Gkn Automotive Ag

Robert Rickell

Eugen Stall

John R Botterill

Michael Frank

A drive assembly for a motor vehicle, having two drivable axles, a first axle being driven permanently by a drive unit and at least a second axle being connectable via a double coupling assembly so as to be externally controllable. The double coupling assembly comprises a common drivable coupling carrier with outer plates and individual sets of inner plates each connected to the axles of the second driving axle. The double coupling is actuated by a common actuating device, thereby permitting both sets of plates of the double coupling to be loaded by the same amount of actuation forces.

Drive assembly

Device for switching on a drive train

A process for continuously controlling the degree of locking of open differential drives in a driven axle of a multi-axle vehicle, in the case of which a nominal value .DELTA..sub.v soll of the differential speed at the wheels driven via the differential gear is determined as a function of the vehicle speed v.sub.F determined at the non-driven wheels and which records the wheel speed differential .DELTA..sub.v ist between the wheels driven via the differential gear, which wheel speed differential .DELTA..sub.v ist is readjusted by varying the locking effect on the nominal value .DELTA..sub.v soll of the differential speed always deviating from zero.

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Siegburg, Germany

Robert Rickell