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:
Nov. 29, 2005
Filed:
Jan. 07, 2004
Carl D. Schleuder, Novi, MI (US);
Philip J. Francis, Lapeer, MI (US);
Carl D. Schleuder, Novi, MI (US);
Philip J. Francis, Lapeer, MI (US);
American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc., Detroit, MI (US);
Abstract
A light-weight transfer case is provided for implementation with a four-wheel drive vehicle. The light-weight transfer case includes a single-piece housing formed through either a lost-foam magnesium or die cast process. First and second output shafts are included which are formed from single-piece tubing through either a hydro-forming or swaging process. The first and second output shafts are lighter weight and maintain increased strength over traditional transfer case output shafts. A gear reduction unit is also included for establishing high, low and neutral speeds of the first and second output shafts. Furthermore, a mode selection device is included for selectively providing drive to either a single output shaft, in a two-wheel drive mode, or both the first and second output shafts, in a four-wheel drive mode.