In engaging (connecting) a dog clutch by operating a synchromesh mechanism, when there occurs an uplock at the time when a first pressing force is caused to act on a hub sleeve, tooth tips of spline teeth of the hub sleeve contact with tooth tips of spline teeth of a synchronizer ring, and these spline teeth cannot be engaged. However, when a second pressing force is caused to act on the hub sleeve, the uplock is easy to be released. In addition, when torque from an engine is caused to act on the hub sleeve, a displacement is caused to occur in a rotation direction between the mutually contacting spline teeth. Thus, the uplock is reliably released.

A locking differential can include first and second locking dogs and an actuator system. The first dog can include a set of first teeth fixed to a side gear of the differential. The second dog can be axially movable between first and second positions and can include an annular body coupled to a differential case for common rotation and a set of second teeth. In the first position, the first and second teeth can be disengaged. In the second position, the first and second teeth can be engaged, inhibiting relative rotation between the side gear and the differential case. At least one sensor can detect the angular position and angular velocity of the second teeth relative to the first teeth. An actuator can move the second dog from the first position to the second position based on the detected relative angular positions and velocities of the first and second teeth.

A control device for a vehicle is provided. The vehicle includes a transmission and an engine configured to input a torque into the transmission. The transmission has multiple transmission stages and includes a first engagement mechanism and a second engagement mechanism. The control device includes an ECU configured to: (a) control the second engagement mechanism when a second transmission stage is set such that the capacity of torque transmission of the second engagement mechanism is increased and a thrust for separating a first member and a second member of the first engagement mechanism from each other in an axial direction is generated; (b) calculate a decrement in an output torque of the transmission when the capacity of torque transmission of the second engagement mechanism is increased; and (c) increase a torque input into the transmission by the engine based on the decrement in the output torque by controlling the engine.

A locking differential can include first and second locking dogs and an actuator system. The first dog can include a set of first teeth fixed to a side gear of the differential. The second dog can be axially movable between first and second positions and can include an annular body coupled to a differential case for common rotation and a set of second teeth. In the first position, the first and second teeth can be disengaged. In the second position, the first and second teeth can be engaged, inhibiting relative rotation between the side gear and the differential case. At least one sensor can detect the angular position and angular velocity of the second teeth relative to the first teeth. An actuator can move the second dog from the first position to the second position based on the detected relative angular positions and velocities of the first and second teeth.

A disconnect module for engaging/disengaging a first shaft with a first component includes a connecting shaft arranged coaxially with the first shaft, one end of which is rotatably supported on the first shaft, and the other end connected to the first component, and a sliding sleeve on outer sides of the first shaft and the connecting shaft. The sliding sleeve is rotatably connected to the first shaft and can reciprocate axially by an axial distance to engage/disengage from the connecting shaft and includes a circumferential groove open to the outside. The module also includes a motor, a speed reducer connected to the motor and including an output shaft, and a drive block connected to the output shaft and extending into the circumferential groove and driven by the speed reducer to rotate, thereby driving the sliding sleeve to reciprocate axially. A mechanical position-limiting mechanism is provided on the output shaft.

In engaging (connecting) a dog clutch by operating a synchromesh mechanism, when there occurs an uplock at the time when a first pressing force is caused to act on a hub sleeve, tooth tips of spline teeth of the hub sleeve contact with tooth tips of spline teeth of a synchronizer ring, and these spline teeth cannot be engaged. However, when a second pressing force is caused to act on the hub sleeve, the uplock is easy to be released. In addition, when torque from an engine is caused to act on the hub sleeve, a displacement is caused to occur in a rotation direction between the mutually contacting spline teeth. Thus, the uplock is reliably released.

A clutch actuator relatively moves a first clutch member and a second clutch member relative to each other in an axial direction. A phase difference sensor detects a phase difference between the first and second clutch members. A controller executes a synchronization operation that gradually decreases an input-output rotational speed difference until it reaches a target rotational speed difference and detects a current latest engagement timing based on an output of the phase difference sensor. After an adjustment reference time point, at which the input-output rotational speed difference reaches a phase-difference-detectable rotational speed difference that allows the phase difference sensor to detect the phase difference, the controller adjusts the phase difference by changing a change characteristic of the input-output rotational speed difference such that one of future engagement timings coincides with a target completion time point, based on information obtained at an arbitrary phase difference detection time point.