Abstract: A laminated core punching apparatus, configured such that a stator-punching press machine that has a molding die performing a partial punching gradually approaches the shape of the stator core piece. There is a punching die to punching out the stator core piece from a strip-form steel plate, and two stator lamination stations. A rotor-punching press machine and a stator-punching press machine are constructed to operate synchronously. An intermediate loop portion capable of causing a strip-form steel plate to hang down in a loop is provided in order to adjust a length of the strip-form steel plate between the two press machines, and a loop guide portion that guides a loop locus of the strip-form steel plate from above so that the strip-form steel plate does not invert is disposed above the intermediate loop portion to be capable of ascending and descending.

Abstract: A first element of a duplex planetary gear set is selectively coupled to an input shaft via a third clutch, or is selectively fixed via a first brake. A second element is selectively coupled, via a second clutch, to an intermediate shaft that is directly coupled to a speed-increasing element of a simplex planetary gear set which increases the rotational speed of the input shaft, or is selectively fixed via a second brake. A third element is directly coupled to an output shaft. A fourth element is selectively coupled to the input shaft via a first clutch. Therefore, by increasing the speed of the rotation of the input shaft by the simplex planetary gear set and transferring it to the duplex planetary gear set, it is possible to reduce the torques on individual components of an automatic transmission and therefore to reduce the sizes of the individual components and the capacities of the individual friction engagement elements.

Abstract: A laminated core punching apparatus, configured such that a stator-punching press machine that has a molding die performing a partial punching gradually approaches the shape of the stator core piece. There is a punching die to punching out the stator core piece from a strip-form steel plate, and two stator lamination stations. A rotor-punching press machine and a stator-punching press machine are constructed to operate synchronously. An intermediate loop portion capable of causing a strip-form steel plate to hang down in a loop is provided in order to adjust a length of the strip-form steel plate between the two press machines, and a loop guide portion that guides a loop locus of the strip-form steel plate from above so that the strip-form steel plate does not invert is disposed above the intermediate loop portion to be capable of ascending and descending.

Abstract: A first element of a duplex planetary gear set is selectively coupled to an input shaft via a third clutch, or is selectively fixed via a first brake. A second element is selectively coupled, via a second clutch, to an intermediate shaft that is directly coupled to a speed-increasing element of a simplex planetary gear set which increases the rotational speed of the input shaft, or is selectively fixed via a second brake. A third element is directly coupled to an output shaft. A fourth element is selectively coupled to the input shaft via a first clutch. Therefore, by increasing the speed of the rotation of the input shaft by the simplex planetary gear set and transferring it to the duplex planetary gear set, it is possible to reduce the torques on individual components of an automatic transmission and therefore to reduce the sizes of the individual components and the capacities of the individual friction engagement elements.

Abstract: A transmission case is provided with a housing enclosing a clutch and/or torque converter connected to an engine, and a shifting mechanism case enclosing a shifting mechanism in an oil-tight state that is connected to the housing. A focus for stress resulting from an impact load acting on the transmission case is formed as a frangible portion in the housing. Thus, damage to the transmission from an excessive load is limited to the housing, and by absorbing the impact from that damage, damage to the shifting mechanism case is prevented and oil leakage from the transmission case is avoided.

Abstract: The output rotation of an engine is transmitted to a drive member when a vehicle starts moving, and the drive member is connected to a carrier of a speed-increasing planetary gear via a start clutch. Upon engagement of the start clutch, the rotation of the drive member is accelerated by the speed-increasing planetary gear and then transmitted to an input shaft that is directly connected to a ring gear. Such rotation transmitted to the input shaft is shifted to a plurality of speeds and transmitted to an output shaft by using a plurality of friction engagement elements to selectively connect or fix elements of a single planetary gear set and a multiple planetary gear set that is connected to the output shaft.

Abstract: In a breather device linking a space within a transmission case (1) to outside air, a breather (10) is provided at a middle position in a lengthwise direction on an upper portion of the transmission case, in particular, at a position displaced in an axial direction from a middle position in the lengthwise direction, and opens to outside air via a ventilating mechanism (2) that extends in a direction opposite this displaced direction.

Abstract: An automatic transmission including a mechanical reduction gear connected to an input shaft that generates a decelerated rotation smaller than a rotation of the input shaft from a decelerated rotating member and a compound planetary gear for shifting with a first element, a second element, a third element, a fourth element, and a fifth element.

Abstract: The output rotation of an engine is transmitted to a drive member when a vehicle starts moving, and the drive member is connected to a carrier of a speed-increasing planetary gear via a start clutch. Upon engagement of the start clutch, the rotation of the drive member is accelerated by the speed-increasing planetary gear and then transmitted to an input shaft that is directly connected to a ring gear. Such rotation transmitted to the input shaft is shifted to a plurality of speeds and transmitted to an output shaft by using a plurality of friction engagement elements to selectively connect or fix elements of a single planetary gear set and a multiple planetary gear set that is connected to the output shaft.

Abstract: A clutch assembly for starting a vehicle without using a torque converter has a simple structure yet providing high reliability. In the clutch assembly, a clutch and a damper device are housed in a housing connected to a crank shaft of an engine. A boss serving as an output member is connected to an input shaft of an automatic transmission. An output of the engine is connected/disconnected to/from the input shaft upon engagement/disengagement of the clutch. The clutch includes a friction member and a piston fit oil tightly with the housing so as to apply pressure to the friction member. One end of the damper device is connected to a clutch hub, and the other end is connected to the output member. The clutch and the damper device are aligned on the axis of the housing.

Abstract: A transmission has an oil drain passage for connecting an oil reservoir with a mission case in a pump casing. The automatic transmission has also a retainer serving as a shielding member to shield between a discharge opening of the oil drain passage from at least part of a multistage transmission mechanism. This ensures that breather oil blow, which is caused by the spattering and stirring of operating oil by the high-speed drum member, is shielded from at least part of the transmission mechanism.

Abstract: A bottom portion of an intake port is provided with a sloped bottom surface formed of a plane such that sloped bottom surface approaches the side surfaces of external teeth and internal teeth from an upstream side to a downstream side in rotational direction of two rotors. Fluid that flows in the intake port is regulated by the sloped bottom surface and smoothly guided into individual inter-teeth chambers that are expanding. Since the sloped bottom surface on the bottom portion of the intake port is formed of a plane without spiral or twisting, design and manufacturing of a gear pump is extremely easy.

Abstract: An automatic transmission including a mechanical reduction gear connected to an input shaft that generates a decelerated rotation smaller than a rotation of the input shaft from a decelerated rotating member and a compound planetary gear for shifting with a first element, a second element, a third element, a fourth element, and a fifth element. The first element is capable of being connected to the decelerated rotating member via a third clutch and capable of being stopped from rotating by a first brake, the second element is capable of being stopped from rotating by a second brake, the third element is capable of being stopped from rotating by a third brake, with either the second element or the third element capable of being connected to the input shaft via a second clutch, the fourth element is connected to an output shaft, the fifth element is capable of being connected to the decelerated rotating member via a first clutch, and at least seven forward speed ratios can be established.

Abstract: A bottom portion of an intake port is provided with a sloped bottom surface formed of a plane such that sloped bottom surface approaches the side surfaces of external teeth and internal teeth from an upstream side to a downstream side in rotational direction of two rotors. Fluid that flows in the intake port is regulated by the sloped bottom surface and smoothly guided into individual inter-teeth chambers that are expanding. Since the sloped bottom surface on the bottom portion of the intake port is formed of a plane without spiral or twisting, design and manufacturing of a gear pump is extremely easy.

Abstract: The invention has been made to eliminate a feeling of two-phase speed-change operations by causing a speed-change operation to proceed continuously when the speed-change operation is performed through two-phase control of engagement and release of four engagement elements. To accomplish this purpose, the invention provides a control apparatus for an automatic transmission wherein a predetermined speed-change operation is achieved through a pre-phase speed-change operation in which a first engagement element and a third engagement element are released and engaged respectively and through a post-phase speed-change operation in which a second engagement element and a fourth engagement element are released and engaged respectively. The control apparatus sets a target rotational acceleration of an input shaft of the transmission, and controls release of the second engagement element for a transition to the post-phase speed-change operation in accordance with the target rotational acceleration.

Abstract: A planetary gear set including a plurality of pinions meshing with a sun gear and a carrier C that shaft-supports the pinions. The carrier has an annular peripheral wall that extends entirely around outer peripheries of the plurality of pinions. Thin-wall portions receded at a radially inner side are formed in the annular peripheral wall, at circumferential-direction positions corresponding to the positions of the pinions.

Abstract: The level of quietness for an automatic transmission case is ensured by preventing vibration by improving the rigidity while suppressing the increase in the mass of a transmission case. In an automatic transmission case in which a valve body is attached to a case wall that covers the transmission mechanism, the rigidity of the automatic transmission case is increased by providing, in the case, an enclosing wall that projects out from the case wall and encloses the periphery of the valve body.

Abstract: A speed-reducing gear unit is provided for causing a reduced-speed rotation output member to have a reduced rotation that is slower than rotation of an input shaft. The reduced-speed rotation output member is switched between a reduced-speed rotation state and a free rotation state by rotation state switching means. The reduced-speed rotation of the reduced-speed rotation output member is selectively transferred to fourth and first elements of a speed-changing dual planetary gear unit via first and third control clutches. The rotation of the input shaft is transferred to a second element via a second control clutch. Rotations of the first and second elements are selectively restricted by first and second control brakes. A third element is connected to an output shaft.

Abstract: A transmission has an oil drain passage for connecting an oil reservoir with a mission case in a pump casing. The automatic transmission has also a retainer serving as a shielding member to shield between a discharge opening of the oil drain passage from at least part of a multistage transmission mechanism. This ensures that breather oil blow, which is caused by the spattering and stirring of operating oil by the high-speed drum member, is shielded from at least part of the transmission mechanism.

Abstract: The invention eliminates the feeling of two-phase speed-change operations by causing a speed-change operation to proceed continuously when the speed-change operation is performed through two-phase control of engagement and release of four engagement elements. An automatic transmission is such that a predetermined speed-change operation is achieved through a pre-phase speed-change operation in which a first engagement element and a third engagement element are released and engaged respectively and through a post-phase speed-change operation in which a second engagement element and a fourth engagement element are released and engaged respectively.