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US 2003/0119619 A1Published application
Three-speed transfer case
AssigneeNew Venture Gear, Inc.
InventorsCarl Stephens, Thomas Noble
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A three-speed transfer case is disclosed to provide a direct drive connection between the input shaft and the output shafts, a low-range drive connection and an ultra low-range drive connection. The ability to choose between the distinct speed ratio drive connections permits the vehicle operator to best match the road conditions or off-road terrain to the tractive requirements of the motor vehicle.
Claims21
A transfer case comprising:
- an input shaft;
- first and second output shafts;
- a first planetary gearset having a first sun gear driven by said input shaft, a first ring gear fixed to a stationary member, and a set of first pinions meshed with said first sun gear and said first ring gear which are rotatably supported from a first carrier;
- a second planetary gearset including a second sun gear, a third sun gear, a second ring gear, a second carrier driving said first output shaft, a set of second pinions rotatably supported by said second carrier and meshed with said second ring gear and said second sun gear, and a set of third pinions rotatably supported by said second carrier and meshed with said third sun gear and said second pinions;
- a transfer mechanism driving said second output shaft;
- a range clutch operable in a first state to couple said second ring gear to said input shaft and in a second state to couple said second ring gear to said first carrier;
- a lock-out clutch operable in a first state to permit rotation of said second sun gear and in a second state to couple said second sun gear to said stationary member;
- and
- a mode clutch operable in a first state to couple said transfer mechanism to said third sun gear, in a second state to couple said transfer mechanism to said third sun gear and said second carrier, and in a third state to couple said transfer mechanism to said second carrier.
6 more elements
A transfer case comprising:
- an input shaft;
- front and rear output shafts;
- a first planetary gearset having a first sun gear driven by said input shaft, a first ring gear fixed to a stationary member, and a set of first pinions meshed with said first sun gear and said first ring gear which are rotatably supported from a first carrier;
- a second planetary gearset including a second sun gear, a third sun gear, a second ring gear, a second carrier driving said rear output shaft, a set of second pinions rotatably supported by said second carrier and meshed with said second ring gear and said second sun gear, and a set of third pinions rotatably supported by said second carrier and meshed with said third sun gear and said second pinions;
- a transfer mechanism driving said front output shaft;
- a range sleeve operable in a first position to couple said second ring gear to said input shaft and in a second position to couple said second ring gear to said first carrier;
- a lock-out sleeve operable in a first position to permit rotation of said second sun gear and in a second position to couple said second sun gear to said stationary member;
- and
- a mode sleeve operable in a first position to couple said transfer mechanism to said third sun gear, in a second position to couple said transfer mechanism to said third sun gear and said second carrier, and in a third position to couple said transfer mechanism to said second carrier.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.