Transaxle of multi-wheel drive vehicle

Abstract

A transaxle for auxiliary wheels of a vehicle having a main drive wheel and left and right auxiliary drive wheels, comprises: a gear to which a rotary force for driving the main drive wheel is distributed; a pair of left and right axles drivingly connected to the respective left and right auxiliary drive wheels; a pair of clutches, wherein one of the clutches is interposed between the gear and the left axle, and the other clutch is interposed between the gear and the right axle; judging means for judging whether or not the main drive wheel slips; and a shift mechanism for engaging and disengaging the pair of clutches based on the judgment of the judging means. The judging means comprises a two-way clutch interposed between the gear and the pair of axles, which is engaged when rotary speed of the gear exceeds rotary speed of at least one of the axles. Alternatively, the judging means comprises: a sensor for detecting rotary speed of the gear; a sensor for detecting rotary speed of at least one of the axles; and a controller for controlling the shift mechanism. The controller receives signals from both of the sensors so as to judge whether or not the main drive wheel slips.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.