Patents by Inventor Kiyohito Murata

Kiyohito Murata 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: 9840250
    Abstract: A vehicle drive apparatus includes: an engine; a rotary machine; an output member coupled to a drive wheel of a vehicle; a differential mechanism configured to couple the engine, the rotary machine, and the output member together to be differentially rotatable via a plurality of differentially rotatable rotational elements; and an elastic member configured to couple a rotation shaft of the rotary machine to the rotational element of the differential mechanism to be relatively rotatable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kiyohito Murata
  • Patent number: 9746051
    Abstract: A vehicle vibration reducing apparatus includes: an inertial mass body; a first engagement device that is switched between a state where a running power source engages with a damper of a power transmission device so as to enable power transmission and a state where the engagement is released; a second engagement device that is switched between a state where the power transmission device engages with the inertial mass body so as to enable power transmission in a power transmission pass different from that of the first engagement device and a state where the engagement is released; and a third engagement device that is switched between a state where the running power source engages with the inertial mass body so as to enable power transmission in a power transmission path different from those of the first engagement device and the second engagement device and a state where the engagement is released.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kiyohito Murata
  • Patent number: 9533561
    Abstract: A power transmission device includes a transmission mechanism configured to transmit power generated by an electric motor to an output shaft, to which power generated by an internal combustion engine is transmitted, via engaging sections of a plurality of rotating members, and the transmission mechanism has a play to the engaging sections along a rotating direction, the play being larger than a relative displacement amount between the rotating member on the internal combustion engine side and the rotating member on the electric motor side when a rotation variation phase difference between the internal combustion engine and the electric motor is maximum. Therefore, there can be provided the power transmission device capable of suppressing an occurrence of noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kiyohito Murata
  • Patent number: 9482309
    Abstract: A vehicle vibration reduction apparatus (1) includes: an inertial mass body (30) that is connected to a rotary shaft (13) of a power transmission apparatus (5) such that the inertial mass body (30) is capable of transmitting power, wherein the rotary shaft (13) of a power transmission apparatus (5) is capable of transmitting rotary power from a travel drive source (4) to a drive wheel (10) of a vehicle (2); and a switching apparatus (40) that is provided on a power transmission path between the rotary shaft (13) and the inertial mass body (30) and that is capable of switching between a first path (42) on which the rotary shaft (13) and the inertial mass body (30) are connected to each other via an elastic body (41), and a second path (43) on which the rotary shaft (13) and the inertial mass body (30) are connected to each other without passing through the elastic body (41). Thus, the vehicle vibration reduction apparatus (1) can reduce vibration appropriately.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kiyohito Murata
  • Patent number: 9482305
    Abstract: A dynamic damper device includes a planetary gear mechanism including plural differentially rotatable rotating elements, an elastic member that couples a rotating shaft rotated by being transmitted with a power with a first rotating element of the planetary gear mechanism, and a rotation control device that is coupled with a rotating element different from the first rotating element of the planetary gear mechanism and controls a rotation of the planetary gear mechanism by adjusting torque acting on the first rotating element. Accordingly, the dynamic damper device achieves an effect that vibration can be appropriately reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kiyohito Murata
  • Patent number: 9393953
    Abstract: A transmission for vehicle includes: a transmission mechanism including a first engagement device configured to block/allow power transmission between an engine and a first input shaft of a first gear stage group, and a second engagement device configured to block/allow power transmission between the engine and a second input shaft of a second gear stage group; a differential mechanism; and a control device. The first gear stage group includes a starting stage used at a time the vehicle starts traveling, and the control device performs travel starting control to start traveling of the vehicle by: putting the second engagement device into an engaged state while the engine is operating before the vehicle starts traveling; and putting the second engagement device into a disengaged state, thereafter controlling rotation of a rotational machine and putting the first engagement device into an engaged state at the time the vehicle starts traveling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kiyohito Murata
  • Publication number: 20160090076
    Abstract: A vehicle gear box includes: a gear shift mechanism including a first engaging device configured to engage/disengage power transmission between an engine and a first input shaft of a first gear position group and a second engaging device configured to engage/disengage power transmission between the engine and a second input shaft of a second gear position group; a differential mechanism configured to connect a rotational shaft of a rotator and the first input shaft and the second input shaft; a third engaging device configured to engage/disengage power transmission between the engine and the first engaging device and the second engaging device; and a control system configured to control the third engaging device and the rotator to perform control that switches the third engaging device to be in a disengaged state and drives the vehicle by the rotary power output from the rotator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2013
    Publication date: March 31, 2016
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kimitoshi TSUJI, Kiyohito MURATA
  • Patent number: 9206878
    Abstract: A vehicle vibration reduction apparatus (1) includes: an inertial mass body (30) that is connected to a rotary shaft (13) of a power transmission apparatus (5) such that the inertial mass body (30) is capable of transmitting power, wherein the rotary shaft (13) of a power transmission apparatus (5) is capable of transmitting rotary power from a travel drive source (4) to a drive wheel (10) of a vehicle (2); and a switching apparatus (40) that is provided on a power transmission path between the rotary shaft (13) and the inertial mass body (30) and that is capable of switching between a first path (42) on which the rotary shaft (13) and the inertial mass body (30) are connected to each other via an elastic body (41), and a second path (43) on which the rotary shaft (13) and the inertial mass body (30) are connected to each other without passing through the elastic body (41). Thus, the vehicle vibration reduction apparatus (1) can reduce vibration appropriately.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kiyohito Murata
  • Publication number: 20150283995
    Abstract: A transmission for vehicle includes: a transmission mechanism including a first engagement device configured to block/allow power transmission between an engine and a first input shaft of a first gear stage group, and a second engagement device configured to block/allow power transmission between the engine and a second input shaft of a second gear stage group; a differential mechanism; and a control device. The first gear stage group includes a starting stage used at a time the vehicle starts traveling, and the control device performs travel starting control to start traveling of the vehicle by: putting the second engagement device into an engaged state while the engine is operating before the vehicle starts traveling; and putting the second engagement device into a disengaged state, thereafter controlling rotation of a rotational machine and putting the first engagement device into an engaged state at the time the vehicle starts traveling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 25, 2012
    Publication date: October 8, 2015
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kiyohito MURATA
  • Patent number: 9109695
    Abstract: A fluid transmission device includes a fluid transmission section capable of transmitting power transmitted to an input member to an output member via a working fluid, a lock-up clutch section capable of transmitting power transmitted to the input member to the output member via a friction engagement section, and a control unit configured to execute a torque ratio variable control that makes a torque ratio which is a ratio between torque output from the output member and torque input to the input member variable by adjusting a friction engagement state of the friction engagement section, when the fluid transmission section is in an operation state that the fluid transmission section amplifies torque input to the input member and outputs torque from the output member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kiyohito Murata
  • Publication number: 20140366682
    Abstract: A vehicle vibration reducing apparatus (1) includes: an inertial mass body (30); a first engagement device (41) that is switched between a state where a running power source (4) engages with a damper (6) of a power transmission device (5) so as to enable power transmission and a state where the engagement is released; a second engagement device (42) that is switched between a state where the power transmission device (5) engages with the inertial mass body (30) so as to enable power transmission in a power transmission pass different from that of the first engagement device (41) and a state where the engagement is released; and a third engagement device (43) that is switched between a state where the running power source (4) engages with the inertial mass body (30) so as to enable power transmission in a power transmission path different from those of the first engagement device (41) and the second engagement device (42) and a state where the engagement is released.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2012
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Inventor: Kiyohito Murata
  • Patent number: 8840516
    Abstract: A dynamic damper device includes a planetary gear mechanism including plural differentially rotatable rotating elements, an elastic member that couples a rotating shaft rotated by being transmitted with a power with a first rotating element of the planetary gear mechanism, speed control devices that are coupled with second rotating elements different from the first rotating element and control rotation speeds of the second rotating elements, and a torque control device that is coupled with the first rotating element and controls torque acting on the first rotating element. Accordingly, the dynamic damper device achieves an effect that vibration can be appropriately reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kiyohito Murata
  • Patent number: 8827861
    Abstract: A dynamic damper device includes a variable inertial mass device that variably controls inertial mass of a damper mass, an elastic body that connects a rotary shaft rotated by power transmitted thereto and an input member of the variable inertial mass device, and a variable damping force device that variably controls a damping force to the elastic body. Accordingly, the dynamic damper devices have the advantageous effect that vibrations can be appropriately reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kiyohito Murata
  • Publication number: 20140224060
    Abstract: A vehicle vibration reduction apparatus (1) includes: an inertial mass body (30) that is connected to a rotary shaft (13) of a power transmission apparatus (5) such that the inertial mass body (30) is capable of transmitting power, wherein the rotary shaft (13) of a power transmission apparatus (5) is capable of transmitting rotary power from a travel drive source (4) to a drive wheel (10) of a vehicle (2); and a switching apparatus (40) that is provided on a power transmission path between the rotary shaft (13) and the inertial mass body (30) and that is capable of switching between a first path (42) on which the rotary shaft (13) and the inertial mass body (30) are connected to each other via an elastic body (41), and a second path (43) on which the rotary shaft (13) and the inertial mass body (30) are connected to each other without passing through the elastic body (41). Thus, the vehicle vibration reduction apparatus (1) can reduce vibration appropriately.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2011
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Inventor: Kiyohito Murata
  • Publication number: 20140202278
    Abstract: A dynamic damper device includes a damper mass device in which a damper mass is coupled by way of an elastic body to a rotation shaft of a power transmitting device capable of gear shifting a rotation power by a main transmission and transmitting the power to a drive wheel of a vehicle, and a damper transmission that is arranged on a power transmission path between the elastic body and the damper mass and that gear shifts the rotation power transmitted to the damper mass at a gear ratio corresponding to a gear ratio of the main transmission, wherein the damper mass device can accumulate the rotation power transmitted to the damper mass as inertia energy. Therefore, the dynamic damper device has an effect of achieving both reduction in vibration and improvement in fuel economy performance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2011
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kiyohito Murata
  • Patent number: 8627934
    Abstract: A fluid transmission device includes a pre-damper (10) that transmits driving force received from a crankshaft (100) to a front cover (20) via first damper springs (14), a mechanism (30) that transmits the driving force transmitted to a pump (31) to a turbine (32) via hydraulic fluid, a piston member (40) that is disposed between the front cover (20) and the mechanism (30) and delivers the driving force to an output shaft (200), a dynamic damper (60) that connects the piston member (40) and the turbine (32) via second damper springs (63), a lock-up clutch (50) that enables the front cover (20) and the piston member (40) to engage with each other, a turbine clutch (70) that enables the turbine (32) and the piston member (40) to engage with each other, and a control device (80) that controls the lock-up clutch (50) and the turbine clutch (70).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: Toyta Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kiyohito Murata, Takuya Okada
  • Publication number: 20120255396
    Abstract: A power transmission device includes a transmission mechanism configured to transmit power generated by an electric motor to an output shaft, to which power generated by an internal combustion engine is transmitted, via engaging sections of a plurality of rotating members, and the transmission mechanism has a play to the engaging sections along a rotating direction, the play being larger than a relative displacement amount between the rotating member on the internal combustion engine side and the rotating member on the electric motor side when a rotation variation phase difference between the internal combustion engine and the electric motor is maximum. Therefore, there can be provided the power transmission device capable of suppressing an occurrence of noise.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2009
    Publication date: October 11, 2012
    Applicant: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kiyohito Murata
  • Publication number: 20120220380
    Abstract: A dynamic damper device includes a variable inertial mass device that variably controls inertial mass of a damper mass, an elastic body that connects a rotary shaft rotated by power transmitted thereto and an input member of the variable inertial mass device, and a variable damping force device that variably controls a damping force to the elastic body. Accordingly, the dynamic damper devices have the advantageous effect that vibrations can be appropriately reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2010
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kiyohito Murata
  • Publication number: 20120221219
    Abstract: A fluid transmission device includes a fluid transmission section capable of transmitting power transmitted to an input member to an output member via a working fluid, a lock-up clutch section capable of transmitting power transmitted to the input member to the output member via a friction engagement section, and a control unit configured to execute a torque ratio variable control that makes a torque ratio which is a ratio between torque output from the output member and torque input to the input member variable by adjusting a friction engagement state of the friction engagement section, when the fluid transmission section is in an operation state that the fluid transmission section amplifies torque input to the input member and outputs torque from the output member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2009
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kiyohito Murata
  • Publication number: 20120196714
    Abstract: A dynamic damper device includes a planetary gear mechanism including plural differentially rotatable rotating elements, an elastic member that couples a rotating shaft rotated by being transmitted with a power with a first rotating element of the planetary gear mechanism, and a rotation control device that is coupled with a rotating element different from the first rotating element of the planetary gear mechanism and controls a rotation of the planetary gear mechanism by adjusting torque acting on the first rotating element. Accordingly, the dynamic damper device achieves an effect that vibration can be appropriately reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2010
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kiyohito Murata