A method and a system for controlling driving of a vehicle according to a driving intent of a driver in a sports mode, may include determining a situation in which whether sporty driving is required for the vehicle due to an output value reflecting a driving state of the vehicle which is driving in a sports mode, and, when the situation is determined as requiring the sporty driving, controlling, by the controller, the clutch mechanism to release a coupling between the front wheel and the front wheel drive motor for the vehicle to drive in a rear wheel drive manner, and the system to which the method is applied.

A vehicle caravan comprising electric vehicles configured for coordinated movement and airflow control comprising: a lead vehicle and a chase vehicle, the lead vehicle disposed at the front of the caravan and the chase vehicle disposed behind the lead vehicle in a chase pattern. Each lead and chase vehicle comprising: a vehicle chassis and a front rotatable vehicle drive axle; a selectively movable electric propulsion motor comprising a rotatable motor shaft and a motor axis configured to be oriented in a substantially vertical direction; an air duct configured to direct an airflow to the propulsion motor; an airflow shutter in the front end of the air duct to selectively control the airflow within the air duct; and a vehicle controller; the caravan and the chase pattern configured for coordination of the motor position and the open/closed position of the lead vehicle and the chase vehicle shutters while the caravan is moving.

A powertrain including an engine; a main drive shaft assembly; a primary clutch mechanism coupled to the engine and the a main drive shaft assembly, the primary clutch mechanism being operable to connect or disconnect the main drive shaft assembly and the engine; an axle shaft coupled transversely to the main drive shaft assembly; a secondary clutch mechanism having a driving member coupled to an end of the axle shaft; a drive wheel coupled to a first driven member of the secondary clutch mechanism; and an air propulsion unit coupled to a second driven member of the secondary clutch mechanism. The secondary clutch mechanism being operable to engage or disengage the first driven member and/or the second driven member to the driving member so as to connect or disconnect the drive wheel and/or the air propulsion unit to the axle shaft. A vehicle including the powertrain.

The invention relates to a method for operating a vehicle drive train (1) comprising a prime mover (2), comprising a transmission (3), and comprising a driven end (4). A friction-locking shift element (10) is provided, the power transmission capacity of which is variable and, with the aid of which, at least a portion of the torque transmitted in the vehicle drive train (1) can be transmitted between a transmission output shaft (8) and an area (6) of the driven end (4). One shift-element half is operatively connected to the transmission output shaft (8) and the other shift-element half is operatively connected to the area (6) of the driven end (4). The rotational speed of the transmission output shaft (8) is determined as a function of the rotational speed in the area (6) of the driven end (4) and also as a function of the rotational speed of the prime mover (2) and the ratio currently engaged in the area of the transmission (3). In the event of a deviation between the rotational speed of the transmission output shaft (8) determined on the output end and the rotational speed of the transmission output shaft (8) determined on the transmission-input end, which is greater than or equal to a threshold value and/or an operating temperature in the area of the friction-locking shift element (10), which is greater than or equal to a limiting value, measures reducing loads of the friction-locking shift element (10) are initiated.

A differential assembly includes a differential, a collar, and a coupling. The differential has a differential input and differential gearing. The differential input is rotatable about a differential axis. The differential gearing has first and second differential output gears that are rotatable relative to the differential input about the differential axis. The differential gearing transmits rotary power between the differential input and the first and second differential output gears. The collar is rotatable about the differential axis. The coupling has first and second coupling members. The first coupling member is fixedly coupled to the first side gear. The second coupling member is fixedly coupled to the collar. The coupling is operable in a disengaged mode, in which the collar is rotationally decoupled from the first differential output gear, and an engaged mode in which the collar is rotatably coupled to the first differential output gear.

A vehicle transfer case is provided having a housing, a primary shaft rotatably mounted within the housing, a secondary shaft selectively driven by the primary shaft, a hub torsionally fixed with the primary shaft, a clutch housing selectively torsionally connected with the hub via a friction pack, an engagement wheel torsionally fixed with respect to the clutch housing and torsionally connected with the secondary shaft via a flexible torsional force member, the friction pack, upon engagement, causing the clutch housing to be selectively connected with the hub, a reservoir system fixed with respect to the housing capturing lubricant energized by result of the operation of the flexible torsional member, the reservoir system delivering splashed lubricant to a reservoir system, and an Archimedes' screw pump delivering lubricant from a sump adjacent to the secondary shaft to the secondary reservoir system.

A magnetic torque sensing device having a torque transferring member with a magnetoelastically active region. The magnetoelastically active region has oppositely polarized magnetically conditioned regions with initial directions of magnetization that are perpendicular to the sensitive directions of magnetic field sensor pairs placed proximate to the magnetically active region. Magnetic field sensors are specially positioned in relation to the torque-transferring member to accurately measure torque while providing improved RSU performance and reducing the detrimental effects of compassing. The torque sensing devices are incorporated on vehicle drive train components, including differential components, transfer case components, transmission components, and others, including on power transmission shafts, half-shafts, and wheels, and output signals representing characteristics of the vehicle are processed in algorithms to provide useful output information for controlling actions of the vehicle.

A drive force control system for a vehicle configured to allow a driver to find out a steering angle at which a wheel grips a road surface. In the vehicle, a torque distribution ratio to a pair of wheels turned by a steering wheel and another pair of wheels is changeable. A controller restricts a control to change the torque distribution ratio in the event of a slip of the pair of wheels, if a steering angle of the pair of wheels is changed to allow the pair of wheels to grip a road surface.

A work vehicle includes a power transmission unit having a differential device for transmitting power to left and right axles and a power transmission mechanism for transmitting power to the differential device, and a transmission shaft for transmitting power to the power transmission unit. The power transmission mechanism includes a first gear mechanism to which power from the transmission shaft is transmitted and a second gear mechanism for transmitting power from the first gear mechanism to the differential device.

A transfer case with an actuator for operating a two-speed transmission (i.e., range mechanism) and a clutch (i.e., mode mechanism). The actuator employs a motor-driven cam structure that coordinates the movement of a first fork, which is associated with the range mechanism, and a second fork that is associated with the mode mechanism. A resilient coupling is employed to provide compliance between the motor and the cam structure in the event that tooth-on-tooth contact inhibits the range mechanism from changing from a high-range mode and a low range mode or tooth-on-tooth contact inhibits the mode mechanism from changing between a two-wheel drive mode and a four-wheel drive mode. A sensor target and sensor are employed to identify the rotational positioning of the cam structure placement, which is indicative of the modes in which the transmission and the clutch are operating.