Vehicle drive-force transmitting apparatus

A drive-force transmitting apparatus to be installed in a vehicle that includes an engine and drive wheels,

• the drive-force transmitting apparatus comprising a first clutch, a second clutch, a mode switching clutch and a torque converter that includes a lock-up clutch, the drive-force transmitting apparatus defining first and second drive-force transmitting paths that are provided in parallel to each other between the engine and the drive wheels,
• wherein the first drive-force transmitting path is provided with the first clutch and the mode switching clutch, such that the first clutch is disposed between the mode switching clutch and the engine in the first drive-force transmitting path,
• wherein the second drive-force transmitting path is provided with the second clutch,
• wherein the torque converter is provided between the engine and the first and second drive-force transmitting paths, and
• wherein an operating mode of the mode switching clutch is to be switched between at least a one-way mode and a lock mode, such that the mode switching clutch is configured to transmit a drive force during a driving state of the vehicle and to cut off transmission of the drive force during a driven state of the vehicle when the mode switching clutch is placed in the one-way mode, and such that the mode switching clutch is configured to transmit the drive force during the driving state of the vehicle and during the driven state of the vehicle when the mode switching clutch is placed in the lock mode,
• the drive-force transmitting apparatus further comprising:
• a switching solenoid valve configured to output a switching pressure by which the operating mode of the mode switching clutch is to be switched between at least the one-way mode and the lock mode;
• and
• a lock-up clutch control valve configured to switch an operating state of the lock-up clutch between an engaged state and a released state;
• wherein the mode switching clutch is placed in the lock mode when the switching pressure is supplied from the switching solenoid valve to the mode switching clutch, and
• wherein the lock-up clutch control valve is configured to receive the switching pressure supplied from the switching solenoid valve, and to switch the operating state of the lock-up clutch to the released state when the switching pressure is supplied from the switching solenoid valve to the lock-up clutch control valve.