Patents by Inventor Yuji Iwase

Yuji Iwase 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).

  • Publication number: 20220089145
    Abstract: A control system for a hybrid vehicle includes an internal combustion engine and an electric motor is disclosed. Operation of the internal combustion engine is restricted within a variable restriction zone during a restricted period, and is permitted within the variable restriction zone during a permitted period. When the vehicle is located within a variable restriction zone during the restricted period, operation of the internal combustion engine is restricted, and the electric motor is operated. When a time from a current timing, at which the vehicle is located outside the variable restriction zone or within the variable restriction zone during the permitted period, to a position start timing, at which the vehicle starts to be located within the variable restriction zone during the restricted period, is shorter than a predetermined set time, the increase speed of charging of the battery of the vehicle is increased.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2021
    Publication date: March 24, 2022
    Inventors: Yoshiaki MIYAZATO, Yuji IWASE, Mitsuhiro TABATA, Atsuharu OTA
  • Publication number: 20220055611
    Abstract: An engine starter of a vehicle switching between EV traveling and HV traveling, includes: an engine starting unit to start an engine based on a starting operation by a driver during the EV traveling; and a starting operation switching unit to switch the starting operation to a first starting operation while the vehicle is traveling in an outside area of a preset emission gas regulation area and to switch the starting operation to a second starting operation while the vehicle is traveling in an inside area of the emission gas regulation area. Further, while the vehicle is performing the EV traveling in the inside area of the emission gas regulation area, the engine starting unit is not start the engine when the first starting operation is performed by the driver and to start the engine when the second starting operation is performed by the driver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2021
    Publication date: February 24, 2022
    Inventors: Yoshiaki MIYAZATO, Yuji IWASE, Mitsuhiro TABATA, Atsuharu OTA
  • Patent number: 11035287
    Abstract: Provided is an engine cooling structure for an engine where the engine is cooled by a cooling fluid supplied from a radiator, and the cooling fluid discharged from the engine is cooled by the radiator. The cooling structure includes: an inlet hose having one end coupled to the engine, and having the other end coupled to the radiator, the inlet hose including two or more hose members, and a connecting pipe configured to connect the two or more hose members, to each other; and a clamp including a pipe-side connection portion connected to the connecting pipe, and an engine-side connection portion directly or indirectly connected to the engine. The clamp has a gap between the clamp and the connecting pipe, and the gap functions as a transmission suppressing portion which suppresses transmission of vibrations from the engine-side connection portion to the connecting pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tsubasa Kobayashi, Yuji Iwase, Hiroyuki Okuno, Tadasu Tomohiro
  • Patent number: 10927942
    Abstract: A power transmission device includes: a planetary gear mechanism having a sun gear, a ring gear, a plurality of pinion gears meshing with the ring gear, a pinion shaft rotatably supporting the pinion gear, and a carrier plate holding the pinion shaft, the pinion shaft having an opening that is open on one end portion in an axial direction and an oil passage that communicates with the opening and supplies lubricant flowing from the opening to an inner peripheral surface of the pinion gear; and an oil receiver, which is attached to the carrier plate, receiving lubricant, which is scattered outward in a radial direction of the ring gear from a meshing portion between the pinion gear and the ring gear at a time of rotation of the pinion gear, and guiding the lubricant to the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Atsuharu Ota, Yuji Iwase, Mitsuhiro Tabata, Yoshiaki Miyazato
  • Publication number: 20210041018
    Abstract: A power transmission device includes: a planetary gear mechanism having a sun gear, a ring gear, a plurality of pinion gears meshing with the ring gear, a pinion shaft rotatably supporting the pinion gear, and a carrier plate holding the pinion shaft, the pinion shaft having an opening that is open on one end portion in an axial direction and an oil passage that communicates with the opening and supplies lubricant flowing from the opening to an inner peripheral surface of the pinion gear; and an oil receiver, which is attached to the carrier plate, receiving lubricant, which is scattered outward in a radial direction of the ring gear from a meshing portion between the pinion gear and the ring gear at a time of rotation of the pinion gear, and guiding the lubricant to the opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2020
    Publication date: February 11, 2021
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Atsuharu OTA, Yuji IWASE, Mitsuhiro TABATA, Yoshiaki MIYAZATO
  • Patent number: 10843551
    Abstract: A vehicle front structure includes a grille opening disposed in a front end of a front compartment of a vehicle, a radiator disposed rearward of the grille opening in the front compartment; and an air guide having a folded wall shape and extending along a length of the vehicle between an outward side of the grille opening in a vehicle width direction and an outward end of the radiator in the vehicle width direction. The air guide includes a protruding part extending from the outward side of the grille opening in the vehicle width direction toward a center in the vehicle width direction and including a tip end portion extending to an outward end of the radiator core in the width direction of the vehicle when viewed in a front view of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuji Iwase, Masataka Arimura, Satoshi Terada
  • Patent number: 10654353
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine, a transmission mechanism, and an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit performs first switching control when there is a request for switching from a low mode to a high mode. The first switching control is to release a first engagement mechanism, and switch a second engagement mechanism to an engaged state when a difference between input and output rotational speeds of the second engagement mechanism becomes equal to or smaller than a permissible value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuma Aoki, Tatsuya Imamura, Yasuhiro Oshiumi, Yukari Okamura, Yuji Iwase
  • Publication number: 20200079207
    Abstract: A vehicle front structure includes a grille opening disposed in a front end of a front compartment of a vehicle, a radiator disposed rearward of the grille opening in the front compartment; and an air guide having a folded wall shape and extending along a length of the vehicle between an outward side of the grille opening in a vehicle width direction and an outward end of the radiator in the vehicle width direction. The air guide includes a protruding part extending from the outward side of the grille opening in the vehicle width direction toward a center in the vehicle width direction and including a tip end portion extending to an outward end of the radiator core in the width direction of the vehicle when viewed in a front view of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2019
    Publication date: March 12, 2020
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuji IWASE, Masataka ARIMURA, Satoshi TERADA
  • Patent number: 10525814
    Abstract: A drive system is configured to split driving force produced by an engine to a first motor side and an output gear side, and add driving force produced by a second motor that is driven with electric power generated by the first motor, to the driving force delivered from the output gear. A first planetary gear mechanism performs differential operation, using a first input element that receives the driving force produced by the engine, a first reaction-force element coupled to the first motor, and a first output element. A second planetary gear mechanism performs differential operation, using a second input element coupled to the first output element, a second output element coupled to the output gear, and a second reaction-force element. A first clutch mechanism selectively couples the first input element with the second reaction-force element. A first brake mechanism selectively inhibits rotation of the second reaction-force element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takahito Endo, Hidekazu Nagai, Kensei Hata, Yuji Iwase, Akira Murakami
  • Patent number: 10518766
    Abstract: When an engine is started by causing a first motor coupled to first drive wheels to motor the engine while a hybrid vehicle is turning with the engine stopped, an electronic control unit controls output torque of a second motor, in such a direction as to curb change of a steering characteristic of the hybrid vehicle due to change of drive torque of the first drive wheels induced by motoring of the engine by the first motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kensei Hata, Akira Murakami, Hidekazu Nagai, Takahito Endo, Yuji Iwase
  • Patent number: 10487888
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignees: 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: 10435013
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroto Hashimoto, Yuji Iwase, Hiroaki Ebuchi, Hidekazu Nagai, Shotaro Kato
  • Patent number: 10407054
    Abstract: When an engine is started by causing a first motor coupled to first drive wheels to motor the engine while a hybrid vehicle is turning with the engine stopped, an electronic control unit controls output torque of a second motor, in such a direction as to curb change of a steering characteristic of the hybrid vehicle due to change of drive torque of the first drive wheels induced by motoring of the engine by the first motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kensei Hata, Akira Murakami, Hidekazu Nagai, Takahito Endo, Yuji Iwase
  • Patent number: 10351122
    Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus includes an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit is configured to perform feedback control of a motor such that a torque is output for stopping a crankshaft at a target angle. A first angle is used as the target angle during a first period from start of the feedback control to first detection of rotation of the crankshaft in a negative rotational direction for returning the crank angle. A second angle is used as the target angle during a second period from the lapse of the first period to detection of a changeover in a rotational direction of the crankshaft from the negative to a positive rotational direction. The electronic control unit is configured to return the target angle to the first angle at a first timing after the lapse of the second period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Akihiro Fujimoto, Wan Leng Ang, Yu Miyahara, Yuji Iwase
  • Patent number: 10328817
    Abstract: Provided is a control apparatus for a hybrid vehicle, a clutch being provided in a power transmission path leading from an engine to drive wheels, the clutch transmitting torque between the engine and the drive wheels when engaged, the clutch interrupting the transmission of torque between the engine and the drive wheels, the control apparatus including an ECU configured to execute drive control for consuming electric power of a storage device by driving a first motor, when the clutch is kept in a released state and the clutch cannot be engaged and an amount of electrical charge of the storage device is higher than a prescribed first threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kensei Hata, Yuji Iwase, Yosuke Suzuki, Koichi Kato, Seitaro Nobuyasu, Taro Moteki
  • Publication number: 20190184806
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine, a transmission mechanism, and an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit performs first switching control when there is a request for switching from a low mode to a high mode. The first switching control is to release a first engagement mechanism, and switch a second engagement mechanism to an engaged state when a difference between input and output rotational speeds of the second engagement mechanism becomes equal to or smaller than a permissible value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2018
    Publication date: June 20, 2019
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuma AOKI, Tatsuya IMAMURA, Yasuhiro OSHIUMI, Yukari OKAMURA, Yuji IWASE
  • Patent number: 10286898
    Abstract: A control device for a vehicle is provided. The control device includes an ECU. The ECU includes a first traveling mode. The first traveling mode includes a second traveling mode, a third traveling mode, and a fourth traveling mode. The ECU is configured to select the second traveling mode if the vehicle speed is in a low vehicle speed range equal to or lower than a predetermined vehicle speed when the ECU selects the first traveling mode, to select the third traveling mode if the vehicle speed is in a high vehicle speed range equal to or higher than the predetermined vehicle speed, and to select the fourth traveling mode if the vehicle speed is in a vehicle speed range between the low vehicle speed range and the high vehicle speed range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tomohito Ono, Takahito Endo, Yuji Iwase, Makoto Funahashi
  • Publication number: 20190112967
    Abstract: Provided is an engine cooling structure for an engine where the engine is cooled by a cooling fluid supplied from a radiator, and the cooling fluid discharged from the engine is cooled by the radiator. The cooling structure includes: an inlet hose having one end coupled to the engine, and having the other end coupled to the radiator, the inlet hose including two or more hose members, and a connecting pipe configured to connect the two or more hose members, to each other; and a clamp including a pipe-side connection portion connected to the connecting pipe, and an engine-side connection portion directly or indirectly connected to the engine. The clamp has a gap between the clamp and the connecting pipe, and the gap functions as a transmission suppressing portion which suppresses transmission of vibrations from the engine-side connection portion to the connecting pipe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2018
    Publication date: April 18, 2019
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tsubasa KOBAYASHI, Yuji IWASE, Hiroyuki OKUNO, Tadasu TOMOHIRO
  • Patent number: 10197111
    Abstract: An installation structure of a one-way clutch in which torque transmission is limited to one direction includes a flywheel, first and second rotary structures, housing and stopper plates, and a rivet. The first rotary structure is arranged coaxially with the flywheel while connected to an engine block. The second rotary structure is arranged coaxially with the first rotary structure while connected to the flywheel. The housing plate is disposed between the flywheel and the first and second rotary structures and arranged coaxially while connected to the second rotary structure. The stopper plate is attached to the second rotary structure to hold first rotary structure with the housing plate. The rivet fastens the stopper plate, the second rotary structure, and the housing plate. A first clearance between one face of the flywheel and a top face of a head of the rivet is narrower than a thickness of the stopper plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takahito Endo, Seitaro Nobuyasu, Yosuke Suzuki, Koichi Kato, Yuji Iwase
  • Patent number: 10195930
    Abstract: A drive unit for a hybrid vehicle in which selectable operating modes are increased and power distribution ratio is changeable is provided. The drive unit comprises: a first planetary gear unit having a first input element to which power of an engine is applied, a first reaction element connected to a first motor, and a first output element; a second planetary gear unit that performs having a second input element connected to the first output element, a second output element connected to an output member, and a second reaction element; a first clutch that selectively connects any of the first input element and the first reaction element to the second reaction element; and a second clutch that selectively connects at least any of two elements of the second planetary gear unit to rotate the second planetary gear unit integrally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takahito Endo, Yuji Iwase, Hidekazu Nagai, Kensei Hata