# US 2014/0190758 A1 · Vehicle and method of controlling a vehicle > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0190758 A1 - Document ID: US20140190758A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/114,408 - Filed: 2012-04-30 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2011-04-28 - Assignees: Jaguar Land Rover Limited - Inventors: Russell Osborn; Ian Beverley - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140190758A1 ## CPC - B60K 17/02: characterised by arrangement, location, or kind of clutch - B60K 17/165: {provided between independent half axles (B60K17/18, B60K17/20 take precedence)} - B60K 17/3462: {with means for changing distribution of torque between front and rear wheels} - B60K 17/35: including arrangements for suppressing or influencing the power transfer, e.g. viscous clutches - B60K 17/3515: {with a clutch adjacent to traction wheel, e.g. automatic wheel hub} - B60K 23/0808: {for varying torque distribution between driven axles, e.g. by transfer clutch} - F16H 48/19: consisting of two linked clutches - B60K 2023/0858: {with electric means, e.g. electro-hydraulic means} - F16D 21/08: Serially-arranged clutches interconnecting two shafts only when all the clutches are engaged (F16D13/08, F16D13/12 take precedence) - F16H 48/22: using friction clutches or brakes - F16H 48/32: using fluid pressure actuators - B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES - F16H: GEARING - F16D: COUPLINGS FOR TRANSMITTING ROTATION; CLUTCHES; BRAKES ## Abstract Embodiments of the invention provide a vehicle comprising: prime mover means; at least first and second groups of one or more wheels; and a driveline to connect the prime mover means to the first and second groups of one or more wheels such that the first group of one or more wheels is driven by the prime mover means when the driveline is in a first mode of operation and the second group of one or more wheels is additionally driven by the prime mover means when the driveline is in a second mode of operation, the driveline including an auxiliary driveline comprising an auxiliary driveshaft and drive means between the auxiliary driveshaft and the second group of one or more wheels, the drive means being operable to connect the second group of one or more wheels to the auxiliary driveshaft when the driveline transitions between the first mode and the second mode, the drive means having an input portion, an output portion and first and second releasable torque transmitting means coupled in series therebetween, the first releasable torque transmitting means having an input portion and an output portion, the first releasable torque transmitting means being operable to allow slip between the respective portions thereby to modulate an amount of torque transmitted from the input to the output portion, the second releasable torque transmitting means also having an input portion and an output portion, the second releasable torque transmitting means being operable between a first condition in which the input portion is isolated from the output portion and a second condition in which the input and output portions are directly coupled such that torque applied to the input portion is transmitted substantially directly to the output portion. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A vehicle comprising: prime mover means; at least first and second groups of one or more wheels; and a driveline to connect the prime mover means to the first and second groups of one or more wheels such that the first group of one or more wheels may be driven by the prime mover means when the driveline is in a first mode of operation and the second group of one or more wheels may additionally be driven by the prime mover means when the driveline is in a second mode of operation, the driveline including an auxiliary portion for connecting the second group of one or more wheels comprising an auxiliary driveshaft and drive means between the auxiliary driveshaft and the second group of one or more wheels, the drive means having: an input portion; an output portion; and first and second releasable torque transmitting means coupled in series between the input portion and the output portion, the first releasable torque transmitting means having an input portion and an output portion, the first releasable torque transmitting means being operable to allow slip between its input and output portions thereby to modulate an amount of torque transmitted from the input portion to the output portion, the second releasable torque transmitting means also having an input portion and an output portion, the second releasable torque transmitting means being operable between a first condition in which its input portion is substantially isolated from its output portion and a second condition in which its input and output portions are directly coupled such that torque applied to the input portion is transmitted substantially directly to the output portion. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first releasable torque transmitting means comprises clutch means. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) A vehicle as claimed in claim 2 wherein the clutch means comprises friction clutch means. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) A vehicle as claimed in claim 3 wherein the clutch means comprises a wet clutch device. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein the second releasable torque transmitting means comprises clutch means. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) A vehicle as claimed in claim 5 wherein the clutch means of the second releasable torque transmitting means comprises a dry clutch device. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) A vehicle as claimed in claim 5 wherein the clutch means of the second releasable torque transmitting means comprises an interference-type clutch device. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) A vehicle as claimed in claim 5 wherein the clutch means of the second releasable torque transmitting means comprises a dog clutch device. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) A vehicle as claimed in claim 6 wherein the clutch means of the second releasable torque transmitting means comprises a roller clutch device. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein the second group of one or more wheels comprises a plurality of wheels. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) A vehicle as claimed in claim 10 wherein, further comprising a pair of side shafts each connected to a different one of the wheels in the second group to thereby provide torque to its respective wheel, wherein the output portion of the drive means is arranged to provide torque to each one of the side shafts. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) A vehicle as claimed in claim 11 further comprising a differential connected between the side shafts to allow the side shafts to rotate at different respective rates. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) A vehicle as claimed in claim 12 wherein the differential is included in the drive means. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) A vehicle as claimed in claim 11 wherein the first releasable torque transmitting means comprises first and second clutch means each operable to provide torque to a respective different one of said pair of side shafts. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) A vehicle as claimed in claim 14 wherein the first and second clutch means of the first releasable torque transmitting means comprise first and second friction clutch means respectively. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) A vehicle as claimed in claim 11 wherein the second releasable torque transmitting means comprises first and second clutch means each operable to provide torque to a respective different one of said pair of side shafts. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) A vehicle as claimed in claim 16 wherein the first and second clutch means of the second releasable torque transmitting means comprise first and second dog clutch means respectively. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) A vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein the drive means further comprises a ring gear arranged to be driven by the auxiliary driveshaft, the drive means being operable to bring the ring gear to rest when the driveline is in the first mode of operation. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) A vehicle as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a power transfer unit (PTU) operable releasably to connect the prime mover means to the auxiliary drive shaft, the driveline being operable when in the first mode to allow the auxiliary drive shaft to come to rest when the prime mover means is driving the first group of wheels. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) A vehicle as claimed in claim 19 wherein the prime mover means comprises first and second prime movers. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) A vehicle as claimed in claim 20 wherein first prime mover is arranged to drive the first group of one or more wheels and the second prime mover is arranged to drive the second group of one or more wheels, the PTU being operable to connect the second group of one or more wheels to the second prime mover. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) A vehicle as claimed in claim 21 wherein the first prime mover is further operable to drive the second group of one or more wheels. ### Claim 23 (depends on 21) A vehicle as claimed in claim 21 wherein the second prime mover is further operable to drive the first group of one or more wheels. ### Claim 24 (depends on 1) A vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first releasable torque transmitting means is operable between a first condition in which its input portion is isolated from its output portion and a second condition in which its input and output portions are directly coupled such that torque applied to the input portion is transmitted substantially directly to the output portion. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) A vehicle as claimed in claim 24 wherein the first and second releasable torque transmitting means are operable between the first and second conditions by means of separate respective actuators. ### Claim 26 (depends on 24) A vehicle as claimed in claim 24 wherein the first and second releasable torque transmitting means are arranged to be actuated by means of a common actuator. ### Claim 27 A method of releasably coupling a second group of one or more wheels of a motor vehicle to prime mover means by means of a driveline such that a first group of one or more wheels and the second group may be driven by the prime mover means comprising the steps of: coupling an auxiliary driveshaft to the second group of one or more wheels by means of a ring gear and first and second releasable torque transmitting means, the first and second releasable torque transmitting means being coupled in series, the method comprising driving the first and second releasable torque transmitting means by means of the ring gear; and allowing slip between input and output portions of the first releasable torque transmitting means thereby to modulate an amount of torque transmitted to the second group of one or more wheels with the second releasable torque transmitting means arranged such that torque applied to the input portion thereof is transmitted substantially directly to the output portion thereof; and decoupling the first releasable torque transmitting means from the second group of one or more wheels by means of the second releasable torque transmitting means such that the input and output portions of the second releasable torque transmitting means are substantially isolated from one another. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) A method as claimed in claim 27 wherein the second releasable torque transmitting means comprises an interference-type clutch. ### Claim 29 (canceled)