Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha

Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha

Toyota Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha

Takayoshi Onodera

Tooru Kagata

Toru Kagata

A split axle drive mechanism for a part-time four-wheel drive vehicle comprises a first axle shaft connected to one side gear of a differential, a first output member arranged to be connected to the first axle shaft, a second axle shaft axially slidably connected to the other side gear of the differential, a second output member arranged to be connected to the second axle shaft, a clutch mechanism disengageable for disconnecting the first axle shaft from the first output member when the vehicle is in a two wheel drive mode and engageable for connecting the first axle shaft to the first output member when the vehicle is in a four wheel drive mode, a connecting rod axially slidably disposed in the axle shafts and operatively connected at its one end with the clutch mechanism and at its other end with one end of the second axle shaft to be maintained in a first position for disconnecting the second axle shaft from the second output member in response to disengagement of the clutch mechanism and to be moved from the first position to a second position for connecting the second axle shaft to the second output member in response to engagement of the clutch mechanism.

Split axle drive mechanism for part-time four-wheel drive vehicle

A wheel hub clutch assembly which includes a cylindrical body attached to a wheel hub, an inner sleeve contained within the body and fixedly mounted on a driveable axle, a clutch member splined to the inner sleeve to be maintained in a first position in which external splining of the clutch member is disengaged from internal splining of the body to uncouple the wheel hub from the axle and to be axially moved from the first position to a second position in which the external splining is engaged with the internal splining to couple the wheel hub to the axle, a cam ring formed at one side thereof with a cam face and rotatable on the inner sleeve, a cam follower splined to the inner sleeve between the clutch member and the cam ring to cooperate with the cam face of the cam ring to be moved to and from the clutch member in response to rotation of the inner sleeve, and a return spring for loading the cam follower toward the cam face of the cam ring, wherein the cam follower is operatively connected to the clutch member, and the cam ring is arranged to be applied with the brake in response to rotation of the cam follower. In the clutch assembly, the cam face of the cam ring is improved to reliably effect complete disengagement of the external splining of the clutch member from the internal splining of the body in declutching operation.

Wheel hub clutch assembly

A wheel hub clutch assembly which includes a body attached to a wheel hub, an inner sleeve contained within the body and fixed to a driveable axle, a clutch member splined to the sleeve to be maintained in its disengaged position during operation for two-wheel drive and to be engaged with the body in clutching operation to couple the wheel hub to the axle for four-wheel drive, a cam ring formed at one side thereof with a cam face and rotatable on the sleeve, a cam follower splined to the sleeve and oepratively connected with the clutch member, the cam follower being loaded toward the cam ring to cooperate with the cam face so as to move the clutch member to its engaged position in response to rotation of the sleeve, a brake assembly for applying the brake to the cam ring by engagement therewith in response to rotation of the cam follower, and a slide ring rotatably coupled over the cam ring and associated with the cam follower and brake assembly for releasing the brake by engagement with the brake assembly when rotated by engagement with the cam follower. The cam face of the cam ring reliably disengages the cam ring from the brake assembly by engagement with the cam follower in clutching operation.

In a motor vehicle wherein a front body and a rear body are placed on a frame structure independently of each other; a relay rod of a steering link, which is connected at the opposite ends thereof by way of knuckles to two wheels, is positioned at the front of the axle line; and these wheels are independently suspended from the frame structure; a vibration absorbing means is provided between the relay rod and a side rail of the frame structure. This vibration absorbing means acts to absorb the relative lateral vibration of the steering link to the frame structure, thus reducing the steering shimmy, the steering kick-back and the lateral vibration of the vehicle body.

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Toyota, Japan

Takayoshi Onodera