Patents by Inventor Kazutoshi Nozaki

Kazutoshi Nozaki 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: 8066608
    Abstract: An automatic transmission includes a case; a speed change mechanism; a torque converter having a lock-up clutch axially arranged and freely slidably toward and away from the input shaft; a thrust bearing interposed between the flange unit and the side face of the sleeve unit on the input shaft side; a ball bearing that includes an outer race, a side face of which contacts the first step portion toward the input shaft side, and a propeller shaft connecting member capable of connecting with a propeller shaft, spline-engaging with the outer periphery of the output shaft, and contacting a side face of an inner race of the ball bearing upon being pressed axially toward the input shaft side by the propeller shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignees: Aisin AW Co., Ltd., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Nobutada Sugiura, Minoru Todo, Mikio Iwase, Takuya Ishii, Tomohiro Katada, Hirofumi Ota, Kazutoshi Nozaki, Atsushi Honda
  • Patent number: 7748504
    Abstract: A hydraulic servo for a brake in an automatic transmission has a piston secured against rotation without provision of a protrusion on the piston engaging the transmission casing. The piston of the hydraulic servo has an inner cylindrical surface configured to grasp, along their lengths, return springs compressed between the piston and a return plate to which the return springs are fixed. The return plate is bolted to a bulkhead portion of the transmission case and, thus, the piston member is fixed to the bulkhead portion and thereby prevented from rotating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignees: Aisin AW Co., Ltd., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsuhisa Ishii, Minoru Todo, Masato Nakano, Takuya Nakajima, Hirofumi Ota, Atsushi Honda, Kazutoshi Nozaki
  • Patent number: 7682276
    Abstract: A hydraulic control system that includes a solenoid valve for supplying a prescribed fluid pressure; and a relay valve for selectively switching a destination of the prescribed fluid pressure between a first destination part and a second destination part. The relay valve has an input port supplied with a normally produced fluid pressure and an output port that selectively communicates with the input port. The hydraulic control system further includes a fluid pressure switch, provided in the output port of the relay valve, that is activated when the input port communicates with the output port to allow the normally produced fluid pressure to be supplied to the output port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazutoshi Nozaki, Hirofumi Ota, Atsushi Honda
  • Patent number: 7648013
    Abstract: An automatic transmission supplies oil pressure to a hydraulic servo of a second clutch through an oil pressure supply passage extending through a first drum and a second drum, the oil pressure supply passage including a plurality of first oil holes formed in the first drum at equal, circumferential intervals, a plurality of second oil holes formed in the second drum at equal, circumferential intervals, and an annular oil passage formed between the first and second drums and connecting the first oil holes and the second oil holes. The number of first oil holes is different from the number of second oil holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignees: Aisin AW Co., Ltd., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Naoya Okada, Kutsuhisa Ishii, Mikio Iwase, Hirofumi Ota, Kazutoshi Nozaki, Atsushi Honda
  • Patent number: 7628729
    Abstract: A hydraulic control apparatus, provided with a manual shift valve that outputs a forward range pressure and a reverse range pressure, and a linear solenoid valve that outputs an engagement pressure to the hydraulic servo that engages during reverse travel when energized, includes a fourth clutch relay valve that is interposed between the linear solenoid valve and the hydraulic servo. The fourth clutch relay valve communicates an engagement pressure of the linear solenoid valve to the hydraulic servo by locking in the normal position when a signal pressure of the solenoid valve is input, and communicates a reverse range pressure to the hydraulic servo by being switched to a fail position by the reverse range pressure during a failure in which the fourth clutch relay valve is de-energized. Thereby, it is possible to establish a reverse speed during a failure in which the solenoid valve is de-energized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignees: Aisin AW Co., Ltd., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Nobuhiro Sato, Tetsuya Yamaguchi, Kazuyuki Noda, Akira Fukatsu, Mikio Iwase, Kazutoshi Nozaki, Atsushi Honda
  • Patent number: 7621837
    Abstract: A hydraulic control apparatus for an automatic transmission is provided with a solenoid valve that outputs a signal pressure during a failure and does not output a signal pressure during normal operation and a first clutch apply relay valve that switches between a normal position (the right half position) and a fail position (the left half position) based on this signal pressure are provided. During a failure, fail-safe control is carried out by the first clutch apply relay valve switching to the fail position. The first clutch apply relay valve inputs the engagement pressure of the hydraulic servo from the linear solenoid valve when in the normal position, and is locked in the normal position. Thereby, while the first clutch is engaged, the second brake apply control valve can be switched by the signal pressure of the solenoid valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignees: Aisin AW Co., Ltd., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Nobuhiro Sato, Tetsuya Yamaguchi, Kazuyuki Noda, Akira Fukatsu, Mikio Iwase, Kazutoshi Nozaki, Atsushi Honda
  • Patent number: 7618344
    Abstract: A hydraulic control apparatus for a multi-stage automatic transmission includes solenoid valves such as the linear solenoid valves that are formed as normally closed valves. A first clutch apply relay valves that outputs a forward range pressure as a reverse input pressure during an all-solenoid-off mode, and a second clutch apply relay valve that switches between a left half position that inputs a reverse input pressure to a discharge port and a right half position that inputs the reverse pressure to the discharge port are provided. The second clutch apply relay valve is set to the right half position during normal engine startup and locked based on the lock pressure by feeding the line pressure as a lock pressure and is set at the left half position that interrupts the lock pressure after the engine is restarted during all-solenoids-off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Assignees: Aisin AW Co., Ltd., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takayuki Hayashi, Tetsuya Yamaguchi, Kazuyuki Noda, Minoru Todo, Kazuhisa Ozaki, Kazutoshi Nozaki, Atsushi Honda
  • Patent number: 7604558
    Abstract: A piston operating a first clutch is disposed between a first drum accommodating the first clutch and a second drum accommodating a second clutch, and an oil reservoir storing lubricating oil that has lubricated the first clutch is provided on an inner cylindrical surface of a skirt portion of the piston. Barriers having different inner diameters are provided to the axial front and rear of the oil reservoir. When the second clutch is disengaged such that the amount of lubricating oil supplied to the oil reservoir increases, the lubricating oil overflows the barrier having the smaller inner diameter, and thus flows to the second clutch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignees: Aisin A W Co., Ltd., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Naoya Okada, Katsuhisa Ishii, Minoru Todo, Hirofumi Ota, Kazutoshi Nozaki, Atsushi Honda
  • Patent number: 7585243
    Abstract: The present invention provides an automatic transmission having a main bearing disposed between the inner surface of a boss portion of a first drum and the outer surface of a cylindrical support, for rotatably supporting the first drum. An auxiliary bearing is press-fit into one end of the interior of the boss portion of the first drum and surrounds the cylindrical support with an annular gap therebetween. The auxiliary bearing contacts the cylindrical support only when the first drum tilts relative to the central axis of the transmission, and has a shorter axial length than that of the main bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2009
    Assignees: Aisin AW Co., Ltd., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsuhisa Ishii, Minoru Todo, Mikio Iwase, Takuya Nakajima, Hirofumi Ota, Kazutoshi Nozaki, Atsushi Honda, Masafumi Kinoshita
  • Patent number: 7582035
    Abstract: An automatic transmission is capable of shifting between multiple speeds by engaging and disengaging multiple frictional engagement devices including at least one clutch and one brake, and is capable of switching between a driving range and a non-driving range with operation of a shift lever, wherein a first brake is engaged to fix an intermediate rotary member to a transmission case in a non-driving range such as neutral range. Thus, rotation of a clutch from drag torque can be stopped and shock due to engagement of a brake can be prevented by engagement of the first brake in the non-driving range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Assignees: Aisin AW Co., Ltd., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takeshi Ootsuki, Akira Fukatsu, Mikio Iwase, Kazutoshi Nozaki, Atsushi Honda
  • Patent number: 7582042
    Abstract: A hydraulic control apparatus for an automatic transmission comprises a linear solenoid valve for outputting a control pressure, a primary regulator valve for regulating a line pressure in accordance with the control pressure, and a secondary regulator valve for regulating a secondary pressure in accordance with the control pressure, the secondary pressure being supplied to a lock-up clutch and a torque converter. A spool of the secondary regulator valve is formed to comprise a large diameter portion and a small diameter portion, thereby eliminating the need for components such as a sleeve, and the line pressure can be input into an oil chamber formed between the large diameter portion and small diameter portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Assignees: Aisin AW Co., Ltd., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Nobuhiro Sato, Takuya Fujimine, Kazuyuki Noda, Minoru Todo, Kazuhisa Ozaki, Kazutoshi Nozaki, Masafumi Kinoshita, Atsushi Honda, Akiharu Abe
  • Patent number: 7559867
    Abstract: A connection structure for an automatic transmission includes a drum member that includes a base portion, an outer diameter portion that extends from an outer diameter side of the base portion in an axial direction, and a collar portion that extends from an inner diameter side of the base portion in the axial direction; a base member that includes a raised portion, an outer diameter portion that extends from an outer diameter side of the raised portion in the axial direction, a boss portion that extends from an inner diameter side of the raised portion in the axial direction, and a connection portion that extends from an end of the outer diameter portion; and a ring gear of a planetary gear that includes a spline groove and a circular concave groove on an end portion of an inner peripheral face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignees: Aisin AW Co., Ltd., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuichi Seki, Takuya Ishii, Toshihiko Aoki, Minoru Todo, Kazutoshi Nozaki, Akiharu Abe, Atsushi Honda, Masafumi Kinoshita, Hirofumi Ota
  • Publication number: 20090139370
    Abstract: An automatic transmission includes a case; a speed change mechanism; a torque converter having a lock-up clutch axially arranged and freely slidably toward and away from the input shaft; a thrust bearing interposed between the flange unit and the side face of the sleeve unit on the input shaft side; a ball bearing that includes an outer race, a side face of which contacts the first step portion toward the input shaft side, and a propeller shaft connecting member capable of connecting with a propeller shaft, spline-engaging with the outer periphery of the output shaft, and contacting a side face of an inner race of the ball bearing upon being pressed axially toward the input shaft side by the propeller shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2006
    Publication date: June 4, 2009
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Nobutada Sugiura, Minoru Todd, Mikio Iwase, Takuya Ishii, Tomohiro Katada, Hirofumi Ota, Kazutoshi Nozaki, Atsushi Honda
  • Patent number: 7524267
    Abstract: In a hydraulic control apparatus for a vehicular automatic transmission, if it is determined that there is a failure that may cause tie-up in an automatic transmission, communication is provided between a first output port and a first drain port in a switching valve. As a result, a hydraulic frictional engagement device, which should be disengaged when there is a failure, is disengaged. Also, a specific shift speed is achieved by controlling the switching valve. Therefore, it is not necessary to select a shift speed that is achieved on the condition that the hydraulic frictional engagement device, which should be disengaged when there is a failure, is engaged. Thus, it is possible to prevent a shift that may impair driveability when there is a failure that may cause tie-up in the automatic transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazutoshi Nozaki, Atsushi Honda, Akiharu Abe, Hirofumi Ota
  • Patent number: 7502679
    Abstract: A target deceleration of a vehicle is increased or decreased under given conditions and braking force is controlled in accordance with the increased or decreased target deceleration. Upon the increase or decrease in the target deceleration, the rate of change in the target deceleration is variably set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2009
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Atsushi Tabata, Kazutoshi Nozaki
  • Patent number: 7462130
    Abstract: A control apparatus and control method of an automatic transmission that establishes a plurality of speeds of different speed ratios by selectively engaging and/or releasing a plurality of engagement devices, detects abnormal engagement of at least one of the engagement devices which causes tie-up to occur in the automatic transmission; establishes a predetermined specific speed set in advance in order to prevent tie-up from occurring in the automatic transmission, when abnormal engagement of the at least one of the engagement devices is detected; and places the automatic transmission in a neutral state when an engine speed will exceed a predetermined allowable speed if the predetermined specific speed is established.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hirofumi Ota, Akiharu Abe, Atsushi Honda, Kazutoshi Nozaki
  • Patent number: 7419452
    Abstract: At the time of a failure in the second group of engagement devices, the manner of input of oil pressures to a fail-safe valve group is changed via a priority degree switching valve on the basis of the state of engagement of engagement devices of the first group in such a manner that the predetermined degrees of priority for the supply of one of oil pressures PC4, PB1 output from linear solenoid valves SL4, SL5 to a corresponding one of a clutch C4 and a brake B1 via the fail-safe valve group are changed so as to avoid an event that the fail-safe gear stage established in order to prevent the occurrence of interlock of the automatic transmission involves a downshift of two or more stages from the speed change stage maintained immediately prior to the occurrence of the failure. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of an uncomfortable behavior of the vehicle caused by the shift to the fail-safe gear stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazutoshi Nozaki, Atsushi Honda, Akiharu Abe, Hirofumi Ota
  • Patent number: 7402119
    Abstract: A transmission can be provided which achieves multiple speeds while maintaining good balance of gear ratio steps between gears by having a first clutch which selectively connects a first intermediate output member and a fourth rotating element RE4 together, a second clutch which selectively connects an input shaft and a second rotating element RE2 together, a third clutch which selectively connects the first intermediate output member and a first rotating element RE1 together, a fourth clutch which selectively connects the input shaft and the first rotating element RE1 together, a fifth clutch which selectively connects a second intermediate output member and the first rotating element RE1 together, a first brake which selectively holds the first rotating element RE1 to a transmission case, and a second brake which selectively holds the second rotating element RE2 to the transmission case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Atsushi Kamada, Atsushi Honda, Akiharu Abe, Atsushi Tabata, Kazutoshi Nozaki, Yuji Inoue, Hirofumi Ota
  • Patent number: 7393299
    Abstract: At a first forward speed, the oil passage in a relay valve is switched to control the torque capacity of a lock-up clutch using a linear solenoid valve that controls the engagement pressure of a clutch that is engaged at each of fifth to eighth forward speeds. At each of second to eighth forward speeds, the oil passage in another relay valve is switched to control the torque capacity of the lock-up clutch using a linear solenoid valve that controls the engagement pressure of a brake that is engaged at the first forward speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuji Inoue, Atsushi Tabata, Atsushi Honda, Akiharu Abe, Kazutoshi Nozaki, Hirofumi Ota, Atsushi Kamada
  • Patent number: 7383115
    Abstract: A deceleration control apparatus for controlling a deceleration value of a vehicle, including a plurality of deceleration-value setting devices, a target-deceleration-value control portion operable to change a target deceleration value of the vehicle according to an operation of each of the deceleration-value setting devices, and a brake control portion operable to control a braking force to be applied to the vehicle, according to the target deceleration value changed by the target-deceleration-value control portion, wherein the target-deceleration-value control portion is operable to successively change the target deceleration value of the vehicle in response to successive operations of one and another of the plurality of deceleration-value setting devices such that the target deceleration value changed according to the operation of the above-indicated one deceleration-value setting device is subsequently changed according to the operation of the above-indicated another deceleration-value setting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Atsushi Tabata, Kazutoshi Nozaki