KIMURA
  • Publication number: 20170043656
    Abstract: A power transmission unit that can prevent an entrance of excessive torque to the powertrain is provided. The power transmission unit includes a transmission that transmits torque between an engine and drive wheels; a locking device that selectively halts a rotation of an output shaft of the engine; a transmission case holding a first motor, a second motor, the transmission, and the locking device; a first torque limiter disposed between the engine and the locking device to restrict torque transmitted between the drive wheels and the engine; and a second torque limiter held in the transmission case to restrict torque transmitted between the drive wheels and the locking device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2016
    Publication date: February 16, 2017
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: HIROTO HASHIMOTO, TOMOHITO ONO, HIROAKI KIMURA
  • Patent number: 9566975
    Abstract: A drive control device includes: a meshing engagement unit; an engine; a rotary machine; a detector detecting a predetermined parameter; and a controller configured to perform a release control of causing the rotary machine to output a second rotation torque in a direction opposite to a first rotation torque applied from the engine to the engagement unit at a time the engagement unit is released. The release control includes setting a magnitude of the second rotation torque to a predetermined value larger than a magnitude of the first rotation torque at a time the predetermined parameter change degree is not smaller than a threshold value and gradually decreasing the magnitude of the second rotation torque, and setting the magnitude of the second rotation torque to a magnitude smaller than the predetermined value at a time the predetermined parameter change degree is smaller than the threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroto Hashimoto, Yuji Iwase, Hiroaki Ebuchi, Hidekazu Nagai, Shotaro Kato
  • Publication number: 20170008533
    Abstract: an electronic control unit configured to i) while the engagement mechanism is changing from the engaged state to the released state, execute shaking control, ii) execute torque oscillation control, iii) determine whether to execute any one of releasing control and the torque oscillation control while the other one of the releasing control and the torque oscillation control is being executed, and iv) stop the shaking control when the electronic control unit determines to execute the releasing control and the torque oscillation control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2016
    Publication date: January 12, 2017
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroaki EBUCHI, Akira MURAKAMI, Yuji IWASE, Shotaro KATO, Hidekazu NAGAI, Hiroto HASHIMOTO
  • Patent number: 9517690
    Abstract: A vehicle driving control device for a vehicle includes a control unit configured to stop operation of an electric motor driving device driving an electric motor at a time a rotary element is fixed to be unable to rotate by an engagement by an engaging mechanism, and to recover the operation of the electric motor driving device at a time a predetermined condition based on a parameter relating to a driving of the vehicle is satisfied before releasing the engagement by the engaging mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroto Hashimoto, Yuji Iwase, Hiroaki Ebuchi, Hidekazu Nagai, Shotaro Kato
  • Publication number: 20160144846
    Abstract: A vehicle driving control device for a vehicle includes a control unit configured to stop operation of an electric motor driving device driving an electric motor at a time a rotary element is fixed to be unable to rotate by an engagement by an engaging mechanism, and to recover the operation of the electric motor driving device at a time a predetermined condition based on a parameter relating to a driving of the vehicle is satisfied before releasing the engagement by the engaging mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2015
    Publication date: May 26, 2016
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroto HASHIMOTO, Yuji Iwase, Hiroaki Ebuchi, Hidekazu Nagai, Shotaro Kato
  • Publication number: 20160131203
    Abstract: An electromagnetic actuator includes an electromagnetic coil, fixed portions placed around the electromagnetic coil, and a movable portion including a magnetic circuit of the electromagnetic coil together with the fixed portions. The movable portion is configured to operate an operated member by moving in a predetermined direction due to an electromagnetic force generated in the magnetic circuit. The movable portion includes a first member and a second member. The first member and the second member are supported respectively by the fixed portions. The first member and the second member are incorporated to each other by sandwiching the operated member from both sides in the predetermined direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2014
    Publication date: May 12, 2016
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroaki EBUCHI, Yuji IWASE, Shotaro KATO, Hidekazu NAGAI, Hiroto HASHIMOTO
  • Publication number: 20160068155
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle drive system includes: an engine; a rotary machine; a gear type engagement device; and a controller configured to: control a vehicle to travel in a first mode in which a reaction force of the engine is received by a torque of the rotary machine, and in a second mode in which the reaction force of the engine is received by the engagement device. The controller is configured to perform a first control of receiving the reaction force of the engine by the torque of the rotary machine, increasing a magnitude of the torque of the rotary machine to be equal to or greater than an upper limit of an estimated torque range of the engine, and then decreasing the magnitude of the torque of the rotary machine is performed at a time the engagement device is disengaged from the second mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2013
    Publication date: March 10, 2016
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroto HASHIMOTO, Yuji IWASE, Hiroaki EBUCHI, Hidekazu NAGAI, Shotaro KATO
  • Publication number: 20150362027
    Abstract: An engagement device includes: a first member including a plurality of engaged teeth; a second member arranged coaxially with the first member, the second member including a plurality of engaging teeth; a rotation unit configured to relatively rotate the first member and the second member about an axis; a movement unit configured to relatively move the first member and the second member in an axial direction; and a control unit configured to control operations of the rotation unit and the movement unit, and the engaged teeth are formed on the first member at a side opposing the second member along a circumferential direction around the axis, and the engaging teeth are formed on the second member at a side opposing the first member along the circumferential direction around the axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2013
    Publication date: December 17, 2015
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroaki EBUCHI, Yuji IWASE, Hidekazu NAGAI, Hiroto HASHIMOTO
  • Publication number: 20150354643
    Abstract: An intermesh engagement device includes an intermesh engagement mechanism, a moving member, an actuator configured to apply a thrust to a moving member in an engaging direction, a transmission spring configured to transmit the thrust of the actuator from the moving member to a sleeve, a return spring, a stopper, and an electronic control unit configured to control the actuator. The electronic control unit is configured to execute first control for setting the thrust of the actuator to a thrust in a first region, and, when a halfway stopped state has occurred through the first control, execute second control for setting a thrust larger than the thrust in the first control. The first region is a range in which the thrust is larger than an urging force of the return spring and is smaller than the sum of the urging force of the return spring and a maximum urging force of the transmission spring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2015
    Publication date: December 10, 2015
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroaki EBUCHI, Makoto FUNAHASHI, Yuji Iwase, Shotaro KATO, Hidekazu NAGAI, Hiroto HASHIMOTO
  • Publication number: 20150336559
    Abstract: A drive control device includes: a meshing engagement unit; an engine; a rotary machine; a detector detecting a predetermined parameter; and a controller configured to perform a release control of causing the rotary machine to output a second rotation torque in a direction opposite to a first rotation torque applied from the engine to the engagement unit at a time the engagement unit is released. The release control includes setting a magnitude of the second rotation torque to a predetermined value larger than a magnitude of the first rotation torque at a time the predetermined parameter change degree is not smaller than a threshold value and gradually decreasing the magnitude of the second rotation torque, and setting the magnitude of the second rotation torque to a magnitude smaller than the predetermined value at a time the predetermined parameter change degree is smaller than the threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2015
    Publication date: November 26, 2015
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroto HASHIMOTO, Yuji IWASE, Hiroaki EBUCHI, Hidekazu NAGAI, Shotaro KATO