An oil feed structure includes: a hydraulic clutch; a power transmitting shaft coupled to the hydraulic clutch; a valve element inserted into the power transmitting shaft, and a spring configured to bias the valve element. The valve element includes: a pressure receiving surface facing in an axial direction of the power transmitting shaft and configured to receive hydraulic pressure of a hydraulic pressure oil passage; and a port communicable with a clutch lubrication hole of the power transmitting shaft. The spring biases the valve element toward the hydraulic pressure oil passage against the hydraulic pressure received by the pressure receiving surface. When clutch operating hydraulic pressure changes, the valve element moves in the axial direction to change an opening degree of communication between the port and the clutch lubrication hole.

A universal joint contains a first joint yoke and a second joint yoke. The first joint yoke and the second joint yoke are connected by a journal cross, ends of the journal cross being mounted in the joint yokes by bearings. In order to lubricate at least one of the bearings, at least one lubricant feed-through is provided, which is provided outside of a central bore of the journal cross.

A space-saving method for early determination of wear of a universal joint with four journals projecting from a base is provided and relates to the field of drive technology. The journal cross of the universal joint is provided with a temperature sensor for the purpose of determining wear of the universal joint.

A transfer case includes a primary output shaft, a secondary output shaft, a clutch, and a hub. The clutch includes a plurality of interleaved plates for selectively rotationally coupling the primary output shaft to the secondary output shaft. The hub rotationally couples the primary output shaft and the clutch. The hub includes an outer annular member and an inner annular member. The inner annular member is rotatable within the outer annular member for the hub to selectively release oil into the clutch.

The invention relates to a drive unit (10) for a vehicle, comprising an electric machine (12) having a rotor shaft (14) and a transmission (16) having a transmission shaft (18). According to the invention, the rotor shaft (14) and the transmission shaft (18) are interlocking and coupled by means of an interlocking toothing (44), wherein a lubricant channel (46) is formed in the transmission shaft (18), which feeds into an inner space (48) of the rotor shaft (14) at the end facing the rotor shaft (14) in order to provide lubricant for the interlocking toothing (44), wherein the rotor shaft (14) has an end side (50) at the axial end facing the transmission shaft (18), on which end side one or more openings (52) are formed, extending from an inner circumference (54) of the rotor shaft (14) bordering the inner space (48) to the outer circumference (56) thereof, such that the lubricant channel (46) is fluidically connected to the openings (52) via the inner space (48) and the interlocking toothing (44).

A drive apparatus for a vehicle having an electric machine whose rotor shaft is constructed as a hollow shaft having an internal tooth arrangement. A gear mechanism drive shaft, which has an external tooth arrangement, is inserted coaxially relative to the hollow shaft into the hollow shaft, to form a torque-transmitting spline. The rotor shaft with a rotor shaft rotary bearing being interposed is guided outward through a bearing opening of an electric machine housing, and the gear mechanism drive shaft has a centering seat which is in abutment with the internal circumference of the rotor shaft with a tight clearance fit. The gear mechanism drive shaft is subjected to bending (D) during travel operation as a result of radially active operating forces (F.sub.R). To reduce the bending stress (D), the centering seat of the gear mechanism drive shaft is arranged without an axial offset with respect to the rotor shaft rotary bearing, in axial alignment relative to the rotor shaft rotary bearing.

Provided are a wet friction plate and a wet multiplate clutch device including the wet friction plates capable of improving the performance for discharging lubricant oil adhering to surfaces of friction members. A wet friction plate includes oil grooves and friction members on a flat plate annular core metal. At a surface of a porous layer of the friction member, a friction slide surface and lubricant oil recessed portions are formed. The lubricant oil recessed portion has no sharp portion in a pointed shape, such as a corner portion, and is formed with a smooth continuous surface. The multiple lubricant oil recessed portions depressed in a recessed shape with respect to the friction slide surface are formed. In the porous layer, hollow portions are formed to have the same formation rate between a portion forming the friction slide surface and a portion forming the lubricant oil recessed portion.

A free-wheel comprising a driving part and a driven part that are able to rotate about an axis of rotation, the free-wheel comprising at least one rotational connecting member arranged in a connection space, a driven connection section of the driven part surrounding a driving connection section of the driving part, the connection space being located radially, with respect to the axis of rotation, between the driving connection section and the driven connection section. The free-wheel comprises at least one barrier, the geometry of which varies depending on the speed of rotation of the driving part, arranged radially between the driving part and the driven part and longitudinally against the connection space, the barrier being constrained to rotate with the driving connection section.

A joint assembly and method of utilizing the same. The joint assembly includes a first joint member drivingly connected to a second joint member by using one or more third joint members. At least a portion of a cage member is interposed between the first and second joint members. When the first joint member is plunged in a first direction, at least a portion of one or more first engagement portions of the first joint member are in direct contact with at least a portion of one or more first engagement portions of the cage member. When the first joint member is plunged in a second direction, opposite the first direction, at least a portion of one or more second engagement portions of the first joint member are in direct contact with at least a portion of one or more second engagement portions of the cage member.

Methods and systems for an electric drive axle of a vehicle are provided. An electric drive axle system includes, in one example a gear train configured to rotationally attach to an electric motor-generator, the gear train includes an output shaft having a clutch arranged thereon and configured to selectively rotationally couple a gear to the output shaft. The gear train further includes a lubrication channel extending between an output shaft and an axle shaft and including an outlet extending through the output shaft and opening into the clutch.