Abstract: A vehicular navigation apparatus, which is equipped with a help function, for outputting guidance information for travel to a desired destination includes an input unit having desired destination input means, present position input means and help function input means, a memory unit for storing desired destination information, and a display unit for outputting the guidance information in response to input information from the input unit, wherein the memory unit is provided with a non-volatile RAM, with necessary information being saved in an area of the non-volatile RAM when a help function is called by the help function input means.

Abstract: A first external storage device which may be a CD stores data representing standard map of a particular area and that required for guidance, and a second external storage device which may be an IC card stores individual data which cannot be complemented by said data representing the standard map and said guidance data. Since the data is stored in both CD and IC card, the number of data can be reduced. This makes the operation simpler and enables a data that meets the demand of a user to be selectively supplied to the user. In consequence, guided navigation is made possible from any starting point to a destination, and data updating can be made relatively easy.

Abstract: A navigation apparatus having road system data 6 which represents information of connections and coordinates of intersections and roads between intersections, a travel distance sensor 2, steering angle sensor 3, a present position calculating module 4 for calculating the present position with a unit distance between an intersection and the terminal intersection of a going-out road selected at the former intersection. The apparatus is further provided with a module 15 for generating data on the direction of traveling to a destination point at respective intersections, and a guidance outputting module 5. Traveling direction data is made in response to inputting of the destination point, the present position is determined by selecting a going-out road with the present position calculating module with respect to each intersection, and guidance data on the traveling direction at the terminal intersection of the present road is thereafter output.

Abstract: An automatic transmission has a main transmission mechanism having two planetary gear units made on a first axle, and a sub transmission mechanism having two planetary gear units made on a second axle; the main transmission mechanism having a single planetary gear unit and dual planetary gear unit, carriers of the gear units being connected to one another and sun gears of the gear units being connected one another, an input member connecting a ring gear of the single planetary gear unit through a first clutch, and connecting a sun gear through a second clutch, a brake restraining the sun gear and a ring gear of the dual planetary gear unit at a required moment; the main transmission mechanism having three forward speeds and one reverse speed. A fourth clutch may be added which connects an input shaft and the ring gear of the dual planetary gear unit, so that four forward speeds and one reverse speed are obtained. The sub transmission mechanism has three forward speeds.

Abstract: Described herein is a hydraulic control system for vehicular automatic transmission, including an accumulator back pressure control circuit which is provided between a line pressure conduit and a back pressure supply conduit, and comprises a first accumulator control valve for dropping the line pressure according to the throttle opening, and a second accumulator control valve receiving an input pressure commensurate with the throttle opening and dropping the output pressure of the first accumulator control valve according to the throttle opening to apply to the piston of the accumulator a back pressure varying in corresponding to the engine output shaft torque.

Abstract: Disclosed is a control apparatus for a four-wheel drive vehicle having a center differential mechanism which allows a difference in rotating speed between front and rear wheels so as to absorb a difference in turning radius developed between the front and rear wheels when the vehicle is cornering, and a center differential clutch for limiting differential action of the center differential mechanism. The control apparatus has front-wheel torque sensor provided on a front-wheel drive shaft. When a negative torque is sensed on the front-wheel side while the vehicle is traveling with a restraint placed upon the differential action of the center differential mechanism, the restraint is reduced or removed automatically. This prevents occurrence of a tight corner braking phenomenon and permits the function of the center differential mechanism to fully manifest itself. The vehicle is kept in a stable and safe traveling condition in which driving force is fully utilized.

Abstract: In an automatic transmission, friction elements are engaged and disengaged by a hydraulic servo connected alternately to a pressure source or to a drain through a selector valve, and an accumulator is connected to the line between the selector valve and the servo. The resistance against the oil discharged from the accumulator, the resistance against the oil discharged from the servo, and the return biasing forces in the accumulator and servo are adjusted so that the hydraulic pressure at the servo is lower than the hydraulic pressure of the accumulator for a predetermined time when the selector valve connects the servo with the drain. In one embodiment, a relief valve responsive to a vehicle running condition, controls the discharge rate of working oil through the drain. In another embodiment, a pressure regulator varies the level of the pressure of the working oil discharged from the accumulator in response to variations in a vehicle running condition.

Abstract: Pulleys are provided with load cam mechanisms which exert axial forces corresponding to transmitted torque, and actuator means such as ball screw mechanisms which shift the movable sheaves of both pulleys in axial direction, wherein the axial forces occuring at the pulleys are carried by their shafts and do not act on the housing. A counter shaft is located between the primary and secondary shafts, the countershaft being rotated to drive the actuator means through gearing such as gearwheels, to alter the drive ratio. During power transmission, the axial forces acting on the movable sheaves of primary and secondary pulleys are converted into torque by the actuator means, where the torques are transmitted to the counter shaft in the form of counteracting torques, so that alteration of drive ratio can be made with slight effort on the counter shaft, equivalent ot the difference between the counteracting torques.

Abstract: A support mechanism for friction coupling devices in an automatic transmission is disclosed.A snap ring is mounted on a stationary or rotational member in an automatic transmission case and adapted to receive the operational load of one friction coupling device through an annular plate member.A stepped portion is formed on the stationary or rotational member and adapted to receive the operational load of another friction coupling device through the annular plate member.

Abstract: The coefficient of friction of a road surface lying ahead of a four-wheel drive vehicle is predicted and, if control performed on the basis of the prediction is incorrect, the coefficient of friction of the road surface actually traversed by the vehicle is calculated, thereby revising the prediction so that the next prediction of coefficient of friction will be more accurate. Accordingly, control for changeover between two- and four-wheel drive or for locking a center differential mechanism can be made to conform to the road surface conditions immediately and in an appropriate manner to prevent skidding or lock-up of the tires and, hence, assure a safe and stable traveling state.

Abstract: An automatic transmission for a front-engine front-drive vehicle comprising a fluid coupling, a belt type continuously-variable speed transmission (C.V.T.), a planetary gear mechanism, a forward-reverse changeover mechanism and a differential device. The planetary gear mechanism includes first and second planetary gear sets, a first intermediate shaft connected to a ring gear of the first planetary gear set and a sun gear of the second planetary gear set, a second intermediate shaft connected to a planetary carrier of the first planetary gear set and a ring gear of the second planetary gear set, and an input shaft connected to an output C.V.T. The forward-reverse changeover mechanism includes a brake disposed between the output of the C.V.T.

Abstract: A power delivery system, which includes an input shaft, an output shaft disposed concentrically with the input shaft, a fluid coupling and a power cut-off device interposed between the input and output shafts, and a case containing the fluid coupling, characterized in that the power cut-off device is located on a radially inner side of the fluid coupling, and an oil pump for supplying oil into the fluid coupling case is positioned within the case adjacent the radially inward periphery of the power cut-off device.

Abstract: An automatic transmission for a front-engine front-drive vehicle including a fluid coupling, a belt type continuously-variable speed transmission (CVT), a planetary gear mechanism, a forward-reverse changeover mechanism and a differential device. The forward-reverse changeover mechanism includes a brake disposed between the planetary gear mechanism and the output of CVT. The planetary gear mechanism is provided with a low-high speed changeover mechanism. Each of the clutch and the brake is provided with recesses in one part thereof and are provided with projections in the other part which can be fitted into the recesses, and the dimension of the outer diameter thereof is small as compared with that of clutches or brakes of the wet multiple-disc type.

Abstract: An automatic transmission for a vehicle including a fluid coupling, a belt type continuously-variable speed transmission (CVT), a planetary gear mechanism and a differential device. The planetary gear mechanism includes a first input shaft and a second input shaft, wherein when the first input shaft is connected to an output shaft of CVT through a clutch, a forward range gear train is formed; whereas when the second input shaft is connected to the output of CVT by the clutch, a reverse range gear train is formed. A low-high speed changeover mechanism including a brake is provided in the planetary gear mechanism, and a first element and a second element of the planetary gear mechanism are selectively held in a stationary position by means of the brake to selectively form the forward range high-speed gear train and forward range low-speed gear train.

Abstract: A four wheel drive torque transfer mechanism with a hydraulic control system is switchable between two wheel drive and four wheel drive during running of a vehicle having an automatic transmission.When a two wheel drive mode of operation is selected, the hydraulic control system automatically actuates the torque transfer mechanism to provide a four wheel drive operation if a governor output responsive to vehicle speed, falls below a predetermined level, and to provide a two wheel drive operation if a governor output exceeds the predetermined level.

Abstract: A transmission for four-wheel drive vehicles of the type having a four-wheel drive transfer disposed between the front transmission section having a gear train or a planetary gear train therein and the rear transmission section to which lubricating oil or hydraulic operating fluid is to be introduced, the improvement comprising a wet type or multi-plate clutch for the four-wheel drive transfer which permits a smooth switching over between a two-wheel drive mode and a four-wheel drive mode while the vehicle is cruising, and further comprising a fluid path which connects between the bottom of the rear transmission section and the front transmission section and through which the lubricating oil or hydraulic operating oil in the rear transmission section can be smoothly returned to the oil pan located under the rear transmission section.

Abstract: An automatic transmission which is provided which has a transfer device between the speed change gears and an overdrive, said transfer device having an output gear which engages an input gear of a differential gear coaxially connected to an output shaft of the speed change gears.

Abstract: An automatic four-wheel drive transfer case according to this invention comprises a differential gear connected to the output shaft of a transmission, said differential gear having first and second side gears and a casing, a clutch arranged coaxially with the output shaft for releasably engaging the casing of the differential gear with the side gears thereof, the first side gear being connected with a rearwheel drive output shaft which is arranged on the extension of the output shaft of the transmission, the second side gear being connected with an intermediate shaft arranged coaxially with the output shaft of the transmission, a selective gearing for selectively engaging the second side gear with a front-wheel drive output shaft to change over between two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive, and a clutch control which receives a signal indicating the position of the selective gearing and signals representing the revolution speed of the front-wheel drive output shaft and/or the rear-wheel drive output shaft so a

Abstract: A lock-up clutch having high durability and high reliability of operation is provided in the present invention.

Abstract: A lock-up clutch having high durability and high reliability of operation is provided in the present invention.