Coupling apparatus with double clutches

A coupling apparatus provided with double clutches, incorporated with a planetary differential gear assembly housed within a transfer case, comprising:

• (a) a planetary carrier;
• (b) a sun gear shaft disposed coaxially with said planetary carrier;
• (c) main clutch means, disposed between said planetary carrier and said sun gear shaft, for controllably transmitting a rotative motion between said planetary carrier and said sun gear shaft when controllably engaged;
• (d) cam ring means, disposed coaxially with said planetary carrier and said sun gear shaft and said main clutch means, for controllably engaging only said main clutch means when axially and slidably actuated;
• (e) pilot clutch means, disposed between said cam ring means and said planetary carrier and rotatable within the transfer case, for axially and slidably actuating said cam ring means when controllably engaged;
• and
• (f) pilot clutch actuating means for controllably engaging said pilot clutch means to axially and slidably actuate said cam ring means so that said main clutch means is controllably engaged.

A coupling apparatus provided with double clutches, incorporated with a planetary differential gear assembly housed within a transfer case, comprising:

• (a) a differential case;
• (b) a sun gear;
• (c) main clutch means, disposed between said differential case and said sun gear, for controllably transmitting a rotative motion between said differential case and said sun gear when controllably engaged;
• (d) cam ring means, disposed coaxially with said differential case and said sun gear and said main clutch means, for controllably engaging only said main clutch means when axially and slidably actuated;
• (e) pilot clutch means, disposed between said cam ring means and a rotary case rotatable within the transfer case, for axially and slidably actuating said cam ring means when controllably engaged;
• and
• (f) pilot clutch actuating means for controllably engaging said pilot clutch means to axially and slidably actuate said cam ring means so that said main clutch means is controllably engaged.

A coupling apparatus provided with double clutches, incorporated with a rear differential gear assembly housed within a differential carrier, comprising:

• (a) a planetary carrier;
• (b) a sun gear shaft;
• (c) main clutch means, disposed between said planetary carrier and said sun gear shaft, for controllably transmitting a rotative motion between said planetary carrier and said sun gear shaft when controllably engaged;
• (d) cam ring means, disposed coaxially with said planetary carrier and said sun gear shaft and said main clutch mean, for controllably engaging only said main clutch means when axially and slidably actuated, said cam ring means being in engagement with a differential case;
• (e) pilot clutch means, disposed between said cam ring means and said planetary carrier rotatable within a differential carrier case, for axially and slidably actuating said cam ring means when controllably engaged;
• and
• (f) pilot clutch actuating means for controllably engaging said pilot clutch means to axially and slidably actuate said cam ring means so that said main clutch means is controllably engaged.

A coupling apparatus provided with double clutches, mounted on any one of front and rear wheel drive shaft sides of a 4-wheel drive vehicle, comprising:

• (a) a coupling shaft connected to a propeller shaft;
• (b) a drive pinion shaft of a rear differential gear;
• (c) main clutch means, disposed between said coupling shaft and said drive pinion shaft, for controllably transmitting a rotative motion between said coupling shaft and said drive pinion shaft when controllably engaged;
• (d) cam ring means, disposed coaxially with said coupling shaft and said drive pinion shaft and said main clutch means, for controllably engaging only said main clutch means when axially and slidably actuated;
• (e) pilot clutch means, disposed between said cam ring means and a clutch drum fixed to said coupling shaft, for axially and slidably actuating said cam ring means when controllably engaged;
• and
• (f) pilot clutch actuating means for controllably engaging said pilot clutch means to axially and slidably actuate said cam ring means so that said main clutch means is controllably engaged.