Abstract: Methods and systems for a clutch assembly in an electric drive axle of a vehicle are provided. In one example, a clutch assembly in a gear train is provided that includes a locking clutch. The locking clutch includes a gear including a plurality of teeth having at least one tooth with a tapered end, an indexing shaft rotationally connected to an output shaft, a shift collar mounted on the indexing shaft, configured to translate on the indexing shaft into an engaged and disengaged configuration, and including a plurality of teeth on a face, where at least one tooth in the plurality of teeth in the shift collar includes a tapered end, and an indexing mechanism coupled to the shift collar and the indexing shaft and configured to accommodate for indexing between the indexing shaft and the shift collar during shift collar engagement.

Abstract: A multi-disc frictional engagement mechanism includes driven plates and drive plates, a clutch piston including a radially extending first pressure receiving portion, a joint piston including a radially extending second pressure receiving portion and an engaging portion which is engaged with a clutch hub to engage the clutch hub and the clutch drum such that the clutch hub and the clutch drum are not relatively rotatable when the joint piston advances, a first oil chamber which causes a hydraulic pressure to act on the first pressure receiving portion, and a second oil chamber which communicates with the first oil chamber and to which the hydraulic pressure is supplied later than to the first oil chamber to act on the second pressure receiving portion when the hydraulic pressure is supplied to the first oil chamber.

Abstract: A locking differential includes a pair of annular clutch members that are normally displaced apart to effect engagement between clutch teeth on the remote ends of the clutch members and corresponding gear teeth on the adjacent ends of a pair of side gears between which the clutch members are colinearly arranged. When one output shaft overruns the other by a predetermined amount, the clutch member associated with the overrunning output shaft is disengaged from its associated side gear. A retaining device retains the clutch members in the disengaged condition until the overrunning condition is terminated. In one embodiment, the retaining device is a cam arm and follower pin arrangement that is connected between the clutch members and operates in conjunction with a pair of friction rings. In a second embodiment, the retaining device comprises a pair of holdout rings that operate between the clutch members and the side gears.

Abstract: In a gear-jumping-proof positive-locking clutch for connecting a vehicle transmission shaft to a transmission component mounted coaxially and rotationally with it, the positive-locking clutch includes an axially displaceable sliding sleeve on which at least one locking roller element may be supported which is displaceable in a radial locking recess with axial displacement of the sliding sleeve due to a radial force component. In a gear-jumping-proof positive-locking clutch which does not cause any transmission noise when disengaged, the positive-locking clutch is free of synchromesh bodies and the locking roller element is axially displaceable.