Abstract: An axle assembly that has an electric motor, a countershaft, a planetary gear set, a drive pinion, and a differential assembly. The electric motor has a rotor that is rotatable about a rotor axis. The planetary gear set operatively connects the rotor to the countershaft. The drive pinion operatively connects the differential assembly to the countershaft.

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 assembly, a gear shaft for a differential gear assembly, and a method of assembly. The differential gear assembly includes a casing, a first gear shaft, a first differential side gear, and at least one fastening member. The fastening member may be visible from outside the casing.

Abstract: A differential gear assembly, a gear shaft for a differential gear assembly, and a method of assembly. The differential gear assembly includes a casing, a first gear shaft, a first differential side gear, and at least one fastening member. The fastening member may be visible from outside the casing.

Abstract: A drive unit assembly including an input element, a first output element, a second output element and a drive unit housing containing a differential unit, the differential unit drivingly coupling the input element, the first output element and the second output element, the input element having input coupling features positioned externally of the drive unit housing, the first output element having output coupling features positioned externally of the drive unit housing, wherein the drive unit housing includes at least one mounting feature for securing the drive unit housing externally relative to an axle assembly and the second output element is suitable for driving an axle assembly.

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: A drive unit assembly including an input element, a first output element, a second output element and a drive unit housing containing a differential unit, the differential unit drivingly coupling the input element, the first output element and the second output element, the input element having input coupling features positioned externally of the drive unit housing, the first output element having output coupling features positioned externally of the drive unit housing, wherein the drive unit housing includes at least one mounting feature for securing the drive unit housing externally relative to an axle assembly and the second output element is suitable for driving an axle assembly.

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: 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 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 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: 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: 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 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 gear casing are secured in place using axial and/or radial weld lines.

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 differential lock assembly includes a shift collar (36) that is moved in response to an electronic input signal between locked and unlocked positions. A coil housing (40) is supported on the shift collar and includes a recess (42) that receives a coil. A drag plate (60) is connected to the shift collar and coil housing to enclose the coil within the recess. When the coil is energized, the shift collar (36) is moved to the locked position. A resilient member (74) returns the shift collar (36) to the unlocked position when the coil is not energized. The shift collar (36), coil housing (40), drag plate (60), and resilient member (74) are pre-assembled together to form an assembled unit, which is installed within an axle differential as an adjusting nut to apply preload to an associated differential bearing.

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 assembly of a crown wheel and a differential casing of a differential gear assembly is adapted to welding. The differential casing has a circular flange with an axially extending lip engaged in a circular groove of the crown wheel, which is further relieved at a radially outer side to give clearance for a high energy welding beam. An interface between the crown wheel and the circular flange is in one example a frusto-conical surface, which presents an oblique angle to the welding beam.

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 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.