All wheel drive speed synchronization and connection
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsPeter J. Grutter, Andreas E. Perakes, Nicholas E. McCubbin, Ashok E. Rodrigues, Robert S. Lippert
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A vehicle driveline includes a power source, a transmission connected to the power source and including an output driveably connected to primary road wheels, a driveshaft, a synchronizer that opens and closes a drive connection between the output and the driveshaft, and a clutch that alternately opens and closes a drive connection between the driveshaft and secondary road wheels. A control executes synchronization and connection strategies using one of singular, overlapping and sequential activation of the driveline components that produce all-wheel-drive on-demand.
Claims11
A method for engaging all-wheel drive operation in a vehicle driveline, comprising:
- using a clutch of a rear-drive-unit to accelerate driveline components toward a speed of secondary wheels;
- disengaging the clutch;
- using a hydraulically-actuated synchronizer of a power-transfer unit to accelerate said components toward a speed of a transmission output;
- engaging the synchronizer to transmit torque between the transmission output and the clutch;
- increasing a torque capacity of the clutch.
A method for engaging all-wheel drive operation in a vehicle driveline, comprising:
- using a clutch of a rear-drive-unit to accelerate driveline components toward a speed of secondary wheels;
- using a synchronizer of a power-transfer unit to accelerate the components toward a speed of a transmission output;
- disengaging the clutch;
- engaging the synchronizer to transmit torque between the transmission output and the clutch;
- reengaging the clutch.
A method for engaging all-wheel drive operation in a vehicle driveline, comprising:
- using a hydraulically-actuated synchronizer of a power-transfer unit to accelerate driveline components toward a speed of a transmission output;
- using the synchronizer to transmit torque between the transmission output and a clutch of a rear-drive-unit;
- after speed synchronization occurs at the power-transfer unit occurs, engaging the clutch to transmit torque to secondary road wheels.
A vehicle driveline comprising:
- a planetary differential including an input;
- a transmission connected to the input and including an output driveably connected through the planetary differential to primary road wheels;
- a driveshaft;
- a hydraulically-actuated speed synchronizer that opens and closes a drive connection between the output and the driveshaft;
- a clutch that alternately opens and closes a drive connection between the driveshaft and secondary road wheels.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.