A clutch control device is provided for a four-wheel drive vehicle for transmitting drive force to the rear wheels. The clutch control device includes a dog clutch and a friction clutch, and a controller that controls the engagement and disengagement of the dog clutch and the friction clutch. In this clutch control device, when there is a request to engage the dog clutch from a disengaged state, the controller, during the engagement control of the friction clutch, first controls the engagement of the friction clutch, monitors the change gradient of the clutch rotational speed difference of the dog clutch and starts engagement of the dog clutch upon determining that the gradient of the clutch rotational speed difference is no longer decreasing.

A work vehicle including an articulated vehicle chassis having a front frame portion and a rear frame portion pivotally coupled together at a generally vertical pivot axis. The front frame portion carries a front axle and the rear frame portion carries a rear axle. A steering system includes at least one steering cylinder connected between the front frame portion and the rear frame portion. A power plant provides motive power to the work vehicle, and a transmission receives power from the power plant and provides power to the front axle and rear axle. The work vehicle further includes a secondary clutch interconnected between the transmission and the rear axle. The steering system is configured to disengage the secondary clutch to provide reactive steering, whereby the front frame portion tows the rear frame portion. The rear frame portion freely articulates relative to the front frame portion.

A concrete mixer truck includes a chassis, a plurality of tractive assemblies coupled to the chassis, a mixing drum rotatably coupled to the chassis, the mixing drum defining an internal volume configured to contain material and an aperture through which the material can enter and exit the internal volume, an energy storage device positioned at a rear end of the chassis and configured to provide electrical energy, and an electromagnetic device electrically coupled to the energy storage device, where the electromagnetic device is configured to receive the electrical energy from the energy storage device and provide mechanical energy to drive at least one of the plurality of tractive assemblies to propel the concrete mixer truck.

An electronic self-locking connect and disconnect system for vehicles. The system includes a motor which turns a gear that meshes with a ring gear contained within a housing. The ring gear meshes with a lead screw thread on an outer surface of a lead screw. When the motor is activated the ring gear rotates the lead screw thread which selectively engages or disengages the clutch. A groove extends on the outer surface of and transverse to the lead screw thread. A pin extends radially inward from an inner surface of the housing till part of the pin is located within the groove. When the pin contacts a radial wall of the groove it prevents further rotation of the lead screw which prevents the stub shaft from axially moving beyond predetermined points. A spring and a sliding collar may be utilized to accommodate full motor travel regardless of the clutch state.

A clutch actuator assembly includes a motor that is arranged in an actuator housing, a gear train that couples the motor and an output shaft, an actuator lever that is affixed to the output shaft and includes a profile that has first and second features that respectively correspond to first and second positions, a detent that cooperates with the profile and is configured to retain the actuator lever in one of the first and second positions, and a pawl that is operatively connected to the actuator lever and is configured to selectively engage with a clutch component in response to movement of the actuator lever between the first and second positions.

A clutch actuator assembly includes a motor that is arranged in an actuator housing, a gear train that couples the motor and an output shaft, an actuator lever that is affixed to the output shaft and includes a profile that has first and second features that respectively correspond to first and second positions, a detent that cooperates with the profile and is configured to retain the actuator lever in one of the first and second positions, and a pawl that is operatively connected to the actuator lever and is configured to selectively engage with a clutch component in response to movement of the actuator lever between the first and second positions.

An axle disconnect assembly, including: a housing and a clutch a shaft with first splines; a sleeve including second splines non-rotatably connected to the first splines, and axially extending teeth; a shift lever including at least one pivot pin, a first end connected to the sleeve, and a second end; and an actuation assembly including an actuation shaft engaged with the second end of the shift lever, and an actuator. In a connect mode, the teeth are non-rotatably connected to a power output. In a disconnect mode, the sleeve is rotatable with respect to the power output. To shift from the disconnect mode to the connect mode: the actuator rotates the actuator shaft; the actuator shaft pivots the shift lever around an axis of the at least one pivot pin; and the first end of the shift lever displaces the sleeve, with respect to the shaft, in an axial direction.

A multi-axle drive device and method for operating a multi-axle drive device. The multi-axle drive device is provided with a synchronization clutch present in an operational connection between a first output shaft and a connecting shaft and at least one disconnecting clutch present in an operational connection between the connecting shaft and a second output shaft. The synchronization clutch and the disconnecting clutch are opened in a first operating state and closed in a second operating state. At the same time, with an intended change from the second operating state to the first operating state, the synchronization clutch is maintained at least partially opened and the separation clutch is maintained closed, so that, when a first operating mode is carried out, the disconnecting clutch is opened, and when a second operating mode is carried out, the synchronization clutch is closed again.

A multi-axle drive device and method for operating a multi-axle drive device. The multi-axle drive device is provided with a synchronization clutch present in an operational connection between a first output shaft and a connecting shaft and at least one disconnecting clutch present in an operational connection between the connecting shaft and a second output shaft. The synchronization clutch and the disconnecting clutch are opened in a first operating state and closed in a second operating state. At the same time, with an intended change from the second operating state to the first operating state, the synchronization clutch is maintained at least partially opened and the separation clutch is maintained closed, so that, when a first operating mode is carried out, the disconnecting clutch is opened, and when a second operating mode is carried out, the synchronization clutch is closed again.

A torque transfer mechanism for a vehicle, including a housing and a pump disposed therein. The housing includes an exterior surface, an interior surface, and an interior compartment. The interior surface of the housing includes at least one pocket formed therein with the at least one pocket having a plurality of pocket surfaces, which define an interior area. The pump includes a pump portion and a pump housing. The pump housing includes at least one projecting tab extending outwardly therefrom. The at least one projecting tab disposed within the at least one pocket to secure the pump within the transfer case housing. The at least one projecting tab has a pump crown disposed thereover, with the pump crown engaging each of the plurality of pocket surfaces and substantially filling out the interior area.