Automotive torque transfer case with reduced angle forward output shaft

A transfer case drive comprising,

• a housing (10),
• a pair of spaced apart bearings (22, 24) disposed in said housing,
• a drive sleeve (20) rotatably supported by said pair of bearings and having one (20a) end extending beyond one (22) of said pair of bearings,
• a drive sprocket (14) disposed between said bearings and drivingly coupled to said sleeve,
• a drive shaft (12) disposed within said drive sleeve and having a first end (12a) extending beyond an other (24) of said pair of bearings and a second end adjacent said one end of said drive sleeve,
• a bearing (18) disposed adjacent said other of said pair of bearings and rotatably supporting said first end of said drive shaft, and
• a universal joint (26) connecting said one end of said drive sleeve and said second end of said drive shaft.

A transfer case comprising,

• a housing (10), a pair of spaced apart bearings (22, 24) disposed in said housing,
• a drive sleeve (20) rotatably supported on a first axis by said pair of bearings and having one end (20a) extending beyond one (22) of said pair of bearings,
• an annular drive member (14) disposed between said bearings and drivingly coupled to said sleeve,
• a drive shaft (12) disposed within said drive sleeve on a second axis distinct from said first axis and having a first end (12a) extending beyond an other (24) of said pair of bearings and adapted to drive an axle of a vehicle and a second end adjacent said one end of said drive sleeve,
• a bearing (18) disposed adjacent said other of said pair of bearings and rotatably supporting said first end of said drive shaft, and
• a universal joint (26) connecting said one end of said drive sleeve and said second end of said drive shaft.