Abstract: A transmission system includes a housing having a sump. A crown wheel and pinion are positioned within the housing. The transmission system further includes a reservoir having an inlet system and an outlet system. Rotation of the crown wheel causes the oil to be transferred from the sump to the reservoir via the inlet system, and the outlet system allows oil to pass from the reservoir to the sump.

Abstract: A braking apparatus for a vehicle, in particular a heavy goods vehicle, includes a drive axle having a transmission gear, such as a differential, around which an amount of oil for lubrication is variable. The brake apparatus further includes at least one friction brake and at least one retarder that is capable of operating to slow the vehicle through the transmission gear. The braking apparatus comprises a brake operating device for operating the at least one friction brake and the least one retarder, and a determining feature to determine an oil level around the transmission gear. The brake operating device, on operation by a user, is arranged to apply the retarder when the oil level around the transmission gear is above a threshold level, and, if the oil level is below the threshold level, the brake operating device is arranged to initiate an increase in the oil level around the transmission gear.

Abstract: An actuator for operating a differential lock includes a chassis, a first motor mounted on the chassis and including a first motor pinion, a second motor mounted on the chassis and including a second motor pinion, and a ring gear rotatably mounted on the chassis about a ring gear axis and having a ring gear thread defined about the ring gear axis. The actuator includes an actuator element having an actuator element thread in engagement with the ring gear thread and having a feature for preventing rotation of the actuator element thread, the first motor pinion and second motor pinion being operable to drive the ring gear.

Abstract: A caliper for a fixed twin rotor disc brake includes a relatively fixed body, two yokes movable axially with respect to the body, formations defined on the yokes for receiving four brake pads for respective application to rotor sides, and an actuator adapted to urge the yokes relatively axially. One of the yokes is operable to urge two of the four brake pads in a first axial direction, the other of the yokes is operable to urge the other two of the four brake pads in a second, opposite axial direction. The four brake pads are positioned on a first side of the actuator in the first axial direction.

Abstract: A transmission system includes a housing having a sump, the housing containing a crown wheel and a pinion. The transmission system further includes an oil reservoir and a pump selectively operable to pump fluid from the oil reservoir to the sump for lubricating the crown wheel. The pump is selectively operable to pump fluid from the sump to the reservoir.

Abstract: An axle has a central crown wheel receiving portion with a pinion side and an opposite side. The opposite side is defined by a first crown wheel bowl for receiving a part of a crown wheel, the first crown wheel bowl having a peripheral edge. The axle includes a second crown wheel bowl for receiving the part of the crown wheel. The second crown wheel bowl is nested with the first crown wheel bowl and is attached to the first crown wheel bowl at a peripheral edge to define a reservoir.

Abstract: A method of controlling a fluid level around a transmission gear of a vehicle includes the steps of providing a set of predetermined operating conditions, each predetermined operating condition having a corresponding predetermined fluid level requirement, operating the vehicle at an actual operating condition, determining a predetermined operating condition equivalent to the actual operating condition, and arranging the fluid level around the transmission gear to be equivalent to the predetermined fluid level requirement corresponding to the predetermined operating condition.

Abstract: A differential gear casing of flower pot construction has an outer surface which is configured for receiving a crown wheel, whereby the crown wheel can be pressed onto the outer surface by different amounts for different applications. The outer surface is free from projections such that the crown wheel can be mounted on the outer surface from any axial direction. The outer surface defines a band on the differential gear casing and is parallel with a central axis of the differential gear casing. The crown wheel is secured to the differential gear casing using an axial weld line. In other embodiments, the crown wheel and/or a cover for the differential ear casing are secured in place using axial and/or radial weld lines.

Abstract: An electronic differential lock assembly includes a shift collar that is movable in response to an electronic signal from an unlocked position where axle shaft speed differentiation under predetermined conditions is permitted to a locked position where a pair of axle shafts is fixed for rotation together. Speed differentiation is provided by a differential that includes a differential gear assembly supported within a differential case. A coil surrounds the shift collar and is selectively energized to move the shift collar from the unlocked position to the locked position. The shift collar is splined to one of the axle shafts and is selectively splined to the differential case to lock the axle shafts together. The electronic differential lock assembly includes a return spring that automatically disengages the shift collar from the differential case once the coil is no longer energized.

Abstract: A caliper for a fixed twin rotor disc brake includes a relatively fixed body, two yokes movable axially with respect to the body, formations defined on the yokes for receiving four brake pads for respective application to rotor sides, and an actuator adapted to urge the yokes relatively axially. One of the yokes is operable to urge two of the four brake pads in a first axial direction, the other of the yokes is operable to urge the other two of the four brake pads in a second, opposite axial direction. The four brake pads are positioned on a first side of the actuator in the first axial direction.

Abstract: An electronic differential lock assembly includes a shift collar that is movable in response to an electronic signal from an unlocked position where axle shaft speed differentiation under predetermined conditions is permitted to a locked position where a pair of axle shafts are fixed for rotation together. Speed differentiation is provided by a differential that includes a differential gear assembly supported within a differential case. A coil surrounds the shift collar and is selectively energized to move the shift collar from the unlocked position to the locked position. The shift collar is splined to one of the axle shafts and is selectively splined to the differential case to lock the axle shafts together. The electronic differential lock assembly includes a return spring that automatically disengages the shift collar from the differential case once the coil is no longer energized.

Abstract: A method and system for detecting wheel slippage uses a turn sensor to detect a vehicle turning radius in order to predict the difference in wheel speed between wheels on the outside of the turning radius and wheels on the inside of the turning radius. The turn sensor detects the turning radius of the vehicle and signals a controller. The controller utilizes the signal from the turn sensor to predict a difference in wheel speeds between the wheel to the inside of the turn and the wheel to the outside of the turn. One of the driven axles includes wheel speed sensors mounted at opposite ends of the axle. The controller receives signals from each of the wheel speed sensors to determine an actual differential wheel speed. The predicted speed differential is compared to the actual speed differential and any difference between the two indicates wheel is slippage.