An electric drive module that includes a housing, a pair of drive units and a coupling unit. The drive units are disposed in the housing and each drive unit includes a motor unit and a friction brake. The motor unit has a stator, which is non-rotatably coupled to the housing, and a rotor that is rotatable about a motor axis and configured to drive a wheel of a vehicle. The friction brake has a first portion, which is non-rotatably coupled to the housing, and a second portion that is drivingly coupled to the rotor. The friction brake can be operated to create a rotational drag force that resists rotation of the second portion relative to the first portion. The coupling unit is configured to selectively rotatably couple the second portions of the friction brakes to one another.

A vehicle control device mounted on a four-wheel drive vehicle including a driving force transmission system includes an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit calculates a command torque based on vehicle information. The electronic control unit estimates a temperature of a heat generating location in the driving force transmission system based on the command torque. The electronic control unit estimates the temperature of the heat generating location based on an estimated value of a driving force input to an input rotating member, when it is not possible for the driving force corresponding to the command torque to be transmitted to auxiliary drive wheels due to a magnitude of the driving force generated by a drive source or occurrence of a wheel slip.

A number of variations may include a product including a stator assembly and/or a rotor assembly wherein at least one of the stator assembly and/or rotor assembly includes a central cavity, and at least two clutch assemblies, wherein at least a portion of each of the two clutch assemblies is received in the cavity. A number of variations may include a module wherein a plurality of clutches and electric motor are received in the same housing to form a module wherein the electromagnetic (motor performance and clutch performance can be tested prior to installing the module in a vehicle.

A clutch device, comprising a first input side coupled to a first drive motor, a second input side coupled to a second drive motor, a first and second output side, wherein the first and second output sides can and the first and second input sides can be rotated about a common axis. The clutch device further includes a first clutch located between the first input side and the first output side, a second clutch located between the first input side and the second output side, and a third clutch located between the first input side and the second input side, wherein the third clutch is arranged offset relative to the first clutch.

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 vehicle includes a first axle temporary driven by a motor, a second axle permanently connected to the motor via a propeller shaft, and a sub-shaft that connects the propeller shaft and the first axle. A control system for a connection between the motor and the first axle includes a first clutch between the propeller shaft and the sub-shaft, a second clutch between the sub-shaft and the first axle. The first clutch is controlled to continue applying a synchronous torque until the second clutch is determined to be connected. The second clutch is controlled to be connected in response to a determination that the second clutch is connectable.

Piston apparatus for use with vehicle clutches are disclosed. A disclosed drive unit assembly for a vehicle includes a housing defining a first cavity and a second cavity fluidly coupled together. The drive unit assembly also includes a clutch positioned in the first cavity. Rotation of the clutch conveys a fluid from the first cavity to the second cavity. The drive unit assembly also includes a port extending from the second cavity to the first cavity to receive the fluid. The drive unit assembly also includes a piston positioned in the first cavity proximate to the port and configured to operate the clutch. Movement of the piston relative to the port controls a flow of the fluid through the port from the second cavity to the first cavity.

A method for shifting a PTO transmission includes selecting a PTO output speed from one of a first PTO speed and a second PTO speed of the PTO transmission, operating the PTO transmission in a reduced power mode at the selected PTO speed, the reduced power mode providing lower power to the PTO transmission at the selected PTO speed than a normal operating mode, comparing an instantaneous drive power to a maximum drive power in the reduced power mode, and when the instantaneous drive power exceeds the maximum drive power, automatically shifting the PTO transmission under load from the reduced power mode to the normal operating mode and automatically adjusting a transmission ratio of a vehicle transmission.

A slip clutch includes an axis of rotation, an input side, an output side, and a pressable friction package for transmitting a predetermined maximum torque between the input side and the output side. The pressable friction package includes a lubricated friction lining with a predetermined coefficient of friction, and an overload spring for applying an axial clamping force to the pressable friction package.

A vehicle includes an engine, a front frame, a rear frame, an intermediate frame, a front propeller shaft, a rear propeller shaft, and a wet oiling brake. A pair of right and left front lower arms are swingably mounted to the front frame. A pair of right and left rear lower arms are swingably mounted to the rear frame. The intermediate frame is located between the front frame and the rear frame. The front propeller shaft extends forward from the engine and the rear propeller shaft extends rearward from the engine. The wet oiling brake is located within a region defined by the intermediate frame in the front-rear direction and brakes a rotation of the front propeller shaft.