A mechanical locking differential includes a driving ring in a differential housing between right and left active components. The driving ring is in line with the input bevel gear. The differential housing has a thin wall in a single, integral shell around the driving ring. Several hollow cylindrical shaft pins are used to attached the driving ring to the differential housing, with the shaft pins being driven radially relative to the transverse axis of the differential outputs in an interference fit with the housing and the driving ring. The shaft pins are held from axially backing out by two small rivets. The shaft pins preferably have a threaded inner diameter which assists in removal. The shaft pin attachment allows the bevel gear to extend closer to the transverse axis without obstruction.

A transmission device includes a first transmission member, an eccentric rotating member formed by integrally linking to each other a main shaft portion and an eccentric shaft portion, a second transmission member rotatably supported on the eccentric shaft portion, a third transmission member that opposes the second transmission member, a first transmission mechanism provided between the first and second transmission members, and a second transmission mechanism provided between the second and third transmission member. The second transmission member includes a first half body rotatably supported on the eccentric shaft portion, a second half body that opposes the first half body while sandwiching a housing space for the balance weight, and a linking member that links the two half bodies so as to surround the housing space, the linking member having a first access window that enables an operation of inserting the balance weight into the housing space.

A transmission device includes a first transmission member, an eccentric rotating member formed by integrally linking to each other a main shaft portion and an eccentric shaft portion, a second transmission member rotatably supported on the eccentric shaft portion, a third transmission member that opposes the second transmission member, a first transmission mechanism provided between the first and second transmission members, and a second transmission mechanism provided between the second and third transmission member. The second transmission member includes a first half body rotatably supported on the eccentric shaft portion, a second half body that opposes the first half body while sandwiching a housing space for the balance weight, and a linking member that links the two half bodies so as to surround the housing space, the linking member having a first access window that enables an operation of inserting the balance weight into the housing space.

A power transmitting device includes a first transmission member, an eccentric rotating member, a second transmission member disposed adjacent to the first transmission member, and a transmission mechanism that is provided between the first and second transmission members is formed from a hypotrochoidal first transmission groove and an epitrochoidal second transmission groove formed in one and the other of opposing faces of the first and second transmission members, and a sphere that carries out transmission of torque between the first and second transmission grooves while rolling in the two transmission grooves, wherein the first and second transmission grooves are formed so that each of the transmission grooves and the sphere make contact via two contact points, and a locus of the contact point of each transmission groove having a minimum radius of curvature set to be larger than of a distance between the two contact points of each sphere.

A transmission device includes first and second rotation transmission members capable of relative rotation around a first rotary axis. A first eccentric unit is rotatably supported on an eccentric shaft portion on a second rotary axis eccentric to a main shaft portion of an eccentric shaft. A counterweight incapable of relative rotation with respect to the eccentric shaft is arranged between the first eccentric unit and a second rotation transmission member connected to the first eccentric unit. The orbit of the counterweight overlaps a portion of the orbits of multiple intermediate members, the orbits of which are defined by groove parts formed on the opposing surfaces of the first rotation transmission member and the first eccentric unit, and the opposing surfaces of the second rotation transmission member and the second eccentric unit, or, the orbit of the counterweight is outside of the orbits of the intermediate members.

A driving force distribution apparatus for a four-wheel drive vehicle includes a hydraulic clutch, a spool, and a working-oil filling member. The spool is in an electromagnetic solenoid valve disposed in a hydraulic supply mechanism. The spool is slidably held in a sleeve and has one end biased by a plunger and the other end biased by a spring disposed in a damper chamber. A working oil is filled into the damper chamber through the working-oil filling member. The working-oil filling member is provided in the sleeve of the electromagnetic solenoid valve at an upper position in a direction of gravitational force above an oil surface of the working oil stored in the hydraulic supply mechanism.

A differential made without gears in the satellites and planetaries, in the planetary shafts elliptical tracks are obtained on the fronts and on the circumferences of the shafts, the shape of the tracks is semi-spherical or semi-cylindrical and requires the profile of half spheres or half rollers to roll tangentially within the tracks for a part of their circumference, the balls or rollers being constrained partly in the tracks, partly in the translators and, sometimes, partly in the cylinder and otherwise in the cross that divides the two shafts. The whole is contained by the cylinder in which the longitudinal seats are dedicated to the translators and the spheres that drag the balls or rollers. This cylinder can also be composed of two parts joined at the center to block the cross. In some cases, inside the shafts a bilateral locking and unlocking solenoid (SBL) is installed.

A differential made without gears in the satellites and planetaries, in the planetary shafts elliptical tracks are obtained on the fronts and on the circumferences of the shafts, the shape of the tracks is semi-spherical or semi-cylindrical and requires the profile of half spheres or half rollers to roll tangentially within the tracks for a part of their circumference, the balls or rollers being constrained partly in the tracks, partly in the translators and, sometimes, partly in the cylinder and otherwise in the cross that divides the two shafts. The whole is contained by the cylinder in which the longitudinal seats are dedicated to the translators and the spheres that drag the balls or rollers. This cylinder can also be composed of two parts joined at the center to block the cross. In some cases, inside the shafts a bilateral locking and unlocking solenoid (SBL) is installed.

A differential includes a differential case; a side gear; a pinion configured for meshing engagement with the side gear; and a pinion housing configured to support the pinion. The pinion housing includes a first face; a second face opposing the first face; a first projection located on the first face; and a second projection located on the second face. The pinion housing also includes an aperture or hole extending radially inwardly from an outer radial surface of the generally annular ring; and a channel extending from the first face to the second face, wherein the channel is substantially radially aligned with the aperture or hole. In embodiments, the pinion housing includes one or more transfer formations configured to transfer torque from the differential case, and the pinion housing is configured to permit movement in an axial direction between a pair of side gears.

A differential assembly for a vehicle includes a drive train for transferring motive power from an engine drive member to the right and left drive shafts which are coupled, respectively, to ground engaging members of the vehicle. The drive train includes a rotating element operatively engaged to the drive member and to the right and left drive shafts. The differential assembly further includes a first speed sensor is arranged to measure rotational speed of (i) the rotating element or (ii) one of the right and left drive shafts, and a second speed sensor arranged to measure rotational speed of one of the right and left drive shafts. The second speed sensor arranged to measure rotational speed of the other of the right and left drive shafts when the first speed sensor is arranged to measure rotational speed of one of the right and left drive shafts.