A gear transmission having a speed changing section includes a speed changing gear for setting a speed stage and a shift gear slidably mounted on a rotation support shaft and operated to engage and disengage with the speed changing gear, the speed changing section configured to speed-change inputted power and to output the resultant power via the rotation support shaft. An arrangement is provided for facilitating engagement of the shift gear with the speed changing gear even when respective end faces of the shift gear and the speed changing gear hit each other. A transmission mechanism (20B) is provided for outputting power of a rotation support shaft (24) to a traveling device. The transmission mechanism (20B) has a transmission flexibility portion (80) which allows free rotation of the rotation support shaft (24) by a set rotation angle.

A utility vehicle includes: a pair of front wheels; a pair of rear wheels; at least one front wheel power source configured to drive the front wheels and not to drive the rear wheels; at least one rear wheel power source configured to drive the rear wheels and not to drive the front wheels; and a controller that controls the front wheel power source and the rear wheel power source. Upon receiving a predetermined two-wheel drive command, the controller brings the front wheel power source into a non-operative state while allowing the rear wheel power source to drive the rear wheels. Upon receiving a predetermined four-wheel drive command, the controller brings the front wheel power source into operation while allowing the rear wheel power source to drive the rear wheels.

A utility vehicle includes: a pair of front wheels; a pair of rear wheels; at least one front wheel power source configured to drive the front wheels and not to drive the rear wheels; at least one rear wheel power source configured to drive the rear wheels and not to drive the front wheels; and a controller that controls the front wheel power source and the rear wheel power source. Upon receiving a predetermined two-wheel drive command, the controller brings the front wheel power source into a non-operative state while allowing the rear wheel power source to drive the rear wheels. Upon receiving a predetermined four-wheel drive command, the controller brings the front wheel power source into operation while allowing the rear wheel power source to drive the rear wheels.

A vehicle control system for reducing turn radius of a vehicle may include a controller and a torque control module operably coupled to the controller and to front wheels of a front axle of the vehicle and rear wheels of a rear axle of the vehicle. The controller may also be operably coupled to components and/or sensors of the vehicle to receive information including vehicle wheel speed and steering wheel angle. The torque control module may be operable, responsive to control by the controller, to apply a negative torque to an inside rear wheel during a turn and apply a positive torque to the front axle during the turn to compensate for the negative torque applied to the inside rear wheel to reduce the turn radius based on the steering wheel angle and the vehicle speed.

A wheel disconnect clutch includes a housing attachable to a knuckle and a clutch sleeve slidably supported for axial movement within the housing and having first teeth configured to couple with a wheel hub and second teeth configured to couple with a half shaft. The clutch sleeve is slidable between an engaged position in which the first teeth are coupled to the wheel hub and a disengaged position in which the first teeth are decoupled from the wheel hub. A drive ring is connected to the clutch sleeve and supported within the housing to be axially slidable and rotationally fixed relative to the housing. An actuator ring is disposed adjacent to the drive ring, supported for rotation within the housing, and axially fixed relative to the housing. The driver ring moves the clutch sleeve between engaged and disengaged positions.

An electric drive unit clutch for an automobile includes a first rotatable shaft, a one-way clutch fixedly mounted onto the first rotatable shaft, a dog clutch slidingly mounted onto the first rotatable shaft and adapted to rotate with the first rotatable shaft, a clutch ring positioned between the one-way clutch and the dog clutch, and a second rotatable shaft rotatable engaged with the clutch ring, wherein the clutch ring is adapted to transfer rotational motion from the second rotatable shaft through the one-way clutch and the dog clutch to the first rotatable shaft.

A system and method for controlling switching of an electric vehicle to four-wheel drive are provided. The system includes a first motor connected to main drive wheels and configured to output a first torque, a second motor connected to subsidiary drive wheels and configured to output a second torque, a disconnector mounted on an axle shaft for the subsidiary drive wheels, a driver requested torque detector configured to detect a driver requested torque, and a controller configured to release a set output limit of the first motor for a designated time and simultaneously release a set output limit of the second motor when the driver requested torque is greater than or equal to a reference requested torque, and control the first motor to output a maximum torque exceeding the set output limit to the main drive wheels until the disconnector is engaged.

A heavy-duty vehicle having a chassis, a front steering axle, and first and second rear axles. The first rear axle may include a first rear axle housing, a first carrier housing, and a second carrier housing and the second rear axle may include a second axle housing, a third carrier housing, and a fourth carrier housing. A first permanent magnet motor may be coupled to the first carrier housing and engaged with a first gearset, and a second permanent magnet motor may be coupled to the second carrier housing and engaged with a second gearset. A first induction motor may be coupled to the third carrier housing and engaged with a third gearset, and a second induction motor may be coupled to the fourth carrier housing and engaged with a fourth gearset.

A driving device of an electric-motor four-wheel drive vehicle includes a propeller shaft, a first differential mechanism, a second differential mechanism, a first decoupling mechanism, a second decoupling mechanism, a first motor, and a second motor. The propeller shaft transmits power between front wheels and rear wheels. The first differential mechanism is disposed in a drive shaft of the front wheels. The second differential mechanism is disposed in a drive shaft of the rear wheels. The first decoupling mechanism decouples the first differential mechanism from the propeller shaft. The second decoupling mechanism decouples the second differential mechanism from the propeller shaft. The first motor is coupled to the propeller shaft via a part closer to the front wheels than the first decoupling mechanism or a part closer to the rear wheels than the second decoupling mechanism. The second motor is coupled between the first and second decoupling mechanisms.

A driving device of an electric-motor four-wheel drive vehicle includes a propeller shaft, a first differential mechanism, a second differential mechanism, a first decoupling mechanism, a second decoupling mechanism, a first motor, and a second motor. The propeller shaft transmits power between front wheels and rear wheels. The first differential mechanism is disposed in a drive shaft of the front wheels. The second differential mechanism is disposed in a drive shaft of the rear wheels. The first decoupling mechanism decouples the first differential mechanism from the propeller shaft. The second decoupling mechanism decouples the second differential mechanism from the propeller shaft. The first motor is coupled to the propeller shaft via a part closer to the front wheels than the first decoupling mechanism or a part closer to the rear wheels than the second decoupling mechanism. The second motor is coupled between the first and second decoupling mechanisms.