New Venture Gear, Inc.

Other

Chrysler Motors Corporation

Sanjeev K Varma

Robert J Wilson

Randolph C Williams

David Sperduti

John D Zalewski

James S Brissenden

Richard E Eastman

Edward J Reagan

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

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

A viscous fluid rear axle coupling apparatus for a front engine vehicle having a front transaxle drivingly interconnected to its front pair of wheels. The viscous coupling apparatus includes power transfer means adapted to convert the rotation of the vehicle's longitudinal propeller shaft into rotation of an outer drum of the apparatus about a transverse axis. The outer drum concentrically surrounds a pair of coaxial right and left inner drums enclosed in a housing chamber filled with viscous fluid. Each inner drum is drivingly connected to respective right and left rear wheel output shafts extending transversely outboard therefrom. Each inner drum has a set of inner plates interleaved with a single set of outer plates of the outer drum. The apparatus functions as an interaxle and limited slip differential during four wheel drive as well as a conventional differential allowing the rear wheels to rotate different amounts during its two wheel and on-demand four wheel drive modes.

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Syracuse, NY, United States of America

Sanjeev K Varma