Patent ID: 9358884
Filing Date: 2016-06-07
CPC Classification: B60K,B60W

Claim Text:
1. A motor vehicle having: a prime mover; at least first and second groups of one or more wheels; and a driveline operable by means of a controller to connect a torque transmission path from the prime mover to the first and second groups of one or more wheels such that the first group of one or more wheels and not the second group is coupled to the torque transmission path when the driveline is in a first mode of operation and both the first and second groups of one or more wheels are coupled to the torque transmission path when the driveline is in a second mode of operation, the driveline being operable to connect the second group to the torque transmission path from the prime mover by means of an auxiliary portion thereof, the auxiliary portion comprising first and second releasable torque transmitting means and a prop shaft, the first releasable torque transmitting means being operable to connect a first end of the prop shaft to the torque transmission path from the prime mover, the second releasable torque transmitting means being operable to connect a second end of the prop shaft to the second group of one or more wheels, the controller being operable to control auxiliary portion to switch the driveline between the first and second modes of operation such that in the first mode the prop shaft is disconnected from both the torque transmission path from the prime mover and the second group of one or more wheels, the controller being operable to control the auxiliary portion to connect the second group of one or more wheels to the torque transmission path from the prime mover at a required connect rate when the driveline transitions between the first mode and the second mode, wherein when the driveline is in the first mode the controller is operable to control the driveline to transition to the second mode when one of a set of two or more trigger conditions in respect of one or more vehicle operating parameters is met, each trigger condition having a respective identity, the controller being operable to control the driveline to transition from the first mode to the second mode at a connect rate that is responsive to an identity of the trigger condition that is met.