Angular output transfer case
AssigneeBorg-Warner Corporation
InventorRobert L. Seaman
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An angular output transfer case incorporates an internal single cardan joint within the transfer case housing. The internal single cardan joint is coupled with an angularly oriented output shaft, and has a fixed included angle. An external single cardan joint without the housing couples the output shaft with a propeller shaft, and thus has a dynamic included angle. The joints are phased ninety degrees, and are related such that the fixed included angle is equal to the dynamic included angle at an optimum design condition.
Claims17
Apparatus including a transfer case, said transfer case comprising a housing, an input shaft extending into said housing and supported for rotation on an input axis, a first output shaft extending out of said housing and supported for rotation on a first output axis, an intermediate shaft supported in said housing for rotation on an intermediate axis, means coupling said input shaft with said first output and intermediate shafts for transferring torque therebetween, a second output shaft extending out of said housing and supported for rotation on a second output axis, said intermediate and second output axes determining a fixed angle, a single cardan joint in said housing, said single cardan joint coupling said intermediate and second output shafts and having said fixed angle as its included angle, and yoke means rotatable with and slidable relative to said second output shaft.
Apparatus comprising a housing, a first shaft supported within said housing for rotation on a first axis, a second shaft supported partially within and partially without said housing for rotation on a second axis, said first and second shafts being supported such that said first and second axes determine a fixed angle, an internal single cardan joint within said housing coupling said first and second shafts, said internal single cardan joint having said fixed angle as its included angle, a third shaft supported without said housing for rotation on a third axis, said second and third shafts being supported such that said second and third axes determine a dynamic angle, and an external single cardan joint without said housing coupling said second and third shafts, said external single cardan joint having said dynamic angle as its included angle, said apparatus being constructed and arranged such that said included angles are equal at an optimum design condition.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.