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).

  • Patent number: 9193257
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle driving device includes a first planetary gear mechanism, a second planetary gear mechanism, and a clutch, wherein a sun gear of the first planetary gear mechanism is connected to a first electric rotating machine, a carrier of the first planetary gear mechanism is connected to a driving wheel, a ring gear of the first planetary gear mechanism is connected to an engine, a sun gear of the second planetary gear mechanism is connected to a second electric rotating machine, the carrier of the second planetary gear mechanism is connected to the ring gear of the first planetary gear mechanism and the engine through the clutch, and a ring gear of the second planetary gear mechanism is connected to the driving wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kensei Hata, Yuji Iwase, Yosuke Suzuki, Tomohito Ono
  • Patent number: 9186976
    Abstract: A vehicular transmission includes a transmission input shaft to which engine torque is input, first and second differential mechanisms as transmission mechanisms to which the engine torque is input through the transmission input shaft, a torque limiter arranged between the transmission input shaft and an engine configured to enable torque transmission between the transmission input shaft and an engine output shaft and inhibit an input of excessive torque larger than predetermined torque between the transmission input shaft and the engine output shaft, and a one-way clutch arranged between the torque limiter and the engine for prohibiting reverse rotation of the engine while allowing normal rotation of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hirotatsu Kitabatake, Yuji Iwase, Hideaki Komada, Yosuke Suzuki
  • Patent number: 9180865
    Abstract: A control apparatus for a hybrid vehicle is provided with a differential mechanism having a first rotary element, a second rotary element serving as an input rotary member and connected to an engine, and a third rotary element serving as an output rotary member, an electric motor connected to said first rotary element, and a locking mechanism configured to fix an output shaft of said engine to a stationary member, the control apparatus comprising: an electric motor drive control portion configured to reduce an absolute value of a torque of said electric motor before said locking mechanism is changed from a locking state in which said output shaft is fixed to the stationary member while a drive force of said electric motor is transmitted to said third rotary element, to an unlocking state in which said output shaft is released from the stationary member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takeshi Kitahata, Tooru Matsubara, Atsushi Tabata, Tatsuya Imamura, Yuji Iwase, Tomohito Ono
  • Publication number: 20150314770
    Abstract: A power transmission device includes: a planetary gear mechanism; a first rotary machine connected to a sun gear of the planetary gear mechanism; an engine and a one-way clutch that are connected to a carrier of the planetary gear mechanism; a second rotary machine and a drive wheel that are connected to a ring gear of the planetary gear mechanism; and a parking device connected to the ring gear. The power transmission device is configured to positively rotate the first rotary machine at a time a command to disengage the parking device is received and thereafter disengage the parking device, and a direction of the positive rotation is a rotational direction of the carrier rotary-driven by the engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2012
    Publication date: November 5, 2015
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hirotatsu KITABATAKE, Yosuke SUZUKI, Yuji IWASE
  • Publication number: 20150298534
    Abstract: A drive device for hybrid vehicle includes: a planetary gear mechanism; a first rotating machine coupled to a sun gear of the planetary gear mechanism; an engine and a one-way clutch coupled to a carrier of the planetary gear mechanism; a second rotating machine and a drive wheel coupled to a ring gear of the planetary gear mechanism; and a braking device. The drive device relatively changes a rotation speed of the first rotating machine to a rotation speed of a positive rotation side to perform braking by the braking device in response to a braking command.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2012
    Publication date: October 22, 2015
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hirotatsu KITABATAKE, Yosuke SUZUKI, Yuji IWASE
  • Publication number: 20150298685
    Abstract: A drive system for a hybrid vehicle includes a planetary gear unit, a first rotating machine connected to a sun gear of the planetary gear unit, an engine connected to a carrier of the planetary gear unit, a second rotating machine and drive wheels connected to a ring gear of the planetary gear unit, a regulating mechanism that regulates rotation of the carrier, a first running mode in which the vehicle runs using the second rotating machine as a power source, and a second running mode in which the vehicle runs using the first rotating machine and the second rotating machine as power sources while the regulating mechanism regulates rotation of the carrier. The carrier is rotated by the first rotating machine when the vehicle shifts from the first running mode to the second running mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2012
    Publication date: October 22, 2015
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tomohito ONO, Takahito ENDO, Yuji IWASE
  • Publication number: 20150298682
    Abstract: A power transmission device for a hybrid vehicle includes: a power distribution mechanism including a plurality of rotation components; a friction engagement device which is interposed between the engine and the rotation component connected to the engine; and a control device which performs a stop control for the engine and a release control for the friction engagement device so as to cause the vehicle to travel only by the power of the second rotary machine and performs an engagement control for the friction engagement device while the vehicle travels only by the power of the second rotary machine so as to perform a push-start of the engine, and the control device controls the first rotary machine so that the friction engagement device is maintained in a half engagement state at a differential rotation speed higher than a predetermined rotation speed during the push-start of the engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2012
    Publication date: October 22, 2015
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kensei HATA, Yuji IWASE, Seitaro NOBUYASU
  • Publication number: 20150291149
    Abstract: A vehicle control system is provided to improve a response of shifting operation of a drive mode while avoiding a shortage of drive force. The control system is applied to a hybrid vehicle having an internal combustion engine and two motors, and configured to select a drive mode from a mode where the vehicle is powered by the engine and a mode where the vehicle is powered by at least one of the motors while stopping the engine. The control system predicts a fact that the engine is expected to be started based on a detection value representing a running condition of the vehicle, during propulsion of the vehicle by the two motors while stopping the engine; shifts a drive mode to a mode where the vehicle is powered by one of the motors without using a power of the other motor to be used to start the engine; and starts the engine upon satisfaction of a condition for propelling the vehicle by the power of the other motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2012
    Publication date: October 15, 2015
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hirotatsu Kitabatake, Hideaki Komada, Yosuke Suzuki, Yuji Iwase
  • Publication number: 20150252858
    Abstract: In a release mechanism for a friction clutch that includes a cylinder portion formed by an inner body and an outer body, a piston that moves in a front-back direction in accordance with a fluid pressure supplied to the cylinder portion, and a plate that is formed on the piston and receives an elastic force from elastic members provided on an outer peripheral side of the cylinder portion in a circumferential direction at a predetermined interval, a fastening member that fixes flanges of the inner body and the outer body so as to clamp a sealing member therebetween in an axial direction is provided, and a region in the radial direction in which the fastening member is arranged and a region in the radial direction in which the elastic members are arranged overlap each other at least in part, in the flanges.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2015
    Publication date: September 10, 2015
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Seitaro NOBUYASU, Yuji Iwase, Yosuke Suzuki, Koichi Kato, Kensei Hata, Taro Moteki
  • Publication number: 20150217756
    Abstract: A vehicle control system is provided to reduce a change in drive force and to start an engine without delay when starting the engine by a motor during running. The control system is applied to a hybrid vehicle having an internal combustion engine and two motors supplied electric power from a battery. The control system comprises a determination means that determines a fact that a state of charge of the battery is lower than a first threshold, during propelling the vehicle by the two motors by supplying the electric power from the battery while stopping the engine (at step S2); and a drive force restriction means that restricts a total drive force of said two motors for propelling the vehicle to an allowable limit which is lower than a theoretical maximum drive force of said two motors, given that the state of charge of the battery is lower than a first threshold (at step S3).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2012
    Publication date: August 6, 2015
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hirotatsu Kitabatake, Yuji Iwase, Hideaki Komada, Yusuke Suzuki, Masafumi Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20150202953
    Abstract: A driving device for the hybrid vehicle includes a planetary gear mechanism; a first rotating machine coupled to a sun gear of the planetary gear mechanism; an engine coupled to a carrier of the planetary gear mechanism; a second rotating machine and a drive wheel that are coupled to a ring gear of the planetary gear mechanism; and a regulating mechanism that regulates rotation of the carrier, wherein the driving device has a first driving region that allows executing a dual-drive mode that causes running using the first rotating machine and the second rotating machine as power sources, and a second driving region that allows executing a lubrication running mode that causes the first rotating machine to rotate the engine so as to lubricate the planetary gear mechanism and causes running using the second rotating machine as a single power source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2012
    Publication date: July 23, 2015
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuji Iwase, Hideaki Komada, Yosuke Suzuki, Hirotatsu Kitabatake
  • Publication number: 20150184699
    Abstract: An ECU of an engaging device is configured to feedback-control a current value so as to realize an engagement indicator current required for moving a sleeve in a position in an axial direction in which dog teeth may mesh with dog teeth in engaging operation. This performs releasing operation based on temporal transition of the current value during the engaging operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2014
    Publication date: July 2, 2015
    Inventors: Shotaro Kato, Hiroaki Ebuchi, Yuji Iwase, Hidekazu Nagai, Hiroto Hashimoto
  • Publication number: 20150176694
    Abstract: A power transmission unit for preventing malfunction and deterioration in durability of a locking device arranged in a housing by preventing the ingress of foreign matters into the locking device. In the power transmission unit, a one-way brake 10 for selectively stopping a rotation of an output shaft 1a of an engine 1 is disposed between the housing 11 of a transmission mechanism and an engine block 1b. A fixed member 10a is fixed to the housing 11 or to the engine block 1b, and a movable member 10b is attached to the output shaft 1a. A through hole 21 is formed on the housing at a vertically lowest portion and axially outside of a region where the one-way brake 10 is situated, so as to provide a communication between an inner space and an outer space of the housing 11.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2014
    Publication date: June 25, 2015
    Inventors: Yuji Iwase, Yosuke Suzuki, Koichi Kato, Kensei Hata, Seitaro Nobuyasu, Taro Moteki
  • Publication number: 20150165889
    Abstract: A power transmission unit for a hybrid vehicle in which a halting member for halting an output shaft of an engine does not elongate an axial length. The vehicle can be driven by another power unit while halting a rotation of the output shaft. One of end portions of the output shaft is connected with a transmission through a torque limiter, and a rotary member is attached to the other end portion of the output shaft to be rotated integrally. A halting member for halting a rotation of the output shaft is fitted onto the rotary member in a manner to overlap at least partially therewith in an axial direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2014
    Publication date: June 18, 2015
    Inventors: Hirotatsu Kitabatake, Yosuke Suzuki, Yuji Iwase, Yoshinobu Nozaki
  • Patent number: 9008927
    Abstract: A driving force controlling apparatus for a vehicle incorporates an engine and a second motor generator and defines a first engaging unit by engaging a counter drive gear, which is able to output power from the engine, with a final gear; and a second engaging unit by engaging a counter drive gear, which is able to output power from the second motor generator, with the final gear. The power from the driving source (the engine or the second motor generator) in whichever of the first engaging unit and second engaging unit has greater vibration is decreased, whereas the power from the driving source (the engine or the second motor generator) in the engaging unit having less vibration is increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yuji Iwase
  • Publication number: 20150083543
    Abstract: A clutch release mechanism shortened in its axial length. The clutch release mechanism is applied to a friction clutch 5 engaged to transmit a torque between a rotary output member 4 and a rotary input member 2, 11. A hydraulic actuator 26 generates a hydraulic pressure to reduce a pushing force applied to the friction clutch. A plurality of elastic members 27 are arranged annularly around a rotational center axis while keeping predetermined intervals. An oil passage 33 is communicated with the hydraulic actuator 26 while passing through the interval.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2014
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Seitaro NOBUYASU, Yuji IWASE, Yosuke SUZUKI, Koichi KATO, Kensei HATA, Taro MOTEKI
  • Publication number: 20150073673
    Abstract: A vehicle control system to prevent deterioration in controllability of the engagement device resulting from temporal deterioration of the engagement device. The vehicle control system is configured to switch a driving mode selectively between a first driving mode in which the engagement device is disengaged, and a second driving mode in which the engagement device is engaged. The vehicle control system comprises: an estimation means that estimates deterioration in an engagement property of the engagement device; and an engagement means that engages the engagement device after achieving synchronization between an input speed and an output speed, in case the estimation means estimates that the engagement property of the engagement device is deteriorated, and the driving mode is shifted from the first driving mode to the second driving mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2014
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kensei HATA, Yuji IWASE, Yosuke SUZUKI, Koichi KATO, Seitaro NOBUYASU, Taro MOTEKI
  • Publication number: 20150072819
    Abstract: Provided is a hybrid vehicle driving apparatus including: a power transmission mechanism which is connected to an engine and is able to output a rotation of the engine while changing the rotation speed; a differential mechanism which connects the power transmission mechanism and a drive wheel to each other; and a regulation device, wherein the differential mechanism includes a first rotation component which is connected to an output component of the power transmission mechanism, a second rotation component which is connected to a first rotating electric machine, and a third rotation component which is connected to a second rotating electric machine and the drive wheel, and wherein the regulation device switches between a state where a differential operation of the differential mechanism is regulated and a state where the differential operation of the differential mechanism is allowed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2012
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tomohito Ono, Yuji Iwase, Makoto Funahashi, Atsushi Tabata, Tooru Matsubara, Tatsuya Imamura, Koichi Okuda, Hideaki Komada
  • Publication number: 20150040720
    Abstract: A vehicular transmission includes a transmission input shaft to which engine torque is input, first and second differential mechanisms as transmission mechanisms to which the engine torque is input through the transmission input shaft, a torque limiter arranged between the transmission input shaft and an engine configured to enable torque transmission between the transmission input shaft and an engine output shaft and inhibit an input of excessive torque larger than predetermined torque between the transmission input shaft and the engine output shaft, and a one-way clutch arranged between the torque limiter and the engine for prohibiting reverse rotation of the engine while allowing normal rotation of the engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2012
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hirotatsu Kitabatake, Yuji Iwase, Hideaki Komada, Yosuke Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20150024895
    Abstract: A driving device for hybrid vehicle provided with an engine, first and second electrical machines, a first and second differential mechanisms, and a switching device in which the first and second differential mechanisms are connected to each other through output rotational elements. The engine and the first and second rotating electrical machines are connected to different rotational elements out of rotational elements of the first and second differential mechanisms. The switching device switches between an independent mode and a four-element mode. In the four element mode, rotational elements connected to the engine, first and second rotating electrical machines, and the output rotational elements differentially rotate, and in an alignment chart in the four-element mode, any one of rotational elements connected to the first and second rotating electrical machines is located between a rotational element connected to the engine and the output rotational elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tomohito Ono, Yuji Iwase, Takahito Endo