Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Nicholas Edward McCubbin

Peter John Grutter

Andreas Evangelos Perakes

Abhinav Kumar

Ashok E Rodrigues

Paul M Moubarak

Vladimir Ivanovic

Derek Kempton Ward

Steven Anatole Frait

Jeffrey Edward Maurer

Adam Krach

Robert Scott Lippert

Laurence Andrew Deutsch

Richard David Bruns

Dan Fratila

Jim Koppenol

Alex Fischer

Martin Kampe

A vehicle includes a first axle, a second axle, a driveshaft, a first clutch, a second clutch, a third clutch, and a controller. The second axle has first and second half shafts. The second axle has first and second wheels. The driveshaft is disposed between the first and second axles and is coupled to the second axle. The first clutch is configured to selectively couple the driveshaft to the first axle. The second clutch is configured to selectively couple the first wheel to the first half shaft. The third clutch is configured to selectively couple the second wheel to the second half shaft. The controller is programmed to repeatedly connect the first axle to the second axle via the driveshaft by alternating between (i) closing the second clutch and then the first clutch and (ii) closing the third clutch and then the first clutch.

Vehicle all-wheel drive control system

A vehicle includes a first axle, a second axle, a driveshaft, a first clutch, a second clutch, a third clutch, and a controller. The second axle has first and second half shafts. The second axle has first and second wheels. The driveshaft is disposed between the first and second axles and is coupled to the second axle. The first clutch is configured to selectively couple the driveshaft to the first axle. The second clutch is configured to selectively couple the first wheel to the first half shaft. The third clutch is configured to selectively couple the second wheel to the second half shaft. The controller is programmed to control the clutches to connect the second axle to the first axle via the driveshaft.

A vehicle includes a first axle, second axle, first clutch, second clutch, and controller. The first and second axles are coupled by a driveshaft. The first and second clutches are configured to isolate the driveshaft from loads transferred through the first and second axles, respectively, when open. The controller is programmed to, in response to a difference between output speeds of the first and second axles exceeding a first threshold, close the second clutch, reduce the difference such that it is below a second threshold, and close the first clutch.

Vehicle traction and all-wheel drive control system

A method for controlling a vehicle driveline uses sensors to estimate a need for powering secondary wheels for each of a plurality of conditions. The estimates are scaled and the scaled estimates summed. Only primary wheels are powered when the summed estimates are less than a reference value. Both the primary and secondary wheels are powered when the summed estimates exceed the reference value.

Automatic control of driveline states

A vehicle includes a first axle, second axle, driveshaft, engine, clutch, and controller. The first and second axles are coupled by the driveshaft. The engine is configured to generate torque in the first axle. The clutch is configured to disconnect an output of the second axle. The controller is programmed to, responsive to a clutch release request that would result in an increasing commanded torque to the first axle being greater than a threshold, decrease an engine torque such that a first axle torque is less than the threshold.

A vehicle includes a driveshaft, first axle, second axle, first clutch, second clutch, and controller. The driveshaft is selectively coupled to outputs of the first and second axles by the first and second clutches, respectively. The controller is programmed to, in response to a command to reconnect the driveshaft to the outputs of the first and second axles, close the second clutch to transfer loads from the second axle to the driveshaft, adjust the slip speed of the first clutch to within a target range, and close the first clutch.

A transfer case and transmission are designed to permit the transmission hydraulic control system to control a range selection coupler and a torque on demand clutch in the transfer case. Two pressure circuits are transmitted from the transmission to the transfer case: a high range circuit and a low range circuit. The low range circuit is pressurized to engage low range while the range circuit is pressurized to engage high range. The torque on demand clutch is controlled by whichever of these circuits has the higher pressure. Lubrication is provided to a front section of the transfer case via the transmission output shaft, with the fluid returning to the transmission sump through a drainback passageway. The rear portion of the transfer case has a segregated sump. A control strategy is employed to partially fill front section of the transfer case with fluid in preparation for vehicle towing.

Transmission and integrated transfer case

A system and a method for controlling a hybrid vehicle powertrain during a change from a two-wheel drive mode to a four-wheel drive mode is provided. In response to a request to couple the second pair of wheels to the powertrain, a driveline controller commands an increased torque from the electric motor to be applied to the first pair of wheels The increased torque from the electric motor is based on an AWD engagement torque of the second pair of wheels to counteract an engagement torque of a second pair of drive wheels before changing from the two-wheel drive mode to the four-wheel drive mode.

System and method for controlling a driveline in a hybrid vehicle

A vehicle driveline includes a power source, a transmission connected to the power source and including an output driveably connected to primary road wheels, a driveshaft, a synchronizer that opens and closes a drive connection between the output and the driveshaft, and a clutch that alternately opens and closes a drive connection between the driveshaft and secondary road wheels. A control executes synchronization and connection strategies using one of singular, overlapping and sequential activation of the driveline components that produce all-wheel-drive on-demand.

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Northville, MI, United States of America

Nicholas Edward McCubbin