Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha

Kouhei Ohzono

Tsutomu Hayashi

Kazuhiro Takeuchi

Yoshihisa Iwatsuka

Shoichi Honda

Yoichi Kojima

Kiyotaka Hayashi

Kouichi Uchibaba

Takeshi Koyabu

Haruo Ishikawa

Hiroyuki Kuwahara

The present invention relates to a drive train of a wheeled vehicle having an engine and at least one driving wheel, the drive train essentially including a first clutch connected to the engine for receiving driving force therefrom and for outputting the driving force in a variable manner according to driver operation driver; a transmission connected to the first clutch effective for receiving the driving force from the engine as varied by the driving transmitting it a varying rotational speed; and a second clutch connected to the transmission for receiving such driving force from the transmission and transmitting it to the driving wheel by automatically varying the transfer ratio between the transmission and the driving wheel according to the rotational frequency of the transmission output. The method essentially includes the steps of; setting a transfer ratio at the first clutch means according to an operation of a driver; automatically setting a transmission ratio at the transmission; and automatically setting a transfer ratio at the second clutch means according to a rotational frequency of the driving force outputted by the transmission.

Drive train of a wheeled vehicle and method for controlling the same

A chain belt for stepless speed change transmission is provided wherein the connecting link rocker pins are arranged so that when the chain links are rotated relative to each other the pitch changes. This phenomena is used to reduce the drive noise generated with standard types of chain belts when they wrap around the drive pulley, due to a change in the relative speed of the drive block. From tests it is found that having the drive blocks outside of the chain line is more effective in reducing this relative velocity. Further having oval shaped drive blocks reduces the stress concentration at the region where load is transferred from the pulley to the chain belt, and by having an oval shape instead of a round shape the inclined end contact faces can be positively aligned to mate properly with the drive faces of the pulleys.

Chain belt for V pulleys

A hydraulic clutch for transmitting torque from an input rotating member to an output rotating member when friction plates are brought into engagement with each other. Hydraulic fluid having pressure depending upon rotational speed of an input shaft is supplied from a hydraulic fluid source into a hydraulic pressure chamber, to cause an urging member to bring the friction plates into engagement with each other when the rotational speed of the input shaft reaches a predetermined value. A control mechanism controls opening and closing of a pressure regulating valve in response to the rotational speed of the input shaft. When the pressure regulating valve is opened, the hydraulic fluid is caused to flow from the hydraulic pressure chamber to a low pressure side, and when the pressure regulating valve is closed, the hydraulic fluid is prevented from flowing to the low pressure side. A pivot valve is operable to prevent the hydraulic fluid from flowing into the hydraulic pressure chamber when the pressure regulating valve is opened. The pilot valve regulates the hydraulic fluid to a predetermined value to permit the regulated hydraulic fluid to be supplied to the hydraulic pressure chamber when the pressure regulating valve is closed, thereby bringing the friction plates into smooth engagement with each other.

Hydraulic clutch

A clutch having a starter clutch mechanism and a manual clutch mechanism combined on a driven shaft. The starter clutch mechanism is positioned within a clutch outer of the manual clutch and operates through a cam to transmit relative rotational motion into axial motion for actuating the main clutch. The relative rotational motion is experienced when the starter clutch mechanism reaches the appropriate speed for engagement. A throw-out linkage is provided outwardly of the main clutch and actuates the thrust plate through the center of the main clutch inner. Thus, the starter clutch mechanism, the cam shaft and the thrust plate may be located inwardly of the main clutch mechanism within a cylindrical clutch outer closed at one end.

Multiple clutch system having cam coupler between clutches

A vehicular clutch apparatus including a clutch unit disposed between an engine output shaft and a transmission, the clutch unit having driving clutch plates and driven clutch plates interleaved with the driving plates and a piston movable upon receipt of hydraulic pressure from a pressure source to press such plates into engagement, wherein in the hydraulic flow path leading from the hydraulic pressure source to the piston there is disposed a directional control valve which is interlocked with a clutch lever for cutting off the communication between the piston and pressure source and release the hydraulic pressure fed to the piston to the atmosphere. A valve is further disposed in the flow path to automatically release the hydraulic pressure in the path to the atmosphere in response to gear shift operation, thereby disengaging the clutch unit.

Clutch apparatus for vehicles

A vehicular clutch apparatus including a clutch unit disposed between an engine output shaft and a transmission, the clutch unit having driving clutch plates and driven clutch plates interleaved with the driving plates and a piston movable upon receipt of hydraulic pressure from a pressure source to press those plates into engagement, wherein in the hydraulic flow path leading from the hydraulic pressure source to the piston is disposed a directional control valve which is interlocked with a clutch lever and for cutting off the communication between the piston and pressure source and release the hydraulic pressure fed to the piston to the atmosphere. A valve is further disposed in the flow path to automatically release the hydraulic pressure in the path to the atmosphere in response to gear shift operation, thereby disengaging the clutch unit.

A damping system for a drive train having a cam coupling mechanism which advances an intermediate member axially along a driven shaft under high torque loads. The intermediate member is spring biased and is associated with a variable volume chamber containing fluid. Damping mechanisms are positioned concentrically within the driven shaft and are in communication with the variable chamber. The damping mechanisms include a check valve for one-way communication with the lubricant supply system of the associated engine, and a flow restricter for generating damping energy. An accumulator piston accommodates volume changes resulting from operation of the piston and allows for leakage flow from the system to insure renewal of oil without temperature build-up and oil deterioration.

Growing community of inventors

Saitama, Japan

Kouhei Ohzono