Disclosed is a travel control apparatus for a four-wheel drive vehicle in which the states of engagements between a drive output part for secondary drive wheels and left and right secondary drive wheel axles are each changed to a torque transmission state or a torque transmission interruption state. The ratio of rotational speed of the drive output part to the average of rotational speeds of primary drive wheels is greater than 1. When the engagement states corresponding to the secondary drive wheels on the outer and inner sides of a turning locus have been set to the torque transmission state and the torque transmission interruption state, respectively, the engagement state having been set to the torque transmission state is changed to the torque transmission interruption state upon determination that an accelerator pedal is not operated and the magnitude of lateral acceleration is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold.

Methods and systems for nacelle door electromechanical actuation may include a power distribution unit comprising a motor and differential gears; and a plurality of electromechanical actuators, each coupled to an output of a corresponding one of the differential gears. Each of the electromechanical actuators may include a configurable brake and a mechanical output, where the power distribution unit may provide mechanical torque to one of the electromechanical actuators via the motor and the differential gears based on configuration of the configurable brakes in each of the electromechanical actuators. At least one of the configurable brakes may be an electrically configurable brake. At least one of the configurable brakes may be a mechanically configurable brake. The differential gears may include two or more differential gears for receiving an input torque and supplying an output torque to one of a plurality of outputs of the differential gears.

Methods and systems for nacelle door electromechanical actuation may include a power distribution unit comprising a motor and differential gears; and a plurality of electromechanical actuators, each coupled to an output of a corresponding one of the differential gears. Each of the electromechanical actuators may include a configurable brake and a mechanical output, where the power distribution unit may provide mechanical torque to one of the electromechanical actuators via the motor and the differential gears based on configuration of the configurable brakes in each of the electromechanical actuators. At least one of the configurable brakes may be an electrically configurable brake. At least one of the configurable brakes may be a mechanically configurable brake. The differential gears may include two or more differential gears for receiving an input torque and supplying an output torque to one of a plurality of outputs of the differential gears.

A drive axle system having a planetary interaxle differential unit. A shift collar may be movable along an axis between a first position and a second position. The shift collar may operatively connect a sun gear to a drive pinion when in the first position. The shift collar may operatively connect the sun gear to a planet carrier when in a second position.

A drive axle system having a planetary interaxle differential unit. A shift collar may be movable along an axis between a first position and a second position. The shift collar may operatively connect a sun gear to a drive pinion when in the first position. The shift collar may operatively connect the sun gear to a planet carrier when in a second position.

An automatic torque transmission with one or more stages, where each stage has a number of available gear ratios. A planetary gear train includes a planet gear, a sun gear, and a ring gear. The planet gear is configured to drive the sun gear at higher speed and lower torque, and the ring gear at lower speed and higher torque. The sun gear is coupled to an input of a differential gear train. The ring gear is coupled to a different input of the differential gear train. A brake clutch can be selectively coupled to the ring gear, to provide selective braking of the ring gear so as to selectively transfer drive from the ring gear to the sun gear.

A transaxle includes: an axle housing in which an input gear is rotatably supported; a differential casing that is contained in the axle housing while being rotatably supported relative to the axle housing; first and second side gears as a pair of spur gears that are contained in the differential casing, coaxially arranged, relatively rotatable with each other, and rotatable relative to the differential casing; a group of pinions as spur gears that are rotatably supported, in the differential casing, by rotational shafts that are in parallel with axes of the first and the second side gears in the differential casing, the group of pinions transmitting power between the first side gear and the second side gear; and a final gear having a ring shape that is contained in the axle housing, meshes with the input gear, incorporates the differential casing, and is relatively unrotatably coupled to the differential casing.

A transaxle includes: an axle housing in which an input gear is rotatably supported; a differential casing that is contained in the axle housing while being rotatably supported relative to the axle housing; first and second side gears as a pair of spur gears that are contained in the differential casing, coaxially arranged, relatively rotatable with each other, and rotatable relative to the differential casing; a group of pinions as spur gears that are rotatably supported, in the differential casing, by rotational shafts that are in parallel with axes of the first and the second side gears in the differential casing, the group of pinions transmitting power between the first side gear and the second side gear; and a final gear having a ring shape that is contained in the axle housing, meshes with the input gear, incorporates the differential casing, and is relatively unrotatably coupled to the differential casing.

An electric motor transaxle having a transaxle housing for a vehicle drive axle includes first and second axle-shafts that are configured to rotate about a common first axis. The transaxle includes a first planetary gear-set operatively connected to the first axle-shaft, configured to rotate about the first axis, and having first, second, third, and fourth members. The transaxle additionally includes a second planetary gear-set operatively connected to the second axle-shaft, configured to rotate about the first axis, and having first, second, third, and fourth members. The transaxle further includes an electric motor arranged on the first axis and configured to provide a direct electric motor torque input to each of the first and second planetary gear-sets. A vehicle drive axle for mounting in a motor vehicle and employing such an electric motor transaxle is also disclosed.

An electric motor transaxle having a transaxle housing for a vehicle drive axle includes first and second axle-shafts that are configured to rotate about a common first axis. The transaxle includes a first planetary gear-set operatively connected to the first axle-shaft, configured to rotate about the first axis, and having first, second, third, and fourth members. The transaxle additionally includes a second planetary gear-set operatively connected to the second axle-shaft, configured to rotate about the first axis, and having first, second, third, and fourth members. The transaxle further includes an electric motor arranged on the first axis and configured to provide a direct electric motor torque input to each of the first and second planetary gear-sets. A vehicle drive axle for mounting in a motor vehicle and employing such an electric motor transaxle is also disclosed.