A method for controlling the safe operation of a rear axle of a set of combined axles powered by a motor vehicle, particularly for a vehicle designed to carry loads and which have 6×4, 8×4 or 10×4 type traction configurations, or tridem models formed by three drive axles. The method includes a set of steps and activities that ensure proper and safe operation of systems and mechanisms for uncoupling and raising a rear axle of a vehicle, and more specifically checking a status of certain operating parameters of the rear axle and of the vehicle itself in order to permit or prevent uncoupling and coupling, as well as raising and lowering of the rear axle of the vehicle.

A working vehicle includes a first hydraulic clutch connected to the first traveling shaft, a second hydraulic clutch connected to the first traveling shaft separately from the first hydraulic clutch, a first gear mechanism to transmit, to a second traveling shaft, power from the first hydraulic clutch when the first hydraulic clutch is engaged and not to transmit, to the second traveling shaft, power from the first hydraulic clutch when the first hydraulic clutch is disengaged, and a second gear mechanism to transmit, to the second traveling shaft, power from the second hydraulic clutch when the second hydraulic clutch is engaged and not to transmit, to the second traveling shaft, power from the second hydraulic clutch when the second hydraulic clutch is disengaged.

Methods and systems for a vehicle transmission are provided. In one example, a vehicle transmission system is provided that includes a first planetary gear set rotationally coupled to a second planetary gear set, a first electrical machine rotationally coupled to a sun gear in the first planetary gear set, and a second electrical machine rotationally coupled to a sun gear in the second planetary gear set. The transmission system also includes an inter-axle differential including a third planetary gear set rotationally coupled to a first axle and a second axle and selectively rotationally coupled to the first planetary gear set and the second planetary gear set, wherein the inter-axle differential is configured to selectively enable and disable speed differentiation between the first and the second axles.

Even in the case where it is difficult to increase an engine torque (Te) during switching when a running is switched to a 4WD running or a 2WD running during a 2WD_d running, an alternative control section suppresses a fluctuation in the driving force of a four-wheel drive vehicle, hence it is possible to suppress a switching shock and an unnatural feeling of deceleration occurring during the switching to the 4WD running or the 2WD running.

A vehicle differential disconnect assembly can include a differential case, a differential gear set, and a torque distribution device. The differential gear set is carried within the differential case. The torque distribution device transfers torque between the differential gear set and side shafts of the accompanying vehicle driveline. The torque distribution device can include a clutch pack and an actuator assembly. The clutch pack is located at a first side of the differential case relative to the differential gear set, and the actuator assembly is located at a second side of the differential case relative to the differential gear set. The actuator assembly has a mover that transmits movement to the clutch pack when the actuator assembly actuates and deactuates the clutch pack.

A bi-directional overrunning clutch differential is configured to transmit power from an input shaft to a first output shaft and a second output shaft in a vehicle. The differential includes a differential housing having a first bearing seat and a second bearing seat. A first bearing is carried by the differential housing in the first bearing seat, and a second bearing is carried by the differential housing in the second bearing seat. A first retaining ring secures the first bearing in the first bearing seat, and a second retaining ring secures the second bearing in the second bearing seat. A first output hub is carried by the first bearing for rotation relative to the differential housing, and a second output hub is carried by the second bearing for rotation relative to the differential housing.

A drive force transfer device is mounted on a four-wheel-drive vehicle having main drive wheels and auxiliary drive wheels. A cam mechanism presses a main clutch in the axial direction. An electromagnetic clutch mechanism actuates the cam mechanism and has an electromagnetic coil and a pilot clutch. When the electromagnetic coil is not energized, the pressing force of the cam mechanism, which is generated because of drag torque of the pilot clutch in the case where a output rotary member rotates faster than a input rotary member, is smaller than that generated because of drag torque of the pilot clutch in the case where the input rotary member rotates faster than the output rotary member.

A vehicle includes a first axle have a first electric machine, a second axle having a second electric machine and a controller. The controller is programmed to, in a user-selected four-wheel drive mode, command a first torque to the first electric machine based on a driver-demanded torque and a speed of the second axle, and command a second torque to the second electric machine based on a comparison of the driver-demanded torque and the first torque and further based on a speed of the first axle.

Methods and system are described for changing a driveline gear range from a higher gear range to a lower gear range. The driveline may include two electric machines and four clutches in a four wheel drive configuration. The methods and systems permit a driveline to change from a higher gear range to a lower gear range without stopping a vehicle.

The electronic IWE actuator includes an electric motor, a worm gear connected to the electric motor, a ball ramp including a worm wheel configured to engage with the worm gear, a clutch ring configured to engage with a wheel hub of the vehicle, and a shift fork configured to engage with the clutch ring and the ball ramp and move linearly in a direction along an axis of the wheel hub in response to a rotation of the ball ramp. The clutch ring is configured to engage with the wheel hub in response to a rotation of the worm gear in a first direction, and disengage from the wheel hub in response to a rotation of the worm gear in a second direction that is opposite to the first direction.