Mazda Motor Corporation

Seiji Terauchi

Kazuhiko Ueda

Hidetoshi Nobumoto

Osamu Sado

Seiji Esaki

Minzi Sakaki

Akio Wakasaki

A power transmission system for a vehicle has a first power transmission path having a forward-reverse shift mechanism and a reduction gear, a second power transmission path having an infinitely variable gear, and a path switching mechanism which switches the power transmission path between the first and second power transmission paths according to the running condition of the vehicle. The infinitely variable gear is a toroidal speed change mechanism having an output disk fixed to the output shaft of the power transmission system, an input disk which can be displaced in the axial direction of the output shaft and a roller which is in contact with both the input and output disks to rotate about an axis in response to rotation of the input disk and transmit rotation of the input disk to the output disk, the transmission ratio of the toroidal speed change mechanism being changed by changing the inclination of the axis about which the roller rotates.

Power transmission system for vehicle

A power transmission device for a vehicle comprises a first power transmitting path for transmitting engine output to a wheel side via a reduction gear, a second power transmitting path for transmitting engine output to the wheel side via a stepless speed change gear mechanism, a path switching clutch for switching between the paths to transmit by one of the paths, a switch-over control part for controlling switch-over operation of the clutch according to a driving condition of the vehicle, and a rotational condition abrupt change restraining part for restraining an abrupt change of a rotational condition of an engine output shaft at switch-over between the paths. The restraining part adjusts to conform rotating speeds of the input and output sides of the clutch to each other at switch-over of the clutch, or conform output torque to the wheel side between before and after switch-over of the clutch. Thus, an abrupt change of rotation of the engine output shaft is restrained to prevent a shock owing to switch-over, and the durability of a friction element is enhanced.

Power transmission device for vehicle

The coupling force of a fluid coupling interposed between the combustion engine and the driving wheels is controlled when the automotive vehicle is decelerated. When the automotive vehicle is brought into a decelerated state, the supply of fuel to the combustion engine is suspended by cutting the fuel off. The control of cutting fuel off is delayed by a given period of time after the control over the coupling force of the fluid coupling has been started. The given delay time is so set as to correspond to the state in which the fluid coupling slips.

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Hiroshima, Japan

Seiji Terauchi