# US 10,118,484 B2 · Transfer

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- Number: US 10,118,484 B2
- Document ID: US10118484B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/051,233
- Filed: 2016-02-23
- Published: 2016-08-25
- Granted: 2018-11-06
- Earliest claimed: 2015-02-25
- Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
- Applicants: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
- Inventors: Takahiro Yoshimura; Ryota Horie
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10118484B2

## CPC

- B60K 17/344: having a transfer gear
- B60K 17/35: including arrangements for suppressing or influencing the power transfer, e.g. viscous clutches
- B60K 23/0808: {for varying torque distribution between driven axles, e.g. by transfer clutch}
- B60K 2023/0833: {for adding torque to the rear wheels}
- B60K 2023/0858: {with electric means, e.g. electro-hydraulic means}
- F16H 48/08: comprising bevel gears
- B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES
- F16H: GEARING

## Abstract

A transfer includes a main body, a subassembly and a connecting-disconnecting mechanism. The main body includes a ring gear, a case and a third bearing. The subassembly includes an input shaft, a sleeve, a moving mechanism, a first bearing and a second bearing. The connecting-disconnecting mechanism selectively connects/disconnects the ring gear to/from the input shaft. The input shaft is arranged concentric with the ring gear and inside the ring gear. The input shaft includes a first end portion and a second end portion. The input shaft is supported at the first end portion and the second end portion by the case in a manner rotatable around the rotational axis via the first bearing and the second bearing.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A transfer of a vehicle, the vehicle including a driving source, a power transmitting member, main driving wheels and auxiliary driving wheels, the transfer outputting some of the driving force to be transmitted from a driving source to the main driving wheels to the auxiliary driving wheels via the power transmitting member when the vehicle is switched from a two-wheel-drive state to a four-wheel-drive state, the transfer comprising:
a main body including a ring gear, a case member and a third bearing,
the ring gear including a cylindrical portion and ring gear-side engaging-disengaging teeth, the ring gear-side engaging-disengaging teeth being integrally provided on an inner diameter side of the cylindrical portion, and
the case member supporting the ring gear via the third bearing in a manner enabling the ring gear to rotate around a rotational axis;
a subassembly including an input shaft, a sleeve, a moving mechanism, a first bearing a case cover, and a second bearing,
the input shaft, the sleeve, and the moving mechanism being integrally assembled,
the input shaft being arranged concentric with the ring gear and inside the ring gear, the input shaft being supported at a first end portion of the input shaft by the case member, and the input shaft being supported at a second end portion of the input shaft by the case cover in a manner rotatable around the rotational axis via the first bearing and the second bearing; and
a connecting-disconnecting mechanism configured to selectively connect and disconnect the ring gear to and from the input shaft,
the connecting-disconnecting mechanism including the sleeve,
the sleeve being configured to move in the rotational axis direction on the input shaft, the sleeve being configured not to rotate relative to the input shaft, the sleeve including sleeve-side engaging-disengaging teeth on an outer diameter side of the sleeve,
the connecting-disconnecting mechanism being configured to selectively output some of the driving force to the auxiliary driving wheels depending on whether the ring gear-side engaging-disengaging teeth and the sleeve-side engaging-disengaging teeth are in mesh or not in mesh,
the case member having an opening, in an end portion in the rotational axis direction of the case member, for inserting the subassembly into the main body and assembling the subassembly to the main body,
the ring gear-side engaging-disengaging teeth having an inner diameter dimension that is smaller than the inner diameter dimension of the cylindrical portion,
an outer diameter dimension of at least one of the input shaft, the sleeve, the moving mechanism, the first bearing, and the second bearing of the subassembly or an outer diameter dimension of a portion of at least one of the input shaft, the sleeve, the moving mechanism, the first bearing, and the second bearing of the subassembly being less than the inner diameter dimension of the ring gear-side engaging-disengaging teeth,
the at least one of the input shaft, the sleeve, the moving mechanism, the first bearing, and the second bearing of the subassembly or the portion of the at least one of the input shaft, the sleeve, the moving mechanism, the first bearing, and the second bearing of the subassembly pass through the ring gear-side engaging-disengaging teeth in the rotational axis direction when the subassembly is inserted into and assembled to the main body.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The transfer according to claim 1, wherein
the at least one of the input shaft, the sleeve, the moving mechanism, the first bearing, and the second bearing of the subassembly or the portion of the at least one of the input shaft, the sleeve, the moving mechanism, the first bearing, and the second bearing of the subassembly that pass through the ring gear-side engaging-disengaging teeth include the sleeve;
the inner diameter dimension of the ring gear-side engaging-disengaging teeth is a diameter dimension of a root circle of the ring gear-side engaging-disengaging teeth; and
the outer diameter dimension of the sleeve is an addendum diameter dimension of the sleeve-side engaging-disengaging teeth.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The transfer according to claim 1, wherein
the at least one of the input shaft, the sleeve, the moving mechanism, the first bearing, and the second bearing of the subassembly or the portion of the at least one of the input shaft, the sleeve, the moving mechanism, the first bearing, and the second bearing of the subassembly that pass through the ring gear-side engaging-disengaging teeth include the first bearing that fits over the first end portion of the input shaft; and
the inner diameter dimension of the ring gear-side engaging-disengaging teeth is a diameter dimension of an addendum circle of the ring gear-side engaging-disengaging teeth.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The transfer according to claim 1, wherein
the moving mechanism includes a ball cam, a clutch, an actuator, and a spring;
the ball cam includes a first cage and a second cage, the first cage being provided in a non-rotatable manner relative to input shaft, and the second cage being provided in a non-rotatable manner relative to a friction plate of the clutch; and
the sleeve is provided in a manner non-rotatable relative to the input shaft and able to move in an axial direction, rotation braking torque is applied to the second cage by the actuator and the clutch, such that thrust in the axial direction is generated in the ball cam, and the sleeve is moved in the axial direction against spring force of the spring by the first cage.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The transfer according to claim 4, wherein
the actuator is an electromagnetic coil that generates the rotation braking torque in the clutch to operate the ball cam.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The transfer according to claim 4, further comprising:
a trip mechanism arranged between the second cage and the sleeve, the trip mechanism including a first piston, a second piston, and a holder,
the first piston being configured to be driven in a reciprocating manner in the rotational axis direction a predetermined stroke via the ball cam by the actuator,
the second piston being provided in a rotatable manner relative to the input shaft, the second piston being configured to move against the spring force by the first piston,
the holder including a plurality of tiers of retaining teeth, the holder being provided in a non-rotatable manner relative to the input shaft and in a non-movable manner in the rotational axis direction, the holder retaining the second piston moved by the first piston by any of the plurality of tiers of retaining teeth,
the trip mechanism being configured such that the second piston moves the sleeve against the spring force to a disconnect position by a predetermined number of reciprocating strokes of the first piston, the disconnect position being a position of the sleeve that allows relative rotation between the ring gear and the input shaft;
the trip mechanism being configured to release the second piston when the reciprocating stroke of the first piston exceeds the predetermined number of reciprocating strokes and move the sleeve to a connect position with the spring force, the connect position being a position of the sleeve that relatively non-rotatably connects the ring gear and the input shaft together.

### Claim 7 (depends on 4)

The transfer according to claim 4, further comprising
a stopper fixed to the input shaft, the stopper being fixed between the sleeve and the first bearing, wherein
the spring is arranged between the stopper and the sleeve.

### Claim 8

A transfer of a vehicle, the vehicle including a driving source, a power transmitting member, main driving wheels and auxiliary driving wheels, the transfer outputting some of the driving force to be transmitted from a driving source to the main driving wheels to the auxiliary driving wheels via the power transmitting member when the vehicle is switched from a two-wheel-drive state to a four-wheel-drive state, the transfer comprising:
a main body including a ring gear, a case member and a third bearing,
the ring gear including a cylindrical portion and ring gear-side engaging-disengaging teeth, the ring gear-side engaging-disengaging teeth being integrally provided on an inner diameter side of the cylindrical portion, and
the case member supporting the ring gear via the third bearing in a manner enabling the ring gear to rotate around a rotational axis;
a subassembly including an input shaft, a sleeve, a moving mechanism, a first bearing, a case cover, and a second bearing,
the input shaft, the sleeve, and the moving mechanism being integrally assembled,
the input shaft being arranged concentric with the ring gear and inside the ring gear, the input shaft being supported at a first end portion of the input shaft by the case member, and the input shaft being supported at a second end portion of the input shaft by the case cover in a manner rotatable around the rotational axis via the first bearing and the second bearing; and
a connecting-disconnecting mechanism configured to selectively connect and disconnect the ring gear to and from the input shaft,
the connecting-disconnecting mechanism including the sleeve,
the sleeve being configured to move in the rotational axis direction on the input shaft, the sleeve being configured not to rotate relative to the input shaft, the sleeve including sleeve-side engaging-disengaging teeth on an outer diameter side of the sleeve,
the connecting-disconnecting mechanism being configured to selectively output some of the driving force to the auxiliary driving wheels depending on whether the ring gear-side engaging-disengaging teeth and the sleeve-side engaging-disengaging teeth are in mesh or not in mesh,
the case member having an opening, in an end portion in the rotational axis direction of the case member, for inserting the subassembly into the main body and assembling the subassembly to the main body,
an outer diameter dimension of at least one of the input shaft, the sleeve, the moving mechanism, the first bearing, and the second bearing of the subassembly or an outer diameter dimension of a portion of at least one of the input shaft, the sleeve, the moving mechanism, the first bearing, and the second bearing of the subassembly being less than an inner diameter dimension of the ring gear-side engaging-disengaging teeth,
the at least one of the input shaft, the sleeve, the moving mechanism, the first bearing, and the second bearing of the subassembly or the portion of the at least one of the input shaft, the sleeve, the moving mechanism, the first bearing, and the second bearing of the subassembly pass through the ring gear-side engaging-disengaging teeth in the rotational axis direction when the subassembly is inserted into and assembled to the main body,
the inner diameter dimension of the ring gear-side engaging-disengaging teeth is a diameter dimension of a root circle of the ring gear-side engaging-disengaging teeth or an addendum circle of the ring gear-side engaging-disengaging teeth,
the at least one of the input shaft, the sleeve, the moving mechanism, the first bearing, and the second bearing of the subassembly or the portion of the at least one of the input shaft, the sleeve, the moving mechanism, the first bearing, and the second bearing of the subassembly that pass through the ring gear-side engaging-disengaging teeth include the first bearing that fits over the first end portion of the input shaft,
the outer diameter dimension of the first bearing is smaller than the diameter dimension of the root circle of the ring gear-side engaging-disengaging teeth or the addendum circle of the ring gear-side engaging-disengaging teeth.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The transfer according to claim 8, wherein
the moving mechanism includes a ball cam, a clutch, an actuator, and a spring;
the ball cam includes a first cage and a second cage, the first cage being provided in a non-rotatable manner relative to input shaft, and the second cage being provided in a non-rotatable manner relative to a friction plate of the clutch; and
the sleeve is provided in a manner non-rotatable relative to the input shaft and able to move in an axial direction, rotation braking torque is applied to the second cage by the actuator and the clutch, such that thrust in the axial direction is generated in the ball cam, and the sleeve is moved in the axial direction against spring force of the spring by the first cage.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The transfer according to claim 9, wherein
the actuator is an electromagnetic coil that generates the rotation braking torque in the clutch to operate the ball cam.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The transfer according to claim 9, further comprising:
a trip mechanism arranged between the second cage and the sleeve, the trip mechanism including a first piston, a second piston, and a holder,
the first piston being configured to be driven in a reciprocating manner in the rotational axis direction a predetermined stroke via the ball cam by the actuator,
the second piston being provided in a rotatable manner relative to the input shaft, the second piston being configured to move against the spring force by the first piston,
the holder including a plurality of tiers of retaining teeth, the holder being provided in a non-rotatable manner relative to the input shaft and in a non-movable manner in the rotational axis direction, the holder retaining the second piston moved by the first piston by any of the plurality of tiers of retaining teeth,
the trip mechanism being configured such that the second piston moves the sleeve against the spring force to a disconnect position by a predetermined number of reciprocating strokes of the first piston, the disconnect position being a position of the sleeve that allows relative rotation between the ring gear and the input shaft;
the trip mechanism being configured to release the second piston when the reciprocating stroke of the first piston exceeds the predetermined number of reciprocating strokes and move the sleeve to a connect position with the spring force, the connect position being a position of the sleeve that relatively non-rotatably connects the ring gear and the input shaft together.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

The transfer according to claim 9, further comprising
a stopper fixed to the input shaft, the stopper being fixed between the sleeve and the first bearing, wherein
the spring is arranged between the stopper and the sleeve.

### Claim 13

A transfer of a vehicle, the vehicle including a driving source, a power transmitting member, main driving wheels and auxiliary driving wheels, the transfer outputting some of the driving force to be transmitted from a driving source to the main driving wheels to the auxiliary driving wheels via the power transmitting member when the vehicle is switched from a two-wheel-drive state to a four-wheel-drive state, the transfer comprising:
a main body including a ring gear, a case member and a third bearing,
the ring gear including a cylindrical portion and ring gear-side engaging-disengaging teeth, the ring gear-side engaging-disengaging teeth being integrally provided on an inner diameter side of the cylindrical portion,
the case member supporting the ring gear via the third bearing in a manner enabling the ring gear to rotate around a rotational axis;
a subassembly including an input shaft, a sleeve, a moving mechanism, a first bearing, a case cover and a second bearing,
the input shaft, the sleeve, and the moving mechanism being integrally assembled,
the input shaft being arranged concentric with the ring gear and inside the ring gear, the input shaft being supported at a first end portion of the input shaft by the case member, and the input shaft being supported at a second end portion of the input shaft by the case cover in a manner rotatable around the rotational axis via the first bearing and the second bearing;
a trip mechanism; and
a connecting-disconnecting mechanism configured to selectively connect and disconnect the ring gear to and from the input shaft,
the connecting-disconnecting mechanism including the sleeve,
the sleeve being configured to move in the rotational axis direction on the input shaft, the sleeve being configured not to rotate relative to the input shaft, the sleeve including sleeve-side engaging-disengaging teeth on an outer diameter side of the sleeve,
the connecting-disconnecting mechanism being configured to selectively output some of the driving force to the auxiliary driving wheels depending on whether the ring gear-side engaging-disengaging teeth and the sleeve-side engaging-disengaging teeth are in mesh or not in mesh,
the case member having an opening, in an end portion in the rotational axis direction of the case member, for inserting the subassembly into the main body and assembling the subassembly to the main body,
an outer diameter dimension of at least one of the input shaft, the sleeve, the moving mechanism, the first bearing, and the second bearing of the subassembly or an outer diameter dimension of a portion of at least one of the input shaft, the sleeve, the moving mechanism, the first bearing, and the second bearing of the subassembly being less than an inner diameter dimension of the ring gear-side engaging-disengaging teeth,
the at least one of the input shaft, the sleeve, the moving mechanism, the first bearing, and the second bearing or the portion of the at least one of the input shaft, the sleeve, the moving mechanism, the first bearing, and the second bearing pass through the ring gear-side engaging-disengaging teeth in the rotational axis direction when the subassembly is inserted into and assembled to the main body,
the moving mechanism includes a ball cam, a clutch, an actuator, and a spring;
the ball cam includes a first cage and a second cage, the first cage being provided in a non-rotatable manner relative to input shaft, and the second cage being provided in a non-rotatable manner relative to a friction plate of the clutch;
the sleeve is provided in a manner non-rotatable relative to the input shaft and able to move in an axial direction, rotation braking torque is applied to the second cage by the actuator and the clutch, such that thrust in the axial direction is generated in the ball cam, and the sleeve is moved in the axial direction against spring force of the spring by the first cage,
the trip mechanism is arranged between the second cage and the sleeve, the trip mechanism including a first piston, a second piston, and a holder,
the first piston being configured to be driven in a reciprocating manner in the rotational axis direction a predetermined stroke via the ball cam by the actuator,
the second piston being provided in a rotatable manner relative to the input shaft, the second piston being configured to move against the spring force by the first piston,
the holder including a plurality of tiers of retaining teeth, the holder being provided in a non-rotatable manner relative to the input shaft and in a non-movable manner in the rotational axis direction, the holder retaining the second piston moved by the first piston by any of the plurality of tiers of retaining teeth,
the trip mechanism being configured such that the second piston moves the sleeve against the spring force to a disconnect position by a predetermined number of reciprocating strokes of the first piston, the disconnect position being a position of the sleeve that allows relative rotation between the ring gear and the input shaft; and
the trip mechanism being configured to release the second piston when the reciprocating stroke of the first piston exceeds the predetermined number of reciprocating strokes and move the sleeve to a connect position with the spring force, the connect position being a position of the sleeve that relatively non-rotatably connects the ring gear and the input shaft together.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The transfer according to claim 13, wherein
the at least one of the input shaft, the sleeve, the moving mechanism, the first bearing, and the second bearing of the subassembly or the portion of the at least one of the input shaft, the sleeve, the moving mechanism, the first bearing, and the second bearing of the subassembly that pass through the ring gear-side engaging-disengaging teeth include the sleeve;
the inner diameter dimension of the ring gear-side engaging-disengaging teeth is a diameter dimension of a root circle of the ring gear-side engaging-disengaging teeth; and
the outer diameter dimension of the sleeve is an addendum diameter dimension of the sleeve-side engaging-disengaging teeth.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The transfer according to claim 13, wherein
the at least one of the input shaft, the sleeve, the moving mechanism, the first bearing, and the second bearing of the subassembly or the portion of the at least one of the input shaft, the sleeve, the moving mechanism, the first bearing, and the second bearing of the subassembly that pass through the ring gear-side engaging-disengaging teeth include the first bearing that fits over the first end portion of the input shaft; and
the inner diameter dimension of the ring gear-side engaging-disengaging teeth is a diameter dimension of an addendum circle of the ring gear-side engaging-disengaging teeth.

### Claim 16 (depends on 13)

The transfer according to claim 13, wherein
the actuator is an electromagnetic coil that generates the rotation braking torque in the clutch to operate the ball cam.

### Claim 17 (depends on 13)

The transfer according to claim 13, further comprising
a stopper fixed to the input shaft, the stopper being fixed between the sleeve and the first bearing, wherein
the spring is arranged between the stopper and the sleeve.