An input gear assembly in which the input gear is coupled to the input shaft via a pair of spaced-apart pilot regions of the input shaft. One of the pilot regions is disposed adjacent to one of the bearings used, with the pilot region formed in or on the input shaft itself and engaging a corresponding internal surface of the input gear. Another of the pilot regions is formed in the inner bearing raceway of another of the bearings used, with the pilot region formed as an elongate portion of the inner bearing raceway of the input shaft and engaging another corresponding internal surface of the input gear. For manufacturing simplicity, this additional pilot region and the remainder of the elongate inner bearing raceway have the same material properties, surface treatment, straightness, and cylindricity. This arrangement prevents tilting of the input gear with respect to the input shaft and bearing shaft, thereby enhancing performance.

Pass-through differentials are described.

A counter gear mechanism includes: a fifth gear in mesh with a third gear; a sixth gear in mesh with a fourth gear; and a seventh gear in mesh with a differential input gear. The seventh gear is disposed between the fifth gear and the sixth gear in an axial direction. A switching mechanism is disposed between the third gear and the fourth gear in the axial direction. The switching mechanism makes switching among: a state in which the third gear is coupled to a second input member; a state in which the fourth gear is coupled to the second input member; and a state in which the third gear and the fourth gear are decoupled from the second input member. This structure is able to make an entirety of an apparatus compact in size in the axial direction when the apparatus includes the switching mechanism to change the speed ratio between the second input member, which is drivingly coupled to an internal combustion engine, and output members.

An input gear assembly in which the input gear is coupled to the input shaft via a pair of spaced-apart pilot regions of the input shaft. One of the pilot regions is disposed adjacent to one of the bearings used, with the pilot region formed in or on the input shaft itself and engaging a corresponding internal surface of the input gear. Another of the pilot regions is formed in the inner bearing raceway of another of the bearings used, with the pilot region formed as an elongate portion of the inner bearing raceway of the input shaft and engaging another corresponding internal surface of the input gear. For manufacturing simplicity, this additional pilot region and the remainder of the elongate inner bearing raceway have the same material properties, surface treatment, straightness, and cylindricity. This arrangement prevents tilting of the input gear with respect to the input shaft and bearing shaft, thereby enhancing performance.

A transmission device includes a power-transmission case having a carrier of a reduction gear and a differential case joined to the carrier is supported in a transmission case via case support bearings, a specific planetary gear portion of a planetary gear is disposed on one side of a differential mechanism in an axial direction, and the specific case support bearing is disposed on the other side thereof An oil passage-forming body is provided on an inner wall of the transmission case, the oil passage-forming body comprising an oil collection part that opens upward and can collect lubricating oil splashed up in an area around the specific planetary gear portion within the transmission case accompanying rotation of the power-transmission case, and an oil reservoir part that is continuous from the oil collection part, stores lubricating oil collected by the oil collection part, and supplies the lubricating oil to the specific case support bearing.

An axle assembly having an electric motor module, a drive pinion, and at least one rotor bearing assembly. The electric motor module may have a rotor. The rotor and the drive pinion may be rotatable about a first axis. The first rotor bearing assembly may extend between the drive pinion and the rotor.

A shaft oil flow controller arrangement for pinion shaft bearings in a differential is provided, including a housing along with a pinion shaft supported therein by head and tail bearings. A ring gear is mounted for rotation and is engaged with a pinion gear. A bearing spacer is located on the pinion shaft between the head and tail bearings. A diverter is located on the bearing spacer, and includes a circumferentially extending diverter wall that is moveable from a first position in which the wall extends generally in a longitudinal direction of the pinion shaft at a first, lower rotational speed of the pinion shaft allowing a first volume of lubricant oil flow to the head bearing, to a second position, in which the wall extends radially outwardly at a second, higher rotational speed, to restrict lubricant oil flow to the head bearing to a lower volume, and increase oil flow to the tail bearing.

A differential assembly arrangement with optimized pinion shaft bearing lubrication is provided. The assembly includes a housing, a ring gear, a pinion gear, a pinion shaft supported by two rolling element bearings, a sleeve, and a lubrication deflector. The two rolling element bearings, a pinion head bearing bearing and a pinion tail bearing, are located at each end of the sleeve which fits over the pinion shaft. The sleeve helps facilitate the application of a pre-load to the bearings. The lubrication deflector is located along the length of the sleeve for providing the correct amount of lubricant to the two bearings. The deflector is in the form of a ring located on the sleeve or integrated within the sleeve.

A transaxle comprises first and second input shafts coaxial to each other, an output shaft drivingly connected to the second input shaft, a torque limiter interposed between the first and second input shafts, and a housing incorporating the first and second input shafts, the output shaft and the torque limiter. The torque limiter includes first and second sleeves. The first sleeve is fitted to the first input shaft unrotatably relative to the first input shaft. The second sleeve is fitted to the second input shaft unrotatably relative to the second input shaft. The first and second sleeves are layered in a radial direction of the first and second input shafts so as to be pressed against each other with a radial surface pressure to limit a torque transmitted between the first and second sleeves to a limiting value.

An axle assembly that is configured with reduced weight and an internal configuration that is configured to reduce losses through, for example, higher efficiency gearing, low viscosity lubricant and reduced lubricant levels as compared with current production automotive axle assemblies that are configured with a similar overall gear ratio and capacity.