Torque transfer mechanism with hydraulic control system for a four wheel drive vehicle
AssigneeAisin-Warner Kabushiki Kaisha
InventorsGoichi Matsumoto, Yoichi Hayakawa
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A four wheel drive torque transfer mechanism with a hydraulic control system is switchable between two wheel drive and four wheel drive during running of a vehicle having an automatic transmission. A reducer permits direct coupling or reduced speed ratio drives. A parking gear associating with the transfer device requires only small modification to the conventional parking mechanism. The hydraulic control system automatically actuates the reducer to provide a reduced speed-high torque output when a governor output responsive to vehicle speed, falls below a predetermined level.
Claims18
A torque transfer mechanism for a four wheel drive vehicle having an automatic transmission, said torque transfer mechanism comprising:
- an input shaft for receiving torque from said automatic transmission;
- a first output shaft connected to one of front and rear drive axles of the vehicle;
- a second output shaft connected to the other one of the drive axles;
- speed reducer means for transmitting the rotation of said input shaft to said first output shaft at a reduced speed of said output shaft when said speed reducer is engaged;
- means for nullifying the operation of said reducer means and directly coupling said input shaft with said first output shaft;
- means engaging said reducer for speed reduction;
- a mechanism for transmitting the rotation of said first output shaft to said second output shaft;
- a hydraulic control system including:
- a source of a first pressurized fluid;
- first conduit means for supplying said first pressurized fluid to a first driving means, said first driving means selectively engaging said means for directly coupling and nullifying said reducer means operation;
- second conduit means for supplying said first pressurized fluid to a second driving means, said second driving means selectively engaging and disengaging said means for engaging said reducer for speed reduction;
- a source of a second pressurized fluid;
- valve means for selectively connecting said first pressurized fluid to either said first or said second conduit means, said valve means being adapted to sense the pressure of said second fluid and connecting said first pressurized fluid to said second conduit means to engage and operate said reducer means only when said second pressurized fluid pressure falls below a predetermined level.
A torque transfer mechanism for a four wheel drive vehicle having an automatic transmission, said torque transfer mechanism comprising:
- an input shaft for receiving torque from said automatic transmission;
- a first output shaft connected to one of front and rear drive axles of the vehicle;
- a second output shaft connected to the other one of the drive axles;
- speed reducer means for transmitting the rotation of said input shaft to said first output shaft at a reduced speed of said output shaft when said speed reducer is engaged;
- a first engaging means for nullifying the operation of said reducer and directly coupling said input shaft with said first output shaft;
- a second engaging means for operating said reducer;
- a mechanism for transmitting the rotation of said first output shaft to said second output shaft;
- a third engaging means for connecting and disconnecting said first output shaft to and from said second output shaft;
- a hydraulic control system including:
- first, second and third conduit means for supplying pressurized fluid to a plurality of driving means for engaging said first, second and third engaging means, respectively;
- a source of a first pressurized fluid and a source of a second pressurized fluid;
- an inhibitor valve controlled by said pressurized fluid for selectively connecting said first fluid with either said first or second conduit means;
- and
- a selector valve for selectively supplying said first pressurized fluid to said third conduit means;
- said inhibitor valve connecting said first fluid pressure with said second conduit means to operate said reducer means only when said second fluid pressure drops below a predetermined value.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.