Transfer case assembly having multiple gear mounting locations
AssigneeMeritor Heavy Vehicle Technology, LLC
InventorsTomaz Dopico Varela, Silvio Masaaki Yamada, Hong-Tao Lee
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A transfer case assembly includes an input gear, an idler gear, and an output gear. The idler gear is mounted on an idler shaft, which is rotatably supported by a bearing retained within a carrier. The carrier fits within an arcuate slot. The arcuate slot defines a multiple of idler shaft predetermined mounting locations. Each of the idler shaft predetermined mounting locations are equidistant from the third axis, and vary in distance from the first axis. For each of the idler shaft predetermined mounting locations a gear, of a predetermined size is provided to achieve a proper gear mesh for the desired gear ratio.
Claims17
A transfer case assembly for a vehicle comprising:
- a housing defining a multiple of idler shaft predetermined mounting locations;
- a first gear mounted on a first shaft, said first gear mounted within said housing and rotatable about a first axis;
- a second gear mounted on a second shaft, said second gear mounted within said housing and rotatable about a second axis, said second axis spaced from said first axis;
- and
- an idler gear mounted on an idler shaft, said idler shaft gear about a third axis such that said idler gear engages said first gear and said second gear, said idler shaft mounted at one of said multiple of idler shaft predetermined mounting locations.
A method of assembling a transfer case comprising of the steps of;
- 1. mounting a first gear of a first size on a first shaft;
- 2. locating the first shaft at a first predetermined mounting location, the first shaft defining a first axis of rotation;
- 3. mounting a second gear of a second size on a second shaft;
- 4. locating the second shaft at a second predetermined mounting location, the second shaft defining a second axis of rotation;
- 5. mounting an idler gear to an idler shaft;
- and
- 6. mounting the idler shaft at one of a plurality of predetermined idler shaft mounting locations in response to said step b) such that the idler gear engages the first gear and the second gear.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.