Abstract: An object of the present invention is to efficiently absorb the energy of an external force applied to a vehicle body without an appreciable increase in weight of an automobile. To achieve the object, the present invention provides an impact energy absorber made of a composite in which kraft paper is placed on the outside and inside of a metal sheet such as iron foil or hard aluminum foil. The impact energy absorber is a flexible pipe having a substantially quadrangular cross section and provided with spiral-shaped concaves and convexes on the outside and inside of hard aluminum foil. The energy absorber is bonded to the room-side surface of an outer panel of the vehicle body using an adhesive. When an external force is applied to the energy absorber, the energy absorber can absorb the energy of the external force by being deformed plastically.

Abstract: A laminar clay having ion-exchange property is mixed with a solution containing polynuclear metal hydroxo cations or positively charged hydroxide or oxide fine particles to serve as precursor ions (3) of inorganic pillars so as to exchange a part of cations (2) between clay layers (1) with the precursor ions (3) of the inorganic pillars. Next, the laminar clay thus obtained is heat-treated at 100.degree. to 900.degree. C. to generate a porous clay intercalation compound, this porous clay intercalation compound is mixed with an ammonium salt aqueous solution to ion-exchange remaining cations (2) with ammonium ions (5). This porous clay intercalation compound is heat treated again at 200.degree. to 900.degree. C. to desorb ammonia, so as to allow hydrogen ions (6) to be carried in the pore portions of the porous clay intercalation compound and on its surface portions.

Abstract: A manufacturing method for ceramic-ceramic composite powders including the steps of; forming a suspension by mixing an inorganic powder having a cation-exchange property with a solution containing one or more metal ions to conduct ion exchange with the metal ions on the surface of the inorganic powder; adding to the suspension a precipitant-forming material which releases an anion in a solution when heated or pressurized; heating or pressurizing the suspension to release the anion which reacts with the metal ions to thereby precipitate metal hydroxides, metal basic salts or metallic salts on the surface of the inorganic powder; and thereafter heating the inorganic powder with the resultant precipitates to convert the precipitates into metal oxides. Metal-ceramic composite powders are manufactured by reducing the above metal oxides on the surface of the inorganic powder to metal. In the composite powders any arbitrary amount of metal oxides or metal is supported on the surface of the inorganic powder.

Abstract: A transmission for an automotive vehicle, includes an input shaft, an ouput shaft, a coupling device having an input portion thereof connected to the input shaft, and a gear mechanism for transmitting the power from the input shaft to the output shaft in such a way that three forward and one reverse drives can be obtained. The gear mechanism including first, second, third and fourth rotatable members. The fourth rotatable member is connected to the output shaft. In addition, first and second clutches are provided between the gear means and the coupling device. The first clutch is connected to the first rotatable member of the gear mechanism. The second clutch is connected to the second rotatable member of the gear mechanism. First brake selectively brakes the third rotatable member of the gear mechanism. Second brake selectively brakes the second rotatable member of the gear mechanism.

Abstract: A change-speed transmission comprises: an input member; and output member; a hydrokinetic unit having a pump connected to the input member for simultaneous rotation therewith and a turbine; first and second clutches; a divider in the form of a planetary gear set; and a planetary gear train. The divider has a first, a second and a third rotary element, while, the planetary gear train also has a first, a second and a third rotary element. The first rotary element of the divider is connected to the first rotary element of the gear train for simultaneous rotation therewith, and the second rotary elements are connected to each other through the second clutch. The second or third rotary elements are connectable through a first or a torque split clutch to the input member. The turbine of the hydrokinetic unit is connectable to the other one of said second and third rotary elements. The output member is connected to the third rotary element of the gear train or divider.

Abstract: A change-speed transmission comprises: an input member; an output member; a hydrokinetic unit having a pump connected to the input member for simultaneous rotation therewith and a turbine; first and second clutches; a divider in the form of a planetary gear set; and a planetary gear train. The divider has a first, a second and a third rotary element, while, the planetary gear train also has a first, a second and a third rotary element. The first rotary element of the divider is connected to the first rotary element of the gear train for simultaneous rotation therewith, and the second rotary elements are connected to each other through the second clutch. The second or third rotary elements are connectable through a first or a torque split clutch to the input member. The turbine of the hydrokinetic unit is connectable to the other one of said second and third rotary elements. The output member is connected to the third rotary element of the gear train or divider.

Abstract: A transmission with an overdrive is disclosed. It includes an input planetary gear set and an output planetary gear set wherein a first element of the input planetary gear set is connected to a drive shaft and an output element of the output planetary gear set is connected to a driven shaft. The two planetary gear sets are connected with each other through a permanent connection and through a bridging clutch.

Abstract: A manual valve comprises a spool having two lands slidably disposed in a bore of a housing for movement to a P range, a R range, a N range, a D range, a II range and a I range. The manual valve is formed with an inlet port and five outlet ports. The first and second outlet ports are allowed to communicate with the inlet port to receive a line pressure when the spool is set to R range. The second outlet port is allowed to communicate with said inlet port when the spool is set to N range. The second and third outlet ports are allowed to communicate with said inlet port when the spool is set to D range. The third and fourth outlet ports are allowed to communicate with the inlet port when the spool is set to II range. The third, fourth and fifth outlet ports are allowed to communicate with the inlet port when the spool is set to I range.

Abstract: A converter fluid supply passage is situated between a transmission input shaft and a pilot sleeve shaft and a converter fluid return passage is defined between the transmission input shaft and the stationary sleeve shaft extension so that the annular space between the pump drive shaft and the transmission input shaft may be used only as a lockup control passage.

Abstract: A vacuum modulator arrangement for an automatic transmission of a motor vehicle for use in conjunction with a diesel engine or other fuel-injection engine, includes a vacuum source, a brake booster, a vacuum modulator, a throttle modulator for controlling the automatic transmission, connecting means connected to the vacuum source, the brake booster, the vacuum modulator and the throttle modulator, the connecting means including a passage commonly leading to the vacuum modulator and the throttle modulator, and an orifice placed in the common passage, the orifice having a predetermined effective area.

Abstract: A control system is provided wherein lock-up operation of a torque converter is effected only when the vehicle speed exceeds a certain level even if the associated transmission is shifted into a predetermined speed.

Abstract: A change-speed transmission comprises: an input member; an output member; a hydrokinetic unit having a pump connected to the input member for simultaneous rotation therewith and a turbine; first and second clutches; a divider in the form of a planetary gear set; and a planetary gear train. The divider has a first, a second and a third rotary element, while, the planetary gear train also has a first, a second and a third rotary element. The first rotary element of the divider is connected to the first rotary element of the gear train for simultaneous rotation therewith, and the second rotary elements are connected to each other through the second clutch. The second or third rotary elements are connectable through a first or a torque split clutch to the input member. The turbine of the hydrokinetic unit is connectable to the other one of said second and third rotary elements. The output member is connected to the third rotary element of the gear train or divider.

Abstract: The present invention concerns an automatic transaxle wherein connecting passages between an oil pan and a final gear chamber are arranged at a higher level, being formed in the bottom portion of a transmission chamber wall above the oil pan. The transmission chamber also communicates with the final gear chamber. Oil flows between the final gear chamber and oil pan only through the connecting passages so that the oil level in the oil pan will not drop below the level of an oil intake port.

Abstract: In an automatic power transmission for an automotive vehicle, the hydraulic control system has incorporated therein a gearshift timing control arrangement for controlling the overlap and neutral intervals between the timings at which frictional units contributive to predetermined forward drive gear ratios are to be made operative and inoperative, the control being effected depending upon the road speeds of a vehicle.

Abstract: A shift valve arrangement for incorporation into a hydraulic control system of an automatic power transmission, comprising a shift valve including separate switching and control valve elements arranged and movable in series with each other, the control valve element havind different pressure acting areas to be acted upon by a fluid pressure when the control valve element is in upshift and downshift positions, respectively, under kickdown condition and a pressure acting area to provide an upshift pattern of the transmission for part-throttle conditions of the engine, and a downshift valve having pressure acting areas to provide a downshift pattern for the part-throttle conditions of the engine.

Abstract: In an automatic power transmission having a transmission mechanism including a fluid operated frictional unit to be actuated to make shifts between predetermined forward drive gear ratios or between the neutral and reverse drive gear positions, there is provided a hydraulic transmission control system having incorporated therein a shock control arrangement by means of which a fluid pressure lower than the fluid pressure to be supplied to the frictional unit during shifting between the neutral and reverse drive gear positions is supplied to the frictional unit during shifting between the predetermined forward drive gear ratios.

Abstract: A transmission includes a plurality of friction units to effect shifting between gear ratios, one of which includes driving and driven elements which may operate with a speed differential at the time of shifting between gear ratios. A first or line pressure is generated which is variable in a first pattern corresponding approximately to the pattern of torque output of the vehicle engine. This pressure is supplied to a friction unit other than the one friction unit to operate such other friction unit. A second pressure is generated which is variable in a second pattern corresponding approximately to a combination of the pattern of the engine torque output and the pattern of differential speed between the driving and driven elements of said one friction unit at the time of engagement of the elements. The second pressure is directed to said one friction unit to operate such one friction unit.

Abstract: In a hydraulic control system of an automatic power transmission for an automotive vehicle, the frictional units in the transmission mechanism are operated by a line pressure which is regulated to vary with torque output of the engine and which is reduced to be variable with energy output of the engine when one frictional unit is to be actuated to make an upshift between predetermined forward drive gear ratios or reduced to a substantially constant when another frictional unit is to be actuated to make a downshift between other predetermined forward drive gear ratios for thereby reducing or eliminating shocks which would otherwise be created during the upshift or downshift.

Abstract: In a hydraulic control system of an automatic power transmission for an automotive vehicle, a shift gear operable between a higher gear condition and a lower gear condition is designed to provide a satisfactory shift pattern to dictate the schedule for making an upshift from the gear ratios allocated to the shift valve and is arranged with a downshift which provides a satisfactory shift pattern to dictate the schedule for making a downshift between the particular gear ratios so that the respective shift patterns for the upshifting and downshifting schedules between the gear ratios can be selected independently of each other.

Abstract: In a hydraulic control system for an automatic power transmission, there is provided an upshift scheduling valve by means of which the release of a frictional unit contributive to the second forward drive gear ratio is retarded in relation to the rate at which a frictional unit contributive to the third forward drive gear ratio and further with the load on the engine so that the two frictional units are permitted to be concurrently operative for an adequate period of time preventing the engine from racing during shifting from the second gear ratio to the third gear ratio in the automatic forward drive range.