Patents by Inventor Koujiro Kuramochi

Koujiro Kuramochi 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: 5029493
    Abstract: In a vehicle in which opening of an intake throttle valve is controlled in accordance with stepping-on amount of an accelerator pedal by way of an electronic throttle opening control device, a hydraulic pressure control device is provided so as to detect a discrepancy between the stepping-on amount of the accelerator pedal and the opening of the intake throttle valve and to automatically cancel supply of hydraulic pressure to a selected one of friction engaging devices of an automatic transmission of the vehicle when the discrepancy exceeds a certain allowable limit value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1991
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Mitsuru Takada, Koujiro Kuramochi, Makoto Funahashi
  • Patent number: 4974696
    Abstract: A differential motion limiting device, for a power transmission device for four wheel drive vehicle, to regulate differential motion of a center differential device includes a wet-type multi plate clutch and an hydraulic actuator. And a switching valve is attached to an oil passage to the hydraulic actuator. In normal running condition, a switching valve is in connecting condition, and a hydraulic pressure being varied by driving conditions is applied to a hydraulic actuator. Under this condition, the clutch is slippingly engaged by certain engaging force so that torque, per certain ratio, is transmitted to the front and the rear wheels. In high speed condition, such as the maximum speed state like an overdrive, or a vehicle speed more than 100 km/h, sensors detect such state, then the switching valve is switched, and the clutch is released. As a result, lubrication oil is flowed between friction plates and separators of the clutch to release heat therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 4, 1990
    Assignees: Aisin AW Co., Ltd., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shin Miyajima, Takenori Kano, Fumitomo Yokoyama, Yasunari Nakamura, Masaharu Tanaka, Koujiro Kuramochi
  • Patent number: 4866935
    Abstract: In a hydraulic torque converter having a torus of flatness ratio (L/H) within the range 0.82-0.9, the outer and inner contours of the turbine in a meridional plane through the axis of the turbine each comprises a combination of a plurality of circular arcs, wherein the ratios between the radii of the circular arcs constituting said outer contour is substantially less than 2, and the ratios between the radii of the circular arcs constituting said inner contour is substantially less than 2.As a result, fluid flows through the turbine stably without being biased, increasing the velocity of relative flow along the turbine blade, and raising the normal speed ratio at which the absolute flow is in the direction of no impact, enabling a higher stall torque ratio without reduction in efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 19, 1989
    Assignees: Aisin-Warner Kabushiki Kaisha, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masahiro Hayabuchi, Kazumasa Tsukamoto, Tokuyuki Takahashi, Seitoku Kubo, Koujiro Kuramochi
  • Patent number: 4858646
    Abstract: The hydraulic pressure for operating the two wheel drive/four wheel drive switchover clutch in the part-time type four wheel drive device or the central differential lock-up clutch in the full-time type four wheel drive device is produced by a combination of a pressure regulation valve and two switchover valves to be selectable among several substantially different pressure levels so that the four wheel drive device can be quickly switched over between the complete four wheel operation and the complete two wheel operation, including one or more intermediate half clutched incomplete four wheel operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 22, 1989
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Kato, Koujiro Kuramochi, Shinya Nakamura, Yasuo Houjo
  • Patent number: 4839041
    Abstract: A strainer is mounted in an oil passage within a valve body constituting the hydraulic control unit of an automatic transmission. The strainer includes a frame (4) fitted into the oil passage, a reticulate member (5) secured to the frame (4) so as to form a barrier across the oil passage, and a permanent magnet (8) secured by press-fitting or by bonding to frame at a position ahead of the reticulate member (5) in terms of the direction of working oil flow. Foreign matter contained in the working oil is removed by the reticulate member (5) while extremely small contaminants exhibiting a magnetic property, such as ferrous chips, that cannot be removed by the reticulate member (5) are removed by the magnet (8).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 13, 1989
    Assignees: Aisin-Warner Kabushiki Kaisha, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshinari Kuwayama, Fumitomo Yokoyama, Koujiro Kuramochi, Tatsuo Kyushima
  • Patent number: 4836050
    Abstract: An automatic transmission includes a fluid torque converter and a first and second gear transmission mechanisn, each of which has two coaxial drive members--a power input member and a power output member--and is selectable to any one of several speed radios. Rotational power is output from the fluid torque converter to the power input member of the first gear transmission mechanism. The torque converter, and the first gear transmission mechanism including the power input and output members thereof are all coaxial on a first axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1982
    Date of Patent: June 6, 1989
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akio Numazawa, Seitoku Kubo, Koujiro Kuramochi
  • Patent number: 4817472
    Abstract: In an automatic transmission control system incorporating the conventional line, throttle, and governor fluid pressure regulation valves, mannual selector valve, and shift valves such as 1/2, 2/3, and 3/4 shift valves, there is further incorporated a modulator fluid pressure control valve which produces a modulator fluid pressure of a predetermined constant level from the line pressure available from a port of the manual selector valve when it is shifted to a lower range, such as, for example, 2 range. The line fluid pressure regulation valve, which is normally boosted by the throttle pressure, is instead boosted by the modulator fluid pressure when the modulator fluid pressure is present while the throttle fluid pressure is very low as at the time when the manual selector valve has been shifted from the D range to the 2 range for effecting rapid deceleration of the vehicle, so as to support the governor pressure, generated from the line pressure, at a high level while the vehicle speed is still high.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1983
    Date of Patent: April 4, 1989
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Seitoku Kubo, Koujiro Kuramochi, Tatsuo Kyushima
  • Patent number: 4783960
    Abstract: A torque converter includes a coaxially mounted pump impeller, turbine, and stator, each of which includes an outer shell, an inner shell, and vanes extending between the outer shell and the inner shell having edges which define an inlet and outlet. The pump impeller outlet is proximate to the turbine inlet, the turbine outlet is proximate to the stator inlet, and the stator outlet is proximate to the pump impeller inlet. The outer and inner shells cooperate to define outer and inner toroidal surfaces, which together define a hollow toroidal hydraulic fluid circulation path. The ratio between the axial extent and the radical extent of a section of the outer toroidal surface is less than approximately 0.9.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1981
    Date of Patent: November 15, 1988
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Seitoku Kubo, Koujiro Kuramochi, Tokuyuki Takahashi
  • Patent number: 4768633
    Abstract: A rotary power transmission device including a hydraulic torque converter which transmits rotary power between coaxial power input and power output shafts, and a lock up clutch system which also transmits rotary power between the power input and power output shafts, wherein the lock up clutch system includes a rotary shock absorber including a disk shaped plate element and two ring shaped plate elements cooperating with an outer peripheral portion of the disk shaped plate element in an axially superposed manner so as to provide a rotary shock absorber, one of the two ring shaped plate elements being positioned between the other ring shaped plate element and the disk shaped plate element, the assembly of the two ring shaped plate elements and the outer peripheral portion of the disk shaped plate element being positioned in an annular space formed adjacent an outer peripheral portion of the turbine of the hydraulic torque converter, while the radially inner portion of the disk shaped plate element is rotational
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1981
    Date of Patent: September 6, 1988
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Seitoku Kubo, Koujiro Kuramochi, Tatsuo Kyushima
  • Patent number: 4739678
    Abstract: A four wheel drive automatic transmission, comprising: a speed-changing transmission unit; a front wheel transmission mechanism driven by the transmission unit and having a large driving gear and bearings for the large driving gear; a center differential unit having an input member driven by the large driving gear and two output members for driving front wheels and for driving rear wheels, respectively; a transfer with a rear wheel driving transmission having a driving gear member disposed coaxially with the output member for rear wheel driving, a connecting member between the output member for rear wheel driving and the driving gear member and a transfer output gear member driven by the driving gear member; a case in which the front wheel transmission mechanism, the center differential unit and the transfer are disposed; and, an oil separating structure defining separately lubricatable cavities within the case, the structure comprising two seal members, disposed between the connecting member and the case at
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1985
    Date of Patent: April 26, 1988
    Assignees: Aisin-Warner Limited, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masakatsu Miura, Takeshi Inuzuka, Tatsuya Iwatsuki, Seitoku Kubo, Koujiro Kuramochi
  • Patent number: 4690239
    Abstract: A control system for an intermediate differential in a four-wheel drive vehicle, the intermediate differential being provided with a lock mechanism which is operated under control of an actuator to selectively maintain the intermediate differential in a locked condition or an unlocked condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1987
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tokuyuki Takahashi, Koujiro Kuramochi, Syoichi Sayou
  • Patent number: 4683903
    Abstract: A governor valve for a hydraulic controller in an automatic transmission, which is disclosed herein, comprises an adapter having a line pressure supply bore made therethrough, a cylindrical governor rotary shaft loosely fitted into the adapter sleeve and having a line pressure supply port made therein, the port including notches intersecting the axis at right angles, a centrifugal weight mounted on one end of the governor rotary shaft and having a return spring, and a spool adapted to slide within the governor rotary shaft with the weight being urged against one end thereof. In this governor valve, there are provided dirt and dust collecting means for preventing dirt and dust separated by a centrifugal action from collecting in the line pressure supply port during the stoppage of the governor rotary shaft so as to make the shaft stick.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1985
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1987
    Assignees: Aisin Warner Limited, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Fumitomo Yokoyama, Yoshinari Kuwayama, Mitsugu Tatsuta, Koujiro Kuramochi
  • Patent number: 4676123
    Abstract: An improved transverse-mount type driving device for an automobile, having an output gear provided between last and intermediate planetary gear units of an auxiliary speed change gear assembly, the output gear meshing with a driven gear on a transmission shaft which extends parallel with the auxiliary speed change gear assembly and mounts a drive gear at an end proximate of the torque converter for meshing engagement with a differential drive gear which in turn transmits power to right and left axle shafts. A parking gear is provided on the transmission shaft for selective engagement to prevent rotation of the transmission shaft when the automobile is in park.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1986
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1987
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Seitoku Kubo, Koujiro Kuramochi, Tatsuo Kyushima
  • Patent number: 4646890
    Abstract: A one-way clutch biasing means for an automatic transmission, comprising: an inner spline formed on a one-way clutch retaining member; an outer spline formed on the outer race of the one-way clutch and loosely meshed with the inner spline; and a resilient member fitted between a side wall surface of the inner spline of the retaining member and an opposing side wall surface of the outer spline of the outer race to urge the outer race constantly in the locking direction of the one-way clutch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 1984
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1987
    Assignees: Aisin-Warner Ltd, Toyota Motor Corp.
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Yamada, Mutsumi Kawamoto, Tatsuya Iwatsuki, Koujiro Kuramochi
  • Patent number: 4645441
    Abstract: An internal-gear pump with a partition plate, comprising: an arcuate chamfer formed at an inner edge of an end face of the partition plate rotationally opposing an inner gear of the pump and having a curvature at least greater than that of tooth tip edges of the inner gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1985
    Date of Patent: February 24, 1987
    Assignees: Aisin-Warner Limited, Toyota Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Ryoichi Shirai, Fumitomo Yokoyama, Koujiro Kuramochi
  • Patent number: 4528869
    Abstract: An automatic transmission suitable for use with vehicles of FF type, including a tandem connection of a fluid torque converter and a gear device with an output gear wheel incorporated therein, a counter transmission device having a counter shaft arranged in parallel with the gear device and having a first gear wheel at its first end closer to the rear end portion of the gear device meshed with the output gear wheel and having a second gear wheel at its second end closer to the front end portion of the gear device, and a differential gear device having an input gear wheel which meshes with the second gear wheel and adapted to drive a pair of front wheel axles of a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1980
    Date of Patent: July 16, 1985
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Seitoku Kubo, Koujiro Kuramochi, Hajime Arai
  • Patent number: 4499789
    Abstract: An automatic transmission includes a transaxle casing and an overdrive casing fixed to the transaxle casing. A gear transmission mechanism is housed within the transaxle casing, and an overdrive mechanism is housed within the overdrive casing. Each of these is hydraulically controlled. A first hydraulic fluid accumulator for moderating sudden pressure changes within a part of a control mechanism for the gear transmission mechanism is housed within the transaxle casing, and a second hydraulic fluid accumulator for moderating sudden pressure changes within a part of a control mechanism for the overdrive mechanism is housed within the overdrive casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1982
    Date of Patent: February 19, 1985
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koujiro Kuramochi, Tokuyuki Takahashi
  • Patent number: 4480499
    Abstract: An improved transverse-mount type driving device for an automobile, having an output gear provided between last and intermediate planetary gear units of an auxiliary speed change gear assembly, the output gear meshing with a driven gear on a transmission shaft which extends parallel with the auxiliary speed change gear assembly and mounts a drive gear at an end proximate the torque converter for meshing engagement with a differential drive gear which in turn transmits power to right and left axle shafts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1981
    Date of Patent: November 6, 1984
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Seitoku Kubo, Koujiro Kuramochi, Tatsuo Kyushima
  • Patent number: 4455890
    Abstract: An overdrive device for motor vehicle transmissions includes a sun gear, planet pinions and a ring gear in meshing relationship. A one-way clutch having an inner race integrally secured to the sun gear is provided with the outer race of the one-way clutch being spline-coupled to a carrier which rotatably supports the planet pinions. A certain degree of slack or looseness is provided between the carrier and the outer race to permit some relative movement therebetween in the radial direction of the overdrive device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1980
    Date of Patent: June 26, 1984
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koujiro Kuramochi, Kazuaki Watanabe, Yukio Terakura
  • Patent number: 4441594
    Abstract: A lockup clutch of a fluid type torque converter apparatus is disposed in parallel to a fluid type torque converter and directly connects an input shaft and an output shaft to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1981
    Date of Patent: April 10, 1984
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Seitoku Kubo, Koujiro Kuramochi, Tatsuo Kyushima