A shift device for an outboard motor includes a forward gear and a reverse gear; a clutch gear; a shift actuator configured to move between a neutral reference position where the clutch gear is disengaged from the forward gear and the reverse gear and an engagement reference position where the clutch gear is engaged with the forward gear or the reverse gear; and a control device configured to control a movement of the shift actuator. The control device is configured to set an intermediate target position, and to set a speed at which the shift actuator moves from the intermediate target position to the engagement reference position slower than a speed at which the shift actuator moves from the neutral reference position to the intermediate target position.

An axle disconnect device including a shift collar slidable in an axial direction of the axle disconnect device, the shift collar switchable between a connect mode and a disconnect mode; a first solenoid including a threaded end; a second solenoid including locker arm; a return spring configured to bias a movement of the shift collar towards the connect mode; a groove on the shift collar configured to receive the locker arm when the shift collar is in the connect mode; and a lead screw on the shift collar configured to mesh with the threaded end to move the shift collar toward the disconnect mode against the bias force of the return spring.

A drive switching mechanism of a utility vehicle includes: a two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive switching device that switches between two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive of the utility vehicle; and a control unit that controls the drive switching mechanism. The two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive switching device switches between two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive by using a first clutch. The control unit permits the two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive switching device to switch from two-wheel drive to four-wheel drive when a rotation difference of the first clutch becomes equal to or smaller than a predetermined value.

A gardening appliance has a traction drive system with a clutch, an electric motor drive system and a user-triggerable signalling device. The clutch is designed to, as a result of forward rotation, automatically engage for forward drive of the gardening appliance and, as a result of backward rotation, automatically disengage for freewheeling of the gardening appliance. The electric motor drive system is designed to effect the forward rotation and the backward rotation of the clutch. A method of operating the appliance includes: a) in a user-triggered manner by way of a change in a signal state of the signalling device, operating the electric motor drive system in a running-down and/or braking operating mode in order to lower a motor rotational speed of the forward-rotating electric motor drive system; b) acquiring whether a back electromotive force caused by the electric motor drive system or a variable based on the back electromotive force satisfies a standstill criterion, wherein the standstill criterion is characteristic of an attainment of a standstill state of the electric motor drive system; and c) when the standstill criterion is satisfied, operating the electric motor drive system in a backward-rotation operating mode to effect the backward rotation of the electric motor drive system for disengaging the clutch for freewheeling of the gardening appliance.

A method of disconnecting a generator from a source of mechanical rotation includes receiving a generator disconnect command and receiving a rotational position of a generator input member. The input member rotational angle is compared to the target disconnect angle range, and a determination made whether to disconnect the input member from a generator drive member based on the comparison.

Methods and systems are provided for operating a vehicle that may be propelled via a primary axle and a secondary axle. In one example, a propulsion source of a secondary axle may be decoupled from at least one wheel via a dog clutch that includes teeth. The dog clutch may be disengaged in a way that reduces driveline noise and may reduce a possibility of driveline degradation.

A position detection device includes a magnetic detection element that is positioned radially outside a first clutch component portion and a second clutch component portion of a dog clutch around an axis. The magnetic detection element is provided between a first magnetic flux path portion and a second magnetic flux path portion. The magnetic detection element outputs a sensor signal indicating the direction of a magnetic flux passing between the first magnetic flux path portion and the second magnetic flux path portion. The magnetic detection element outputs a sensor signal indicating a position relationship between the first clutch component portion concerning a first hole portion as well as a first tooth portion and the second clutch component portion concerning the second hole portion as well as the second tooth portion, based on changes in magnetic flux directions depending on the position relationship in a rotation direction around the axis.

A dog clutch engagement method of an electric four-wheel drive vehicle includes steps of: when dog clutch engagement is requested during driving, determining a target synchronization speed of the input gear to be a sum of an estimated speed and an offset speed of the output gear; operating a drive unit so that an input gear follows the target synchronization speed; when an actual speed of the input gear reaches the target synchronization speed, moving a sleeve to a meeting position at which the sleeve is in contact with the input gear; and when the actual speed of the input gear is synchronized with an actual speed of the output gear, transporting the sleeve to an engagement position at which the input gear and the output gear are coupled.

The present document relates to a method of disengaging a clutching device. The method comprises sweeping an output torque of an electric motor drivingly connected to the clutching device such that a torque transmitted by the clutching device vanishes at least temporarily during the sweep, and disengaging the clutching device during the sweep. The present document further relates to an electric driveline for carrying out the method.

Methods and systems are provided for a differential disconnect assembly of a vehicle, the differential disconnect assembly including a dog clutch used to engage and disengage a gear of a differential of the vehicle from a transmission of the vehicle. In one example, a method for operating a dog clutch comprises de-energizing a solenoid coupled to the dog clutch to initiate dog clutch disengagement; and during disengagement of the dog clutch when a return spring coupled to a first toothed interface of the dog clutch applies a first force on the first toothed interface in a first direction away from a second toothed interface, transiently re-energizing the solenoid that applies a second force to the first toothed interface in a second direction which is opposite the first direction.