A drive module having a housing, an input pinion, a ring gear driven by the input pinion, a ring gear bearing supporting the ring gear for rotation relative to the housing, a pair of output shafts and a clutch that selectively transmits rotary power between the ring gear and the output shafts. The clutch includes a clutch input, which is rotatably coupled to the ring gear, a clutch pack separator that is rotatably coupled to the clutch input, a pair of clutch outputs, which are each coupled to a respective one of the output shafts, a pair of clutch packs, which transmit rotary power between the clutch input and a respective one of the clutch outputs, and a pair of apply pistons. The apply pistons are housed in the clutch pack separator.

A method of providing limited slip in a differential assembly includes interconnecting an axle and a differential assembly through a first slippable linkage. The axle is driven in rotation with a first housing of the differential assembly operable to be driven in rotation by a ring gear. A plurality of pinion gears of the differential assembly are positioned in the first housing and are driven in rotation by the first housing. A side gear is fixed to the axle and is meshed with at least some of the pinion gears. The axle is operable to slip relative to the first housing. The first housing, the plurality of pinion gears and the side gear are enclosed within a second housing. The axle extends from a first end positioned within both of the first housing and the second housing to a second end positioned outside of both of the first housing and the second housing.

A vehicle includes a differential gear that transmits rotation of a propeller shaft to an axle. A differential lock switches the differential gear between a locked state and an unlocked state. A clutch is provided in a power transmission path between a prime mover and wheels of the vehicle. A controller controls an engaging force of the clutch during a moving start of the vehicle in accordance with which of the locked state and the unlocked state is selected by the differential gear.

A vehicle includes a differential gear that transmits rotation of a propeller shaft to an axle. A differential lock switches the differential gear between a locked state and an unlocked state. A clutch is provided in a power transmission path between a prime mover and wheels of the vehicle. A controller controls an engaging force of the clutch during a moving start of the vehicle in accordance with which of the locked state and the unlocked state is selected by the differential gear.

A differential case (23) is therein provided with a plurality of rotating discs (38) that are spline-coupled to an outer peripheral side of aright side gear (35), and a plurality of non-rotating discs (39) that are respectively arranged between the respective rotating discs (38) and are non-rotatable relative to the differential case (23) and are movable in a left-right direction. A pressure ring (43) that presses the non-rotating discs (39) toward the rotating discs (38) is disposed between a right retainer (41) positioned in the right side gear (35)-side and the non-rotating disc (39). The right retainer (41) is therein provided with a piston accommodating part (41D) in a position facing the pressure ring (43) in the left-right direction. The piston accommodating part (41D) is therein provided with a piston (46) that is displaced by hydraulic pressure to press the non-rotating discs (39) against the rotating discs (38) through the pressure ring (43).

A differential case (23) is therein provided with a plurality of rotating discs (38) that are spline-coupled to an outer peripheral side of aright side gear (35), and a plurality of non-rotating discs (39) that are respectively arranged between the respective rotating discs (38) and are non-rotatable relative to the differential case (23) and are movable in a left-right direction. A pressure ring (43) that presses the non-rotating discs (39) toward the rotating discs (38) is disposed between a right retainer (41) positioned in the right side gear (35)-side and the non-rotating disc (39). The right retainer (41) is therein provided with a piston accommodating part (41D) in a position facing the pressure ring (43) in the left-right direction. The piston accommodating part (41D) is therein provided with a piston (46) that is displaced by hydraulic pressure to press the non-rotating discs (39) against the rotating discs (38) through the pressure ring (43).

A vehicle includes a differential gear that transmits rotation of a propeller shaft to an axle. A differential lock switches the differential gear between a locked state and an unlocked state. A clutch is provided in a power transmission path between a prime mover and wheels of the vehicle. A controller controls an engaging force of the clutch during a moving start of the vehicle in accordance with which of the locked state and the unlocked state is selected by the differential gear.

A drive module having a housing, an input pinion, a ring gear driven by the input pinion, a ring gear bearing supporting the ring gear for rotation relative to the housing, a pair of output shafts and a clutch that selectively transmits rotary power between the ring gear and the output shafts. The clutch includes a clutch input, which is rotatably coupled to the ring gear, a clutch plate separator that is rotatably coupled to the clutch input, a pair of clutch outputs, which are each coupled to a respective one of the output shafts, a pair of clutch packs, which transmit rotary power between the clutch input and a respective one of the clutch outputs, and a pair of apply pistons. The apply pistons are housed in the clutch plate separator.

A drive module having a housing, an input pinion, a ring gear driven by the input pinion, a ring gear bearing supporting the ring gear for rotation relative to the housing, a pair of output shafts and a clutch that selectively transmits rotary power between the ring gear and the output shafts. The clutch includes a clutch input, which is rotatably coupled to the ring gear, a clutch plate separator that is rotatably coupled to the clutch input, a pair of clutch outputs, which are each coupled to a respective one of the output shafts, a pair of clutch packs, which transmit rotary power between the clutch input and a respective one of the clutch outputs, and a pair of apply pistons. The apply pistons are housed in the clutch plate separator.

A dual-clutch actuator with a hydraulic pump, a first and second clutch hydraulic circuits and at least a first shift hydraulic circuit, the shift hydraulic circuit being connected to the hydraulic pump and has a control valve with a return connection. The first clutch hydraulic circuit is connected to the return connection and has a control valve. The second clutch hydraulic circuit is connected to the hydraulic pump and has a control valve. A drive assembly for a vehicle axle of a motor vehicle having an electric motor, a gearbox with an input which is connected to the electric motor, a first and a second gear and an output, a dual clutch arranged between the electric motor and the input of the gearbox, a synchronization assembly arranged between the first gear and the output of the gearbox and an actuator of this kind. The first shift hydraulic circuit is coupled with the synchronization assembly of the first gear.