A utility vehicle includes: a power unit that outputs drive power; a drive shaft that receives the drive power transmitted from the power unit; a front axle that receives the drive power transmitted from the drive shaft; a right front wheel connected to the front axle; a left front wheel connected to the front axle; a right clutch configured to disable power transmission from the drive shaft to the right front wheel; a left clutch configured to disable power transmission from the drive shaft to the left front wheel; a clutch actuator that actuates the left clutch and the right clutch; and a controller that controls the clutch actuator.

A drive torque transfer case is provided. The transfer case includes an input shaft, an output shaft, a gear assembly coupled to the input shaft, and a range clutch assembly coupled to the output shaft. The range clutch assembly includes a clutch member and a multi-piston actuator configured to receive a pressurized transmission fluid for selectively axially translating the clutch member to engage a component of the gear assembly for transmitting a drive torque from the input shaft to the output shaft. The multi-piston actuator includes an internal piston having a first annular surface area A1 and a third annular surface area A3, and an external piston having a second annular surface area A2 and a fourth annular surface area A4. The A1 and A2 are in hydraulic communication with a first hydraulic chamber, and A3 and A4 are in hydraulic communication with a second hydraulic chamber.

Provided is a control apparatus for a four-wheel-drive vehicle configured to, when a degree of transmission of a driving force to a side of rear wheels is smaller than a predetermined degree, calculate a correction value for a wheel speed based on a rotation-related value, and calculate a wheel speed through use of the rotation-related value and the correction value.

A control device for a torque distributor provided with a control means acquiring a demand value of a torque distributed to second driving wheels (W3, W4) using a torque distributor (10) and outputs a command value (TR) of torque corresponding to the demand value of torque. When a variation per unit time (ND) of a differential rotation speed (NS) between a drive source (3) side and a second driving wheel side with respect to the torque distributor in a torque transmission path (20) is a predetermined first threshold (ND1) or more, the control means (60) performs a torque command value limit control controlling the torque command value to a predetermined limit value (TR1) or less. This can secure the running stability necessary for the vehicle by distributing an appropriate torque to the second driving wheels using the torque distributor, while enabling proper protection of components including the torque distributor.

Systems, apparatus, and methods to control fluid associated with vehicle clutches are disclosed. A disclosed apparatus includes a drive unit assembly for a vehicle. The drive unit assembly includes a housing and a clutch in a cavity of the housing. Rotation of a drum of the clutch expels a fluid from the cavity. The apparatus also includes a vehicle controller configured to disengage the clutch via an actuator. Actuation of the actuator reduces a flow of the fluid into the cavity. The vehicle controller is also configured to maintain engagement of a vehicle transfer device operatively coupled between a vehicle transmission and the drum such that the drum continues to rotate for a time interval during which the clutch is disengaged

A power transmission device includes a selective rotation transmission mechanism for keeping the current drive mode of a vehicle. The selective rotation transmission mechanism includes a magnetized yoke, and a pressure receiving plate opposed to the yoke in the axial direction. In order to improve the stability of operation of the selective rotation transmission mechanism, the yoke and the pressure receiving plate are configured such that separated regions are defined between the yoke and the pressure receiving plate when the latter is attracted to the former such that at the separated regions, the yoke is not in contact with the pressure receiving plate.

A control device is disclosed for a torque distributor arranged between front and rear wheels that can achieve both reduction of vibrations and noises caused by torque transmitted to rear wheels by the torque distributor and securing of turning performance and driving performance. The control device is provided with a normative yaw rate calculation section for calculating a normative yaw rate that is a target value of a yaw rate when the vehicle turns and a yaw rate deviation calculation section for calculating a yaw rate deviation that is a difference between the normative yaw rate and the actual yaw rate. When the yaw rate deviation falls below a threshold Th1, a value of a command torque is limited to a predetermined limit torque value, and when the yaw rate deviation exceeds a threshold Th2, the limit of the command torque by a limit torque value is released.

An all-wheel-drive-vehicle controller includes: a drive gear coupled to a driving source; a driven gear meshed with the drive gear and coupled to main and sub driving-wheel axle shafts transmitting torques to main and sub driving wheels, respectively; a transfer clutch interposed between the driven gear and the sub-driving-wheel axle shaft and adjusting the torque transmitted to the sub driving wheel; a first determination unit determining whether a first condition in which a torque applied to the drive gear is substantially zero is satisfied; a second determination unit determining whether a second condition in which hydraulic pressure is applied to the transfer clutch and a torque applied to the driven gear is substantially zero is satisfied; and a control unit controlling a torque adjuster to adjust the torque applied to either one of the drive gear and the driven gear if the first and second conditions are satisfied.

A method for controlling a vehicle including a main transmission and a hydraulic transmission, in which, in the absence of a setpoint on the brake, and when the hydraulic transmission is activated, a hydraulic pump of the hydraulic transmission is controlled in such a way as to establish a predetermined pressure inside a hydraulic circuit of the hydraulic transmission, and in the event of a setpoint applied to the brake, the hydraulic transmission is then controlled according to an acceleration setpoint applied to the vehicle. If the acceleration setpoint is greater than or equal to an acceleration threshold value, and the speed of travel of the vehicle is less than or equal to a speed threshold value, the hydraulic transmission is controlled in such a way as to apply a tractive force. If the acceleration setpoint is less than the first threshold value, the hydraulic transmission is disengaged.

An automotive vehicle axle and, more specifically, a transmission shaft on an automotive vehicle that can be connected and disconnected in order to allow selection of driving power for the vehicle. The shaft connection includes a first shaft segment; a second shaft segment; and a connector linking the first shaft segment to the second shaft segment. The connector selectively connects or disconnects the first shaft segment to the second shaft segment.