System for shifting a vehicle to two or four-wheel drive
AssigneeDana Corporation
InventorsStephen C. Cochran, Francis J. Terwoerds
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A gear transfer unit for selectively shifting an engine driven vehicle to either a two-wheel or four-wheel drive mode while in motion which unit includes a gear system of constant mesh gears, a synchronizer and means for activating the synchronizer for selective high and low speed coupling of the input drive to the front and rear output shafts of the unit.
Claims15
A gear transfer assembly for selectively shifting a power driven vehicle between a two-wheel or four-wheel drive mode comprising a casing incorporating a power input shaft,
- a first output shaft for a first pair of wheels and a second output shaft for a second pair of wheels,
- means for connecting said input shaft and said first output shaft in power driven relation for driving the first two wheels of the vehicle,
- a gear set comprising three constant mesh gears including an output gear for said first wheels mounted in freely rotatable relation on said first output shaft, an intermediate idler gear having a meshed relation with said first output gear and an idler shaft on which said idler gear is mounted and a second output gear for said second wheels fixed to said second output shaft having a meshed relation with said intermediate idler gear,
- a synchronizer fixed to said first output shaft for rotation thereby, said synchronizer being engageable in driving relation with said first output gear whereby said gear set and second output shaft can be driven by said input drive shaft through said first output shaft and,
- means for activating said synchronizer to effect its engagement with said first output gear whereby the assembly can be selectively shifted to drive the vehicle with either two or four-wheels.
A gear transfer assembly for selectively shifting a power driven vehicle between a drive relation by one or two sets of wheels comprising a casing incorporating a power input shaft, one drive shaft for a first set of wheels and another drive shaft for a second set of wheels,
- connection means providing a driving connection between said input shaft and said one drive shaft for said first wheels,
- a gear set of three constantly meshed gears adaptable to supply power to said other drive shaft comprising one output gear for said first wheels mounted in freely rotating relation on said one output shaft, an intermediate gear meshed with said one output gear and another output gear for said second wheels fixed to said other output shaft meshed with said intermediate gear, and means for selectively connecting said one output gear in direct driven relation with said one output shaft to drive the other output shaft together therewith whereby said assembly can be shifted to drive the vehicle with either one or both sets of wheels,
- said selective connecting means comprising a synchronizer fixed on and rotated with said one output shaft for selective synchronized engagement with and supply of power to said one output gear.
A gear transfer assembly for selectively shifting a power driven vehicle between a drive relation by one or two sets of wheels comprising a casing incorporating a power input shaft, one drive shaft for a first set of wheels and another drive shaft for a second set of wheels, said input shaft and one drive shaft for said first wheels being axially aligned in close-spaced end-to-end relation,
- a connection member providing a direct drive connection between said input shaft and said one drive shaft for said first wheels,
- a gear set of three constantly meshed gears adaptable to supply power to said other drive shaft comprising one output gear for said first wheels mounted in freely rotating relation on said one output shaft, an intermediate gear meshed with said one output gear and another output gear for said second wheels fixed to said other output shaft meshed with said intermediate gear, and means for selectively connecting said one output gear in direct driven relation with said one output shaft to drive the other output shaft together therewith whereby said assembly can be shifted to drive the vehicle with either one or both sets of wheels,
- said selective connecting means comprising a synchronizer fixed on and rotated with said one output shaft for selective synchronized engagement with and supply of power to said one output gear.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.