Linamar Gmbh

Jtekt Automotive North America, Inc.

Sean Hayes

Evan Swinger

Todd R Ekonen

Patrick Desing

Shun Ono

Mitchell Holland

Gary Monkaba

Kyle Milliman

Jayson Allison

Simon Joliff

Joe Schaffer

Michael Burr

Masaki Mita

An improved twin clutch, two-speed disconnect secondary drive unit, which may be configured as a rear drive unit (RDU) for an all wheel drive vehicle is provided. The RDU is driven through an input shaft, which is connected to a vehicle drive source such as a motor, and includes a twin clutch assembly, which is connected to the drive shaft and is selectively actuated to drive left and right main shafts, which drive respective wheels of the vehicle. The RDU further includes a modular a shift assembly mountable to one or both of said main shafts to drive output shafts, wherein each shift assembly is selectively operable between the hi-range and lo-range modes to shift driving operation of the output shafts between hi-speed and lo-speed operation. The shift assembly may be controlled by improved mono-stable or bi-stable actuators.

Twin clutch two speed disconnect RDU

A locking differential assembly includes a differential case, a first output shaft and a second output shaft. A first side gear is non-rotatably coupled to the first output shaft and a second side gear is non-rotatably coupled to the second output shaft. A differential pin is also included, the differential pin having differential gears. The differential gears are rotatably supported by the differential case and drivingly engaged with the first and second side gears to allow differential rotation thereof. A lock mechanism is actuated when a first torque force is applied to a drive cam and a driven cam. Finally, an electromagnetic coil actuates a brake plate, wherein the brake plate comes into frictional with a brake disc. Furthermore, the electromagnetic coil is discontinuous around the circumference of the brake disc.

Self energizing locking differential

Piston apparatus for use with vehicle clutches are disclosed. A disclosed drive unit assembly for a vehicle includes a housing defining a first cavity and a second cavity fluidly coupled together. The drive unit assembly also includes a clutch positioned in the first cavity. Rotation of the clutch conveys a fluid from the first cavity to the second cavity. The drive unit assembly also includes a port extending from the second cavity to the first cavity to receive the fluid. The drive unit assembly also includes a piston positioned in the first cavity proximate to the port and configured to operate the clutch. Movement of the piston relative to the port controls a flow of the fluid through the port from the second cavity to the first cavity.

Piston apparatus for use with vehicle clutches

Systems, apparatus, and methods to control fluid associated with vehicle clutches are disclosed. A disclosed apparatus includes a drive unit assembly for a vehicle. The drive unit assembly includes a housing and a clutch in a cavity of the housing. Rotation of a drum of the clutch expels a fluid from the cavity. The apparatus also includes a vehicle controller configured to disengage the clutch via an actuator. Actuation of the actuator reduces a flow of the fluid into the cavity. The vehicle controller is also configured to maintain engagement of a vehicle transfer device operatively coupled between a vehicle transmission and the drum such that the drum continues to rotate for a time interval during which the clutch is disengaged.

Systems, methods, and apparatus to control fluid associated with vehicle clutches

Growing community of inventors

Farmington Hills, MI, United States of America

Sean Hayes