Abstract: A fluid distribution system is disclosed herein for mechanical systems, such as vehicle transmissions with forced lubrication. The fluid distribution system may comprise: a fluid distribution system, comprising: a fluid distribution device positioned in a hollow shaft comprising a coaxial passage and a plurality of radial channels, the fluid distribution device comprising: a cartridge coaxial with the hollow shaft, comprising a first circular side having a coaxial inlet opening and a second circular side having a plurality of tube openings positioned equidistantly from an axis of rotation of the hollow shaft; and a plurality of pipes, each pipe extending from one of the plurality of tube openings parallel to the axis of rotation of the hollow shaft, where a length of each pipe corresponds to axial positions of the plurality of radial channels axially spread apart along the hollow shaft.

Abstract: Systems are provided for an axle arm including a lubricant reservoir and a driveshaft. In one example, system may include a lubricant reservoir of an axle arm comprising a fill line at an edge of a driveshaft, wherein a central axis of the lubricant reservoir is misaligned with a central axis of the driveshaft.

Abstract: Methods and systems for controlling a hydromechanical transmission are proposed. In one example, a control method for a hydrostatic unit of a hydromechanical variable transmission (HVT) is presented, comprising controlling the hydrostatic unit via a feedforward control architecture including a non-linear, multi-coefficient model, wherein the hydrostatic unit comprises a hydrostatic pump and a hydrostatic motor and a desired differential pressure of the hydrostatic unit or a desired hydraulic pump displacement may be used as inputs for the model, where the model's output is a pressure difference for a pump control piston coupled to a swash plate of the hydrostatic unit. Use of the non-linear model permits the hydrostatic unit to be controlled based on load, speed, and/or torque, thereby increasing the adaptability of the control system.

Abstract: Systems are provided for an axle arm including a lubricant reservoir and a driveshaft. In one example, system may include a lubricant reservoir of an axle arm comprising a fill line at an edge of a driveshaft, wherein a central axis of the lubricant reservoir is misaligned with a central axis of the driveshaft.

Abstract: A guide assembly, comprising: an outer guide member; an inner guide member at least partially enclosed by the outer guide member, the outer guide member and the inner guide member delimiting a space therebetween; an elastic member disposed in the space, enclosing the inner guide member and being compressible along an axial direction; a support member; and an actuation member configured to axially compress the elastic member against the support member. The inner guide member comprises an axially extending guiding surface facing the elastic member for restricting movement of the elastic member in a radial direction perpendicular to the axial direction. A length of an axial overlap between the guiding surface of the inner guide member and the elastic member is at least two thirds of an axial length of the elastic member.

Abstract: Systems are provided for a master drive unit. In one example, a system may include a master drive unit (MDU) comprising a hypoid pinion coupled to a hypoid gear, wherein the hypoid pinion comprises an end supported by a bearing arranged in a housing projection of a housing of the MDU.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a lubricating apparatus for a gearbox. In one example, an apparatus may include a curved shroud enclosing a portion of a gear, a first side oil collector and a second side oil collector, an oil reservoir having a first end fluidly coupled to the first side oil collector and a second end fluidly coupled to the second side oil collector, and a metering orifice fluidly coupling the oil reservoir to the curved shroud. The oil reservoir further includes at least two U-turns between the first end and the second end, and walls of the oil reservoir having multiple cavities.

Abstract: Methods and systems for operating implements of a vehicle are described. Operation of the implements may be adjusted in response to input to a human/machine interface, such as a joystick. In one example, one or more implement requests are scaled according to a human/machine allowance factor, where the human/machine allowance factor is based on an implements power limit and an implements requested power.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for an oil sensor. In one example, the oil sensor is a system for metallic debris detection, comprising a detection circuit including a first inductor and a second inductor, the second inductor shielded from the external environment, wherein the detection circuit generates an output based on a difference between a first voltage of the first inductor and a second voltage of the second inductor, where the difference indicates a presence of metallic debris within oil.

Abstract: Methods and systems for a transmission are provided herein. In one example, a hydraulic system is provided that includes a boost pump, a relief valve in fluidic communication with the boost pump and a reservoir, and a plurality of control valves in fluidic communication with the boost pump, positioned downstream of the relief valve, and in fluidic communication with a plurality of hydraulic devices. The hydraulic system further includes a controller designed to actively adjust a position of the relief valve based on an aggregate hydraulic pressure demand of the plurality of hydraulic devices to alter a boost pressure of a hydraulic fluid supplied to the plurality of control valves.

Abstract: Methods and systems for a hydromechanical transmission. In one example, a vehicle system includes a hydromechanical transmission with a power-take off (PTO) that is designed to rotationally couple to an implement. The vehicle system further includes an engine coupled to the hydromechanical transmission and a power-management control unit configured to, during a drive or coast condition, cause the power-management control unit to: determine a net available power for the hydromechanical transmission and manage a power flow between the hydromechanical transmission, a drive axle, and the implement based on the net available power.

Abstract: The present document relates to a steering sensor assembly comprising an axle housing and a kingpin rotatably mounted on the axle housing, wherein the kingpin features a through hole extending through the kingpin. The steering sensor assembly further comprises a mounting member connected to the axle housing and at least partially disposed in the through hole extending through the kingpin, and a steering sensor comprising a first sensor portion coupled to the kingpin and a second sensor portion coupled to the mounting member.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a steering joint assembly comprising an axle beam, a first king pin rigidly mounted on the axle beam, a steering knuckle, and a first spherical plain bearing rotatably connecting the first king pin to the steering knuckle.

Abstract: Methods and systems for tuning vehicle drivability are provided. The vehicle system includes, in one example, a vehicle control unit (VCU) that is designed to electronically communicate with a human machine interface (HMI). In the system, the VCU is designed to, in reaction to receiving an acceleration or deceleration request from the HMI, send a virtual acceleration or deceleration command to a transmission control unit (TCU), where the virtual acceleration or deceleration command correlates to the acceleration or deceleration request and the correlation is user adjustable via a user interface (UI) of the VCU.

Abstract: Methods and systems for a hydromechanical transmission are provided. In one example, the method includes responsive to rotation of a portion of a mechanical assembly induced by cranking of an engine, blocking an output shaft of the hydromechanical transmission via joint engagement of a forward drive clutch and a reverse drive clutch. The method further includes pressurizing a hydrostatic assembly while the forward drive clutch and the reverse drive clutch remain jointly engaged, where the mechanical assembly is coupled in parallel with the hydrostatic assembly.

Abstract: A gear box, including a gear box for a vehicle system is provided, and methods for assembling the gear box are provided. The gear box includes a stationary housing and one or more rotating members, a multilayer sealing arrangement formed between and sealing a fluid path between the one or more rotating members and the stationary housing, the multilayer sealing arrangement including a labyrinth seal, a first cassette seal, and a mechanical face seal, wherein the one or more rotating members includes a rotating hub, and the labyrinth seal is formed between the rotating hub and the stationary housing, whereby the rotating hub overlaps with the stationary housing.

Abstract: Methods and systems for a hydromechanical transmission are provided herein. In one example, the transmission operating method includes asynchronously shifting between a first pair of drive ranges in the transmission via operation of two clutches and a variable displacement hydraulic pump in a hydrostatic assembly. In the method, asynchronously shifting between the two drive ranges includes a plurality of phases that include a swiveling phase where a speed of the hydrostatic assembly is inverted.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to redundant steering system, including a first steering knuckle rotatable with respect to a first steering axis, a first steering cylinder, a first steering rod coupled to the first steering cylinder, a second steering cylinder, and a second steering rod coupled to the second steering cylinder. The first steering rod and the second steering rod are each rotatably coupled to the first steering knuckle at a distance from the first steering axis and at different positions along the first steering axis.

Abstract: A lubrication assembly and operating method are provided herein. The lubrication assembly includes a rotating component an axial recess positioned on an axial side of the rotating component, and a lubricant conveyor that remains stationary relative to the rotating component and extends into the axial recess to form a gap between axial recess and the first lubricant conveyor. The lubricant conveyor directs a lubricant toward the axial recess during rotation to generate a lubricant spray focused in a targeted direction.

Abstract: A drive axle assembly includes a drive axle housing and a differential disposed within the drive axle housing, the differential including a pinion gear configured to be driven by an input shaft, a crown gear driven by the pinion gear to rotate about a rotation axis, and a plurality of differential gears driven by the crown gear and configured to be drivingly coupled to a first and a second driven shaft. The drive axle assembly further includes a first lubricant baffle fixed to the drive axle housing and having a first axial end portion facing a toothed front face of the crown gear. And the drive axle assembly includes an exchangeable axial spacer to set an axial position of the first axial end portion of the first lubricant baffle.