Importance

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Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention provide a vehicle (100) comprising: prime mover means (111); a first group (112, 113) of one or more wheels; a second group (114, 115) of two or more wheels; and a driveline (105) to connect the prime mover means (111) to the first (112, 113) and second (114, 115) groups of wheels such that the first group (112, 113) of one or more wheels may be driven by the prime mover means (111) when the driveline (105) is in a first mode of operation and the second group (114,115) of wheels may additionally be driven by the prime mover means (111) when the driveline (105) is in a second mode of operation, the driveline (105) including an auxiliary driveline (110) comprising an auxiliary driveshaft (123) and drive means (125) between the auxiliary driveshaft (123) and the second group (114,115) of wheels, the drive means (125) having: an input portion; a plurality of output portions each operable to drive a respective different wheel of the second group (114, 115) of wheels; a first releasable torque transmitting means (127) operable releasably to connect the input portion to the output portions thereby to allow the input portion to drive the output portions, the releasable torque transmitting means being operable to allow slippage of the input portion with respect to the output portions thereby to vary an amount of torque that is transmitted from the input portion to the output portions; and a differential (129) arranged to allow the respective output portions to rotate at different respective speeds. The invention further comprises a method of controlling a driveline of a motor vehicle, a power transfer unit and a coupling method for a power transfer unit.

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First Claim