The present invention relates to a transfer gearbox having an input shaft, a first output shaft, a second output shaft, a friction clutch, by means of which, in a manner which is dependent on its engagement state, a variable proportion of a drive torque which is transmitted from the input shaft to the first output shaft can be transmitted to the second output shaft, and a rotationally driven actuator unit for controlling the engagement state of the friction clutch. Furthermore, the transfer gearbox has an electromagnetically actuable latch for locking the actuator unit as required.

An active transfer case is equipped with a multi-plate clutch assembly, a clutch actuation mechanism configured to selectively engage the clutch assembly, a power-operated clutch actuator configured to control actuation of the clutch actuation mechanism, a power-operated actuator brake associated with the power-operated clutch actuator, and a control system configured to control actuation of the clutch actuator and the actuator brake while employing a preemptive check of the functionality of the actuator brake.

A lid opening and closing device for a vehicle which includes a restriction member that can operate between a restriction position at which movement of a rod at the lid closed position is restricted and a restriction release position at which the restriction is released, an electric motor that operates for a predetermined time in response to a door switching between a locked state and an unlocked state for driving the restriction member, and a case that houses the restriction member and the electric motor, wherein at least the restriction release position of the restriction member is resiliently held by a holding mechanism. Thus, even when the restriction member stops at position halfway between the restriction release position and the restriction position, convenience is enhanced by carrying out an operation of locking the door by moving the rod to the lid closed position without requiring an unlocking operation.

A driving system includes an electric motor, a transmission apparatus, a differential apparatus and a brake. The differential apparatus includes an input portion coupled to an output portion of the transmission apparatus, a pair of output portions, and a differential device that allows differential rotation of the pair of output portions. A brake is provided in a drive path from an output portion of the electric motor to the input portion of the differential apparatus. The differential apparatus includes a clutch member movable between a first position in which a differential rotation of the differential device is allowed and a second position in which the differential rotation of the differential device is stopped, a clutch actuator that moves the clutch member to the first position, and a holding portion that holds the clutch member to the second position when the clutch actuator is in a non-operating state.

Methods and systems for a locking mechanism in an inter-axle differential are provided. A vehicle system, in one example, includes an electric motor coupled to a clutch assembly in a locking mechanism of an inter-axle differential coupled to a first axle and a second axle, the clutch assembly is configured to selectively disengage the locking mechanism, and in the disengaged configuration the locking mechanism permits speed differentiation between the first and second axles. The system further includes an electric motor brake coupled to the electric motor and configured to selectively apply a brake torque to the electric motor and the electric motor is configured to actuate the clutch assembly.

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 drive unit and a drive arrangement having the drive unit are provided. The drive unit includes a first electric machine and a second electric machine and an output shaft. A rotor of the second electric machine is connected to the output shaft for conjoint rotation and the drive unit has a separating clutch by which a rotor of the first electric machine is connected to the output shaft for torque transmission. The drive unit furthermore has a first flow system for implementing a flow of a first liquid for at least partial cooling of at least one electric machine and a second flow system for implementing a flow of a second liquid, the first flow system and the second flow system being arranged such that heat from the first liquid in the first flow system is transferred to the second liquid in the second flow system.

A valve guide moves back and forth relative to a housing. A valve engages with and slides on the valve guide to open and close a sealing passage of the housing. A valve-side spring is sandwiched between the valve guide and the valve and biases the valve. The valve-side spring has an outer wire portion defining a flat surface at a distal end in an axial direction and that is orthogonal to the axial direction. A pitch between the outer wire portion and an adjacent wire portion adjacent to the outer wire portion is smaller than a pitch between regular wire portions in at least one end of the valve-side spring in the axial direction. The outer wire portion and the adjacent strand portion are in line contact with each other in a circumferential direction.

Methods and systems for a locking mechanism in an inter-axle differential are provided. A vehicle system, in one example, includes an electric motor coupled to a clutch assembly in a locking mechanism of an inter-axle differential coupled to a first axle and a second axle, the clutch assembly is configured to selectively disengage the locking mechanism, and in the disengaged configuration the locking mechanism permits speed differentiation between the first and second axles. The system further includes an electric motor brake coupled to the electric motor and configured to selectively apply a brake torque to the electric motor and the electric motor is configured to actuate the clutch assembly.

A transfer case with an actuator for operating a two-speed transmission (i.e., range mechanism) and a clutch (i.e., mode mechanism). The actuator employs a motor-driven cam structure that coordinates the movement of a first fork, which is associated with the range mechanism, and a second fork that is associated with the mode mechanism. A resilient coupling is employed to provide compliance between the motor and the cam structure in the event that tooth-on-tooth contact inhibits the range mechanism from changing from a high-range mode and a low range mode or tooth-on-tooth contact inhibits the mode mechanism from changing between a two-wheel drive mode and a four-wheel drive mode. A sensor target and sensor are employed to identify the rotational positioning of the cam structure placement, which is indicative of the modes in which the transmission and the clutch are operating.