The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 31, 1998
Filed:
Jan. 24, 1996
NTN Corporation, Osaka, JP;
Abstract
An automotive power transmission device which can change over the driving mode between two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive mode. The device when combined with a differential as an integral unit can be assembled easily. This device includes an axle made up of axially separated first and second portions, a differential coupled to one end of the first portion of the axle and having a differential cover, and a clutch device coupled to the other end of the first portion of the axle which is enclosed in the differential cover. The clutch includes an inner ring connected to the differential, an outer ring connected to a vehicle wheel and rotatably mounted around the inner ring, sprags and cages mounted between the inner and outer rings, a biasing member for biasing and rotating the cages relative to the inner ring, and a locking system for detachably coupling the cage and the outer ring together. While the transfer is set in the two-wheel drive mode, the outer ring is allowed to free-run. During the four-wheel drive mode, the rotation of the axle is transmitted to the wheels through the inner ring, sprags and outer ring.