Patents by Inventor Shotaro Kato
Shotaro Kato 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: 11499625Abstract: A cooling system for a power transmission unit that can supply oil properly to a differential mechanism and motors. The cooling system comprises: a first branch passage to supply the oil to the differential mechanism; a second branch passage to supply the oil to the first motor; and a third branch passage to supply the oil to the second motor. The second branch passage includes a first oil feeding section that supplies the oil to a coil of the first motor, and a second oil feeding section that supplies the oil f to a core of the first motor. The third branch passage includes a third oil feeding section that supplies the oil to a coil of the second motor, and a fourth oil feeding section that supplies the oil to a core of the second motor.Type: GrantFiled: November 8, 2019Date of Patent: November 15, 2022Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Kensei Hata, Akiko Nishimine, Shotaro Kato, Masashi Shinoda, So Okita
-
Patent number: 11318895Abstract: A soundproofing device for a transmission according to the present disclosure is provided to transmit the power of one or more prime movers (for example, internal combustion engine and electric motor). The soundproofing device includes a Helmholtz resonator including: a wall that forms a Helmholtz resonance chamber; and an opening formed in the wall so as to cause the Helmholtz resonance chamber to communicate with the outside of the Helmholtz resonance chamber. The wall includes a transmission case that accommodates the transmission and a housing of a component mounted on the transmission (for example, PCU housing). The Helmholtz resonance chamber is formed between the transmission case and the housing.Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 2019Date of Patent: May 3, 2022Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Shotaro Kato, Akiko Nishimine, Fusahiro Tsukano, Yu Miyahara, Yuya Takahashi, Akinori Goto, Hiroshi Takekawa
-
Patent number: 11067137Abstract: A selectable one-way clutch includes: a pocket plate including pockets provided along a circumferential direction on one surface; a notch plate that is rotatable with respect to the pocket plate, the notch plate including notches provided along a circumferential direction on a surface facing the one surface; struts that are plate-shaped and housed in the respective pockets; and a selector plate disposed between the pocket plate and the notch plate, and configured to switch, by rotating coaxially with the pocket plate, between: a state in which the struts have risen toward the notch plate; and a state in which the struts are housed in the respective pockets. The notch plate includes flat portions between the notches that are adjacent in the circumferential direction, and each flat portion includes a first recess at a position where the corresponding strut having risen toward the notch plate is brought into contact.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2018Date of Patent: July 20, 2021Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Means Industries, Inc.Inventors: Shotaro Kato, Hiroyuki Shioiri, Hiroyuki Ogawa, Hiroyuki Shibata, Mitsuaki Tomita, Yuki Kurosaki, Joshua D. Hand
-
Patent number: 10859128Abstract: A selectable one-way clutch includes: a pocket plate; struts; a notch plate having a plurality of notches; and a selector plate that has a plurality of window holes. The strut includes a protrusion formed at a center thereof in a radial direction of the selectable one-way clutch. The selector plate has a cutout groove extending from an inner surface of the window hole along a formation direction of the protrusion. When the selectable one-way clutch is disengaged, the cutout groove is fitted on the protrusion, and the strut and the selector plate overlap each other in a rotational axis direction of the selectable one-way clutch.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2018Date of Patent: December 8, 2020Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Hiroyuki Shioiri, Hiroyuki Shibata, Yuki Kurosaki, Mitsuaki Tomita, Shotaro Kato
-
Patent number: 10738877Abstract: A selectable one-way clutch includes a pocket plate, a notch plate, and a selector plate, and the selector plate is configured to rotate so as to switch the clutch between an engaged state and a non-engaged state. A lubricant passage through which a lubricant is supplied to the selectable one-way clutch has a lubricant inlet and a lubricant outlet, and the lubricant outlet is located on the lower side of the lubricant inlet in a direction of gravitational force, and connected to an inside of the selectable one-way clutch. The lubricant passage includes an inclined surface that is inclined with respect to the direction of gravitational force, between the lubricant inlet and the lubricant outlet, and the inclined surface has an opening.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 2017Date of Patent: August 11, 2020Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Yuki Kurosaki, Hiroyuki Shioiri, Mitsuaki Tomita, Shotaro Kato, Hiroyuki Shibata
-
Publication number: 20200215997Abstract: A soundproofing device for a transmission according to the present disclosure is provided to transmit the power of one or more prime movers (for example, internal combustion engine and electric motor). The soundproofing device includes a Helmholtz resonator including: a wall that forms a Helmholtz resonance chamber; and an opening formed in the wall so as to cause the Helmholtz resonance chamber to communicate with the outside of the Helmholtz resonance chamber. The wall includes a transmission case that accommodates the transmission and a housing of a component mounted on the transmission (for example, PCU housing). The Helmholtz resonance chamber is formed between the transmission case and the housing.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 27, 2019Publication date: July 9, 2020Inventors: Shotaro KATO, Akiko NISHIMINE, Fusahiro TSUKANO, Yu MIYAHARA, Yuya TAKAHASHI, Akinori GOTO, Hiroshi TAKEKAWA
-
Patent number: 10677297Abstract: A selectable one-way clutch includes: a pocket plate including accommodating recess portions; a notch plate including engaging recess portions; a plate-shaped engaging piece; and a selector plate configured to switch between: a state in which the engaging piece rises toward the notch plate; and a state in which the engaging piece is accommodated in the accommodating recess portion. The notch plate includes a plane portion including a first inclined surface, and the first inclined surface provides the engaging piece with force in a direction into which the engaging piece is urged away from the notch plate, when the notch plate is rotated in an engaging direction into which the engaging piece rising toward the notch plate is engaged with the engaging recess portion, and one end portion of the engaging piece rises toward the notch plate and comes in contact with the plane portion.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2017Date of Patent: June 9, 2020Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Means Industries, Inc.Inventors: Hiroyuki Shioiri, Hiroyuki Shibata, Shotaro Kato, Mitsuaki Tomita, Yuki Kurosaki, Joshua D. Hand
-
Publication number: 20200173490Abstract: A shaft supporting structure in which a shaft support span is reduced to prevent flexure of the shaft. In the supporting structure, a rotary member is mounted on a rotary shaft supported by bearings to be rotated integrally therewith, and the bearings are supported by a support member. The first bearing and the second bearing are disposed on both sides of the rotary member on the rotary shaft, and the first bearing is disposed between the rotary member and the fastening member in the axial direction of the rotary shaft.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 29, 2019Publication date: June 4, 2020Inventors: Masashi SHINODA, Akiko NISHIMINE, Shotaro KATO, Kensei HATA, So OKITA
-
Publication number: 20200149624Abstract: A cooling system for a power transmission unit that can supply oil properly to a differential mechanism and motors. The cooling system comprises: a first branch passage to supply the oil to the differential mechanism; a second branch passage to supply the oil to the first motor; and a third branch passage to supply the oil to the second motor. The second branch passage includes a first oil feeding section that supplies the oil to a coil of the first motor, and a second oil feeding section that supplies the oil f to a core of the first motor. The third branch passage includes a third oil feeding section that supplies the oil to a coil of the second motor, and a fourth oil feeding section that supplies the oil to a core of the second motor.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 8, 2019Publication date: May 14, 2020Inventors: Kensei Hata, Akiko Nishimine, Shotaro Kato, Masashi Shinoda, So Okita
-
Patent number: 10612607Abstract: An engaging device includes: inner and outer rings as two rotating elements; and an engaging piece, between the rings, projecting in a radial direction. Further, the engaging piece is attached to one of the rotating elements and another rotating element serves as an engaged member and movable in an axial direction, the engaging piece includes a first inclined portion in a tip end of a surface facing the another rotating element, the another rotating element includes a tapered portion, in a portion coming into contact with the first inclined portion, and in accordance with a position of the another rotating element, a state is switched between a one-way clutch state and a free state.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 2018Date of Patent: April 7, 2020Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Hiroyuki Shibata, Hiroyuki Shioiri, Mitsuaki Tomita, Shotaro Kato, Yuki Kurosaki, Hiroyuki Ogawa
-
Patent number: 10583729Abstract: A selectable one-way clutch includes: a pocket plate including a plurality of accommodating recess portions formed in one surface; a plurality of engaging pieces accommodated in the respective accommodating recess portions; a notch plate relatively rotatable with respect to the pocket plate, and including a plurality of engaging recess portions formed in a surface facing the one surface of the pocket plate; and a selector plate positioned between the pocket plate and the notch plate, and configured to be coaxially rotated with the notch plate to switch between: a state in which the engaging pieces rise toward the engaging recess portions; and a state in which the engaging pieces are accommodated in the respective accommodating recess portions.Type: GrantFiled: September 6, 2017Date of Patent: March 10, 2020Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Means Industries, Inc.Inventors: Hiroyuki Shioiri, Hiroyuki Shibata, Shotaro Kato, Mitsuaki Tomita, Yuki Kurosaki, Brice Pawley
-
Patent number: 10487888Abstract: Since one end of a spring is received by a planar portion of a spring seat provided on any one of an outer plate and an inner plate, it is possible to support the spring with a planar member without machining a bottom wall face of the outer plate into a planar shape. Since the spring seat has seat guide portions that contact the outer plate, it is possible to suppress the fluctuation of the spring seat and the fluctuation of the spring by the seat guide portions, so it is possible to reliably prevent interference of the spring with its peripheral portion. Therefore, a load on the spring is reduced, so it is possible to improve the durability of a one-way clutch.Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 2016Date of Patent: November 26, 2019Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, NSK-WARNER K.K.Inventors: Michinobu Suzuki, Yuji Iwase, Shotaro Kato, Michitaka Tsuchida, Yota Mizuno, Koichi Kato, Takaya Yamada, Hiroyuki Ohishi, Tomoyuki Miyazaki
-
Patent number: 10458489Abstract: The selectable one-way clutch includes a pocket plate, a notch plate, a cover plate, and plate-like struts. A one end portion of each strut is provided with an engagement surface and a projecting portion. Each strut comes into an erect state in which the engagement surface of the strut erects from the other surface of the cover plate toward the notch plate side. The selectable one-way clutch moves the notch plate in the axial direction to change a distance in the axial direction between the pocket plate and the notch plate, thereby carrying out switching between an out-of-engagement state in which the erecting struts cannot contact with the notches and a one-way clutch state in which the erecting struts can contact with the notches.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 2018Date of Patent: October 29, 2019Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Hiroyuki Shibata, Hiroyuki Shioiri, Mitsuaki Tomita, Shotaro Kato, Yuki Kurosaki, Takahiro Shiina
-
Patent number: 10435013Abstract: A hybrid vehicle drive system includes: an engine; a rotary machine; a gear type engagement device; and a controller configured to: control a vehicle to travel in a first mode in which a reaction force of the engine is received by a torque of the rotary machine, and in a second mode in which the reaction force of the engine is received by the engagement device. The controller is configured to perform a first control of receiving the reaction force of the engine by the torque of the rotary machine, increasing a magnitude of the torque of the rotary machine to be equal to or greater than an upper limit of an estimated torque range of the engine, and then decreasing the magnitude of the torque of the rotary machine is performed at a time the engagement device is disengaged from the second mode.Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 2013Date of Patent: October 8, 2019Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Hiroto Hashimoto, Yuji Iwase, Hiroaki Ebuchi, Hidekazu Nagai, Shotaro Kato
-
Patent number: 10359086Abstract: A selectable one-way clutch includes: a pocket plate including a plurality of housing concave portions; a notch plate including a plurality of engaging concave portions; plate-like engaging pieces, each being housed in each of the housing concave portions; elastic members, each being provided between a bottom portion of a corresponding housing concave portion of the housing concave portions and a corresponding engaging piece of the engaging pieces; and a selector plate provided between the pocket plate and the notch plate in a rotation axis direction of the notch plate. The bottom portion of the housing concave portion includes: a first bottom surface; and a second bottom surface formed at a position deeper than the first bottom surface.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2017Date of Patent: July 23, 2019Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Yuki Kurosaki, Hiroyuki Shioiri, Hiroyuki Shibata, Shotaro Kato, Hiroki Yasui
-
Publication number: 20190211890Abstract: An engaging device includes: inner and outer rings as two rotating elements; and an engaging piece, between the rings, projecting in a radial direction. Further, the engaging piece is attached to one of the rotating elements and another rotating element serves as an engaged member and movable in an axial direction, the engaging piece includes a first inclined portion in a tip end of a surface facing the another rotating element, the another rotating element includes a tapered portion, in a portion coming into contact with the first inclined portion, and in accordance with a position of the another rotating element, a state is switched between a one-way clutch state and a free state.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 4, 2018Publication date: July 11, 2019Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Hiroyuki SHIBATA, Hiroyuki SHIOIRI, Mitsuaki TOMITA, Shotaro KATO, Yuki KUROSAKI, Hiroyuki OGAWA
-
Publication number: 20190101171Abstract: A selectable one-way clutch includes: a pocket plate including pockets provided along a circumferential direction on one surface; a notch plate that is rotatable with respect to the pocket plate, the notch plate including notches provided along a circumferential direction on a surface facing the one surface; struts that are plate-shaped and housed in the respective pockets; and a selector plate disposed between the pocket plate and the notch plate, and configured to switch, by rotating coaxially with the pocket plate, between: a state in which the struts have risen toward the notch plate; and a state in which the struts are housed in the respective pockets. The notch plate includes flat portions between the notches that are adjacent in the circumferential direction, and each flat portion includes a first recess at a position where the corresponding strut having risen toward the notch plate is brought into contact.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 23, 2018Publication date: April 4, 2019Applicants: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Means Industries, Inc.Inventors: Shotaro KATO, Hiroyuki SHIOIRI, Hiroyuki OGAWA, Hiroyuki SHIBATA, Mitsuaki TOMITA, Yuki KUROSAKI, Joshua D. HAND
-
Patent number: 10247264Abstract: A selectable one-way clutch includes a fixed plate, a rotatable plate, a switching plate, an arm member, and an actuator including an operating shaft member for moving the arm member. Lubricating oil is interposed between any adjacent two of the fixed plate, the switching plate and the rotatable plate. Where a first distance is a distance from a rotation center of the switching plate to a contact point of an operating portion of the arm member and a first contact portion of the operating shaft member in normal switching operation from a disengaged state to an engaged state and a second distance is a distance from the rotation center of the switching plate to a contact point of the operating portion of the arm member and a second contact portion of the operating shaft member in switching plate erroneous operation, the second distance is larger than the first distance.Type: GrantFiled: October 5, 2017Date of Patent: April 2, 2019Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Yuki Kurosaki, Hiroyuki Shioiri, Hiroyuki Shibata, Shotaro Kato, Mitsuaki Tomita
-
Patent number: 10220698Abstract: A drive unit of a hybrid vehicle includes an engine; an electric motor; first and second differential mechanisms; a selectable one-way clutch; and a case accommodating the electric motor. Further, the first differential mechanism includes a first rotational element coupled to the electric motor, a second rotational element coupled to the engine, and a third rotational element that outputs power toward drive wheels, the second differential mechanism includes a sun gear coupled to the electric motor, a carrier coupled to the engine, a ring gear whose rotation is regulated by the selectable one-way clutch, and a ring gear flange that rotates integrally with the ring gear, and the selectable one-way clutch switches a state thereof between a locked state and an unlocked state, and the ring gear flange is supported by a rotor shaft of the electric motor via a radial bearing.Type: GrantFiled: February 16, 2017Date of Patent: March 5, 2019Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Hiroyuki Shibata, Hiroyuki Shioiri, Yuki Kurosaki, Shotaro Kato, Hiroki Yasui, Tomohiro Abe, Akira Hibino
-
Publication number: 20190063512Abstract: A power transmission apparatus for a vehicle includes an engagement mechanism and a switching mechanism. The switching mechanism includes: a hydraulic cylinder; a regulation valve regulates a hydraulic pressure to be supplied to a first oil chamber and a second oil chamber; a rocking valve switches a state of a hydraulic circuit between a closed circuit state and an open circuit state; and an oil pump supplies the hydraulic pressure to the hydraulic cylinder. The switching mechanism switches the engagement mechanism between an engaged state and a disengaged state after the hydraulic circuit is switched from the closed circuit state to the open circuit state by the rocking valve. The switching mechanism keeps the engaged state or the disengaged state of the engagement mechanism after switching the engaged state or the disengaged state of the engagement mechanism.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 15, 2018Publication date: February 28, 2019Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Hiroyuki SHIBATA, Hiroyuki SHIOIRI, Mitsuaki TOMITA, Shotaro KATO, Yuki KUROSAKI, Hiroyuki OGAWA