Torque distribution system with electronic power take-off module

A torque distribution system for a vehicle having four wheels, including a left front wheel and a right front wheel, and an automatic transmission with a hydraulic pump, wherein the hydraulic pump provides hydraulic pressure to the transmission, comprising:

• at least one torque-transmitting mechanism selectively engagable to transfer torque between at least two of the wheels;
• wherein the hydraulic pump is hydraulically connectable with said at least one torque-transmitting mechanism for controlling engagement thereof;
• wherein the hydraulic pump is driven by the engine, thereby being operable to provide hydraulic pressure for engagement of said at least one torque-transmitting mechanism even when the wheels are not rotating;
• an electronic controller operative for receiving a sensor signal correlated with at least one vehicle condition and for sending a control signal based on said sensor signal and determinative of the hydraulic pressure applied to said at least one torque-transmitting mechanism, thereby permitting controlled slip of said at least one torque-transmitting mechanism to vary an amount of torque transferred by said at least one torque-transmitting mechanism;
• a hydraulic control module operatively connecting said controller with said at least one torque-transmitting mechanism;
• and wherein said hydraulic control module includes at least one solenoid selectively actuatable by a control signal from said controller to allow hydraulic pressure provided by said pump into fluid communication with said at least one torque-transmitting mechanism and configured to prevent fluid communication with said at least one torque-transmitting mechanism when not actuated.

A torque distribution system for a vehicle having four wheels, including a left front wheel, a right front wheel, and rear wheels, and having an automatic transmission with a hydraulic pump, wherein the hydraulic pump provides hydraulic pressure to the transmission, comprising:

• a first torque-transmitting mechanism selectively engagable to transfer torque between the left front wheel and the right front wheel;
• a second torque-transmitting mechanism selectively engagable to transfer torque between the front wheels and the rear wheels;
• wherein the hydraulic pump is hydraulically connectable with the first and the second torque-transmitting mechanism for controlling engagement thereof;
• wherein the hydraulic pump is driven by the engine, thereby being operable to provide hydraulic pressure for engagement of said at least one torque-transmitting mechanism even when the wheels are not rotating;
• an electronic controller operative for receiving sensor signals correlated with at least one vehicle condition and for sending control signals based on said sensor signals and determinative of the hydraulic pressure applied to the first and the second torque-transmitting mechanisms, thereby permitting controlled slip of the first and the second torque-transmitting mechanisms to vary an amount of torque transferred by the first and the second torque-transmitting mechanisms;
• and
• a hydraulic control module operatively connecting said controller with the first and the second torque-transmitting mechanisms and having
• respective solenoids selectively actuatable by respective control signals from said controller to allow hydraulic pressure provided by said pump into fluid communication with said respective torque-transmitting mechanisms and configured to prevent fluid communication with said respective torque-transmitting mechanisms when not actuated;
• an additional solenoid valve in fluid communication between the hydraulic pump and the respective solenoids;
• an accumulator in fluid communication between the hydraulic pump and the additional solenoid;
• and
• wherein the additional solenoid valve is selectively actuatable to allow fluid stored in the fluid accumulator into communication with the respective solenoids and is configured to prevent fluid communication with said respective solenoids when not actuated.