A drive switching mechanism of a utility vehicle includes: a two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive switching device that switches between two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive of the utility vehicle; and a control unit that controls the drive switching mechanism. The two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive switching device switches between two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive by using a first clutch. The control unit permits the two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive switching device to switch from two-wheel drive to four-wheel drive when a rotation difference of the first clutch becomes equal to or smaller than a predetermined value.

A vehicle drive system is provided and generally includes a hub assembly, a drive assembly and a clutch assembly. The hub assembly having wheel hub upon which a wheel assembly is secured. The drive assembly is configured to selectively transmit a motive force to cause the hub to turn. The drive assembly includes a motor with a rotatable motor output shaft, a transmission assembly connected to the motor and receiving in the rotatable motor output shaft into an input opening therein, and a driveshaft connected to an output from the transmission assembly. The clutch assembly connected to the hub assembly and engagebale to the driveshaft.

The drive power connecting/disconnecting device includes a second shaft disposed coaxially to a first shaft so as to transmit drive power to a wheel axle, a connection/disconnection member which moves a second rotational body along an axial direction with respect to a first rotational body, and which is capable of moving in the axial direction so as to make or break engagement between the first shaft and the second shaft, a supporting member, a shaft cover which covers at least the periphery of the second rotational body, a first pivotally supporting portion which is disposed between the first shaft and the second shaft so as to axially support one end of the second shaft; and a second pivotally supporting portion which is disposed inside the shaft cover so as to axially support the other end of the second shaft.

In a vehicle (10) comprising a first rotating electric machine (3) that serves as a driving source for running the vehicle (10) and that exchanges electric power with a battery (6), and an engine (2) that serves as the driving source, a first connecting/disconnecting mechanism (20) is disposed on a first power transmission path from the first rotating electric machine (3) to a driving wheel, and a second connecting/disconnecting mechanism (30) is disposed on a second power transmission path from the engine (2) to the driving wheel. A first running mode in which the vehicle (10) is driven by power of the engine (2) in a state where the second connecting/disconnecting mechanism (30) is engaged, and another running mode in which the first connecting/disconnecting mechanism (20) is engaged and the second connecting/disconnecting mechanism (30) is disengaged are set for the vehicle (10). A control unit (5) includes: a connecting/disconnecting mechanism controller (5D) that disengages the first connecting/disconnecting mechanism (20) when a predetermined condition is satisfied during the first running mode; and a rotating electric machine controller (5E) that variably controls a standby rotation speed (Nw) of the first rotating electric machine (3) when the first connecting/disconnecting mechanism (20) is disengaged.

A system and method is disclosed for engine starting and transmission shifting where a controller may be operable to decrease a torque of a motor and operate a starter-generator (ISG) to start an engine responsive to a command to shift the transmission and start the engine. The controller may disengage a second clutch and subsequently shift the transmission to a target gear ratio speed responsive to the torque of the motor achieving zero. The controller may increase respective torques of the motor, ISG, and engine to drive a speed of the motor, ISG, and engine toward a target speed defined by the target gear speed responsive to completion of the shift. The controller may engage the second clutch responsive to the speed of the motor achieving the target speed and engage a disconnect clutch responsive to the respective speeds of the ISG and engine achieving the target speed.

A two-speed transfer case for a four-wheel drive vehicle is provided. The transfer case has a two-speed planetary gearset, a range clutch, and a range shift mechanism. The planetary gearset includes a carrier unit having at least one crack arresting feature configured to limit propagation of a stress crack. The carrier unit includes a plurality of mounting holes for securing planet gears for rotation relative to the carrier unit. The gearset includes a sun gear configured for and a ring gear, with the planet gears in meshed engagement with the sun gear and the ring gear. The crack arresting feature extends at least partially through a portion of the carrier unit and is configured to receive a crack propagating from a central aperture of the carrier unit. The crack arresting feature is disposed radially between the central aperture and the mounting holes.

A power transmission apparatus of a hybrid electric vehicle may include a first input shaft mounted along an axis of an engine shaft and selectively connectable to the engine shaft, a second input shaft formed as a hollow shaft, coaxially mounted with the first input shaft, and fixedly connected to a rotor of the first motor-generator, a third input shaft formed as a hollow shaft, coaxially mounted with the first input shaft, and selectively connectable to the first input shaft, an intermediate shaft mounted in parallel with the first input shaft, an output shaft mounted in parallel to the first input shaft and outputting a shifted torque, a planetary gear set mounted on the output shaft, having an element fixed to the output shaft and forming a shifted torque, and a plurality of gear sets mounted on the first, second, and third input shafts, the intermediate shaft, and the output shaft.

One general aspect of the present disclosure includes a hybrid drive for a motor vehicle. The hybrid drive may have a first transmission input shaft configured to connect to an internal combustion engine, a second transmission input shaft being coaxial to the first transmission input shaft and configured to connect to an electric motor, a first gear set plane, a second gear set plane, and a third gear set plane for a first forward gear, a second forward gear, and a third forward gear, respectively, a layshaft, a first gear shifting device connecting the first transmission input shaft and the second transmission input shaft in a first shifting setting and engaging a gear in a second shifting setting, and a transmission output shaft.

An axle assembly having a wheel end disconnect and a method of control. The axle assembly may include a friction clutch and a locking clutch that may be received in a hub assembly. The friction clutch may be moveable between an engaged position and a disengaged position. The locking clutch may be moveable between a locked position and an unlocked position and may actuate the friction clutch to the disengaged position.

Methods and systems are provided for a motorized disconnect operable to selectively engage and disengage two rotating components of a vehicle drivetrain. As one example, a motorized disconnect system is provided that operates via an electric motor and includes a shifter assembly with an oscillating gear track and cam profile for rotating the shifter assembly while moving it in an axial direction to selectively couple two rotating components.