Patents by Inventor Shuji Nagano
Shuji Nagano 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).
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Patent number: 6959675Abstract: A valve system for an internal combustion engine in which accumulating means can be provided without deteriorating the ease of assembly is provided. A variable valve control mechanism provides control to selectively open and close intake valves and exhaust valves. Pressurized oil supplied to the variable valve control mechanism is accumulated in an accumulator. The body of the accumulator is inserted into and fixed in a hole of a cylinder head. The length of a gap formed between the upper part of the body of the accumulator and a flat plate is set to be shorter than the length of a screw part of the body of the accumulator. Therefore, the accumulator can be replaced and maintained easily, and can be prevented from falling off.Type: GrantFiled: December 16, 2003Date of Patent: November 1, 2005Assignees: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Mitsubishi Jidosha Engineering Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Shuji Nagano, Toshihiko Oka, Koichi Yoshimoto
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Patent number: 6868674Abstract: Providing a control apparatus for a variable-cylinder engine or a vehicle control apparatus, which permits a further improvement in the fuel economy of the vehicle. Decompression-state setting means 102 is arranged to place appropriate ones of non-operating cylinders of the variable-cylinder engine 10 in the decompression state, on the basis of regenerative braking state of vehicle detected by regenerative-braking-state detecting means 100, so that only a required minimum number of the non-operating cylinders of the variable-cylinder engine 10 is/are placed in the decompression state, depending upon the detected regenerative braking state of the vehicle, making it possible to not only improve fuel economy of the vehicle but also assure sufficient engine braking of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 2001Date of Patent: March 22, 2005Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Atsushi Tabata, Shuji Nagano
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Patent number: 6855090Abstract: An integrated vehicle engine/transmission control apparatus for an automotive vehicle having an engine capable of changing an operating speed thereof by itself, and an automatic transmission operatively connected to the engine and including a lock-up clutch, the apparatus including a lock-up clutch control device operable to control an engaging force of the lock-up clutch, during a shifting action of the transmission, for reducing a shifting shock of said automatic transmission, and a engine speed control device operable to control the engine so as to reduce its operating speed, during the shifting action of the transmission, such that reduction of the engine speed is initiated after a moment of initiation of reduction of the engaging force of the lock-up clutch by the lock-up clutch control means.Type: GrantFiled: August 1, 2002Date of Patent: February 15, 2005Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Atsushi Tabata, Shuji Nagano, Makoto Ogiso, Masato Kaigawa
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Publication number: 20040211377Abstract: A structure for a camshaft includes a cam angle detecting element arranged to face a cam angle sensor and supported in a cantilever manner by a cam journal on the outer side of the cam journal. An extension journal between the cam journal and the cam angle detecting element is enlarged toward the cam journal such that the external diameter on the side of the cam journal may be larger than the external diameter on the side of the cam angle detecting element.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 28, 2004Publication date: October 28, 2004Applicant: MITSUBISHI JIDOSHA KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA.Inventors: Shuji Nagano, Satoshi Ando, Masayuki Kamo, Tetsushi Nagira
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Publication number: 20040158365Abstract: [OBJECT] Providing a control apparatus for a variable-cylinder engine or a vehicle control apparatus, which permits a further improvement in the fuel economy of the vehicleType: ApplicationFiled: July 18, 2003Publication date: August 12, 2004Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Atsushi Tabata, Shuji Nagano
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Publication number: 20040154569Abstract: There is provided a valve system for an internal combustion engine, in which a rocker shaft required to have a higher stiffness has a larger diameter. A rocker shaft on an intake side is formed to have a larger diameter than that of a rocker shaft on an exhaust side, and therefore, it is possible to ensure such stiffness as to compensate for an excess in weight and to improve valve operating characteristics of a valve system.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 16, 2003Publication date: August 12, 2004Inventors: Shuji Nagano, Toshihiko Oka, Masanori Tokuhisa
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Publication number: 20040123825Abstract: A valve system for an internal combustion engine in which accumulating means can be provided without deteriorating the ease of assembly is provided. A variable valve control mechanism provides control to selectively open and close intake valves and exhaust valves. Pressurized oil supplied to the variable valve control mechanism is accumulated in an accumulator. The body of the accumulator is inserted into and fixed in a hole of a cylinder head. The length of a gap formed between the upper part of the body of the accumulator and a flat plate is set to be shorter than the length of a screw part of the body of the accumulator. Therefore, the accumulator can be replaced and maintained easily, and can be prevented from falling off.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 16, 2003Publication date: July 1, 2004Inventors: Shuji Nagano, Toshihiko Oka, Koichi Yoshimoto
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Publication number: 20040102286Abstract: Providing a control apparatus for a variable-cylinder engine or a vehicle control apparatus, which permits a further improvement in the fuel economy of the vehicle. Decompression-state setting means 102 is arranged to place appropriate ones of non-operating cylinders of the variable-cylinder engine 10 in the decompression state, on the basis of regenerative braking state of vehicle detected by regenerative-braking-state detecting means 100, so that only a required minimum number of the non-operating cylinders of the variable-cylinder engine 10 is/are placed in the decompression state, depending upon the detected regenerative braking state of the vehicle, making it possible to not only improve fuel economy of the vehicle but also assure sufficient engine braking of the vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 28, 2003Publication date: May 27, 2004Inventors: Atsushi Tabata, Shuji Nagano
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Patent number: 6629024Abstract: A control apparatus for a variable-cylinder engine of a vehicle, including a regenerative-braking-state detecting device operable to detect a regenerative braking state of the vehicle, and a decompression-state setting device arranged to place selected ones of non-operating cylinders of the variable-cylinder engine in a decompression state, on the basis of the regenerative braking state of vehicle detected by the regenerative-braking-state detecting device, so that only a required minimum number of the non-operating cylinders of the variable-cylinder engine is/are placed in the decompression state, depending upon the detected regenerative braking state of the vehicle, making it possible to not only improve fuel economy of the vehicle but also assure sufficient engine braking of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2001Date of Patent: September 30, 2003Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Atsushi Tabata, Shuji Nagano
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Patent number: 6540035Abstract: A hybrid vehicle including: an engine and a motor-generator for outputting drive forces to run a vehicle; and a brake pedal for applying a braking force to the running vehicle. While an engine braking force is being established, it is detected that the brake pedal is depressed. After this depression of the brake pedal, the vehicle speed is detected so that the regenerative braking is effected by the motor generator on the basis of the detected vehicle speed.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2000Date of Patent: April 1, 2003Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Shuji Nagano, Kunio Morisawa
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Publication number: 20030036458Abstract: An integrated vehicle engine/transmission control apparatus for an automotive vehicle having an engine capable of changing an operating speed thereof by itself, and an automatic transmission operatively connected to the engine and including a lock-up clutch, the apparatus including a lock-up clutch control device operable to control an engaging force of the lock-up clutch, during a shifting action of the transmission, for reducing a shifting shock of said automatic transmission, and a engine speed control device operable to control the engine so as to reduce its operating speed, during the shifting action of the transmission, such that reduction of the engine speed is initiated after a moment of initiation of reduction of the engaging force of the lock-up clutch by the lock-up clutch control means.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 1, 2002Publication date: February 20, 2003Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Atsushi Tabata, Shuji Nagano, Makoto Ogiso, Masato Kaigawa
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Publication number: 20020116099Abstract: Providing a control apparatus for a variable-cylinder engine or a vehicle control apparatus, which permits a further improvement in the fuel economy of the vehicleType: ApplicationFiled: September 12, 2001Publication date: August 22, 2002Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Atsushi Tabata, Shuji Nagano
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Patent number: 6396165Abstract: An engine start control system includes a starter and a motor generator capable of starting an engine. The engine start control system further includes a controller that determines the rotational resistance of the crankshaft based on cooling water temperature of the engine or viscosity of the engine oil, and then selects the starting mode of the engine by a starter motor and a motor generator based on the determination. Consequently, the startability of the engine is improved according to the state of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: September 3, 1999Date of Patent: May 28, 2002Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Shuji Nagano, Kojiro Kuramochi, Atsushi Tabata, Hatsuo Nakao
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Patent number: 6344008Abstract: A hybrid vehicle comprises: a first driving force source; a transmission for transmitting the torque of the first driving force source therethrough to wheels; a second driving force source; and a torque transmitting route interposed between the driving force source and the wheels for inputting the torque of the second driving force source. The hybrid vehicle further comprises a torque adding route for synthesizing the torque outputted from the transmission and the torque transmitted from the second driving force source, to output the synthesized torque to an output member.Type: GrantFiled: August 4, 2000Date of Patent: February 5, 2002Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Shuji Nagano, Kojiro Kuramochi
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Publication number: 20020007974Abstract: A hybrid vehicle including: an engine and a motor-generator for outputting drive forces to run a vehicle; and a brake pedal for applying a braking force to the running vehicle. While an engine braking force is being established, it is detected that the brake pedal is depressed. After this depression of the brake pedal, the vehicle speed is detected so that the regenerative braking is effected by the motor generator on the basis of the detected vehicle speed.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 9, 2000Publication date: January 24, 2002Applicant: Shuji NaganoInventors: Shuji Nagano, Kunio Morisawa
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Patent number: 6340339Abstract: A vehicle drive device is provided having a first source of driving force and a hydraulic transmission, into which power is input from the first source of driving force, arranged axially. A motor that transmits power by an electromagnetic action between a stator and a rotor is arranged between the first source of driving force and the hydraulic transmission. The stator is arranged to be radially distant from the rotational center axis of the hydraulic transmission. A small diameter portion formed to have a smaller outer diameter than an inner diameter of the stator is formed at a motor side of the hydraulic transmission and the hydraulic transmission is arranged with the small diameter portion being inserted axially into the inner periphery of the stator. As a result, the axial length of the vehicle drive device is shortened to thereby provide a small-size, lightweight device.Type: GrantFiled: September 7, 1999Date of Patent: January 22, 2002Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Atsushi Tabata, Yutaka Taga, Ryuji Ibaraki, Shuji Nagano, Seiji Nakamura, Masaya Amano
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Patent number: 6258008Abstract: A control device for restarting an engine of vehicle wherein determination is made on whether a quick pressure increase control is executable. When the quick pressure increase control is determined to be non-executable, the engine torque is reduced as compared to a case where the quick pressure increase control is executable. Further, the engine torque is set at a value when the engine speed is equivalent to an idle speed. Also, when the engine torque is reduced, the brake pressure hold electromagnetic valve is maintained at a hold state. This reduces an engagement shock upon engagement of the clutch and prevents the deterioration of clutch durability, in the case where the quick pressure increase control immediately after restart of the engine is non-executable.Type: GrantFiled: August 20, 1999Date of Patent: July 10, 2001Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Atsushi Tabata, Shuji Nagano
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Patent number: 6155364Abstract: Hybrid drive system for a motor vehicle, including (a) an engine operated by combustion of a fuel, (b) a planetary gear mechanism having a sun gear and a carrier one of which is connected to the engine, and a ring gear connected to an output member, (c) a motor/generator connected to the output member, and (d) a differential gear device including output shafts and an input member rotated by a drive force received from the output member, and wherein the motor/generator, the planetary gear mechanism and the output member are arranged coaxially with each other along a first axis, and the output shafts of the differential gear device are disposed along a second axis parallel to the first axis. The planetary gear mechanism is disposed in a radially inner space provided radially inwardly of a stator coil of the motor/generator, and the input member includes a radially outer portion which overlaps a radially outer portion of the motor/generator in the radial direction of the motor/generator.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 1997Date of Patent: December 5, 2000Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Shuji Nagano, Kunio Morisawa, Hideaki Matsui, Ryuji Ibaraki
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Patent number: 6093974Abstract: A control device for restarting an engine is configured to engage a forward clutch of an automatic transmission quickly, with little shock and without involving a special cost for restarting the engine. When the engine is restarted, a way for supplying an oil is changed in accordance with a leaving amount of an oil from an oil passage with respect to the forward clutch of the automatic transmission or an oil temperature. A time for executing a quick pressure increase control and a control target pressure is changed in accordance with a leaving amount of the oil or the oil temperature. Further, the quick pressure increase control is started at a timing when an engine revolution (a rotational speed of an oil pump) is equal to or greater than a predetermined value.Type: GrantFiled: April 19, 1999Date of Patent: July 25, 2000Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Atsushi Tabata, Kojiro Kuramochi, Shuji Nagano, Shogo Matsumoto
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Patent number: 6059064Abstract: A hybrid vehicle including: an engine and a motor-generator for outputting drive forces to run a vehicle; and a brake pedal for applying a braking force to the running vehicle. While an engine braking force is being established, it is detected that the brake pedal is depressed. After this depression of the brake pedal, the vehicle speed is detected so that the regenerative braking is effected by the motor generator on the basis of the detected vehicle speed.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 1997Date of Patent: May 9, 2000Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Shuji Nagano, Kunio Morisawa