Abstract: An electric drive module for transferring torque to wheels of a motor vehicle a planetary gearset having a first member driven by the rotor and a second member. A synchronizer restricts a third member of the planetary gearset from rotation when the electric drive module operates at a first drive ratio. The synchronizer transfers energy from the rotating rotor to the third member during a shift between the first drive ratio and a second drive ratio to match the rotational speeds of the rotor and the second member. A reduction unit includes an input member being driven by the second member and also includes an output member driven at a reduced speed relative to the input member. A differential assembly includes an input driven by the output member, a first differential output driving a first output shaft, and a second differential output driving a second output shaft.

Abstract: An electric drive module for transferring torque to wheels of a motor vehicle a planetary gearset having a first member driven by the rotor and a second member. A synchronizer restricts a third member of the planetary gearset from rotation when the electric drive module operates at a first drive ratio. The synchronizer transfers energy from the rotating rotor to the third member during a shift between the first drive ratio and a second drive ratio to match the rotational speeds of the rotor and the second member. A reduction unit includes an input member being driven by the second member and also includes an output member driven at a reduced speed relative to the input member. A differential assembly includes an input driven by the output member, a first differential output driving a first output shaft, and a second differential output driving a second output shaft.

Abstract: An electric drive module for transferring torque to wheels of a motor vehicle a planetary gearset having a first member driven by the rotor and a second member. A synchronizer restricts a third member of the planetary gearset from rotation when the electric drive module operates at a first drive ratio. The synchronizer transfers energy from the rotating rotor to the third member during a shift between the first drive ratio and a second drive ratio to match the rotational speeds of the rotor and the second member. A reduction unit includes an input member being driven by the second member and also includes an output member driven at a reduced speed relative to the input member. A differential assembly includes an input driven by the output member, a first differential output driving a first output shaft, and a second differential output driving a second output shaft.

Abstract: A transmission to transfer power from an electric motor to first and second axles of a vehicle includes an input shaft adapted to be driven by the electric motor and a first planetary gear set. A second planetary gear set has a first member driven by the first planetary gear set, a second member restricted from rotation and a third member. A differential assembly has a first side gear adapted to drive the first axle, a second side gear adapted to drive the second axle and a pair of pinion gears meshed with the first and second side gears. A first clutch is operable to drivingly interconnect the first member and the differential assembly. A second clutch is operable to drivingly interconnect the third member and the differential assembly.

Abstract: An electric drive module for a motor vehicle includes an electric motor, a first input member, a first output member and a two-speed module selectively drivingly interconnecting the first input member and the first output member at one of two different drive ratios. A reduction unit includes a second input member being driven by the first output member and has a second output member being driven at a reduced speed relative to the second input member. A differential assembly has an input driven by said second output member. A first differential output drives a first output shaft, and a second differential output drives a second output shaft.

Abstract: A continuously variable transmission for transferring drive torque from a powertrain to a driveline in a motor vehicle includes a planetary gearset, a reaction motor, and a control system. The planetary gearset includes a sun gear driven by the powertrain, a ring gear driven by the reaction motor, a carrier driving the driveline, and pinion gears meshed with the sun gear and the ring gear. The control system controls the reaction motor to vary the speed of the ring gear and define a gear ratio between the sun gear and the carrier based on the ring gear speed.

Abstract: A transmission for transferring torque from a prime mover includes a first input shaft adapted to be driven by the prime mover, a second input shaft, an output shaft and an epicyclic gearset. The gearset includes a ring gear being driven by the first input shaft, pinion gears being driven by the ring gear, a sun gear driven by the second input shaft and driving the pinion gears, and a carrier driving the output shaft. A reaction motor drives the second input shaft. A controller controls the reaction motor to vary the speed of the second input shaft and define a gear ratio between the first input shaft and the output shaft based on the second input shaft speed.

Abstract: A method of calibrating a mirror orientation system of a heliostat includes mounting an artificial light source to a heliostat mirror, providing an array of light sensors on a solar thermal tower and positioning the heliostat mirror at a first orientation. A control module is provided a signal indicative of a mirror drive mechanism position at the first mirror orientation. The control module correlates the signal indicative of the mechanism position with an energy distribution across the sensor array as the artificial light source is energized when the mirror is at the first orientation. The drive mechanism moves the mirror to a second orientation and directs artificial light on the sensor array. The drive mechanism position signal is correlated with an energy distribution across the sensor array based on the second mirror orientation. The heliostat is calibrated based on the energy distributions and the drive mechanism position signals.

Abstract: A heliostat for reflecting sunlight toward a target includes a first structure supporting a mirror including inner and outer tubes being rotatable relative to one another. A first actuator includes an electric motor driving a reduction gearset to rotate one of the first tubes and rotate the mirror about a first axis. A second structure also includes inner and outer rotatable tubes. A second actuator includes a second electric motor driving a reduction gearset to rotate the mirror about a second axis.

Abstract: An electric drive module for a motor vehicle includes an electric motor, a first input member, a first output member and a two-speed module selectively drivingly interconnecting the first input member and the first output member at one of two different drive ratios. A reduction unit includes a second input member being driven by the first output member and has a second output member being driven at a reduced speed relative to the second input member. A differential assembly has an input driven by said second output member. A first differential output drives a first output shaft, and a second differential output drives a second output shaft.

Abstract: A transmission for transferring torque from a prime mover includes a first input shaft adapted to be driven by the prime mover, a second input shaft, an output shaft and an epicyclic gearset. The gearset includes a ring gear being driven by the first input shaft, pinion gears being driven by the ring gear, a sun gear driven by the second input shaft and driving the pinion gears, and a carrier driving the output shaft. A reaction motor drives the second input shaft. A controller controls the reaction motor to vary the speed of the second input shaft and define a gear ratio between the first input shaft and the output shaft based on the second input shaft speed.

Abstract: An electric drive module for transferring torque to wheels of a motor vehicle a planetary gearset having a first member driven by the rotor and a second member. A synchronizer restricts a third member of the planetary gearset from rotation when the electric drive module operates at a first drive ratio. The synchronizer transfers energy from the rotating rotor to the third member during a shift between the first drive ratio and a second drive ratio to match the rotational speeds of the rotor and the second member. A reduction unit includes an input member being driven by the second member and also includes an output member driven at a reduced speed relative to the input member. A differential assembly includes an input driven by the output member, a first differential output driving a first output shaft, and a second differential output driving a second output shaft.

Abstract: A transmission to transfer power from an electric motor to first and second axles of a vehicle includes an input shaft adapted to be driven by the electric motor and a first planetary gear set. A second planetary gear set has a first member driven by the first planetary gear set, a second member restricted from rotation and a third member. A differential assembly has a first side gear adapted to drive the first axle, a second side gear adapted to drive the second axle and a pair of pinion gears meshed with the first and second side gears. A first clutch is operable to drivingly interconnect the first member and the differential assembly. A second clutch is operable to drivingly interconnect the third member and the differential assembly.

Abstract: A continuously variable transmission for transferring drive torque from a powertrain to a driveline in a motor vehicle includes a planetary gearset, a reaction motor, and a control system. The planetary gearset includes a sun gear driven by the powertrain, a ring gear driven by the reaction motor, a carrier driving the driveline, and pinion gears meshed with the sun gear and the ring gear. The control system controls the reaction motor to vary the speed of the ring gear and define a gear ratio between the sun gear and the carrier based on the ring gear speed.

Abstract: A method of assembling a planetary gearset includes die-forming a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart teeth on a sun gear, a planet gear and a ring gear. Each tooth includes a pair of tooth flanks in a final net form for engagement with mating gear teeth. The sun gear teeth have a conical shape to allow a first die to linearly move relative to a second die after the gear teeth are die-formed. The planet gears are mounted on a carrier. The sun gear and the planet gear are oriented such that the conical shapes of the respective gear teeth taper in opposite directions from one another and the planet gear teeth meshingly engage with both the ring gear teeth and the sun gear teeth.

Abstract: A transmission for transferring torque from a prime mover includes a first input shaft adapted to be driven by the prime mover, a second input shaft, an output shaft and an epicyclic gearset. The gearset includes a ring gear being driven by the first input shaft, pinion gears being driven by the ring gear, a sun gear driven by the second input shaft and driving the pinion gears, and a carrier driving the output shaft. A reaction motor drives the second input shaft. A controller controls the reaction motor to vary the speed of the second input shaft and define a gear ratio between the first input shaft and the output shaft based on the second input shaft speed.

Abstract: An electric drive module for a motor vehicle includes an electric motor, a first input member, a first output member and a two-speed module selectively drivingly interconnecting the first input member and the first output member at one of two different drive ratios. A reduction unit includes a second input member being driven by the first output member and has a second output member being driven at a reduced speed relative to the second input member. A differential assembly has an input driven by said second output member. A first differential output drives a first output shaft, and a second differential output drives a second output shaft.

Abstract: A method of assembling a planetary gearset includes die-forming plurality of circumferentially spaced apart teeth on a sun gear, a planet gear an a ring gear. Each tooth includes a pair of tooth flanks in a final net form for engagement with mating gear teeth. The sun gear teeth have a conical shape to allow a first die to linearly move relative to a second die after the gear teeth are die-formed. The planet gears are mounted on a carrier. The sun gear and the planet gear are oriented such that the conical shapes of the respective gear teeth taper in opposite directions from one another and the planet gear teeth meshingly engage with both the ring gear teeth and the sun gear teeth.

Abstract: A transmission for transferring torque from a prime mover includes a first input shaft adapted to be driven by the prime mover, a second input shaft, an output shaft and an epicyclic gearset. The gearset includes a ring gear being driven by the first input shaft, pinion gears being driven by the ring gear, a sun gear driven by the second input shaft and driving the pinion gears, and a carrier driving the output shaft. A reaction motor drives the second input shaft. A controller controls the reaction motor to vary the speed of the second input shaft and define a gear ratio between the first input shaft and the output shaft based on the second input shaft speed.

Abstract: A transmission to transfer power from an electric motor to first and second axles of a vehicle includes an input shaft adapted to be driven by the electric motor and a first planetary gear set. A second planetary gear set has a first member driven by the first planetary gear set, a second member restricted from rotation and a third member. A differential assembly has a first side gear adapted to drive the first axle, a second side gear adapted to drive the second axle and a pair of pinion gears meshed with the first and second side gears. A first clutch is operable to drivingly interconnect the first member and the differential assembly. A second clutch is operable to drivingly interconnect the third member and the differential assembly.