Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha

Honda Motor Co., Ltd.

Prometron Technics Corp.

Prometron Technics Co., Ltd.

Jun Aoki

Katsuhiko Masuda

Isamu Hashizume

Shuji Tada

Yasuji Shibahata

Keiichi Ooiso

Akihiro Yamamoto

Takeshi Hoshinoya

Sei Shinohara

Hirokuni Matsuda

Yoshio Akiba

A supporting structure for a planetary gear mechanism includes a planetary carrier, a first bearing, and a second bearing. The planetary carrier includes a rotation shaft and an arm portion. The rotation shaft extends in an axis direction to support a planetary gear of the planetary gear mechanism to be rotatable about a rotational axis along the axis direction. The rotation shaft includes a first end and a second end opposite to the first end along the rotational axis. The first and second bearings are disposed on a first side of the planetary gear in the axis direction. The planetary carrier is radially supported by the first and second bearings without a bearing which radially supports the planetary carrier in the casing and which is provided on a second side of the planetary gear in the axis direction.

Supporting structure for planetary gear mechanism

A rear-wheel drive system includes motors for generating driving force to drive a vehicle, hydraulic brakes on power transmission lines between the motors and rear wheels switching a motors side and a wheels side to a connected state or a disconnected state, an ECU controlling the motors and the brakes and a one-way clutch in parallel with the hydraulic brakes on the transmission line configured to be engaged when a forward rotational power on the motors side is inputted into the wheels side and disengaged when a backward rotational power on the motors side is inputted into the wheels side and vice versa. The ECU causes the hydraulic brakes to be applied so as to put the motors side and the wheels side in the connected state when the forward rotational power on the motors side is inputted into the wheels side.

Vehicle drive system

A main clutch is interposed between an input shaft and an output shaft , and a normally engaged pilot clutch is interposed between an output member of an overrunning clutch and the output shaft . An input member of the overrunning clutch is made to freely rotate relative to the input shaft , and a cam mechanism is provided for generating a thrust force by virtue of the difference in rotational speed between the input shaft and the input member , whereby the main clutch is brought into engagement with this thrust force so generated.

Transmission system with an overrunning clutch

In a coupling device which is disposed between left and right wheels of a vehicle, pair of differential gears are provided. First rotational elements of both the differential gears are coupled to each other, and second rotational elements are respectively coupled to left and right wheels of the vehicle. A third rotational element of one of the differential gears is driven for rotation by a driving source. The third rotational element of the other of the differential gears is made switchable by a switching device between a state in which the third rotational element is prevented from rotating and a state in which the third rotational element is coupled to the first rotational element or the second rotational element of the other of the differential gears. Otherwise, the third rotational element of the other of the differential gears may be arranged to be always prevented from rotating. In this arrangement, the first and second rotational elements of the other of the differential gears are selectively coupled via the switching device to the wheels, or the first rotational element of one of the differential gears is selectively coupled via the switching device to the first and second rotational elements of the other of the differential gears.

Coupling device which is disposed between left and right wheels of

A method of manufacturing an electrode to be used in a plasma torch includes the steps of providing an insert formed from an electrically-conductive, heat-resistant material, depositing a metal by physical vapor deposition to form a coating on the insert, the metal selected from the group consisting of silver, silver alloy, gold, and gold alloy, providing a holder having a surface with a recess formed therein to receive the insert, placing the insert into the recess, and securing the insert to the holder.

Method of manufacturing a plasma torch eletrode

A waste disposal device having a wall structure defining an incineration space, a torch assembly separate from the wall structure, and first structure cooperating between the torch assembly and wall structure for maintaining the torch assembly in an operative position on the wall structure. The torch assembly has a torch for generating heat in the incineration space with the torch assembly in the operative position. The torch assembly further has second structure for circulating a cooling liquid in heat exchange relationship with the torch assembly, independently of the wall structure, to thereby effect cooling of the torch assembly. In one form, the torch assembly is removably maintained in the operative position on the wall structure.

Cooling system for waste disposal device

It is a purpose of the present invention to connect the operation of the driving-force distributing device with the operation of the driving-force reducing device at an appropriate timing to insure a stable performance of the vehicle. When a slip rate exceeds a predetermined value, a driving-force distributing device which includes a variable differential operation limiting device is first operated so as to hold a differential operation limiting torque at a predetermined value. If the slip rate further increases, a driving-force reducing device which includes a traction control device is operated so as to hold the engine output at a predetermined value. At that time, if slip rates of both racing inner wheel and racing outer wheel are further increased, the driving-force reducing device is operated to reduce the engine output.

Driving-force control system for a vehicle

A driving-wheel torque control system for an automotive vehicle determines whether or not the driving wheels of the vehicle are in a predetermined racing state. If it is determined that the driving wheels are in the predetermined racing state, the limited slip differential torque is held at a first value substantially equal to or close to a second value thereof assumed when it is determined that the driving wheels are in the predetermined racing state.

Driving-wheel torque control system for automotive vehicles

A connecting system which includes a pilot clutch brought into an engaged state by an actuator, a cam member operated by an engaging force of the pilot clutch, an urging member driven and moved by the cam member, and a main clutch brought into an engaged state by a movement of the urging member. The cam member includes a first cam ring restrained by the pilot clutch, a second cam ring provided on the urging member, and rolling members interposed the first and second cam rings for converting the relative rotation of the cam rings into a thrust. The system further includes a biasing member for biasing the urging member and the first cam ring in a direction of abutment against each other in order to generate a frictional force between the urging member and the first cam ring. Thus, it is possible to prevent the engaging force of the main clutch from being influenced by a drag torque produced in the pilot clutch.

Main clutch connecting system having a pilot clutch

A drive wheel torque control system for a vehicle includes control means for controlling a variable differential motion limiting device provided between drive wheels to distribute a predetermined LSD torque from a racing drive wheel to a nonracing drive wheel. The control means includes vehicle speed determining means for determining a vehicle speed from a follower wheel spaced, drive wheel speed determining means adapted to select a smaller one of the drive wheel speeds as a drive wheel speed, when the inner-side wheel in turning movement is racing, and to select a larger one of the drive wheel speeds, when the outer-side wheel in turning movement is racing, and torque determining means for determining the LSD torque from the vehicle speed and the drive wheel speed. This ensures that only when the inner wheel is racing, the smaller one of the drive wheel speeds can be selected, and an LSD torque can be distributed to the outer wheel, thereby easily effecting the adjustment of the locus of turning movement of the vehicle when the inner wheel is racing, while properly controlling the behavior of the vehicle.

Growing community of inventors

Wako, Japan

Jun Aoki