A differential arrangement including a wedge clutch assembly is provided. The wedge clutch assembly includes a cage with a first plurality of tapered crossbars to at least partially define a plurality of tapered wedge pockets. A plurality of wedges are each arranged within a respective one of the plurality of wedge pockets and within a circumferential groove of an input drive gear or a differential assembly. An actuator assembly is configured to move the cage in at least one of a first axial direction or a second axial direction. Movement of the first plurality of tapered crossbars in one of the first axial direction or the second axial direction circumferentially drives the plurality of wedges into contact with the circumferential groove such that the input drive gear drives the differential assembly.

A driving force distribution apparatus includes a hollow shaft configured to rotate together with a ring gear, a first output shaft having a shaft portion inserted through the hollow shaft, a second output shaft arranged coaxially with the first output shaft, and a driving force transmission mechanism configured such that a driving force transmitted to the hollow shaft is transmitted to the first and second output shafts. A case member has a lubricating oil introduction chamber into which lubricating oil stirred up by the ring gear is introduced. The lubricating oil is supplied from the lubricating oil introduction chamber to the driving force transmission mechanism via a space between the hollow shaft and the shaft portion of the first output shaft. The lubricating oil introduction chamber is formed between the hollow shaft and a bearing mechanism that supports one end of the first output shaft.

A control device for a power transmission mechanism is provided, performing control so that a driving wheel reliably obtains torque when a vehicle is started. In a vehicle having a power transmission mechanism that includes a power transmission path transmitting power from a power source to a first driving wheel and a second driving wheel, and a power transmission element arranged in the power transmission path between the power source and the second driving wheel, a control device for a power transmission mechanism includes a control section controlling a fastening force of the power transmission element so as to control power transmission capacity of the power transmission mechanism from the power source to the second driving wheel, wherein when the control section acquires that the vehicle transitions from a traveling state to a stop state, the acquisition triggers the control section to increase the power transmission capacity.

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.

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.

Provided is a torque control device for a four-wheel-drive vehicle that can stably output a minimum torque required to start or drive the vehicle to the auxiliary wheel side under a road surface condition that main driving wheels are stuck in the idling state or under a road surface condition equivalent thereto. When front wheels Wf1, Wf2 are judged to be stuck in the idling state, a current rear torque TrCMD is raised step by step. And, when a brake operates in the state in which the four wheels are at stop after raising the command torque TrCMD step by step, the command rear torque TrCMD is released. And, the command rear torque TrCMD is raised step by step when the command rear torque TrCMD continues to be released for a second threshold time.

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 clutch thrust bearing device having a ball bearing with a fixed inner ring, a rotatable outer ring, and at least one series of balls located in a raceway chamber disposed between the rings. The device also provides a piston having a substantially radial portion, the fixed inner ring being in axial abutment against the substantially radial portion. The piston further provides an axial portion arranged in a bore of the fixed inner ring of the ball bearing, the axial portion being provided with at least one outwards radial projection that extends between the fixed inner ring and the rotatable outer ring.

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.

To provide a device to facilitate protection of a clutch while minimizing degradation of the torque transmission performance. A hydraulic clutch for drive power distribution is provided between a drive power source and auxiliary driving wheels, and a commanded torque is determined depending on the travel situation. The hydraulic pressure corresponding to the commanded torque is supplied to the hydraulic clutch. The surface temperature of the clutch is estimated (detected). The device generates a limiting value to limit the commanded torque when the difference in rotation between input and output shafts of the clutch is not less than a predetermined threshold and the commanded torque is not less than a predetermined value and performs control so as to increase the limiting value with an increase in the surface temperature of the clutch.