Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha

Honda Motor Co., Ltd.

Tetsurou Hamada

Kazuhiko Shimada

Katsuhiko Masuda

Kazunori Shibuya

Masami Takano

Shoji Tokushima

Makoto Watanabe

Naoya Akama

Takashi Aoki

Kentaro Arai

Mitsuya Serizawa

Kazuhiko Kitano

Naohisa Morishita

Noboru Ashikawa

Kenji Fukuda

Yoshihiro Kanamaru

Yasuo Kitami

Katsuhiro Kitamura

Takayuki Yakou

Kunitaka Furuya

Taiji Maruyama

Hideki Morita

Kanji Kita

Norio Ukai

Yoshinobu Ezure

Shinji Sakuma

Yoshikazu Konishi

Shojji Tokushima

A driving device for a hybrid vehicle including: an engine; an electric motor; a power combination/distribution mechanism which is disposed between both the engine and the electric motor and one pair of front wheels and rear wheels so as to combine and distribute power generated from the engine and the electric motor; and a transmission mechanism which is disposed between the engine and the other pair of the front wheels and the rear wheels, wherein the power combination/distribution mechanism is a planetary gear mechanism having a sun gear, a carrier, and a ring gear; an output shaft of the electric motor is connected to the carrier; and wherein rotational driving ranges in the electric motor are set to each of a normal rotation direction and a reverse rotation direction.

Driving device for hybrid vehicle

A power unit which makes it possible to reduce power transmitted from a prime mover to a driven part via an electrical path, to thereby increase the efficiency of driving the driven part. A first rotating machine of the power unit inputs and outputs energy between a stator and first and second rotors thereof, via magnetic circuits formed by generation of a rotating magnetic field, and the rotating magnetic field, and the rotors rotate while maintaining a linear relation in which respective differences in rotational speed between the rotating magnetic field and the second rotor, and between the second and first rotors are equal. The rotors are mechanically connected to a prime mover and a transmission, respectively. A second rotating machine of the power unit is mechanically connected to a drive part without via the transmission, and electrically connected to the stator.

Power unit

A control device for a hybrid vehicle prevents a decrease in the total amount of regenerated energy in the entire vehicle while ensuring the stability of the vehicle when the vehicle decelerates. When the vehicle decelerates and regenerated energy is recovered by the regeneration operation of front motor and rear motor, the ECU sets the amount of regeneration, which is transferred from front wheels to rear wheels, depending on the steered angle of the front wheels and on the deceleration state of the vehicle. In addition, the ECU subtracts the amount of regeneration to be transferred from regeneration torque command value for rear wheels demanding from the rear motor, and adds the same amount of regeneration to regeneration torque command value for front wheels demanding from the front motor.

Control device for hybrid vehicle

A vehicle control apparatus generates an appropriate driving force according to the will of a driver when an internal combustion engine is restarted from a condition in which the idling of the engine is being stopped. In a condition in which the idling of an internal combustion engineis being stopped, in the event that the depressing amount of a brake pedal by the driver is relatively large, an ECU () selects a relatively low-speed side gear of a transmission () so as to connect an input shaft (A) and an output shaft (B) together, and in contrast, in the event that the depressing amount of the brake pedal by the driver is relatively small, the ECU () selects a relatively high-speed side gear of the transmission () so as to connect the input shaft (A) and the output shaft (B) together.

Vehicle control apparatus

The four-wheel drive system for vehicles has a center differential mechanism that divides the rotational driving force from the engine E between the front and rear wheels, and a front wheel side axle differential mechanism that divides this divided rotational driving force between the left and right front wheels. The center differential mechanism is constructed from a single pinion type first planetary gear device which has a first carrier that receives the rotational driving force from the engine E, a first sun gear , and a first ring gear that is connected to the rear wheel side, and the axle differential mechanism is constructed from a double pinion type second planetary gear device which has a second ring gear that is connected to the first sun gear , a second sun gear that is connected to the right front wheel, and a second carrier that is connected to the left front wheel. The first and second planetary gear devices are disposed adjacent to each other in a coaxial configuration.

Four-wheel drive system for vehicles

A gearbox and two hydraulic clutches are disposed between left and right follower wheels of a vehicle. The torque transfer capacity of the hydraulic clutches is controlled to effect the distribution of a torque between the follower wheels. In a low lateral acceleration range, the torque transfer capacity is increased in accordance with an increase in lateral acceleration to enhance the turning performance and the high-speed stability performance. In a high lateral acceleration range, the torque transfer capacity is decreased in accordance with an increase in lateral acceleration, such that it does not exceed a largest frictional force of a wheel acting as an inner wheel during turning movement of the vehicle, thereby insuring a cornering force.

Torque distribution control system in vehicle

A power transmitting device for a four-wheel drive vehicle which includes main driven wheels driven directly by an engine and speed-change transmission, a left sub-driven wheel driven through a first hydraulic pressure clutch, a right sub-driven wheel driven through a second hydraulic pressure clutch, a first hydraulic pump driven in operative association with the main driven wheels, a second hydraulic pump driven in operative association with the left sub-driven wheel, a third hydraulic pump driven in operative association with the right sub-driven wheel, a first oil passage which connects a discharge port of the first hydraulic pump to intake ports of the second and third hydraulic pumps, and a second oil passage which connects the first oil passage to a working chamber in the first hydraulic pressure clutch and a working chamber in the second hydraulic pressure clutch. The three hydraulic pumps and hydraulic circuit are arranged such that the vehicle operates in a four-wheel drive mode only when the vehicle is first starting to travel and when the speed of the vehicle is increased. The vehicle operates in a main driven wheel drive mode when the vehicle is travelling at a constant speed and when the speed of the vehicle is reduced.

Power transmitting device for four-wheel drive vehicle

A power transmitting system of a four-wheel drive vehicle having primary driven wheels driven directly by a prime mover, and subsidiary driven wheels driven through a hydraulic clutch. The power transmitting system comprises a first hydraulic pump driven in operative association with the primary driven wheels and a second hydraulic pump driven in operative association with the subsidiary driven wheels. Each hydraulic pump has a pair of ports which serve as an intake and a discharge with the functions of such ports being reversed between forward and backward movement of the vehicle. A first oil passage connects the intake port of one pump with the discharge of the other pump and a second oil passage connects the discharge of the one pump with the intake of the other pump. Third and fourth oil passages connect the first and second oil passages, respectively, with a working hydraulic pressure chamber in the hydraulic clutch. A one-way valve is provided in each of the third and fourth oil passages for permitting only a flow of oil toward the working hydraulic pressure chamber. The reversal of vehicle movement and direction of oil discharged from each of the hydraulic pumps provided in the power transmitting system of the four-wheel drive vehicle is compensated for by a simple structure of oil passages and one-way valves.

Power transmitting system of four-wheel drive vehicle

A dog clutch mechanism for use as a clutch for switching drive power in a four-wheel-drive vehicle has a case, first and second rotatable shafts rotatably supported coaxially in the case for transmitting a relative torque between front and rear wheels of the vehicle, and a dog clutch comprising a dog piece having first dog teeth and fixedly mounted on the first rotatably shaft and a hub having second dog teeth capable of axially meshing with the first dog teeth and axially slidably mounted on the second rotatable shaft. The dog clutch is selectively engageable for transmitting the relative torque between the first and second rotatable shafts. The first and second dog teeth having respective meshing tapered surfaces for producing thrust forces acting on the hub and tending to move the hub in a direction away from the dog piece when the vehicle is braked while a relative forward torque is being transmitted between the first and second rotatable shafts through the dog clutch.

Dog clutch mechanism

A torque transmitting device includes a rotatable case having defined therein a fluid chamber extending axially and filled with a fluid, a rotatable shaft disposed coaxially in the fluid chamber and rotatable with respect to the case, a plurality of outer plates and inner plates disposed coaxially in the fluid chamber for relative torque transmission between the rotatable case and the rotatable shaft through the fluid, the outer plates having outer peripheries engageable with an inner peripheral surface of the rotatable case for rotation with the rotatable case, the inner plates having inner peripheries engageable with an outer peripheral surface of the rotatable shaft for rotation with the rotatable shaft, and members disposed between the inner peripheral surface of the rotatable case and the outer peripheries of the outer plates or between the outer peripheral surface of the rotatable shaft and the inner peripheries of the inner plates for holding the rotatable case and the rotatable shaft in engagement with each other while allowing them to be angularly shifted through a predetermined angle.

Torque transmitting device

A torque transmitting device for transmitting torque by utilizing the viscosity of a fluid includes a casing having a cylindrical barrel having closed opposite ends, shafts rotatably supported in the casing in concentric relation to the cylindrical barrel, a fluid chamber defined by an inner peripheral surface and outer peripheral surfaces of the shafts, a plurality of annular outer plates disposed in the fluid chamber and rotatable with the casing, a plurality of annular inner plates disposed in the fluid chamber alternately with the outer plates and rotatable with the shafts, and a fluid filled in the fluid chamber. Torque can be transmitted between the casing and the shafts through the viscosity of the fluid present between the outer plates and the inner plates. Flow passages are defined in the fluid chamber and extending axially of the shafts for allowing the fluid to flow in the fluid chamber axially of the shafts.

A dog clutch mechanism includes a case, first and second rotatable shafts rotatably disposed coaxially in the case, the second rotatable shaft having an annular groove defined in an outer periphery thereof, a dog piece fixedly mounted on the first rotatable shaft and having first dog teeth confronting an end of the second rotatable shaft, a hub axially slidably mounted on the second rotatable shaft and having second dog teeth meshingly engageable with the first dog teeth, the second dog teeth being movable out of meshing engagement with the first dog teeth under a thrust force in response to relative torque transmission between the first and second rotatable shafts. The hub has guide holes extending radially therethrough toward the second rotatable shaft and a plurality of balls are retained respectively in the guide holes are and engageable in the annular groove. A sleeve is axially slidably disposed on an outer periphery of the hub for engaging the balls and pressing the balls into at least the annular groove.

An apparatus for steering the front and rear wheels of a motor vehicle includes a front wheel steering mechanism for steering the front wheels in response to operation of a steering wheel, a rear wheel steering mechanism for steering the rear wheels at least in the same direction as the direction in which the front wheels are steered, and a connector shaft mechanically interconnecting the front and rear wheel steering mechanisms. A rotation control mechanism employing a viscous fluid is mounted on the connector shaft for applying a resistive force dependent on the speed of rotation of the steering wheel to the connector shaft.

Front and rear wheel steering apparatus for motor vehicles

A drive mode selecting system for a four-wheel-drive motor vehicle includes a drive system for driving a first axle drive mechanism and a second axle drive mechanism, a clutch for selectively rigidly connecting the first and second axle drive mechanisms through the drive system for transmitting relative torque between the first and second axle drive mechanisms, and disconnecting the first and second axle drive mechanisms, a brake operation detector for detecting operation of a brake of the motor vehicle, an accelerator operation detector for detecting operation of an accelerator of the motor vehicle, and a controller responsive to detected signals from the brake operation detecting means and the accelerator operation detecting means for applying a disengaging signal to the clutch means to disconnect the first and second axle drive mechanisms when the detected signals indicate that the brake is operated and the accelerator is not operated.

Drive mode selecting system for four-wheel-drive motor vehicle

A drive power transmission device includes: a first shaft for receiving drive power transmitted from a drive source; a second shaft having a coupling shaft portion at a front end thereof; a coupling housing comprising a cover body having a front portion operatively coupled to a rear end of the first shaft and a rear portion including a central bearing portion in which a distal end of the coupling shaft portion is rotatably supported, and a tubular member having a front open end in which an outer circumference of the cover body is fitted and a rear boss end having a central through hole in which a proximal portion of the coupling shaft portion is rotatably supported, the cover body, the boss end, the coupling shaft portion, and the tubular member jointly defining a cylindrical fluid chamber filled with a fluid; a viscous shear coupling mechanism disposed in the fluid chamber for transmitting the drive power from the first shaft through the fluid to the second shaft; and a centrifugal clutch mechanism disposed between the coupling housing and the second shaft for transmitting the drive power from the first shaft to the second shaft.

Growing community of inventors

Utsunomiya, Japan

Tetsurou Hamada