A vehicle having a structure is provided. The system includes a cradle mounted to the structure at a first position and a second position, the second position being spaced apart from the first position. A rear drive module is provided having a housing, the housing coupled to the cradle between the first position and the second position, the housing coupled to the cradle in at least two locations. At least one linkage is operably coupled to the housing on a first end and to the structure on a second end.

A torque transfer assembly for a tandem axle drive train, having a first synchronizer assembly including a first portion arranged to non-rotatably connect to a power input shaft arranged to receive torque from an engine, a second synchronizer assembly, an overdrive gear assembly engageable with the first synchronizer assembly, and an inter-axle differential gear (IAD) arranged to engage first and second power shafts, and engaged with the second synchronizer assembly. In a differential mode, a first torque path is formed from the power input shaft to a first axle through the first synchronizer, the power shafts, the IAD and second synchronizer, and a second torque path is formed from the power input shaft to a second axle through the first synchronizer, the power shafts, and the IAD, and, in overdrive mode, a third torque path is formed from the power input shaft to the first axle through the first synchronizer.

A compact bevel differential gear mechanism with pinion bevel gears arranged in a tightly packed array is disclosed. The compact bevel differential gear mechanism includes first and second side bevel gears that are co-axially aligned along an axis of rotation. The compact bevel differential gear mechanism also includes an array of pinion bevel gears mounted between the first and second side bevel gears. The pinion bevel gears intermesh with the first and second side bevel gears to form a torque transfer arrangement configured for transferring torque between the pinion bevel gears and the first and second side bevel gears and for allowing the first and second side bevel gears to rotate at different rotational speeds with respect to one another. Each of the pinion bevel gears has an actual gear face angle value that is within +/10 percent of a target gear face angle value. The target gear face angle value is equal to 360 degrees divided by twice the total number of pinion bevel gears provided in the array of pinion bevel gears.

An axle assembly having a clutch collar actuator mechanism. The clutch collar actuator mechanism may have a piston housing and a yoke that may move with respect to the piston housing. The piston housing may extend around the input shaft and may receive at least one piston. The yoke may connect the piston to the clutch collar.

A transmission system for a vehicle, comprising a dynamic controllable clutch (DCC) and a friction clutch. The transmission system may further comprise a controller comprising instructions stored in non-transitory memory that are executable by the controller to adjust a state of the DCC and a state of the friction clutch to selectively engage a first gear ratio and a second gear ratio for providing torque transfer from an input to an output of the transmission system.

Systems and methods for an electric axle. In one example, the electric axle includes an electric machine removably coupled to a first side of an input shaft via a first mechanical attachment interface and a differential rotationally coupled to a transmission. The transmission includes the input shaft that includes a second mechanical interface on a second side that is opposite the first side and a clutch mounted on an intermediate shaft or the input shaft and configured to shift the transmission between at least two gear ratios.

A differential gear arrangement for a vehicle. The differential gear arrangement includes a ring gear, a spindle gear, a spindle gear carrier, a side gear and an output shaft. The spindle gear is carried by the spindle gear carrier and rotatable relative to the spindle gear carrier. The spindle gear and the side gear are engaged with each other. The side gear is rotationally connected to the output shaft. The ring gear is arranged to drive the output shaft by rotating the spindle gear carrier when the ring gear and the spindle gear carrier are rotationally connected to each other. The ring gear and the spindle gear carrier are rotationally disconnectable from each other by axial displacement of the spindle gear carrier relative to the ring gear and the output shaft.

An e-axle assembly includes a housing extending from a first housing end to a second housing end to define an internal compartment. At least one electric motor is disposed in the internal compartment and includes a stator and a rotor rotatable relative to the stator about an axis. The rotor defines a hollow extending internally within the rotor, and at least one of a gearing mechanism, a shifting actuator, and/or a differential is disposed within the hollow (and thus packaged within the rotor). In a preferred arrangement, all and any of the gearing mechanisms, shifting actuators, and differential are disposed within the hollow of the rotor. This internal packaging of the drive components within the rotor reduces an overall space and weight of the e-axle assembly relative to the prior art designs to more easily and readily achieve the smaller space and weight allotments afforded by electric and/or hybrid vehicles.

An e-axle assembly includes a housing extending from a first housing end to a second housing end to define an internal compartment. At least one electric motor is disposed in the internal compartment and includes a stator and a rotor rotatable relative to the stator about an axis. The rotor defines a hollow extending internally within the rotor, and at least one of a gearing mechanism, a shifting actuator, and/or a differential is disposed within the hollow (and thus packaged within the rotor). In a preferred arrangement, all and any of the gearing mechanisms, shifting actuators, and differential are disposed within the hollow of the rotor. This internal packaging of the drive components within the rotor reduces an overall space and weight of the e-axle assembly relative to the prior art designs to more easily and readily achieve the smaller space and weight allotments afforded by electric and/or hybrid vehicles.