New Venture Gear, Inc.

Other

Chrysler Corporation

Robert J Wilson

David Sperduti

Randy W Adler

Randolph C Williams

Richard E Eastman

Sanjeev K Varma

John D Zalewski

Joseph A Winks

Keith L Snyder

Sankar K Mohan

James S Brissenden

Carl F Stephens

Richard J Newer

Arthur H Bouchard, Ii

Edward J Reagan

Brent A Cring

Neville K Divecha

An umbrella has an intermediate point of equilibrium between its fully open and closed positions, which reduces the peak force required to move the umbrella in either direction. To actuate the umbrella, a resiliently flexible steel band is able to not only carry tension to pull the umbrella open, but the band also has sufficient rigidity to operate in compression to push the umbrella closed. The band's flexibility allows it to feed through a small sidewall hole in the mast as well as snake through a hinge on an umbrella mast that can tilt. Manually sliding an actuator sleeve upward closes the umbrella. Sliding the sleeve down opens the umbrella. Although lifting to close and lowering to open may seem counterintuitive at first, such action greatly reduces the maximum force required to operate the umbrella.

Sleeve-actuated umbrella

A transfer case is disclosed for a four-wheel drive vehicle. The transfer case includes an interaxle differential and a transfer clutch for controlling speed differentiation and torque biasing across the interaxle differential. A mode shift mechanism is provided for selectively coupling one or more components of the interaxle differential to the input shaft for establishing a full-time four-wheel drive mode, a locked four-wheel drive mode, and a Neutral mode. A controller controls actuation of the transfer clutch and the mode shift mechanism in response to a mode signal indicating which drive mode has been selected by the vehicle operation.

Full-time transfer case with mode shift arrangement

A power transfer system is disclosed for a four-wheel drive vehicle operable for permitting a vehicle operator to select between various full-time and part-time four-wheel drive modes. The power transfer system includes a transfer case equipped with a dual-planetary gear reduction unit and a synchronized range shift mechanism operable for permitting the vehicle operator to shift on-the-fly for establishing full-time and part-time high-range and low-range four-wheel drive modes. The transfer case is also equipped with an electronically-controlled slip limiting/torque-biasing arrangement including an interaxle differential and a transfer clutch operable for controlling the magnitude of speed differentiation and torque biasing across the interaxle differential.

Full-time transfer case with synchronized dual planetary gear reduction

A power transfer system is disclosed for a four-wheel drive vehicle operable for permitting a vehicle operator to select between various full-time and part-time four-wheel drive modes. The power transfer system includes a layshaft gear reduction unit that is operable for establishing high-range and low-range speed ratios, and a synchronized range shift mechanism that is adapted to permit the vehicle operator to shift on-the-fly for establishing full-time and part-time high-range and low-range four-wheel drive modes. The power transfer system includes an electronically-controlled slip limiting/torque-biasing arrangement including an interaxle differential and a transfer clutch operable for controlling the magnitude of speed differentiation and torque biasing across the interaxle differential.

Full-time transfer case with synchronized layshaft-type range shift

A power transfer system is disclosed for a four-wheel drive vehicle operable for permitting a vehicle operator to select between various full-time and part-time four-wheel drive modes. The power transfer system includes a transfer case equipped with a single-planetary gear reduction unit and a synchronized range shift mechanism operable for permitting the vehicle operator to shift on-the-fly for establishing full-time and part-time high-range and low-range four-wheel drive modes. The transfer case is also equipped with an electronically-controlled slip limiting/torque biasing arrangement including an interaxle differential and a transfer clutch operable for controlling the magnitude of speed differentiation and torque biasing across the interaxle differential.

Full-time transfer case with synchronized single planetary gear

The present invention is directed to an improved 'on-demand' power transfer system of the type having a transfer case incorporated into the driveline of a four-wheel drive vehicle. The transfer case is arranged to normally deliver drive torque to the driven wheels so as to establish a two-wheel drive mode of operation. In addition, the transfer mechanism is equipped with a clutch assembly for selectively delivering drive torque to the non-driven wheels for establishing an on-demand four-wheel drive mode of operation. The transfer mechanism is also equipped with a rotary actuator and a drive mechanism for actuating the clutch assembly. The power transfer system further includes sensors for detecting various dynamic and operational characteristics of the vehicle and generating sensor input signals indicative thereof. A controller is provided for processing the input signals and controlling actuation of the rotary actuator in response thereto. In one preferred construction, a shift mechanism is used in conjunction with the drive mechanism for selectively de-coupling the output shafts of the transfer case from its input shaft so as to establish a non-driven Neutral mode.

Torque modulated transfer case

A transfer case for a four-wheel drive vehicle adapted to provide two- to four-wheel drive on-demand in the high range or four-wheel drive in the low range. The transfer case includes an input shaft coupled to the sun gear of a planetary gear set, a main drive shaft, a first output and a second output. Provided in fixed association with the main drive shaft is a viscous fluid coupling chamber, and associated with the chamber is a drive sprocket. A range clutch sleeve and locking clutch assembly is slidably disposed on the main drive shaft between the planetary gear set and the rotary member for selectively providing two- to four-wheel on-demand high range power, neutral, and four-wheel drive low range power. Inner and outer relatively rotational drum housings surround the aft end of the main drive shaft for defining an annular viscous fluid coupling chamber therebetween. The inner drum is splined to the main drive shaft for rotation with that shaft while the outer drum is fixedly connected with the rotary member for providing torque to the second output.

Transfer case with integrated viscous coupling

The present invention is directed to a power transfer system of the type having a transfer case incorporated into the driveline of a full-time four-wheel drive vehicle. The transfer case includes an inter-axle differential for normally delivering drive torque to all four wheels so as to establish a full-time drive mode of operation. In addition, the transfer mechanism is equipped with a clutch assembly for controlling speed differentiation across the inter-axle differential and selectively varying the distribution ratio of the drive torque transmitted to the front and rear wheels. The transfer mechanism is also equipped with a rotary actuator and a drive mechanism for actuating the clutch assembly. The power transfer system further includes sensors for detecting various dynamic and operational characteristics of the vehicle and generating sensor input signals indicative thereof. A controller is provided for processing the input signals and controlling actuation of the rotary actuator in response thereto.

Full-time four wheel drive transfer case

The present invention provides a power transfer system for a four-wheel drive vehicle which permits the vehicle operator to choose between operation in two-wheel drive and part-time four-wheel drive modes or an 'on-demand' four-wheel drive mode. The power transfer system is adapted for use in conjunction with automatic disconnect-type drivelines and is operable for disabling the on-demand four-wheel drive feature upon the vehicle operator subsequently shifting into any of the two-wheel drive and part-time four-wheel drive modes.

Power transfer system for a four-wheel drive vehicle

The present invention provides a power transfer system for a four-wheel drive vehicle which permits the vehicle operator to choose between operation in two-wheel drive and part-time four-wheel drive modes or an 'on-demand' four-wheel drive mode. The power transfer system is operable for disabling the on-demand four-wheel drive feature upon the vehicle operator subsequently shifting into any of the two-wheel drive and part-time four-wheel drive modes.

The present invention is directed to an improved 'on-demand' power transfer system of the type having a transfer mechanism incorporated into the driveline of a four-wheel drive vehicle. The transfer mechanism is arranged to deliver drive torque to the driven wheels so as to establish a two-wheel drive mode of operation. In addition, the transfer mechanism is equipped with a clutch assembly for selectively delivering drive torque to the non-driven wheels for establishing a four-wheel drive mode of operation. The transfer mechanism is further equipped with a linear actuator mechanism for actuating the clutch assembly. The linear actuator mechanism is preferably mounted directly to the transfer mechanism to substantially minimize the packaging requirements associated with the on-demand power transfer system while concomitantly enhancing in-service reliability and allowing pre-assembly of the transfer mechanism prior to final installation into the vehicle driveline. The power transfer system further includes sensors for detecting various dynamic and operational characteristics of the vehicle and generating sensor input signals indicative thereof, and a controller for controlling actuation of the linear actuator means in response to the sensor input signals.

Linear actuation mechanism for electronically-controlled torque

The present invention provides a power transfer system for a four-wheel drive vehicle which permits the vehicle operator to choose between operation in conventional two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive modes or an 'on-demand' four-wheel drive mode. The power transfer system is operable for disabling the on-demand four-wheel drive feature upon the vehicle operator subsequently shifting into either of the two-wheel drive and the four-wheel drive modes. The system includes a transfer mechanism having a first and second output members coupled to first and second sets of wheels, respectively. The transfer mechanism has a transfer clutch that is operable for transferring drive torque from the first output member to the second output member to establish the part-time four-wheel drive and on-demand modes. A coupling mechanism is provided for mechanically coupling the first and second output members under certain conditions.

Two-speed transfer case with electronic torque modulation

The present invention is directed to an improved 'on-demand' power transfer system of the type having a transfer mechanism incorporated into the driveline of a four-wheel drive vehicle. The transfer mechanism is arranged to deliver drive torque to the driven wheels so as to establish a two-wheel drive mode of operation. In addition, the transfer mechanism is equipped with a clutch assembly for selectively delivering drive torque to the non-driven wheels for establishing a four-wheel drive mode of operation. The transfer mechanism is further equipped with a rotary actuator mechanism for actuating the clutch assembly. The rotary actuator mechanism is preferably mounted directly to the transfer mechanism to substantially minimize the packaging requirements associated with the on-demand power transfer system while concomitantly enhancing in-service reliability and allowing pre-assembly of the transfer mechanism prior to final installation into the vehicle driveline. The power transfer system further includes sensors for detecting various dynamic and operational characteristics of the vehicle and generating sensor input signals indicative thereof, and a controller for controlling actuation of the rotary actuator means in response to the sensor input signals.

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Warners, NY, United States of America

Robert J Wilson