Electric shift transfer case
AssigneeMagna Powertrain USA, Inc.
InventorsJeffrey Swanson, Carl Vonnegut
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention provides a shift mechanism disposed in a housing for providing operable communication between a shift actuator and a shift sleeve. The shift mechanism generally includes a shift rail, a shift fork, a first biasing member, and a second biasing member. The shift rail is slidably supported by the housing. The shift fork is slidably disposed on the shift rail and engages the shift sleeve. The first biasing member is disposed between the shift actuator and the shift rail for selectively biasing the shift rail in a first direction upon actuation of the shift actuator. The second biasirig member is disposed between the housing and the shift fork for biasing the shift fork in a second direction that is substantially opposite the first direction.
Claims11
A shift mechanism disposed in a housing for providing operable communication between a shift actuator and a shift sleeve, comprising:
- a shift rail slidably supported by the housing;
- a shift fork slidably disposed on said shift rail and engaging the shift sleeve;
- a first biasing member disposed within the shift actuator and a first end of said shift rail for selectively biasing said shift rail in a first direction upon actuation of the shift actuator;
- and
- a second biasing member disposed on said shift rail opposite said shift fork from said first end and between said housing and said shift fork for biasing said shift fork in a second direction that is substantially opposite said first direction.
The shift mechanism of claim 5 wherein said second biasing member includes a coil spring.
A transfer case, comprising:
- a housing;
- an input shaft rotatably supported by said housing;
- a first output shaft rotatably supported by said housing;
- a second output shaft rotatable supported by said housing;
- a gearset driven by said input shaft and having a first rotary output driving said first output shaft and a second rotary output driving said second output shaft;
- a shift sleeve for selectively coupling said first and second output shafts;
- a linear shift actuator in operable communication with said shift sleeve for initiating said selective coupling;
- a shift mechanism disposed within said linear shift actuator and said shift sleeve for providing said operable communication, said shift mechanism including:
- a shift rail slidably supported by said housing;
- a shift fork slidably supported on said shift rail and operably communicating with said shift sleeve;
- a first biasing member disposed between said linear shift actuator and a first end of said shift rail for selectively biasing said shift rail in a first direction in response to said linear shift actuator being actuated;
- and
- a second biasing member disposed on said shift rail opposite said shift fork from said first end and between said housing and said shift fork for biasing said shift fork in a second direction that is substantially opposite to said first direction.
The transfer case of claim 10 wherein said second biasing member includes a coil spring.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.