A wheel end disconnect assembly includes a housing, a shift ring, a shift fork and an actuator. The shift ring is supported for axial translation relative to the housing between a connected position in which the shift ring couples an input member to a wheel hub for rotation therewith and a disconnected position in which the input member and the wheel hub are rotatable relative to each other. The shift fork includes a first arm portion, a second arm portion, and an input portion extending from a junction of the first and second arm portions. The shift fork is pivotably coupled to the housing at the junction of the first and second arm portions. The actuator is configured to move the input portion to pivot the first and second arm portions such that the first and second arm portions translate the shift ring between the connected and disconnected positions.

A wheel end disconnect assembly includes a housing, a shift ring, a shift fork and an actuator. The shift ring is supported for axial translation relative to the housing between a connected position in which the shift ring couples an input member to a wheel hub for rotation therewith and a disconnected position in which the input member and the wheel hub are rotatable relative to each other. The shift fork includes a first arm portion, a second arm portion, and an input portion extending from a junction of the first and second arm portions. The shift fork is pivotably coupled to the housing at the junction of the first and second arm portions. The actuator is configured to move the input portion to pivot the first and second arm portions such that the first and second arm portions translate the shift ring between the connected and disconnected positions.

A vehicle power transfer unit assembly comprises an input shaft, an intermediate shaft at least partially surrounding the input shaft, a central shaft adjacent the input shaft, a peripheral shaft at least partially surrounding the central shaft, a first shift collar, and a second shift collar. The first shift collar is operable between a first position where torque is transferred from the input shaft to the intermediate shaft and a second position where torque is not transferred from the input shaft to the intermediate shaft. The second shift collar is operable between a third position where torque is transferred from the input shaft to the peripheral shaft and a fourth position where torque is transferred from the input shaft to the central shaft.

A vehicle power transfer unit assembly comprises an input shaft, an intermediate shaft at least partially surrounding the input shaft, a central shaft adjacent the input shaft, a peripheral shaft at least partially surrounding the central shaft, a first shift collar, and a second shift collar. The first shift collar is operable between a first position where torque is transferred from the input shaft to the intermediate shaft and a second position where torque is not transferred from the input shaft to the intermediate shaft. The second shift collar is operable between a third position where torque is transferred from the input shaft to the peripheral shaft and a fourth position where torque is transferred from the input shaft to the central shaft.

[Technical problem] To provide a power transmission mechanism for a four-wheel drive vehicle in which a prime mover is disposed at a low position to lower the center of gravity of the vehicle while a driving path from a transmission to a front wheel differential mechanism is also shortened. [Solutions] In a power transmission mechanism for a four-wheel drive vehicle, the power of a prime mover is transmitted to a front wheel differential mechanism which is disposed in front of the prime mover, and to a rear wheel differential mechanism which is disposed behind a transmission, through the transmission which is disposed behind the prime mover. The transmission comprises a front and rear wheel drive shaft that extends along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body. The transmission is arranged separately from the prime mover and a rear axle drive device. The rear end portion of the front and rear wheel drive shaft is connected to an input shaft of the rear wheel differential mechanism. The front end portion of the front and rear wheel drive shaft is connected to an input shaft of the front wheel differential mechanism via a front wheel power transmission shaft that extends along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body and passes through the space beneath the prime mover. The front wheel differential mechanism, the prime mover, the transmission, and the rear wheel differential mechanism are arranged along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body at the center of the vehicle width of the vehicle.

Systems and methods are provided herein for operating an electric vehicle in a vehicle yaw mode. The electric vehicle includes a normal driving mode where the electric vehicle is steered by turning the steerable wheels (e.g., left or right) and vehicle yaw mode where the vehicle controls the torque applied to each wheel. In response to receiving input to initiate vehicle yaw mode and yaw direction, the system determines the inner wheels and the outer wheels and provides forward torque to the outer wheels of the vehicle and backward torque to the inner wheels of the vehicle to rotate the vehicle.

Methods and systems for a vehicle transmission are provided herein. The vehicle transmission includes an input interface configured to mechanically couple to a motive power source. The vehicle transmission further includes a first disconnect device releasably mechanically coupling a first output to a first drive axle and a second disconnect device releasably mechanically coupling a second output to a second drive axle.

A drive control device includes: an estimated longitudinal acceleration acquisition part acquiring an estimated longitudinal acceleration of a vehicle based on an estimated driving force of the vehicle and a wheel speed of main drive wheels of the vehicle; an estimated lateral acceleration acquisition part acquiring an estimated lateral acceleration of the vehicle; an estimated tire load calculation part calculating an estimated tire load of the main drive wheels based on the estimated longitudinal acceleration and the estimated lateral acceleration ; and a drive mode selection part selecting one of a two-wheel drive mode driven only by the main drive wheels and a four-wheel drive mode driven by both the main drive wheels and auxiliary drive wheels. When the estimated tire load calculated by the estimated tire load calculation part is lower than a two-wheel drive threshold value, the drive mode selection part selects the two-wheel drive mode.

A drive control device includes: an estimated longitudinal acceleration acquisition part acquiring an estimated longitudinal acceleration of a vehicle based on an estimated driving force of the vehicle and a wheel speed of main drive wheels of the vehicle; an estimated lateral acceleration acquisition part acquiring an estimated lateral acceleration of the vehicle; an estimated tire load calculation part calculating an estimated tire load of the main drive wheels based on the estimated longitudinal acceleration and the estimated lateral acceleration ; and a drive mode selection part selecting one of a two-wheel drive mode driven only by the main drive wheels and a four-wheel drive mode driven by both the main drive wheels and auxiliary drive wheels. When the estimated tire load calculated by the estimated tire load calculation part is lower than a two-wheel drive threshold value, the drive mode selection part selects the two-wheel drive mode.

A drive axle for a work machine for driving wheels that are coupled to the drive axle. The drive axle includes a spur gear stage with an input shaft. A differential gear unit couples to the spur gear stage and to the wheels via wheel drive shafts. The drive axle further includes a reduction gear unit with an output element couples to the input shaft of the spur gear stage—and an input element which couples to an output shaft of an electric drive machine.