A differential drive system includes an electric motor for generating an electric motor torque and an input planetary gear-set operatively connected to the electric motor to receive the electric motor torque. The input planetary gear-set has first, second, and third members. The first member receives the electric motor torque, the second member provides a first input torque in a first rotational direction in response to the electric motor torque, and the third member provides a second input torque in a second rotational direction, opposite the first direction, in response to the electric motor torque. The system also includes a first output gear-set operatively connected to the input planetary gear-set, and providing a first output torque in response to the first input torque. The system additionally includes a second output gear-set operatively connected to the input planetary gear-set and providing a second output torque in response to the second input torque.

A differential device for a 4-wheel-drive vehicle wherein a portion of a drive power source drive force transmitted to left and right main drive wheels is transmitted to left and right auxiliary drive wheels through a propeller shaft which is disconnectable from a power transmitting path between the main drive wheels and drive power source, the differential device distributes the drive force from the propeller shaft to the auxiliary drive wheels, and selectively connects and disconnects the propeller and an output shaft to and from each other, the output shaft. The differential device includes a side oil seal between the output shaft and a casing, a side bearing adjacent to the seal in an output shaft axial direction such that the output shaft is rotatably supported by the casing via the bearing, and an oil slinger axially adjacent to the bearing so the slinger is rotated with the output shaft.

A centralized full-time electric four-wheel drive system, including: a housing; a central differential; a main drive unit, whose power output gear meshes with the ring gear of the central differential; a dual-rotor motor having a first and a second output gear at either end; a rear-axle differential; a first planetary gearset (PG), whose sun gear and ring gear connect to the carrier of the central differential and the housing respectively; a second PG with common carrier of the first PG, whose sun gear connects to the sun gear of the central differential and ring gear meshes with the first output gear; a third PG, whose sun gear and ring gear connect to the semi-axle of the rear-axle differential and the housing respectively; a forth PG with common carrier of the third PG, whose sun gear connects to the rear-axle differential cage and ring gear meshes with the second output gear.

A vehicle includes a tandem axle system having an inter-axle differential and clutching assembly, a forward or first axle assembly, and a rear or second axle assembly. The inter-axle differential and clutching assembly includes a differential mechanism having first and second side gears and a clutch mechanism having a clutch member and an actuator assembly. At least one of the first axle assembly and the second axle assembly is in selective driving engagement with the inter-axle differential and clutching assembly.

A vehicle includes a tandem axle system having an inter-axle differential and clutching assembly, a forward or first axle assembly, and a rear or second axle assembly. The inter-axle differential and clutching assembly includes a differential mechanism having first and second side gears and a clutch mechanism having a clutch member and an actuator assembly. At least one of the first axle assembly and the second axle assembly is in selective driving engagement with the inter-axle differential and clutching assembly.

A final drive for a motor vehicle, comprising a first input shaft, a second input shaft, a first output shaft, and a second output shaft, wherein the first input shaft is permanently coupled to the first output shaft by a first ring gear transmission and the second input shaft is permanently coupled to the second output shaft by a second ring gear transmission. The first input shaft and the second input shaft are arranged coaxial to each other and the first output shaft and the second output shaft extend from the respective ring gear transmissions in opposite directions, wherein an axis plane contains the axes of rotation of the input shafts and a plane perpendicular to the axis plane includes an angle of at least 75 and at most 90.

An axle assembly having a drive pinion assembly. The drive pinion assembly may have a drive pinion body, a pinion gear, and a side gear. The pinion gear may be fixedly disposed on a first end portion of the drive pinion body. The side gear may be fixedly disposed on a second end portion of the drive pinion body.

An axle assembly having a drive pinion assembly. The drive pinion assembly may have a drive pinion body, a pinion gear, and a side gear. The pinion gear may be fixedly disposed on a first end portion of the drive pinion body. The side gear may be fixedly disposed on a second end portion of the drive pinion body.

A torque transmission apparatus incorporates a differential gear system and a stationary sensor connected to the differential gear system for measuring output torque. The stationary sensor may be connected to a measurement output element of the differential gear system by a torsionally compliant measurement member, wherein the stationary sensor measures torsional deformation of the measurement member. The torsional deformation may be measured directly, or it may be measured following amplification by a gear train. A rotary position sensor may be used as the stationary sensor. Alternatively, the stationary sensor may be connected to the measurement output element of the differential gear system by way of a rigid measurement member, wherein the stationary sensor measures force applied by the measurement member. In this alternative, a force sensor may be used as the stationary sensor.

The disclosed technology includes a tensioning mechanism, which can include an input shaft configured to receive torque from a torque source and transmit the torque via a gear assembly to the one or more output gears or shafts such that the one or more output gears or shafts are caused to rotate and output torque.