【文章內(nèi)容簡(jiǎn)介】 ectively, that are powered through an electric drive axle B. To this end, the vehicle A has a source 6 of electrical energy, which could be a generator powered by an internal bustion engine or a bank of batteries or even fuel cells. In any event, the energy source 6 and the drive axle B are mounted on a supporting structure 8, which could be a frame or a unified body, and the supporting structure 8 is in turn supported in part by the wheels 2 and 4. The drive axle B is coupled to the wheels 2 and 4 through left and right axle shafts 10 and 12. It is anized about an axis X and includes (FIG. 2) a housing 20, an electric motor 22, and left and right torque bias couplings 24 and 26, respectively. The motor 18 and couplings 24 and 26 are located within the housing 20. The motor 18, which is of the radial flux construction, includes (FIG. 3) a stator 30 which is mounted in the housing 20 in a fixed position around the axis X. It also includes a rotor 32 which is located within the stator 30 where it revolves about the axis X. The rotor 32 includes a motor shaft 34 which at its ends is supported in the housing 20 on antifriction bearing 36. The housing 20 also encloses the two torque couplings 24 and 26, each of which includes a drive hub 40, a magic particle clutch 42, a plaary gear set 44, and a drive flange 46. They too are anized along the axis X. The two drive hubs 40 are connected to the motor shaft 34 of the rotor 32 through splines or other devices which enable them to rotate with the shaft 34 and transfer torque from the rotor 32 to their respective torque couplings 24 and 26. Indeed, the two drive hubs 40 rotate in the bearings 36 and support the shaft 34 and likewise the rotor 32 on the bearings 36. The drive flanges 46 are for the most part located externally of the housing 20 and serve to couple their respective torque couplings 24 and 26 to the axle shafts 10 and 12. The drive hubs 40 function as torque input members, whereas the drive flanges 46 serve as torque output members. The clutch 42 for each torque coupling 24 and 26 includes (FIG. 4) an electromag 50 and an armature 52. Both are annular in configuration and are anized about the axis X. The armature 52 resides within the electromagic 50, with the two being separated by antifriction bearings to the maintain a uniform annular gap g between them. The gap g contains magic particles. In the absence of a magic field at the gap g, the mag 50 and armature 52 can rotate, essentially freely with respect to each other. However, when an electrical current is directed through the mag 52, torque applied to the mag 52 will transfer to the armature 54. Some slippage between the two may and in most instances will occur. The mag 50 around its periphery carries slip rings 56 which are wiped by brushes 58 fitted to the housing 20. The brushes 58 in turn are connected to a source of electrical energy, the potential of which may be varied to vary the current in the electromag 52 and the strength of the magic field it produces. This controls the torque transferred by the clutch 42. The electromag 50 of the clutch 42 is secured firmly to the flange of the drive hub 36 at that end of the motor shaft 34 nearest the coupling 24 or 26 of which the clutch 42 is a ponent. Thus, the electromag 52 rotates with the rotor 32 of the electric motor 32. Should the electromag 52 be energized, torque applied to the electromag 52 will transfer to the armature 54. The plaary set 44 for each torque coupling 24 and 26 includes (FIG. 4) a sun gear 64, a ring gear 66, and pla gears 68 located between and engaged with the sun and ring gears 64 and 66. In addition, it has a carrier 70 which establishes the axes about which the pla gear