A differential device for a 4-wheel-drive vehicle wherein a portion of a drive power source drive force transmitted to left and right main drive wheels is transmitted to left and right auxiliary drive wheels through a propeller shaft which is disconnectable from a power transmitting path between the main drive wheels and drive power source, the differential device distributes the drive force from the propeller shaft to the auxiliary drive wheels, and selectively connects and disconnects the propeller and an output shaft to and from each other, the output shaft. The differential device includes a side oil seal between the output shaft and a casing, a side bearing adjacent to the seal in an output shaft axial direction such that the output shaft is rotatably supported by the casing via the bearing, and an oil slinger axially adjacent to the bearing so the slinger is rotated with the output shaft.

A differential drive system for a vehicle includes a differential drive device, a dog clutch device, and an electromagnetic actuator. The axis of rotation of the differential drive device is situated outside of the annular electromagnet of the electromagnetic actuator.

A vehicle includes front suspension assemblies; rear suspension assemblies; a left driven wheel and a right driven wheel with first left and right brake assemblies; a left wheel and a right wheel with second left and right brake assemblies; an anti-lock braking system (ABS) module; a drive mode coupler connected between the transmission and the left and right wheels for changing between a 24 and a 44 drive configuration; and a drive mode switch for controlling the drive mode coupler, the ABS module selectively performing brake traction control of at least one wheel based on the position of the drive mode switch. A method for controlling traction of the vehicle includes sensing the drive mode switch position and when the drive mode changes from a 24 position to a 44 position, causing the ABS module to perform brake traction control on at least one wheel.

In accordance with one aspect of the techniques described herein, there is provided a vehicle comprising an engine, an automatic, robotic, or continuously variable transmission mechanically coupled to the engine, a four-wheel drive system, a vehicle control system coupled to the engine, the four-wheel drive system and the transmission, a braking system, a gas pedal for controlling the operation of the engine, a brake pedal for controlling the operation of the braking system, the gas pedal and the brake pedal being disposed in the vehicle for control by a right foot of the driver, the vehicle further comprising an additional pedal being disposed in the vehicle for control by a left foot of the driver and coupled to the vehicle control system, wherein the additional pedal is separate and distinct from the brake pedal and the gas pedal and wherein additional pedal controls the four-wheel drive system of the vehicle.

A vehicle includes front suspension assemblies; rear suspension assemblies; a left driven wheel and a right driven wheel with first left and right brake assemblies; a left wheel and a right wheel with second left and right brake assemblies; an anti-lock braking system (ABS) module; a drive mode coupler connected between the transmission and the left and right wheels for changing between a 24 and a 44 drive configuration; and a drive mode switch for controlling the drive mode coupler, the ABS module selectively performing brake traction control of at least one wheel based on the position of the drive mode switch. A method for controlling traction of the vehicle includes sensing the drive mode switch position and when the drive mode changes from a 24 position to a 44 position, causing the ABS module to perform brake traction control on at least one wheel.

The present invention relates to a transfer gearbox having an input shaft, a first output shaft, a second output shaft, a friction clutch, by means of which, in a manner which is dependent on its engagement state, a variable proportion of a drive torque which is transmitted from the input shaft to the first output shaft can be transmitted to the second output shaft, and a rotationally driven actuator unit for controlling the engagement state of the friction clutch. Furthermore, the transfer gearbox has an electromagnetically actuable latch for locking the actuator unit as required.

A device and method for operating a multi-axle powertrain for a motor vehicle, with a first axle being permanently in operative connection and a second axle being at least temporarily in operative connection by a drive device via a clutch coupling. It is provided that, when the second axle is decoupled from the drive device and the starting clutch is disengaged, an expected wheel force is predictively ascertained. The determination of the wheel force takes into account a torque caused by a mass moment of inertia of the drive device, and the second axle is coupled with the drive device if the expected wheel force surpasses a maximum wheel force.

An all-terrain vehicle (ATV) has a frame having front and rear ends, an internal combustion engine connected to the frame, the engine including a front portion and a rear portion, a single cylinder defining a cylinder axis, an air intake port defined in the front portion facing towards the front end of the frame, and an exhaust port defined in the rear portion facing towards the rear end of the frame. The ATV further has an exhaust assembly fluidly connected to the exhaust port. The exhaust assembly extends from the engine towards the rear end of the frame. The ATV further has a continuously variable transmission operatively connected to the engine, which includes a primary pulley being operatively connected to the engine, a secondary pulley, a drive belt looped around the primary and secondary pulleys, and a housing enclosing the primary pulley, the secondary pulley, and the drive belt.

An improved twin clutch, two-speed disconnect secondary drive unit, which may be configured as a rear drive unit (RDU) for an all wheel drive vehicle is provided. The RDU is driven through an input shaft, which is connected to a vehicle drive source such as a motor, and includes a twin clutch assembly, which is connected to the drive shaft and is selectively actuated to drive left and right main shafts, which drive respective wheels of the vehicle. The RDU further includes a modular a shift assembly mountable to one or both of said main shafts to drive output shafts, wherein each shift assembly is selectively operable between the hi-range and lo-range modes to shift driving operation of the output shafts between hi-speed and lo-speed operation. The shift assembly may be controlled by improved mono-stable or bi-stable actuators.

A transfer case (18) is disclosed. The transfer case (18) includes an input shaft (16) and a sun gear (56). The sun gear (56) includes a collar end (58) and a gear end (60) and at least a portion of the sun gear (56) circumscribes the input shaft (16). A hub (62) circumscribes the collar end (58) and the input shaft (16), and may be slidably move between a first position (64) and a second position (66) opposite the first position (64) along the input shaft (16) and the collar end (58). A plurality of planetary gears (70) is mounted in a carrier body (72) circumscribing the gear end (60), and the carrier body (72) is splined with the transfer case input shaft (16). A ring gear (78) circumscribes the plurality of planetary gears (70) mounted in the carrier body (72), and is integrally joined with an output shaft (20). The ring gear (78) is rotatable around the plurality of planetary gears (70).