A disconnecting axle assembly with a planetary differential assembly and a coupling that selectively couples a planet carrier of the planetary differential assembly to an axle shaft.

A power transmission system includes a first rotating shaft and a second rotating shaft, a first fastening element including multiple first friction members and rotating integrally with the first rotating shaft, a second fastening element including multiple second friction members and rotating integrally with the second rotating shaft, a frictional engagement portion in which the first fastening element and the second fastening element are alternately stacked in an axial direction, and a pressing member disposed movable in the axial direction and pressing the frictional engagement portion to engage the first friction members and the second friction members with each other. The first fastening element is supported in the axial direction by an internal thrust bearing and an external thrust bearing that have different diameters.

The invention relates to a powertrain for a motor vehicle having a permanently driven primary axle, comprising: a drive unit for the generation of a drive torque; a first clutch for the transfer of a variable portion of the drive torque to a secondary axle of the motor vehicle; a second clutch for the deactuation of a torque transfer section of the powertrain arranged between the first clutch and the second clutch when the first clutch is opened; and a control unit for the automatic control of the first clutch, with the control unit being connected to at least one sensor for the detection of a wheel slip at the primary axle; with the control unit being made, starting from a deactuated state of the torque transfer section, to close the second clutch in dependence on a detected wheel slip at the primary axle.

A clutch for a Rear Drive Unit (RDU) selectively couples one of the half-shafts to an intermediate shaft. The clutch is actuated with a ball-ramp mechanism having a plate that rotates in response to rotation of a motor. In order to provide precise control of clutch torque capacity, a high gear reduction is desirable. Gear reduction is provided by a planetary gear set located co-axially with the clutched half-shaft. In addition to providing a relatively high gear ratio, this is more likely to fit into the available space without interfering with other components.

A drivetrain system can drive a vehicle by a first motor and a second motor. A drivetrain couples the first motor with a first axle and comprises a propeller shaft transmitting torque from the first motor to a second axle and coupled with the second motor. A first clutch disconnectably connects the first motor with the propeller shaft. A second clutch disconnectably couples the propeller shaft with the second axle. The first and second motors can be activated. The first clutch can be connected to cause both the first and second motors to drive the first axle. The second clutch can be connected or disconnected to control torque transmission from the first motor and the second motor to the second axle, whereby the vehicle is operated in a hybrid mode in which both the first motor and the second motor drive the vehicle.

Embodiments of the present invention provide a motor vehicle controller comprising a computing device, the controller being configured to command a first releasable torque transmitting device of a drive-line to switch between a released condition in which a first releasable torque transmitting device substantially prevents transmission of torque from an input to an output portion thereof, and an engaged condition in which a releasable torque transmitting device allows torque transmission from an input portion to an output portion thereof. The controller may be configured to receive information indicative of: a speed of wheels of a first axle; a speed of wheels of a second axle; and a terrain over which a vehicle is driving. The controller may be configured, in response to a detected disparity between the speed of wheels of said first and second axle when said first releasable torque transmitting device is switched to said engaged condition, in dependence upon said received information indicative of the terrain over which the vehicle is travelling, either: output a signal to automatically cause said first releasable torque transmitting device to perform a reconnect operation comprising momentarily resuming the released condition, and then subsequently resuming the engaged condition, or maintain said first releasable torque transmitting device in said engaged position.

A control apparatus that controls a four-wheel drive vehicle in which a driving force is transmitted to rear wheels via a dog clutch, a propeller shaft, and a driving force transmission apparatus is configured to, when switching to a four-wheel drive mode, reduce a difference in rotation speeds of an intermediate rotational member and a ring gear member by a frictional force between a friction surface of a friction member, which is configured such that its rotation relative to the intermediate rotational member is restricted, and a target frictional slide surface of the ring gear member, and then couple the intermediate rotational member and the ring gear member by a clutch member in a state in which engagement forces of friction clutches configured to transmit the driving force between each of first and second output rotational members and the intermediate rotational member of the driving force transmission apparatus are set to engagement forces that allow their relative rotation.

An arrangement of a vehicle is provided having normal transverse engine/transmission normal two-wheel drive operation which can be selectively placed into four-wheel drive operation wherein a pump which powers the coupling or uncoupling is independent of the transmission lubrication pump and is powered by the transmission.

A differential assembly having a torque coupling unit and an axle disconnect. A first end portion of an intermediate portion of a differential case is integrally connected to a ring gear. Integrally connected to an inner surface of the intermediate portion of the case is a first plurality of clutch plates. Disposed within a hollow portion of the intermediate portion is a first and a second differential side gear that are meshing with one or more pinion gears. Drivingly connected to the first side gear is a first output shaft. A clutch can having a second plurality of clutch plates is drivingly connected to the first output shaft. Within the hollow portion of the intermediate portion of the case is a clutching assembly that selectively engages the second side gear. A first clutch actuator selectively engages the plurality of plates and a second clutch actuator selectively engages the clutching assembly.

A vehicle clutch control device is provided for switching from a two-wheel drive traveling to a four-wheel drive traveling. The vehicle clutch control device includes a dog clutch that separates a rear wheel drive from a front wheel drive by releasing the dog clutch, an electronically controlled coupling that distributes a driving force of a transverse engine to left and right rear wheels in accordance with a clutch connection capacity, and a four-wheel drive control unit. The four-wheel drive control unit switches the drive mode to one of a disconnect two-wheel drive mode in which the dog clutch and the electronically controlled coupling are released, a connect four-wheel drive mode in which the dog clutch and the electronically controlled coupling are engaged, and a stand-by two-wheel drive mode in which the dog clutch is engaged while the electronically controlled coupling is released.