A transmission includes an input shaft coupled to a prime mover, a countershaft, main shaft, and an output shaft, with gears between the countershaft and the main shaft. A shift actuator selectively couples the input shaft to the main shaft by rotatably coupling gears between the countershaft and the main shaft. The shift actuator is mounted on an exterior wall of a housing including the countershaft and the main shaft. An integrated actuator housing includes a single external power access for the shift actuator. A controller interprets a shaft displacement angle, determines if the transmission is in an imminent zero or zero torque region, and performs a transmission operation in response to the transmission in the imminent zero or zero torque region.

A transmission includes an input shaft and an output shaft, the input shaft selectively accepting a torque input from a prime mover, and the output shaft selectively providing torque output to a driveline. A controller determines a shaft displacement angle representing an angle value of rotational displacement difference between at least two shafts of the transmission, and performs a transmission operation responsive to the shaft displacement angle.

A control apparatus for a four-wheel-drive vehicle is configured to, during braking of the vehicle in a two-wheel-drive state, determine whether or not a degree of a yaw movement for deflecting the vehicle is larger than a predetermined first degree. When the degree of the yaw movement is larger than the first degree, the control apparatus increases a first coupling torque of a first coupling device and a second coupling torque of a second coupling device to a predetermined first torque value which is larger than zero, and controls a ground contact load adjusting device in such a manner that a first ground contact load at a rear wheel at an outer side with respect to the yaw movement becomes larger than a second ground contact load at a rear wheel at an inner side with respect to the yaw movement by a predetermined first load difference or more.

A drive system of a hybrid vehicle including an internal combustion engine, a first motor-generator, a power division mechanism, a speed change mechanism including a second output shaft, a second motor-generator including a third output shaft connected to a power transmission path transmitting a power from the second output shaft to an axle, a one-way clutch interposed between the second output shaft and the third output shaft in the power transmission path, and an electric control unit including a microprocessor to control the speed change mechanism. The speed change mechanism includes a first engagement mechanism and second engagement mechanism, and the microprocessor is configured to control the speed change mechanism so as to disengage one of the first engagement mechanism and the second engagement mechanism in engaged state and engage the other thereof in disengaged state, in accordance with a speed change instruction.

A vehicle includes a differential gear that transmits rotation of a propeller shaft to an axle. A differential lock switches the differential gear between a locked state and an unlocked state. A clutch is provided in a power transmission path between a prime mover and wheels of the vehicle. A controller controls an engaging force of the clutch during a moving start of the vehicle in accordance with which of the locked state and the unlocked state is selected by the differential gear.

A vehicle includes a differential gear that transmits rotation of a propeller shaft to an axle. A differential lock switches the differential gear between a locked state and an unlocked state. A clutch is provided in a power transmission path between a prime mover and wheels of the vehicle. A controller controls an engaging force of the clutch during a moving start of the vehicle in accordance with which of the locked state and the unlocked state is selected by the differential gear.

A torque limiting clutch that includes an input member and at least two output members is provided. The input member is configured to receive torque. Each output member is in operational communication with the input member to transfer torque between the input member and each output member. Each output member is configured to slip the operational communication with the input member when a torque above a set torque limit is encountered. Further wherein the slip of the operational communication between the input member and one output member of the at least two output members is independent of the operational communication between the input member and any other output member of the at least two output members.

Methods and systems are provided for operating a driveline of a hybrid vehicle that includes an internal combustion engine, an electric machine, and a transmission are described. In one example, the engine is started and coupled to the driveline via closing a clutch of a dual clutch transmission. Speed of the engine and clutch pressure are controlled to reduce driveline torque disturbances and provide a desired wheel torque.

A hybrid powertrain includes a torque provider, an automatic transmission without a torque converter, and a transfer case configured for providing four wheel drive low range. A controller receives a signal indicative of the transfer case being in low range and determines if brake pedal torque is indicative of a brake pedal being released and, if so, commands engagement of a launch clutch of the transmission up to maximum creep torque capacity at a predetermined maximum gradient. The controller determines when torque provider speed is synchronized with vehicle creep speed, and upon such determination, controls the launch clutch to fully engage to a lock up state to mimic behavior of engagement of a manual transmission gear when the hybrid powertrain is in low range to thereby substantially eliminate a time lag associated with automatic transmissions having a torque converter or a constantly slipping launch clutch.

A method controls a drive system for an axle of a motor vehicle, wherein the drive system has at least an electrical machine as drive unit, a drive shaft which is driven by the drive unit, a first output shaft and a second output shaft and also a first clutch which connects the drive shaft to the first output shaft and a second clutch which connects the drive shaft to the second output shaft.