A driving force transmission apparatus includes: a pinion gear shaft having a pinion teeth portion, a first shaft portion extending from one side of the pinion teeth portion, and a second shaft portion extending from the other side of the pinion teeth portion; a ring gear meshing with the pinion teeth portion; a clutch housing capable of rotating relative to the pinion gear shaft on a rotation axis in coincidence with a rotation axis of the pinion gear shaft; a clutch mechanism located between the clutch housing and the first shaft portion of the pinion gear shaft; and a differential carrier accommodating the ring gear. The first shaft portion and the second shaft portion of the pinion gear shaft are supported by a first bearing and a second bearing, respectively. The clutch housing is supported by the pinion gear shaft through a third bearing fitted on the first shaft portion.

A driving force transmission apparatus includes: a pinion gear shaft having a pinion teeth portion, a first shaft portion extending from one side of the pinion teeth portion, and a second shaft portion extending from the other side of the pinion teeth portion; a ring gear meshing with the pinion teeth portion; a clutch housing capable of rotating relative to the pinion gear shaft on a rotation axis in coincidence with a rotation axis of the pinion gear shaft; a clutch mechanism located between the clutch housing and the first shaft portion of the pinion gear shaft; and a differential carrier accommodating the ring gear. The first shaft portion and the second shaft portion of the pinion gear shaft are supported by a first bearing and a second bearing, respectively. The clutch housing is supported by the pinion gear shaft through a third bearing fitted on the first shaft portion.

Provided herein is a method for calibrating a clutch by searching for the minimum of a multi-dimensional surface including determining the error between a spline function and recorded data relating to clutch characteristics, creating a multi-dimensional surface corresponding to the error values, determining the minimum of the multi-dimensional surface using the steps of performing a Steepest Gradient & Direction determination step and conducting a Golden Section Search and Switch Direction Step to find a minimum that meets a predetermined closing condition. Additionally, provided herein is a computer-implemented system for calibrating the clutch.

A joint assembly and clutch assembly for use in a vehicle. The joint assembly includes a first joint member that is drivingly connected to a second joint member by using one or more third joint members. A first shaft is drivingly connected to the first joint member. The clutch assembly includes a first clutch member, a second clutch member, and an actuation assembly that is operably configures to selectively drive the second clutch member into engagement with the first clutch member of the clutch assembly. The actuation assembly utilizes an amount of rotational force that is transmitted from the first shaft in order to transition the second clutch member into engagement with the first clutch member. At least a portion of a second shaft is drivingly connected to the second clutch member.

A joint assembly and clutch assembly for use in a vehicle. The joint assembly includes a first joint member that is drivingly connected to a second joint member by using one or more third joint members. A first shaft is drivingly connected to the first joint member. The clutch assembly includes a first clutch member, a second clutch member, and an actuation assembly that is operably configures to selectively drive the second clutch member into engagement with the first clutch member of the clutch assembly. The actuation assembly utilizes an amount of rotational force that is transmitted from the first shaft in order to transition the second clutch member into engagement with the first clutch member. At least a portion of a second shaft is drivingly connected to the second clutch member.

The present invention relates to a two-speed transmission for an electric driving vehicle and the two-speed transmission for an electric vehicle has only one actuator. The transmission comprises a planetary gear mechanism (12), an elastic body (44), an armature (26) to integrally rotate with an input axis, an electromagnetic coil (46) and a multi-plate friction clutch (30). A ring gear (20) is fixed to a housing. The armature (26) comprises clutch projection portions (26-1). A dog clutch is constituted by the clutch projection portions (26-1) and recess portions (18-2) of a sun gear (18). When the electromagnetic coil (46) is not electrically energized, the dog clutch is engaged. The rotation of the input axis is reduced and is transmitted to an output axis via the sun gear (18) and a carrier (16). When the electromagnetic coil (46) is electrically energized, the armature (26) is displaced against elastic force, the dog clutch becomes a non-engaging state, a multi-plate friction clutch (30) becomes an engaging state by pressing flange portions (26-4) of the armature (26) and the rotation of the input axis is transmitted to the output axis with a one-to-one relationship. The transmission can comprise a one-way clutch to prevent torque interruption when switching the gear ratio.

The present invention relates to a two-speed transmission for an electric driving vehicle and the two-speed transmission for an electric vehicle has only one actuator. The transmission comprises a planetary gear mechanism (12), an elastic body (44), an armature (26) to integrally rotate with an input axis, an electromagnetic coil (46) and a multi-plate friction clutch (30). A ring gear (20) is fixed to a housing. The armature (26) comprises clutch projection portions (26-1). A dog clutch is constituted by the clutch projection portions (26-1) and recess portions (18-2) of a sun gear (18). When the electromagnetic coil (46) is not electrically energized, the dog clutch is engaged. The rotation of the input axis is reduced and is transmitted to an output axis via the sun gear (18) and a carrier (16). When the electromagnetic coil (46) is electrically energized, the armature (26) is displaced against elastic force, the dog clutch becomes a non-engaging state, a multi-plate friction clutch (30) becomes an engaging state by pressing flange portions (26-4) of the armature (26) and the rotation of the input axis is transmitted to the output axis with a one-to-one relationship. The transmission can comprise a one-way clutch to prevent torque interruption when switching the gear ratio.

A driving force transmission device includes an input rotation member and output rotation member, a multiple-disc clutch, a pressing mechanism, and a control device that includes a current supply circuit. The control device is configured to compute a torque command value based on a state of a vehicle, the torque command value being a driving force that needs to be transmitted by the multiple-disc clutch, to compute a current command value, to correct the current command value, and to control the current supply circuit such that an electric current depending on the current command value is supplied to the pressing mechanism. The control device is configured to perform the correction so as to increase or decrease the current command value by a correction amount depending on a change rate of the torque command value.

A driving force transmission device includes an input rotation member and output rotation member, a multiple-disc clutch, a pressing mechanism, and a control device that includes a current supply circuit. The control device is configured to compute a torque command value based on a state of a vehicle, the torque command value being a driving force that needs to be transmitted by the multiple-disc clutch, to compute a current command value, to correct the current command value, and to control the current supply circuit such that an electric current depending on the current command value is supplied to the pressing mechanism. The control device is configured to perform the correction so as to increase or decrease the current command value by a correction amount depending on a change rate of the torque command value.

A brake assembly is suitable for use with a vehicle wheel that has a rim rotatably mounted to an axle. The brake assembly includes a housing fixedly positioned relative to the axle and a plurality of disks disposed within the housing and fixedly positioned relative to the rim. A fluid is disposed within the housing and has a selectively variable viscosity. The viscosity of the fluid is selectively increased to increase a braking force applied to the wheel.