Patents by Inventor Soichi Sugino

Soichi Sugino 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: 10823261
    Abstract: There is provided an automatic transmission capable of preventing deterioration of driving performance even when an engagement mechanism is not switched due to a failure. An automatic transmission includes a first brake which is always in a fixed state from a first forward gear stage to a predetermined gear stage and is in an open state at a gear stage with a higher speed than the predetermined gear stage, and a hydraulic sensor configured to detect whether the first brake is switched to the fixed state. When a transmission control device instructs the first brake to switch to the fixed state, and it is confirmed that the first brake is in an open state, the transmission control device instructs engagement mechanisms other than the first brake to perform switching so that a preliminary gear stage is able to be set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuya Tachibanada, Soichi Sugino, Yutaka Ishikawa, Shunsuke Yoshida
  • Patent number: 10823234
    Abstract: An annular member stopping structure for a friction engaging device includes an end plate 212, a plurality of projecting sections 218 projecting in a radial direction at intervals in a circumferential direction on the end plate 212, a drum 112 having hook parts 220 configured to engage with the projecting sections 218, the drum 112 being non-rotatable relative to the end plate 212, an annular groove 214 provided in the drum 112, and a C-shaped snap ring 216 configured to fit in the annular groove 214. A circumferential direction abutting section 226 freely abutting with circumferential direction end 216a of the snap ring 216 is provided in the end plate 212.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignees: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD., NSK-WARNER K.K.
    Inventors: Takahiro Fujita, Soichi Sugino, Satoshi Kato, Hidetoshi Nagamine, Tomoyuki Kirino, Moriya Suzuki
  • Patent number: 10563732
    Abstract: A first clutch, a first planetary gear mechanism, a second planetary gear mechanism, a third planetary gear mechanism, a fourth planetary gear mechanism, and a third clutch are arranged along an input shaft in that order from a driving source. The input shaft includes first and second input shafts that are coaxially connected together through a first spline engagement portion and capable of being separated from each other in an axial direction. The first spline engagement portion is disposed between the first clutch and a first element of the third planetary gear mechanism on the input shaft. The first clutch is connected to the first input shaft. The first element of the third planetary gear mechanism and the third clutch are connected to the second input shaft. The first element of the third planetary gear mechanism is removably connected to the second input shaft through a second spline engagement portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Mariko Shibamura, Soichi Sugino
  • Publication number: 20180298955
    Abstract: An annular member stopping structure for a friction engaging device includes an end plate 212, a plurality of projecting sections 218 projecting in a radial direction at intervals in a circumferential direction on the end plate 212, a drum 112 having hook parts 220 configured to engage with the projecting sections 218, the drum 112 being non-rotatable relative to the end plate 212, an annular groove 214 provided in the drum 112, and a C-shaped snap ring 216 configured to fit in the annular groove 214. A circumferential direction abutting section 226 freely abutting with circumferential direction end 216a of the snap ring 216 is provided in the end plate 212.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2018
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Applicants: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD., NSK-Warner K.K.
    Inventors: Takahiro Fujita, Soichi Sugino, Satoshi Kato, Hidetoshi Nagamine, Tomoyuki Kirino, Moriya Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20180283505
    Abstract: There is provided an automatic transmission capable of preventing deterioration of driving performance even when an engagement mechanism is not switched due to a failure. An automatic transmission includes a first brake which is always in a fixed state from a first forward gear stage to a predetermined gear stage and is in an open state at a gear stage with a higher speed than the predetermined gear stage, and a hydraulic sensor configured to detect whether the first brake is switched to the fixed state. When a transmission control device instructs the first brake to switch to the fixed state, and it is confirmed that the first brake is in an open state, the transmission control device instructs engagement mechanisms other than the first brake to perform switching so that a preliminary gear stage is able to be set.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2018
    Publication date: October 4, 2018
    Applicant: Honda Motor Co.,Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuya TACHIBANADA, Soichi SUGINO, Yutaka ISHIKAWA, Shunsuke YOSHIDA
  • Publication number: 20180274633
    Abstract: A first clutch, a first planetary gear mechanism, a second planetary gear mechanism, a third planetary gear mechanism, a fourth planetary gear mechanism, and a third clutch are arranged along an input shaft in that order from a driving source. The input shaft includes first and second input shafts that are coaxially connected together through a first spline engagement portion and capable of being separated from each other in an axial direction. The first spline engagement portion is disposed between the first clutch and a first element of the third planetary gear mechanism on the input shaft. The first clutch is connected to the first input shaft. The first element of the third planetary gear mechanism and the third clutch are connected to the second input shaft. The first element of the third planetary gear mechanism is removably connected to the second input shaft through a second spline engagement portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2018
    Publication date: September 27, 2018
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Mariko Shibamura, Soichi Sugino
  • Patent number: 9255627
    Abstract: An automatic transmission includes a thrust bearing ? disposed between a third sun gear of a third planetary gear mechanism and a second sun gear of a second planetary gear mechanism. Accordingly, transmitting a thrust load acting on the second sun gear of the second planetary gear mechanism from the thrust bearing to an input shaft via the third sun gear of the third planetary gear mechanism can avoid, as much as possible, a case where the thrust load is transmitted from the third planetary gear mechanism to the input shaft via a fourth planetary gear mechanism, and reduce friction loss of multiple thrust bearings interposed among elements or the like of the third planetary gear mechanism and the fourth planetary gear mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Mariko Shibamura, Soichi Sugino
  • Patent number: 9234571
    Abstract: A selector device disposed between a transmission and a differential gear includes a first output shaft connected to the transmission, a second output shaft connected to the differential gear, a third output shaft relatively rotatably fitted on an outer periphery of the second output shaft, a planetary gear mechanism having a sun gear connected to the third output shaft and a ring gear connected to the differential gear, a first meshing switching mechanism that is capable of switching between a state in which the first and third output shafts are joined and the second output shaft is detached and a state in which the first to third output shafts are joined, and a second meshing switching mechanism that is capable of joining a carrier of the planetary gear mechanism to a casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuki Ichikawa, Soichi Sugino, Shinichi Shimodaira
  • Patent number: 9140334
    Abstract: In an automatic transmission, a connection member which connects a carrier of a planetary gear mechanism PGSa to a clutch hub of a clutch is made to abut on the carrier of the planetary gear mechanism PGSa in an abutting portion, a thrust bearing T2 is disposed between the connection member and a clutch drum of the clutch, a thrust bearing T1 is disposed between a transmission case and the clutch drum of the clutch, and a clearance between the thrust bearing T1 and the clutch drum of the clutch is adjusted by using a shim. Accordingly, a thrust load inputted from a sun gear Sb of a planetary gear mechanism PGSb can be transmitted to the transmission case without passing through a sun gear Sa, which rotates at a high speed, of the planetary gear mechanism PGSa, and friction loss is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Soichi Sugino, Mariko Shibamura
  • Patent number: 9140358
    Abstract: An automatic transmission includes an input member, a planetary gear set, a plurality of engagement mechanisms, an output member, a shift position detecting unit, an input rotational speed detecting unit, a control unit, and a switching mechanism. When a shift position is changed from a forward drive range to a reverse drive range, the control unit performs a reverse preparation mode in which a rotational speed of an element to be fixed by the switching mechanism is lower than or equal to a predetermined speed by setting an engagement mechanism in one of a connection mode and a fixed mode. Upon performing the reverse preparation mode, the control unit engages the engagement mechanism that connects the element fixed by the switching mechanism to the input member and, thereafter, engages the engagement mechanism that makes the rotational speed of the input member lower than or equal to the predetermined speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuya Tachibanada, Yutaka Ishikawa, Soichi Sugino, Naomichi Tonokura, Nobuyuki Watanabe, Takashi Ohtani, Mitsuo Ueda
  • Publication number: 20150192193
    Abstract: A selector device disposed between a transmission and a differential gear includes a first output shaft connected to the transmission, a second output shaft connected to the differential gear, a third output shaft relatively rotatably fitted on an outer periphery of the second output shaft, a planetary gear mechanism having a sun gear connected to the third output shaft and a ring gear connected to the differential gear, a first meshing switching mechanism that is capable of switching between a state in which the first and third output shafts are joined and the second output shaft is detached and a state in which the first to third output shafts are joined, and a second meshing switching mechanism that is capable of joining a carrier of the planetary gear mechanism to a casing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2013
    Publication date: July 9, 2015
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuki Ichikawa, Soichi Sugino, Shinichi Shimodaira
  • Patent number: 8992374
    Abstract: An automatic transmission includes an input shaft, first, second, third, and fourth planetary gear sets, a plurality of engagement mechanisms, and an output member. The input shaft is rotatably supported inside a transmission case to be rotated by a driving force received from a drive source. The first, second, third, and fourth planetary gear sets are arranged in sequence along an axis line of the input shaft and each include three elements having a sun gear, a carrier, and a ring gear. The plurality of engagement mechanisms each releasably connect two of the three elements with each other or releasably connect one of the three elements to the transmission case. The output member is disposed on outer circumferences of the second and third planetary gear sets and connected to the ring gear of one of the second and third planetary gear sets to output rotation of the input shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mariko Shibamura, Soichi Sugino, Kohei Iizuka
  • Patent number: 8894525
    Abstract: In a driving apparatus for a hybrid vehicle having an internal combustion engine and first and second electric rotating machines, it is configured to have a speed increasing mechanism that increases speed of an output of the engine inputted through an input shaft and transmits it to the first electric rotating machine; a speed reducing mechanism that reduces speed of an output of the second electric rotating machine and transmits it to an output shaft; a first clutch adapted to connect and disconnect a first driving force transmission path coupling the speed increasing mechanism and the output shaft; and a second clutch adapted to connect and disconnect a second driving force transmission path coupling the engine and the output shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Soichi Sugino
  • Publication number: 20140303860
    Abstract: An automatic transmission includes an input member, a planetary gear set, a plurality of engagement mechanisms, an output member, a shift position detecting unit, an input rotational speed detecting unit, a control unit, and a switching mechanism. When a shift position is changed from a forward drive range to a reverse drive range, the control unit performs a reverse preparation mode in which a rotational speed of an element to be fixed by the switching mechanism is lower than or equal to a predetermined speed by setting an engagement mechanism in one of a connection mode and a fixed mode. Upon performing the reverse preparation mode, the control unit engages the engagement mechanism that connects the element fixed by the switching mechanism to the input member and, thereafter, engages the engagement mechanism that makes the rotational speed of the input member lower than or equal to the predetermined speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2014
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuya TACHIBANADA, Yutaka ISHIKAWA, Soichi SUGINO, Naomichi TONOKURA, Nobuyuki WATANABE, Takashi OHTANI, Mitsuo UEDA
  • Patent number: 8852047
    Abstract: An automatic transmission includes an input shaft, first to fourth planetary gear mechanisms and first to seventh engagement devices. Ten forward gears of the automatic transmission are established by bringing at least three of the first to seventh engagement devices into an engagement state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kohei Iizuka, Soichi Sugino
  • Publication number: 20140287866
    Abstract: In an automatic transmission, a connection member which connects a carrier of a planetary gear mechanism PGSa to a clutch hub of a clutch is made to abut on the carrier of the planetary gear mechanism PGSa in an abutting portion, a thrust bearing T2 is disposed between the connection member and a clutch drum of the clutch, a thrust bearing T1 is disposed between a transmission case and the clutch drum of the clutch, and a clearance between the thrust bearing T1 and the clutch drum of the clutch is adjusted by using a shim. Accordingly, a thrust load inputted from a sun gear Sb of a planetary gear mechanism PGSb can be transmitted to the transmission case without passing through a sun gear Sa, which rotates at a high speed, of the planetary gear mechanism PGSa, and friction loss is reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Soichi Sugino, Mariko Shibamura
  • Publication number: 20140287867
    Abstract: An automatic transmission includes a thrust bearing A disposed between a third sun gear of a third planetary gear mechanism and a second sun gear of a second planetary gear mechanism. Accordingly, transmitting a thrust load acting on the second sun gear of the second planetary gear mechanism from the thrust bearing to an input shaft via the third sun gear of the third planetary gear mechanism can avoid, as much as possible, a case where the thrust load is transmitted from the third planetary gear mechanism to the input shaft via a fourth planetary gear mechanism, and reduce friction loss of multiple thrust bearings interposed among elements or the like of the third planetary gear mechanism and the fourth planetary gear mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2014
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Mariko Shibamura, Soichi Sugino
  • Patent number: 8808134
    Abstract: An automatic transmission includes an input shaft, an output member, a first planetary gear system, a second planetary gear system, a third planetary gear system, a fourth planetary gear system, and an engagement mechanism. The input shaft is configured to be rotated with power of a driving source relative to the transmission case. The output member is to output rotation of the input shaft using multiple gear-shifting. The multiple gear-shifting is provided by setting at least three of first to third clutches and first to third brakes in a connection state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Noriaki Saitoh, Soichi Sugino, Toshikazu Kouno, Kohei Iizuka, Mariko Shibamura, Shoji Machida, Jorg Muller, Rico Resch, Mirko Leesch
  • Publication number: 20140213408
    Abstract: An automatic transmission includes an input shaft, first, second, third, and fourth planetary gear sets, a plurality of engagement mechanisms, and an output member. The input shaft is rotatably supported inside a transmission case to be rotated by a driving force received from a drive source. The first, second, third, and fourth planetary gear sets are arranged in sequence along an axis line of the input shaft and each include three elements having a sun gear, a carrier, and a ring gear. The plurality of engagement mechanisms each releasably connect two of the three elements with each other or releasably connect one of the three elements to the transmission case. The output member is disposed on outer circumferences of the second and third planetary gear sets and connected to the ring gear of one of the second and third planetary gear sets to output rotation of the input shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2014
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Mariko SHIBAMURA, Soichi SUGINO, Kohei IIZUKA
  • Patent number: 8721489
    Abstract: Provided is an automatic transmission capable of reducing friction loss. The automatic transmission is provided with an input shaft (2) coupled with a sun gear (Sa), an output member (3), a first to third planetary gear mechanisms (4, 5, 6), a first engagement mechanism (C1) coupling the input shaft (2) with a ring gear (Rc) releasably, a second engagement mechanism (C2) coupling a carrier (Ca) with a carrier (Cc) releasably, a third engagement mechanism (C3) coupling the carrier (Ca) with a second coupling body (Rb-Sc) releasably, a fourth engagement mechanism (B1) fixing a first coupling body (Ra-Cb) to a transmission case (1) releasably, a fifth engagement mechanism (B2) fixing a sun gear (Sb) to the transmission case (1) releasably, and a sixth engagement mechanism (B3) fixing the ring gear (Rc) to the transmission case (1) releasably.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kohei Iizuka, Soichi Sugino