Land vehicles and methods of operating land vehicles are disclosed. A land vehicle includes a frame structure, a plurality of wheels, and a brake system. The frame structure includes a front cage that at least partially defines an operator cabin and a rear compartment positioned rearward of the front cage in a longitudinal direction. The plurality of wheels are supported by the frame structure. Each of plurality of wheels is sized to permit direct integration of an electric motor therein.

A structure of a rotation locking device that is easily configured and capable of keeping cost down is achieved.

A rotation locking device 4 switches between a first mode where an engaging claw portion 14 engages with an engaging concave portion 9 by an output member 13 rotating an engaging member 8 due to an input member 12 being rotationally driven by an actuator 7, and rotation of a locking gear 5 supported by and fixed to an output shaft 3 of an automatic transmission 2 is restricted, and a second mode where engagement between the engaging claw portion 14 and the engaging concave portion 9 is released and rotation of the locking gear 5 is allowed.

A diff-lock operation shaft 50 is supported by a case 11 in such a manner as to be rotatable around an axis P1 of the diff-lock operation shaft 50 and operates a diff-lock section 48 to a lock position A2 by being rotated, and a first coil spring 51 is wound around the outer surface of the diff-lock operation shaft 50 concentrically with the diff-lock operation shaft 50, and is linked at one end portion 51b to the diff-lock operation shaft 50 and at another end portion 51a to linking members 55 and 56. The first coil spring 51 is twisted around the axis P1 via the linking members 55 and 56 by the manual operation tool 58 being operated, and the diff-lock operation shaft 50 is rotated via the first coil spring 51.

A transmission for a vehicle. The transmission includes a housing and a valve block arranged in the housing, and a parking lock mechanism. The parking lock mechanism has a wheel rotationally locked to a shaft of the transmission, a pawl and a hydraulic actuator arranged for engagement of the wheel and the pawl for locking the shaft. The actuator is hydraulically connected to the valve block such that the actuator is supplied by hydraulic fluid from the valve block.

A hydraulic transaxle facilitates mounting a parking brake unit which requires no link mechanism and is compact. The parking brake unit includes a brake rotor provided on a rotation shaft and a locking member being displaceable between a first position where the brake rotor is locked and a second position where the brake rotor is unlocked. The locking member includes a locking portion which is engaged in a recess formed in the brake rotor that locks the brake rotor in the first position, and a non-locking portion which is placed at a position corresponding to the recess and which separates from the brake rotor in the second position. The hydraulic transaxle further includes an oil-supply mechanism capable of displacing the locking member to the second position.

A towable crash-attenuating vehicle is shown having a frame; at least two axles coupled to the frame, each of the axles having wheels attached thereto; a T-shaped ballast coupled to the frame, and oriented such that the weight of the ballast is biased toward the front end of the frame; deflection shields coupled to the right and left sides of the frame, wherein the deflection shields cover the frame and a majority of the wheels on each side of the vehicle; a tow connection coupled to the front of the frame, pivotable from a deployed state to an undeployed state; an impact attenuator coupled to the rear of the frame; wherein the vehicle is provided with a brake system, and wherein said brake system may be locked and unlocked and wherein the vehicle is provided with an on-board mechanism for locking and unlocking the brake system.

A swing type wheel locking device includes a wheel axle and a pivoting part. A wheel body has an outer wheel face and an axle hole fitted on the periphery of the wheel axle at a position close to the axle end part. A plurality of positioning concave parts are arrayed in a circle on the outer wheel surface. A swing type wheel locking component is pivoted on the wheel axle and has a pivoting end and a swing section. The pivoting end is pivoted on the pivoting part, so that the swing section can be forced to swing, and by choosing different swing angles, it can be shifted between a locked position and released position. When a clamping convex part of the swing section is at a locked position, it is locked right inside the corresponding positioning concave part. Thus, the wheel body is locked against rotation.

A method for controlling driving force of a vehicle includes: determining, by a controller, a basic torque command on the basis of vehicle operation information collected while a vehicle is driven; obtaining, by the controller, tire vertical load information and vehicle pitch motion information in real time during the vehicle is driven on the basis of the information collected from the vehicle; determining, by the controller, a final torque command using the determined basic torque command and the obtained tire vertical load information and vehicle pitch motion information; and controlling, by the controller, a torque output of a driving device configured to drive the vehicle according to the determined final torque command.

In a vehicle parking lock mechanism, a parking pawl mechanically hinders rotation of the parking gear by being engaged with the parking gear. A lock member is moved to the lock position to establish a parking lock state in which the parking pawl hinders rotation of the parking gear. The support member includes a guide portion configured to guide movement of the lock member between the lock position and the unlock position while restricting the lock member from displacing in a direction away from the parking pawl. The stopper is rotatably mounted to either one member of the lock member or the support member, changes a posture in accordance with relative movement between the lock member and the support member, and protrudes toward the other member side of the lock member such that the stopper establishes a protruding posture in the parking lock state.

A towable crash-attenuating vehicle is shown having a frame; at least two axles coupled to the frame, each of the axles having wheels attached thereto; a ballast coupled to the frame; deflection shields coupled to the right and left sides of the frame, wherein the deflection shields cover the frame and a majority of the wheels on each side of the vehicle; a tow connection coupled to the front of the frame; an impact attenuator coupled to the rear of the frame; wherein the vehicle is provided with a brake system, and wherein the vehicle is provided with an mechanism for locking and unlocking the brake system.