Drive unit for shifting a torque balance

A drive unit for a vehicle, comprising:

• a motor;
• a first gear in driving engagement with the motor;
• a second gear in driving engagement with the motor;
• a differential caging having a planetary differential gear arrangement disposed therein, wherein the planetary differential gear arrangement is in driving engagement with a first output shaft;
• a planetary gear carrier configured to support at least a portion of the planetary differential gear arrangement, wherein the planetary gear carrier is in driving engagement with a second output shaft;
• a pinion gear disposed between the motor and at least one of the first and second gears, the pinion gear including a first pinion, a second pinion, and a third pinion, wherein the second pinion is in driving engagement with the first gear and the third pinion is in driving engagement with the second gear;
• a first variably engageable clutch disposed between the first gear and the first output shaft to selectively transfer torque from the first gear to the first output shaft;
• and
• a second variably engageable clutch disposed between the first gear and the planetary gear carrier to selectively transfer torque from the first gear to the second output shaft via the planetary gear carrier.

A method for selectively shifting torque between output shafts of a vehicle, comprising:

• providing a motor;
• providing a first gear in driving engagement with the motor;
• providing a second gear in driving engagement with the motor;
• providing a differential caging having a planetary differential gear arrangement disposed therein, wherein the planetary differential gear arrangement is in driving engagement with a first output shaft;
• providing at least one reducing gear positioned between the motor and the first and second gears;
• providing a planetary gear carrier configured to support at least a portion of the planetary differential gear arrangement, wherein the planetary gear carrier is in driving engagement with a second output shaft;
• providing a pinion gear disposed between the motor and at least one of the first and second gears, wherein the pinion gear includes a first pinion and a second pinion, and wherein the second pinion is in driving engagement with at least one of the first and second gears;
• providing a first variably engageable clutch disposed between the first gear and the first output shaft;
• providing a second variably engageable clutch disposed between the first gear and the planetary gear carrier;
• providing a clutching device positioned between the motor and the first and second gears to selectively connect and disconnect the at least one reducing gear from the pinion gear;
• selectively shifting torque from the motor to the first output shaft by selectively engaging the first variably engageable clutch;
• and
• selectively shifting torque from the motor to the second output shaft via the planetary gear carrier by selectively engaging the second variably engageable clutch.