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.

A device and method for operating a multi-axle powertrain for a motor vehicle, with a first axle being permanently in operative connection and a second axle being at least temporarily in operative connection by a drive device via a clutch coupling. It is provided that, when the second axle is decoupled from the drive device and the starting clutch is disengaged, an expected wheel force is predictively ascertained. The determination of the wheel force takes into account a torque caused by a mass moment of inertia of the drive device, and the second axle is coupled with the drive device if the expected wheel force surpasses a maximum wheel force.

A vehicle driveline component with a ball-ramp mechanism that includes a first ball-ramp ring, a second ball-ramp ring and a plurality of balls. Each of the first and second ball-ramp rings have a plurality of ball supports that define ball tracks that receive the balls. Each of the ball supports has a first radial width at a first location and a second radial width at a second location. The first and second widths are different to minimize the amount of material that forms the first and second ball-ramp rings.

A switchable one-way clutch is able to switch between operating as a one-way clutch and a clutch that locks in both directions. The clutch includes an inner race, and an outer race that includes an inner surface with a plurality of ramped profiles. A control plate is located radially outward from the inner race and moveable in an axial direction relative to the outer race. A plurality of rollers are contactable with the outer and inner races. A roller cage is configured to position and contain the plurality of rollers. A hydraulic piston is coupled to an actuator arm, such that movement of the piston along the axis moves the actuator arm along the axis. To switch and engage the clutch such that rotation is locked in both directions, the piston and actuator arm move axially to hold the control plate and attached roller cage against rotation.

A switchable one-way clutch is able to switch between operating as a one-way clutch and a clutch that locks in both directions. The clutch includes an inner race, and an outer race that includes an inner surface with a plurality of ramped profiles. A control plate is located radially outward from the inner race and moveable in an axial direction relative to the outer race. A plurality of rollers are contactable with the outer and inner races. A roller cage is configured to position and contain the plurality of rollers. A hydraulic piston is coupled to an actuator arm, such that movement of the piston along the axis moves the actuator arm along the axis. To switch and engage the clutch such that rotation is locked in both directions, the piston and actuator arm move axially to hold the control plate and attached roller cage against rotation.

A vehicle including a coupling device that includes (a) an engagement clutch mechanism for coupling an input side engagement member that is coupled to a drive power source of the vehicle and an output side engagement member that is coupled to a drive wheel of the vehicle; and (b) a cam mechanism for assisting engagement of the input and output side engagement members depending on a differential torque by which the input and output side engagement members are rotated differentially. The vehicle includes a control device configured, when the engagement of the input and output side engagement members is to be released, to cause a braking force to be applied to one of the input and output side engagement members such that the differential torque is reduced.

A vehicle including a coupling device that includes (a) an engagement clutch mechanism for coupling an input side engagement member that is coupled to a drive power source of the vehicle and an output side engagement member that is coupled to a drive wheel of the vehicle; and (b) a cam mechanism for assisting engagement of the input and output side engagement members depending on a differential torque by which the input and output side engagement members are rotated differentially. The vehicle includes a control device configured, when the engagement of the input and output side engagement members is to be released, to cause a braking force to be applied to one of the input and output side engagement members such that the differential torque is reduced.

A differential apparatus includes: a differential mechanism that distributes an input driving force to a pair of side gears so as to allow differential motion therebetween; a differential case that accommodates the differential mechanism; and a clutch mechanism that transmits the driving force between the differential case and pinion shafts of the differential mechanism. The clutch mechanism includes: a slide member that is movable relative to the pinion shafts of the differential mechanism in the axial direction of the differential case and is non-rotatable relative thereto in the differential case; and an actuator that applies an axial moving force to the slide member. The slide member has on one end portion a first meshing portion. The differential case includes a disc-shaped first case member and a bottomed-cylindrical second case member that accommodates the differential mechanism. The second case member has a second meshing portion facing the first meshing portion.

A differential apparatus includes: a differential mechanism that distributes an input driving force to a pair of side gears so as to allow differential motion therebetween; a differential case that accommodates the differential mechanism; and a clutch mechanism that transmits the driving force between the differential case and pinion shafts of the differential mechanism. The clutch mechanism includes: a slide member that is movable relative to the pinion shafts of the differential mechanism in the axial direction of the differential case and is non-rotatable relative thereto in the differential case; and an actuator that applies an axial moving force to the slide member. The slide member has on one end portion a first meshing portion. The differential case includes a disc-shaped first case member and a bottomed-cylindrical second case member that accommodates the differential mechanism. The second case member has a second meshing portion facing the first meshing portion.